Hey, guys. I'm back with another chapter, the last chapter in the summer arc. Hope you enjoy.
Nick was the first to awake, the feel of soft sand on his back, easing the ache in it. Nick's eyes fluttered open to see Judy, Clem, the Otterton brothers, and Leo standing over him, waiting for him to wake up.
"Mom! Dad! Nick's awake!" Oscar called.
Nick looked over to see Danny stirring awake, too. "Oh, what hit me?" Danny groaned.
"Hey, you two. We're okay." said Judy. "Sorry, Dan. You took too much water, so I had to hold you up."
"Good thing the rapids eased down. Thanks for holding onto me too, Judy. I couldn't hold onto Nick while trying to stay afloat, at the same time." said Clem.
"See? They're good. Everything's fine." Emmitt chuckled in relief.
Nick stood up, followed by Daniel. The two foxes marched to Emmitt and Manchas.
"Y'know, Olive and Leo were the ones that spotted you." said Manchas. Olive and Emmitt had some difficulty getting you out all at once, but-"
Daniel knocked Manchas on his back, and held his bat in front of him.
"Dad!" Leo rushed to Manchas, but Nick pulled out his gun.
"Stay back, son!" shouted Nick, before pointing to Emmitt, who shielded his terrified family.
"Nick! Dan! What're you doing?!" cried Judy.
"It's okay! They're pissed off, but they're not gonna do anything." said Emmitt.
"You sure about that?" said Nick, angrily.
"Stop, please!" Olive begged.
"Nick! Don't!" Clem said, putting a paw on his shoulder, while Judy held Danny's bat arm with both of her paws.
"They left us to die, back there!" sneered Danny.
"No! You had a good chance of making it, and you did." said Manchas. "But, coming back for you, meant putting our kids at risk."
"Now, if it was the other way around, would you come back for us?" Emmitt reasoned. "We saved you."
"They saved us, too." said Clem. "We woulda drowned."
Nick and Daniel just looked to Manchas and Emmitt, then to Olive and the kids, then back to Judy and Clem. Nick holstered his gun, and Danny slung his bat on his pack. Leo helped up his father.
"It's fine. I'm okay." Manchas reassured his kid. "Y'know, for what it's worth, I'm really glad we spotted you." he said to Nick, and the others.
"Alright, now that radio tower is on the other side of this cliff, okay?" said Emmitt. "Place is gonna be full of supplies. You're gonna be really happy you didn't kill me or Renato here, boys."
"We'll search this area, over here. See what comes up." Manchas said, as he and Leo headed towards the cliffs.
"That was intense. You guys cool?" said Clem.
"Yeah. C'mon, let's get to that radio tower." said Nick, as he led Clem, Judy, and Danny towards the rest of the beach.
"Are you sure you're okay, honey?" Olive whispered, as they followed behind Judy and the foxes.
"I'm okay, Olive." said Emmitt. "They could've shot me, but they didn't. I trust them. You trust me?"
Olive just nodded. "At least they've got someone like Judy and Clem to count on them." said Oscar.
"Good point, son." said Emmitt.
"Y'know, I thought you guys were gonna kill them." said Clem.
"Almost did. Not Olive and the kids, though. We're not monsters." said Nick.
"Can I still be mad, at least?" Danny sulked.
"They're fine. I think they're good to have around." said Judy.
"I reckon you're right." said Nick.
"Hey, let's go check out this boat. Maybe it'll have supplies." Clem pointed to a beached tugboat.
"I-I think we should just keep moving. It looks pretty cleaned out." said Emmitt, stopping him and his family from going near the boat.
"C'mon, Emmitt. I've never been on a boat, before." said Clem, climbing up the port side of the boat.
"Well, it's a little different in the water." said Nick.
"One step at a time." said Clem, looking into the bridge.
"Emmitt, is that...?" Olive asked, pointing to the boat. Emmitt nodded, nervously.
Judy noticed Emmitt's odd behavior. "Is everything okay, guys?" she asked.
"Oh, y-yes. It's just... doesn't look safe." said Emmitt.
Judy raised an eyebrow. Something about the boat made the otter seem off. The question was, what? Judy shook her head, knowing better not to pry. It was probably just a bad experience they had, so all the more reason not to pry.
"Say, Nick. You ever been on a boat, before?" Clem asked, as she and Nick were done collecting supplies left on the boat, and joined with the others on the beach.
"Oh, yeah. I actually owned a sixty-foot yacht." Nick grinned.
"Really?!" Oscar asked, wide-eyed.
"No." Nick chuckled.
"Oh, so you do have a funny bone, underneath all that thick skin of yours." Danny smirked.
"Don't push it, kid." said Nick.
"Still, making progress with the sarcasm." said Clem.
"Hey, Clem! We found something!" Leo called from up on a rocky ledge.
"Let's go see what it is." said Clem, as the rest of the group headed up the ledge.
"Look, here. This must go all the way through." Manchas pointed to a large grate, leading into a sewage tunnel, embedded in the cliff.
Mustering all their strength, Nick, Danny, and Emmitt pulled up the grate, and held it open for the group to pass.
"Alright, come on, kids. You first." Nick grunted, trying to focus on holding the gate.
