Alicia startled awake, eyes frantically searching the darkness.

"Hey, it's okay. You're okay."

Alicia sighed and closed her eyes as she leaned her head back, willing her pulse to slow back down. Elyza's hand of reassurance on her thigh was making that decidedly more difficult. Alicia remembered now where she was, remembered the monsters chasing them the day before. They had driven them into the forest and after only about twenty minutes, darkness had started to descend and they figured their best chance of surviving the night was up a tree. Elyza had found one where the lowest branch was out of reach for a grown man and basically threw Alicia up to it, and she in turn helped pull Elyza up with only a minute or two to spare before the swarm of about sixteen undead were upon them. They had quickly climbed up sixty feet before finding a place to rest.

Alicia felt her breathing return to normal and opened her eyes. She turned to see Elyza right next to her, leaning back on her own branch, close enough that their shoulders were almost touching.

Elyza glanced over. "You okay now?"

"Yeah." Alicia nodded.

"So who's Clarke?"

"What?" Alicia was genuinely confused.

"Clarke. Is that your boyfriend?" Elyza snickered. "You repeated that name like six times while you slept."

"How odd!" Alicia laughed. "No, Clark is just my last name. I guess I hadn't told you that yet, but I don't know why I'd be saying my own name in my sleep."

"Well, you are pretty odd," the blonde teased.

Alicia just rolled her eyes, then faintly remembered something and asked hesitantly, "Did I sleep with my head on your shoulder?"

Elyza smiled. "Yep. Until just now when you woke up."

"Sorry!" she cringed. "That must not have been comfortable for you."

"Don't be sorry! I actually slept with my head resting on top of yours."

"Really?"

"Sure did. Best pillow I've had in ages!"

Alicia laughed. "Whatever. Now you're just making fun of me!"

"Not at all," she replied without jest.

Alicia turned again to look at her, and Elyza reached out to tuck a stray bit of hair behind Alicia's ear. Just that slight touch sent goosebumps all over her body. Elyza started to pull back but Alicia leaned her head onto the other girl's palm. This surprised Elyza, but she smiled and just held her tilted head there.

"Thank you," Alicia said softly. "I'd be dead without you, ya know."

Elyza winced at her words and Alicia quickly lifted her head to study her carefully.

"What is it? Another vision?"

Elyza shook her head. "No - I don't know what it was. A feeling. An impression? I don't know."

"An impression of what?"

Elyza sighed, hoping she wouldn't seem weird or clingy. "Just that... I mean, I know we've only known each other for a day, but I don't think I could stand it if anything happened to you. I feel like it would break me. So even if it's only for my own selfish reasons, I guess I'm just going to have to stick around to protect you." She smiled, but then suddenly realized her last comment might have sounded very pretentious, which was definitely not what she meant. "Uh, but it's not like I don't think you can take care of yourself. I mean, you've been just fine so far without me."

Alicia grinned and didn't break eye contact, just letting Elyza stew in her uncharacteristically awkward moment.

"Why are you blushing?" Alicia's grin widened. "Are you nervous?"

Elyza gulped. "Dammit woman, what are you doing to me?"

Alicia leaned ever so slightly closer. "Just waiting."

Elyza raised an eyebrow. "Waiting? For what?"

A little closer now. "To see if you'll make the first move or if I have to."

Those words were like electricity shooting through Elyza's whole frame. She smiled and started to close the small gap between them even more.

"Oh, really? And what makes you think there's a move to be made?"

Each back-and-forth brought them millimeters closer.

Alicia smirked. "Maybe the fact that I catch you looking at me all the time."

Elyza shot it right back at her. "Or the fact that you loved your personal Chinese finger trap."

"Or the fact that you were jealous of my dream boyfriend Clark."

"Or..." Elyza paused when there was no possible way for their faces to be any closer without touching. She brought her hands up to cradle either side of Alicia's face, feeling the other girl shudder beneath her touch. Their eyes stayed locked on each other.

Elyza continued, "Maybe it's because you're kind and brave, or because you're smart and a total goof. Or it might be because you're beautiful and I was maybe a little turned on watching you throw that spear. Maybe it's because we've had this insane connection since the moment we first saw each other."

Alicia swallowed. Every single part of her body was on fire. "And maybe it's all of those things?"

Elyza gave a small nod, her eyes finally breaking contact and landing on Alicia's lips. "I think so."

Her hands immediately brought Alicia's face to hers and moaned when she felt those perfect lips just as hungry for her own.

Elyza had thought the first few kisses might be light and testing, but after all that talk and restraining themselves while being that close, they both needed to release that tension badly.

"Come here," Alicia urged, practically pulling Elyza onto her own branch. The blonde laughed and smoothly transitioned over, putting her legs on top of Alicia's so she was straddling her lap.

"You taste so good," Elyza whispered without breaking their rhythm.

"You feel so good." Aicia ran her hands along Elyza's thighs until she reached her ass and tugged her closer.

