Parental Madness

Grey smiled at her question, “No you'd be surprised at how light you are”. He was used to training on the weekends, hell sometimes during the week with all sorts of strength exercises, a typical sized girl, she was pretty light in comparison. He did his best to ignore Leigh's outburst, his suspicions more than confirmed at this point, still he was shocked that she would lash out in such a way. Jared must have his hands full.








At first the girl's words were confusing to Anthros. That girl, was she talking about her? That thing... Anthros' mouth opened in shock and she noticed Jillian pull away and a new realization hit her about the dynamic of the group. Why was that little girl acting such a way, and why did no one slap her for it? Shaking her head of the thoughts that came to mind she instead focused on walking, which was kinda hard to do when she was one of the many without a flashlight. Still she made it with minimal scratches, though she was sure the one fall had put a tear in the leg of her jeans. As everyone started to prepare for bed she fumbled around in her own pack to find a sleeping bag and crawled up inside of it, making sure to be far from Leigh, not wanting to hear another childish outburst. Poor Jillian, he was a good guy and she was treating him like this because of some twisted jealousy?








Everyone pulled out blankets and assorted bed wear, crawling up in their beds and getting ready to sleep. Grey watched somewhat while finding some sticks and sitting at a tree. Pulling out a knife he cut two to the length he needed and went to Summer, handing her a much shorter stick. “Put this in your mouth and bite down on it, do your best to not scream” he waited until she obeyed then kneeled to set her leg back into positioning. He knew it would be painful, but she would be screwed if she let it heal improperly. Once it was set he rooted through his own bag with an acquired flashlight, then hers looking for the duct tape. Once his prize was found Grey would put the lengths of sturdy sticks to her legs and start wrapping them in place using the duct tape. “Not the best materials, but the best I can do with what I got” he offered as an apology while he worked. Once done he would test the strenght of his impromptu brace, then glance up from his work to Summer “That should hold, just be careful to keep off as much as you can so that it can heal properly.” He knew having an injury like that was just asking for trouble and issues, but he would be more than sure to keep an eye on her and make sure she didn't fall behind because of it. Biding her good night he would tuck the duct tape back into her bag and go through his own pack for sleeping gear, knowing sleep wouldn't come easy, but hell they all needed it.








Throughout the night Grey would awaken at the quietest of noises, kids getting up to go to the bathroom, small animals stopping by, always a small rustling and quiet noises. When he awoke in the morning he would feel rested and somewhat refreshed. Grey just hoped it was enough to help lead and protect the group. As he sat up and pulled himself from the entangled blankets he would take notice of Jared moving around. Giving himself a moment to wake up and Jared a few minutes of solitude, Grey would get up and step up to his friend's side. “You okay?” Usually one for getting to business, a show of concern was off base for Grey's character, but none the less he wanted to assure his friend before jumping into business about finding water and discussing what to do with all of the kids.


 
Hearing Grey approach before the other young man spoke, Jared tensed, looking up quickly. Even after he saw his face and recognized his voice, it took several moments before his heartbeat began to slow. As Grey came to stand beside him, Jared hesitated, then nodded slightly in response to his question.


Was he okay? Of course he wasn't. One of his sisters was dead, one was barely speaking, and the other was making herself such a nuisance that probably before the end of the day everyone would practically want to stone her. His mother had tried to kill him and god knows how many, other than Lydia, she had killed. The world had gone insane and there was no one left to protect any of them. The lives of a few kids were at the mercy of their own cleverness and speed, and dumb luck of not being found out.


Jared had never expected to get much out of life, but this was far worse of a future than he could have ever dreamed.


Still, he nodded, even as he kept his voice low enough for only Grey's ears to hear, putting to voice what was troubling him above all else.


"First thing we have to do is make sure we stay alive...assuming we can do that, what happens when we keep getting older? My birthday is in six days, Grey. I'm going to be 20...what if that's the age where this happens? Or what if it's 21, or 22, or tomorrow? We're the oldest...what if this could happen to us? What if it's contagious?"


He kept his eyes on Angelina, who as of now had wondered over to Hunter to stroke his fur, showing no sign of listening to Jared or of wanting to go to him. Still, he kept his voice low as he concluded.


"We have no idea what's going on."
 
“We made it so far. Even if we got a bunch of kids we're doing good so far. Yeah we have to worry about the adults but aside from keeping away and learning to protect ourselfs and preparing ourselves we can't do more, so to worry endlessly about it will only bring down spirits. That's actually another thing we have to worry about... these kids and their heads, they need a break before they start breaking down, so if we can give them one without putting the group at risk we should do it.” When Jared spoke up about age and turning Grey actually visually paled. To think that they might change and go against the very ones they were protecting... the thought was sickening. “I-I really don't know what to do with that. If this is something that we can grow into then eventually all of us will become like this. After all if the parents are all dead set on killing us they won't be working on a way to reverse this... so wow.”


He was silent for a long moment, letting that sink in. If it was truly all the adults then none of them would care enough to reverse the effect. Grey decided to hold onto the hope that it wasn't widespread and that someone could do something about it. “Maybe it's eighteen, and we're both immune, or if you didn't get it the first time you won't end up turning like them. All I can suggest if you're truly worried is to not be alone with the kids and to have someone strong enough to watch over you around in case you turn. We just don't know until we know, so let's take it a day at a time and see what happens.” Grey gave his friend a smile and a pat on his shoulder, not knowing how else to try and comfort him. "For today let's try to show the kids some basic survival skills for in the wilderness, I'm sure you know something you can pass down"


 
Summer smiled at Grey's words that she was light. She watched as Mels followed the pair, staying rather quiet. She was a bit worried about her cousin. She was happy though that she didn't get catch up in the fight that happened earlier. After what had happened at her house, she didn't want Mels to be witness to any more killing, especially from adults. The girl was still at an age where she looked up to and and respected adults. She couldn't imagine how tough it was for her.


