Out on a Limb
Summary: When faced with a different bite victim in the herd, Clementine makes a split-second decision that ultimately changes so much down the line.
Rating: T
Notes: I actually cannot fucking believe I made it here.
The ending choice was conceived well before Seasons 3+4, back when AJ was little more than a plot device. I imagine that should Clem choose the one option, things would somehow get to how they were in the canon of Season 3, and then 4. Also, the decision isn't meant to be huge for this fanfiction. This story's emphasis was on how Clementine gave Troy a second chance to be better, and he sort of took it.
Stick around for the epilogue!
Disclaimer: I don't own The Walking Dead Game.
Sitting and waiting was a lot harder than it seemed, especially on high alert. It wasn't like this was her first stakeout situation - definitely not - but it was nerve-wracking nonetheless.
Clementine hadn't been an impatient child by any means, making sure to listen carefully in school and not rush through her homework, but the type of patience required in the apocalypse was far more demanding. Watching and waiting was taxing on the body, especially in the cold. To be fair, she had had no idea she'd end up sitting in a blizzard - but that fact did nothing to keep her warm.
She hadn't realized it until she had a moment to think for herself, but the low temperature in the air was also making her a bit drowsy. Though she obviously couldn't fall asleep, she had to resist her attention slipping even in the slightest. The threat was incoming, and she was ready - or, at least, as ready as she'd ever be.
Yes, she was cold, tired, and maybe also a bit hungry - but these were just typical complaints from her body nowadays, and she'd learned to ignore them to a degree.
Unfortunately, she never had found Kenny, but she hadn't diligently searched for him, either. Right now, she was more focused on setting things up per Troy's instruction, and planned on looking for Kenny the minute Tavia was dealt with. Until then, she just had to trust that he'd be okay.
And as much as she hated it, Troy's plan was her only hope right now - and even that had a fifty-fifty shot of failing if she was careless. But she had to keep telling herself that no other outcome but her survival would be accepted; it would take concentration and a bit of luck, but it had to work.
So she sat, huddled in on herself behind a bush, staring off into the white nothingness and keeping her ears perked for anything out of the ordinary. And for what felt like hours, she stayed that way, her legs growing numb from sitting still too long. Her gaze was focused ahead of her, wide and unblinking, and her mind grew fuzzy like tv static. The intense focus made her head ache, seconds dragging on and feeling like hours.
Memories fluttered through her mind briefly, recounting everything leading up to this moment.
"First off, we'll need t' pick a spot for you to wait," Troy had instructed her, dragging his tired gaze over the white. He nodded towards a smooth patch among the thick ruffles of the snow, and the row of nearby bushes. "...Right here should be good enough."
"Are you sure? What makes it so special?" she'd asked.
"Well, nothin', really - I'm just tryin' to scope everythin' out. Gimme a break here - we don't got much time."
The memory was cut short as the powerful wind pushed against her, each gust loud enough to drown out all other sounds. In the brief moments when the air wasn't trying to carry her away, she could hear absolutely nothing but the quiet stillness of a dead winter's day. Had this been any other situation, she might have felt solace in the silence, but now it was just unnerving.
But the moment something else did sound out from nearby, she immediately wished for that quiet again; a low rumbling in the distance signaled exactly what she was dreading, and she knew she wasn't ready - like a war drum, it indicated the final standoff. However, no amount of preparing and planning could've made her feel secure; this was just something that shook her to the core.
Time dragged by at a snail's pace, the rumbling growing louder and louder; she couldn't quite pinpoint which direction it came from, but it wasn't behind her and it was getting closer.
Clementine clutched at the pistol in her hands, praying she didn't have to use it but comforted by its presence nonetheless. Squinting through the snow, she eventually made out a small gray mass in the distance, and could only assume it was Tavia's truck.
Despite the incoming threat, she knew that the best thing to do right now was to stay quiet and keep focused. Worries could dance their way through her brain, but she had to pay them no mind while she was in the moment. Fixated on one task to complete and not stopping to analyze the steps needed, she became aware of her surroundings to an almost disturbing degree. She was a soldier with a plan, ready to put it into action when given the right signal.
Troy had helped solidify this strategy for her, and she wouldn't ever forget it. It was the least she could do, considering what he'd given in exchange.
Though she kept her mind disciplined, her body wasn't so cooperative. Her breathing still refused to even out, her heartbeat quickening with each exhale. In time, her whole frame shuddered, and that threatened to break her concentration.
Swallowing hard, she tried to remember the techniques Nick had once taught Sarah to calm down. Sure, things definitely weren't the greatest right now, but Clementine was determined to regain her composure. Drawing a breath, she counted to two, and then released it for the same amount of seconds. She repeated this with four seconds, then six, eight - and she did feel calmer.
Thanks, Nick. she thought, smiling to herself briefly, and continued her exercise.
As she breathed, the obscured object grew closer, revealing a clearer image of the vehicle. It definitely looked like Tavia's - or at least, it was larger than their own truck back at the safehouse - but the driver was hidden behind frosty windows and furiously moving wipers.
The truck's swerving through the thick snow jerked it back and forth in a zigzag, the steering growing more wild and out of control. The shrill screech of the breaks cut though the air, slowing the vehicle down enough to eventually come to a stop. It was still off in the distance, but still uncomfortably closer than it had been.
A door was wrenched open and of course, it was Tavia who hopped out. Not that Clementine honestly thought it was anyone else, but the world couldn't have decided instead to throw a nice stranger her way?
Apparently not.
AJ crossed her mind briefly, and whether or not he was alright, but she concluded there was no way to confirm or deny the infant's fate yet. She wasn't able to hear or see him, so all she could do was hope that he was still safe inside the truck.
Tavia stumbled a bit through the snow, as horribly underdressed for the weather as Clementine herself. She looked frazzled and almost deranged, movements jerky and desperate like an animal. Her breaths were heavy, each gasp making her shoulders rise and fall dramatically.
Her head whipped around in Clementine's general direction, and the girl ducked down behind the bushes more in fear. Tavia was far from the most frightening enemy she'd faced, but the combination of solitude and snow made Clementine feel terribly vulnerable.
