Author's Notes: Happy 2021 everyone! Got a good one for you guys today, and there might be a multi-chapter release next week if I can get all the editing done on time. Things are really gonna start ramping up this year :)
9:17 AM — October 2, 2026
Dot [Ellie]
Navigating through the streets of Jackson on horseback was a challenge in itself, and Ellie tried to politely excuse herself as she made her way towards the gates. More than a few angry replies were thrown her way, but she chose to ignore them. Better to just get moving, before it was too late.
She knew that late nights and early mornings didn't mix. At least demanding to go along on Kat's trip had eventually proved successful, even if it did take a little convincing. After all, it was a slow week in the infirmary, and besides the tattoo that was still healing, she was no worse for wear. They needed her out there.
Arriving at the gates, several other riders awaited release from the town, the first one that Ellie noticed being Kat, who she waved to, a smile on her face. That was, until she noticed who else was there. Beside Carl, Lydia rode her own horse, that sheriff hat she liked to wear casting a shadow over her face in the morning light. Though, as much as her heart jumped at the thought of going on this thing with Lydia, the next face she recognized had her stopping her horse in his tracks.
Voice raspy, shock written into her wide-eyed expression, she found herself stuttering the girl's name. "C—Clementine?"
This time, she had to be hallucinating, right? There's no fucking way that was Clementine there, on that horse across the way, in Jackson. No fucking way.
Art [Clementine]
She didn't know what to do but wait, so she did. Not that it was any easy; sticking around town any longer than she had to was out of the question. Clementine wore her old '88' jersey, and kept her head down low so as to keep the sun away. She didn't bother talking to anyone, neither.
When Ellie showed from within the crowd, she couldn't find the strength to be surprised. Her eyes gleamed with sadness, though no other person could see. Clem could only face away, grasping at the reins of her horse. "I'm going on ahead," she said, to no one and everyone.
Dot [Ellie]
She could still turn back, Ellie knew that. Yet, even as Clementine slipped through the gate, not even looking in her direction, Ellie still urged her horse forward, in between Carl and Kat. Another stupid thing to add to her stupid list. Like it or not, she still had something to say to her old friend, assuming Clementine would ever let her get close enough to talk to her on this little journey of theirs. She had her doubts.
Sighing, clutching the reins tightly, she spoke up in a defeated voice. "Let's just go." With a gesture of the reins, her horse cantered forward, out the gates. She kept him going slow enough to never catch up with Clementine.
Vi-xen [Kat]
A ride along mission with a bunch of teens. Which bright mind in Jackson chose this sorry bunch, and then let even more teens come along with all the drama they carry? She was happy to see Ellie, and she had absolutely no opinion on Carl. She heard shit things about Lydia, and Clementine was Ellie's ex… possibly, and Kat knew a thing or two about exes. She watched the small exchange unfold as Clem took her leave. Kat was about to speak up and mention who was supposed to be running this trainwreck, but Ellie began moving off as well. This was fine, so long as everyone stayed together, which she was about to go over in her little plan. She'll just… save it for camp—
"Well, you heard her. Let's get going, and we might just find a decently place to stay tonight." She told the two still there, her voice anything but stern. Her horse moved forward at a gallop, her eyes seeming to look down at its hooves a few times before she ended up by Ellie's side. "You, uh… excited for the trip? You seemed pretty… you know, happy about it before we all set out."
Dot [Ellie]
Her Scottish friend found her way to her side, and Ellie busied herself by scratching at the reins with her fingernails. At least one thing about this trip wasn't horrible. Glancing towards Kat as they passed through the field separating Jackson from the nearby forest, Ellie took in a deep breath, bracing herself.
"I didn't know Clementine was here. Or coming with us." She said, biting her lip. "I figured it was just you and Carl. Guessing Lydia and Clem were late additions." She wouldn't get into how weird it was that Clem had shown up at all. Maybe she'd made some kind of deal with Tripp, as much as she didn't see that ever happening. She had a feeling the baseball-capped girl wouldn't be here otherwise. Probably just another step in her journey to Salt Lake.
"I was kinda vague about it before," Ellie continued, "I didn't want to bother you with it, but… I said some things I regret to her. She probably hates me." Probably? Pfft. Definitely. I hate myself, too. "Not that I don't deserve it," she finished, quieter.
Vi-xen [Kat]
"We all say shitty things. It's up to the other person to choose whether or not they forgive you… and you have the choice to forgive yourself, too. And, I don't know the situation —at all —but are you sure she didn't say anything either? An argument is a two person tango. She might not be all innocent either, and if that's the case, why beat yourself up over it when you both could, possibly, be at fault?" As she spoke, she leaned a bit forward, resting a hand against the horse's neck to gently pet it.
How was it that Kat always ended up a therapist? Who knows, but it seemed like this group hella needed someone to vent their shit to. Kat's gaze shifted up to the ball-capped girl, her eyes narrowing before turning back to Ellie with a softer expression. She'll have a talk with Clem a little later. Meet this so called girl of the hour… 'cause let's face it, everyone was seeming just a bit on edge with her around.
Dot [Ellie]
The faint breeze shivered her, but her new tattoo kept her from wearing a hoodie for the time being, so she'd just have to deal with it. There were worse things to deal with than the cold.
"She wants to leave. Find her parents. She didn't tell me that, but… it's obvious. I just didn't want to see it before. I'd just gotten her back." The trail led onward, deeper into the forest. It only grew colder once the sun could no longer reach them. "I got angry. She snapped back, and I couldn't take any more. Told her 'fuck you', and left. Took me a while to realize that she needs to go, and I'm just holding her back."
Another sigh escaped her lips. "She needs to know what happened to her parents. I shouldn't've tried to take that from her. Forgiveness can come later. If she ever comes back."
Vi-xen [Kat]
Kat shook her head, her hands moving the reins down to let the horse move forward on its own for a moment. As she spoke, mainly just to keep the girl focused on something, she began popping the buttons on her coat. "You got caught up in the moment. I get it. Both of you are at fault for something here. Her leaving without giving you that chance to properly say goodbye was fucked, and she left you in shambles. But, you trying to make her come back before she was ready was also fucked."
"You both deserve to be upset with each other, but you should be learning to be less upset with yourselves. Remember what I said? Dwelling on the past makes your rock heavier. And Ellie… yours looks about ready to drown you."
She flickered her gaze up to the girl once her coat was off. She then rolled her eyes, leaning over to drape it over her shoulders. It was big, that's for sure. Military-grade, probably a fucking trenchcoat with how long it was. It was covered in a few cool patches and several pins. Either she'd found it that way, or somehow collected them. Either way, made for a good coat. Under that coat, apparently she only wore a muscle shirt, cause who said Kat knew how to dress appropriately.
"Also, if you freeze, I have to worry about finding someone new to talk to. So… not letting that happen, E."
Dot [Ellie]
The coat was draped over her shoulders, and Ellie let go of the reins to slip her arms into its sleeves, trying to ignore the irritation it caused on her healing skin. "Thanks," she said warmly, smiling for a moment. She eventually let it go, just as much as she was ready to let this whole situation with her and Clementine go.
