Forgetting the Apocalypse

10. Got A Better Idea

Even though we were still leery about one another, we wanted to increase our chances, so we shared everything we had learned along the way. The biggest surprise and disgusting piece of information for me was the blood thing that Roone had accidentally stumbled upon. It is ingenious, I'll give him that. Yet it can seriously backfire if any of that blood gets into your mouth or a cut.

I had nothing new to share since they all knew the basics, so I just kept silent and was looking for small medium sticks. We had to run in such a hurry from the overrun and burning cabin, I couldn't retrieve any of my arrows. I picked up another two packs at the shop but I still had to fill the straps I had on my legs.

Boy if that's not the best thing I had made for myself. The book was right, easier and quicker access. And shockingly none of them broke when we had our little tumble in the snow.

"What are you doing?" All the guys are staring at me but it was Riva who asked the question. It was a simple enough question and I didn't mind answering it.

"Getting sticks so I can make more arrows." I reply. Satisfied with the answer, he lets me go back to collecting without any further interruptions. Once we get to to resting point, I'll stay up a little longer so I can craft them.

Just before the valley we'll be taking, we take up shelter at a small abandoned building. Who am I kidding, practically every building is abandoned now. I was hoping for a peaceful days rest where I can carve in silence but that's not what happened.

"So how do you two know each other?" Again it's Riva.

From his tone, I know he isn't trying to interrogate us. It's light and is simply curious about his new traveling companions. Roone on the other hand, his stare tells all that he'll be using his friend's chatter as exactly an interrogation.

"Well for starters this is my older brother Roone, ignore his glare and grumpiness. He's not so bad once get to know him. And as you've heard, I'm Riva." He says politely.

Please, oh please!! If there was ever a need for Fredi to a be a chatterbox, now will be the time. Thankfully he doesn't let me down.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Fredi, this Tigress right here is Mara. We've been surviving together going on a little over a month now. I met her by chance after an ordeal with some wild dogs. I told her about my plan about Alaska." He states.

"And just how did you come up with this little plan of yours anyway?" I look over and glare at Roone. I wondered the same thing when Fredi told me, but I didn't have that attitude or tone of which he should certainly lose.

Fredi didn't seem as bothered by this as I was.

"Well before shit hit the fan, I always wanted to go and live in Alaska, so I looked up places where I wanted to settle down. An early retirement plan basically. That's when I found that town. It's not where I had originally wanted to go but that little night fact caught my interest. Then the whole end of the modern world happened. So ever since it became common knowledge that it's safer at night, it wasn't long before I recalled the place. I understand that it is a long shot but as I told Mara, you are more than welcomed to join me. If not, then you are also more than welcomed to go in whatever way pleases you."

Hehe, points for Fredi for that little sass at the end.

I didn't stop carving hoping the three of them would continue to talk among themselves but Riva switches his attention to me. Fantastic. "You're really good at that. Did you go hunting as a kid?"

How the hell do I tell him I have no idea? Not even Fredi knows about me, and I don't want to explain everything.

"I picked up these three books in a couple of houses when this all started for me. One's a medical book and the other two are survivalist books." Technically not a lie what I just told. But his smirk is telling me he's not done.

"Yeah, but I saw you with your bow and guns. You're a really good shot. Dare I say as good as my brother and I. I don't need to say how much of a badass you were with a blade. No way you got that just from reading some books. C'mon, you had to have some training or something?"

Damn him. Maybe I should say I was girl scout or something.

I just shrug it off, hoping that he gets the hint. However, Roone certainly isn't. He keeps staring at me as if doing that will get me to talk. Well there's a simple remedy to that, it's called ignoring him. Fredi tries to relieve some of the building tension. "So Tigress, I had seen some pheasants nearby. I got a nice and new cilantro lime seasoning that might go well with them. Any chance on you being able on getting us a few?"

Before I could respond, Riva breaks out in laughter. "Sorry I didn't mean to be rude. It's just that my brother and I can hunt just about anything, and are really good sharp shooters too. But every hunter has that one animal that's their kryptonite, and that one's ours. I swear no matter how hard we tried, it always got spooked or simply got away. Now if you can manage to hunt even just one, baby girl I will gladly give the bag of chips I have in my backpack."

Now I don't think I've never hunted that type of bird before, nor did I know what kryptonite is, but I know exactly which bird he's talking about because there was quite a few in the area. Also, he made it sound like a real challenge and the smile on his face is adorable. So I accept said challenge, not for him or because Fredi asked nicely.

No, I'm doing this so I can see Roone's face once I bag those birds. I'm going to enjoy wiping that annoying smirk right off his face.

I've been out here for almost an hour now. It's not that they were hard to get per se, but I see how they can be tricky. You just had to be either really patient or quick to shoot. Once one was spooked it took a while for the rest to settle down again. And if you did hit one dead on the first try, you still had to wait before going out and collecting it. But boy was it worth it.

"She's been out there for a while now. Maybe one of us should go check on her?" Roone grew impatient with how long the woman was gone.

"She's fine, she hunts better on her own. Trust me. I tried helping her a few times and all she did was scowl at me because I would interfere with her process, even though I have no idea how." Fredi responded.

A few more minutes go by and sure enough when I open the door all eyes land on me, and the four birds I'm carrying. Roone's face is priceless. I can't tell if it's envious or impressed.

"Here you go Fredi, all plucked and clean. One bird for each of us, I found some Ziploc bags so we can store any leftovers in. Riva sweetie, I believe I'm owed a bag of chips."

Their jaws are still on the floor. Riva doesn't hesitate to pay up. As good as it was to see them like that, it made things worst for me tonight. I was bombarded with questions by Riva. And every time I didn't answer, Roone would get upset.