Hello once again friend and fans, Sorry I took so long getting back to you. This Coronavirus shit's been a right kick up the arse for my job and my family. Nonetheless. As long as I'm healthy and alive, I'll continue to make these stories to provide entertainment for you all and hopefully get you through this tough time. Read and Enjoy!xxxooo
Ericson's boarding school for troubled youth, Somewhere in West Virginia. November 14th, the eighth year of the dead
''Argh! I can't fucking do anything!'' Clementine grunted in frustration as she flopped herself onto one of the couches in the school's courtyard, throwing her crutches to the ground as she lied on her back and staring up at the clear blue sky. They had pretty decent weather today, good humidity too. Though, there was clear evidence that it was still autumn. The leaves on the trees had fallen and the trees now looked bare. It took both Louis and Aasim two whole days to clear the area of fallen leaves!
But even the nice weather or the company of the members of her small community couldn't cure the immense depression she felt of not being able to pull her own weight around and helping the people she swore a personal oath to protect. Two months ago, a group of raiders from a larger community named Delta lead by one of Clementine's old 'friends': Lily, came to the school. She wanted to capture them all and brainwash them into soldiers to fight in a war they had with another community up north for reasons unknown to her. They assaulted the school, killed Mitch and captured Aasim, Omar and Violet. Clementine then lead a rescue mission with a little reluctant help from James, a young man who lived under self-imposed exile from another group called 'The Whisperers' that have learned how to live among the herds, sometimes even guide them!
They infiltrated the ship and saved the captives before destroying the boat after AJ killed Lily...he then shot Tenn and left him to be killed by walkers to save Louis life. However, Clemintine was bitten on the foot during the struggle against the herd on the way back to the school and AJ cut it off with a fire axe to save her life. Now, after spending weeks in bed, she now walked around in crutches. At first, she enjoyed the break from work but then she started to feel more like a burden to the group as the days went by.
''Look at me'' Clemintine groaned to Violet, who sat sitting on the other end of the couch ''I can't go outside the walls to hunt or fish, I can't run to play with AJ, I can't defend myself against walkers, I can't even cliumb up that tower to take lookout duty! God, I'm so fucking useless now!'' she finished her rant as Rosie approached her and bumped her head in her hand affectionately with a lick. Clemintine smiled a little at her adopted pet, she would've never guessed her justified fear of dogs could be so easily cured.
''Hey, don't be so hard on yourself sugar cube'' Ruby assured her as she walked to her from the main building with a fresh new bandage and disinfectant ''Now, keep still. I gotta change ya dressin''' she knelt down and started tending to the stump.
''I mean, It could be so much worse'' Violet shrugged ''You could've died or worse, became a walker''
''I guess so'' Clemintine sighed ''But still, I'm supposed to be the leader of this group. I should be the one looking after all of you, not the other way around-Ahh!'' she yelped in pain from the disinfectant Ruby applied ''Goddamit Ruby! That hurt!''
''Sorry darlin''' Ruby blushed ''It's disinfectant, It's supposed to sting a little''
''Hey'' Louis chimed as he strolled by with Aasim trailing behind him, holding a rake. He flashed his girlfriend a cheeky grin ''Ya know, if those crutches are still bugging ya, I could always carry you around the place. Bridal style 24/7'' he winked at her. Clementine just rolled her eyes ''No thanks weirdo'' she said.
Louis pouted childishly ''Aww man, my feeling are hurt now''
''My leg fucking hurts'' Clemintine replied. Louis huffed playfully ''Good one''
''Why are you so down Clem? You should be happy'' Aasim smiled ''Having everyone here doing all the work for you, You're being treated like a queen right now! How would grow tried of that?''
''The one whose spent the past eight years surviving by herself, killing walkers with only a five year old boy as company'' Clemintine answered before she sighed as Ruby tied the new bandage up ''Look, I appreciate all the hard work you're all doing to help me, I really do but...I just feel so guilty about being the only one who doesn't pitch in and pull her weight around. And what if we become attacked by raiders again? I won't be able to defend myself against them or protect any of you from either them or any walkers that get through the gate. And if AJ or Louis-'' she croaked at the thought of herself watching helplessly as AJ and Louis get either shot or eaten alive in front of her. She let a few tears fall down her cheeks.
''Oh Clem'' Louis dashed to her side ''Don't think like that'' he cooed softly to her as he stroked her hair ''It'll never happen. AJ knows how to handle himself pretty well. After all, you're the one who trained him how to use a gun right?' he asked.
''Yeah, I guess you're right'' Clemintine smiled softly.
''And besides, we know how to handle ourselves too'' Omar frowned with determination ''If those raiders ever came back, I will not allow myself or any of my friends to be taken again! You've taught us how to fight Clem. You did what Marlon tried and failed to do. You helped us all!''
