I'm just gonna place this here, don't mind me. This will probably be the last update before school starts, unless I get the other chapters for my others stories popped out real quick.

There's a big plot development here, so enjoy this chapter!

Oh Man Decisions are Hard

I lead the group through the forest, I kept heading north, ignoring the roads that winded around the forests. Though quickly Aragorn took over when I began to just, zoned out in my thoughts for hours. With him in charge, the squad got into many petty arguments, but I didn't have the energy to do anything about it. Everyone was always on high alert as we cut through the woods and plains, always ready for a zombie to pop out of nowhere. Despite all attempts to change my mind, it didn't work, no matter who tried.

We would make camp, Sam and Lily would make the food, Legolas would always be on watch, and the conversation was minimal. Sam gave me my food and I ate bits of it, I was always if everyone else was eating, which wasn't always the case.

"Legolas, come eat!" I call to him, but he doesn't come down from the tree, doesn't even attempt to.

"I'm alright, I need to look out." His body was hidden in the trees, but after he hasn't eaten for three days, I'm gonna go with he's hungry.
I called out again, this time in more of a demand tone. "We'll have Aragorn do lookout. Get your ass down here now and eat!" My shouting silenced the rare ones who were talking, giving me a scary look, like I was gonna blow up or something. But it worked, the climbed down from the bushy tree and walked his gangly legs to the camp fire; Sam gave him a plate and Legolas sat down, slowly munching down on the food. Aragorn now stood, going to a nearby tree and leaned against it, on the look out for danger. I looked back and saw Kai looking at the map, eyes searching the northern area.

Suddenly they spoke. "We'll be coming up on the highway soon, there's an exit that leads right into the New England area." Oh not this shit again! I didn't bother to reply, I just kept munching on my food, but they didn't let it go. "Flame, you know as well as I do that it's a good pla-" I slammed my plate down, the wood cracking.

I could only hiss the words out to keep my cool. "We are not going to Maryland. That's final." Everyone was quite, some slowly going back to eating their food.

Luna didn't let it go. "Honey, you need to be reasonable." Oh so I'm not the fucking reasonable one!

I lost control, I threw the cracked plate, screaming. "I AM BEING THE REASONABLE ONE! I'm the one who's taking in account of the lives of every fucking person here! You all just want to risk everything on some suspicion!" No one replied, I didn't wait for one either. I just stood and stomped away, further into the forest. I kicked and punched everything in sight, finally plopped down on a log, I pulled out my knife and carved.

I was alone for a bit, but I heard rustling nearby, I got my knife ready for whatever was to show. Out from the bushes came Gimli, his red hair matted down from the helmet, the big axe secured in his thick fingers. He stopped, face soft as he motions to the log, "may I, lass?" Fine, whatever. I nodded and he approached, propping himself up on the rotting log. He was quiet, hands ringing the handle of his axe. It was rather peaceful, but suddenly, "listen lass, I know you want to do what is best for everyone, but do you mind if I tell ya' a story?" Oh I wonder what the moral of the story will be? Such a surprise. I nodded, maybe it will help our relationship. "My father was part of the Company that went with Thorin Oakenshield, to reclaim the mountain Erebor from the dragon Smaug. It was a hard journey, with many challenges, and sometimes Thorin didn't know what road to take. One way might be faster but more dangerous, another is longer but safer. When they left Rivendell, they took the the mountain path, thinking it was safe. But a monstrous storm came, and suddenly a Thunder Battle roared. The company split, one half on the leg of a thunder giant. They almost lost half of their company that night, but they didn't, and they created a shortcut that more towards the mountain." Hm, I don't know whether I should believe it or not. I thought about it for a bit, I mean it worked then, but what about now? I sighed heavily, my mind crammed with thoughts. Gimli sat there, silent as I thought, but I could tell he wanted to tell me more.

I sighed and gave in. "Alright, give me your brilliant insight on why I should go to Maryland."

Gimli adjusted his seat, his rant starting. "Listen lass, I know you want to do what is best for your friends, I dearly hope I am part of your friends; you're one hardass in this world. However, if you truly want to keep your friends safe, you need to think of a way to get them out of this hell-"

"Like Canada where it's too cold for the zombies!" I retaliated, hands flailing in anger, my head throbbing.

I felt his gloved hand take mine, his voice soft. "And they may be true lass, look, when I first saw you in that store I didn't think much of you. You looked odd in your clothing, and your weapons all odd, but I saw you kill that horrid creature, and I saw you take charge; you are one real fighter kid." His brown eyes were soft towards me, and his hand held mine tight. "I am grateful that the fellowship was found by you and your group, and it would be a true shame if we were to lose any one of you. I know for a fact, that if we get you all to Middle-earth, something that can very well happen, then you will be protected by us." His last words were with a strong emphasis, but it still seemed distant like the rest of words. I couldn't think straight, my mind was just in a constant debate on what to do. I felt Gimli's hand escape mine, and his weight lifted from the log and he began to stomp away.