Mels was trying to cope the best she could. Even if things were not looking well and Summer was hurt, she felt a little better. They weren't alone and Summer was still alive. The guilt though was present. Mels had no reason for feeling guilty about Summer being hurt, but she did. Summer was looking out for her and she felt like she was to blame that she got hurt. She wished she could do something to help.


The young girl was startled though by Leigh's words. She sounded so mean and she couldn't understand why she was getting so upset. She knew it had to do with her boyfriend and someone else in their group, but Mels just didn't really get it. She understood jealousy fine, but she didn't know why Leigh had to be so mean. Mels decided that she probably wouldn't understand it.


She was drawn from the other girl's tramtrum by Grey putting down Summer. Summer was doing her best from showing her pain. She was just lucky that someone like Grey was in the group. He was being so kind and attentive to her. She didn't really expect this when she got hurt, but she was happy all the same. She was a little embarrassed as well, but she tried to keep that from showing.


She looked at the stick that Grey handed her, not sure if she was prepared for this. She knew it was going to hurt like hell, but it had to be done right? Summer didn't want to be limping around in pain forever, especially not with homicidal adults after them. At least her father was out of the picture. As she did what she was told, she glanced over to Max who seemed to be bunking down next to Jillian. After Leigh's anger, she was surprised that he was still close to the other boy. She smiled a little as best she could with a stick in her mouth. But Grey resetting her leg, brought her back to reality and she bite down hard, trying to stifle a scream. She made a weird sobbing noise and tears welled up. Mels looked at her in worry, but she waved a hand. She spit the stick out as Grey worked, wincing a bit as he made a make-shift cast of some kind.


"I'll be fine Mels. Go to sleep, okay?"


Mels wasn't so sure, but she nodded and laid down near to her cousin. She didn't think she'd fall asleep so fast, but she was out pretty soon. Summer was happy when Grey was done and she nodded at his words.


"Thanks. Just.... thank you so much." She laid down, next to Mels, hugging her cousin close to her. She had to sleep in a weird position, but she was happy for the warmth she provided her. She feel into sleep as well, a fitful and sort of unpleasant sleep. She was brought out of it by talking and she sat up, rubbing her eyes.


Summer saw that Jared and Grey were awake and talking to each other. She wondered if she should go back to sleep or show that she was awake as well. For now she just sat there.
 
Jared found himself nodding slightly as he listened to Grey's reassurance, for each suggestion his friend had seemed possible. He couldn't tell by looking exactly how old most of the adults were, so he couldn't be sure what the exact age was where this happened. He could be immune, or have years before it would be an issue, years where he could be working on finding a cure or at least a preventive measure. Or maybe it would go away eventually, before it was a huge problem. Anyway why would one day, such a small difference between being 19 and 20, suddenly mean he would be as crazy as all the others? He was okay now, how could one day change everything about who he was?


But had all the adults really changed everything, rid themselves of everything they were...or just of that one simple part of them, the part that would never hurt someone, let alone a child, or at least would maintain enough self control not to do so if avoidable. And if that was all that had changed, did that mean that now they'd changed all? Forever?


Grey was right...they couldn't worry about it now when there was so little they really did know. They had to worry about the kids, about their mental health, about surviving and teaching the kids how to survive. They needed to check on Summer's leg and make sure Angelina kept talking and that everyone was okay as they possibly could be. They needed all of this today, not six days or six years from now.


And yet even as Grey patted his shoulder, even as Jared knew all of this was true, he also knew that no matter what he said or tried to focus on...he would worry. He would stress....he would be terrified.


Leigh and Angelina and all the rest of these kids, if he ever really hurt them, he would not want to live. But whatever had happened to the adults to change them, it they knew what they had become, as the selves they had once been, would they feel as he did now? And did that mean he could be them too soon?


His eyes drifted over the others and came to rest on Rai, lying close to Leigh where he had walked away from them. Rai...if anything were to happen to both him and Grey, it would be her he would trust above all others to care for his sisters. But how did you tell a girl, especially a girl you were pretty sure you...well, felt how he felt about Rai, however that was exactly...how did you tell her that if you went insane and tried to kill her or anyone else, she had to take care of the same sisters you would be trying to kill?


It was a few minutes later that Jared noticed Summer sitting up slightly, and he waved to her weakly, trying to disguise his expression. Beside Rai he saw Leigh stirring too, then sitting up rubbing at her eyes. Now was no longer the time to think.
 
Maxwell over-slept, or he might have just been over-tired from the night before when they were forced awake by somebody breaking in. In any case, when he woke up he didn’t remember quite falling asleep or where he was…or anything. Quickly he was woken out of his stupor though, blinking and realizing that he was in the forest, and yes he was brought here because their parents were attacking them. It was a sad realization but he realized that it was true and he might want to check his surroundings.


Pushing himself up, he wearily looked around and only saw Grey and Jared talking a little ways away. Jillian was still sleeping close to him, and he let him have his rest, instead standing himself and trailing away to pee. After that business was taken care of, he looked around and approached the slightly older boys, yawning. “Jared” upon remembering that this is the first time he is actually talking to him, he stiffens up. Instead of saying his next thought, he says nothing staring blankly at the man.
 
Summer saw Jared wave at her and she waved back. She glanced down at Mels for a moment, before getting up. She stretched and yawned, looking around the woods. Well it was not the most pleasant sleep she ever had and her broken leg felt horrid. She shifted to lean against a tree as she allowed herself to wake up more. Grey was awake and if he saw her putting pressure on it after he told her not to, she was sure she'd probably get lecture. Also she wanted to make sure it could heal as fast as possible. Being the cripple of the group did not work well for her.