"You'll need t' be sharp," Troy's past words whispered in her ear. "Be on the lookout for Tavia comin'. She'll come 'round eventually - when she does, keep yourself outta sight."
Though he was but a memory, she fought the urge to roll her eyes. What did he think she would do - twiddle her thumbs until Tavia comes to shoot her in the head? Wave her arms when she noticed the woman, yelling for her to come closer? Honestly, none of that needed to be said, but he still felt the need to give orders like she was a naive child; she may be a child, but like hell she was naive.
Still, she didn't mind it so much at that moment, as it was so like him and gave her a sense of twisted nostalgia to distract her from fear.
Tavia continued to lumber through the snow, her gaze focused ahead as if she knew exactly where she was going - which, given the blizzard surrounding her, was unlikely. Maybe she was good at tracking like Troy had been, but Clementine doubted the use of those skills in the middle of a blizzard.
And continuing with the unlucky streak of the situation, Tavia somehow ended up moving in the right direction. The paths in the snow had long since been covered, but she was on her way towards her target unknowingly. Clementine cursed under her breath, wishing the wind could somehow bring a giant gust to sweep Tavia away into the distance.
Clementine's body started to protest being in the same position for so long, so she adjusted herself slightly and kept movement to a minimum, lowering herself further towards the ground. If she'd been standing, the snow would be piled up past her knees, so it definitely covered at least half her body while she crouched. This was a bit of a blessing, though, as it provided cover - after all, just because Tavia was coming closer didn't necessarily mean she'd spot her.
So she hid down, lamenting over the fact that she was not able to obscure herself like a fact, it was quite the contrary; her bright blue jacket was practically a beacon amongst the whiteness, an invitation on a silver platter. But she still bided her time, praying that the snow was enough to cover her.
Her mind threatened to wander again, so she took to remembering more of Troy's crass words: "Tavia is a tough bitch, but… well, so are you, I guess. Despite it all, you're pretty fuckin' badass, kid."
Though she'd never call herself a 'tough bitch,' the words were comforting - and she could tell they were genuine when he'd said them. She smiled to herself, feeling a bit more brave. I'll be fine. I can do this.
Tavia's voice could be heard when the wind rested, her words becoming a mad mantra to herself. "Fucking ingrates," she hissed, stomping through the snow with resolve. "Thinking they can escape? After all they've done? I'll kill them - I'll fucking kill them." The rage could practically be felt in her words, her intentions loud and clear.
To a degree, Clementine understood the woman's anger - they'd killed Carver, after all, and left her and her colleagues for dead - but she wished Tavia would understand that it wasn't their intention to be trapped there in the first place. If Carver had never forced them back into a community they had no part in, they wouldn't have been so desperate to escape.
In fact, many (if not all) of the deaths since the lodge wouldn't have happened at all, and their group could still be going strong.
Clementine knew not to dwell on what-ifs, but it made her a bit angry; Tavia was here, wildly marching through the snow and hunting her like this was something that needed to be done, when in reality… in reality, none of this was necessary.
Inevitably, Tavia did grow closer; Clementine held her breath and tried to calm her hammering pulse. The world fell still, as if the only two people left were her and Tavia. Her eyes never left the woman, completely focused on her; every slight movement was seen, every last twitch and blink.
She watched Tavia lose footing a few times and nearly fall, watched her kick at piles of snow in frustration and screech into the sky. Through it all, Clementine didn't move and kept her sights on the woman, knowing that a wrong move could cost her life.
Sometimes, it seemed like Tavia would fall off her path and go another way, but every time she'd end up still trudging along towards Clementine.
It was a twisted game of hide and seek, and Clementine was just an unwilling player. And though it was unavoidable in the end, her thundering heart still nearly stopped when Tavia's eyes finally locked with hers.
"Shit," she whispered.
At first, she hoped maybe the snow had been enough cover to hide the fact that they were looking at one another, but recognition instantly settled in Tavia's gaze, and a wicked smile stretched onto her face. Clementine had seen countless horrors by this point in her life, but that grin was haunting - she didn't think she'd be able to forget it any time soon.
"Found you," Tavia mouthed gleefully. Even with the snow covering her partially, the woman's wicked expression was chilling to the bone.
Clementine scuttled back as best she could, afraid of moving too far away from her stationed point. Her breath hitched as she fumbled for the pistol at her side, frozen fingers positioning it towards Tavia just in case.
"Hey! What's the matter, Clementine?" Tavia's yell shot through the air, a sickeningly fake sweetness to her voice. "Why would you need to hide from me?"
Feeling like a rabbit cornered by a fox, Clementine could only sit frozen, listening to the blood roaring in her ears. Her body trembled in fear, and she wondered if she'd have time to pull the trigger - or even if she'd hit Tavia with one bullet in the snow. The risk was high and she was alone, making her panic even more.
Tavia was a few yards away now, stepping closer meaningfully. Clementine still had the cover of the bushes, but it didn't mean much after she'd been spotted. What good would a couple branches be against bullets? Still, she couldn't help but duck lower instinctively, wishing she could turn invisible.
"Aww, you're scared," Tavia pointed out mockingly, the smile stretching further across her face.
"I'm- I'm not," she muttered, berating herself for being a liar.
"You look it." All at once, the woman's expression darkened and she frowned, eyes gleaming with hatred as she took a few steps forward. "It's okay. All things considered, you probably should be."
Clementine knew she wasn't being completely honest with herself; like Carver, the St. Johns, and the stranger who kidnapped her, there were some monsters she just naturally feared. Despite always trying to be tough, this was a humbling reminder that she was still a child. Though she was plenty capable of making decisions and saving lives, there were still many things in this world that frightened her.
She wasn't unprepared, though - and being scared didn't mean she couldn't fight.
Despite her shaking body, she found a strange confidence edging into her words. "Maybe I am afraid," she admitted, lifting her head to meet Tavia's eyes straight-on, "but I'm not going to die today."
