-- She needed a distraction. Something to draw them away. Preferably before her dwindling food and water supplies were exhausted.}
{quietly} Grand-pére... If you're watching. If you can hear me. Clear my path...
@Cooler_Than_PI@LevelUpDead@SoManyArrows
@SoManyArrows@LevelUpDead@Cooler_Than_PI -- out in the dark by the Damned?}
{muttering} Je ne pense pas.
{Ducking down, she fumbled across the dirt until she found what she was looking for, a piece of shale, hard enough, pointed enough, to do some damage. Buy time enough for #Robert and #Thea to get to the --
@SoManyArrows@LevelUpDead@Cooler_Than_PI -- {Willing her pulse to slow, she braced herself, squinting into the dark, thoughts flashing inexorably to @SoyUnPhantasma. The moment he'd read Job 38:11...
Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further.
Had she /really/ come so far, survived /this/ long, only to get snuffed --
@SoManyArrows@LevelUpDead@Cooler_Than_PI -- up, breath leaving her in a rush as the Walker hit the ground, inches away, milky eyes seeming to stare into her own; terrifying and empty all at the same time.
Heartrate jacked, she pushed herself backwards and shot to her feet, running to #Daryl's side.}
I'm here. --
@SoManyArrows@LevelUpDead@Cooler_Than_PI {hushed} Merde....
{Scrambling to stand, to help the soldier as best she could, she planted her hands on the wet grass to right herself and slipped; landing hard on her elbows.
Blinking at the wet crunch of #Daryl's gas can meeting a hollow undead jaw, she looked --
@SoManyArrows@LevelUpDead@Cooler_Than_PI -- door open, she peered cautiously out into the dark, heart thumping so loudly she was certain everyone could hear it.}
{under her breath} Grand-pére, protegez nous...
@SoManyArrows@LevelUpDead@Cooler_Than_PI -- Please be ready to run, Professor. Something tells me time is not our friend.
{Quelling the slight nervous shake in her fingers by pressing her hand against the truck's metal door, she turned back to #Daryl, voice dropping to a whisper.}
Let's go.
{Easing the --
@SoManyArrows@LevelUpDead@Cooler_Than_PI -- moving to the truck door.}
Simple strategy. You need another pair of hands. Someone to cover you while you fuel the helicopter. I am... was. A police officer. I can shoot. I will help you.
{Glancing back to #Robert, she nodded, offering him a calm smile.} --
@SoManyArrows@LevelUpDead@Cooler_Than_PI These ones?
{Determined that the soldier wouldn't have a moment to think them weak, she pushed to her feet, hefting one of the heavy cans as best she could.}
I'm coming with you.
{Pale eyes locking on #Daryl's, a determined lift to her chin, she nodded firmly, --
@Cooler_Than_PI@LevelUpDead@SoManyArrows -- I prayed for them, Robert. {quietly} I was trapped. There were herds on the field. I was running out of food and I prayed to grand-pére to clear my path. They appeared...
@Cooler_Than_PI@LevelUpDead@SoManyArrows -- Whatever it is, it's of some importance. I don't think it's family. Daryl, he says he's not military, but he carries himself like a soldier. Maybe he learned it from his brother?
{Stilling for a beat, she looked to Robert, relief and exhaustion in her eyes.} --
@Cooler_Than_PI@LevelUpDead@SoManyArrows -- They haven't said. Though they have maps for the city. {arching a brow} They seem like they're searching for... something.
{The ghost of her past life haunting her, she leaned forward, nonchalantly munching as she gazed towards the folded papers on the tanker's dash.} --
@Cooler_Than_PI@LevelUpDead@SoManyArrows -- and if Robert had managed to block that visual from his mind, then she wasn't about to dredge it up for him.
They'd both seen enough blood.
Besides, unless the man died of some sort of food poisoning, she didn't need to dwell on it.}
Je suis desoleé, Robert... --
@Cooler_Than_PI@LevelUpDead@SoManyArrows Your chef...
{Letting herself lean into Robert's shoulder, she tore a small piece from the beautiful, fresh (fresh!) baked roll.
Ought she ask about the chef's passing?
Probably not. These days, the details were likely to dance on the line between horrific and bloody, --
@Cooler_Than_PI@LevelUpDead@SoManyArrows -- determined, she peered cautiously out the window, preparing to run.} {curiously} What branch were you with, Daryl? Your accuracy... Navy?
@Cooler_Than_PI@LevelUpDead@SoManyArrows -- what, in this new world was more precious than gold, she looked to the soldier, resolve in her eyes.}
I'll fuel the tanker if you will cover me. {firmly} I would offer to switch places, but I haven't /earned/ a weapon yet. I will not ask for one.
{Stubborn, --
@Cooler_Than_PI@LevelUpDead@SoManyArrows -- {The small cab of the tanker in the face of his claustrophobia. Not to mention the small matter of the world coming to an end. How inadequate the phrase seemed.}
'...to the left of the sanctuary. There!'
{Snapping back into focus as Robert directed their heroes to --
@Cooler_Than_PI@LevelUpDead@SoManyArrows -- Reaching out a hand, bracing to feel nothing but air, she held her breath.
Rêve ou verité?
Air leaving her in a rush as her fingers brushed the wool of his jacket, she beamed, stepping forward to lean into him, dropping her voice to a murmur.} Are you alright? --
@Cooler_Than_PI@LevelUpDead@SoManyArrows {Pushing to stand, she moved to Robert's side, disbelief, relief, and the first happiness she'd felt in /months/ swirling in her eyes.
Was he /here/? Or was this a trick of the mind, some kind of hallucination borne of too little sleep and far too much canned food. --
@SoManyArrows@LevelUpDead@Cooler_Than_PI -- without question.}
Robert! You need to get to the front door as quickly as you can! {blinking} Something tells me we wil be difficult to miss...