Clem and the boys crawled in first, then Judy and Olive, then Emmitt and Danny. Danny held the grate open on the opposite end, allowing Nick to crawl through. Danny slammed the grate shut.
"Alright, flashlights on." said Manchas, turning on his flashlight. "Leo-"
"I know, pops. Stay close." Leo said, switching on his flashlight.
"Someone's learning." Manchas grinned, proudly.
"So, Nick. You think Emmitt's group will join us all the way to Gideon's?" asked Clem.
"Supposed we're gonna find out." said Nick.
The group trekked through the dark, wet, and smelly tunnels of the sewers. Through the cracks in the roof came in the moonlight. Soon, the group's path was met by a large pool of water.
"Hey, guys. You think that leads out?" Oscar pointed to a large, gaping hole in the roof, showing the group they were right underneath a supermarket.
"No, there's no way for us to reach that, son." said Olive.
"Well, I can't swim." Leo said, pointing to the water.
"That makes two of us." said Clem.
"Me and Oscar could teach you how to swim." Alan offered.
"As much as I appreciate that, Al, I don't think this is the right place for it." Clem declined, politely.
"Alright, lovebirds. Got any bright ideas?" Danny asked Nick and Judy.
"Well, there's a generator, on the other ledge, there." Judy pointed to the other end of the room, in front of them. "It looks like it could move this platform, connected to this large tractable pipe, here."
"Only problem is that ledge is too high to reach for us, in the water." said Nick.
Nick looked around, and saw a large gate, and a valve on the wall near it.
"Maybe that could help." Nick said, turning the wheel. However, the gate barely opened. "Looks like something's jamming the gate. I'll dive down, and check it."
Nick jumped into the water, and dived below to find a rusted pipe, jamming the gate. Nick swam up, pulled the pipe out of the gate, and resurfaced.
"Judy, give it a spin." called Nick.
Turning the wheel, Judy brought the gate all the way up. Nick swam through, and up onto another floor. There, Nick found another pallet, and moved it into the water, bringing the pallet back to the ledge.
"Alright, Clem. Get on." said Nick.
"On it." said Clem, jumping on the pallet.
"Oh, there you go. That's smart." commented Emmitt.
Nick pushed Clem's pallet to the opposite ledge, where Clem climbed up, and started the generator.
"Alright, guys. Get on that platform." Nick called, swimming out of the way.
The whole group piled onto the platform, as it moved across the water.
"Can't believed that actually worked." Alan said, stepping back onto solid ground.
"I gotta say, I'm impressed by you, guys." Emmitt said, bending down and helping Nick up out of the water.
"We're pros at this by now." Clem smirked.
The group continued down the path, but stopped at the most bizarre sight, and out of place to be in a sewer.
"What is up with THIS?" Danny asked, raising an eyebrow.
In front of the group, there was a doorway, and all around it, was a picture of a large castle, complete with trees, grass, bushes, the sun, clouds, and the sky as a background, drawn all over the walls with chalk.
"Do we have to go through this?" asked Clem.
"M-maybe there's a way around it." Olive said, nervously.
Danny just walked up, casually, and kicked the double doors open. Hanging from the roof of the tunnel, a cart, tied between two pieces of rope, fell forward, and dropped several bottles of glass.
"A sound trap." said Danny.
"A what?" asked Clem.
"A sort of alarm." said Nick. "Let's anyone know if there's anyone intruding in here. Let's move, and watch the glass."
The group moved around the broken shards on the floor, since they had no shoes on. In fact, shoes were more scarce these days, as most mammals never wore them, even back then.
"Who would stay in here?" asked Leo.
"Someone who thought they could keep a place like this safe." Emmitt muttered. Olive held his paw, comfortingly.
"Hey, Look." Clem pointed to a ball, and two goal nets. "C'mon, boys. One quick game."
"Clem-"
"Uh, relax. We'll keep it down. Just one quick game." Clem assured Nick. "Alright Oscar, you're on my team. I'll be the goalie. Leo, your the goalie for Alan's team."
Clem and Oscar took the right side, while Alan and Leo took the left. Oscar made the first kick. Alan stepped in, and kicked the ball back. Oscar blocked the ball, and kicked it again. The ball went right past Alan's legs, but Leo stopped it from hitting the net, and kicked it right to Clem's net. Clem stopped the ball, and kicked it into the air, but Leo caught the ball, winning the game.
"Nice catch." Clem smiled.
"Nice kick." Leo smiled back.
"Overall, nice game." agreed Oscar.
Nick silently grinned at the kids, playing. Nick's memory faded back to when he attended a junior soccer game. Best way to start off summer vacation, for him and his... Nick shook his head, clear. His memories were really starting to fight their way back into his mind, but he fought back.
"Alright, kids. We should get moving. Plenty of time to practice, later." said Nick.
The group continued, but stopped short again, this time, by the sound of Savages. Nick, Judy, and Danny took the lead to see three beaver Stalkers, and a panda Howler. Nick and Judy open fired at the Stalkers with their shotgun and rifle, while Danny rushed up, and whacked the panda Howler in the gut with his saw-bat, toppling it down to the ground, then smashed it's head into mush.
"Yikes. I guess now we know what happened to these mammals." said Clem.
"Seeing as there was a Howler here, they've been gone a long time." said Nick.
"We have to keep moving. All we can do is hope there aren't any more of them. Doubtful, I know." said Manchas.
