Hello my lovely reader! This is my first Walking Dead fanfic and my friend told me to upload it here because she thought you guys would like to see it. I have planned to not follow season 3 because of everyone getting kidnapped and whatnot. Just not my style of writing. Also I want to warn I do not have Season 2 right now because my brother broke the disk so Im only running on memories and clips. I am trying my hardest to write the characters out as they would be in the show but it isn't my strong point. OK, enough of my babbling and enjoy!

The sun just started to disappear the tree tops. I limped quickly through the trees, sweat pouring down my shirt. The angry moans from behind me seemed to be getting closer and closer. "Mare put the ladder down quick!" I yelled arriving to my camp. In a flash a rope ladder swung down in front of me and I climbed it holding back a wince every time my ankle had pressure on it. I climbed up onto the ladder and pulled it up before a rotter could clamp down onto it. I took my black bag off while panting for air.

"Z-Zoe are you OK?" I looked up at the little nine year old girl and faked a smile. "I'm OK, just a sprained ankle is all." I looked down from are wooden platform I built as 5 rotters clawed and growled trying to climb up the tree. "Hand me the axe." I ordered the girl. She reached into are stock pile and grabbed a blood soaked axe. Her hands shook under the wait as I grabbed it from her. With a quick slice one by one the rotters fell to the ground. I lifted the axe up and sat up with a sigh, scooting away from the edge. "That was way too close." I looked up at the little girl who was now going through my bag.

"Did you get it?" she chirped digging around. She started pulling out cans of dog food and quickly opened one up. "I got it and more food for Luke." A black and white husky pulled at his chain trying to sniff at the dog food. "Stop teasing him and pour it in his bowl." I chuckled grabbing a wrap from are medical supplies and placing it tightly around my ankle.

After feeding Luke Mare dug into the bag and pulled out a small plush bear. "Just like what Mom gave me!" she cheered hugging it. Her brown hair waved around in a swishing motion as she swayed in hugs. I looked down at my ankle than over to her. "Mare, we can't stay here much longer. I know we are set up here but the store is running low. We need to go someplace new and more secure. A house maybe." Her smile soon faded and she brought her knees up to her chin. "I don't want to leave. What about the monsters?"

I moved closed to the girl and gave her a tight hug. "I won't let them get to you." "Or Luke?" I smiled, "Or Luke. Where would we be without are guard dog?" I gave him a few pats and checked his chain quickly. I had a nice harness clipped onto two leashes that were tied to a chain. I wasn't going to let him die.

I heard Mare yawn and grabbed are brush. I found it in the WAL MART a few months ago. If Mare and I had to live in this hell I should still try and keep her nightly routine the same. I brushed her hair and sent her into are tent made of tarp. "Goodnight." I heard her whisper before slowly falling asleep.

After I started to hear her light snores I started to brush my strait black hair and pulled out my map from the emergency bag I have packed. I saw Luke lay down and curl up on his blanket. He is a good dog. He doesn't bark or run off. He knows when a rotter is around and will warn us. The extra risk of his food it worth it. Plus he is the little family I have left other than Mare. I switched on a solar powered lamp I found while raiding a hunting store. "I should take the highway. From there I can take us to the country side. I'm sure there aren't as many Bitters like there are in Atlanta." A shiver ran down my spine as I remembered the horrors of the city.