She saw that Max had awoken too and that brought back painful memories of yesterday, but she pushed them away. Better not to dwell on it right away. She heard Mels shift in her sleep, but she did not wake. She wanted Mels to sleep for a little while longer until she had to wake her up. It wasn't like a lot of people were awake yet anyways.


Summer moved closer to the pair of boys and then sat down, propping her leg up on a rock.


"Morning," she said with a sleepy smile. "Sleep well?"


Jillian shifted in his sleep, almost as if he was aware of Max having left his spot. They weren't as close as last time but some part of Jillian was aware that he was alone in his sleeping spot. But he was exhausted and so he did not wake fully though he did turn in his sleep and almost made a move as if he was reaching out.
 
Some of the others are beginning to wake. Jared's eyes drift across the others in their slight distance from him and Grey, seeing that Summer and Max are both up and approaching them. He glances at Grey, hoping that he will take the hint not to continue their conversation now that everyone else is starting to become alert. It will do no good for others to become afraid of him or nervous of what might happen.


Or wouldn't it? Maybe them being afraid of him was the best idea they could have. Maybe he should be warning them all, even Angelina. Maybe he should be telling them exactly how things might go, preparing them for the worst, just in case one day he woke up just like the adults...in case he wanted to make sure the others never woke up at all.


But how much preparation would something like that take, before they could truly be ready for such a thing? Could anyone ever really be ready to slaughter someone they knew and were familiar with, someone they loved?


He hadn't been. He had looked his mother in the eye, even after knowing what she had done to Lydia, what she would gladly do to him and his other sisters, and he had not been able to hurt her. He had not been prepared, even now. How could he expect anyone else to be, for him?


"Hey," he said to Summer, giving her a quick smile as she came to sit beside him. The poor girl's leg must be killing her; he would hardly be surprised if she was crippled permanently given the lack of real treatment she was able to have. "How's your leg doing?"


He is surprised when Max approaches and speaks his name too, and he keeps his expression neutral as he nods an acknowledgement to him, saying his name in the same manner. "Max."


Angelina looks up from where she is hugging Hunter, watching them, and when Jared gestures her to join them, she comes slowly. Leigh, seeing that Max has gone to Jared and the others rather than to her, despite the fact that she is awake and sitting up, tenses, her face clearly showing her hurt, before she stands, approaching them almost as hesitantly as Angelina. Though she sits beside Max, close, she puts her hand on his arm more tentatively than usual, as though to feel him out, even as she looks at the others.


"How are we going to take a shower? I feel gross."


It was an issue Jared had thought of too, and he shrugs as he replies. "We need to find a stream, I know there's one back here somewhere."
 
Rai had a nightmare.


It started with her return home from school. She opened the door, calling out for her Mum. Only to narrowly miss a knife. It was just like the real thing. Her and her Mum fought for a bit, before Rai overpowered her and rammed the knife through her Mother's heart. But this time the woman gasped, eyes widening as she looked up at Rai with tears threatening to fall. "Rai? Baby?" She whispered, just like how she used to when she was still drowsy from the heroine, before looking down to the knife implanted in her chest then back up to the confused Rai. "H..How could you Rai? I...I'm your mother..I...I love you." Rai was crying freely now, this was the first time her Mother had ever said that and she had just rammed a knife through her heart.


Then she was suddenly in the school, surrounded by the crazy adults as kids shot left right and center. Her legs began to move, carrying her to the cafeteria where she knew the younger ones were hiding. Hunter was at her feet, and as she came to a halt in the cafeteria she spotted her. Eyes wide, legs shaking, she headed over to the woman who was knocking crazily on the metal door. "M..Mum?" The woman spun around, eyes wide with insanity and a cruel edge to her curved lips, the knife still in her chest with fresh bloodstains around it. "Oh hello baby girl, how have you been?" Rai blinked at the woman, Hunter cowering behind her. "M-mum? I..I killed you! How are you still here?" The woman smirked, still with insanity lingering in those dark irises, "Oh you just think you killed me Rai." The woman then pulled the knife out slowly, her blood dripping onto the floor as she tilted her head. "You missed baby. I'm still alive." The knife then flew from the woman's hand, striking Rai herself painfully in the chest.


The girl bolted awake, breathing heavily, her hand flew to her chest where the knife should be and she looked down to see nothing was there. She was fine. She was fine and her Mum was dead. Right? She looked around, calming now, Hunter was awake, some were just stirring, and others were already awake, up and talking. An idea about finding a stream to bathe in floated to her ears, spoken by Jared, and she reminded herself that she needed to help. She was one of the oldest after all, and she knew how to survive an Apocalypse.


At least in a video game she did.


She got herself up, running a hand through her long hair as Hunter bounded to his own feet, glad his Rai was finally awake. And he followed her as she joined the group of sleepy people. She offered them all a weak smile, plopping herself down beside Angie, she remembered taking the younger girl to change during the night - before her own nightmare happened - and gave her an individual smile. She glanced around their group, then spoke, "Maybe we should send a small group of people to go find a stream first, then we can all take turns going to bathe and whatever else." Even if they were out in the forest, adults could still be around. It wasn't a good idea for anyone to be alone or for their camp to be left unoccupied.


Hunter meanwhile had sat in between Rai and Angie, then had nuzzled against the younger of the two, trying to get his head underneath her arm so that she would pet him.
 
What was happening? It had been a while of silence, making it too easy to think. They'd just been tiding it out for a long time, and he'd just dealt with things as they happened- but his dad was dead, and the rest of them wanted the kids dead.


He ought to just say it. They wanted him dead.


He'd been going through a normal day, routine and safe, and this stupid virus had suddenly stripped the covering away from his sheltered life. And behind that was murder and blood and survival, and it scared him. He'd always been optimistic, but here, he didn't know what he was doing- except ignoring it. Was that the right thing to do? Should he ignore killing and death? He didn't know how people like Gray and Rai and Jared just went out there, did what they had to do, and accepted it. And they still stayed kind.


