Young Bloods

Asher

A/N: So this is my first story, please feel free to review it and what not I guess. So enjoy and thank you for reading.

Asher leaned forward on his elbows and rubbed his temples as Kaiden read off their inventory. It wasn't enough to feed seventy kids. Their scavengers had picked clean the areas around them and he hated to send them out any farther than a few miles. Even more so now that their have been turf wars, kids killing other kids for simple things. There was only one group who were allowed to move through everyone's territory, the Hunters. The Hunters brought in fresh meat as well as things scavenged from the country side, and all they wanted in return was gas and ammo, a fair deal as most saw it.

"Contact the Hunters and barter with them. Try to get them to agree to a monthly contract. In the mean time ask the Academy if anyone knows how to start a garden or farm." He said as he grabbed his cane from its place against the wall and headed for the commons, where a mix of both younger and older kids sat and listened to Sami strumming at her guitar and singing.

He rested against a pillar, listening for a moment. Letting the trouble of leading a community of kids drop from his shoulders for a while. Sami had always had that effect on him, since they were young she would sing to him to calm him down when he flew off the handle or when he dropped off the deep end. She had been his anchor after their mom died, and now she was everyone else's too. When kids began to miss their parents they came to her, she would sing to them and talk to them, her smile becoming contagious.It was amazing how she never lost any of her light after everything that happened.

"Hey Ash." Garret's all to familiar voice said from the other side of the pillar.

Garret had been his best friend since grade school and his neighbor for as long as he could remember, they did everything together. Apparently they also struggled to survive in a world ran by children together too.

"Hey Garrett. How are thing's out there?" Ash asked, coming around the front of the pillar.

Garrett was head of the guards, the true burden of the communities safety rested on his shoulders. He had a small, but loyal group of soldiers who would die for each and every member of the community. It must be true what they say about hard times bringing out the best in people.

"Not much, though we're not armed very well.If the Bone Kings come for us, which they will, we'll be slaughtered." he said, any sense of humor leaving his voice.

"I know, me and Kaiden have been looking at the maps. There's a National Guard Armory to the North, and a Police Station about four miles west. But let's discuss this in my office." Asher said getting down to business.

Garret nodded and followed Asher back to the office, plopping down on the stuffed leather chair across from the large desk made from some kind of redwood. The office used to belong to their former principal, Mr. Davis, but it has become Asher's place of solace and business. People who had grievances would leave notes by in the box on the door and he would convene the "council" consisting of Sami, Garrett, Kaiden, Alexander, Kira and himself. They would then go over the cases and attempt to solve all problems people had.

"So about this armory, it sounds like the right move. We'd have military grade weapons, vehicles, body armor. Plus there might be some MRE's there to help with the food supply." Garrett said as he leaned forward, his elbows on his knees.

"Yes it does, but the manpower needed for it would leave us practically defenseless." Ash said, he would not deny the kind of power having that kind of firepower would give them, but did the reward balance out the risk.

"I only need about thirteen guys, that's not even half of the guards, plus send three or four to hit the precinct and we'd be back in less than a day." Garett argued.

Asher sighed, he didn't like sending out so many guards at once. The Bone Kings have been more active than ever, all communication between survivors had been lost. Making the world a much more dangerous place. Though if they did attack they would be ready, and wouldn't go down without a fight.

"Fine, leave first thing tomorrow morning. I want you back before noon, and keep in contact with Alex on the radio." Asher ordered.

"Yessir." Garrett saluted sarcastically before leaving the office.

After Garrett left Asher pulled out a map, circling potential areas of interest for his scouts to look into when he heard a shout in the commons. He rushed out as fast as his injured leg would carry him. He saw two guards hauling a boy off of another one when he left the office, while another one laid still on the ground, blood pouring from several cuts on his face. He pulled his radio from his belt and held it to his mouth.

"Kira get up to the second floor commons, preferably soon." he said before sliding his radio back on his belt.

Asher knelt next to the unconcious boy who he now recognized as Noah, one of Sami's helpers. He was alive, but his face had been beat up pretty bad and some cuts would need proper care. He then looked at the attacker, someone he didn't recognize, one of the scouts or laborers maybe.

"Take him to lock up. We'll deal with him tomorrow." He ordered the guards.

"Jesus Christ Ash what happened?" She said kneeling across from him and pulling out a water bottle and rag, wetting the latter down before gently cleaning the wounds.

"I don't know, some kid beat him." Ash responded, unable to tell her more.

Kira tutted, as she busied herself with treating the Noah's wounds. The boy stirred but did nto wake up, good thing probably as he would have hindered Kira's care for him. Kira was literally the only person with any medical knowledge, most of which had come from her mother who had been a surgeon. She got by with what little information and medical supplies she had and anything she didn't know how to treat she had a four foot stack of medical textbooks from the local college to refer to.

'He won't need stitches as long as he doesn't do anything stupid to open up the cuts wider." she said as she straightened up and sat back on her heels, her silky black curls bouncing as she did.

"Sami'll give him a day or two off. Let him heal up." Ash said leaning against the low wall bordering the balcony or the commons.

"I guess tomorrow we'l be having a trial then huh?" Kira asked, wrapping her arms around her legs.

"Yeah," Asher said with a sigh,"Sadly we will."