Judy looked back to see Emmitt just staring at the remains of the Savages, a guilty look on his face.
"Emmitt, come on. We need to keep up." Judy called.
Emmitt shook his head clear, and joined the others. The group moved down the path again, yet they were met with another dead-end.
"Hey, think that leads out?" Clem pointed to a bridge, above where the group was standing, leading to a doorway.
"Probably. But, it seems too high for a boost." said Manchas.
"Wait. Um, Emmitt. Can I ask you something, real quick?" said Judy.
"About?" asked Emmitt.
"It's just... Ever since we got in here, and back at the boat, you've had this queasy or guilty look on your face." said Judy. "I don't mean to pry, but I'm just concerned. Is there something about this place you know, and you're not telling us?"
Emmitt held his breath, then released a heavy sigh. "There is something I should tell you. I should've said it, sooner."
"It happened at the start of the outbreak." Emmitt started. "Zootopia became one of the first city's on the east countryside to be hit by the infection, before the military stepped in, and made parts of it into a QZ. My family and I lived in the Rainforest District, when everything went down. Everyone started piling into boats, hoping to get somewhere safe, and out of the city, quicker. Me and my family were one of those mammals. We stayed out on the water for weeks, surviving as best as we could. But, the boat had seen better days, supplies were dropping, so it was only a matter of time before we had to head into shore. When we did, we decided to hold underground, in the sewers. Not the cleanest, but it was well-hidden from dangerous mammals and Savages."
"So what? This was like your summer home, or something? Before you moved to Hartford?" Danny remarked, sarcastically. Judy shot a glare.
"That's when we met this other family." Emmitt continued, ignoring Danny's comment. "They were friendly enough. A whole family of mice. Kyle, the father, Kara, his wife, and their kids. We all looked out for one another. It worked, but then, I forgot to lock the door, leading to our camp. One of the Savages got in, then another, and another. My family and I got out, but Kyle's family, they... I wanted to go back and search for their bodies, but even I knew it was too dangerous at the time. My family means everything to me, and I'll do anything to protect them, but my biggest fear is getting someone else killed, because of my mistakes."
"Emmitt, what happened, it wasn't your fault. You weren't the one that killed them. Mistakes happen. I know that for myself, long ago. Sorry I pried, but I'm glad you told us." Judy gave an understanding smile.
"Oh, barf." Danny rolled his eyes.
"Save it, Dan. We've wasted enough time as it is." said Nick. "Look, there might be a way out through there."
Nick approached a fenced gate onto the right, but when Nick opened it, a barrel attached to a rope fell down, and the squeaking sound of a gate was heard.
"Guys, move back!" Nick cried, as a large, metal gate slammed down, separating him, Judy, Leo, and the Otterton brothers from Clem, the brothers' parents, Manchas, and Danny.
"Boys!" Olive cried with worry, as she and the others peeked through the small barred windows in the metal gate.
"We're okay, mom! We're fine!" Oscar called.
"Sorry, that was me. Must've triggered some kind of safety gate trap, or something." said Nick.
"Carrots, you, me, and the others see if we can get this open. You kids stay where you are." Nick instructed, as the adults got to work in moving the gate up.
"So, this is awkward." Clem said, through the window.
"Yeah, I know." admitted Leo. "It feels like every time that-"
"Wait, guys. I heard something." Clem said, her ears pointed up, in alert. "That sounds like Howlers."
"What?!" Judy said, lifting her ears up. The familiar sound of infected mammals filled the air.
"Hey, this thing ain't budging, man." said Danny, with worry.
"Look, just get outta here. We'll catch up, later." said Nick.
"Leo, you and the boys stay close to them." Manchas said to Leo.
"Manchas, we gotta move, now!" said Clem, getting ready to run.
" Wait! Mom! Dad!" Alan cried, as the other half of the group took off.
"We'll be okay, baby! Just stay safe!" Olive called back, as they ran out of sight.
"Hurry!" Judy cried, then stopped as several Howlers moved on the prowl.
"Alright, they're gonna be okay. We're gonna be okay." Nick reassured.
"I know. How do we get to them?" said Leo.
"Just stay close, boys. Maybe, there's another path that loops around." said Nick. "Let's go see."
"Wait, Nick. I hear Stalkers." Judy whispered, her ears up, and alerted.
The group ducked behind the walls, looking around the corner to see at least half a dozen Stalkers roaming the area. Nick and Judy pulled out their guns and shivs, Leo and Oscar doing the same, drawing their guns. Nick snuck up, and took out a cheetah Stalker with his shiv. An antelope Stalker spotted Nick, but Judy took it out from behind with her shiv, before it could make any moves. Two more antelope Stalkers heard the commotion, and came limp-running, but Nick and Judy were faster, putting them down. The last two Stalkers, two red pandas, came suddenly out of nowhere, but Oscar and Leo had Nick and Judy's backs, firing at the pandas in the back, while Nick and Judy dealt the final blow to them with their shivs. Sure enough, the coast was clear, again.
"Holy cow. I can't believe you guys got 'em all." said Alan.
"Let's not push our luck, Al. Let's get moving." said Nick.
The group continued down the hall, when they found themselves in a bizarre room. The room was set up with things like bookshelves, filled with books, toys scattered on play mat foam, a chalkboard, crayon drawings were scribbled on the walls, and a baby crib.
