July 29th, Year Unknown, 1500 hours:
Bronx, New York
"It's been a long day, and I can't manage to find anything useful. Just lots of batteries and ammo, but no food. What is with this god forsaken city? It's New fucking York! I expect a lot of food to be laying around." I pace around the small store, kicking things around.
"You find anything Pib?" I huffed, glaring at him. He looked at me with puppy dog eyes slightly raising his head.
"Yeah, no, of course not. There's nothing here." I grabbed my things and whistled for Pib to follow me out of the store. I looked at him filled with defeat.
"I'm sorry boy. We'll find something to eat." He raised his head, smelling something foreign. He bounds out from behind me and heads down the street.
"Wait! What do you smell?!" I chase after him with ease, Was I an athlete before this all? I catch up and watch as he darts through a hole in the fence.
"Pib!" I can't fit through the hole, god damnit. There's a barricade to my left, but there's no getting over that. To my left the fence goes on, but the bridge is down across the road. No way I'm getting over that either. If I climb the barricade it could collapse and lure infected. If I climb the downed section of the bridge, it may take me away from where I want to get in, or maybe even let me jump over the fence. Bridge it is. I huff, running down the street, stopping my tracks when I see a few dormant runners. I take out my two double bladed knives and grip them tightly, cracking my knuckles as I do. Infected I may be, sudden movements still frighten them. And I don't need more than a problem than they already are. I inspect the group of them, all a distance apart, all dormant, bodies hanging towards the ground, groaning filled the air, they were flinching at intervals.
Slowly, I traversed through the group, getting to the wall of rubble. I put my knives in my bag and began to climb, losing my footing for a moment. A piece of stone broke off, dropping a few feet below. It grabbed the groups' attention, they let out screams of fright, spinning around searching for the source. The furthest one away spotted me and darted for the bottom of the wall, the rest followed. I sped up my climbing, until I was an ample distance from their reach. They all bumped into each other, climbing over one another like true idiots, until one got ahold of a ledge and pulled itself up. Dumb or not, it was determined to eat me. I pulled out an ice pick I found and gripped it tightly. Holding onto the wall with my other hand I edged the creature on.
"Come and get it!" I kicked the ledge below me, knocking rubble loose. Of course, it misses the one climbing, but slams down on two below me. I huffed and climbed further up the wall, noticing another two infected got ahold of the ledge and were following behind. I got to a flat area of the fallen bridge. It wasn't much, but it was high enough and contained enough room to fight off these stupid fucks. I let my bag and rifle slide off my shoulders.
I allowed the first to reach the ledge, only to greet it by crushing it's hand with my boot. It was easily compressed and broken off of the already decayed body. Slightly disgusted, I repeated my maneuver to the other hand, knocking it free. It let out an ear ringing screech and fell down to the ground, it's skull broke open against the pavement below. I was partially distracted and didn't notice as the other two succeeded the climb up. One stumbled up grabbing at my arm, I kicked it it's knee knocking it down. As it flailed to get up I shoved the icepick deep into its skull. The other got its footing and ran towards me, I ran towards it, aiming for its abdomen. I collided into it, tackling it to the ground. I slammed the icepick into its skull multiple times.
I stood up huffing, still amped up for another fight. After cracking my neck, I wipe the icepick on my jeans and slip it into my holster. I begin scavenging and scouting around while I'm up here. I can't find anything useful up here, but the west edge of the platform gives me a view over the complex Pib ran into.
It was a zoo, and I don't mean packed, it's a literal Zoo. It was destroyed. There were open cages and collapsed walls all over. There must be animals running around everywhere. I have to be very careful, who knows what's lurking around down there. The complex also doesn't look compromised from the outside, which means there's ample food and shelter for a while. I go back to my bag and throw it on, I grab the rifle and lay down near the edge. I bend my left arm parallel to my body, resting the rifle on it to provide a pivot point. I glance into the scope, using my current vantage point as an advantage. So far I can see animals running amok, but no sign of Pib, I do hope he's alright. There is however, access to the aquarium quadrant of the zoo, meaning Pib could be there trying to catch fish, or eating other zoo animals. I can say there is no visible threat of infected inside the zoo, that could be good, if I decide to stay the night.
I grab the strap and swing the rifle onto my shoulder. One way trip down the wall. I carefully crouch by the edge of the wall, lowering myself down. I slowly make my way down into the Zoo complex. Finally getting solid ground underneath me, I go into my bag taking out a water bottle, there were no clouds to shade me from the constant heat. After putting my water back into my bag I draw my icepick once again, wary of the creatures that reside in the complex.
"Pib?" I called out, the complex relayed it back in a small echo. I walked slowly through the zoo, vaguely familiar with it's hallways. I hear echoed barks fill the hallways. Either the aquarium or the big cats wing but it's too hard to tell.
I close my eyes and listen for the barking, it's louder to the right than the left. I turn and open my eyes, The aquarium wing. I paced my walking so my steps were quiet compared to the echoes. Pib sounds like he was on my left. The sign on the large doorway said Otter tank.
Peering through the doorway, there he was at the other end of the room, barking at the otters swimming around.
