A Regular Outbreak
Season Three: Cutting Losses and Letting Go
Episode Three: A New Leaf
12th of May, 2024, Late Afternoon
Day 298
Alpha shivered as he stepped on the ice. He had a bad feeling that this wouldn't end well, and had a right to be. Who was this woman? Was it worth saving her, or risking their lives? He thought about all of these things, but brushed them away and began focusing on crossing the ice.
He stopped for a second, then looked up. Rigby was slowly crossing the ice, holding his gun in his right hand. Alpha paid his attention to the girl across the lake. She'd given up at attacking the zombies and began slowly walking across.
"You! You help yes?" She shouted at the two men, a look of pure fear on her face, as she looked over at them. "Yes! We're coming to help." Rigby answered. "I thank you." She quietly replied, glancing behind her.
Rigby pulled out his gun, and aimed it at a walker that was closing in on her. He squeezed the trigger steadily and shot the zombie in the head. Another zombie walked close to its body and tripped over it, sending both of the walkers into the freezing water below.
"Come this way!" Rigby shouted. "I am, yes." She replied, glancing at Rigby. Rigby looked back at Alpha, who was quite a fair way behind him. Suddenly, the girl screamed. Rigby looked back at the girl and raised his gun. Rigby lowered the gun and looked at the girl in shock. A walker had come up behind her and bit her on the shoulder.
Rigby quickly raised his gun and shot the walker, and the girl kept walking forward, with a slight limp. "She's been bit, what can we do?" Alpha asked, stopping. "We can't go over there." Rigby looked back at him. "Help, please." She begged.
"What do we do?" Rigby asked. Alpha just shrugged. Rigby stopped and turned around. "Where you go? Come help." The girl asked, confused. "Your bit, we can't do anything." Alpha said, following Rigby carefully. "I can come back, yes? And you can help! Yes!" She exclaimed.
"We can't do anything for you. There's no cure for a bite. And besides, we can't risk it." Rigby answered. The girl just sighed. Rigby turned around. "I'm sorry." He apologized.
Back in the Inn, Mordecai and Axel were standing at the door. After hearing the shots, they wanted to be sure nobody got in. "Are Rigby and Alpha upstairs?" Sean asked, glancing at the two men. "Not sure, don't worry about it though. I'm sure they're fine." Mordecai replied.
A few minutes later, the door was being pushed open. Mordecai and Axel stepped back and raised their guns. Rigby and Alpha walked in. "No need for that." Rigby said, looking at the guns. Axel and Mordecai lowered their guns. "What happened out there?" Mordecai asked.
"We heard shots." Axel said. "Yeah, this girl was on the other side of the lake. We tried to save her…" Alpha began. "…but while she was crossing over this way, she got bit." Rigby finished. "Where is she now?" Axel asked, glancing out the window.
"Rigby…Rigby shot her." Alpha answered. "You, killed her?" Axel folded his arms. "There was nothing else I could've done for her. It's not like you can cure a bite." Rigby holstered his gun. "Good point." Sean walked over. "Sean, this is adult talk." Mordecai scolded him.
"But I am an adult." Sean argued. "You're a kid." Mordecai countered. "Well, technically he's an adult, mentally." Rigby pointed to his head. "What does that even mean?" Axel asked, confused. "It means exactly what it sounds like." Rigby replied.
Alpha walked over to the fire and sat beside it. "I'm gonna go join him." Rigby said, following Alpha over.
"You know Sean, you may think that you are an adult. But really, you're a kid." Mordecai explained. "Whatever." Sean walked back over to the camp. Axel and Mordecai exchanged glances and walked over to the fire.
"You know something?" Vivian asked Margaret. "What is it?" Margaret glanced at her. "I don't think, I've ever met people like you guys, ever." Vivian explained. "Why do you say that?" Axel asked, confused. "Well, this group is intact. And not falling apart. We've been in many groups before, and almost all of them have cracked from the inside." Vivian continued.
"Yeah, that's true." Axel folded his arms. "How many groups have you been with before?" Mordecai asked, intrigued. "More than we can count." Axel answered. Mordecai nodded and looked at the unlit fire in front of him.