"Whoa. It suddenly feels so... familiar in here." said Oscar, looking around the room.
"I remember when I used to draw, a lot." said Leo, looking at the pictures on the wall. "This place almost feels like a nursery, or a classroom."
"This crib. I remember mom always tucking Alan in it, when he was a baby." said Oscar.
"Why couldn't dad keep a place like this safe?" asked Alan.
"Son, I wish I knew. No one means for stuff like this to happen, like Judy said. No one deserves that, forced to leave their home. Seeing mammals they know and love, just gone like that." said Nick, wearing his own forlorn look.
"Come on, guys. Maybe there's a way up this ladder." Judy pointed to a ladder at the back of the room.
Nick boosted up Leo, and he brought down the ladder. Leo and the two Otterton brothers climbed up first, then Judy, then Nick. Down the corridor, The group could hear gunshots, and a voice.
"I hate these freaking things!"
"That's Clem!" said Leo.
"Clementine!" Oscar called, as the group ran down the corridor, and jumped down the ledge. Sure enough, Clem came running down the hall, with the Otterton parents, Manchas, and Danny right behind them.
"Clem! Guys!" said Judy.
"Kids!" said Olive, as she and Manchas hugged their kids.
"Hey, you guys are okay!" Clem exclaimed, in relief.
"Run first, hug later!" said Danny.
The group continued running down the hall as a pack of Savages came piling down the hall. Nick and Danny kicked two double doors closed, and sealed it shut.
"That's not gonna hold." said Danny.
"The gate's shut!" said Manchas, trying to push at another gate, which was blocked by a metal pipe. "Maybe, it we push it, together."
Nick, Manchas, and Judy pushed against the gate, but to no avail.
"Leo, wait!" Clem called, as Leo crawled through a floor vent in the wall. "Guys, Leo just went through the vent."
"He what?!" said Manchas.
"Leo, what're you doing?!" Manchas called, seeing Leo crawl out onto the other end of the gate.
"Getting us out of here." said Leo, running to unstuck the pipe in the handle.
"Hurry, then!" said Manchas.
The Savages were pounding at the door. Everyone got their guns out, just in case for a big fight.
"Okay, got it! Let's go!" said Leo, opening the gate.
The group dashed through the gate, headed straight for the room with the exit. The group stopped short as the door wouldn't open, blocked from the outside.
"Damn thing's stuck!" cried Manchas.
"The window!" Emmitt pointed up to the window, above the door frame.
"Gimme a boost. I'll open it from outside." said Clem.
"I'll help her." said Leo.
"Hurry!" said Manchas, boosting up Clem, and then Leo, through the window.
"Boys, you go with them." said Olive.
"What about you guys?" said Alan.
"We'll be fine. Just help Clem and Leo open the door." said Emmitt, as Manchas boosted Oscar and Alan through the window.
From behind the group, the sound of the doors breaking open could be heard from down the hall.
"They've broken through. We gotta hold 'em back until the kids get the door open." said Nick, holding up his pistol.
"Finally, you get to have some fun, Betsy." Danny said to his bat.
"Stay sharp, guys." said Judy, holding up her pistol.
The first came an arctic fox Howler, which Danny took out with his bat. Three hare Stalkers came out next, but were brought down by Nick, Judy, and Manchas, with their guns. Two otter Howler came crawling in next, but Olive and Emmitt took them out with their knives. At least two more leopard Stalkers, and one otter Howler entered, but Danny and Olive brought down the Stalkers, while Nick brought down the Howler with their knives and bat.
"Guys, we got it open! C'mon!" Clem called from the open doorway.
"Alright, move!" Nick called to the group. "Let's go! Let's go!"
Judy and Olive made it out first, then Emmitt and Manchas, then Nick and Danny were the last out, closing the door, and sealing it with the large vending machine, that blocked it in the first place.
"Finally. Fresh air." said Judy, gasping in a big breath of air.
"What the? Look at that." Leo pointed to a large sign, painted on the wall, that read, 'Savages. Do not enter'.
"Oh, are you kidding me?" said Clem.
"Sorry, I put that there." said Emmitt. "I didn't think we'd be coming back through here, again. So, I forgot that those blocks in the gate and the door we're there. I put us in danger, again."
"That was a long time ago, Emmitt. We're out now. That's what matters. It ain't your fault." reassured Judy. Emmitt nodded, acknowledging.
"So, where's the radio tower?" Nick asked Manchas.
"We're close." said Manchas. "Yep, there it is. What'd I tell ya?" Manchas pointed to the tower, sticking out in the distance.
"Let's get moving." said Nick, leading the group into a rural neighborhood, just outside of Zootopia.
"Let's check some of the houses here, for some supplies." said Nick, leading the group into one red-colored house.
While the adults searched the house, the kids caught their breath on the couch, Alan sitting in Clem's lap, and Oscar in Leo's lap.
"How we doing, Leo, ol' boy?" Manchas asked his son.
"That was probably the closest call we've have so far, huh?" said Leo.
"Not one of our finest moments, but, we got out. You did good, too." said Manchas. Leo nodded a thank you.
"How about you, Clem? You and the Otterton boys okay?" asked Judy.
