Nothing but memories 7 So, I'm a bit delayed on this update. Fir no particular reason other than I was waiting on TWD to come off of Hiatus and make the vollies of fans come rushing back to fanfiction to read stories while they wait for next weeks episode. But then I realized I would rather be established with my story rather than appear as some nobody just trying to break onto the scene.
So, remember to review and follow. I need them to remain motivated. Reviews:
Thank you to BeneathThisMask. You have supported me as I have, and I consider you a friend. I figured tossing in a kiss would make it a comic relief.
Now, legal stuff Disclaimer: AMC owns the Walking Dead. TWD owns me. I own a kawyer. She tells me AMC doesn't care what I own as long as it isn't money.
Warning: This story contains M rated content. If you're squemish, this may not be the story for you. (Though I wish it were.) Finally, chapter 7.
"So, I may as well show you guys what I've been tracking... basically since I got to Georgia." Dani sid as they took the Gas station counter as a makeshift meeting table.
Dani reached into her pack and pulled out what appeared to be a modified statemap of Georgia... one you could pick up at any rest stop. Dani looked around at the group as she rolled out her map, and revealed it was covered in particular markings.
"Okay, this has been my map for a few months. I've been tracking where I traveled and trying to follow a distinct pattern around the state. The blue lines are me. Now, theres the red. Dots are where I saw more than twenty walkers in these areas. Circles are moving herds... the arrows show what direction they were moving." Ronny nodded, impressed with her thinking, and remembering she had always thought ahead before and she wouldn't stop now. But there were still two symbols left to explain. "Thats really resourceful, Dani. What about these?" He asked, looking up as she sighed.
"Red X's are areas to be completely avoided. Herds. Herds of herds reside there. The only reason I know is because I can run fast enough to escape them. That just leaves the purple circles... that is where I first spotted Terminus, and every other sign fron there. From what I saw, it seemed as though they had placed it on a rail road."
"So that way if anyone saw it, they would be able to follow the railroad tracks straight to them." Rick said. Dani nodded at him, "Exactly. I was still debating the idea when I ran into you guys. I was currently scavenging for food to take on the journey." She said, folding up the map and placing it in her knapsack.
Michonne spoke up this time, "But Rick, is it the right move? Who knows what this place is all about. If anyone offered me free food and shelter these days I would be suspicious. Do you honestly think we can trust this Terminus' word?" Rick obviously was pondering that... taking into consideration her experience with groups... this group being the only one to take her in and treat her well. Woodberry, and before that, she traveled alone.
Hershel countered her statement, "But we need somewhere to go. We can't just stay on the road forever. You eventually have to stop." Ronny spoke up, "I'm of a mind with him on this one. Just because they might kill us doesn't mean they will, and who the hell says we're going in unarmed?" Michonne fixated him with a small frown, "And not everyone deserves the benefit of the doubt." She said.
But he had prepared for a counter-intuitive statement from her, "You're right. And Rick didn't have to take that chance on us either, but we proved to be good people. Who can say if these people aren't the same?" He said... noting her suddenly very humble gaze and nod.
Rick spoke up this time, "And both of you proved yourselves and more... so lets see if these guys will do the same." He said as Carl suddenly scowled. He turned his head downward and despretely wanted his Dad to rethink this idea.
He grit his teeth, "We're gonna get killed because you want to trust every other person who offers you a glimmer of false hope. No one these days was that friendly. It doesn't matter who you were before. In the end, you look after you and your own." Rick and the rest of the group looked at the young Grimes, who had chosen to remain silent during the discussion so far.
"Carl, if thats how you feel, then what do you think we should do?" Rick said, trying to see his son's point. "I say instead of searching for a home, how about we just grab a huge group and just waste a city. Rid it of the monsters entirely. So that way we have a home that is ours. As long as we keep searching for one, we're just gonna meet another asshole who wants to take it from us."
"Carl Grimes, watch your language!" His father said, sounding incredibly authoritative at that moment... and his son got a look of despair for a moment before it turned into cold indifference.
"Answer my point, Dad. You know I have one! Besides the Prison, someone we knew always dies! Shane! Amy! Andrea! Mom!" He yelled at him. "Carl! Enough!" Rick yelled, silencing his son with two words... and having the young boy hang his head in anger... or shame.
Ronny gave him a sad stare... never seeing Carl out burst like this... but he had certainly been through enough to know that it was inevitable... In his mind, was he all that wrong? He had seen enough of the world to know that it would chew you up and spit you out if you let your guard down for a second.
They had lost enough family and friends... but they were content going to a place that could kill them in a seconds time? He sighed and turned on his heels, stomping out. Rick ran a hand through his hair and sighed with him, taking a step to go after him... but Ronny spoke up,
"Hey Rick, I'll go check on him... you guys just decide what the best course of action is." he said, reaching over and patting Rick's shoulder before grabbing his staff and chasing after Carl.
Carl had ended up at a small hillside looking over a forest. On the edge of town... and he was using Lucky. Picking up any thing he could use to shoot at something. No Walkers were around, much to his dismay.