"Hey Mordecai, I wanted to ask you something." Rigby began, looking at his friend. "Shoot." Mordecai replied. "Did you ever graduate from art school?" Rigby asked, curious. "Well…no." Mordecai replied, quietly. "Really? I assumed that you did." Rigby shrugged. Mordecai just remained quiet. "Sorry, just asking." Rigby sighed.
A few hours later, Sean laid awake, while everyone else was fast asleep. He shivered. He stood up quietly, a freezing gust of wind flew over him, causing him to shiver once again. Sean turned around, looking for the source of the sudden gust of wind. He noticed that a nearby window was ajar.
Sean quietly walked over to the window, he jumped up onto the couch below the window, so he could reach it. He grabbed the window and quietly shut it. Sean sat back down on the couch and yawned. He glanced down at the rest of the survivors, but noticed that Rigby wasn't there.
Sean got off the couch and scratched his head. He walked over to the front door of the Inn and opened it quietly. It was pitch black outside, and it was extremely freezing. Sean shivered. "Why am I out here…?" He asked himself, turning back around to walk back into the Inn.
But before Sean could walk back inside, he heard a voice coming from nearby. Sean turned back over and glanced at the frozen lake. Sean walked over quietly, and noticed a silhouette of a raccoon sitting on the bank. "…I just don't understand." He muttered to himself. "Rigby?" Sean said.
The raccoon turned around the glanced at Sean. "Hey Sean." Rigby greeted. Sean came over and sat beside him. "What are you doing out here?" Sean asked, looking over at Rigby. "I just needed some time alone." Rigby replied. "Out here? In the pitch black and freezing night?" Sean folded his arms. "Yeah, pretty much." Rigby shrugged.
"Why do you need time alone? Are you alright?" Sean questioned. "No…not really. I don't know if you know, but…there was this girl, right?" Rigby began. "She was on the other side of the lake, and Alpha and I were trying to help her. But while we walked over, she got bit and she begged for us to help her." Rigby continued.
"But…we couldn't risk bringing her back here to help her, and, there isn't a cure for it. So…I made the decision of putting her down." Rigby finished. "That was the right choice, but I understand why you need some time." Sean sympathised with him. "Thanks kid, that helps." Rigby smiled at him.
"Anytime." Sean replied. "Just one question. If you had the choice of shooting her, would you have?" Rigby asked. "I probably would have shot her too." Sean answered. "Think you would've had the guts?" Rigby raised a brow.
"Probably not." Sean chuckled softly. "Look kid, when you get older, you will have to make decisions that could affect the people around you." Rigby explained. "I understand that." Sean nodded. "And even if that means killing someone to save someone else, that's just going to be something you are gonna have to do." Rigby continued.
Sean just sighed. "The thing is, Sean. We don't have a plan. And people may think I'm stupid, but I can see that if we don't make a proper plan, we're not going to survive for much longer." Rigby explained. "People don't think you're stupid." Sean smirked. "Yeah, they do. And that's okay. But…seriously. We don't have a plan. I mean, when we leave this place…" Rigby pointed to the Inn. "…where do we go after that?" Rigby finished.
"Good point." Sean sighed. "Look Sean, I may not be able to see the future. But…I can see, just by looking at you now. That you will be the person who will make all the hard decisions, no matter the risk. Or…you know." Rigby sighed. "Why are you telling me all this?" Sean asked, slightly upset.
"Because, we've lost many people before, Sean. Remember in the beginning? We had…everybody." Rigby shed a tear. "You know…your dad was my best friend. And I think you know that." Rigby continued. "Yes, I do." Sean nodded. "And so was Felix. Even though you may not remember him." Rigby continued.
Sean just shrugged. "Long story short, people are going to die. Many people are. We aren't all going to survive this. So just be ready for that, alright?" Rigby advised, standing up. Sean watched him stand up and sighed. "Let's go back inside." Rigby said, rubbing his shoulder. Sean nodded and stood up.
"Come along." Rigby walked over to the Inn, while Sean followed him close behind. Rigby opened the door and let Sean pass through, then closed the door quietly. "You seem to be having lots of time alone." Sean commented, as they walked towards the resting survivors. "I guess I have been." Rigby replied.
