Some say the world will end in Fire,

Some say Ice,

From what I've taste of desire,

I hold with those who favor Fire,

But if I had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of hate,

To say that for destruction Ice,

Is also great,

And would suffice

Robert Frost

XXX

Carter leant back against the yellow hummer glancing around the camp, adults trying to comfort children and children screaming were enough to give him a headache anyone a headache. He spent the majority of his life by himself and now here he was surrounded by people that he didn't have much care for, he only decided to help them since the world was on the brink of extinction.

Claire took in the fear that had enveloped the camp after the attack she tried her best to absorb it but couldn't. Luckily no one had been harmed during the infected crow attack or fire storm. Her eyes landed on the young man leaning against her hummer, trying his best to look as if he wasn't frustrated by the screaming and crying from children but his posture and facial expressions gave him away. With a shake of her head she closed the distance between her and the mysterious man, giving a look up into the sun roasted sky before finally letting her eyes drift to the young man who refused to give her attention.

"Thanks," Claire turned once again to look away from the young man, "For helping."

Carter glanced towards the redheaded lady who seemed uncomfortable by his presence and that lifted his mood somewhat. "Gotta look out for everyone nowadays," he gave a small shrug to emphasize it was nothing big and he didn't want it pressed.

"I suppose you do," Claire nodded holding out her hand, "Claire Redfield."

Carter gracefully took the woman's hand giving it a gentle yet sturdy shake, "Carter Malbye."

"Look I don't have anything to give you for helping, were close to out of supplies our self but anything we can do to help I'll see to it we'll do our best." Claire gave a small apologetic look to the young man who seemed content on letting a lopsided grin fall on his face.

"I'll hold you to that," he nodded before looking away once more.

One thing he knew, never ever not accept help from survivors after all you never knew where you'd end up a few days from now and who you could require help from. He made sure to keep most of his 'I owe you' for a time when he actually needed it but considering the world he wouldn't be surprised if the majority of people he had helped ended up dead anyway.

"What about the blonde?" Carter asked breaking the silence that slowly started surfacing yet keeping his eyes straight ahead.

"She's currently unconscious, K-marts keeping an eye on her however." Claire watched the man turn to face her, squinting curiously the grin disappearing, she shook her head giving Carter a 'don't ask' look.

Claire watched as he gave another nod before looking out over the horizon as if he had more to say but kept it to himself. She watched the looseness of his form and crinkled her brow, how could anyone be so content and comfortable with the world around them let alone strangers?

Claire heard the opening of the Desert Trail Motel door its squeaky sound echoing around the distraught camp. She turned to take in the blonde woman's figure; she was amazingly beautiful for someone who – if Carlos was right – had spent most of the apocalypse alone and more than likely wandering the barren wastelands by herself. She gave a small appreciative smile to the woman once she had stepped towards them; Claire noted the blonde's messed hair it looked adorable, she coughed slightly burying those thoughts as she straightened herself up to match the taller woman.

Carter glanced between the two women who stood in a comfortable silence making him uncomfortable, his feet beginning to shift on their own accord. "Carter Malbye," he held his hand out to Alice breaking the silence.

"Alice," she spoke hoarsely back to the young man, she furrowed her brow curiously. She swore she had seen that man before but where she couldn't put her finger on it.

"That's the speechless leader of the convoy Claire Redfield," Carter nodded towards the redhead a grin plastering his face.

Claire glared towards the young man before holding her hand out towards Alice giving the woman's hand a shake, "I can introduce myself," she retorted to Carter who hadn't seemed fazed by her tone.

Carter held up his hands in mock defense letting his grin turn into a smirk as he dropped his hands, "Redheads are feisty."

Claire glared up at the slightly taller man whose cockiness seemed to annoy the hell out of her; however the grin only seemed to widen which pissed her off even more. "How are you feeling?" She turned to face Alice who had yet to say anything other than her name.

Alice gave a small nod keeping her eyes focused on her shoes instead of on the redhead. She was currently in a war against the blush that slowly wanted to creep up her neck and settle on her face, ever since shaking the younger woman's hand.

"That was some impressive light show," Carter's voice deepened slightly as he continued staring at Claire who seemed only focused on Alice, "How'd you do it?"

Alice snapped her attention towards the young man before giving a shrug of her shoulders. She wasn't prepared to start sharing such personal details to people she barely knew, not yet…and perhaps never.