Maybe he'd always just been ignoring it. There was a lot of stuff that he'd never fathomed before that he'd seen today. Had he been ignoring all that? How could he possibly ignore his dead father?


Will hoped no one noticed his tears.


Anthony couldn't sleep. He was tired as heck, but every time he fell asleep, he'd awake soon after. Mostly, it was nightmares that forced him back to consciousness. It was usually Reggie. Sometimes it was the man he'd stabbed at the school, who he assumed had died. Maybe he'd recovered, somehow. Either way, they'd left him there.


He sat up, not wanting to go back to sleeping; he was even more powerless in his dreams than he was in real life. Gray and Jared were off to the side, talking, and the sky had just started to brighten with dawn. The place had a curious gray quality to it, not quite night but not day either.


Anthony slowly pulled himself to his feet, nursing his hurt arm. A night on hard ground had not helped the wound at all, and he was still tired. He looked around at the mostly-sleeping camp, before turning to enter the forest to relieve himself. The leaves crunched underfoot.


It was sort of nice among the trees. They weren't murderous. Anthony wandered around for a while through the woods, trying to wake up more, thinking it was nice to be alone. A bird flew from tree to tree overhead, and something rustled the bushes nearby; nature, working like always. The boy suddenly wondered if the apocalypse had affected the animals too. That would be horrible! Hopefully it wasn't so, or the world was seriously screwed.


Off in the distance he saw a stream. Rather not wanting to get wet, he thought it was about time to turn back.


When he returned, taking his time walking, Max, Summer, Leigh, and Angelina - and Hunter - had risen and sat with Gray and Jared. They were discussing the matter of a shower. Anthony walked over to the group and sat, back against a tree trunk, muttering a "'Morning." He'd never really been a morning person, apocalypse besides.


Before anything else could happen, however, Rai bolted up from her sleep with a gasp. Anthony gave a start, turning to look; but seeing what it was, he took a few breaths and settled back down. Rai soon joined their group, offering an idea about washing up.


"Hey," said Anthony, a little lower and crackly than intended. He coughed, and spoke again; "There- there's a stream in the woods over there." The boy gestured slightly with his good arm. "It's not far."
 
As Rai comes to join them as well, Jared looks up, meeting her eyes and smiling at her as she sits next to Angelina. He is grateful to her for doing so much to take care of her, to take some of his burden off his shoulders. Rai and Grey are the two he trusts most now, that he feels he can most rely on...and he knows, as he looks over at Rai, that he will have to talk to her soon about the possibility of what might happen to him when he begins to age. She as much as Grey deserves, even needs, to understand what could be at stake.


"Morning, Rai," he greets her, and as Angelina snuggled in close to Hunter, meeting Rai's eyes but not smiling back, he smiled at her as well. "Sounds good, about the stream. We can ration out a little food, then figure out our plan for today and the next few days while we take turns bathing."


Anthony and Will join them as well, leaving only Kurt and Jillian and Anthros still asleep, and Jared nods in acknowledgement, showing more interest when Anthony speaks of a stream. Standing, he gestures for him to show him where.


"How about we go in groups of three or four, no one should be alone for this, just in case. Wash clothes the best you can and then hang them up to dry so we can reuse if we need to...we need to separate clean clothes from dirty ones too. I think we're going to have to get over any modesty issues because right now, being modest isn't safe. Girls with girls and boys with boys, other than that, forget about it, everyone always needs to stick with someone else and be watching out for them so we're safe."


He looked around, mentally tallying the ratio of boys to girls. He, Grey, Anthony, Will, Max, Kurt, Jillian...then Leigh, Angie, Rai, Summer, Mels, Anthros.


The girls on average were younger than the boys, he realized.


"Summer will need help, so actually...maybe all the girls should go at once, Angie and Leigh and Mels need to be with someone older anyway. Guys can split into two groups. Doesn't matter as much who's in who, we're all at least fifteen, right?"
 
Summer wakes before Jared fully notices Maxwell standing there, and as she approaches them she asks if they slept well. He just nods, also hearing that Jared had asked how she was doing before he addresses him and Max forces himself to meet the elder boy’s eyes. It doesn’t take long for him to dodge his gaze again, suddenly noticing that Leigh’s next to him.


When her hand brushes his arm, he makes no move to shake it off or accept it, as he’s still very contemplative about accepting her. She says nothing to him though, instead asking about a shower to which Jared notes they’d have to find the stream. Rai had joined them and offered a group go out to look for the stream; Jillian was still asleep so Max was weary on leaving him.


Anthony, who had recently just joined the group offered where the stream was, and Max realized he might have to wake Jillian. Pulling away from Leigh’s grasp he points to the sleeping Jillian before making his way over and shaking him gently. The boy still hears what Jared is saying, about splitting up into groups about 3 or 4. After a moment he decides that the girls will be all bathing together instead and the guys would split into two groups.


What he mainly hears, is about modesty issues; Max didn’t want to be naked around everyone and the fact alone made him nervous. Poor Jillian probably wouldn’t be comfortable if he thought of himself as a girl too.
 
Summer looked at Jared and then down to her leg. She looked at it for quite some time. A sudden feeling of anger and sorrow washed over her as she stared at it. She would be crippled for the rest of her life she realized. There was no way it would heal correctly and completely. Not like this. No matter what, even at the best possible chance of recovery, without a proper cast or anything, she'd be limping the rest of her days. Which might not tally to much. Especially if she couldn't run properly.


But she looked at the others and gave a small smile. "It feels better. Still hurts and it's going to take a while to mend." She looked down at the ground. "Sorry," she muttered softly not sure if anyone actually heard her. She was currently the weakest group member excluding the younger ones. At least they could run and didn't need help bathing.