Hands back on the reins, she continued in a calmer voice, "I'll be fine, I promise. Just the initial shock. C'mon, we should pick up the pace. No telling how long it'll take to get out of these mountains. Better to make camp beyond 'em."
With that, she coaxed her horse into a light trot, following the trail deeper into the valley.
Art [Clementine]
The wind passed by her ears making dreadful sharp sounds. Clem wasn't about to miss the heat from earlier, but a glimpse of the sun would do them all some good. Tripp's horse was getting restless. I don't like rain either, girl.
She stuck close to Lydia, all the time. It made the whole trip easier to brave through. 'Least... 'least Ellie strayed clear, that way. Clementine felt scared of her in a way she hadn't felt before. Words like 'selfish' and 'bad friend', that rung like thunder. Clem didn't want to hear those again. Clem didn't even know if she loved her anymore.
With a storm on the horizon, she let the rest decide how to approach it. Her, she'd rather drown in it.
Dot [Ellie]
By the time the sun had reached its peak, and aptly obscured by clouds as a storm brewed in the distance, Ellie found herself deciding that Tripp allowed her to go on this thing purely to spite her. Silent for most of their trip so far, she feared speaking up. She feared incurring Lydia's wrath — and Clementine's — though she found herself doubting that the ball-capped girl would even acknowledge her anyway. She wasn't sure which was worse.
They still weren't out of the mountains yet, but they were getting close. The forests had given way to grassy fields, flanked on either side by huge peaks already covered in snow. 'Least down here, they still had awhile longer before that kicked in.
Ellie kept a respectful distance from the rest of the group, preferring to take in the world around her. A small stream here, massive fucking mountains everywhere… at least Jackson wasn't dull. She'd found herself looking towards Clem a few times, but never more than a few seconds. That's all it took for the anxiety to kick in. She hated it.
As the storm loomed ever closer, Ellie frowned, scanning the horizon as she maneuvered her horse beside Kat's. "Not a lot of shelter around here." She unzipped Kat's jacket, handing it back to her. She'd grab her own hoodie in a minute. "Too bad we're past the ranch. Would've been nice to not get soaked through."
Vi-xen [Kat]
"We should be fine if we can find a patch with enough overhang. But, considering the storm — and the fact the poor horse here isn't having this atmosphere — we're going to have a rough night. Definitely one that probably won't have a fire. We should have waited another day before heading out… not that any of us saw a storm coming…" she said, happy to slip her jacket back on and bundle up, her hand running along the horse's fur to try and calm it down. Last thing she wanted was to be thrown off.
Now, unlike most people, Kat enjoyed the wilderness. It was quiet, save for a few infected, plus everything seemed really… private. You can just be out here with your thoughts and let it all go. Except now, surrounded by four other teenagers. That isn't happening. "We'll find something."
Dot [Ellie]
"Something tells me that Tripp wanted Clem gone as soon as he could, anyway," Ellie mused, frowning. Asshole. Taking the time to take her backpack off, cradling it between her legs, she slipped her hoodie on, returning the backpack to its rightful place.
"We're beyond the usual patrol routes. Got no idea what's out here. Maybe we'll get lucky."
Vi-xen [Kat]
"It's not the worst out here. Minus the storm, I'd say it's borderline peaceful. No infected, yet. No one in your face yelling about how much you aren't supposed to be in the community. It's a break, despite having a basic goal in mind. I'd even be inclined to say I prefer this over Jackson. At least, right now." Kat looked over to the girl, shrugging as she continued to calmly pet her horse. The closer to the storm, the more uneasy she and her large companion felt. She was so tired of everything going wrong.
Dot [Ellie]
Ellie shifted in her saddle as they continued down the path through the valley, keeping a respectable distance from the others. At Kat's words, Ellie frowned. "I wouldn't hold your breath for that. Lydia has a way of telling you how she really feels. Only a matter of time."
Her horse grew just as agitated as Kat's, leading to Ellie trying to calm it down. Through the corner of her eye, she continued, "I'm worried about this journey. Can't have this much tension in a group without something blowing up, eventually."
Vi-xen [Kat]
"If it blows up, and it probably will… I'll, uh… I'll still be here, you know? At least, I'll try to be. I've lived with assholes my entire life, I'm used to a bit of yelling, fighting, and overall unpleasantness. I think we all just need to relax, find a good place to set up for the night, and get some sleep. The tension will hopefully die down if we give it a good shot at an icebreaker. We'll be f—" Kat was cut off as her horse began to freak, his neighing seeming to slow as Kat pulled back on the reins. She hushed the animal, thankful to still be on it as she relaxed. "Fine —We'll be… fine — Once we get out of this fuckin' weather."
Dot [Ellie]
That didn't make her feel much better, but what could they do? Lydia hated her guts, and Clementine didn't seem to want to even look at her, so Carl was their only friendly face, and she doubted he'd even talk to them in fear of what Lydia might do. Fan-fucking-tastic group.
"Looks like that forest is gonna be our best bet," Ellie said, indicating the treeline in the distance. There wasn't much else around. "We're lucky they haven't started losing their leaves yet. Might be enough." Or we'll get soaked all the same.
Vi-xen [Kat]
"Do you want to try it out? A little rain never bothered me much. And, if we're quick, we can figure out some sorta… shelter situation. Or, we continue up the path, and hope to make it out the mountains." The girl shrugged, her gaze shifting to the man in charge. Man is an overstatement. He's a boy, a child much like the rest of them. He should hold that title, for once it's gone, so was the rest of you. You lose a lot of stuff out here. One can only hope to keep themselves.
Katrina wasn't someone to dwell… more than she already had, but she can't help it. The thoughts of that linger from the situation before. Clementine. She doesn't know her. She doesn't want to. But that doesn't mean she's not already on her bad side. It's nothing Clementine has done to her, really. It's what she neglected to do to Ellie, and what she continues to avoid.
Dot [Ellie]
Ellie shook her head. "Better finding shelter than getting sick. Temperature's dropping, too." She sighed, looking towards the group ahead, debating whether or not she should call out and see if they were stopping or just do it herself. Instead, she bit her tongue lightly, holding back.
Sighing, she led her horse towards the trees. At a mild trot, they'd reach it in a few minutes. "Come on," she called towards Kat. The rest would either follow or go on, at that moment she didn't care which.
Vi-xen [Kat]
Kat looked towards Ellie as she broke away. Something about the way she took the initiative to break off and find shelter.… it — it was admirable, to say the least. "You heard the lady. Get your asses into high gear. Please, and thank you." Kat spoke to the others, leading her horse toward the tree line. Guess camping was on the agenda. She should have packed something a bit more fun to lighten the mood once they were all settled. But, she'll find a way. If not with weed, with other methods.
"Right behind you, E. Lead the way." She smiled, her horse seeming a bit happier to be heading for more cover than before. The woods were never the safest thing in this world… but there was relief about heading towards them regardless.
Dot [Ellie]
Even the forest was sparsely packed, leaving little natural cover from the rain. Ellie, after stopping where the trees grew seemingly the densest, set out to place a tarp between several trunks, tying them up to each. As she did so, she noticed Kat nearby, wiping her hands off on her jeans before setting herself down on the ground beneath the tarp.