Sean quietly walked over to the couch and climbed up onto it. He laid down on the armrest of the couch and glanced at Rigby, who sat beside him. "Well, big day tomorrow, I guess." Sean said. "I guess, but before we leave, I'll talk to Alpha about a plan." Rigby replied, leaning on the back of the couch. Sean nodded and closed his eyes.
"Well, I'll see you in the morning." Sean yawned. "Yeah, you too." Rigby sighed. Rigby leant on the other armrest and looked out the window. Eventually, he fell asleep on the armrest.
The Next Morning
The inhabitants of the Inn had all finished packing and were ready to leave. They waited outside, while Alpha and Rigby were talking about a plan. Mordecai folded his arms, he was beginning to lose patience and kept sneaking glances at Sean to make sure he was alright.
Eventually, Rigby and Alpha came back over to the group. "Well?" Mordecai asked. "We've…made a plan. It's not concrete, but it's the best we can come up with." Rigby explained, glancing at Alpha, urging him to continue.
The wolf cleared his throat and began explaining. "Okay, since there's not really a proper destination available, like a safe haven or something. Rigby and I made the decision of heading up north, instead of just walking anywhere, with no solid direction." Alpha began.
"Why up north?" Margaret asked, curiously. "Well, the reason why going up north is such a good idea, is because the walkers are a lot slower. Due to the extreme snow and freezing weather." Alpha replied.
"But, isn't this place good enough? It snows here." Mordecai looked at the frozen lake. "Yes, but it isn't cold enough for the walkers to freeze fast enough." Alpha continued.
"And how do you know that? You've never seen this happen, have you?" Mordecai asked. "Look Mordecai, just listen to him." Rigby looked up at the blue jay and shook his head.
Alpha cleared his throat again and continued. "So…that's pretty much it." Alpha shrugged. "Okay, so we go up north and then what?" Axel asked. "We're not sure yet, but all we know is that it's much safer up there than down here." Alpha answered. "Well, let's not waste any time." Vivian folded her arms.
Alpha nodded. "Let's go." He said, turning around. "Wait, which way is north?" Rigby asked. Alpha pulled out a compass from his backpack and glanced at it. He turned to the right and looked up. "That way." He pointed. "When did you have a compass?" Rigby asked, walking up to him. "I got it back at that museum last month, remember?" Alpha put the compass in his backpack.
"Oh yeah! I got this." Rigby pulled out a cowboy-like hat from his backpack. "What museum did we go to? The western museum or something?" Vivian asked. "Something like that." Alpha answered. Rigby glanced at the cowboy hat. "Hey Sean, you like cowboys?" Rigby asked. "Well, I do watch a lot of western movies, so I'd say so." Sean nodded.
"Well, why don't you wear this?" Rigby asked, handing the hat over to the kid. "Really?" Sean looked at the hat in awe. "Yeah, it's all yours." Rigby replied. Sean put the hat on his head. "Oh yes! I feel like a real cowboy!" Sean exclaimed. Mordecai folded his arms and watched Sean admire the hat.
Sean calmed down and hugged Rigby. "Thanks man, this hat is awesome!" Sean laughed. "No problem, now, let's get moving, before we freeze to death." Rigby pulled away. "Hey Sean, want to be helpful?" Alpha asked, turning around. "Yeah, what can I do?" Sean asked, glancing at the wolf. "Why don't you hold this compass for me, and keep heading in the direct of the N of the compass. Can you do that?" Alpha handed the compass over to the kid.
"Yeah!" Sean exclaimed, taking the compass and pointing it north. Sean walked ahead with Alpha, with Mordecai and Rigby walked behind them. While Vivian, Axel and Margaret were having a conversation of their own at the back of the line. "I can't believe you gave him your hat." Mordecai poked Rigby playfully. "Well…sometimes you have to sacrifice the things you love." Rigby sighed.
"It was just a hat." Mordecai smirked. "A cowboy hat, dude." Rigby folded his arms. "Don't you still like cowboys? And that western stuff?" Rigby asked.
