The compound settled into an uneasy calm after the walkers were dispatched, their bodies still littering the ground outside the gate. The children had retreated into the shadows, whispering to each other, clearly unsettled by Kratos' raw display of power. Clementine led him through the courtyard toward the main building, her steps careful, as if gauging how the others would react.

Kratos followed behind, his expression stoic as ever. Mimir, hanging from his waist, couldn't resist speaking up.

"Well, that was quite the entrance, eh? I'm sure you've left a strong first impression on the wee ones."

Clementine shot a sideways glance at Mimir, still clearly trying to adjust to the idea of a talking head. "Yeah, well... strong is one word for it. You've made them nervous."

Kratos didn't respond. He wasn't here to earn trust or friendship—he was here to figure out how this world worked and how he and Mimir could escape it. Still, there was something about Clementine that reminded him of another time, another life. Perhaps it was her fierce independence or the hardened look in her eyes, but she carried herself like a warrior, even at her young age.

As they neared the front door of the school building, two figures emerged from inside. The first was the boy from earlier, about Clementine's age, tall and lanky with a smirk on his face and the bow around his shoulders. The second was a girl, shorter, with a blonde hair and a quiet, observant demeanor. Both looked on edge, their eyes flickering between Kratos and Clementine.

"Oh, this guy again. Wait," Louis paused, raising an eyebrow. "I never noticed before. What's with the giant axe and the... talking head?"

The girl—Violet—crossed her arms, her face impassive. She didn't seem scared, but her gaze lingered on Kratos with an intensity that suggested she was already sizing him up.

Clementine stopped and waved toward Kratos. "This is Kratos," she said simply. "He saved my life out there. We ran into walkers, and... well, he handled it. Quickly."

Louis gave an exaggerated nod, still clearly amused by the situation. "Handled it? You mean, like, walker massacre handled it? Because that sounds more impressive than just 'handled.'"

Violet cut in, her voice low. "And why is he here?"

"I don't know yet," Clementine replied, her voice steady. "But I think they're stuck in this world, just like us. They're looking for answers. And, well... they can handle walkers better than anyone I've ever seen."

Kratos stood silent, his eyes scanning the two teens, assessing their usefulness. Louis seemed more carefree, though Kratos could tell there was something deeper beneath his relaxed facade. Violet, on the other hand, was guarded, her body language screaming distrust.

Mimir piped up. "Aye, it's true. We've been... displaced, shall we say? Not exactly sure how we ended up in your charming little apocalypse, but here we are."

Louis' eyes widened. "Whoa, it really is a talking head! That's... something."

Violet shot him a glare. "Focus."

Before the conversation could continue, a small voice called out from behind them. "Clem!"

A young boy ran out from the school, his face lighting up the moment he saw Clementine. He couldn't have been more than six or seven, but his small frame carried the weight of someone who had been through more than most adults. He wore a serious expression, his eyes flicking toward Kratos before looking back at Clementine.

"AJ," Clementine said, smiling as the boy rushed over to her. She ruffled his hair, her tough exterior softening for a brief moment. "Everything okay?"

AJ glanced at Kratos warily, then back at Clementine. "Who's that?"

Clementine knelt down, meeting AJ at eye level. "That's Kratos. He's... a friend. He's really strong. Much stronger than I am."

Kratos observed the exchange, his expression unreadable. The boy, AJ, had the same look of a survivor in his eyes. There was no innocence left there—only experience and wariness.

AJ studied Kratos for a long moment, then turned to Clementine. "Is he gonna help us fight bad guys?"

Clementine hesitated. "Maybe. We don't know yet."

Violet, who had been watching the exchange silently, finally spoke up. "Look, I don't know what your deal is," she said, looking directly at Kratos, "but if you're going to be here, you need to follow the rules. This place—these kids—are all we've got left. We protect each other. Got it?"

Kratos met her gaze without flinching. "I protect my own."

Violet raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by the response. "Yeah, well, we're all we've got. So if you're here, you protect everyone."

Mimir chuckled lightly. "Oh, lass, you don't need to worry about us. Kratos here isn't exactly a stranger to protecting others. Though his methods may be... intense."

Louis snorted, grinning at the comment. "I'm getting that vibe."

The tension in the air was thick, but it wasn't hostile. Violet was cautious, Louis intrigued, and AJ just curious. Clementine seemed to sense that Kratos wasn't a threat to them—at least, not yet. She stood up, giving Kratos a nod.

"Come inside," Clementine said, motioning toward the building. "We can talk more. You can explain how you ended up here, and maybe we can figure out what to do next."

Kratos followed silently, his massive form casting a long shadow over the courtyard as they made their way into the school. As they entered, AJ stuck close to Clementine, his small hand gripping the back of her jacket. Louis fell in step beside Kratos, still grinning in that playful way, while Violet hung back, watching the entire group closely.

The inside of the school was worn but livable. The walls were covered in old, peeling paint, and the furniture looked like it had been hastily repurposed for survival. The windows were boarded up, and makeshift beds were scattered throughout the main hall. It wasn't much, but it was clear that the kids had made it home.

Clementine led them to a large table in the center of the room, where she sat down, motioning for Kratos to do the same. Violet and Louis joined them, though AJ sat next to Clementine, his eyes still locked on Kratos.

"So," Clementine began, resting her hands on the table, "let's start from the beginning. How did you end up here?"

Kratos, still standing, glanced at Mimir, who took it upon himself to answer.

"Ah, well, it's a long tale, lass. You see, we hail from a world not quite like yours. Kratos here is... well, you might call him a god where we come from."

Louis' eyes widened in excitement. "Wait—a god? Like... Hercules or Zeus or something?"

Mimir smirked. "Aye, something like that. He's faced monsters, giants, and gods alike, but none of it makes sense in your world. Somehow, we've been transported here—against our will, I might add."

Violet narrowed her eyes. "So what? You're saying you just dropped out of the sky?"

"More or less," Mimir responded, unperturbed.

Clementine leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "And now you're trying to get back?"

Kratos finally spoke, his voice a low rumble. "I seek to leave this world. It holds no meaning for me."

Violet looked from Kratos to Clementine, then to AJ. "And how do we know we can trust them?"

Clementine shrugged. "I don't know yet. But I do know that Kratos is insanely strong. He saved me out there when he didn't have to."

Kratos stood tall, his eyes burning with determination. "I seek no alliances. But if it is necessary, I will fight."

Louis leaned forward, grinning. "I mean, I'm not saying I want to live in a zombie apocalypse forever, but having a god on our side? Not the worst deal."

AJ looked up at Clementine. "I like him. He's strong, tall, and he seems very brave!"

Clementine smiled softly, brushing a hand over AJ's head. She looked back at Kratos, her expression serious. "We need people we can count on. If you're here, and you're willing to fight with us... then maybe you can help us survive."

Kratos didn't respond immediately, but in his silence, something unspoken passed between him and Clementine. She had been a warrior her whole life, much like him. And in this world, survival was the only currency that mattered.

"Very well," Kratos finally said. "For now, I will help. But know this—my journey will take me beyond this place. When I figure out how to return home, I will leave."

Clementine nodded. "Fair enough."

As the group sat in uneasy silence, the weight of their new alliance settled over them. Kratos, the God of War, Mimir, Smartest Man Alive, and this small band of survivors were bound together—for now—by a common goal: survival in a world where death lurked around every corner.