Tavia threw her head back and laughed - a sound that reminded Clementine of nails on a chalkboard. "Die? Oh, you poor thing. You think I'm going to kill you right off the bat? Just like that? Like you've earned that mercy?" Her eyes glittered and she smiled again, the joy in her expression absolutely sickening. "No, I'm going to have you and all your little friends wishing for death. By the end of it, you'll be begging for a bullet to the skull."
Narrowing her eyes, Clementine glared up at the woman, lips drawn tightly together in a grimace. Despite the harsh threats, she wasn't fazed.
Her eyes briefly locked onto a particular spot on the ground, just in front of Tavia: a small, slightly-raised snow mound, completely concealed to the eyes of those not searching for it. In other words, it looked pretty much like any other bump in the deep snow, and clearly Tavia didn't take any notice of its peculiarity.
"Nothing to say?" Tavia sneered. "It's fine - I'd advise against running, though, if you still want use of your legs." She took a single step forward almost cautiously, like she was approaching a wild animal; Clementine registered the movement, but was almost completely focused on her previous conversation echoing in her mind.
"And I'll wait right… here," Troy had instructed, eyes focused on the same spot in the snow. Clementine had held him up with as much strength as she had, trying not to focus on how violently his body was trembling. Getting to the spot had been difficult, too; Troy had nearly passed out standing up a few times, and she'd have to gently rouse him. But once he was satisfied with their vantage point and voiced his plan, Clementine had protested at first.
"There's no way she won't see you." she'd argued, shaking her head. "No offense, but you're like a giant moving stop sign at this point - bit hard not to see." She tried to joke, but the amount of blood dripping from his knees had caused her stomach to churn.
Troy snorted. "Guess we'll have to even the fuckin' odds, then." And with a mischievous smile - as much as he could manage with a bruised and beaten face, at least - he said, "Bury me in the snow - deep, so the 'stop sign' will be hidden. When she gets close, I'll jump out and get her."
Tavia took another step forward, hands tightening around her rifle.
Almost. Clementine thought, not moving a muscle. She didn't dare look at the snow mound, either, and simply watched Tavia emotionlessly.
Another step was taken.
Troy's idea had seemed stupid at first, and it took an embarrassingly long time for her to realize just what he was getting at. "You're going to jump out and attack? Without a weapon?" she'd inquired, brow quirked in confusion.
Yet another step.
Just a little closer. With her body in the present and her mind in the past, Clementine held her breath and braced herself, muscles tightening just in case.
When Tavia took one last step, the snow below her twitched.
"You kiddin'?" Troy's cackle echoed in Clementine's ear. "I'll have the best weapon: my teeth."
As if on cue, Tavia's leg fell through the snow. She let out a sharp cry of surprise and instinctively shifted her attention to the ground that had ensnared her foot, no longer looking at Clementine.
"What the fuck?" Tavia growled, merely frustrated as if she'd stepped in a puddle in the rain. It was just an inconvenience to her - or so she thought.
The snow crumbled into large chunks as a hand burst from below, a head and torso following quickly. A macabre scene unfolded before Clementine: Troy emerged and pushed all of his weight onto Tavia, clamping stiff fingers onto her leg. The sudden force knocked her off-balance, and she went down easily with another startled shriek.
Troy's sporadic movements were almost purposeful - not to mention spiteful and in-character - that for a very short moment, Clementine thought it was actually him. But the moment she got a real look at his face, it became clear how mistaken she was.
Pale skin, milky white eyes, animalistic growls - despite his movements making him look like a human, his appearance was obvious enough to say otherwise. His gray teeth gnashed together fervently, desperate to tear past Tavia's clothes to bite into her flesh. Clementine instinctively recoiled at the sight, backing up slightly.
It was horrible to look at, watching Troy claw at his prey with only one working limb. Though a large part of Clementine's heart knew this was the inevitable outcome, a smaller part had wanted to hope for something better. But the truth was laid out in front of her, terrible as it was.
He wasn't Troy anymore - just another hungry walker.
Though she'd been gaping at the scene for more than a few moments, her brain was still processing what was happening. Despite seeing it dozens of times, this type of thing was still difficult to witness - especially when it involved a friend.
Tavia's eyes went glassy with horror as Troy sunk his teeth into her neck, tearing into her hungrily and without mercy. The life drained away from her rather quickly, her mouth still wide-open in a scream cut short. It wasn't pleasant to see, but Clementine cared most about escaping now.
Troy seemed too preoccupied with his meal to take notice of her, but she still felt uneasy being this close to a walker. Cautiously, she moved her hands and legs backwards in a slow crabwalk, eyes not once leaving the sight before her. The coldness of the snow bit into her, leaving angry red marks on her palms, but she was reluctant to even blink at this point.
Is this really what you wanted, Troy? He'd been so set on this plan, but now that it had unfolded, Clementine wished they could've come up with a better one. If only there'd been more time, or more weapons, or…
No. She cut her own thoughts off, not dwelling on the hypotheticals when she was in the middle of evading a very serious threat nearby.
Once she was a far enough distance from them, Clementine got to her feet and bolted as fast as she could. The snow was deep and difficult terrain to travel through, but she pushed on and on, never once looking back.
Memories flashed before her eyes - Troy giving advice not to be so hasty stepping through the deep snow, for walkers were often hidden underneath. It was a good tactic, and she'd insisted she wasn't normally that reckless, but something instinctive continued pushing her forward. The desire to escape was so prominent in her mind, she wasn't even thinking of slowing down and checking for danger below.
She had no idea where she was even going, thesurrounding snow whipping at her face. The snowflakes felt more like shards of ice, digging into her face without mercy. But she kept going, gulping for air as she pushed her body to its limit; towering way above her head were the forest trees, their branches distorting into grisly claws. They seemed to chase after her, faster than any walker or killer and never-ending.
A steep hill revealed itself in the distance, but she had no trouble trudging up it as quickly as she could. However, the moment she began to descend down it on the other side, her foot struck something unexpectedly. A large rock, deeply embedded into the ground, knocked her off-balance.