She didn't join in the bathing discussion. She realize she was going to have to have her improvised cast re-set afterwards and she sighed heavily. "I need to wake Mels," she said mostly to herself. She then looked at the others.


"Who bathes first? Girls or guys?" She looked over to where Mels was just waking. She looked around confused but Summer gestured her other. She was glad all of them would be going together. Summer really didn't want to be alone or with just one or two girls. But she felt embarrassed about needing help. It wasn't modesty that made her embarrassed. She had no problem exposing her body to other girls. She hated her father more. He might be dead but he did enough to ruin Summer's life even more. He still won in some way.


Jillian slept through all the discussion. He felt Max wake him and he blinked up at him in surprise. He sat up yawning.


"Did I miss some discussion?"
 
Jillian is awake now, and sleepy in appearance, and as Jared looks in his direction he sees that Kurt and Anthros too are rising. He gestures for them to come closer to the rest of the group as he re-explains to them.


"Anthony found a stream, we need to gather water and go in groups to bathe. We could all use it. We decided that the girls will all go together because Summer needs help and most of them are so young, and that the guys will split into two groups." His eyes lingered on Jillian, just then realizing that the boy, or girl, or however he thinks of himself, will probably have a pretty difficult time bathing with the rest of them given his circumstances, but it can't be helped. It wouldn't be appropriate for him to bathe with the girls either.


When Summer apologizes under her breath, Jared doesn't hear, but Angelina does. She is still petting Hunter silently, taking everything in without comment, but Summer's soft word catches her attention. She turns to look at her with a slight frown, then slowly scoots herself closer to Summer, laying a hand on her arm and petting it slowly, as if Summer herself is a dog like Hunter. This is her attempt at comfort to her.


Jared does hear Summer's question about the bathing order though, and replies, "I think girls first because with all of you at once and you needing help, Summer, it will take you longer. So...why don't you all gather up the clothes an towels you'll need, and make your way over there now?"


Leigh stands somewhat unenthusiastically, because this method of bathing isn't what she'd envisioned. Even in the best of times she isn't very secure with herself, and her makeup and clothing choices are chosen specifically to camoflauge her youth and her lack of an overly womanly appearance. She looks down at herself unhappily, already mortified and almost angry, but she doesn't say anything. Yet.
 
Jillian frowned at the talk of bathing. While he didn't mind getting himself cleaned in the stream. After all they were pretty dirty and some of them still covered in blood and such. But Jillian found himself at a sort of dilemna. He would have to bath with the guys. Even if he saw himself as a girl, his body was still male and most of the children were girls. He couldn't scar them because he was uncomfortable. But it was not just because of how he saw himself that made him feel uncomfortable about it. It was because they would be able to tell he was gay. Jillian wasn't one for staring at naked guys. He had gotten through changing for gym without staring a lot, but... Jillian didn't want to do anything to make them feel like they couldn't be around him. And Max...


Jillian decided to go with it. He would just have to suffer through. Maybe bath with his back turned to the others. He wouldn't risk going off alone to bath. It was still dangerous and he didn't want to risk being taken or killed or anything.


He looked over at Max and then back to Jared nodding. "Well have fun you girls," he said, forcing a smile.


Summer looked over at Angelina when she felt her touch her, petting her arm. Something in her reacted to it, to Angelina trying to comfort her and she looked away for a moment. Then she ruffled Angie's hair, smiling down at her.


"Okay then." Summer looks around and then scoots over to a tree. She managed to get herself up as Mels finally brings herself fully awake. Summer moves over to her to explain what is going on and the still half-asleep girl nods.


"Don't worry Summer. I'll help you out," Mels tells her older cousin. Summer just nods mutely and starts looking for clothes and a towel.
 
The group seemed to be in agreement with Jared's idea, and the girls were getting ready to leave. Anthony shifted on the floor, realizing he'd have to lead them there. Alright, then.


The boy stood, slowly, using the tree he had been sitting by as support. His injured arm hung loosely to the side. Anthony felt more awake than some of the others looked, and he didn't really have that many preparations to make; he just had to remember where the stream was. So he paced a little, behind the tree, as the others got ready to leave.


Will was standing there, looking tired. Anthony met his eye for a little bit, but then just dropped his gaze and continued walking. The stream was... that way. He had slept near that boulder there, and he'd followed the opening through the trees. Simple.


Soon, Anthony was saying, "The stream's over this way...." He motioned into the forest, beginning to walk as he did. "I'll lead you there, then give you some privacy." Making sure they were following, he exited the clearing.


It was't too long of a walk. Anthony listlessly trailed his hand over the tree trunks as he passed by, glad that the woods were sparse- it was bad enough to bathe in a river without having to fight through shrubbery on the way there. Soon he could hear the sound of running water, and Anthony looked around for a way to the source. There was some foliage blocking the path, and the boy had to sidetrack a little to find a way through- but he waved the others over, finally able to see the stream.


He observed it dolefully. It wasn't bad, for a stream. It wasn't clean by any means, but it wasn't too muddy either. Just a little murky. It was about a long hop from one side to the other, and, a little ways downriver, deep enough to service their means. Anthony nodded, and turned back around.


"There it is," he said, definitively, before moving to leave the girls to their business.
 
As Anthony leads them, Angelina looks back at Hunter, intent on him coming with them. She beckons with her hand, waiting for him to join them. "You should get a bath too," she whispers, and smiles very faintly when he follows. She draws close to Leigh, looking up at her as though wanting her sister to take her hand, but Leigh is lagging behind the others, head down, subdued for the moment, arms crossed over her chest, and she barely seems to notice the little girl. Angelina appears to dismiss her then and moves up alongside Rai, shyly reaching for her hand.