Luckily, Carl left a path as noticable as a damn herd... so it was no surprise when Ronny approached him from behind. "Sup." He said as he sat down... Carl still standing and shooting a few pebbles he had found lying around. Carl didn't say anything for a few minutes... his eyes narrowed at his target as he fired furiously at the trees. Ronny had to admit, Carl was doing fantastic at it.
He had a good aim that only seemed to get better when he was angry. His shots were almost all complete hits. Carl finally lowered his arm and looked down at Ronny, "So, did Dad send you after me?" He asked, eyes looking quite dead. No longer shimmering blue.
His boyfriend shook his head, "No... I volunteered. I figure if I can't get you to calm down, none of us can." He said, patting the dirt beside him... watching Carl fold his legs and sit indian style. "Theres nothing you can tell me I haven't already considered." He said but Ronny surprised him,"What if I told you I thought you may be right?" He said as Carl gave him a side glance. "You do?"
"All of us do, Carl. Because if we were to go to Terminus, stay on the road, or try to find our own shelter, the possibility of someone dying is always there. I hate it. But that is how it is sometimes. You can't weigh in favor of one because in the end the risk is still there."
"What else can we do then, Ronny? I want to find a haven too but the possibility of there being a safe haven out there is so slim. Why can't we make one for us and call it good?" He asked.
"Because then everyone would flock to us. Everyone would want what we have. The Governor? We had a home. And some asshole with a tank rolls up to the door. Where we have been... anyone outside our pack or just More Walkers always ruin it. And it will be like that until... forever it seems." Ronny said as his fingers laced into Carl's. "Sometimes you have to go with the crowd until the path becomes clear, okay? If there comes a point where we can see an alternate opportunity, we can mention it then." He said. Carl sighed and leaned on his lover a bit, "Fine fine... lets get back before someone catches us again." He said as we stood up... And there it was.
A cachophony of growling and hissing. Ronny had his staff ready the next instant... but he wasn't prepared for a few dozen Walkers to have spotted them and come running for them. He did a quick spin and cracked one across the skull. Carl reached for his pistol and fired. Ronny looked to him, wild panic settling in for both of them.
"We can't stay here! We need to get to the forest!" He said as another Walker met his staff. "Its too dangerous!" But Carl fired a few more times before responding with, "But what about Dad, and the others? They can't leave tthe two of us behind!" He countered.
Ronny stabbed one and said, "They won't. We're just taking a different route there!" He said as the two turned toward the hill behind them and began making a descent into the dense forest behind them, being mindful to watch their step... neither one could afford a broken anything. Once they reached the forest floor the duo looked back and watched their attackers... it would be comedic if they weren't murderous monsters.
They couldn't hold their balance and were all tripping and falling. "Should we try and walk around them?" Carl said as he watched the Walkers struggle to get back up. The two stopped watched as a few succeded and began to sprint toward them. But they turned and bolted into the lush green... hoping to get their foes off their tail.
Ronny turned back as the herd was out of sight and kept running forward... Carl working to keep up beside him. He couldn't afford to take chances with the herd. No matter how lost he got it was worth outrunning a herd. Carl grabbed his hand as they swerved through trees. Carl began coughing a bit as he tried to keep moving his legs, and they became heavy under all the stress. He let out a deep sigh and he stopped paying attention.
It was only natural he would fall and sprain his ankle. He hit the dirt, mouth soundlessly screaning as pain rocketed through his leg as Ronny stopped. hands so he could massage the area. "Oh God I am so sorry Carl..." he said as the young Grimes panting Became slow and steady. His face began relaxing as the initial pain numbed. Ronny kept an ear to the air... hoping nothing was coming to lend him the Jaws of Life.
He looked at Carl with a sad stare, "Remember what I said about being with me? Its not worth it..." he reminded him as he elevated his leg and gently massaged it. But Carl shrugged from his sitting point, "I would say its working out pretty darn well for me." He said, watching Ronny work on his leg. He watched him for a few minutes and he contemplated their next move.
He and Ronny were both reliable in the field but now they were a liability in the forest. Seperated from everyone else. What the hell were they to do? Ronny looked back at Carl, whose green eyes shimmered with concern for his young lover. "Whats up Doc?" He asked as he watched Ronny lower his leg down and check his other vitals.
"Well, you won't be walking much tonight. Its a decent sprain there... you'll need a day or two of rest. The only problem I see is finding someplace out of the way so we can get some shelter." he said as he put his staff on his back pack and slid his hands beneath Carl's shoulder and knees. He began carrying Carl like a newlywed bride, the brunette laid his head on Ronny's shoulder as he carried him through the forest.
He looked up at him and smiled, "I'm sorry..." he said to him. "For what?" He asked, looking down at the smaller male. "For making myself useless." He said as Ronny held him a bit closer. "Trust me... I don't mind." He said as he began scanning the forest.
Rick had been panicking ever since he spotted that herd. He almost unwillingly kept quiet as they passed as the urge to go out there and kill them all became almost unbearable. Michonne and Hershel had quieted him as they waited the herd out. It was horrifying but they also noticed that, once they felt it safe enough to venture out, there were no corpses nearby. No group of Walkers feasting on anyone. "They wouldn't have been captured Rick. You know they're too smart for that." Michonne said as she slashed through a stray walker... as it still angered her to see the duo gone.