"Won't exactly keep the wind out, but at least we won't be soaked through." Until the wind picks up and the rain goes sideways. Oh well, not much we can do about that. In a few moments, they'd have to search for some dry wood for burning, but she'd wait for Carl and the rest to catch up first.
With a wary gaze, Ellie continued, "you ready for hell? Soon as those three get here, don't think there'll be much peace left." Ellie really wanted to talk with Clementine, but if she stuck by Lydia's side the whole time, she wouldn't have much of a chance to do it. Maybe that was the point. "I can hear Lydia already." She put on a higher pitched voice, rolling her eyes. "'I'm not sharing a camp with that traitor bitch and her Savior friend.'" She groaned, already winding herself up.
Vi-xen [Kat]
Kat let out a small snort as she finished tying up the horse close by. "She'll be easy to handle. Last I saw, she was a little blonde who is more bark than bite. It's not every day you get into a yippin' match with a puppy." She joked, fixing her jacket as she moved over to Ellie's side. Kat sat down, resting back onto her back to get a bit more comfortable. She let her hair fall into the grass and leaves below, a short exhale escaping her lips.
"This is the life, you know. Save for the storm, it might've been the perfect night for stargazing. That's the best part of being out campin'. You get to see such a beautiful sight. I don't know. It just doesn't seem too bad out here. Even if the others aren't too thrilled to see us, we can find some joy in being out here."
Dot [Ellie]
The thought of comparing Lydia to a puppy made her chuckle, shaking her head. She couldn't really vouch for Lydia's 'all bark no bite' thing, though. The first time Ellie'd managed to piss her off, she spat on her, called her a whore, and gave Clementine enough bruises and cuts for her to need stitches. Seemed plenty bite to her. The thought of those two being friendly after all that baffled her. Ellie had instigated it, sure, but Lydia wasn't stable, that much had been clear from the get-go.
Still, no point dwelling on it. It'd only make her angry. She laid her back against the tree, watching as Kat stared up at the blue tarp above them, her own lips curving into an amused smile. "Not every night can be like last night," Ellie chuckled, wishing that weren't true. "It was fun, though. Never got to do that with anyone else before. Usually just me sneaking onto the roof of the orphanage back in Boston. First thing I noticed after leaving the QZ was just… how many stars there are. A lot of 'em you can't see in the city. It's like the universe just opens up to you, and… yeah. It's beautiful." She looked towards the ground then, grazing teeth along her bottom lip.
"Sometimes, I like the quiet. Being alone with the stars."
Vi-xen [Kat]
Kat took a deep inhale, shutting her eyes for a moment as she spoke, her voice… much quieter and softer than moments before. "Do you want to know what someone very important once told me about the stars?"
Kat's eyes opened again, her gaze still resting on the tarp above as if she can practically see the stars. "Each star isn't just a ball of… whatever… floating in space. Each and every single one is a soul of someone who is no longer with us. I believe that more than ever now that life is this shitty. Memories, thoughts, what make them… them… it's all there. If you think really hard about them, the star shines brighter. That's why sometimes the stars are dim, no longer there. 'Cause people forget. People stop thinking of others once they're gone, and they fade. But me? I never forget. I always have my lost ones on my mind. Even if it doesn't seem like that. I like to think my father is the brightest one up there. Which… is kinda selfish." She laughed, wisps of her breath moving into the air above.
"It, uh… definitely makes me feel better to think that way. The irony of someone as… painfully staining on my life being such a good influence on my grief. It's laughable." Kat shook her head, closing her eyes for another moment before she opened them again to look towards Ellie.
Dot [Ellie]
Ellie followed Kat's gaze towards the tarp, a sense of wonder on her face as she imagined what the girl was explaining. She knew that it was probably wishful thinking to think that's true, just as much as the idea of a god and a heaven and a hell seemed… strange. But, she wanted to believe it.
Breathing in softly, she let it out with a faint smile. "I hope my mom's up there. Somewhere. It'd be nice to know she's looking out for me."
She'd take anything more of her mother. Anything more than a disintegrating letter left in the depths of her backpack, and a switchblade she'd managed to hold onto despite all odds. Anything at all.
Vi-xen [Kat]
"I bet she is. And… I think she'd be pretty proud of the woman you're becoming. You've had some bumps in the road lately, but how can she not be? I know I am." She smiled, flipping over onto her stomach to get a better look at her friend.
"Even if it's the most unlikely thing in the world, if you can be a star on Earth, who says you can't be one when you're not, as well? A literal one? That's what I'd hope to be. It'd be the best fate I could wish upon myself when I finally bite the dust. All this… religious stuff isn't for me… but this…? This is my reality. One with… pathetic dreams… but dreams nonetheless. Your mom and my dad are both probably watching us. Knowing Father, he's cracking ridiculous jokes about whatever I'm up to, maybe they're even close by one another. There is a universe of stars! So many stories, all just waiting to be told! That's the dream, E! Everyone gets their story, so when we write them in the stars, we have to make it worth being told! We'll glow… so bright… everyone who ever doubted us — saw us as unfit… unworthy? Just some stupid Savior and a traitor? They won't be able to ignore us. We'll shine… and — and it'll mean, everything. A corpse in the ground, left in a black, endless void? Please. I'm going to be a star, baby. And I'll shine just as bright as my dad." Kat's smile grew as she stood up, standing just at the edge of the tarp. She looked up at the clouded sky, the rain leaving droplets of water on her face.
"We'll be the biggest stars of them all, E. And no one can take that from us."
Dot [Ellie]
Listening to Kat talk about the stars was like seeing a whole different side to her, a side that Ellie was getting more accustomed to seeing. Talks of rocks and comforting hugs and soul stars? No matter how stressful life got, she could always count on her to lighten the mood. She loved her for it. It reminded her of conversations long ago, of a girl refusing to give up on her even when Ellie felt that all was lost. People needed people like that. Hopefully Clementine had one too, in Lydia. If that was possible.
So, her smile only grew larger, a hint of a chuckle under her voice. "Do I get to be bigger than Betelgeuse?" It was one of the only stars she could remember that were apparently massive. Bright balls of fire that cast their glows over space like shining beacons.
LadyLedge [Lydia]
When the three of them reached the camping spot, the traitor and her Savior came into sight, who were setting up already. Two snakes in a pod. Just the mere sight of it made her want to lash out and punch the nearest thing.
"Hey. Maybe wait up a bit next time?" Lydia 'kindly' requested from atop her horse as she approached, peering down at the two girls. "Better to travel together, it'd just kill me to see something happen to you guys, since people go missing pretty often when they're out this far."
Lydia took notice of the tarp, which had been set up around several tree trunks. Her eyes drifted back to the duo, a smug grin on her face. "At least you made yourselves useful."
