**Author's Note-This story was created at the request of Computer Breeze. Angelina Carvin is their character, and the base plot is their idea. If you would like to request a story, feel free to PM me and I'll see what I can do. Enjoy :)
Angelina walked slow, kicking a rock along the middle of the road. Her stomach growled angrily, and she put her hand on it in an attempt to silence it. It didn't work. An aggravated sigh escaped her lips and she began examining her surroundings, looking for any sign of food.
"Come one, there has to be something Angel." she said aloud. But she had left the neighborhood, walking down a narrow highway, with woods towering on both sides. She had been avoiding the trees, wary of getting lost, but now seemed as good a time as any. She couldn't go back to the neighborhood. Not now.
Carefully and slowly Angelina stepped into the undergrowth. Her whole body was tense, Deadies could be around any tree, just out of sight until it was too late. She picked her way through the brush, turning back occasionally to ensure she could still see the road. Angelina was looking for berries, small animal, or anything that could possibly be food.
"Maybe I'll find an abandoned tent or something." she mused, peering into the thick forest. Something up ahead moved, and she froze. Angelina immediately crouched down, and flattened herself beside the nearest tree. She listened intently, keeping her breathing as shallow as possible. She could hear voices, and they were getting closer. Holding her bat at the ready, she waited.
"I think I saw somebody over here." said one.
"Probably just a lame-brain. Come on, we gotta get this deer back to camp."
Angelina's eyes widened. They had food, a lot of food. She creased her brow, weighing her options. She could follow them back to their camp, and steal their food, and not go hungry; or she could wait for them to leave, and continue to search for food on her own. The choice seemed obvious to her.
"Ahh, you're right. Let's go."
She heard their footsteps receding, and the grunt of the two men lifting something very heavy. She peered around the tree. They were average sized men, with accents preluding of somewhere more North. Angelina made special note of the guns hanging from their shoulders. She would need one of those as well, and extra ammunition. Quiet as she could, she crept after them, ducking behind cover every so often. She must have followed them for thirty minutes or so, because she was starting to get annoyed with long it was taking.
"You have got to be kidding me. Where the hell do they live?" she muttered. Her ears prickled, and she spun around.
"Woah woah woah. It's okay. We're not going to hurt you."
Angelina backed up instantly, holding her bat high. Two more men were behind her; one of them held up his hands disarmingly. Angelina backed up until she felt the rough surface of a tree behind her.
"It's okay, really. What's you name?" he continued, speaking in a friendly tone. The other man signaled to the ones carrying the deer.
"Holy shit it's a kid!" said one, bewildered. The friendly one shushed him.
"Stop, you're freakin' her out Johnny. Come on, we're not gonna hurt you. Where are your parents?"
"Leave me alone!" she demanded, gesturing with the bat. The man continued to hold his hands up.
"Shh, it's okay. My name's Eric. This is Andy, that's Greg, and that idiot is Johnny." he said, gesturing at each man in turn. "I just want to know your name."
"Angel." Angelina said, eyeing the group suspiciously. It had been months since she saw the last group, who had tried to steal what little she had. She was suddenly more aware of her backpack, and what little was in it. She adjusted her grip on the bat, taking an offensive stance.
"Angel, that's a pretty name." Eric said, nodding. "I bet you're hungry Angel. You see there, we've got food and shelter in our camp."
"We don't need another mouth to feed, Eric." Andy said warningly.
"She's a fuckin' kid Andy. You wanna just leave her out here? Or shoot her like the last one?" Eric asked. Angelina drew in a sharp breath.
"That last kid was infected, Eric. She might be too." Greg added. "She was following us right? She's probably a thief."
"Oh yeah, a little kid like me? You're too kind." Angelina said sarcastically.
"Ahh, come on. She's skin and bones, look at her. You afraid of a little girl?" Eric teased. Greg shook his head.
"Alright fine. Do what you want. But it's on you if Dave gets pissed."
"Who said I want to go with you?" Angelina interjected, a little insulted. They were treating her like a child, after what she had been through? They didn't know who they were dealing with.
"Aw, come on Angel." Eric said. "You probably haven't had a decent meal or night's sleep in months. Am I right?"
Angelina flushed a little, looking down.
"Uh-huh. That's what I thought. We'll keep you safe, and feed you. At least for a night. Whaddya say?"
Angelina chewed her lip, her mind racing. If it turned south, she could always run away. Lowering her bat, she brushed a lock of her light brown hair from her face.
"I guess so." she said in a low voice. Eric threw his hands in the air, smiling.
"Hey! There we go. Come on, let's get some food in you." he declared. The other men shared glances between them, but consented. John and Greg picked up the deer, and she followed along beside Eric to their campsite.