Swallowing a cry of surprise, she wobbled and tried to keep steady, but it was a losing battle. The rock was too large and the stop in movement too sudden, so she went down, down, down into the thick snow.
She tumbled over the hill, her body violently tossed around. Her world flipped upside down, the brightness of the frozen tundra blinding. Eyes squeezed shut, she braced herself for impact - but unfortunately, she collided with the bottom of the hill rather forcefully.
As soon as she hit the white of the snow, the whole world went black.
"...Clem? Clementine!"
The girl's eyes burst open and she snapped up, mind desperately trying to place where she was and if there were any threats nearby. The world was hazy and dark, memories fluttering through her mind - tauntingly just out of reach, of course.
Her head swiveled back and forth, trying to register the sights before her. A gentle vibration coursed through her, swaying her rhythmically, and she could hear the churning of mechanics just below her. It was warm, indicating she was out of the snow (inside?), but so many things felt wrong. Her whole body seemed tinier and more fragile, and her hair was longer, just tickling the back of her neck.
Blinking a few times, her vision finally cleared and she registered what was just in front of her - or rather, who.
"Lee…?"
The man was seated beside her, looking puzzled as though she was the one out of place here. Her heart skipped a beat as she stared, slack-jawed, at the man who had given everything to her - even his own life.
"It's just a bad dream, sweet pea."
Clementine's gaze once more swept through her surroundings, realizing she was back in the RV with Lee. Kenny and Katjaa were up in the driving seats, the murmurs amongst themselves most likely about what to do with Duck. Nearby, Ben was nodding off with a pistol in his hand, the tip pointed across the table from him, towards Lilly. The woman looked haunted, her eyes studying her hands in shock, as though she couldn't believe what she'd just done.
This scene was achingly familiar, and Clementine could remember every last detail, but it made no sense. She was older now, and this all happened so long ago… didn't it?
"What was it about?" Lee's question brought her focus back to him. "Duck?"
"He's… bit…" Clementine heard herself say, her voice sounding younger.
"We don't know how this works yet," Lee pressed. "Who knows? Maybe it's like a cold. His mom's a doctor, maybe she can help him."
Oh, Clementine wished she could believe his words, but she knew much better now. Her mind searched for memories to justify her feeling of disgust, and they weren't hard to find. She thought of the more recent case of Nick showing the group his bite and asking to be put down, and the sadness in both his and Sarah's eyes. And then there was Troy's recounting of his niece, and how his brother had refused to believe anything was wrong until it was much too late.
Then she saw Lee, lifeless and chained to a radiator in a small office, his face bloody and his eyes already dead.
"It's not like a cold," she murmured as she returned to 'reality'.
Lee nodded sadly, as though he could read her mind and memories. "No, it's probably not."
They fell back into silence, and a question kept nagging Clementine in the back of her mind.
"Are you… are you proud of me, Lee?" she asked, holding her breath. Truthfully, she'd wondered this for ages now, constantly thinking about whether or not Lee approved of all that she'd done.
She knew that Lee wouldn't know what she was truly thinking about, but it was still a relief when he replied, "Of course I am, Clem. You're the smartest, toughest kid I know."
"I don't feel so tough or smart right now," she admitted, fidgeting a bit. "I can't even protect the people I care about."
Lee quirked an eyebrow. "Do you mean Duck?" he asked, eyes flicking towards the front of the RV. "You know that's not your fault at all, Clem."
Of course, she didn't expect Lee to see into the future or read her mind, but his ignorance was still painful. He had no idea what he would face after this scene in the RV - what she would also face.
Clementine looked around the RV again, locking eyes with Lilly for a moment. The woman broke contact first, turning her head away to stare at the wall. With a frown, Clementine asked, "Why did you… choose to bring Lilly with us?"
"I don't know," Lee admitted. "We both saw what she did. There's no excusing that, no going back from it. But when I looked her in the eyes, it was like… I couldn't make myself leave her. I didn't want to be responsible for another person dyin' out there, Clem - no matter who it was."
Clementine felt her heartbeat quicken at his words - at how familiar they seemed.
"What do you think?" Lee whispered, his own gaze sweeping over Lilly and Ben. "Should we have left her behind?"
"No." The answer came so naturally and clearly.
"Maybe we should've. I don't know if we did the right thing."
"How can you tell?"
"Well," Lee explained, "it's not like math, Clem. There isn't always a right answer. You just… take each situation as it is. It sounds cheesy, but… you should trust your heart."
Those words were so like Lee. Emotions welled up in Clementine's chest, and she felt the beginnings of tears sting her eyes.
"That's a good thing to say - you're a good person, Lee," she whispered.
"I don't know about that, but I'll take your word for it. Thank you, Clem." He let out a soft chuckle, the sound making her heart ache. "You're a good person, too."
Was she? Clementine was trying her absolute best, that much was true, but was she truly a good person?
"Thank you," she breathed, despite herself. "And… and I'm sorry." Closing her eyes, she pressed her head into his shoulder. If she concentrated hard enough, she could feel the fabric of his jacket, smell the strange mix of blood and soap on his clothes… she wanted to soak in every piece of him here that she could no longer in reality. She wanted to remember this moment, as if it were really happening now.
A hand patted the top of her head, and she smiled softly at the comfort that hand gave her. "You don't have anything to be sorry for, Clementine," Lee murmured, his tone as gentle as ever.
But I do. He had no idea how many people's deaths she felt guilty for - how much she still blamed herself for Lee's death.
Perhaps the trauma of nearly shooting Troy in the almost exact same way she did Lee had opened up these terrible memories in her subconscious. It reminded her just how useless she was to save people, no matter who they were.
"Is something on your mind, Clem?" Lee murmured, as if he could sense her worries.
She had so much she wanted to say to Lee, so much she wanted to tell him about how she kept trying in vain to follow in his footsteps, not to mention how useless she'd felt in general… but none of the words would come. Instead, she could only confess something recent that weighed heavily on her mind - the last thing she thought about before blacking out, to be exact.
"I keep messing up and people keep dying," she blurted out, squeezing her eyes shut. "My friend… is dead, and he died to save me."