"Yep. When I was with Danny, Manchas, and the Ottertons, I took out a couple of Savages on my own." said Clem. "You and Nick'd be proud."
"I'm sure we would." said Nick.
"Your boys also helped us fight some Savages, too." Judy told Manchas and the Ottertons.
"It was mostly Oscar. I just stayed by his side." said Alan.
"When did you decide to teach an eight-year-old how to use a gun?" asked Nick.
"Back in Hartford." said Emmitt. "When I heard the military was abandoning the zone, I decided to train my boys, separately. I thought eight was the right age for them to learn, so I thought Oscar, and when Alan's old enough, I'd teach him."
"So, Clem. How did you meet Nick and Judy?" asked Alan.
"Oh, this... friend of mine, a friend of my mom's, Dawn was her name, asked them to take me to the Fireflies, back in Boston." said Clem.
"You three seem to get along pretty well." said Leo.
"Yeah, but now I just order them both around. Ain't that right, Nick?" Clem grinned, mischievously.
"Do I know that? No, no I don't." Nick smirked.
The group moved onto the next house, a white-colored house, with a hole in the wall, leading to the kitchen, and a sign painted on the outside, that read, 'U LOOT, I SHOOT'.
"Wonder what this neighborhood was like before the pandemic hit? I can't even imagine." said Alan, looking around the kitchen.
"I was only eleven, when it happened, five years ago." said Clem. "That would mean you were only one year old when it happened, and your brother was three. Right?"
"That sounds right." said Oscar.
"I was ten when the Night Howlers happened." said Leo. "My memory's pretty hazy, but I remember me, my dad, and my mom all living in a neighborhood, just like this one, down in the Rainforest District of Zootopia."
"What do you guys remember?" asked Clem.
"Barbecues." said Leo.
"Our neighbors would throw these crazy barbecues. I remember the smell of cricket burgers, more than anything." said Manchas.
The group moved down the road, searching for more houses to look for supplies in. Most houses they couldn't get in because they were boarded up tight.
"Hm. 'Will shoot on sight'." Leo read one sign between the roof, and a second story window. "Must've been a lot of friendly mammals in this area."
"Back during the early months of the pandemic, mammals started boarding themselves in their own houses, afraid to go outside, because of the infection. said Manchas. "You remember any of that, Nick?"
"Mammals that wouldn't go to the QZ's started barricaded themselves inside their own homes. Then, supplies started to run out. That's when you saw what mammals were really capable of." said Nick.
"Talk about a real crappy beginning of the end, huh?" said Danny.
Continuing down the street, a group of hawks was spotted just up the road, feeding on the remains of a turtle.
"Oh, cool. I haven't seen hawks since that time that bird handler brought one in at school." said Oscar.
"You're gonna wanna be careful, son. It's not like at school. These hawks are wild." said Olive.
When the group cautiously moved forward, the hawks flew away.
"Oh, well." said Alan. "Hey, what kind of truck is that?"
"Oh, that's an ice cream truck." said Leo, pointing to the small truck, with pictures of labels of ice cream, and a shuttered window on it's side.
"What's that?" asked Oscar.
"Oh, well. Before the pandemic, mammals would sell ice cream out of trucks like this around towns and cities." said Clem.
"Oh, no way." Oscar stated, in wonder. "Did that ever happen in your hometown, Nick?"
"Oh, yeah. All the time." Nick grinned. "This thing would drive around, play real loud, creepy music, and kids would come running out to buy ice cream. On the summers, I actually had a pawp-sicle stand."
"You're screwing with us." said Judy.
"Nope. Serious." said Nick.
"You guys sure lived in a strange time." said Alan.
"Well, I don't know about you guys, but I'd kill for a sundae, right now. Metaphorically, speaking." said Danny.
"Is today a Sunday?" said a confused Oscar.
"A sundae is a type of ice cream dish, hon. Made with a banana and cherry on top." said Olive.
"I think the last time I had one of those was... Huh, I can't remember." said Danny.
The group continued down the street, but the road was blocked by debris.
"Oh, cheese and crackers. Well, maybe there's a way around, up past between those houses." said Judy, pointing back up to the neighborhood.
Hey, look. The Firefly symbol. They were here." Clem pointed to a Firefly symbol, graffitied on the wall.
"This brother of yours, Nick. How long has he been a Firefly?" asked Danny.
"A couple years." said Nick. "He's not a Firefly anymore, but he does have a good idea where they are. So, like I said, we find him, we find the Fireflies."
"You guys thought more about our invitation on joining us to Wyoming?" asked Judy.
"It does sound like a good plan." said Manchas.
"Welp, might as well make it unanimous." Emmitt agreed.
"Alright, it's not like I have anywhere better to go to." said Danny, rolling his eyes.
Heading back up, the group worked their way into a brick house.
"Ugh, is anyone else hungry?" Clem groaned, comically.
"Yes." Leo eagerly agreed.
"Easy, kids. We'll break when we get to the tower." assured Manchas.
"Hey, guys. Darts." Oscar pointed to a stool, with five darts on the seat, and a target board, hanging in the living room wall.
"Just one game. Two darts, against two teams of me and Alan, you and Leo, Clem." said Oscar.
"Sounds good to me." said Clem.
"Kids, just be careful. Those poke." said Olive.
"Roger that, mom." said Oscar.