As they reach the stream, Leigh waits until Anthony heads back to the other guys, crossing her arms even more tightly over her chest as she looks around at the other girls, mentally judging which of them might have the best body- not because she would be attracted to it, but because she will feel embarrassed and inferior in comparison. She can strike of Mels and Angelina, of course, and she thinks it's probably either Anthros or Summer. She doesn't want to stand anywhere near them as a result. She raises her voice slightly as she complains, "This is weird. It will probably be cold too...this is WEIRD."


She makes no sign of removing clothes, and isn't about to until every other person is too. Angelina looks up at Rai, as if silently asking her whether they should get in now.
 
Just as Max was about to answer Jillian, Jared beat him to the punch and explained the situation. Summer had just asked who was going first, and he glanced worriedly at her wound, trying to access the damage. The girl would forever carry the mark of what happened yesterday, whether it was a scar or a limp, Summer would remember her dad attacking her. Then, she would remember Max…Max killing her father in cold blood with a chainsaw.


Jillian’s voice snapped him out of his reverie, telling the girls to have fun, and Max slides his hand out of Leigh’s, only for it to guide her by the small of her back. Gently he leads her with a slight push towards Anthony as the injured boy offers to lead them back to the stream. Maxwell waits until the girl’s leave to sigh, running a hand through his hair; he really did need a shower, but it was hard to take such pleasantries when there were crazed adults out there.
 
Like she had said, Mel helped her cousin as they walked behind Anthony. They seemed to fall behind the group mostly as Summer could not move that fast. She could already feel like she was a burden on the group. She looked at Anthony. At least she was not alone in being injured. That thought startled her though. Why would that make her happy? Summer was really an awful person if she felt better because she wasn't the only one who had sustained a long-term injury in the last fight.


Well at least none of them had died. Summer and Mel moved in silence. Mel wasn't sure what to say. She didn't fully understand Summer's problem, but she knew enough. But trying to comfort Summer, she wasn't sure where to begin at all. So she just helped her as they walked. She wondered how well she'd do once they got there. Summer was bigger than her and she wasn't sure how well she could support her in the water. Maybe asking Anthros or Rai to help. Though Summer was probably too embarrassed to do so.


Summer waited until Anthony was far enough away. Not that she thought he'd peek, but just to be sure. He might look back by accident or something. She then nodded at Mels.


Slowly Mel stripped herself of her clothes. She tried to pretend this was just like taking a bath. She watched as Summer struggled to get her shirt off. Getting her pants off was going to be hell. She could already tell that.
 
Leigh waited until nearly every other person was undressed before she took off her own clothes, and then she did so as quickly as possible, not wanting them to see that she had stuffed her bra. Already she was worrying over this, because how was she going to keep doing so when the tissues would be nasty and maybe wet too after the bath? What would Max think if she had to throw them away and go without? Would people notice? Would they laugh at her?


This was hardly an important matter that anyone was likely to care about, but it was easier for Leigh to focus on and worry about this rather than the fact that they were currently living in the woods, and that any moment now, they could be attacked again. It was easier to raise her voice, bossing Angelina to hurry up, don't stand so close to people, that's WEIRD, then to think for even a second that it was very possible an adult could come charging out of the woods, and she could die in the exact same manner that her apparent name sake, Janet Leigh from Psycho, had. Why had Vicky HAD to name her that?


The water was cold, almost icy, and Leigh gave a short scream as she stepped into it, immediately crossing her arms over her chest. "I hate this," she complained aloud to no one in particular, before reaching back to grab Angelina's hand, forcing her to go in beside her, deeper than she herself had, more out of irritation than because she cared if she was taking her bath. "You're gonna need me to help you wash your hair too, aren't you? Ugh this water isn't even all that clean!"


Still, she did wash her sister's hair before getting herself out and dressed as fast as humanly possible, shivering and hugging herself on the shore as she waited for the other girls to finish up. When they finally were all back with the boys and waiting for them to finish their turn, Leigh allowed Angelina to sit beside her and then to slip her hand through her arm. Just for the moment; once Max was back then she'd go back to him, of course.


More worries were coming to mind for Jared as he and the first group of boys left...there were no longer any doctors who could be trusted in the world. What if one of them got seriously hurt or sick? What if they got attacked by a bear, bitten by a snake, frostbitten, who knew what else...it wasn't just the adults who were a threat, it was everything. They needed books, they needed internet, access to information just about how to survive. This couldn't be a permanent home, but then, what could?


[MENTION=1488]xJobozx[/MENTION]
 
Anthony meandered back through the woods, following his path back to the camp. He wasn't thinking about much, having fallen back to what he was most comfortable with- planning that story he'd never finish writing. There had been enough melancholy already, and the distraction was welcome; it was something he'd often fallen back on when he was upset or bored. The stories were welcoming places, like returning home. Everything was vastly familiar and close, unlike the real world, which was alien and distant at the moment.


It always had, really. His little room in Will's apartment had never really been home- the closest he could get was his laptop, unwilling as he was to admit it. He'd lost that, though; the Blotters probably had it. Or... Mrs. Blotter, at least. The father of the family was dead.


He did have his guitar, still. Still didn't know why. He really should have left it at the cars, but it was the one thing of normalcy left and he was clinging to it like he would a lifesaver. The same old instrument it'd always been, crazy adults or no. Comforting. He hadn't even opened the case since the apocalypse came, but he didn't really need to. Besides... He was sort of attached to it.


It was silly, but there was nothing to do but care about the little things when the world turned against you.


Anthony emerged back into the clearing and sat back down where he'd slept, not really caring for conversation. He looked around, from Max to Jillian to Kurt, but then he just fell back on his blanket and rested for a little. He was tired.