Vi-xen [Kat]
Kat turned to look at the other three as they moved in, her smile fading ever so slightly. She'll finish this talk later. "Sorry about that, guys. I was definitely itching to get off the horse and stretch. Besides, I bet they're both enjoying their break." Kat motioned to the horses they rode. As she did so, she made her way back to Ellie's side, taking a seat comfortably. "Well, make yourselves at home. We'll be here for the night no problem."
Kat shrugged, leaning back and eying the three. Carl wasn't that bad. He didn't seem to mind her too much, which she enjoyed. Clementine had no interaction or... anything towards her that she knew of. And Lydia? Well, wasn't she a lovely ass bitch who's lying through her teeth. Oh well. She's trying to play nice, and she respected that.
Dot [Ellie]
When the rest finally showed up, and Lydia predictably tried patronizing them for leaving them behind, all Ellie could do was roll her eyes. If y'all weren't so slow, then maybe you would've kept up. Serves you right. Instead, nothing came out of her mouth. Better that way. She still had to survive these next couple days.
"Tree coverage is solid," she said, matter-of-factly. "And we were about to look for some firewood. So, yeah. We'll just… continue being useful." At that, Ellie picked herself off the ground, dusting her jeans off. Passing a light glare towards Lydia, only softening into a blank expression by the time her eyes flitted towards Clementine, Ellie zipped up her jacket further and put on the hood, heading off into the forest alone.
Anything to get away from Lydia for a second longer. She had her machete with her, so she wasn't worried about being alone. Probably best that way. Lydia already hated her and Kat hanging out as it was without making it seem… like it's more. Would hate for her to think they were talking shit behind her back.
Wrapping her arms around herself, she disappeared into the foliage.
Art [Clementine]
It was the most she'd heard of Ellie's voice since that morning. Watching her girlfriend disappear with a hood over her hair and a chip on her shoulder, Clem kept her lips sealed. A stream of enduring indifference, or —an attempted one. Clem's eyes never stopped betraying how hurt she was to be there.
She eyed everyone else, brow raised, and decided to ignore them too.
Clementine sat on a log too rotten to serve as firewood, keeping Tripp's horse hanging about by wrapping the reins around her wrist. It squirmed like a healthy, hungry one. She hated that name; Tripp's horse? "Hey, blockhead," she called in a whisper, just to have her huff air at the ground. "We're camping now, okay? Time to rest up."
She made for better company than the rest, anyway.
Dot [Ellie]
Searching for dry wood had given her the time she needed to gather her thoughts and mentally prepare herself for spending a night in close proximity to Lydia and Clementine. A part of her felt guilty for leaving Kat behind to fend for herself, but the other part knew that she seemed more than capable of turning the tide of an argument. She liked the quiet, anyway. Menial tasks to focus on. It reminded her of working in the infirmary.
By the time she finished gathering firewood, the storm had grown in intensity, causing Ellie to have to clutch the bundle of sticks underneath her jacket to keep them dry. Thunder rumbled through the valley, so loud that Ellie might've gone deaf. It was a long walk back to the camp, and her footsteps grew shorter the closer she got, as if they, too, dreaded returning.
Thankfully, no one seemed to be at each other's throats. Clementine was tending to her horse, she noticed, while Lydia and Carl stuck to each other, and Kat beneath the tarp they'd set up earlier. More tarps were placed in the trees, giving them each a place to sleep for the night with relative dryness. Hopefully the storm would let up soon.
Ellie came into the camp silently, placing the wood in a pile near the center. Reaching for her backpack, she grumbled as she realized she hadn't brought a lighter along. Turning towards Clementine behind her, she called out. "Do you still have those matches?"
Art [Clementine]
Blockhead wasn't so hungry anymore, chewing on a bundle of tiny raisins with its head held up high. If not for Clementine, the storm would have scared her off by now. There, there.
Clementine kept busy instead of keeping tabs, on Ellie included. Clem frowned, fidgeted in her seat, before reaching for her back pocket. Silently, she tossed the box of matches at her.
Dot [Ellie]
Ellie caught the box, frowning all the while. Best not to think about it… Turning back towards her pile, she gathered some kindling from beneath the tarps, anything that was still dry enough to catch. Placing it into the pile, she lit a match, trying to start as many tiny fires as she could, blowing gently to breathe life into it. Eventually, the kindling caught, and with time, so did the sticks, twigs, and small logs she'd managed to gather. Setting herself beneath her own tarp, Ellie reached out to warm her hands, rubbing them together.
"Would've been nice if we had some marshmallows," she said to no one in particular, her sarcasm as dry as her mood had become.
LadyLedge [Lydia]
Yeah, would be nice if you weren't here, too.
She'd been lingering around Carl like a bad smell at this point, wondering if she was starting to annoy him with her incessant complaints about this whole situation.
Like it or not, the temperature was dropping, and so was her will to keep away from that fire they were starting up. Lydia would've loved nothing more than to avoid those two like the plague the entire night, but any longer without a source of heat...
Eventually, the girl decided to release Carl from her vice grip, hoping he'd be joining them soon. Unfortunately for her, he was taking first watch for now. She rubbed her hands together, using her breath to warm her palms as she made her way over to Clementine.
"Heading over to the fire." Lydia started off, hoping she'd get the hint. "Kinda don't want to go there alone..."
Vi-xen [Kat]
Kat arched her back, seeming to relax at the feeling of a satisfying pop. She rubbed at her tired eyes, looking towards the group quietly as Ellie prepped a fire. Clementine had been quiet for ages now, she nearly forgot the girl was still here. Her dismissive behavior towards Ellie was noticeable though… and she didn't like it. They had too much tension for her taste. Then there was Lydia and Carl. Love birds, though how Carl put up with Lydia was beyond her. Seemed like a tough job, but if they're happy, to each their own.
The crackling of fire drew Kat's attention, giving the girl her cue to join her friend's side. She moved from the corner of Ellie's tarp, which she was using to hide from the rain till her safe return. She immediately laid next to Ellie, using a hand to prop herself up a bit as she stared at the fire. It left an oddly welcoming, beautiful glow that danced around each and everyone's complexion. "Marshmallows would have been killer. Too bad I also left my main supply at home. This is a smoke break if I've ever seen one. Maybe I'm lucky and got something."
Dot [Ellie]
Ellie let out a half chuckle, looking towards her friend next to her. "No way," she said, as if daring her to prove her wrong and pull out a bag then and there.
Vi-xen [Kat]
"Oh yeah? Let's see." Kat rolled her eyes, standing up and moving over to where she stored her bag. She rummaged around the contents she had brought with her, the usual things of course. A few things to snack on if the group needed it, a large flask filled with water —unfortunately — a book, 'cause even Kat was kinda educated… a flashlight, knife, and —there it was! There was her weed stash. She pulled it out, moving back over to the fire with a smile. She sat down by Ellie's side, flashing the bag to her before she already began to roll it.
"Never underestimate my need to smoke." As she said that, she stuck an end of the joint in the fire, pulling it back and taking a rather large inhale before passing it to her friend. As the smoke left her lips, she let out a sigh. Today's struggles were already melting away.