Am I even worth it? Why did people keep risking their lives for her? Clearly it didn't have any payoff for them in the end, so why…?
"Well, maybe it's like we were saying before, about Lilly," Lee suggested. "At the time, Troy just knew what had to happen. You can't blame yourself for any of that."
Her eyes widened further, not registering the context of his words. "You think so…?"
Lee kept gently patting her head. "Clem, I can't speak for him, but… he probably sensed the end, and decided to go out doing something good." The man smiled, the peacefulness in his eyes comforting. "At least, I know that's how I felt, when it was time for me. And I could never regret it."
She paused for a moment, the words settling in before finally, she recognized Lee couldn't have known about his own death or Troy at all. The words he chose weren't what he said in the real RV. At that realization, the world trembled around her, more violently than the simple swaying of the motor engine.
"Wait… Lee, how do you know about-?" Before she could ask him what he meant, the world around her began shifting.
No, not yet! She'd grown too comfortable in this setting, in her early and innocent role, and found herself wanting to stay. But what she wanted never quite worked out, and reality latched itself onto her tightly.
The images of Lee and the RV blotched out of focus, dissolving completely before her eyes.
"...Clem? Clem!" The world around her slowly faded back into view, blurs of white shifting into focus. The humming of the RV's engine had been replaced with cruel gusts of wind, bringing back the cold of the blizzard to chill her to the bone. Her whole body was shaking and it took a few seconds for her brain to realize she was shivering, but at least there was a source of warmth nearby: two arms held her steady, belonging to another familiar face.
Against her bright surroundings, Clementine spotted Sarah's dark hair and striking red glasses. The older girl's expression softened from fear to relief, a gentle sigh escaping her lips.
Letting out a small laugh, tears sprung to Sarah's eyes as she wrapped her arms around her friend. A sob tore through her as she tightened her grip, burying her face in Clementine's shoulder.
"Oh my God, it feels like forever since we've seen each other," she whispered with a hiccup. "I don't know what I would've done if I never saw you again."
Clementine still felt stunned from her dream, and her mind couldn't process much beyond what was right in front of her. So for the moment, she chose to just return the hug, eyes squeezing shut and her own tears pricking at the edges of her eyes.
"I-I'm okay," she assured, patting her friend's back comfortingly. Truthfully, the words were as much for Sarah as they were for herself; yes, she was physically alright - despite all that had happened, she wasn't bitten or even harmed. Her heart felt heavy in her chest and her breaths felt shaky and weak, but at least she was alive.
Sarah finally let go of her, wiping away a tear. "I'm just… so, so relieved. When we found you in the snow, everyone was afraid you'd- B-but you woke up!"
Clementine smiled, letting out a little laugh. "Of course. You said I'm a tough cookie, didn't you?"
With a little amused giggle, Sarah nodded. "The toughest, for sure." She leaned back on her knees, allowing her friend even more room.
The air was still cold, but Clementine noted that the snow had slowed down somewhat; it was no longer impossible to see a few feet in front of her, and her range of vision was much larger now. As soon as she looked beyond Sarah, she almost immediately noticed another person standing nearby.
Her spirits lifted.
"Kenny…!" she exclaimed. She struggled to her feet, hurrying over to the older man and hugging his middle, eyes tightly closed. It wasn't until she had her arms wrapped around him did she notice the bundle of blankets in his arms, nestled right above her head. She could feel the tension built up in her shoulders relax, and a long alleviated sigh left her as she heard the familiar cooing. "And AJ…!" The infant looked unharmed - completely content, in fact.
"He's safe," Kenny assured her. "Thank God you're both safe, now." The relief was practically tangible as his voice shook with emotion, his eye growing misty.
A smile settled onto her lips and she chuckled a bit. "How did you…?" she began, but he cut her off gently.
"I went ahead a little and found Tavia'n her truck," he explained. "Crazy bitch left the doors unlocked, so once she left, I hopped on in and grabbed AJ. The truck's turned off but if we could find the keys, it's definitely still drivable."
"Tavia might have them on her," Clementine mused.
Kenny arched an eyebrow. "And, uh, where is Tavia?"
"She's… taken care of," Clementine replied, not wanting to explain further. "We might be able to find the keys, we might not." She didn't want to think about the other things she'd find with Tavia's corpse.
Blinking, Kenny replied, "Alright. Well, I suppose we can go lookin' in a bit, then. Good news is, I found these guys without much trouble." He nodded knowingly behind him.
Quickly, Clementine scoped her gaze beyond those in front of her and instantly noticed more people nearby. Mike, Jane, and Bonnie were standing around almost awkwardly, staring as though they'd interrupted something private. In the distance, she could see the truck from the safehouse, engine still running and puffing out hot air.
"And then we all went searching for you!" Sarah added.
The notion that her friends all thought to regroup and look for her made Clementine well up with emotion. She couldn't help but feel touched and appreciated - it seemed her role in the group really mattered to all of them, and that made her happy beyond words.
Though she had about a thousand more questions, Clementine had one in particular niggling at the back of her mind: "Where's Arvo?"
"Back at the safehouse," Mike replied. "He said he'd stay behind, remember?"
It was fuzzy, but she did recall the teen saying something like that. She nodded slowly, sweeping her eyes across her friends. They all seemed safe and in one piece, which was almost a surprise given how much things had sucked lately. It was refreshing to see, but also just a temporary state of safety.
But enough of those worries for now. "What about the guards…?" Clementine inquired, remembering the last time she'd contacted Sarah was to warn her of the approaching danger.
Jane pointed back to the truck. "Got 'em right there," she said dryly.
Clementine had to squint and maneuver a bit, but it was just as Jane said: both Vera and Tyler were seated in the rear of the vehicle, bound with ropes around their torsos and wrists. Tyler's eyes were focused towards the ground, but Vera held her sights straight at the group, almost trying to kill them with her glare alone.
"I'm glad you caught them," Clementine commented, watching Vera's eyes narrow further into slits.
Bonnie nodded. "We managed to ambush them before they could do anything. Good thing y' warned us beforehand."
