Hello there! Trying my hand at this, exploring relationships with different characters, not all that happens on the Show would be happening here. You know how one person can change the paths that someone was supposed to follow. One never knows what could happen if we change a few things in the lives of someone, how that could affect them.

Feeling the waters here, let me know what you think.

'Come on, just a little bit more! ´ hurried footsteps could be heard throughout the muddy grounds and the cover of trees. 'That's far enough, we should climb one of those and wait it out´ She was panting, trying to recover her breath and lower her pulse. Stretching her arms helped to make the girl climb first and reach the branches way to high for her short arms. Once up there, she grab her rope and throws it over a branch so they could get the backpack up. All set up, the young woman starts climbing the tree and securing their supplies. That´s all they had, she would not let this fuckers stomp all over them.

'You good? ´ gets a silent nod of the head and an offer of water. Gladly accepted.

Few minutes after their heart rate slows down, the moaning and shuffling feet start getting stronger. They didn't know where all this dummies came from, but one moment it was time for lunch, and the next they were running for cover in the trees. One of the best ways to get out of reach, properly and fast. Especially with a kid that was like a monkey by now, she was climbing trees since before walking. It wasn't easy, caring for a child in all this, trying to cheer up all days and trying to cover the pain in her face when she says she´s hungry, or would like a sweet. It wasn´t something that happens a lot, but when she was hungry, she berate herself for not finding more. When all this started, she was kind of plump over the muscles of her training, always trying and failing to get rid of the extra everything going on in her body. The first months of this chaos was easy giving up her portions for the girl, she has some stockpile to keep her going for a while. And thinking that this apocalypse was the way to get in shape, funny how life works.

She certainly didn't lose every curve. Her chest was prominent, since she was 15 it was one of her characteristic features. Double bra and everything to avoid slapping herself in the face. Another one is her curly dark hair, now trimmed short in a styled messy nonchalant flair. Her muscles developed even more, and the lack of plump flesh covering gave her dangerous big quads that nobody would mess with, and an athletic form that came just because of hard work surviving. Kind of tricky for most, that she had more strength and ability fighting that anyone assumes when they meet her.

´I think we're clear, Rea' the girl was relaxing like nothing happened, used to this world by now. The children sometimes have it better, most of what they remember is this, running around searching food, hiding of danger and loneliness. This one was a tough kid, always liked zombie games, so when she was younger everything was a game. She was good, keeping quiet when needed, and listening when she had to. That was one of her best traits.

'Yes, looks like it. Want to eat lunch up here? Then we can head to that school we saw on the map. Maybe find some books for you, and rest for the night.'

'Sounds amazing!' her eyes start to shine with the possibility of new reading material. 'Haven't been on a school in a long time, maybe we can play with the chalk!'

'Haha sure thing, bet that's one thing they didn't take' Rea loves seeing that she still is a little girl, even though she has demonstrated she can handle the crap cards life got for her.

'It looks deserted, not even dummies inside. Maybe we could stay a while here' Rea was thinking in all the food stored inside this school, and how great would it be to stop running around for a while. 'Come on, you know how this works, close to me.'

They both made a perimeter check before trying to get to the doors. Blocked, obviously. Rea turns around and sees the sneaky little creature with half her body inside through a window. Knocking on the wood below to attract any unwanted friend. Nobody came, getting inside first, she was surprised that the school seems pristine. Dusty to the limit, they will have to clean up before getting to bed. Wouldn't do to sneeze all night.

'So…here we go…ready?'

'Totally´

They just walk in to heaven…food over food, over more food. They had hit jackpot.

'Ugh, I can't breathe, don't remember eating this much ever'

'Same here, can't move my eyes. Oh shit, we had a feast, we even had desert. Can you believe that?' Was hard to tell who was more excited. They were relaxing on the couch in the teachers section, sprawled over almost in a food coma after working their asses off for three days fortifying the place, they didn't want to give up all the food here, and it could be enough for a long time. Longer that they usually stay in any place. It was hard to decide where to stay, risking other people. But this was heaven.

'Missed hanging out like this, I miss school, but I don't really remember it a lot. What did I miss?' She likes hearing stories from before. Simple things people used to do, and Rea always gave details.

'Well, you miss a lot of little shits treating each other bad because kids used to be mean. But also it was a good time. Recess playing football with the lads or even playing tag or hide and seek.'

'Was it boring that they didn't teach you how to defend yourself?' Sometimes the kid asks this questions and she remembers how mixed her worlds are. It's sad to think the lost opportunities. But, she is alive. So you don't care to dwell on that.

