Ihave altered the previous chapter slightly to extend the story
The group had been walking for what seemed to be ages they were walking as direct as possible through fields and back roads and trees that were as numerate as sand on a beach occasionally a gap opening in the canopy overhead. Surviving on what little food they had and by taking the route with little chance of human occupation they had avoided the infected but were still cautious at night managing a crude fire that would flicker away.
"Right we have two options we either walk through this wood here or go around it" Joel said as he looked at a torn map which he had taken from a leaflet stand not far back.
"Straight through looks quicker we just have to get across that river crossing" Tommy pointed out
"So woodland it is" said Joel still angry towards Tommy for his defence of the fireflies
"Rest up now we won't be getting the chance for a while" said Tommy as he found a comfy spot to lie down"
The group yet again repeated the process that had become almost routine after days of camping out in the most peculiar places they lit a fire and slept around its warm hue.
Tommy was the first to wake the next morning he propped himself against a fallen tree and looked out across the landscape open fields to his right the woodland to his left before being disturbed by a shadow stretching out blocking his view of the sunrise as it got closer Tommy could pick out that Sarah had managed to wake up before Joel for a change as she sat beside him against the log.
"Good morning" said Tommy
"Morning Uncle Tommy" replied Sarah with a yawn
"How long till your old man's up then" asked Tommy
"I've got an idea" said Sarah as she picked up some of the woodchip that lay strewn around
"Who can get the most of this on him from here before he wakes up" she said with a grin
"Alright I'm game" replied Tommy as he too picked up some woodchip
After few minutes woodchip lay across much of Joel's side until a piece struck him behind the ear and with a grunt Joel woke and stood up as an avalanche of wood rolled off him.
"What's this" asked Joel looking a bit confused
"That's woodchip Dad" Sarah joked
"Very funny" replied Joel
"Well we should get going then we got a long day ahead of us" said Tommy as he passed Joel some of the remaining food they had
The group soon set off into the trees where it became darker even though the sun was rising it would streak down though the leaves leaving remarkable streams of light. The group walked passing fallen trees of times long since passed and streams that ebbed and flowed through the land and climbed eroded rock faces which tiny pebbles fell into obscurity below. The sun set in the sky and rised again the group pushing through with limited food they had no choice.
"We've been travelling for days now without proper food or rest" grumbled Sarah
"We're almost there the crossing should be just up here" Joel answered gesturing to the top of a close hill
Small crisp particulates started to fall from the sky, light and fluffy is chose random patterns as it swept its way down fascinated by this Sarah held her arm out as one touched down on her hand
"Look it's snow" said Sarah with a smile
Joel looked around as it settled around him as one stuck to his check he wiped it off and rubbed it between his fingers.
"It's not snow its ash" said Joel as he turned and ran to the top of the hill to overlook a scene as if taken from the news flames gripped the trees climbing up like a ladder slowly wrapping itself around other trees as it grew in size patches of ground lay burnt the fire finished with it as its insatiable hunger pulled it along.
"Holy shit Joel what now" Yelled Tommy
"We stay calm and see if we can get around it" Said Joel as he grabbed both Tommy and Sarah leading them off down through a clearing the fire had already burnt, the woodland lay scarred the ground turning white with ash trenches in the ground filled with smoke creeping across the floor the trees crackled as if screaming as the group ran dodging tendrils of flames that flailed around like fiery whips.
The group came to the crossing a bridge stretching across the river as they crossed looking over trees had toppled into the water the part of it above water were ablaze turning it into a river of fire, after crossing thick clouds of smoke weighed them down as they pushed through even the fires seemed to disappear but soon they were free of the smoke as they looked back a swirling fire had taken shape if they were mere minutes slower the bridge would have been surely destroyed.
The group took a small coughing break as they wiped the ash from the hair and clothes.
"That was enough excitement for one day" remarked Tommy
"Right it's this way" Joel coldly said cutting Tommy off
Pretending the fire hadn't happened Joel led the group out of the woods and back onto a road continuing down it heading further north.
"Ah I'm so hungry" groaned Sarah
"We may be able to find some food just up here okay" replied Joel
"You said that last time" Sarah rebuffed
"We're all hungry okay when we find some food we will eat it until then just keep walking" Joel grunted
Walking down back roads they stumbled upon an occupied farm of around 5 families centred around a barn
"You stay here Sarah we will go talk to these people okay" said Joel
Sarah nodded and as Joel and Tommy walked up towards a large man his belly protruding from his chest wearing an unbuttoned shirt lying next to him was a shotgun as he rocked back and forth in his chair.
"What are you doing trespassing here" said the man his face turning red with rage
"We just want to ask if you have any food you can spare us and we will be on our way" Joel clamly asked
"We've got food a whole barn full and why should we give you any that's gotta last us until next harvest so you want us to starve in your place" the man shouted
"We've been travelling for day's cant you spare us anything" snapped Tommy
"I think you should leave whilst you still can" said the man as he reached for his shotgun
"Come on Joel" said Tommy as he led him away surrounded by evil glares of the other people inhabiting the area as they passed the barn they could see shelves of food and not just farmed food but many items that must have been stolen from shops, Joel and Tommy took Sarah and continued on.
"Did you get any food" asked Sarah enthusiastically
"They weren't into sharing" replied Joel as he watched her expression fade away
It began to turn dark and the group found a sheltered spot beneath a large tree their stomachs growling there was no happiness found here tonight as they went to sleep hungry.
Hours later under the cover of night Joel woke Tommy
"What is it Joel" yawned Tommy
"Why don't we go back and take some of that food if some of its already stolen then what's the harm" argued Joel
"What's the harm they had guns and they didn't look like the friendliest of people" the more Tommy argued the more his own stomach began to agree with Joel they needed some food any food
"So are you coming or not" asked Joel
"Alright alright" replied Tommy as he got to his feet
"We will leave Sarah here she won't even know were gone" said Joel as he began towards the barn
Upon arriving they could see a couple people walking around as if patrolling in a semi random fashion, the barn was right in the centre Joel and Tommy moved towards it climbing up and through a window they began surveying the contents of the barn
"They have more than enough" Joel whispered
Tommy could not help but agree they began taking items which they would need a few days worth wouldn't hurt would it. They sifted through shelves taking a variety of foods as this would make it look less likely they had been stolen from. Joel grabbed Tommy's shoulder
"We've got enough lets go"
Tommy turned around his foot struck a wooden plank that supported the shelf upright as one leg of the shelf was shorter than the other and the shelf began to lean forward objects started falling crashing in to the floor Joel and Tommy stepped back and the shelf collapsed into a pile on the floor with a thunderous sound, shouting could be heard outside as the barn door flew open the man from earlier as well as a couple others stood there as the man aimed his shotgun.
"We'll look what we got here"