I could not explain the joy I felt when I found Don. I could finally bring him home. Clover would be overjoyed to know her son wasn't dead in the middle of nowhere. The kids would be delighted to have a new person to play with. While I fought the infected, I caught a glimpse of Don standing still and watching me in action. It spurred me on - I wanted the zombies dead, so I could run and hug my sibling.

When the last head of the once-human rolled on the ground, I looked back, expecting to see Don. He's gone! HE'S GONE! We need to find him. I stilled my erratic breathing, trying to listen for movements or humans respiring. My ear twitched lightly as I concentrated. I heard birds chirping far away, but no humans. Life ostensibly steered clear of the shopping center's scope. Well, now was the time to take out the big guns.

"Get to work, boys," I ordered Loki and Thor.

Both began sniffing the air while I collected the zombies' leftover brains. I opened their craniums with my blade to find a pitch-black, slimy ball of matter. The smell that escaped from there was beyond putrid. It smelled like death itself.

Loki made his way to me since they had found a lead. He sat patiently as I executed my task. I always left an airtight container for the zombies' brains in one pouch of the boys' backpacks. Before soiling my hands with the Dead's organs, I take the container out, along with a bottle of homemade sterilizer. I harvested their brains and once done - I wiped my hand on one of the creature's clothes - opened my disinfectant and applied a good amount onto my concealed hand. I put everything back in place.

Afterwards, I stroked his shoulder, telling him I was ready to begin our hunt. He hopped on his paws, guiding me to his brother, who went ahead of us.

︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

Meeting Don’s party was unexpected, but not unpleasant. Having more people would greatly help us to allocate tasks better. I was already pleased about all the planning I would have to do. However, before that, I needed to think of ways to get us enough water for the trip to our mode of transportation. I wished that was my only concern - unfortunately - Ashley has not only had my pups worried but also me on edge. If what was going on, what I thought it was, it would promptly make itself known. All I could do was wait and monitor - make sure everyone was safe, slept enough, had food in their belly, and was well hydrated. With that being said, I aimed to scavenge the nearby area for something to give my - newly acquainted - starving companions.

Once all the breaths slowed down and everyone was dead asleep, I slipped from Don’s arms. Grabbed my sword and mask from the ground to my left. Next to a sleeping Amy. Thankfully, she was not facing my way, making it easier to pussyfoot away in the bewitching hour. Thor and Loki stayed still, not even bothered by my shifting around, as they were aware of my plan of action for them long before I got up. And their role in it was to guard the group while I was away. Ensuring no threat would come their way.

Scurrying along the paved path leading to the road, I strode to exit the park. I stopped in my tracks at the intersection to assess my options. My eyes darted around, taking in the landscape. Dilapidated buildings framed the street. Some were barely hanging there. I saw high rises east, probably flat complexes or offices. They had nothing to offer me and would be too risky to venture. The two-story building ahead spread to the west. There might be a grocery store or corner store down there, but I would need to look for it blindly. My most viable alternative was to go back to the shopping mall. Since I already knew the way and had the certainty that I would find something to eat, as well as winter garments.

︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

It took me some time to get some shut-eye. After months of living in fear of the menace of the night and almost 5 years in the military watching the horrors of war, sleep did not come easy anymore. I always stayed alert and thus never got replenishing rest. But after 3 years of weariness hit me, I was sleeping like a log.

That was until I no longer felt the warmth of the body that was pressed against me. And I no longer smelled the sweet perfume of my Angel.

In the cold morning air, I jolted right up, shoving the blankets aside. I stared at Rory’s empty spot, and then my hand ghosted the cold pelt. Her sword and mask are gone. I started to panic when the two wolves were startled by my rustling and rose to attention. That brought me somewhat of a relief. I nonetheless worried about Rory. She might not have abandoned me during the night but she was still missing. I jumped to my feet, looking around in a frenzy for any sign of where she could have gone. Not only that, but I tried looking for footprints. Now I wish it’d snowed! Loki and Thor whined softly behind me as I stepped out from under the belvedere’s protective roof. Paws hit the ground in a hurry before an imposing Loki stared down at me. He blocked my way with his whole body and repeated my every move as I tried to walk around.

“Fuck off!” I bellowed in the quiet night. The wolf gives me a warning growl.

“Don, why are you yelling?” Amy’s sleepy voice probed. My hysterical yelling must have woken up everyone.

“My sister s’gone and that stupid thing won’t let me look for her!” I glanced back. My companions’ eyes are strained on me, confused by my outburst.

“Ok.” Amy knew I hated losing sight of people. “She might have gone for a piss…”

“NO! The pelt was cold!” I brushed back my dirty hair with my hand in frustration. “I woke up, and she was gone. Her sword and mask were also gone. She didn’t go for a five-minute piss!”

“Don, stop yelling. You’re scaring the kids.” She rubbed her arms over the worn-out jumper. It lost its vibrant red colour for a wash-up orange with specks of grim on it. I was about to tell her to piss off when Thor grabbed my coat and pulled me back. It was so sudden that I lost my foot for a moment and almost fell.

Thor relentlessly dragged me the best he could - I made his task harder by moving in the counter direction. Loki came into action and pushed me back with his muzzle. The idea of shrugging my suede jacket off came to mind. However, Rory appeared at that instant with a large backpack on her shoulders and a large bundle trailing behind her. She had extra layers on, one of which she had not worn before.