Leo went first, but landed on one of the outer targets. "Damn."
Alan's turn was next, and he landed close to the bullseye. "Boosh! I'm a natural."
"Luck." Leo scoffed.
Clem went next, and landed on the same target next to Alan's dart. "Oh, heck yeah!"
Oscar was the last one up, landing his dart just right above Leo's dart. "Oh, horrible."
"Okay, so it's a tie." said Clem.
"No, you guys clearly got destroyed." said Oscar.
"How did we get destroyed?! That's practically a tie!" Clem insisted.
"Whatever." Oscar rolled his eyes, as he and Alan walked out of the living room, victoriously.
Clem just scoffed, and shrugged like, 'Really?'
Nick, observing the game, took the last dart on the stool, and threw it at the board. Yet, Nick's aim was so far off, it hit the wall, not even close to the target board.
"Shut up, Carrots." Nick glared at the grinning bunny.
"I'm not saying anything." Judy held up her paws, still keeping that smile.
"There'll come a day when kids can just be kids, again." said Olive.
"Let's go." said Nick.
The group walked out the back door, towards the backyard, which had a staircase, leading to more of the neighborhood, and closer to the radio tower. As the group climbed down, suddenly came the sound of a bullet hitting one of the cars next to the group out of nowhere. The group ducked behind more cars, as another bullet zoomed right above them.
"It's a sniper!" growled Manchas. "Nick, were you able to see where it came from?"
"Somewhere down the street." Nick said, peeking from behind the car, then ducking back when another bullet went off.
Nick was able to catch a glimpse of a twinkle from the largest boarded-up house in the neighborhood, right at the end of the street.
"It's that big house, right at the end of the street. Judy, you're with me. Rest of y'all, stay here." said Nick.
"No, it's too dangerous for just you two." said Clem.
"It'll be more dangerous, if we all move up at the same time." said Judy.
"We need you guys to keep him distracted. We'll go around, and see if we can't get the angle on him." said Nick.
"Okay, but hey. Be careful." said Clem.
"Be back in a bit." Judy said, as she followed Nick's lead.
Nick and Judy ran to the next car to the right, as another bullet hit the wall, behind them. Parkouring over the hood of the car, the duo ran to cover behind a woodstack, as a bullet hit the wood. The duo made a run for a brick house. Outside, they could hear the hunter shouting at them, taunting them out of hiding.
Nick and Judy made another run outside, ducking behind another car. The duo made a run to a garden wall. Nick and Judy parkoured over the wall, then ran behind a white-colored house. The duo ducked behind a generator and an oddly misplaced sofa, when three hare hunters started to open fire. Seeing one hunter ready a molotov, Judy open fired at him, hitting the molotov, and it exploded, setting all three hunters burning to a crisp.
The duo advanced, taking cover behind an already burnt house. The house was almost within reach, but two or three more more rabbit hunters had it guarded. Nick took out the smoke bomb he found back in the city, and threw it into the street. The smoke bomb exploded, and the duo rushed into the safety of the smoke, ducking down to avoid fire. The hunters opened fire, but they missed their targets as Nick and Judy ran into the next house.
Sneaking out the back door, Nick and Judy went around, and open fired on the hunters. Once the coast was clear, the duo snuck around the back, through an alley on the right of the house. The duo ran into the back door, and worked their way up to the top floor of the house.
Nick and Judy scanned the room where they thought they saw the hunter. The sheep hunter ambushed Nick with a knife, but Nick grabbed his arms, and made the sheep hunter stab himself with his own knife. Nick took the knife, and stabbed the hunter a couple more times, for good measure, at least, in his standards.
"Sweet cheese and crackers, Nick! Overkill, much?!" said Judy.
"Sorry you had to see that." Nick said, and ran to the sniper rifle.
Through the scope, he could see the group moving up, away from another advancing group of hunters. Nick open fired at every hunter he could find, taking precision aiming, while covering for his group. Just when it looked clear again, that's when a dangerously familiar sound came rolling down the street.
"Oh, no. No, no, no!" Nick said. "Carrots, it's the Humvee, again."
"What?! How'd they find us?!" said Judy.
"I dunno, but I gotta stop it." said Nick.
The Humvee open fired at where the group was hiding behind another bunch of wrecked cars, pinning them down. Several more hunters were there, so Nick took them out first,to lessen the threat. The Humvee suddenly stopped, and the top hatch opened. Nick saw his chance, as a raccoon hunter peeked out, and was about to throw a molotov, when Nick took the shot. The raccoon fell, as the molotov fell into the truck, and exploded. The Humvee exploded, and crashed into a house, the driver fell out of the truck, burnt to a crisp.
"Holy crap. That was intense." said Clem. "Thanks, guys." Clem called, giving a thumbs up to Nick and Judy.
"Is everyone alright?" Manchas asked. The group nodded. "Good, now let's move."
"Guys, Howlers!" Clem shouted.
Three cheetah Howlers appeared, drawn to the commotion, as two toppled over Manchas and Leo. Nick shot the Howler over Leo, while Clem shot the Howler over Manchas. Danny took the third Howler out with his bat.
"You guys okay?" Clem asked, helping Manchas to his feet.
"Leo, you okay?" Manchas asked, as Emmitt helped Leo to his feet.
