Hi... This is all I have so far. I'm still working on the overall story.

Disclaimer... I don't own the Walking Dead and I have no idea whether this will save you during the zombie apocalypse

CHAPTER 4: CAMP

During the trek through the forest, Miguel and the rest of Baldo's group lead the way followed by Rick, Michonne, and Carl while Baldo trudged alone a few feet behind the pack.

"How come you're so far back," Rick asked over his shoulder.

"Just being cautious," the uniformed figure answered.

"Don't let him fool you," the red headed man yelled from in front. "Baldo's just slow."

"Nothing wrong with being careful Koma."

"How many times do I have to tell you? It's Roy or Komamura's son," the man started walking backwards brandishing a gun with a knife taped to it. "Am I going to have to kick your ass with my gun blade again?"

"Duct taping a knife to a hand gun doesn't make it a gun blade," Baldo returned.

"Ha, ha… Oh Baldy, you have no imagination."

Michonne eyed the lagging person suspiciously during the exchange. "You move like a Walker. You're making me nervous."

"You got me there."

"Why do they call you Baldo, Tom," Carl asked.

"Guess I left you wondering long enough," Baldo answered. "Before the world ended, I use to write fan fiction stories online. My screen name was Maybeillbebaldo. So after everything stopped keeping records, I stopped using Tom and started introducing myself as Baldo."

"Why Baldo," Carl followed up.

"It was a nickname I got once. Been using it ever since."

Komamura's son allowed Miguel to pass him. "I'll say. He uses Baldo as a character in every one of his stories."

The man's black shoulders shrugged. "It's just a staple of my story telling. Kind of like there's always a Cid in the Final Fantasy series."

"So you read his stories," Rick asked the red headed man.

"Yep, some of it," Komamura's grin pulled back unnaturally wide, "was the steamiest homo-erotica you've ever read."

The whole group turned their heads toward Baldo. Rick's and Michonne's faces were covered in complete shock and disgust. While the rest of the group laughed. The masked figure stumbled trying to find words to respond before settling on…

"Komamura's son! Why would you tell them that," his voice flushed with embarrassment.

"What? You're the one who wanted them to KNOW what they were stepping into," the vulpine smile greased his face again.

Carl started laughing at the casual exchange. Their banter brought about a sense of normalcy rarely felt since the dead started walking. Hearing Carl's laugh again, Rick's expression melted into a smile. Only Michonne maintained her sourpuss expression.

"So you guys are gay," Rick asked.

"Yep," Roy answered.

"Not all of us," Miguel yelled clearing a tree branch from their path.

Michonne exhaled, "Explains the first deterrent. Who'd want to be around sissies chasing rainbows all day?"

"Ouch," Komamura laughed.

"Not all sissies chase rainbows," Baldo added over the group's laughter. "And for the record, not all my stories were homo-erotic. Some were family pieces of a boy looking for a daddy."

"I don't think that helps any record buddy," Komamura laughed.

The small group of people entered an unofficial mobile home community. Multiple trailers created alleyways and connected clothes lines for laundry. A waterway with a swift moving current rushed past the community on the left.

Passing through the community, Rick spotted an Asian man showing 3 kids how to use knives and other sharp objects as weapons. Emily broke off from the group and went to join the class. The older woman joined up with a few women cleaning foods around a fire pit while Miguel help a few other people take down laundry almost as if it was just a normal day in a trailer park.

"You guys are welcome to rest up for while then decide if you want to stay or leave," Baldo advised. He pointed to the short blond hair woman that Miguel was talking to by the clothes line. "Kate Masland runs the first aid station. She was a pharmacist so her medical expertise is limited but it's better than nothing.

"Carl, you're welcome to join the preparation classes with Kim Chong," Baldo pointed to the group Emily joined. "He's a former martial arts instructor and luckily he's willing to travel with us. My nephew J's in there."

Rick watched the class attack in unison. "You train the kids to use weapons."

"Absolutely," Baldo answered. "Walkers don't care who or what you are. To them we're all meat and we won't always be around to help." Baldo's voice saddens, "The kids have to be able to defend themselves. We've lost so many.

"I'll be teaching a class on how to throw your voice later if you want to sit in Carl," Baldo added.

"Yeah. I think I will," Carl walked off and greeted Kim Chong taking a spot in the class.

Baldo turned to Rick and Michonne, "You two can sit in on the class too if you'd like."

"What good is throwing your voice is a zombie apocalypse," the female warrior scoffed.

"Mommy… Help me mommy, please," a child's voice drew Michonne's attention as concern filled her face. She surveyed the camp for the owner of the voice.

Her focus returned to Baldo, "Walkers are attracted by sound and if they hear an innocent voice inside their ear it may distract it long enough for you to get away or kill it."

Michonne looked at Rick in a disbelieving way. The sheriff just nodded back unsure what to make of the theory. As unbelievable as it sounded, he recalled the three Walkers changing direction on the bridge. The silence continued until Baldo broke it.

"So did you two want to share a trailer," Baldo saw another exchange. "There are plenty of trailers if you don't. I wasn't sure whether you were a couple or not."

"Do we look like a couple," Michonne questioned.

"Uncle Tommy," an Asian boy around 10 ran over holding a sharp stick."

"Hey J, did you have a nice class," Baldo hugged the child.

"You smell bad," J said pulling back. Baldo laughed.

