The bang of gunshots makes me jump. I glance out of the window of the storefront I had slept in. 

Blanks were marching towards a figure in a mask. The figure's white ponytail whipped around while dodged the bullets. The figure shot the first and shot another at an inhuman pace. They took them out one by one with calculated precision. 

Even before all the bodies hit the floor the figure is already collecting the knives. 

The figure is short but lean and fast, their long ponytail complimented their features. They wore a mask that looked like a crow's head.

The figure stopped to adjust their ponytail before continuing forward. They were heading straight where I was hiding. 

I quickly ducked out of the back door. 

I watched the figure through the crack, The figure's face was turned away from me. 

A bird flew through the window, landing on the ground in front of the figure. 

The bird squawked and the figure said something back.

I watched them until sundown which sent them to bed.

Being caught in the middle of the night with no shelter was a death wish so climbed silently inside. I found a spot behind the counter to rest comfortably. I leaned my head against the cabinet, making sure I was out of sight.

I fell asleep.

----------------

A heard gunshots and woke quickly to see the figure had already and was pressed against the shelves.

A loud bang sounded from the front of the small store.

The scrape of boots met my ears when to the door shut again.

I could hear the sharp intake of breath when the blanks marched closer.

The blanks looked around before deciding there was nothing here. I released the breath I hadn't realized I was holding.

The figure was now standing right in front of the counter where I was hiding. I pressed myself closer to the cabinet thinking of what to do if they found me.

I decided that if I approached them straight on I might scare them.

I stood up, putting my hand on their mouth and grabbing their wrist. 

They turned to look at me.

Suddenly they bit my hand and turned to hiss at me.

"Dude what the heck!" I whisper shouted. My hand my throbbing in pain.

The figure hissed at me again.

"You were the one grabbing me from behind," They snarled. His voice was clear and soft. At least I thought he was a he.

I raised my hands.

"Whoa there, I'm just passing by," I said. "Like a cat" I mutter.

"What?"

"Nothing,"

"What do you want?" He growled.

"Nothing just wanted to say hi," I said. "The nearby towns have been deserted for days,"

"The government has been clearing them out for the first wave," He puts away knives that I haven't realized he was holding, "They've been setting up traps throughout the city,"

I'm amazed.

"How do you know so much?" I asked.

"Lucky guess," He said. He grabs his backpack.

"D y' have a camp?" I asked him, picking up a bat that he had dropped.

"Nope," He says, stringing an arrow on the bow he had been holding.

I'm a bit curious.

"What are you doing?" I asked, watching him aim the arrow at the tall metal spire in the center of the little town.

"Just watch," He releases it and hits it perfectly. All the matching blanks fall ot the ground.

"How did you do that?" I asked.

"A large number of blanks can't be individual like smaller groups can, so they use a catalyst to control them. If the catalyst dies, so do the others connected,"

I wonder suspiciously if this guy works for the government.

"I'm starting to wonder if you work for the government," I voice my concern.

He laughs. His laugh is clear and gentle.

He mutters something.

He takes his bat from me.

"I'm Luka Tristen, what's your name mister masked man?" I asked him.

"Raven Snow," He says, turning towards me.

"Your name is so pretty!" I curse myself for saying my thoughts out loud.

"That's a new one, where ya headed?" He asked me.

"Back to camp, not far from here. Wanna join me? You could restock and take a breather," I'm silently hoping he will say yes because I want to know more about him.

"Sure, why not," He whistles suddenly. 

The bird I had seen earlier flies through the window and lands on Raven's shoulder.

"Juniper this is Luka. Luka this is Juniper,"

Juniper eyes me closely.

"What is he?" I ask. He looks like a mismatch of 3 different types of birds. In a he's so ugly it's cute kind of way.

"Don't know, I'm guessing some kind of hybrid," He pet's Juniper lovingly. The bird fucking purrs.

"Birds shouldn't be able to do that," I said.

He shrugs.

"Guess he's special then, you coming?" He's already halfway out the shattered window. Blood is dripping down his arm but he doesn't seem to notice.

"Your hand is bleeding,"

"Fuck, i forgot about that," 

How could you forget about something like that?

"I have bandages," I slide my backpack off my shoulders.

He extends his hand to me. 

I take his hand gingerly. His skin is pale, almost as white as a sheet of paper. 

"You a nurse or something?" He asked me.

"No, I just have basic first aid training," I smile sheepishly.

"Well, your good at it," He reaches up at his long ponytail. He lets his hair down. shaking his head side to side. His hair almost reaches his knees. His hair is almost the same white as his skin. 

He looks up at me right when I notice I'm staring at him.

"What?"

"Nothing,"

I follow him out of the window.