"Yeah, I'm fine." said Leo.
"You sure?" Manchas checked, again.
"Yeah, I just said I'm fine." Leo insisted.
"There's more Savages coming!" Emmitt cried. "Everyone in the house, now!"
The group made a run for the house, as a few more Savages came running down the street. Nick was able to shoot down a few more, but soon the street was overrun with a whole, huge pack of Savages.
"Oh, God." Nick gasped, amazed at how many Savages there could be in just one, same place. "Judy, time for us to move, too."
Nick and Judy ran down to the main floor, where the rest of the group had barricaded the door. The Savages clawed at the boarded-up windows, and pounded at the door.
"Hey, you're okay." Clem said to Nick and Judy, in relief.
"Still in one piece. Anyone else hurt?" said Nick.
"No, we're good." said Manchas.
"Alright, I think it's time we quit this place. Let's go." Nick said, leading the group out the back door.
The group rushed through a space in the back fence, and lost the pack, as they continued running up the hills, into the forest, where the radio tower was in sights.
...
Night had fallen, and the whole group was gathered around in a circle, a dim light on in the back, and a mini-stove cooking some canned fish in a pan.
"Shut up, man." Danny chuckled.
"Serious." Nick replied, eating blueberries out of a can. "It was Gideon's birthday, and all he wanted to do was just... rent two Harleys, and drive cross-country."
"Oh, man." Danny chuckled, again. "If I could just ride one around the block, then that'll cross off everything on the bucket list."
"So, what was it like?" asked Manchas.
"Oh, it was good. Real good." Nick said, nonchalantly.
"Just good? Can you believe this guy?" Danny said to the kids. "C'mon, man. Give us more details. Describe it."
"Okay, how about you grown-ups have some adult time, while us kids have some kid time in the other room?" said Clem.
"No, no, Clem. This isn't any motorcycle. Okay?" said Danny. "You get on that bad boy, you feel that engine. Nothing like it?"
"Oh yeah? How would you know?" Clem joked.
"I've seen it in my dreams. Ever since I was ten. Vroom, vroom!" Danny laughed.
"Okay, we'll come in to bed, soon. You guys get to know each other a little better." said Clem.
"Clem, it's not like they're on a date." Oscar joked, as the kids went into the other room.
The adults laughed, then took a deep breather.
"I don't think anyone from our group is gonna show up." said Manchas, matter-of-factly.
"Yeah, sorry." said Judy, looking concerned.
"Worst part of all, explaining it to the boys." said Manchas.
"You think they already know? I mean, you guys got some smart kids. You'd be proud of that." said Nick.
"You're right about that." said Manchas.
"Say, Nick. Um, there's something me and the misses would like to get off our chests, too." said Emmitt.
"We thought about it, and we decided not to go to the Fireflies." said Olive. "It's not you guys, it's us. It's a number of reasons. One, after what happened in the sewers, we'd feel like we'd be a danger to the group, on the road. In a community, like the QZ in Hartford, or the one your brother's in, in BunnyBurrow, we'd be more of a reliability."
"You guys need to protect your family. We get it. I know a thing or two about losing family, myself." said Judy, a sad look on her face.
"The other reason is... I'm pregnant." said Olive, to everyone's surprise. "It happened before Hartford was abandoned. There hasn't been a right time to say anything. I think the Fireflies have more bigger things to worry other than infants."
"How far are you?" asked Judy.
"A month." said Olive. "Not sure how to tell the kids about any of this. I know they'll get along great with their new sibling. It's the fact that they'll be leaving Clem and Leo is what worries me. Especially since I know how they look up to Clem and Leo."
"True. They hit it off, well. They still have lots of time together. BunnyBurrow is still quite a hike." said Judy.
...
"Well, it's safe to say those six have officially bonded." said Clem.
"I'm gonna take stock of all the food we found, today." said Leo, looking at all the cans.
"Oh, I got something to share with you guys." Clem said, taking a small book out of her backpack.
"What's that?" asked Alan.
"A jokebook. 'No Puns Intended, Volume Too, by Will Livingston'." said Clem, then read the first joke. "You guys wanna hear a joke about pizza? Forget it, it's too cheesy."
"Oh, man. That's awful. I love it." Oscar giggled.
"What did the green grape said to the purple grape?" read Clem. "Breathe, you idiot."
"I don't get that one." said Alan, raising an eyebrow, then his face lit up, in realization. "Oh, wait. I just got it. Good one, Clem." he giggled.
"Hey, you guys wanna hear a joke I got?" said Leo. The three nodded. "Okay, why can't a nose be twelve inches long?"
"Dunno. Why?" asked Clem.
"Well, then it'd be a foot." said Leo.
The Otterton brothers guffawed. "That was terrible. I loved it." grinned Clem.
"Thanks." Leo grinned, then turned to a serious look. "Hey, guys. No joke, but can I ask you this? You think I screwed up, today? Well, you think my dad thinks like that?"
"What? No, of course not." said Clem. "I'd think he's glad to have a kid, like you. Plus, I'd say we all did good back there. Especially, you."
"Thanks." Leo muttered.
"You okay, Leo?" asked Oscar.
"Oh, yeah. Everything's good." Leo insisted.
"Okay." said Clem.
"Hey, Clem. How is it you're never scared?" asked Leo.
