Bigby and Clementine trek through the cabin cautiously as they check each room. The cabin wasn't too large in size, boasting only a few rooms. Clementine slowly opens the door to what she could see was a bedroom. The blue light of the rising moon floods in the room, striking the bare bed and the empty floor. With her gun gripped tightly in her hands, she scans every inch of the room. Confident the room is safe; Clementine looks through the dresser draws and desk drawers for supplies. When she opens one drawer of the desk, she catches sight of a picture. A look of curiosity comes across her face as she picks up the picture. In the light she sees a family photo of two children and their parents. Sadness erupts in her heart as she remembers her family. Her mom, her dad, and Lee are all dead. A small tear escapes her eye and trickles down her cheek. She wipes her face and places the picture back in the drawer.
"Clementine?" She quickly spins around seeing Bigby in the doorway, "Everything alright?"
"Yeah, everything's fine," she lies.
A look of suspicion etches across Bigby's face, "Well, alright. The house seems clear, you find any supplies?"
"No, looks like all the supplies are gone in here," she says in an awkward tone.
"Okay?" Bigby says still suspicious, "Let go check the kitchen."
"Alright," she replies following the man down the stairs.
The two enter the kitchen and begin checking all places food could be. Bigby finds that cabinets are empty as well as the fridge.
"Dammit!" Bigby exclaims.
"Bigby?" Clementine speaks up.
"Sorry, Clem," he apologizes.
She smiles, "That's fine. Look!"
Bigby steps beside the young to see that she had found some boxes full of canned foods in the panty. A smile spread across Bigby's face as he looks upon the achievement.
"Great work, kid! Come on, let's go get a fire going in the fireplace," he says as he picks up one of the boxes. She nods and they make their way out to the living room. Bigby places some wood from the wood pile that was left, in the fireplace. Clementine sits in front of the couch on the floor watching Bigby work.
"Oh, come on! Son of a bitch!" Bigby mumbles.
"What's wrong?" Clementine asks lifting her head.
"I lost my lighter," Bigby says rubbing his face.
Clementine smiles while reaching in her pocket, "Will this one work?" She holds her own lighter with the pink butterfly sticker in her hand.
Bigby smiles, "That'll work perfect." He takes the lighter and quickly gets a fire going.
The fire roars to life with great warmth as Bigby smiles at his achievement, taking a seat next to Clementine.
"Why light a fire if your body heat can keep us warm?" she asks.
Bigby smirks, "My body heat will only help us for so long."
"So you have to stay warm too?" Clementine cocks her head.
"I may be a fable, but I still need the same things a mundy needs?"
"Mundy?" Clementine raises an eyebrow.
"Oh, sorry. That's what I call non-fables," Bigby replies rubbing his neck.
Clementine smiles, "Interesting."
An hour goes by, night has completely fallen. The fire continues to flicker as Clementine and Bigby soak in its warmth. Light small talk is shared between the two as the hour progresses. Bigby never thought he'd find company again, let alone find it in an eleven year old girl. Something about her just linked with his person. He didn't know what it was, but he didn't question it. In the few hours Bigby's known Clementine, she's proven that she's smart, fast, and can fight. Those traits had a lot of weight in Bigby's mind when it comes to this world. But one thing kept clawing at Bigby, something he really wondered about the girl.
He looks at the girl with a warm smile as her amber eyes glow in the light, "Clem?"
"Yeah?" she replies.
He stares at her with great wonder, "What actually happened to your family?" he asks with the most gentle of voice he can muster.
Clementine's gaze falls and a sad frown forms upon her face. Bigby sees the pain resonating in her eyes.
"I'm sorry I asked. I'm just curious," Bigby apologizes.
"No, its okay," she says softly, "My mom and dad when on vacation right before all this started leaving me with a babysitter at home."
A sad expression grows more intense on Clementine's face, "They never came home. We went to Savannah to find them, but they were already dead."
Bigby's heart began to crack.
"There was this man that found me and took care of me. We met up with other people and tried to make it work… but it didn't," she gazes down at her feet.
She continues, "His name was Lee, he taught me how to survive," she pauses, "He's why I keep my hair short."
Bigby gives look of regret, "What uh, what happened to him?"
Clementine's eyes grow, "I killed him." Bigby's eyes widen slightly.
"He was bitten when he was trying to save me, and I had to kill him before he turned," pain and guilt resonates in Clementine's voice.
"Wow," was the only thing Bigby could say.
"I had to," Clementine says with remorse.
Bigby stares at the girl; her eyes look as though they're holding in a river. He slowly wraps his arm around her shoulder, giving her a squeeze of comfort. She looks up at the man with a great deal of sadness filling her gaze. The flames of the fire accent her worn out complexion. Her eyes glisten brighter as her pain shows through. She slowly wraps her arms around Bigby's waist, embracing him tightly. He slowly lifts her body into his lap allowing her to rest her head on his chest. Almost instantly, Bigby can feel the tears staining his shirt.
"I'm sorry, Clementine. I'm sorry you've had to deal with so much pain," Bigby says softly as he gently rubs her back in a attempt to comfort the young girl.