Dani checked the earth, "No notable trails aside from the Walkers following that direction but it isn't safe to try that path... we don't know how many Walkers followed them." She stood up and looked at the others, "But thats your call, Rick. Do we hunt after them or head to Terminus? They both know that is where we were headed and it may be the best chance to meet back up with them if they made it." Dani said as she quickly punched a nearby Walker, face crunching under her knuckles. Rick seemed conflicted. Of course he wanted to rush after the duo but if anyone else died, his son would not forgive him for it.
He could head to Terminus with his group but at the chance that the two can't protect each other. "We will follow the path to Terminus as close to this patch of woods as possible. If they don't show up after a day we go into that woods and hunt them until we find them..." he said. He knew they needed a bit of time to catch up... but Rick knew his son and he wouldn't get killed that easily. Neither would Ronny. They were both smart and resourceful boys... he just hoped they came back soon.
Hershel pat Rick's shoulder, "Lets go pack up our things so we can get a move on." He said as the two went back to the gas station. Michonne looked to Dani, the two sharring mutual respect for one another as they too followed them back, albeit a bit behind the others, "You think they made it right?" Dani asked her.
Michonne silently conflicted with herself. Sure they were tough but plenty of tough people had went down already. "I want them to be." She said simply and left it at that.
He looked at it for a minute longer... hoping he hadn't been seeing things. Upon further inspection he discovered he was not. He had found their safe haven. It was a bit dusty and a bit dank but an old trailer in the woods was shelter to them.
Ronny handed Carl his gun before he went to scope it out, leaving Carl to rest by the trees outside. He had to assure no one was coming back... or coming back from the dead. But the place looked untouched. It was obviously no Hotel Hilton but it had a bed in it so he couldn't complain too much. Sadly the cabinets were cleared of food... meaning another junk filled meal was on the menu tonight.
He carried Carl inand sat him on the bed, inspecting his ankle after barricading the door and windows. "This sucks." Carl said as Ronny wrapped up his ankle with some Gauze. Ronny nodded silently at him before responding, "I know... but we need you on your feet so we can get to Terminus."
"You still want to go there?" He asked as Ronny took to massaging the swelling ankle... which was swelling less. "I want to stick to the group. Thats kind of my thing now." He said as Carl smiled, "You're finally for the group thing now?"
"At first I expected to leave in a week when I joined you. Its been about a week and I'm still here. With you." Carl flushed a bit at the mention... it was the first time Ronny acknowledged their relationship. Not that he felt the Soldier didn't take his feelings seriously but he felt he was more akin to a burden to Ronny than a lover.
It was his fault for running off in the first place that forced the duo into this situation at all. He knew Ronny didn't openly blame him... but he didn't say it wasn't his fault. Ronny sighed and smiled as he pat the Young Grimes' knee and said, "Looks like that will fix you up. What do you want to do?"
"You know... this is the first night we've been alone... together." Carl said as he reached for Ronny's hand. Ronny took it gingerly, "Indeed... but I won't be taking it too seriously." He said.., as Carl looked confused. "What do you mean? We aren't gonna kiss?" That certainly took him back a step. Ronny raised an eyebrow, "At some point, I figured we would... I thought you meant something else."
Carl tilted his head a bit with a confused stare, "Huh? What do you mean, Ronny?" He asked which Ronny almost felt was comical sarcasm coming from him. But he was genuine, he really hadn't had that discussion yet.
He assuned that the end of the world didn't leave much time for Rick to mention the birds and bees... "I thought you meant sex Carl." He said, which made the young Grimes light up like a Christmas tree. "What?! No I... not like that! I mean its not that I wouldn't I just... I'm gonna shut up right now." He said, closing his mouth tight.
Ronny crawled into the bed beside him... both quite tired from their marathon earlier in the day. He pulled Carl up and put an arm over him as the boy leaned into his shoulder. "I'm not planning on anything like that for a while, you know? I still feel the need to build a stronger relstionship before taking... such a big step. Plus... its something you can't get back, you know? I want to make it special if we get to that point..." he said as his fingers locked with Carl's.
Carl turned his head up wordlessly to smooch him... this time more confidantly. It started slow and simple... but Ronny ran his hands down Carl's back and caused a moan and shiver. He took the chance and dipped in his tongue, making the smaller once again emit those adorable sounds from being kissed. But everytime they tried to kiss so far, it was interrupted.
And of course this time was no different. A strong fist came pounding on the door to the trailer, shocking the duo as they drew their side arms... but the voice outside sounded pleadful. "Let me the hell in! I'm being chased!" Ronny sprung from bed as he approached the window and slowly opened the blinds. And he saw them.
Small cliffhanger to upset you. Ihad to. Sorry for the short delay. Life gets in the way and updates get puton the back burner. Luckily I have more free time. So enjoy your update. Remember to review and follow. Motivation is a great technique Until next time.