'I always liked to defend myself, even if I didn't knew how. You just have to give a strong front and don't give up. Once I beat an older guy because he always messed with me. Beat him up and everyone started saying I was a tomboy.'

This kind of days were the good ones. Rea loves hearing her laugh and be a normal child. Now she is 9. It has been three long years for her, raising her in the middle of all this. Surviving and having a little kid depending on everything she did. She could not fail. Not once. Because it would mean…it was hard thinking about certain paths a bad decision could lead a survivor to. Thankfully she grew up to be a hard ass kiddo. Using her sweet little bow, little but deadly. And a pair of Sai* with sharpened blades. Strategy was the base of what she taught her, a good kick in the knees, the dummies, like she would say, fell on their asses and made an easy target for someone short. The necessity of handling different tools was crucial. The weapon have to be the person itself. That way even with no tools, you survive.

Been 3 weeks in the school. Everything was eerie quiet. Not much dummies walking around, just a few that were a good training for the girl to practice. Rea keep teaching and training her to self defence and tools. They only had a gun for critical situations, so they rely on what they knew best. Either way, guns were a waste, too much noise could attract the dead and the living. They were starting to think no one lived close by, judging by the lack of scouts, and the good condition of the school. A little safe haven on the middle of Crap town. So Rea decided to look into the town so maybe they could look a good pair of boots for the girl, she was growing and her feet hurt when they had to walk a lot.

Footsteps on asphalt, wind and leaves rustling across the streets, all seems clear. Making their way through the streets they found finally an outdoors store. Knocking on the door they start to search what is left inside.

'Look, there they are! Hope we can find ones that fit. My toes are getting strangled.'

'Come on, sit down. Mmmh, let's try this ones.' Rea starts looking for anything useful in the meantime. They would need winter clothes in a few months, the nights were getting cooler day in and day out. Last thing they want was a runny nose and fever. Grabbing a few layers of protection against the weather, Rea made her use a shoulder leather armour for safety, better safe than sorry. It proved to be a good idea, after a close call a few years back. They didn't want to risk it again, so the armour and more training was a solution.

Wandering to the backpack section, thinking about the need of getting a kids pack, so in case that anything happens and they get separated, she has supplies to get by without scavenging for a while. She take one and starts packing essentials, going through the aisles testing the weight of de pack, wasn't worth it if she couldn't run because of it. Rea realised with impending dread that she could hear people chatting not far from where she left her. Crouching her way back to the boots section, the voices indeed were inside, and one was in reach of the girl, that has her big eyes focused on the man talking to her. The man has his back to Rea, trying to make her talk. She couldn't help but wait and reckon the matter at hand. He was definitely taller than her, that wasn't something difficult to achieve. Almost everyone was, but she learned to make it an advantage. The problem she saw was the athletic state of the man, even from behind you knew to be careful. But none of it matter when it was a danger for her girl. Tiptoeing to reach him, she kicks behind his knee to make it an easier reach and puts him in a choke hold.

Immediately after she got control of the guy, she saw the arrow pointed in his direction and a proud smile draw itself in her face.

'That's my girl.' Winked and concentrate again on the matter at hand. 'What do you think you're doing talking to my girl? You had to surprise her, if not she would have an arrow pointed at your ass before you got near her. The fuck you want from her?' Noticing he wasn't trying to move, nor even squirming generated in Rea some kind of confidence. He obviously values his life.

'I mean no harm at all, on the contrary. Walking down the street saw her inside and want to make sure she was okay. It's strange to see children out here, as you may know.'

'You cover me?' She ask the girl, who only nods. Rea lets go of the man and stands alongside the little archer. 'It's not nice to sneak up on girls, least of all if they're mine'

'I'm sorry, really. I mean no harm. Probably you noticed I didn't resist when you were choking me. Had to admit you surprised me. Not lots of people can.' His arms up in the air, and his sight flicking over both of them. 'I guaranty that all I bring are good intentions.' The guy extends his hand in offering of an introduction. 'I'm Paul. But my friends call me Jesus'

This is a Sai if you don't know: search?q=sai+weapon&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwjbxsPZnZ7pAhV-LbkGHaqKC60Q2-cCegQIABAA&oq=sai+we&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQARgAMgQIABBDMgIIADIECAAQHjIECAAQHjIECAAQHjIECAAQHjIECAAQHjIECAAQHjIECAAQHjIECAAQHjoECCMQJ1DZHVjMI2C-L2gAcAB4AIABlAKIAf8DkgEFMS4xLjGYAQCgAQGqAQtnd3Mtd2l6LWltZw&sclient=img&ei=cyayXpvBAv7a5OUPqpWu6Ao&rlz=1C1CHBD_esAR853AR853