Dot [Ellie]
The instant that bag came out of Kat's backpack, Ellie couldn't help but laugh, shaking her head in disbelief. Kat would. Taking a drag of the joint, she handed it back to her friend, blowing the smoke away from everyone else. At least, she'd try to keep things civil and not get on anyone's nerves. A small smile stretched her lips as she relaxed into her spot next to the fire.
"Damn, I should underestimate you more often."
Vi-xen [Kat]
"Please do. I love an excuse to blow off steam." She took another puff, blowing out a few rings as she settled against her friend. "I have no idea when I put this in there, but past me is officially smarter than present me."
As she let out a small laugh at her own joke, she looked over to Lydia and Clementine. "You think those two need a hit? Maybe it'll pull the stick out their asses."
Dot [Ellie]
The physical contact, mixed with the mention of Lydia and Clementine, had her smile dropping. Her eyes fell to the fire, taking in a sharp breath through the nose. "Maybe," she said. She wasn't nearly high enough to talk about those two. The way her girlfriend had been treating her since Jackson was still proving to stab at her. If she could even call her that anymore. Ellie wasn't sure. She hated that feeling.
Art [Clementine]
She wondered what they were saying to each other, across the warmer side of the camp, between the laughs and puffs of smoke. Not knowing made her anxious. But when the Savior girl snuggled close to Ellie, Clementine couldn't bear to keep spying.
"I can't," she insisted, eyes wide and peering. "I'm not going there."
LadyLedge [Lydia]
Just like that, Lydia furrowed her eyebrows together, the infamous scowl returning as she directed it towards the seated girl. It was sort of understandable why she wanted to stay away, but this was starting to seriously piss her off, seeing Clementine roll over like this. Freezing her ass off just because Ellie was hogging the fire.
Was it selfish that Lydia was more angry about Clementine throwing her to the dogs? At that moment, she didn't care. She was asking for a bit of support, and it already took a lot for her to do so, but it felt like she was totally being disregarded. Lydia really didn't appreciate it. Not one bit.
"So, 'friends support each other', until they don't feel like it?" She stated, throwing last night's words at her. Lydia was ready to have her back at the fire, but Clementine apparently didn't. It hurt, she supposed.
Art [Clementine]
That was so unfair! Clementine jolted in place, incredulous and ready to retort.
But, she didn't. Even though, at the moment, disliking Lydia came as easy as every other motor function. Clementine screeched from under her breath, "You suck!"
Friends were meant to support each other, but they were also meant to keep their word, too. If she had to step up just to prove that to Lydia, then so be it. "Okay," Clem decided, her game face on.
That courage all but went away when Ellie saw them approach. The fire couldn't have been so hot —after all, Clementine couldn't feel a thing below her neck. "Can I sit too?" She pulled at the bottom of her jersey to keep her hands busy. Clementine looked defenseless.
Vi-xen [Kat]
Kat looked up the second she heard footsteps. She blew her puff of smoke away from the others, smiling at Clementine warmly. "Sure you can. Open fire, after all." She gestured for her to take a seat, moving to get off of Ellie.
"We were just talking about you, actually. Well. You and Lydia. We were wondering if you'd maybe like a hit? Looks like we all are just a bit on edge today." Kat held out the joint towards Clementine, resting comfortably next to the fire. She definitely looked like the stoner type, huh?
LadyLedge [Lydia]
There you go… Given how the others were already giggling around the fire like a bunch of assholes, Ellie and the Savior clearly weren't upset, so why should Clementine be? Relief washed over her face, perhaps some smugness too, as the other girl finally gained some confidence. At least she wouldn't have to face them alone now, because her ball-capped friend was officially in for the ride.
Lydia's eyes followed Clementine like a hawk as she walked past her and made way for the fire, then trailed right behind. She drew the white hood over her head, perhaps it was to keep any potential rainfall out of her eyes, or maybe make it easier for Clementine not to notice the litany of filthy glares she was about to throw at both of those bitches. One or the other…
A gross, pungent smell lingered in the air as they got closer, like a disease, and she already knew the sources of it. Lydia's nose squiggled around in disgust before taking her seat next to Clementine. Of course you would… fucking drug addict. Lydia shook her head at the offer, knowing full well it would be a stupid idea.
"It's easy to feel on edge out here, isn't it? A lot can happen outside of the walls." Lydia responded to the Savior, speaking fairly casually at first, a certain sense of vagueness in her tone. "Maybe the feeling'll wear off after a few days."
She casted a glare towards Ellie, who was directly opposite her and Clementine, staring straight into her eyes as she spoke her next words. Not even taking the time to blink. It could pass as friendly enough, but she was sure that the redhead would read between the lines. "Still, I'd sleep with one eye open tonight, just in case."
Art [Clementine]
Like Lydia's, her nose was scrunching. Clem sat next to her, head pointed at the dirt where no one could fire a lasting glance. Since when did Ellie start smoking? Clementine stifled a cough and said an even "No, thanks." If they were anything like cancer sticks, she'd sooner be tossing them away.
If there was one, or any, plan to this, it was not letting it go quiet. Not letting it get heated. Not letting it get weepy. Just one week and she'd be gone again. For good. Clem wanted neither a reason to stay nor one to run away quicker. If only things stayed normal for a little while longer.
Clementine looked at the Savior girl, and the Savior girl only, dreading every step. "How about… just your name, first."
Crimson [Carl Grimes]
Carl stood half a dozen feet away from the camp, looking for any signs of danger. Besides the incoming storm, this was gearing up to be a calm night.
The wind was blowing in his direction, and it soon brought a smell he could immediately recognize: the Savior. He had nothing against her smoking in her free time, but out here was not the place to do it.
An idea quickly materialized in Carl's head. Maybe it was time to know her better. If she was more relaxed, maybe she would let out more than she should.
"Looks like you girls are having fun, huh?" He approached the fire. "Mind if I join in? I was on the lookout 'cause I thought I heard something. Turned out to be just a couple raccoons going at it."
Vi-xen [Kat]
"Suit yourself, more for us… And, Kat. Most call me that. The longer version is an ear sore." Kat sat back, taking another drag from her life support before handing it back to Ellie, blowing the smoke away from the group. As her blue hues moved up, she was met with Carl, his overall kind demeanor seeming like a breath of fresh air compared to the other two. Of course, the raccoon thing nearly made her choke. She let out a soft laugh, nodding in response. "Of course, give those trash cats their privacy. The more the… hopefully merrier. And, Lydia… helpful advice. You can never be… uh — T… Too careful, yes, that's the word." You'd think smoking as long as she had would make it harder for her to be affected by this shit. But, here she was, already drawing blanks.
"So. Uh, you guys are all... Jackson... people — How'd you all end up there in the first place? Was it… like — by choice?" She asked, leaning into her hand to listen to… whoever wanted to actually answer her question. Truth was, she knew they didn't exactly like her, that's obvious, but at least she could try?
Dot [Ellie]
The instant Clementine and Lydia joined them at the fire, Ellie stiffened. She tried to let Lydia's veiled threat go unanswered, but Kat had decided otherwise, throwing in a few words that Ellie winced at. Still, she refused to give in to what Lydia wanted. They had to deal with each other, whether they liked it or not.