He staggered up again when the first group of boys got ready to leave. He supposed he ought to guide them again. They really should be able to find the stream just by walking in the general direction, but there wasn't much room for error in the apocalypse. What if they got lost, without their supplies?
 
During the time it took the girls to bathe, Maxwell found himself pacing the forest floor, his eyes always weary for the next appearance. The boy half expected something to jump out of the forest and attack them, so his eyes were always looking, tying to search for what may happen to the group. He practically jumped when the girls re-emerged from the forest, he had finally decided to talk to Jillian for a while and let himself be distracted. There was something different about Leigh, and he noticed it almost immediately.


“Uh-” but he makes no further comment, losing his words to the sheer embarrassment. Instead, he focuses on the fact that it’s his turn to bathe and motions for Jillian to follow him. Again, he feels self-conscious for what is to come, but tries to imagine himself in Jillian’s shoes, and wondered if the boy would like it if he averted his eyes. Overall, he was unsure…


The blood on his shirt had stuck the shirt to his skin, so before he even left the campsite, he rid himself of it, hanging it over his arm. His cheeks immediately felt hot, and he couldn’t look at Leigh, so he tried to focus on Jillian, continuing to usher him behind Anthony. “C’mon” he notes.
 
The bathing did not go as badly as Summer had first thought. She had finished stripping solo, not wanting to have anyone help her. Most of it was due to sheer embarrassment at someone helping her take her clothes off, but a small part was due to pride. Summer wanted to prove she was still capable even if she was injured. No one had said anything so far about Summer being deadweight or useless or going to hold them back, but she still felt that way.


Since it took her a while to strip (and caused her a great deal of pain) Summer was last into the water. She stayed near the bank, not able to support herself. It was easier in the water as it took some of her weight, but it was still very difficult. Mels tried over and over again to help her cousin, but after Summer nearly yelled at her, she stayed a little away. Mels didn't like seeing Summer like this and she thought she might cry. But she had to be strong and she was proud when she didn't burst into tears when she watched Summer almost fall over as she tried to dress herself.


"Summer are you going to be okay," she said softly? Summer just nodded and tried to give her little cousin a reassuring smile.


Jillian was nervous as ****. He didn't like this. He didn't like this at all. He let himself calm down though while the girls bathed. It was only right. No matter how he felt, he was still biologically a male. That wouldn't change and even if Jillian understood who he was down the road, he'd never be able to change that. It was an upsetting thought. But he chatted with Max which was nice. He felt bad that he was happy that Leigh wasn't around. He had to remind himself that Max was her boyfriend and he stood no chances.


When the girls re-appeared, Jillian could feel his nerves rise again. He glanced at Max who had stripped out of his shirt early and his face got hot. He gladly moved when Max pushed him along. Maybe he'd feel better after a quick dip in the river, although he was going to be surrounded by naked men and Max was one of them, so he doubted it. Yeah it was probably in his best interest to just bathe away from the others and hope they would ignore him.
 
Leigh is already very self-conscious as she rejoins the others, even before she sees Max. Her wet hair is trickling down her back, and she has no brush or comb, a deficit that she realizes with some horror is almost as bad as having no makeup. She's going to look AWFUL out here, how will Max still like her if she can't even make herself look pretty?


It is when she follows the direction of Max's gaze and recognizes the embarrassment in his eyes that she is really bothered, though. Max is looking at her CHEST. Max is looking at her CHEST, or rather, her lack of one...she should have put the tissues back! She should have grabbed something, anything....even t-shirts or underwear, SOMETHING, why didn't she use SOMETHING to put them right again?


Her face turns very red as she crosses her arms, turning away, but she feels suddenly close to tears. Jared, having turned to look at the girls as they returned, sees Leigh's look and thinks at first that she is simply embarrassed after the bath.


"I'm going with them to clean up, Leigh, watch Angie, okay?" He gives Angie a quick smile and pat, and just as he is turning, notices what Leigh was trying to hide. His eyebrows shoot up, and he quickly tears his eyes away, partly irritated, partly wanting to laugh. Well, one thing this entire situation might be good for is killing Leigh's vanity.


**


The six days between the day they arrived in the woods and the morning of Jared's twentieth birthday passed with excruciating slowness, and yet paradoxically, it seemed he had had no time at all to prepare for any of the possibilities. Each day in the woods the group of them had struggled to survive, and already, some of them had been lost.


It had been on the third day of eating through their meager supplies as gathered from the cafeteria and doing what they could to gather natural food items from the woods that Jared had decided that they needed to go into town, to get some more for themselves. With twelve kids and one dog, they needed considerably more nourishment than they were currently getting. They already had to be cautious about eating any plants because the possibility of poison was very real, and they needed other supplies as well.


So Jared had gone out with Grey and Max in one vehicle, and Kurt and Anthros, who was beginning to show signs of extreme anxiety and restlessness, had gone in the other, leaving Summer behind, because of her legs, with the children, with Rai, Anthony, Will, and Hunter there for protection if needed. Jared's group had left early in the morning, Kurt and Anthros late at night. Even at five am, Jared's group had encountered trouble. Stores were being guarded by adults in many areas, and Jared could not simply walk in and take what was needed. Their vehicle was shot at and chased, and when Jared had finally managed to find supplies, it had been from an abandoned home that was so far from the woods where they were currently living that they had actually gotten lost for a while trying to find their way back. Gas was also going to be a problem...


The other group had never returned. They had waited one day, then two, but Kurt and Anthros had simply never come back, with or without supplies.


"Maybe they got away," Leigh had said with some hope, looking up at Max anxiously, as though he might give her the answers she wanted to hear. But Jared had not believed it for a moment. Sure, maybe they had just kept driving and ended up somewhere safe. But the chances of the adults catching them was much greater.