Rick and Michonne looked at each other again while Carl approached talking to Kim Chong. The instructor showed the boy a few hand motions using an opponent's weight against them.

"The biters raise their arms like this to attack," Chong, an older Asian man with graying hair, demonstrated. "Using a throwing technique may help you get away." The instructor turned to Baldo. "Hey Baldo, did you find any supplies?"

"Yeah, Chong," Baldo waved. "Some bandages, canned provisions, and a hammer."

"Can I go play, Uncle Tommy," J asked watching the other kids play tag.

"Sure J but not too loud. A million zombies passed by earlier," Baldo informed the kid. "There might be more of them in the area. Do you want to play too, Carl?"

The boy laughed light heartily, "No thanks."

"Your loss," Baldo turned to his nephew. "I'll play in a little bit, okay?"

"Okay, Uncle Tommy," the boy said.

"Have fun Justin," Chong smiled. J nodded and ran off.

"You play tag," Rick questioned.

Baldo's arms floated up nonchalantly. "Sure do. All work and no play right? Besides we make it fun," he turned to Carl. "Sure you don't want to play?"

"I'm sure," the boy smirked.

"Make yourselves at home," Baldo waved heading to the playing kids.

The trio watched as Baldo chased the four kids. During the game, J used a hip throw to knock the uniformed man off his feet and ran away tagging an 8 year old girl. When Baldo stood up, he pursued the little girl. As he neared another voice made the man's head turn abruptly, the distraction allowed the girl to evade the attacker and tag Emily.

"Sure you don't want to play," Chong asked Carl. "Baldo has the kids use the skills they're taught during the game. Sort of like homework or practice."

Rick saw Carl's face torn. Agreeing to play would evaporate the steps he took toward manhood; diminishing the maturity he earned getting there but on the other hand it looked fun. Rick admitted to himself that Baldo's unique character impressed him despite watching the grown man playing tag.

They watched Baldo pursue Emily who bent over a pile of leaves. Suddenly Baldo's foot disappeared stepping on the pile, toppling the man to the ground. It created the opening Emily needed to get away and tag another boy around her age.

The boy ran to a trailer finding it locked after trying the handle. Instead of running to another mobile home, the boy inserted something into the lock. Just as Baldo reached out to tag him, the boy opened the trailer door locking it behind him.

By now all 10 adults had gathered to watch the game and applauded the kids' victory as the sun started setting. There were 6 women and only 4 men, 5 including Baldo, and 4 kids. Rick could tell that it was a tight knit family not willing to let many outsiders in.

"We teach the kids more than just how to defend themselves. There are trap setting and lock picking classes, too," Chong told Rick. "We'll be happy to teach you if you decide to hang around for a while."

"The thievery class was my genius," Komamura said smugly. "I know being a lawman it maybe against your nature but sometimes the best defense is getting past the right door."

"Baldo dinner," the women from earlier in the day said. It was the first time she spoke all day and she signaled the end of the game.

"Thanks, Meg," Baldo turned to the kids. "Let's wash up." Baldo led the kids to the body of water and watched over them while they washed their hands and faces.

The kids sat at a picnic table and each was served a bowl of stew by Baldo. After giving J a bowl, he offered one to Carl. The adults all lined up for a bowl except Baldo. He positioned leaning a shoulder against a tree watching the others.

"Don't you eat," Rick asked stepping beside the uniformed man.

"I don't have much of an appetite these days," Baldo answered cheerfully. "Besides, I smell. Bad. I don't want to make anyone sick so I just try and stay downwind of everyone while eating."

"You have a good group here. Do they know," Rick asked.

"About the bite," Baldo said. He continued seeing Rick nod. "Not all of them. Just Miguel, Roy, Megan, and Emily, they were with me when it happened."

Rick ate a spoonful of his stew. "You're going to have to tell them and soon."

"Yeah, I know. J needs to know," Baldo answered crossing his arms. "I'll tell them once I know they're safe."

"Why did you tell us," Rick said.

"To prepare your son," Baldo drew Rick's attention. "In case you haven't noticed, he likes me. As a friend of course," Baldo added quickly. "It happens when you're trapped in a foxhole behind enemy lines," Baldo chuckled to himself. "Plus…

"You don't know me. If I change the others might not be able to put me down," Baldo added. "But you and Michonne might. I don't want to kill them. It's the reason I'm wearing this unbelievably hot suit." Baldo extended his arms.

He continued when Rick's eyebrow furled, "Did you ever see a Walker take off its clothes knowingly," Baldo watched Rick shake his head. "Me neither. I'm hoping that if I turn wearing this mask, I won't bite anyone. At least until the mask deteriorates, and hopefully I'll be put down by then."

Rick stares toward the other camp members. "What were the points of the deterrents?"

"The zombies aren't the only monsters out now," Baldo answered. "They're designed to weed them out. I turn away everyone who looks at Emily and the other women as a tool to repopulate the Earth." Baldo's head turns to Rick, "You're the only one to make it to Deterrent #3."

Rick remained silent when Baldo approached the group. He began his lesson in throwing voices. Carl remained in his chair and laughed along with the other kids at Baldo's muffled voices. The sheriff couldn't explain why Baldo's demeanor brought about a sense of calmness that even made Michonne smile too.

When the lesson ended, Baldo took a bowl of stew and disappeared into a trailer for the night. The whole camp seemed to follow his example retiring for the night.