When Carl returned, she only managed to relax slightly, just enough to take in an extra long drag of the joint as Kat passed it to her, letting it out slowly. C'mon, just get me high already. I want out of this place.
Ellie straightened her back as the question was broached about Jackson, which Ellie knew had been directed towards Lydia and Clementine, but she had a feeling that they'd just retort instead, so she answered for them in a matter-of-fact tone, "It wasn't the end-goal, but it became it. Nothing much else out there."
LadyLedge [Lydia]
The leader of this expedition was inbound, which she was grateful for… in a way. But, with Carl now here, sniffing around, it also meant that she'd have to be more careful about what came out of her mouth. Vaguely, Lydia recalled how she was practically like a feather in his hands the last time he had to drag her away from a confrontation. If there was a fight, it wouldn't last too long with him around. The girl was smart enough to admit that.
Raccoons going at it? Seriously? She raised an eyebrow, weirded out, but feeling like this was just an excuse to come here and make sure they hadn't killed each other yet. The Savior found it amusing though, rambling on about trash cats or something.
'Helpful advice. You can never be... uh —T… Too careful, yes, that's the word.'
"Okay." She responded, completely monotone.
Next came the part she especially didn't like, the questions about what happened before she got to Jackson. Lydia wasn't worried though, because Negan's goon would be getting jack shit of an answer from her. No way was that topic of discussion on the cards… ever.
"Yes. It was by choice. Most of the time we all have a choice when it comes to the company we keep. Don't you guys think?" Lydia made a statement under the guise of a question, one she left open for anyone to answer. She remained calm, but the underlying message was still there, and obviously directed at the two people her gaze was swapping between. Ellie and the Savior.
Dot [Ellie]
That's the shittiest segue I've ever heard. Ellie found herself thinking as she elected to ignore the comment. Lydia would be fishing for a reaction out of her all night, she knew, so she wasn't going to give it to her. If Lydia wanted to start yelling at her instead, then Ellie would have a reason to fight back. Until then, fuck her. She wasn't getting baited into this again.
Handing the joint over to Kat, she grabbed her backpack, digging through it. She pulled out several cans of food, holding them up. "Anyone hungry?" 'Oh sure, Ellie, I'm hungry. Hungry for your blood.' You're a mood vampire, Lydia, sucking out all the pleasantness out of this disaster of a run.
Art [Clementine]
They were all saying things, but exact wording started to blend together just as soon as Lydia threatened to kill someone. Par for the course.
Clem picked up a can for herself, looking for an out. Any chance to keep quiet was a win.
Dot [Ellie]
Clementine eventually took one of the cans, leading to Ellie smiling nervously. At least someone accepted her offer. Maybe that's why those thoughts resurfaced again, of Clementine and the ranch. A lull in the conversation that acted as the calm before the storm, just as the real one brewed ever louder. She set down the cans next to her backpack, clearing her throat.
"Well, they're here, if you want any. I guess." Her eyes flickered, towards Clementine, and she swallowed the lump forming in her throat.
It's now or never, Elle.
"Clem—" It sounded more like she was choking than saying a name. "Can we talk for a second?" She hated having to say that, but what else was she supposed to do? This was the first chance she'd gotten to get close to her.
And she had a feeling it was about to blow up in her face. The weed, at least, made the anxiety bearable.
Art [Clementine]
"Hey, you guys?!" Clementine spoke, drowning Ellie out completely. "Let's play a game, okay?"
It was all spur of the moment. Every syllable lumped in with the next, a hair away from not forming a sentence at all. Clem was startled that way. From her new, sturdier backpack, Clementine pulled a pen with barely a drop of ink left, and a crumpled piece of paper. She wrote five words in a hurry: Clementine, Lydia, Carl, Ellie... and Cat, spelled with a C. The five names, cut into five papers, were tossed inside her empty can of food. "Here. We pick two names from the can..."
"…First one has to say something, other has to listen."
"The catch is… it has to be something you've never said to them. And it has to be true." Clementine, for the first time that day, looked straight into Ellie's eyes. "Liars get tossed in the fire."
She held the can close to her chest, waiting for someone to pick the papers at random. "Go ahead."
Vi-xen [Kat]
As Lydia spoke, Kat took a quiet drag from her joint, sad to say it's nearly depleted. She… wasn't a fan of the sarcastic tone, that's for sure. Eventually, as Ellie spoke up, Clementine cut her off with talk of games. She nodded, despite not really wanting to share anything to a bunch of people she barely knew… but it's not like she's got anything to hide regardless. "I'm game."
After she looked between the four others around her, seeing no one jump to start the game off, she blew the smoke away from everyone, waving slightly to signify she was willing to draw. She looked away from the can, waiting until it was held out to her to pluck out two names. She then read them aloud, slightly cringing at the thought.
"Uh… Lydia and Ellie, in that order."
Afterward, she sheepishly stuck the two names back in the can.
LadyLedge [Lydia]
That's right, you're not going anywhere.
Lydia couldn't have had a wider grin on her face at that moment. Ellie wasn't going to try and change the subject and weasel out of this. Now, Clementine had put them in a position that had the double-crosser right within her grasp, and she wasn't about to let go and pass up a perfect opportunity to spit some much needed truth.
It would be cathartic, at least. Payback for all the times Ellie snuck away in Jackson and ran off whenever she was confronted about her shit behavior. Lydia was simply going to say what everyone else was already thinking, and if that'd end up making the blonde the biggest piece of shit here… Well, then so be it, because she didn't give a fuck.
"Hey Ellie, remember that day the Saviors showed up at our front gates?" Tommy's murder by Negan, everything that happened in the church, the literal fall of Jackson and their way of life. Of course she'd remember, and Lydia was counting on it. "After that, I was actually pretty surprised when you became best friends with one." She admitted, sarcasm oozing from her lips.
"Bet you thought I wasn't." Lydia added, playfully, tossing her the fakest smile ever.
Dot [Ellie]
It took every ounce of her sober courage to even speak up, yet the instant she did Clementine drowned her out. Her stomach broiled, fists clenched within the space between her crossed legs. Every ounce of her being wanted to stand up, grab her horse, and gallop her ass straight home, yet even that wouldn't be possible, as Kat had walked right into their trap, pulling out the names from the empty can.
To say that Ellie wasn't surprised about the names that got picked would be an understatement. She gave Lydia the most soulless stare she could muster, dipping her toes into her not sober courage to keep from going ballistic. Honestly, not a single word that came out of her mouth surprised Ellie. It was the same shit she'd been telling her. Ellie didn't care. Fuck her. But now Clementine knew, and it wasn't like Ellie was intentionally hiding it from her, but she had hoped to broach the subject more… diplomatically. Guess that wasn't going to happen.
So, having done her part in listening, she grabbed the can, pulling out a pair of names. Voice almost emotionless, she read them out. "Lydia and Clementine."
Have at it, princesses.
LadyLedge [Lydia]
"Wow, me again. Thanks Ellie!" Lydia was all perked up and beaming now, having an absolute blast, and seeing the pure dissatisfaction on the drugged up bitch's face gave her an unhealthy amount of amusement. This game rules.