"For god sakes, what are you doing?" I called out as I watched him paw at the water. He lay down at the edge of the pool, paws in the water. Pib gave up trying to get at the otters, who swam away from the edges of the tank.
"You're willing to eat anything, huh boy?" I smiled at the determined state he directed towards the otters. He whined and went to get up.
"We can find something to eat don't worry." I got up and went down a different hall, the zoo was practically empty. A majority of the animals had to either be dead, or have escaped.
Either way, it's safer for Pib and I.
I slipped my ice pick back into my holster with the other, there was absolutely nothing around to eat other than the animals. Until I search the rest of this place I'm not killing anything.
After about an hour of scavenging, we gave up walking back to where we came. We took a route through the big cats wing. I'd have hoped a few would be there just to look at but of course, none in their opened habitats.
There was a habitat that caught my eye, a leopard habitat that had trees and vegetation all over. Inside was a fallen treetrunk that was held up by a rock ledge. Vines and bramble were growing and draping over it. Directly underneath was a heaping bed of leaves. Although we were starving, it was slowly getting darker, we need to sleep somewhere. I took off my jacket, balling it up for a pillow. Upon sitting down a low growl filled the air, Pib began growling in response. I peered around slowly, we weren't alone.
"Pib stay." I commanded and he listened by laying down still aware of the hidden danger.
I creeped out of the habitat, glass crunching on the floor beneath my boot. Another growl filled the air and I slowly turned back towards the habitat. Out of the corner of my eye I can see the owner of the habitat laid across the ledge above it. It's tail swishing back and forth, the leopard stared me down as it growled.
"Fuck...me. Pib. Stay." I spoke as quiet as I could out of the corner of my mouth. The leopard quickly responded by swiping it's clawed paw at me. I jutted forward to get away, but it caught my back, shredding my tank top and breaking deep into my skin.
I fell forward feeling the blood begin to spill. I darted away from the habitat only to be chased by the leopard. It was either me or it and I'm not too proud of the possibility of killing it.
I turn to face it, watching it slowly stalk me down the hall, it was limping. It wasn't trying to kill me, it was defending itself.
"Do or die. Fuck it." I mumbled to myself, dropping my bag and rifle off my shoulders.
"Easy now, I'm not trying to hurt you. I'm trying to survive. Although talking to you may end up being the death of me, it's worth the risk. I'm sure you've no idea what I'm saying, but we all are starving. And if I find food I'm willing to share it with you."
It was a long shot to try to convince this beautiful creature out of killing me, but I've got a feeling it's trying to kill me for good reasons. I kicked my bag and rifle towards it as it stopped a few feet away from me. I slowly began to sit down in front of it.
It did the same, but moved in front of my bags, keeping an arms length away. Still growling it stared at me, watching, observing.
"I can sit here all night if you like, but at some point we need to eat." I looked around finding an information plate to the habitat. It had a picture of the leopard that lay in front of me.
"You're a Sri Lankan Leopard? Named Cas. Hmm I like the name." I pushed the plate across to her. She just continued to stare at me instead. She contorted to lick at her hind leg, visibly cut up.
After a few long and impatient minutes I stand up and walk around Cas, picking up my things. She immediately started to growl. I ignored it asserting what little dominance I had and threw the bag and rifle into the habitat.
I turned to look at her. "I'm going to get food, for all three of us. You can come with. Show me how you got hurt even."
She stared at me, or more so through me. I turned back around and looked up to the ledge, there were footsteps coming from above the habitat. I shooed her into the habitat and fixed myself up, appealing to the male that peeked over the edge. He seemed young, at least 20, probably older. His age was masked by the scruff he had around his face.
"Hands up." He demanded, "What got at you?" He spoke, addressing the claw mark across my back.
"A leopard, the fucker got me good, but it's no longer with us now." I stood my ground, planning out a facade in my head. "Mind helping a girl out? I need food and a vehicle."
The man was skeptical, but began to laugh. "Girl, you must be in a whole other world because cars just don't sit around these days. What's your name?"
"Haven't got one." I plainly said as I climbed up to him.
"Everyone's got a name." He narrowed his stare, still aiming his rifle.
"Well I don't know what mine is, I can't remember anything. Is that good enough for you?" I returned fire with the attitude. Although I don't much about myself, this personality seems me. I locked on and continued the convo with this man.
"So will you help or not?" I stared at him before adjusting my top.
"Hmm. I'll talk to my boss and see what I can do. Come with me, you'll need a weapon." He pulled a pistol out of the back of his pants.
I waved my hand in dismissal only to pull the colt out of my right holster.
"You never said you was armed." He tested.
"You never asked nor demanded to relieve myself of my weapons." I played coy and followed closely.
"We are a small group, but we designated a corner of the zoo to our camp. We gathered all of the supplies and rations we could find and hold them at our camp. We appoint two groups to go out hunting and looting daily. We just lost a few the other day. If my boss allows it you can join us. There are no women in this group so you have to be wary. You can fend for yourself though, so it should be fine." He directed me through a doorway.