"It was pretty easy to get 'em tied up with everyone workin' together," Mike added. "Even Arvo did his part - as well as he could, anyway."
Clementine beamed, invigorated by the thought of her friends all banding together to fight off a threat. Things truly were better as a team; it took a severe conflict to realize it, but she was glad it was realized all the same.
"I'm just thankful no one was hurt," Sarah murmured. She paused to look around their group, head bobbing slightly at each person as if she was taking count. "Um… come to think of it… we're not all here yet, are we? Where's Troy?"
That simple question caused Clementine's heart to wrench, remembering the reality of his fate all-too-clearly. The image of his walker variant was so crystal clear, she could almost see him struggling in the snow before her.
"Did you manage to get him to come with you…?" Sarah asked, her words growing quieter and quieter the more she looked at Clementine's grieving expression.
"He was supposed to," the younger girl sighed.
The implications behind her words must have been obvious, judging by the way Sarah's expression lit up with shock and then fell. The older girl closed her eyes for a moment, brow furrowed and fists shaking at her sides.
"Oh," she muttered, looking frustrated and hurt. "This… this sucks."
Clementine nodded solemnly in agreement. "You can say that again."
Everyone seemed to take pause as the information sunk in, the realization that the more mouthy member of their party was now gone. Clementine knew she had trouble believing it; no matter how many people she lost, she still didn't ever get used to them being gone.
In the end, no one said anything for Troy, but they all simultaneously decided to form a respectful moment of silence for him. In a way, Clementine figured that was most appropriate for him, and probably was what he would've wanted - no 'rest in peace bullshit', as he'd probably scoff.
"Vera? Vera, what the hell do you think you're-"
A sudden voice broke through the silence. It seemed while everyone had been lost in their own thoughts, Vera took advantage of the opportunity to suddenly crawl out of the truck. As she hit the snow with a loud thump, Tyler leaned over the edge and had called after her. She ignored him and hauled herself to her feet, shooting a glare at the group.
"Fuck you all!" she snarled. "How… how dare you kill literally everyone that meant anything! I'm fucking done with all of it! With all of you!" Spitting on the ground in front of her, she began to back away.
"Vera, please stop. Think about what you're doin'!" Tyler yelled, shaking his head in protest. His words were not enough to stop her, though. Vera continued to go backwards until she was at a reasonable distance, then turned tail and charged blindly through the snow.
"No, don't…!" Clementine called after her, knowing what probably lurked nearby. But Vera ignored her warning, continuing to charge up the nearby hill. All the while, she laughed as if she'd made some great escape - but she failed to notice the familiar walker stumbling into view behind her.
It was faint, but Clementine could see the outline of Tavia, her arms swinging in front of her. Vera's restraints only required more effort to move with, and kept her from being able to fight back.
So just as Troy had to her, the now-walker Tavia latched onto Vera, sinking her teeth into Vera's neck. With a piercing scream, Vera went down, Tavia following her, and the two of them tumbled down the hill and collapsed in a heap. From there, it turned into the typical scene of a walker having a meal - with Tavia ripping out strings of muscle from Vera's throat.
"Shit," Mike said, sucking in air through his teeth. He pulled out a gun - presumably one of those they had back at the safehouse - and released two bullets, one into each woman's head. The shots echoed through the sky, finally signaling the end of a long conflict. Vera and Tavia's bodies slumped together, a mixture of black and red blood pooling out to stain the white below them.
Everyone collectively let out a sigh. It wasn't a happy end by any means, but it wasn't as if they had any choice.
Kenny sighed, shaking his head. "Guess we can get what we need now." And without further ceremony, he bent down and looted the keys from Tavia's corpse. "That's that, I suppose."
"Well, it ain't over just yet…" Bonnie said, casting a glance over at their remaining prisoner.
In turn, everyone at once turned to Tyler, unsure of how to regard him. He blinked back at them, coolly holding his gaze steady. Despite trying to stop Vera, it seemed he wasn't very fazed by his boss eating one of his coworkers.
"If it means anythin'," he rasped, frowning, "I have no intentions to fight anymore - I just want to leave. I'm the last one left of Howe's now, I think."
"Probably. But why should we let you live?" Jane hissed. "Everything considered, I don't think you've earned that right."
"I… I don't necessarily think so, either, but…"
Kenny scowled. "But what? You expect mercy? Like fuckin' hell!"
Tyler opened his mouth to respond, but Clementine stepped between them. "If we kill him now, while we have him defenseless, it makes us no better than Tavia - than Carver," she said, turning pointedly to Jane and Kenny.
It truly hurt her to let this man go, but if she advocated for his death now… well, she would've learned nothing from her experience saving Troy.
"I'm with Clem," Sarah said, her voice clear and firm. "I'm… so, so sick of people dying."
Kenny and Jane in particular didn't seem happy, but they didn't argue against the decision. Tyler's shoulders relaxed and he let out a sigh of relief; the sight only angered Clementine, as he had the nerve to feel safe around them.
She hadn't forgotten he'd helped beat Troy to death.
"I'm alright with not killin' him," Bonnie said, crossing her arms, "but… should we really untie him? Or just let him go like that?"
[ Untie Tyler ]
[ Keep Tyler tied up ]
"Untie him," Clementine decided, knowing she was putting everyone at risk. But while she didn't trust and definitely hated him, she at least didn't want to straight-up sentence him to death out in the forest. It wasn't like she'd be giving him a weapon, either - and now that he was without allies, she didn't imagine him returning to seek revenge.
Tyler lowered his head. "Thank you. Really - I won't bother you again," he promised.
Before anyone else could move to free him, Clementine took out her knife. Her eyes stared into Tyler's, down at the blade of the knife, and then back up again. If he didn't know the weapon's origin, perhaps he could pick up its importance - not that she'd clarify anything, anyway.
And just like that, the knife - still stained with both Lowell's and Troy's blood - cut through the ropes and set the last of the Howe's crew free. The group fell silent, all eyes on their enemy as he stretched his limbs.
