I love the idea of Penny surviving in the woods, like some sort of modern day female Robin Hood.
:Chemical Warfare:
He looked around the deserted street cautiously. He needed to get to that general store. The supplies he needed were in it. But it was too quiet. He could feel someone watching. He had no way of knowing whether it was friend or foe. But in this day and age, there was a 77.3% chance of foe, 11.8% chance of non-aggressive competing scavenger, and only 10.9% chance of friend. Sheldon waited patiently as the clouds slowly moved over the moon. The additional darkness raised his chance of success. He crouched in readiness while the seconds ticked by slowly. With a silence earned through repetition and hard work, he sprinted across the street. He was almost to the door when he heard a swoosh. He ducked and slipped inside. He chanced a glance back and was shocked to see a new dead body on the street. The man was holding what appeared to be a butcher knife. An arrow protruded from his back. The feathers were green. He knew from past experience they were silk. Remnants of artificial flowers, reshaped, and dipped in wax for stiffness. It would appear Green Arrow was once again with him tonight.
Penny moved silently through the trees, adjusting her position to keep an eye on him. She wondered what he would say if he knew she was here. Did he ever miss her? Did the others? She had been shocked to run across them. She had heard the soft laughter around a fire and moved in to see what kind of group she was dealing with. Sheldon, Leonard, Raj, and Zack. She wanted to run to them, but controlled the urge. She couldn't. Not now. But she couldn't abandon them either. So she stayed close enough to assist without actually interacting with them. It was only when Sheldon was scavenging that she left the safety of the woods. She would follow, watch his back and make sure he returned safe.
She settled in to wait, knowing he was methodical, and would take his time. So much had changed in the last two years, yet stayed the same. Chemical warfare between Asia and the rest of the world had wiped out billions of lives. Those left behind were forced to change their way of life. Stores were empty. With so many dead, there were very few who worked the soil. No factories, no manufacturers, no big corporations anymore. Now it was just basic survival. She saw the shadow of the door as it opened and stood. Sheldon looked out carefully and slipped into the shadow of the alley. She saw him pause and look around again, his gaze sweeping right past her. Penny smiled slightly. Sheldon was still so…. Sheldon-y. He was calculating, serious, and set in routine. It was always the same system when he was on the hunt.
He knew the archer was there still, as always, but he was still intent on not taking chances. One never knew when one's luck might run out. Not that he actually believed in that hokum. He made his way cautiously out of town. He always felt more at ease once he was back among the trees. What would she think if she could see the great Sheldon Cooper now, he wondered. He shook his head quickly, hoping to rid himself of these thoughts. Lately he had been thinking about Penny more often. She had been visiting her family when the war began. He had no idea if she lived or died. He knew the odds. It was highly improbable. None of his other acquaintances had. Howard, Stuart, Kripke, Bernadette, even his family. All gone. He sighed. How ironic that Zack had made it. Sheldon chastised himself severely. That was unfair. Zack had proven himself several times. He was their muscle. He also was the one who suggested the small cabin they lived in. Isolated, hidden, they were rarely bothered by anyone. Except Green Arrow.
Green Arrow had shown up almost 3 months ago. Sheldon had been trying to hunt for deer. They rarely did that, since gun fire always drew others, but they needed protein. He had stumbled onto a small band of marauders. Men who relied on their weapons and muscles to just take what they wanted. They had tied him up and beaten him for sport. He had fainted at some point. When he awoke, they were dead. Arrows protruded from their bodies. He was untied, leaning against a tree trunk. His ribs had been bandaged with strips torn from their clothes. A small tree branch rested over his lap, cut to an almost perfect length for him to use as a crutch. He had stumbled back to the cabin, and though he had no food, he had acquired a few more weapons. The next morning, a freshly killed and gutted doe was laying on the ground in front of the cabin, green fledged arrow through it's heart.
Often they wondered why the man didn't make himself known to them. They discussed it several times, long hours of debate and conjecture. Regardless of his motives, they were grateful for him. Once a week, they would awaken to find another kill left for them. When Raj's fishing pole was lost in an accident, a new one, with hooks and lures had shown up on the porch. One morning he had woken up to the excited chatter of his friends. Books. He had brought them books. A few graphic novels, battered but readable, a couple of novels and a dozen crossword puzzle books. He tried to reason out why Green Arrow had brought them these things. How had he known how much they missed reading? Leonard made a remark that stuck out.
"This is so great! And since it's Sheldon's birthday, I think he should have first choice of what he wants to read!"
Was it possible that Green Arrow had known it was his birthday? That would imply they were acquainted in some way. But if that was the case, why not reveal himself? Sheldon could see the faint light from the cabin window now. He sped up, wanting to get back inside. As he stepped up on the porch, he had a sudden impulse. He turned and looked out into the trees. "Thank you," he said sincerely.
She watched him slip inside the cabin and silently wiped away the tear that threatened to spill. Now that she knew he was safe inside she could relax. She slipped off to the small 'nest' she had constructed high up in a sycamore. Nothing more than a tree house really, camouflaged by the dense foliage. She curled up after stashing her bow and arrows nearby for easy access. She kneaded the scarred and puckered flesh on the left side of her face and neck, easing the tightness that was indicative of her exhaustion. She had been injured when rioting exploded in Omaha. She had taken shelter in a pharmacy but looters had throw bricks into the glass front. Glass flying through the air had left her bleeding and broken on the floor. She was lucky, though. A good Samaritan had pulled her to safety, bandaged her wounds and kept her hidden. Once she was healed she had made her way back to California. Over the long trek, she had discovered she was still pretty good with a bow, thanks to the hunting trips her dad had took her on as a child. The talent had saved her life many times. She pulled the battered afghan over her body and closed her eyes. If Sheldon stuck to his normal routine, he would go to the river tomorrow to wash clothes. She would follow to keep him safe. Just another Saturday Laundry Day, she smiled softly.