"Carlos would probably like to know your okay," Claire spoke up after just in time to cut the younger mans sentence of before he had time to start. She pointed over towards the black haired man who was currently in conversation with another convoy member.

Alice gave another nod looking up to where Claire was pointing, with a smile toward the redhead she began he small walk towards Carlos. She gave a courteous nod towards one of the survivors of the convoy who had severed the conversation with Carlos the moment she stepped up beside the man.

Carlos shook his head when the survivor turned walking away in the opposite direction, "Ignore them." Carlos turned to face Alice with a small smile on his lips, "How are you?"

Alice resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the statement, instead giving the man a small shrug of her shoulders. "Been better," she glanced around the convoy her eyes only resting on the redhead for a short time just long enough to see the blond man walk away from the hummer.

"Alice..." Carlos spoke up earning him her attention, "Why did you stay away for so long? I understand why you left...but why stay away."

Alice shook her head yet again as she focused her attention on the man in front of her, "It's just safer if I'm away from people."

"Safer for you? Or for others?" Carlos questioned raising an eyebrow before nodding towards Claire deciding to change the subject knowing where it would lead if he didn't, "The convoy didn't want you staying."

"I don't blame them," Alice said emotionless as she refocused her attention back on Carlos.

Carlos shook his head and raised his hands with a smile on his face, "Claire refused to kick you out." His smile grew wider when Alice's head shot towards him surprise evident on her face, "Though she did say that if you tried anything she'd kick your ass."

A small smile escaped onto Alice's lips, she could kick the redheads ass she was sure the redhead knew that but she was sure the redhead would still try and more than likely put up a good fight. "Thank you," she spoke hoarsely her voice dry from limitless use.

"You shouldn't be thanking me," he nodded towards the redhead still leaning against the hummer where Alice had left her.

Alice swallowed hard not caring if Carlos had heard or not. She wasn't good with 'thank you' and apologies, especially saying it to people she hardly knew, she had a hard enough time saying it to Carlos and she knew him well. She swallowed once more this time a little quieter and a lot smaller as she started her trek back towards the redhead, her footsteps falling into the same ones she had made on her walk towards Carlos.

Claire glanced towards the approaching form, when the woman was in ear shot Claire turned back to watch the young blond man who had pulled glass screen out of the trunk of his car. "She returns," Claire chuckled, slightly surprised at her reaction to the woman finishing her last few steps towards her.

Alice smiled widely at the other woman's chuckle, never once had she thought there could be such a beautiful sound left in the world and yet here she was hearing one. "I want to thank you," Alice said fighting the urge to turn and run away from the beautiful redhead.

"For?" Claire shot her head towards Alice, her brows crinkling in confusion under her aviator glasses, not fully understanding what the woman was thanking her for.

"For letting me stay," Alice spoke up as she looked away from the redhead. Alice mentally kicked herself for showing weakness; weakness with thanking the redhead sincerely, weakness in losing the fight to keep eye contact with the redhead and weakness in actually feeling joy at the thought of being a part of something once again.

Claire gave a small shrug of her shoulders pushing her glasses up onto her hat, "The convoy may look at you with insecurity but I see someone who saved my convoy's ass." She grinned over to the older woman, "Plus that and it'd be good to have you along for the ride."

Alice nodded returning the grin, "Having someone with telekinetic powers does do a lot to improving survival chances."

Claire chuckled with a nod, "so there are some up's to having you around, I knew I made the right choice." She mentally noted to remember to ask Alice about the whole telekinetic thing, after all the woman may have saved her convoy but she could still become a threat somewhere along the line.

"Shit!"

Claire and Alice both snapped their attention towards the young man hopping up and down on his right foot while gripping his left. Claire and Alice both turned to face each other, the silent conversation being conveyed in their eyes, neither one wanted to be the first to laugh but both were helping the other to fight away the urge to do so.

Claire turned to face the young man with difficulty; she found it more and more difficult with every passing second to tear her eyes away from the older woman and she had only met her a short while ago. She glanced over to the young man who gave the tire of his vehicle a small kick in defiance of the window pane that had dropped on his toe.

"I may have something you'd be interested in seeing."

This was just a quick chapter too get a sense for how each character will act throughout the story it also will show character development for Carter as the story goes on. Next chapter up ASAP.