NATE
The gates creak open. I wipe the sweat off my face with a sleeve. Before grabbing hold of the handle of the overloaded trolley.
Heaving out a deep breath, I gather my strength. Start pushing it over the threshold.
"My fair young maiden! You shouldn't be exerting yourself in such a manner. Certainly not in your....delicate condition. Most of the Kingdom is still slumbering, yet you appear to have been outside hunting again. Pray tell....why?"
"Benjamin, take the trolley from our dear little friend if you please."
I gratefully relinquish the load over to the teenager. He gingerly pushed aside a dangling hoof to get a better grip.
"Your Majesty, I'm guessing Shiva isn't a vegetarian? There's a lot of wildlife out there nowadays despite the walkers. No need to sacrifice your livestock keeping her fed."
"I came across a large herd with way too many bucks....took advantage. The boar was just an added bonus. He happened to cross my path on the way back."
Actually, the unlucky bugger had been skittering away from some walkers. All but blundered into me while I loaded the last of the three deer onto the big cart I'd found.
I made short work of him, then his pursuers.
No damage was done in the collision as Diane had already kitted me out with some body armour.
It was a thank-you gift. For showing her and Jerry some rifle tricks. Including how not to clog up their cartridges, if they need to fire while face down in the dirt.
Another Jorge lesson well learnt.
At the end of my little show and tell, I glanced up. To see we were surrounded by even more onlookers, all very eager to learn as well. So I've been passing on as much as I can for a few hours each day since.
Jerry also gave me his thanks by supplying the makings of another slingshot. In return, I made him one too. Had no idea how many times the phrase 'Wicked awesome, Little Dude!' could come out of one man! 🤪
"I'm neither fair, delicate nor as you have noted by my current 'condition'....a maiden. Far from it in fact, Your Majesty. So, can you please just call me Nate?" I beg.
I threw a look at Morgan who sniggered and shook his head.
Richard just stood there, stony-faced. Before darting out the gates when they slowly began to close.
Dagnabbit!
Can't very well take off and shadow him again without his knowledge now, can I? 😒
He's up to something once more.
Except I've got no concrete proof of what exactly to take to the King. So all I could do was share my suspicions with Morgan. He promised to keep an eagle eye on him when they leave the compound.
The Kingdom's weekly supply drop for the Saviors is this afternoon.
"Your point is taken....Nate. I'd still like very much however, for you to reconsider venturing beyond the protection our walls offer."
It isn't quite an order....yet.
I couldn't help but notice the way his eyes also followed mine. Until Richard was gone from our sight.
"And I would very much like a deep dish, cheesy crust supreme pizza with a side of superpowers. But neither of those are on the cards anytime soon either....your Royal Highness."
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Home Is Your Heartbeat ('Home Is' Book Two - Daryl Dixon)
FanfictionSemi-mature. Completed. Book Two picks up immediately from the last chapter of Home is You. Nate is an Aussie girl who was stranded in Georgia during the outbreak. She and fellow traveler Leo joined a group of survivors in Atlanta. Nate got her fi...