“What’s going on?” Rory asked. She looked puzzled by what she saw. Her gaze, heavy with queries, shifted between the two overgrown wolves. Thor removed his teeth from my jacket and lowered his head while Loki made his way towards his owner. While I ran to her and hugged her tightly.

“Where were you?” I got a whiff of her distinctive smell. “I was so worried,” now appeased to have my Darling in my arms.

“Don, I can’t breathe.”

“Good, you deserve a little suffocation!” I added, loosening my hold around her neck. “Don’t you ever leave like that again!”

“Ok. We should join the others...” Not satisfied with her answer, I nonetheless let go of her.

Taking the bag off of her to shoulder it myself, I then grasp her soft hand in mine. We made our way back to the others. The canine duel ran past us to lay back around Rory’s and mine forgotten pelt. Amy was back under the blankets, cuddling with her girlfriend. My angel asked me to take everything out of the bag while she untied the rope she used to drag the bundle and got out of the added layers she was wearing. As I unpacked, I found whistles, five full water bottles, three ferro rods, two bags of ground coffee, a couple of chocolate bars, a bottle of alcohol, and a bunch of trail mixes. I was done unpacking, I looked up at everyone and saw them wrapped up in winter apparel. Still shocked by the food she brought back, I nearly had a heart attack when Rory handed me light snow pants, a polar vest, and a scarf.

︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

Everyone was warm - last night’s sleep arrangements were already stored away - and the sun was still asleep. Rory didn’t sit down before she started planning our rations. She informed us that she had a minimum of six pounds of meat jerky and five pounds of dried fruits and vegetables. Adding to it was what she brought back.

“We have in total six pounds of jerky, five pounds of dried goods, three chocolate bars of a hundred grams, and seventeen trail mixes. That means if we ration for the two-day trip, we each have ninety-four grams of dried goods, one hundred and thirteen grams of jerky, and two chocolate squares a day. As for the nuts, one trail mix today and another on day three. I think everyone should deal with their rations as they see fit. Does everyone agree with that? Questions?”

“How did you calculate everything? And how are we going to measure our portions without a scale?” Mira was astounded at how quickly Rory’s brain functioned.

"I did the maths in my head." Rory shrugged. She started dividing everyone's ration for the day.

"And I can tell by eye the approximate weight," She said, meanwhile she handed us our share. We all received our food for today. Honey Bunny passed around two bottles. She told us that no more than three sips were permitted. If we wanted more, I quote, 'Had to find our own damn water'.

"How are we going to transport our food?" Akira asked, looking at the portion in her hands. Rory then whipped out small pouches made of the same leather as the bags on the wolves' backs.

"Those should do the trick; just tie it well. Otherwise, you might have visitors during the night." We ate quietly when one obnoxious loudmouth had to ask his one thousand questions.

"Where did ya find all of this?" Asked Percy, with food in his mouth. He was gobbling his jerky at the speed of light.

"I went back to the shopping center." My jaw clenched, and my brows furrowed.

"Why would you go there? It's dangerous! And you went alone, and in the middle of the night, what were you thinking!" Beyond furious, I grabbed her jaw, forcing her to look me in the eyes. I wanted to clarify that I would not accept that kind of imprudent behaviour in the future.

"All of you were in no state to accompany me, and I saved us some time by going in the middle of the night, and... And we needed food..." All the arguments were founded, but I did not step down.

"I just got you back! I ain't wanna wonder if I'm gonna find your corpse tomorrow! Got it?" My voice rose as I spoke. I rarely raised my voice. But being stressed for months, lacking sleep, and being malnourished will make you edgy.

"I already told you, no zombie will attack..." She tried to appeal.

"I SAID, ARE WE CLEAR?" As I barked, the wolves jolted. Their eyes strained on me, and they looked at me worriedly. The others stopped eating and stayed silent - they were all bewildered.

"Yes, Don." Rory lowered her head submissively. My anger diminished, and I realized I was too harsh. Even if I thought she did something wrong, I could've approached the subject a little more gently.

"I just want to know you're safe. So I would like from now on that you at least discuss it with me before you act." I momentarily thought of my next words carefully. "If you don't, we will have to contemplate a punishment." She gave me a curt nod. I let go of her jaw. She went back to nibbling on a stripe of dried mango. I was about to eat as well, but caught everyone looking at us gobsmacked. They quickly averted their gaze to their food, observing it gingerly.

The heaviest ten minutes of my life followed suit - they got me wishing for privacy. Our audience seemed to have a hard time chewing their meal with all the tension in the air. Before long, someone finally talks.

"Ash, are you okay? Why aren't you eating?" Mira questioned our companion - who hadn't touched a thing - her share was still in front of her.

"No, it's okay. I'm not hungry." She was still glazed and didn't face us as she spoke. Ashley didn't look good, even less than yesterday. Paler than a ghost, among other things. Her hair was wild and tangled - it looked like a bird's nest. Alongside the dark circle below her eyes, sunken cheeks and red eyes. She was the perfect image of an individual who had a bad acid trip.

"Ya should try to..." Percy pressed further.

"I said I'm not hungry, OK!" Her expression contorted into a hideous scowl while she shouted. For a split second, I had a gander at her tongue. It had a strange brown colour spreading from the back of her throat. What I passed off as a near-death experience reaction started to make less and less sense.

"I think you should talk about this," Rory said, as she lifted herself off the ground.