Chapter Text
AJ walked Infront of me along the path. I followed behind him, holding my knife. It's best for him to walk in front of me so I can keep an eye on him and everything around him.
A couple hours ago, some asshole took our car. They had a gun pointed at AJ and I agreed for them to take it. They did let me take my bag out of the trunk though... That's good I guess.
I look around at our environment, it's just another forest. There are patches of grass surrounding a path that we are walking along. It's rather nice out. It hasn't rained in a while, it'll rain soon though. There are quite a few clouds in the sky.
The path looks like it's been maintained, like someone has been walking on it recently. The grass should've covered it by now.
"Clem, look!" AJ says, pointing to a tree. He stops walking.
I stop walking and examine it. An orange ribbon is wrapped around it, as if marking it.
"Someone's been here recently, is your gun loaded?" I ask.
" Yeah, it's loaded enough." He says. I hear something walking nearby....
I turn towards it's direction and keep AJ behind me, shielding him. A dog runs out of the bushes and stops Infront of us. I hold my knife out Infront of me defensively.
The dog growls loudly. My hand trembles slightly as I shift my weight onto my back foot.
"Rosie!" A voice yells. I look around.
"What is that?" AJ asks, staying behind me.
" A dog. " I state.
A teen walks out of a patch of bushes. He's tall with a blonde mullet, a solid 9/10.
"Ros-" He begins, then he sees us, and the dog. He whistles and the dogs sits down. He then stands next to the dog.
"Hello?" He asks, confused. He picks up the dog's leash.
"I- uh- Hi?" I respond. AJ peaks out from behind me, eyeing the two.
"You alright? You look a little shaken up." He asks.
" Yeah, I'm good. " I say, lowering my knife and getting out of AJ's way.
"What are you doing out here?" He questions.
" Surviving. " I state. That's the first thing that comes to mind.
"Fair eno-" he begins.
"Cool dog!" AJ says, smiling.
"Thanks bud... You ever see one before?" The teen asks.
" Nope! " AJ responds.
"Cmere, you can pet her if you'd like." The teen says. AJ gives me a confused look.
"Go ahead." I tell him, smiling softly. I hope he doesn't end up with a matching scar.
AJ approaches the dog and attempts to pet her. When the dog leans into his hand, he giggles excitedly.
The teen approaches me.
"So... I'm Marlon." The teen says, he reaches out the hand that isn't holding Rosie's leash.
"Clementine." I respond. I shake his hand. I hear the dog's collar jingling for a moment. I look at Rosie. The dog is standing up again and approaching something. I look around.
There is a large grasshopper on the ground next to me.
"Ew...." I say, pointing to it.
Rosie then runs at it and it hops away, around me and near Marlon. Rosie's leash goes around me. The dog continues running around us, chasing the bug. The leash wraps around Marlon and I, pulling us together. My head hits his chest for a moment before I almost fall back
He catches me, a hand on my back. He pulls me towards him.
Marlon then whistles and Rosie stops. The leash is wrapped up to about my thighs.
"Sorry- I-" I begin, a little flustered. I hear AJ giggling. Marlon slowly unwraps the leash with one hand, keeping the other firmly pressed against my back. I shiver at the feeling.
I mumble unintelligible words and apologies trying to keep my cool.
"Its alright." Marlon says, finally getting the leash unwrapped and stepping away, letting go of my back.
"That was funny!" AJ says, smiling.
"Shush!" I say, embarrassed. He giggles.
" Anyways... Y'all wanna come back to Ericsons for the night? It's going to get dark soon and I would feel bad leaving you two out here on your own. " Marlon asks.
" Can we, Clem? " AJ asks.... It would be good for him to socialize.
"Yeah, I don't see why not." I say, smiling.
" Yay! " AJ exclaims excitedly. I look at Marlon and he gives me a reassuring smile.
Marlon begins walking on the path and I follow beside him. AJ and Rosie walk Infront of us, AJ is attempting to communicate with Rosie.
"Is he yours?" Marlon asks
"No- Uhm... I kinda adopted him. He's not my biological kid if that's what you mean." I answer.
" That is what I mean. Y'know... Giving birth in this environment and all..." He says.
" The woman who did give birth to him died soon after." I say.
" Sorry then... For that. " He says awkwardly.
" It's fine. " I respond.
"Did you have to raise him? It would be strange... A kid raising a kid " he says.
" Well, first this man was raising him. Then he.... Then I took over raising him. " I respond.
" Hm... That makes sense, I guess. " He says.
I look around, there hasn't been many walkers lately. I look Infront of us.
...
That's a big building.