"Clem." The blonde cleared her throat, directing a gaze towards the ball-capped girl. From the former Whisperer's demeanor, to her tone, everything instantly became a whole heap more genuine. This time, she'd mean every word.
"I know you've had to put up with a lot of bullshit from certain people recently." The list was long, if you counted everyone at Jackson that tried kicking her out. But they weren't the ones Lydia was talking about at all.
"But uh, haven't told you that last night was probably the funnest time I've had in… ages." That much was the truth, but she felt comfortable enough to admit it, especially with snakes slithering about nearby. Maybe it'd get them to think on their actions. "Would be… cool if we could swap you back into Jackson and kick someone else out instead. Doubt you'd wanna come back though, I kinda don't trust the quality of people there anymore."
Art [Clementine]
Clementine had retracted into a little shell, pretending not to be there, avoiding the smallest hint of attention. Ellie was… probably really mad at her.
How bad was it, then, that she didn't care? Far as Clem was concerned, Lydia hadn't said a single lie.
Clementine just did her part, grabbing two papers and reading them out loud. "Carl and Cat."
Crimson [Carl Grimes]
Carl relaxed and sat next to Lydia. It looked like they were already in the process of getting to know each other better. He had chosen a good time to come.
He tried to avoid Kat's question, simply acting like he was still looking for a comfortable position to sit in. His fist clenched slightly, as a reflex. Clem came to the rescue with her suggestion. He happily accepted.
Lydia was the first one, and the victim was Ellie. He glared at her, knowing something foul was about to come out of her mouth. For fuck's sake, Lydia.
After another round, it was Carl's turn. He struggled for a few seconds, thinking what he could possibly tell this girl he barely knew. "I think it won't be a surprise for you if I tell you I don't think highly of your group. Well, you don't seem that bad."
Liars get tossed in the fire.
Vi-xen [Kat]
Kat tensed up as Clementine read the names. She looked over to the girl, as if double checking her name came out of her mouth. Great, that's fun. So excited for that. Kat, taking one last drag from the joint, and put the remainder out in the dirt below her. As she breathed out, she turned to Carl, making sure to point the smoke away, cause obviously it's rude otherwise. The second he said 'group', her anxiety seemed to heighten. She instinctively bit her bottom lip, only relaxing when he gave a… decent opinion on her. Not everyone hated her yet.
She gave him a thumbs up, a half-hearted smile following as she shook the can and plucked two names out. "First we got Ellie and..." Kat went silent for just a moment, blinking at the name written on the paper. It was her name, but… spelled wrong. She let out a short sigh, speaking up in a slightly less enthusiastic tone. "…Uh, me—" She placed the names back in the tin. This was a lot more fun when the opinions of people she didn't care about were pointed towards her. But Ellie's thoughts? They meant… so much more than she can express. This game? Sucked.
Art [Clementine]
Clementine's head perked up from where it hid — a turtle out of its shell. She didn't look straight at anyone around the campfire, but her side glances followed Ellie like magnets. If there was any turn she wanted to pay attention to, it was this one.
Dot [Ellie]
Carl's turn went by in a flash. At least someone else in this fuckfest of a group gave a shit about giving people a chance. Was it weird that Ellie liked him more than Clementine at that moment? Not in the same way as before, of course, but at least he wasn't acting like Lydia.
When the time came for Kat to pull out more names, stating her own before following up with her own, Ellie took in a deep breath. What could she say about Kat that she hadn't said before? Not that anyone would really know besides them…
But cheating was never an option.
"I've never properly thanked you. For everything you did for me, after the Saviors showed up. You didn't have to give a shit. About my skin burn," she pulled up her hoodie sleeve to show the tattoo, dropping it once more. "About how I felt. The anger and the hurt. You could've been like every other Savior I've ever met, looking down on anyone who isn't you. But that isn't you. You pick people up. You look at the silver linings. So many people don't do that anymore, no matter what side you're on."
"You might've grown up as a Savior, but you were never really one of them. Just a kind soul trapped in the same system we're in. Knowing what I know about you, if I treated you like a monster, then it's me who would be."
She didn't have much more to say after that, or at least, it'd get into territory that she's already treaded in the past. Letting out the rest of her breath, she settled in her spot next to the campfire.
Vi-xen [Kat]
As Ellie spoke, Kat sat as still as she could. Her breath hitched, and she could feel herself suffocating. Each word was… soft… sweet — It touched Kat's long neglected heart to hear they really did understand. She's trapped with a title she doesn't even want to claim as her own, and yet… it's all she really knew. Living by her own rules and morals is what helped her be a better person, and she wanted that. She wanted so badly for people to look at her and not see the community she lived in's path of destruction… but just… Katrina. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Once Ellie stopped talking, Kat couldn't help but feel herself grin ear to ear. You can blame it on the weed all you like, but the next thing she did was as genuine as it can get. She moved just ever so slightly closer, and pulled Ellie into a hug. Despite her height and general build, the hug was soft and warm. She pressed her face to her shoulder for just a moment, whispering a very small "thank you," before pulling back and flashing her that million ration cards smile.
Of course, her smile was wiped clean off once she drew the next two names. She… really needed to stop drawing names- This was a two to one bad to good ratio. "E… Ellie to Clementine—"
LadyLedge [Lydia]
Oh, give me a fucking break.
This had to be some kind of joke, right? A kind soul trapped in 'the system?' No, Lydia wasn't buying it one bit. The Savior knew what she was doing when she joined up, riding off of other people's resources, all while that behemoth piece of shit would sit on his ass and profit from it all. A real kind soul would've left the Saviors long ago, instead of sticking around and pretending to be all innocent. None of that mattered to Ellie, it seemed. As long as she got what she wanted, it didn't matter how much damage it caused to others.
Her eyes nearly popped from their sockets as soon as she saw a tattoo, clear as crystal, on her arm. She gives her tattoos, too?
Lydia's head dipped to her own feet, squeezing her lips as she tried to hold it in.
She couldn't.
That was when the giggling started, quiet sniggers she tried to muffle. The lunacy of this whole thing was honestly too much to bear.
Art [Clementine]
That was harder to listen to than anything Lydia could've thought up.
What else could she do but feel discarded? Her side glances devolved into stares that must've made Clementine look simple. If Ellie had ever said something like that to her, Clem was neglecting to remember.
The hug sealed the envelope with flaming, burning wax.
Now, she regretted it. Her ribcage was closing in on her lungs, stealing air meant to leave. It hurt. What Ellie said was enough, the good and the bad — the little bit Clem thought was directed at her. She'd gotten what she wanted. Clementine was ready to end the game and leave.
Until Ellie's friend read the two names.
Clementine froze so stiff she turned blue. Whatever she did, it'd be too late. Too little. It hadn't been worth it. Bringing up the game to get payback for what Ellie did, or might've done, or hadn't done… but she got her wish. Clem braced herself, and decided she had it coming.