The other kids cheered an agreement.
''Thanks, guys'' Clemintine lifted her spine back to a sitting position ''But still, What help am I to you now? I can't help you gather food or water. All I can do is limp around, giving orders and offer advice and emotional support and be another mouth to feed'' she then grabbed her crutches and used all the muscles in her arms to lift herself up. She looked towards the crowd of kids and gave them a look of defeat ''But there is something vital that I can do...and that's to stay out of your way. If any of you need me, I'll be in my room'' she nodded before limping her way up the stairs.
Rosie began to follow her up the stairs before Clemintine looked back at her.
''No Rosie, stay'' she ordered as she continued up the stairs. Rosie still followed her.
''Rosie, I said stay!'' she snapped, Rosie stopped and whimpered. Clemintine awed in realization and limped over to the loyal animal ''Rosie, I know you love me but I just don't want you to waste your life with someone as useless as me'' she rubbed the top of the dogs head. She replied with a small bark and a lick as if to say ''You're not useless to me''
''Clem!'' the voice of a young boy caught her attention. She turned back to see AJ and Willy running back from the tables towards her.
''Hey goofball'' she offered him a small smile.
''Clem, are you okay?'' AJ noticed the sadness behind her smile. He may be a five year old kid but he wasn't stupid by a long shot. He could tell that something was bugging the woman he looked to as a mother figure for the past two years
''Yeah, I'm fine AJ'' Clemintine sniffed and wiped her nose with her sleeve ''I just need some sleep, see ya later AJ'' she turned herself towards the main building and climbed up the stairs, closing the door behind her.
The group all looked towards each-other in uncertainty and remorse for their crippled leader. Louis dug his hands in his pockets and whistled anonymously.
''What's eating her?'' Willy asked Aasim.
''She's sad'' he answered ''She thinks she's a burden to the group because of her, you know-'' he paused to find the correct word.
''Missing foot?'' Ruby suggested.
''Yeah'' Aasim nodded to her with a smile, which she blushed at ''That's why she's been so down in the dumps lately''
Meanwhile, AJ was looking at the door he just saw Clemintine walk into.
''AJ, little buddy'' Louis placed his hand on his shoulder ''What's wrong?''
''Aasim said Clem is sad'' AJ said ''I don't want her to be sad. I don't like it when she's upset''
''Me too buddy'' Louis looked at the door with a glum expression ''Me too...I wanna make her happy. To see her smile again, her radiant smile. I would do anything to see that again''
''What does radiant mean?'' AJ looked up to him in confusion.
''Well, I err'' Louis blew a breath of desperation, thinking of a way to dig himself out of the hole he created ''I-I'll tell you when you're older'' he finished as they both walked back to the courtyard.
''Well, if anyone wants to hear some good news, we've just fixed the greenhouse'' Omar perked up. Hoping that it would lighten everyone's mood ''So, we'll be able to grow some fresh vegetables and herbs for the stews''
''That's great Omar'' Ruby smiled ''It'll be better, knowing we'll be getting some decent vitamins and nutrients in our diets from now on''
''Yeah, Clem'll be happy to hear that'' Willy gave off his signature toothy grin.
''I don't think Clem'll want to speak to anyone right now'' Violet commented.
Willy then groaned in annoyance ''She can't stay like this! She can't keep beating herself up over for what happened. It wasn't her fault AJ had to chop her leg off!''
''I didn't have to chop her foot off'' AJ defended himself ''She told me to kill her but I loved her too much to do that so I didn't!''
''Yeah, Willy'' Louis perked up ''None of this was AJ's fault. It was Lily's for coming here to fuck with all our heads and turning Minerva against us that caused Tenn to be killed and Clem to get bitten in the first place!''
''Guys!'' Aasim shouted to calm everyone down ''I don't know what the hell happened after we escaped that boat but fighting about is amongst ourselves won't resolve anything. Clem got bit, AJ cut her foot off and saved her. She's here now and alive, that's all that matters now''
''You're right Aassy'' Ruby hugged his arm affectionately ''And besides, what can we all do about it anyway?''
''Well, you have a point'' Violet folded her arms ''I mean, it's not like we can just make her a new foot or anything''
It was then, AJ had the most bizarre idea in the history of bizarre ideas. He remembered the promise he made to Clemintine long ago and if now's not a good time to live up to it, then he didn't know what was.
''Wait'' AJ begun ''Maybe we could...Yeah, I've got it! We'll make Clemintine a new foot!''
Everyone turned to him to dumbfounded looks before Louis laughed. His laugh continued for a few moments before he realized nobody was joining in with him ''Wait, are you serious?!''
AJ nodded ''If we made her a new foot, maybe she could learn to walk again and then she 'll be able to help out again and not be sad anymore!''