Elyza snaked her hands under Alicia's shirt and traced her fingers along a perfectly smooth and toned back.

Alicia slowly pulled back to look at Elyza.

"Hey, you okay? Did I do something wrong?"

Alicia shook her head, smiling and looking absolutely love drunk.

"No, no," she insisted. "You've done everything right." She leaned back and rested her head on the tree, never breaking eye contact. "I'm just starting to feel really, really lightheaded. Probably a mix of starvation, dehydration, and... all of you." She laughed, but then her face fell. "I'm sorry, because that was amazing, but I'm afraid I legitimately might fall out of this tree any second. I've fainted before when I've felt like this."

Alicia tried to fight it and leaned forward towards Elyza again but then started to sway on the branch.

"Whoa there." Elyza firmly gripped her shoulders. "You weren't kidding. Lean back against the tree. I've got food in my knapsack."

She reached over and grabbed her bag from the next branch. "It's not much, but I have some nuts and dried meat."

"My favorite breakfast," Alicia quipped with tired grin.

Elyza rolled her eyes and handed over some food.

"So what's next?" Alicia asked between mouthfuls of food. "Are the walkers going to be waiting for us at the base of the tree?"

"God, I hope not. And I doubt it. Their attention spans seem to be much shorter than that. And even though it was a bit of a shock to see them moving that fast, at least we know we're faster. I saw a clearing not too far from here. It's in the opposite direction of your family, but I say we head there first and see if we can find some food or water. I'd rather lose a little time and gain supplies than trek through the forest again without. What if we run into another horde of walkers and have to spend another night in a tree? What about two or three nights?"

Alicia nodded. "Sounds like a plan. How deep into the forest do you think we are?"

"We were bookin' it pretty good for probably about 20 minutes. Damn. I wouldn't be surprised if we're at least four miles in. At a brisk walk it would take us an hour to get back, plus we really have no idea where the rest of the group is."

"If they would have been able to make it, they would have headed back for the plane. I can get us there if you can find our way back to where we were yesterday."

"Deal. So, how are you feeling now? Ready to head down?"

"Hold up," Alicia said with a sly grin as she scooted closer to Elyza. "What about what just happened between us. We haven't exactly talked about that yet."

Elyza forced her eyes from Alicia's lips and up to her eyes. "It hardly looks like you want to talk," she commented with a smirk.

Alicia smiled and leaned in. She gave her a long, soft kiss. "What is it about you..." She tilted her head to the left and kissed along Elyza's jaw. "that makes me..." Now the right side. "feel like this."

"I have no idea, but believe me when I say it's mutual." She raised a hand to Alicia's chin and lifted her lips back to meet her own. Their kisses were less hungry this time and more tender and affectionate. After several minutes Elyza rested her forehead on Alicia's. "Shall we?"

Alicia smiled and gave her one last quick peck before pulling back. "Let's go."

They carefully descended and Elyza was the first to drop down to the ground. She motioned for Alicia to wait as she thoroughly scanned the area. "It's clear."

Alicia jumped down and slipped a hand into Elyza's as they walked toward the clearing. Nothing was spoken between them, but occasional glances and teasing touches passed between them as they neared their destination. Once they arrived they immediately started searching for food - nuts and berries were going to be their best bet - as well as water. The area wasn't completely devoid of trees, but there were far fewer here, and most of the plants were shrubberies and lots of ivy growing on what looked to be very old ruins.

They entered another area and Alicia quickly forgot their main task in her fascination with the aged debris.

"Focus, Commander," Elyza chided. "Ancient ruins aren't going to feed us."

"But come look at this, Elyza. This is amazing. There's even... Whoa."

"Now, don't go trying to distract me too!" But she couldn't help seeing what had Alicia so captivated. She turned and followed her gaze until she saw it.

"Whoa is a bit of an understatement, I'd say."

Not far in the distance lay the remains of what had likely once been a very tall tower; there now stood only two stories still partially intact. They quickly took in the scene around them. Ivy and moss grew in and through and around what was left of a long-forgotten city - one of the many areas scattered throughout the country now that hadn't yet been repopulated and rebuilt. They were standing in an open area that likely served as a marketplace, and further in the distance was the rubble of many, many homes.

"This place..." Alicia began as she stepped further into the ruins, then looked back at Elyza. "Why do I feel like I know it?"

The blonde shrugged. "It's eerie, isn't it? Kind of like a ghost town."

"You should come with me to the capital..." Alicia whispered, as if in a trance.

"Huh?" Elyza asked in confusion, still trying to take in the scene in front of her. "Alicia, what is this place?"

A light bulb suddenly went off in both their minds and as their eyes met, they answered in unison...

"Polis."

Author's note: Ahhhh, they're in Polis! Again! Together! I'd love to hear your thoughts so far. Is there anything you hope or predict will happen next? I can't wait to share the rest of the story with you. Thanks for reading! :)