Dot [Ellie]
She was right back where she started, and this time she wasn't at all prepared for it. How could she? Clementine had made this game up to hurt her, that much was clear, and now that it was her turn to be able to hurt her back? That thought became just that, a thought that got lost in the noise. That part of her, that self-pity, it repeated that she'd deserved this anyway. Whether or not Ellie had always had good intentions, or emotions she couldn't control, she was the traitor. She was the girl that told her best friend off and did exactly as Riley had done to her. They'd both done that to each other, really.
Kat had been right from the start: they were both wrong. Just two kids with no idea how to love, and how to handle loss and grief and fights. How to put your feelings aside to find a middle ground. Maybe it was doomed to be this way from the start, but she refused to believe that. After everything they'd been through, was she really going to let this all fall apart because of herself?
Lydia's laughter from the previous round didn't help, but when did Ellie not ignore the things that came out of her mouth?
Taking in a breath felt as if she was on another world: a thicker atmosphere, and little oxygen to be found. She was at the edge of the universe, with no way back.
"You mean more to me than anyone I've ever met." Her heart felt heavier. "And I know I've hurt you. And I know that I've apologized for the shit I've put you through countless times, so I can't even do that now, to not break the rules." Her legs felt like jelly. "I know that I was selfish. I know that holding onto you was just taking your choices away." Her throat was closing up. "Where you're going, I know that you have to. You deserve to find them. You deserve to be happy. You deserve so much more than I could ever give you." If her body could have a system-wide meltdown, now would be the time it'd happen. Yet, Ellie just kept going, saying everything she wanted to say.
"I just wish that I could've gone with you, but I understand why you don't want me to, both then and now. And if you hate me, I understand that, too. And, as maddening as you can be sometimes, I know that I could never hate you."
She shifted in her spot, soft inhales followed by ever-increasing anxious exhales. "Find them," she said. "Please."
Art [Clementine]
Clementine... didn't respond.
When air escaped her lips, it was steam erupting from a locomotive. She felt like one. Off-rails, and ready to crash. Motorman found dead. She almost wanted to look at Lydia, just to soak in her reaction. Who looked simple now?
Clem didn't. Once the shock wore off, her expression was unreadable. She breathed, first. Faster than normal, anyone could tell. Her mouth opened a third of the way through, and waited for the rest of her body to catch up. Only when her breathing became even, did Clementine ask. "Do you want to break up?"
Dot [Ellie]
Ellie shook her head once. If there was anything she was certain of, it was this. "No. I never do."
But that's the thing, wasn't it? Reality needed to come and punch her square in the jaw. Wriggling thoughts that Clementine did, and maybe she was right to want to. Maybe they'd never see each other again anyway, but did that change her answer? Not really.
Maybe she liked thinking that she had a girlfriend out there, living her best life with her parents, rather than an ex that never wanted to see her again. It was sappy, maybe misguided, but when was anything she's ever done or said been logical?
Art [Clementine]
She chuckled at that. Wasn't that weird. Clem, despite herself, wanted to smile. Tried her damned best to… and in the end, managed to pull it off with flying colors. Her eyes shone with the dwindling firelight, ambers mixed with amber of her own.
"Me neither."
LadyLedge [Lydia]
For the first time tonight, Lydia was speechless, dumbfounded even. They were having this conversation in front of… everyone? Were the drugs getting to Ellie's head? That was all the young girl could keep asking herself the longer the redhead spoke. No more giggling, no more bullshit chit-chat, just straight to the nitty-gritty. It came out of nowhere, maybe that's what made it so surprising.
So it was true, what Carl had blabbed to her ages ago. Taking last night into account too, this double confirmed it. It was impossible to get more clear-cut than this. Silence ensued for a moment, the soft pattering of rain hitting the tarp and the crackling of fire was all that could be heard.
"Excuse me." Lydia stood up, dusting herself off. Unsure if she wanted to hear any more of this. It didn't matter though, since she was done with the game. With that, the girl turned around, and with little delay, left the site to retreat to her sleeping bag.
Dot [Ellie]
With those two words, an insurmountable weight was lifted off of her shoulders. All this time… regretting, hating, coping, it seemed only then that those rocks had finally drifted away, downstream. There was resolution, though Ellie knew nothing had really changed. All she cared about, though, was that Clementine would leave Jackson not hating her. Even though that selfish side of her hoped that she'd return, with her parents, some day. She knew that she'd support her if she didn't.
Ellie had no idea what to say after that, but she couldn't help the smile that was plastered on her face. She looked like the biggest idiot in Jackson, but she didn't care.
Vi-xen [Kat]
"You know what?" Kat started laughing under her breath, shaking her head as she stood up and stretched out. "I'm with Lydia on this one. This wasn't a game to win, but you both definitely won it. I say it's time to end it here. I'll take watch till the high wears off a bit more, if you don't mind. I need something to focus on. I'll be in shouting distance." Kat offered a smile in parting, walking off towards the edge of one of the tarps to take a seat and look out over the trees. She felt pride rise in her chest. Ellie did it, and she couldn't be happier. Kat let a look linger back towards the group, her eyes rolling slightly as she looked back up to the clouded sky.
"Well, Dad. Maybe this won't be so horrible after all." Her voice was quiet, nearly a whisper. "I know I had my doubts the other night, going out anywhere with just Carl.. and even more doubts when the rest showed up. I know it's a long shot, but… maybe things aren't going to be bad. Lydia will be tough to crack, but… Ellie has my back… and Carl… might be giving me a chance. It's like… way too early to be talking to you, isn't it? Heh — Thanks, though. You always were a good listener. To be updated, old man. I… uh — I love you." Kat let her smile fade as she turned her attention back to the treeline. She had a chance here. Now to just not blow it.
Crimson [Carl Grines]
It looked like Ellie and Clem had taken over the game. Carl smiled warmly at the scene. A bittersweet goodbye, but at least they had the chance, some people never do.
"Well, I gotta go make sure our supplies are well secured. Don't want raccoons poking around our food."
Raccoons? What an idiot.
As Carl walked away, he looked in Lydia's direction. Something had annoyed her, and he had an idea of what it'd been, but every time he thought he knew her, she surprised him. Maybe he'll never fully understand that girl. Maybe she doesn't want to be.
His eyes then shifted towards Kat. She was also a mystery, but for very different reasons. Maybe it was partly true, she didn't seem that bad. Still, the pain lingered. Everything he had lost to Negan, everything his loved ones had suffered had helped her remain alive. She had feasted on Hilltop's crops. She had been defended by Alexandria's weapons. She had thrived on the Kingdom's blood. Yet all of that wasn't her fault. Suddenly the bogeyman didn't look so scary. He almost felt pity, and that scared Carl even more.
Dot [Ellie]
As everyone else left — either bitterly or warmly — Ellie was left with Clementine at the campfire, though the silence that had befallen them wasn't as suffocating as it might've been twenty minutes ago. Settling on opening a can herself and getting something in her system before resting, the rest of the afternoon went by in relative peace. And, as darkness fell, and the rain stopped, Ellie settled into her sleeping bag for the night.
They still had a long journey ahead of them, she knew, and while things between her and Clementine might be better than they had been, there were still a million things that could go wrong tomorrow.
She just had to hold onto hope that this was the worst it would get.