"Who says that I'm not?" said Clem.
"Well, what're you scared of?" asked Leo.
"Well, let's see." said Clem. "Scorpions are pretty creepy."
"Yeah, i'm scared of spiders, too. One bug I'll never eat." said Alan.
"But, in all seriousness, it's being by myself." said Clem. "I'm scared of ending up alone. What about you, guys?"
"Yeah, ours too." said Oscar. "Leo?"
"Those things, out there." Leo pointed to the window. "What if the mammals are still inside? What if they're trapped in there, without any control of their body? I'm scared of that happening to me."
"Okay. First off, we're a team, now. We look out for one another." said Clem. "Second, they may still look like mammals, but who they were, they're not there, anymore."
"Mom and dad said they've moved on. That they're with their families. Like, in heaven." said Oscar. "Do you believe in something like that, Clem?"
"I go back and forth." said Clem.
"Yeah, me too." said Leo. "You guys, too?"
"Were brought up to." said Oscar.
"Oh, all this serious talk, I almost forgot." Alan said, reaching into his backpack, and pulled out the toy robot, handing it to Leo. "If he doesn't know about it, he can't take it away."
"Alright, I'm all tuckered out." said Clem, grinning. "I'll see you guys, tomorrow."
"See ya in the morning, Leo." said Alan, as he and Oscar followed Clem back into the other room.
Leo looked at the toy, then tossed it onto the ground. Sitting back on the chair, he pulled up his pants leg, a deep scratch mark, left from the Howler earlier, clearly visible.
...
Clem was awoken by the smell of food in the air.
"Damn. That smells good." Clem yawned.
"Morning, kiddo." said Nick.
"Hey, where's Leo?" asked Clem, rubbing the sand from her eyes.
"I let him sleep in, for once." said Manchas. "You want him to join us, you could go wake his tail up."
"Okay." Clem said, walking into the other room.
In the other room, Clem could tell there was something wrong with her panther friend, by the way he was standing. He also appeared to be twitching, too. "Leo?" she asked.
"LEO!"
The group was alerted by Clem's cry. The door burst open, Clem falling onto her back, holding back the Savage Leo, who tried to claw at her.
"Oh, shit! He's infected!" Nick cried, reaching for his pistol, but was stopped by Manchas.
"That's my son!" shouted Manchas.
"He's gonna kill Clem!" Danny shouted back, raising his bat over Leo.
However, Danny was stopped, as Manchas shot his own son down. Leo fell back, a pool of blood forming behind his head.
"Clementine! Are you alright?!" Judy said, running to the shaken vixen. Alan and Oscar rushed to their friends' side, too.
"I'm okay, yeah. Oh, my God." Clem gasped.
"Oh, no." Judy said, looking to a grieving Manchas.
"Leo... Renato, what have you done?" Manchas sobbed.
"Kids, wait there with Judy." said Nick, slowly approaching Manchas. "Manchas, I-I'm gonna get that gun from you now, okay?"
"It's all your fault." Manchas sobbed, pointing the gun at Nick, stricken with grief.
"Whoa, calm down, now!" Nick said, trying to ease the panther.
"Manchas, no! This is no one's fault, here!" said Emmitt, shielding Nick.
Manchas's paws shook, then brought the gun to his head.
"Manchas! No!" Emmitt cried, but it was too late.
Manchas shot himself in the head, and fell. Judy and Olive shrieked.
"Oh, my God." Clem gasped, shielding Oscar and Alan from having to watch.
...
Outside, the group had dug two graves for Leo and Manchas. Judy and Danny were the ones who buried them. The group all shared a moment of silence for their lost friends. Judy looked back to see Nick, standing away from the rest of the group, visibly shaken. Judy gave a look of concern.
"I think... It's time for us to get moving, again." Judy said, slowly.
As the group made their way into the forest, Judy walked beside Nick.
"Nick... are you okay?" she asked.
"Yeah." Nick simply stated. "That just... got to me, back there. I try not to let things get to me, but back there..."
"Well, if you ever want to talk, I'm right here." Judy said, holding his paw.
Nick silently nodded, in gratitude. What Nick didn't share, was during that moment, it was a scene of deja vu for him. It was... Cassie, all over again. Nick didn't bother to shake his head clear of the memory, this time...
Well, guys. That's it for this chapter, now considered the longest chapter I've done in a fanfic, EVER. Also, this is the last chapter of the summer arc of the story. Up next, will be the autumn arc of the story.
Now, this is where the constructive criticism comes in. Since all the mammals in the world, I imagine, are evolved, I may need help figuring out an idea on what to replace with horses. In the game, you get to ride on a horse, so, with this being a crossover, there needs to be an animal, not a mammal, that can be used like a horse.
I do have one idea, that involves big birds like ostriches or emus, what with their big legs, and their shapes, but that kind sounds kinda stupid, a little. I dunno, just let me know what you guys think in the reviews. It's important to get this part right, guys, so any help, I'd appreciate it. If no ideas come to mind, that's okay too, and I'll go with this idea, just to let you guys know. I just wanna know what you guys think. With that said, hope you guys are enjoying it, so far.
I own nothing, except a few OC's, minus Daniel. All rights go to original owners. No copyright intended. Thanks. Stay tuned for more of this fanfic crossover.