Clementine wanted to regret cutting him loose, wanted him to prove that he was as hellbent on revenge as Vera so they'd put him down - but above all, she just felt numb about the whole thing.
What did it matter? Whether they killed Tyler or left him tied up for the walkers, it wouldn't change anything - nor would it bring back the dead.
She was just so tired after the recent emotional turmoil. Her adrenaline was finally ebbing away, making room for sheer exhaustion. More than anything, she wanted to get out of the snow, and take a goddamn rest.
Jane's cold tone cut through the silence. "Get out of here before we change our minds."
Tyler nodded and politely thanked them again, running up the hill, over the bodies, and into the distance. This time, there was no run-in with walkers - or at least, none that they could hear. He disappeared into the white, hopefully never to be seen again.
Just like that, there were no more Howe's members pursuing them. Sarah in particular - being the last survivor of the cabin group - must have felt the most relief from this fact, but Clementine couldn't deny the joy it brought her, as well.
"It's finally over," she breathed.
It didn't feel over, but for the moment, it looked like all relevant loose ends were tied up. Of course, she knew there was something missing, something not addressed yet, but she didn't get the chance to acknowledge it.
"But Clem… what will we do now?" Sarah asked. "I mean… now that we're not being chased or captured anymore… where do we even go from here?"
That was a good question; unfortunately, Clementine barely had the strength to consider an answer. She was still shaken up from her experience with Tavia - not to mention her dream. Luckily, Kenny piped up before she had to really think of a response.
"Isn't it obvious?" The older man scoffed. "Now that those assholes are gone, we stick to the original plan: gettin' AJ to Wellington."
The rest of the group grew quiet, exchanging glances with one another. Clementine could tell right away by their expressions that they didn't exactly agree.
Jane was the one to step forward. "It's stupid going all that way for something that may not be worth it, Kenny. I'm going back to Howe's." Beside her, Mike and Bonnie murmured their agreements.
"What?" Kenny squawked, incredulously.
"Not like Tavia intended, trust me. But it's got walls, food… with some fixing up, we'd be safe for a while." Jane crossed her arms, looking almost unsure. She was trying to hide it, but it was obvious she was also a bit shaken - was it because of Troy? Clementine supposed she'd never truly know, nor was it her business to ask.
If Kenny noticed her uneasiness, he didn't show it. "Are you kiddin'? That place don't have enough bad memories attached to it?" He snorted, shaking his head. "How long do you think it'll stand before another group'a assholes attacks? Or maybe even the one we just let go comes back for revenge."
Clementine was about to point out her earlier observations of Tyler not caring enough to return, but she decided to keep her mouth shut.
"I don't doubt we could take anyone that comes our way," Jane snapped.
Bonnie cleared her throat. "If it's worth pointin' out, we're much closer to Howe's."
"Might as well make it ours," Mike agreed. "We got some supplies back with Arvo at the safehouse - we can all ride back there and pick 'em up."
Sarah shuffled her feet awkwardly, playing with the hem of her sleeves. "I, um… I want to go back to Howe's, too. It… may give me a chance to really say goodbye to Dad."
Clementine smiled at her friend's decision, realizing that this would be a huge step in the girl's life. Huge, but necessary.
Kenny looked all around the group, the realization that he was in the minority dawning on him. "Well, that's all peachy keen, but AJ needs a place like Wellington the most."
Realizing she needed to shift her thinking for the moment, Clementine decided to focus on AJ's needs first and foremost. Where would he need to be to grow up as healthy, happy, and safe as he could?
Would AJ thrive at Howe's, or be put more in danger as they fixed everything up? Could she honestly say she'd protect him without fail?
She remembered Troy talking about Kylie's fate, how he'd thought everything was secure on the outside of the place and a simple oversight caused her to be bitten. Who was to say that couldn't happen again - with a much easier target this time around?
Wellington was a bit of a gamble, but if word was true, he'd have a much better time settling into that community. The winters would be harsh, but the cold would keep walkers away, and they probably had much better resources too - maybe even some other kids.
Did the mystery shrouding Wellington outweigh the risks Howe's obviously held for an infant?
"I think… I think Kenny's right. Wellington may be best for AJ," Clementine admitted. "It'd be easy to transport him there with Tavia's truck, too."
Kenny lit up. "I couldn't agree more, Clem. And hell, we just got the little guy back, too - I ain't lettin' him go again anytime soon."
She nodded, agreeing with his point - after all they'd gone through to retrieve AJ, perhaps jeopardizing his life further at Howe's wasn't the smartest idea.
"So, it's settled," Kenny declared after a few moments. "The rest'a y'all can do whatever the fuck you want, but Clem and I will be takin' him to Wellington."
Something in her protested to his words immediately, but she couldn't reply right away. The intense emotion behind his eye made her shrink back, afraid to speak up just yet. He truly expected her to go with him - something she would've been willing to do at one point, but now…
Now, it was a bit more difficult. After everything she'd gone through, everything and everyone she'd lost… didn't seem worth it to travel all that way and put that strain on her body. More than anything, she wanted to rest and feel safe for a while.
And she knew Kenny wouldn't want to wait - he hadn't wanted to stay a minute longer at Parker's Run than they had to. The man was impatient and protective of AJ, and wouldn't accept holding on so she could solidify her choice.
Her heart sped up and she could feel her breath go shaky, but after all she'd encountered today, Kenny definitely didn't seem all that intimidating.
"Wait, I- I don't know," she admitted, studying the ground.
"What? You just said he'd be better at Wellington," Kenny protested, eyebrows crinkled down in confusion.
"And I meant that. I just don't know where I choose to go yet."
Clementine quickly cast her gaze over at Sarah, studying the worried expression on her friend's face. It wasn't like Sarah would try to hold her back from leaving if she chose, but she also would have trouble in her absence.
Could she just abandon Sarah, after everything? The older girl still needed to be taught more, and Clementine promised to take up her gun instruction at least.
It became clear to her, now: though she was just a kid, it was obvious she was needed here at Howe's, as well. Perhaps she was meant to be a leader, after all.