Their days in the woods had evolved into a strange pattern of sorts of gathering food and trying to make their area more habitable, bathing in groups and taking turns watching at night. They were all looking a little wild, even with their bathing, and Jared could not deny that he was beginning to feel a little odd too. But could this be because of the circumstances, and not because he was aging...that had to be what it was. It simply had to be.


He had not discussed his concerns with Grey again, nor with Rai, even though they remained prominent in his mind. Each day he felt closer to Rai, and spent more time talking to her, touching her, even holding her hand or hugging her. Yet something kept him from truly being intimate with her, and he had not yet kissed her...something he suspected to be fear. What would happen if he really was close to Rai, maybe even began to love her, and then he went as crazy as the other adults?


Angelina was talking a little more freely now, aided by the soothing nature of the dog Hunter, and Jared thought that maybe it was possible she could get through this okay.


It was Leigh who seemed to be having more trouble now. Every day she seemed to alternate between a sullen anger of an older teenager, a bitter jealousy and resentment that seemed to be directed at much as the situation at large as at individuals, or else a childish, vulnerable neediness, and they seemed to switch at a moment's notice. Jared couldn't help but notice that Max seemed to be avoiding her as much as spending time with her now, that in fact, Max seemed to rather prefer hanging out with Jillian at times. Jared made no judgments, but for Leigh, this seemed entirely unacceptable, and more than once she had stormed off from the group in anger at Max for what she saw as ignoring her. Every time Jared would go after her, knowing it dangerous for any of them to be alone, and although normally she was simply showing irritation, once she had been crying. It was difficult for him to have sympathy for her when he so disapproved of her being with Max in any sense of the word.


All in all they were getting by, even with the disappearance of Kurt and Anthros, and so the morning of Jared's birthday brought him nothing but dread. As he opened his eyes beside Rai, then nudged her awake, he searched himself, thinking hard to see if he felt different in any way. Nothing appeared to have changed, so he rolled towards her and whispered, "It's my birthday...so far...so good."
 
Rai, when she woke up on the morning of Jared's twentieth birthday, was feeling a combination of worry and fear.


The past six days had actually been surprisingly okay. Rai found jungle life sort of suited her and Hunter. She was very much one of the leaders of the camp - along with Jared and Grey - and thought herself to be the most independent girl among the group. Of course many of the girls were younger than herself, and Summer did have her leg issue, but still, it was a nice feeling, to be independent, because it meant the others could depend on her, and she liked that.


When Jared, Grey and Max had left, the camp had been still, quiet and full of thick tension. All were worried for the boys. It was the first time anyone had left the group so far; Leigh was worried for Max, Summer was worried for Grey, and Rai, of course, was worried for Jared. They almost let out a cheer when the three returned back, supplies and all, although they were told it wasn't exactly a walk in the park. Rai promised she'd go with them next time, just in case. But then Anthros and Kurt left in the dark of the night to get more supplies, as planned.


They were still waiting for them to return.


Of course, Rai was sure they wouldn't now. If they were going to, they would have been here ages ago. It was a sad, dark truth, but not everyone could be a survivor. Heck, in Left 4 Dead only four members of the entire human race had survived. Four. They were lucky to have as many in their camp now as they did - Anthros and Kurt were a sad loss, and Rai would miss them - but she hated to admit how extremely glad she was that it was them and not Jared's group.


She had found herself growing strangely close to Jared over the past week, they were often paired together - by choice - and she found she had a lot in common with Jared. They had been talking more than ever recently, and if there was an issue in their little camp Jared was the first one Rai would go to. She talked to him about her mum sometimes, and occasionally he'd share stories with her too, and she truly felt that out of everyone in the camp that Jared was the one she was closest to.


Which is why she was so fearful about today. What if Jared did go crazy today? What if he tried to harm, or even kill one of his sisters? Or Grey? Or even Rai herself? What would she do? It had been easy to kill all those adults back at the school, not even that hard to drive that knife into her Mother's chest, but Jared...Jared was different. Rai had never been close to her mother, not in all her 17 years had she at one point felt an emotion extreme as love for her druggie, alcoholic, neglectful mother. But...did she feel that for Jared? Could she really look him in the eyes, put a gun to his head, and pull the trigger?


So when the boy nudged her, she almost jumped, then realised he was simply informing her he was fine. She rolled over to face him as well, smiling lightly at the proximity between them both. They were the first to wake up apparently - as the others seemed to be sleeping still - and because of the chance of adult attacks at any minute plus the cold of the outside, the group was snuggled close together, meaning Rai and Jared's faces were only inches away. Still, even though they woke up like this every morning, there was yet to be a moment when they both fell silent, leant closer in the typical romantic way, and kissed. Rai knew she had feelings for Jared beyond just friendship, although it was hard to admit, but maybe that just meant he only liked her as a friend? That had to be it.


"That's good." She gave him a grin, trying to lighten the mood, "Just let me know if you get a sudden urge to poke my eyes out with a stick." She was genuinely dreading this day; the only way to get past it was to make a joke or two.


----------


Hunter meanwhile, had loved living in the outside, he was particularly good at catching his own food, sometimes food for the others too, but this consisted mainly of bunnies and birds, which some of the humans didn't seem to like the idea of eating so much - he had no idea what their issue was, he thought the food he caught was delicious. He hadn't really noticed the two humans that went missing - he never really interacted with them anyway and had no chance to mark them as his own.


Hunter now considered Angelina one of his humans, marked as his own, as well as Rai, and as Rai had been spending lots of time with that male human alpha, Hunter had been spending time with the little being. She was fun to play with, and very good at snuggling. She seemed to like him the most out of the other humans - not counting his Rai in that of course - and she always gave him bits of food here and there.


Hunter was currently asleep in between Angelina and Rai, laying across both of them in his usual way, and was sleeping contently, one ear open in case any adults attacked.
 
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