He stopped a turned, eyes big and puppy doggy. "I'm uh... I'm sorry about what I did in the RV, with the music disc. Your father must have been a great man." My heart ached at the mention of him, eyes already starting to water.

"He was," I told through my passive tears, looking down at my muddied hands. He left me alone on the log, alone with my thoughts, my dark thoughts. I didn't know even what to think, what to even focus on at the moment! I must have been there for a long time, because Aragorn came gently stomping into the forest.

"It's getting late," he started. "You should probably head back."

I gave a single laugh, adding with a snark. "Why? So you all can persuade me to change the route? Give me stories and advice that worked for you when there wasn't the undead walking the earth?" I sighed heavily, my hands falling heavily on the log, picking at the rotting wood.

I heard Aragorn approach me, and soon I saw his brown boots in my view.

I didn't bother to look up when he spoke. "Listen-"

I stopped him right there. "Listen, listen, listen! All you guys ever want me to do is LISTEN! Can't you see I'm struggling with his predicament? Can't you fuckers see that I'm going crazy thinking about it?! I mean I'm lucky you're able to control the group while I just fucking lose my mind with everyone's advised crammed in!" My fingers tensed, shaking by my head to add emphasis on me losing my mind.

He kneeled, taking my hands and speaking softly. "The only reason we are giving you this advice is because we want to be safe, everyone; including you." You don't think I don't know that dumbass? "The problem is, I can lead the fellowship, I can't lead your friends. You have experience in having them cooperate, I don't. We both need to work together with Gandalf to have everyone get along, so I will go with you no matter what decision. But right now, your friends need you, Luna needs you, because right now there isn't a lot of hope that we will make it to either destination. You need to be a leader right now, just like in the past." He stood me up gently, guiding me back to the campsite where everyone was still silent and uneasy.

Boromir took the first watch, Mark took the second despite Legolas wanting to do the third watch in a row. Luna and I were distant as we slept, barely touching each other while on the forest floor.

I was the last one awake, I guess I must look like complete shit and needed to sleep in. Luna handed me my plate, we ate in silence, even the hobbits were eerily quiet. I didn't bother to ask what it was, because I already knew it, we must be coming up on the exit today; that is if we keep on speed. Aragorn and I led, Aragorn's excellent ranger skills spying zombies near by, Mark and or Legolas taking them out. We reached the highway and we climbed on, dodging cars and occasionally searching them if they looked worth looting. There wasn't much in the cars, some food, water, or clothing. The sun beating down on us, out steps the only thing able to be heard. We were all quite, but I was probably the only one in deep thought.

I heard their footsteps stop, and so I stopped and looked up from the concret. I saw the exit, the exit that would lead us into more cities, more zombies, and more live people. My eyes burned at the length I stared at the intersection, and for the first time I thought of nothing. I just stared at the two directions, accepting the silence for once. Suddenly, a memory opened, and I heard the note I wrote to my dad on the side of the road... "I'll be sure to keep these bastards alive, don't worry." Don't worry, don't worry about me alone with my friends as we make our way up north to Canada where you always wanted to visit. Where we meet some weird ass renaissance people from a different world that you would probably love to talk to and make good friends out of every single one, you talkative-dadjoke-nerd. I sighed, head falling with my shoulders, only a couple of tears rolled down my cheeks. North is where it's cold, north is where zombies can't walk, north is where friendly Canadians are. East is a whole lot of cities, east is a chance of finding out how to get them back to their home, east is a chance of long lasting survival.

"Ah fuck it!" I finally exasperated and lifted my head again, turning right and exiting to the cities. Everyone behind me sighed with relief, and they picked up the pace to catch up with me. The hobbits began to laugh and talk, everyone went back to their normal selves.

I watched from behind as Lily made a pun that only squad would understand, the Middle-earth people needed explaining.

"I'm glad you made this choice." Gandalf smiled down to me, staff clicking with his steps. I snorted, everyone was happy with my choice it seems.

I looked up to him, his smile causing me to have one and I questioned. "You know, everyone had a turn at trying to convince me, except you, why?"

He shrugged, mumbling a little to himself and answered. "Well I didn't think you needed anyone's opinion at all. I just think you needed to think things through very carefully, and it turns out I was right." Oh okay grandpa, brag all you like.

I smiled brightly at the sight of everyone laughing and enjoying themselves, but I knew it wouldn't last long. "Well don't get too comfortable with this, it's a long way to Maryland, and we'll have to go through a lot of cities."

Gandalf took a long breath, nodding and agreeing. "Indeed, it is a long travel to our destination, but I believe we'll make it through, just a long as we have each other." As long as we have each other, have every bastard alive, just like I promised.

Hope ya'll enjoyed! Thought I might bring back some feels from the first chapter, it was fun!

Don't forget to write a quick review if you enjoyed it, always nice to see physical evidence of people liking my stories.