And yet… on the other hand, she didn't want to say goodbye to Kenny again, either. It seemed she was faced with yet another dilemma, this decision seeming particularly heavy and pivotal.
Was she going to choose to be a part of AJ's life growing up, or support the majority of the friends she'd already made?
Should she go with Kenny, or Sarah?
[ Go to Wellington ]
[ Stay at Howe's ]
"I want to go back to Howe's," she decided with a nod. Sarah visibly brightened, but Kenny's face fell.
"Clem…" he began.
"I- I'm sorry, Kenny," she whispered, feeling a lump form in her throat. It truly hurt her to leave him, especially since they'd only recently reunited, but she had to trust her own intuition. This would be best for her - she truly believed that.
"Are- are y' sure?"
"I'm sure."
Kenny closed his eye tightly, taking a deep breath and holding AJ closer to his chest. "I- okay, Clem. Look at you, all grown up. If this is absolutely what you want, I can't stop you." Despite himself, he forced a smile; he was clearly doing it to cheer her up, but she could see right through him.
"It is. But AJ needs someone to take him to Wellington - someone to raise him." Clementine smiled despite the pain in her chest. "Someone who already has experience being a dad."
"Oh, darlin'..." Kenny brought his arms around her again. The embrace was as comforting and familiar as ever, but also held a degree of sadness this time. She could practically feel the farewell in the delicate way he held her close.
"You'll do great," she insisted, fully believing her words. "And if anything goes wrong - anything - come back, okay? We'll be here."
Kenny's eye twinkled, and he nodded. "Of course."
"We should go back to the safehouse first, anyway - to regroup and assign supplies to everyone," Mike suggested.
"That's true," Bonnie agreed. "We can divide everythin' up and let Kenny take what he needs for AJ."
Jane nodded. "It doesn't have to be a goodbye right here and now, Clem - save it for when we're inside and warm."
Clementine nodded and opened her mouth to reply, but the sound of faint growls nearby cut her off. Everyone jumped, high-alert and ready, and turned in the direction of the noise. But the source really couldn't be classified as a threat - far from it, really.
A single walker crawled down the hill, slowly dragging itself towards them. It must have followed the noise, or the trails of rotten blood left in the snow by Tavia. It staggered pitifully, its single arm scrabbling and head whipping back and forth, blindly searching for food in the midst of deep snow.
"Oh, fuck…" Mike said, sucking in air through his teeth.
"Troy," Sarah whispered.
No one said anything more, simply staring at the creature with mild, morbid fascination. The transformation from wise-cracking human asshole to… that was unnerving for sure, and Clementine nearly watched it happen in real time.
"Looks like I'll have to have a goodbye here after all," Clementine sighed, shaking her head and turning to the others. "I'm going to go take care of him - he was my responsibility from the start, so I'm ending this." Her pistol was still at her side, its only bullet meant for Troy.
"Do you want me to go with you…?" Sarah offered, a bit hesitant despite her words.
Clementine shook her head. She knew she could handle it - provided she took a meaningful pause to collect herself. Holding her breath for a few moments, she mentally counted to ten. When she released the air, she felt more ready.
This was promised, after all.
"I'll be right back."
God, he looked even more feeble up close - like she could just step on him and he'd shatter into a million pieces. She couldn't help but wonder if he'd feel offended at that observation - knowing him, he'd probably scoff and curse at her for it.
Crouching near the wobbling creature, she placed a hand on her chin. "I thought you didn't want to be a walker," she snarked, quirking a brow. "Right? But you insisted on this. You still died alone." Despite herself, Clementine's heart fell at her own words, realizing that he truly was gone now.
She didn't want to think of how he must have felt, both freezing and bleeding to death below the snow. He'd died at the right time, though, just as he'd predicted; it was almost eerie how well his plan had worked. In other universes, Clementine was sure things never would have happened quite as conveniently - but she was kind of thankful they did.
It wasn't like it all turned out well or okay, but it did happen as Troy intended - and she had to give him credit for it.
"I think everyone had just gotten used to you, Troy - and of course, you die and make us all miss you." It was almost appropriate for how much he protested their group in life; it figured he'd finally find his place after death.
She was about to thank him again, one last time, but swallowed the words. There was no way he could hear her, anyway, and the thought of the words just worsened the lump in her throat. So instead of lamenting, she raised the pistol, studying his broken form.
With only one limb working, he struggled to even move; had it not been for the element of surprise, he definitely would've been no match for Tavia. But in the end, he did it - and that was something Clementine would never forget.
"You're an idiot," she chastised, the words sort of cathartic. "You have a chance to be good, and you choose your old ways. Then you decide you don't want that, so you save us… only to admit what you did and get yourself killed."
He obviously wasn't listening, but she continued nonetheless, on an anguished rant she didn't want to stop.
"You- you don't think, do you? You put me in this position - as if putting you down while you were alive wasn't bad enough." She heaved a sigh, shaking her head. "I hate this - I hate that you're making me do this."
Though Troy was trying his hardest to get her, Clementine didn't move a muscle. It was kind of strange, but this was one of the only times she felt assured of her own safety around a walker; though she'd initially been paralyzed with fear as he took down Tavia, now she could see he was absolutely no threat.
Nibbling on her lip, she began, "And y'know what? You'd probably be mad at me for saying this, but…" Her voice trailed off, and she paused to think over her words. "All that acting tough and hardcore, but look at you now. You make a pretty sad excuse for a walker."
Troy, obviously, gave no indication of hearing her; he just growled and shuffled closer to her. His arm shot out towards her, weakly clawing at the air; she moved about half and inch to the side, and was able to make him miss her completely and fall to a heap on the ground.
Pausing, she lifted the gun towards his head, half-expecting to be interrupted again this time - like the universe itself was trying to stop her from putting Troy out of his misery. Well, the universe could fuck off - after all he'd done to, against, and for Clementine, she decided to give him this mercy.
"Yeah, you're definitely a pathetic walker," she scoffed. Her lips curled to a sad smile. "But… all-in-all, a pretty okay human."
And this time, she was able to pull the trigger.