Marcus stepped lightly through the woods, feet gliding across the ground, barely stirring up the foliage under his feet. He could hear Rick and Shane a few feet behind him, trying to follow the path he took. It was chilly, and his windbreaker did little to keep the cool nip of the Georgia morning air away. The early morning sun was just rising, and the forest ahead was barely more than a shadow. Rick and Shane were both panting heavily behind him. The fools were going to scare away any prey they managed to find, if they hadn't already done so. He knelt down, holding his hand up in a clenched fist. The two men both halted beside him, kneeling to the earth. He tested the wind, sniffing for the scent of any animals, or walkers. His month in the wild had taught him much about hunting, trying to feed not only himself, but the eight other survivors of his kendo team. "Marcus, what are you doing?" Shane failed at understanding the importance of silence. Marcus held a solitary finger to his lips, hushing him. Leaning towards the man, he whispered as softly as he could. "You and Rick head back. I won't be able to find anything with you to sounding like stampede behind me." Shane glared at him, and opened his mouth to retort, when Rick put a hand on his shoulder, shaking his head. Marcus spotted the opportunity, and motioned to the bow he held in his hands. "Besides, your guns will make to much noise, and limit the number of game we can find." This time Shane nodded grudgingly, muttering under his breath. "Didn't get the memo that when the fucking world ended, we'd all become cave men again." Rick rolled his eyes as they both made their way back down the path they'd followed. Shane must've been holding a serious grudge, because it sounded as if on his way back, he made every possible effort to step on every leaf, twig, and pine cone they'd avoided on the way there. "Jackass." Marcus stood back up to half height, taking long, slow strides across the ground. He slid his feet as he stepped down, moving leaves and twigs as to keep from making noise. He was constantly sniffing and tasting the air. It was a few minutes before he caught the sent he'd been hoping for. Deer! And it was fresh. He picked up his pace cautiously, hoping they didn't cover much ground before he caught up.
God must've been feeling kind that day. Marcus was nestled in the crook between the brach and trunk of a young spruce tree, an arrow knocked and two more in hand, ready to be loaded and fired in a matter of seconds between shots. In the small clearing below, several beautifully sized Dow and a buck rested in the grass. All looked pleasantly plump, and all looked and, from what he could tell, smelled in perfect health. It was almost too good to be true. He waited motionless, planning his attack. As he drew the string of the bow back, lining up his first shoot, a rustling below startled him. He managed to keep from prematurely firing, as a walker stumbled into the clearing. The Dow and buck were up in a matter of seconds. Marcus cussed under his breath, but opportunity was truly with him. As the Dow rose, the one he'd been eyeing as his prime target moved, giving him a perfect line up between it, and the other Dow he'd planned on hitting. He fired, striking the Dow behind the shoulder, a perfect heart shot, and as it dropped, he fired and hit the other two, in perfect line. The walker stumbled to the fallen Dow,and Marcus was on it in a second. He jumped from his perch, landing on it's shoulders. He felt it's back and shoulder bones give beneath him, a stomach churning cinch of snapping vertebrae, and crunching bone. The walker growled and wrenched beneath him, and he slipped an arrow beneath the back of its head, stabbing upward into the brain. It didn't even twitch as it died, it's corpse dropping limp. He stood, holding the arrow and examining it. "Damn monsters should stay dead when they die the first time." He through the arrow to the ground, disgusted. "Not even worth trying to clean. Fucking god only knows what diseases you fuckers carry in your rotting sacks of flesh." He moved to the dear, knife in hand. It was a few minutes before he finished gutting them, letting the blood drain and lightening his load. Three Dow, and he hadn't the faintest idea how he'd carry them back. He spotted several fallen trees near by. "God, I'm sorry about cussin you out earlier." He hadn't smiled like he was since he'd first arrived for the tournament in Monticello, as he grabbed four small sized logs, sized just wright to fashion a small sled out of. "I did promise Rick I'd carry my own weight, but this is easily twice mine. Even before shit hit the fan." He hauled the last deer onto the sled, and grabbed the rope he'd brought with him, lashing the deer onto the sled, and tying of one end into a knot. He hefted the end of the rope over one shoulder, dug in his heels, and pulled. The sled slid easily on the damp grass, the morning dew still fresh. God truly was smiling upon him today.
It was an hour before Marcus reached the edge of the woods, and despite the stitch in his side, the sweat pouring down his face, and the panting, he was grinning from ear too ear. He stopped for a second, and gathering his breath, bellowed at the top of his lungs! "Rick! Rick!" He needn't have shouted more then once, as the entire group surrounded him in an instant. They all stars in awe and shock at his haul, none daring to believe there eyes. That is, except for Shane, who looked pissed at Marcus success. Rick stood at his side, jaw open, as he gazed at the three Dow on the makeshift sled. "I said I'd pull my weight, now didn't eye." Rick grabbed Marcus and pulled him into a hug, giving him a kiss on the top of his head. "Son, you are a God send." He turned too the rest of the group, positively beaming! "Folks, tonight, we feast better then we ever have before!" He put a hand on Marcus shoulder. Lori grabbed Marcus in a hug too, planting a kiss on his sweaty brow. He was the only one too notice as Shane turned on his heel, storming off to the R.V. and nearly bowling over a bemused Glen. Marcus would have to keep a close eye on that guy.