"Obviously, but I don't obsess about it." Mordecai replied. "I'm not obsessive!" Rigby exclaimed, defensively. "Yeah you are! Ever since we watched that cowboy movie when were kids?" Mordecai chuckled. "You and I both know that you loved that movie just as much as me." Rigby threw his hands up. "Only because you were enjoying it so much. I only enjoyed watching you get excited every few seconds through the movie, it made me laugh." Mordecai chuckled. "Stop talking!" Rigby exclaimed.
"I'm guessing no one has a map." Mordecai said, catching Alpha's attention. "No." Alpha looked back. "Then how do we know where we are?" Rigby asked. "We just keep going up north, and when we need food or drink, we search for a town to stop at." Alpha explained. "But what if we don't find one?" Vivian asked. "We'll find one." Sean replied, looking back at the rest of the group.
Rigby looked up at Mordecai, with a plain look on his face. Mordecai just shrugged and continued walking. "But none of us have any food." Mordecai spoke up. Alpha just sighed. "I know, but I thought the marshmallows would last." Alpha looked back. "They're marshmallows." Rigby cocked an eyebrow.
"We just started, can we just wait for a while until we eat again?" Alpha asked. The group remained silent. "I'll take that as a yes." Alpha continued. "I'll make you a deal, if we see a town that is in close range, we'll go into it and loot it for food and drink and other necessities, is that fair?" Alpha asked, turning around.
"Sounds fair." Axel shrugged. "Good, now. Let's keep moving. This is gonna be a long trek." Alpha warned. Sean looked up at Alpha. Alpha glanced at Sean and smiled. "You look just like I did when I was your age." Alpha commented. "You were this handsome?" Sean admired himself. "Yeah, sure." Alpha chuckled.
"Looks like Sean's got an uncle, whaddya think?" Rigby glanced at Mordecai. "I think he does." Mordecai looked back at him. "Uncle Alpha, what do you think about that, Sean?" Rigby asked, catching Sean's attention. "Yeah! That sounds great." Sean exclaimed. Alpha looked back at Mordecai and Rigby and smiled at them.
"You would've really got along with my brother. He used to always act like a child." Alpha said. "We've already got one of those." Mordecai said. "Shut up!" Rigby punched his friend. His punches didn't do any effect and Mordecai just folded his arms.
"I probably would've liked your brother, seeming as he is technically my cousin." Sean shrugged. Alpha looked confused. "Because we're both wolves?" Sean was hoping that he'd understand. "I'm not sure that's how it works." Alpha smirked. "Oh whatever, I tried." Sean shrugged.
"Anyone teach you how to shoot?" Alpha turned to Sean. "I mean, any idiot with a finger can shoot." Alpha continued. "Not professionally." Sean answered. "Well, I'll have to teach you someday." Alpha replied. Sean nodded and glanced back at the compass.
"Hey, there's some smoke." Margaret pointed in front of them, above the trees. Alpha glanced up, and sure enough he could see smoke. "Might be a camp." Alpha said, glancing back at the group. Rigby took out his gun and held it. "We aren't going to kill this guy, right?" Sean asked, glancing at Alpha. "Of course not. We aren't murderers." Alpha answered.
Rigby drooped his head. "Be ready for a fight, just in case. Follow me quietly." Alpha ordered. The group continued to approach the smoke and eventually, a small fireplace came into view. Alpha hid behind a tree with Sean, Vivian, Axel and Margaret hid behind a nearby rock, and Mordecai and Rigby hid behind a few nearby trees.
Alpha glanced passed the side of the tree and looked at the fire. "Approach with caution." Alpha ordered, walking carefully passed the tree. The group approached the camp carefully and walked over to the fire.
The camp was empty. "A fire, but no people?" Rigby noted. "Either someone just left, or someone is still here." Mordecai said. Alpha glanced at the fire. "It's been recently lit." He made an observation. Suddenly, the sound of an unfamiliar voice was heard;
"Are you going to kill me?"
Sorry for the delay, I had major writer's block and school is a bit stressful, but nevertheless, here's another chapter for you people!
Vote in my Poll for what you think will happen at the end of Season three.
Peace!
-RegularShowMemorabilia