I shoved him to the floor behind a box and put my gun back in the holster. Pulling out my ice picks I shushed him and peered over. The hallway was lurking with pacing clickers and resting runners. I huffed and walked among them. Taking out the two clickers I looked back to the man to gesture him forward.
He walked slowly crouching, weaving through the resting infected. I stared at him, inclining he stayed quiet until we arrived at his said camp. He did so and I continued to follow him.
Arriving at his camp I received unwelcome stares from a good few men. It drove my feeling of danger and I didn't trust any of them. To cease the silence I began asking questions.
"Does your group have animal problems since you reside in the zoo?"
"Not since we first got here, either the animals ran away from the compound or we killed the feral and dumb ones."
Now I know what happened to Cas. I'm definitely not staying with these assholes. Out of the corner of my eye I caught Cas' coat zipping by. This isn't going to turn out well.
I drew my colt and became wary of my surroundings, was this a revenge game or is she coming after me? I held my thumb over the safety in case I would need it. I spun around checking the corners of the camp, she was lurking somewhere.
"What is it?" The guy looked on in confusion, raising his gun.
"You have a guest, and you won't like who it is." I cracked a smile before turning towards him. I aimed my gun at his head, right between the eyes. "Drop your weapon or I kill everyone."
"You're a girl with a small gun. We are a group of many with rifles." He commented pointing his weapon at my chest.
The rest of the men slowly stepped towards us, raising whatever weapon they had.
"I've got a leopard. A starving, angry leopard. Like the one you fools tried to kill." I pulled the slide on the colt quickly raising it back to his head.
Fear struck his face, "You set us up!"
"No no no. More so it was luck. No, A coincidence. I happened to lose my dog in the zoo. I happened to find the zoo. I happened to encounter Cas. And you so happened to come across me. Frankly, this was never planned, but it could have occurred better than this." I began to pace around, flailing the gun as I went.
"Cas?"
"Yes, the leopard. It has a name. It had a name before I came across it. Coincidentally I came across the habitat info plate. And everything fell into place." This unusual feeling, dug it's way up from the abyss of my being. I went with it, surely not recognizing it, but welcoming it nonetheless. I weaved my way through the men and whistled out, Cas taking her time to saunter from behind a large box of supplies.
I sat on the ground and laid back, firing the gun a few times. Screams filled the air, the remaining infected were very alert and very hungry. I stayed still as they burst through the double doors, which happened to not be reinforced very well.
I let Cas lay next to me as they ran after a majority of the camp members. Completely invisible I sat up and watched a few infected be shot down. I shot the remaining three in the head, the surviving members gathered around.
The chatter began and I could sense they questioned both my sanity and my status as human. Was I insane before this? I'm not sure. Could I of been? Yes. Am I right now? I'm not sure. I don't even recall the proper label for insanity.
"Drop your weapons or I'll infect you all." I lied, surely I couldn't. Carrier or not, I'm sure I've got to die before I can transmit the virus. I mean that's what I've seen. That's what I've experienced.
As the men dropped their weapons I whistled for Cas. She began pacing around, growling, marking her first victim.
She pounced and began tearing the men to shreds. I grabbed the man that kindly brought me to the camp, pulling on his collar.
"Where are good clothes and food?" He stayed silent. I held the gun to his head as I began to get antsy.
"In the stockpile in the corner." He stammered out and pointed.
I tossed him to the ground and headed for the goods. "You're free to go." I turned the safety on and scratched my head with my gun, the same unknown feeling drowned me. I turned back to him as he was hustling away, shooting him dead. "No one needs to come after me." I grabbed a duffle bag and emptied it, I filled it with ammo, clothes, and food. I trudged off to my domain of the zoo, letting Cas have her time with the men. I wasn't done here.
-10 minutes later-
I got back to the habitat, Cas was already there, licking at her bloodied chops and paws. I went through the duffle bag and threw two dead otters on the ground.
"One for each of you, share." I demanded and ate at my food. Cas just stared at me without touching the otter I provided.
I reached out for her and she began growling. I retracted my hands before getting into her personal space. Holding my hand out, I waited. Cas was in control, she could either choose to let me pet her or reject the contact. I slowly drew my hand back, only to have her surprisingly press into it. I looked to her and pet her with meaning. She was a beautiful creature, and could be a nice companion as well. I smiled and withdrew my hand after the success.
Time passed, and the three of us finished our meals. I looked over and Pib was curled up against her, sound asleep. I need the rest, but the wound Cas gave me was taking in the dirt, stinging more than I'd of hoped it would. I dug into my bag, finding water and gauze. I pulled my torn tank top off, pouring the semi-warm water down my back. I seethed out, a majority of dirt washing out. I began to wrap the gauze around my lower back. Another battle wound for another day.
Chuckling to myself, I laid back, my neck connecting with fur. I shot up and looked, Cas laid there, acting as a pillow. I was shocked, I know we bonded. I just haven't realized how much. Pib came up on my right moving under my arm.
"Alright, sleeping in tonight, late start tomorrow. We can find more food and a vehicle and get moving." I laid back into Cas, sleeping the night away.