''But AJ listen'' Omar spoke ''Listen to yourself, what you've just said was completely impossible!''
''He's right sugercube'' Ruby nodded admittedly ''Now, don't get me wrong, I admire your enthusiasm but there's just no practicality in your suggestion''
''No!'' AJ shook his head ''There gotta be a way! There has to be and I won't give up until there is one!''
The group just stayed silent for a moment, processing the situation and brainstorming ideas as to what to say next to the boy.
''AJ'' Violet spoke eventually ''Even if we were able to make Clem a new foot, what would we use? Wood?''
Just then, Willy clicked his fingers and smailed widely ''Thats it!'' he cried in joy before he dashed off back inside the school and came back a moment later with a brown book.
''Look at this guys!'' he said as he slammed the book on the table and opened it up to find the page he was after ''In this book, it says that in the 17th century; pirates and sailers used to make fake legs out of wood and string whenever they needed to amputate their old ones in battle. And look, it even has an old blueprint on how they used to make them back then!''
''No way, really!'' Aasim said in disbelief as he looked at the page with the others.
''I think we could be on to something'' Louis smiled ''If we follow these instructions and work together, we could actually pull this off!''
''Well then, It's settled. We're making a new foot for Clemintine'' Ruby said, eyes burning with determination ''Now, we'll need wood, rope or string and maybe something for skin coating. Also, does anyone know what shoe size she is?'' she asked around the group ''Louis?''
''What?'' he asked with a shrug.
''You wouldn't happen to know what size her feet are, would ya?'' she asked with a slight grin ''I mean, you've seen her bare soles before right?''
''Errm'' Louis blushed ''N-no, we hadn't quite gotten that far in our relationship''
Aasim laughed as he imagined the embarrassment Louis felt right now, being put on the spot like that.
''Hey!'' AJ said ''The barn! Her old foot must still be in there! We could bring it back!''
''Errm'' Aasim squirmed a little ''Last time we went there, it was swarming with walkers.
''Yeah'' Louis joined in ''But that was a long time ago. Walkers never stay in the same place for too long so they must be gone by now. I'd say its worth the risk''
''I suppose so'' Aasim nodded'' Yeah, yeah, we could do that. We'll bring the old foot back here for scale on the new foot and if their's still some walkers over there, we'll kill them, skin them and bring their hides back here for the coating''
''What about wood and rope though'' Omar asked '''We don't have anything to cut down trees with''
''The shack!'' Violet suggested ''There's fallen planks of wood in there from the old roof and there's plenty of spare rope stored away in case we needed more fishing traps''
''We can use the school workshop to build it'' Willy said ''It has saws and superglue that we could all use''
''Okay so, Me, Aasim and AJ will go to the barn for the foot. Omar, Violet and Ruby, you guys'll head over to the shack to bring back wood and rope'' Louis planned ''If everything goes as planned, Clem'll be as happy as a clown by tomorrow morning!'' It was then he realized something ''Hey AJ.. you know when her birthday is?'' he asked. Aj shook his head ''No, she never told me''
''Rats'' Louis groaned ''Ah no matter, we'll just present her foot tomorrow as a Maybe-belated birthday present'' he shrugged it off.
''Yeehaw' Ruby exclaimed ''And we can throw her a hootenanny to celebrate!''
''Swear'' AJ frowned.
''Hootenanny ain't a swear kiddo'' Ruby stressed.
''Hey! What about me?'' Willy asked annoyed ''This was all my idea after all''
''Oh, right'' Louis said ''You'll have the most important job...You can stay here with Rosie and cover for us in case Clem comes out''
''Oh okay, what should I tell her?'' he asked.
''If she asks. Tell her we're out hunting for more food'' Louis instructed him as the group reached the gate ''And, you're on lookout duty''
''Hey suger'' Rudy said to Aasim affectionately ''You stay outta trouble mister''
''No trouble love'' Aasim smiled back as he grabbed his trusty bow and filleting knife ''No trouble'' he added before he grabbed her waist and pulled her in for a tender kiss Louis covered AJ's eyes until the pulled away.
''Alright' Louis spoke attentively ''Now that the mushy stuff's outta the way, Now we can get the stuff. See ya before sundown!'' he called out to Willy as the two groups of three went their separate paths in the woods with Willy standing guard at the watchtower with Rosie, bow in hand.
''Oh Rosie'' Willy sighed ''What to do to pass the time?''
Rosie just barked. Willy slowly smirked ''Great idea'' he said as he pulled down his zipper, his thoughts turned to what Clemintine would look like in a bikini. Before he did anything else, he fixed his gaze up at the reader ''Don't judge me''
End of the first chapter. Hope you all have enjoyed it. Favorite and follow if you have and remember, Stay safe and healthy! As Lee Everett once said; We will make it through his! Cheerio!xxxooo