Chapter Text
The whitetail mountains are quieter than Rook remembers them being when he was still a junior deputy, less intimidating.
Maybe it's the lack of peggies, maybe its the lack of people in general.
There is no more 'only you' that used to be able to be heard coming from every direction.
The mountains no longer belong to Jacob.
Since his trip to Yara Jacob's conditioning has slowly lost it's effect for the most part broken down by time and distsnce, it still gives him the rush of adrenaline but at least he no longer goes into a murderous rage when he hears the stupid love song.
Doesn't mean he's forgotten what they did to him though. He still never managed to kill the seeds though,he had gone with the other deputies and sheriff to get the national guard.
They never did anything.
Rook doesn't know if they were ever planning to, if they just ran out of time.
He still has issues looking in the mirror seeing the 'wrath' carved into his chest along with the large scar across his face courtesy of Jacob.
Along with all his mental scarring.
on the worst nights he hears Joseph's voice when he falls asleep.
At first every time he would get near St. Francis veterans center again he would still feel chills go up his spine, but it's what he calls home now.
It was the safest place in hope county after the dead stopped staying dead.
It may not be the collapse Joseph had predicted but it's still the end of the world as they know it.
Joseph got what he wanted in a way
He had only meant to be in Hope County for two weeks with his new friends from Yara but two days before their leave date, the outbreak started.
Once they realised they couldn't get out of the county Rook took the role of leader for his initially small group.
it felt like slipping on an old pair of boots.
Awfully familiar.
At first the group was just himself, Dani, Alejandro, Diego and Juan before managing to reuniting with Grace, Jess and Dutch.
Most of the peggies had gone underground inside their bunkers but the few that remiand and lived had slowly joined Rook's group despite Grace and Jess's many complaints.
Dutch, surprisingly was on board but he knows the game of survival as well as Rook dose.
They needed as many people they could get if they wanted to survive.
It's been months since they settled down, aiming to build some type of normalcy.
it's been going good.
They reinforced the walls, set traps they've even started to grow crops.
But they aren't self sustainable just yet.
Rook and Grace are currently on a run for supplies with one of Jacob's ex-chosen, Lula who is one of the very few ex-peggies who Rook trusts with his life while out on the road and she knows the mountains like the back of her hand.
Rook hates to say it but Jacob trained her well.
She's an ace with a bow just like Jess, having saved Rook's life countless times.
They're about half an hour on horseback away from st Francis when the familiar sound of gunfire reaches their ears.
It takes all of Rook's willpower not to break into a full sprint right away, instead taking a deep breath as the group dismounts and tie their horses to a tree.
They know the routine by now.
Grace is the first to draw her rifle and look around for the source of the shooting, while Rook checks the ammunition on his pistol.
"Lula you stay here if we're not back in an hour go back to camp. understood?"Rook commands as he swings his pack onto his shoulders.
"yes sir"
"Rook are you sure about this? You've got a kid to get back to. is it really worth the risk? we don't know who those people could be" Grace says concerned, since she found out about Diego, Grace has acted like an aunt to the poor boy. She's become protective of Rook in the process.
"Grace you say that like we haven't survived through worse C'mon lets go" Rook says before he starts jogging up the hill where he can still hear the shots coming from, Grace hot on his heels.
They climb to the top of hill and Rook pulls out his sniper rifle using the sights to see ahead of him, Grace dose the same.
"5 infected, looks like 3 dead- make that 4 and 6 alive" he whispers to Grace
"Anybody we know?" Rook asks.
"Not facing the right way for me too see-" Grace goes to reply but is cut off by a shout
"Protect the father!"