Chapter 4: A soft spot.

~Tea~

The night's events were rather disturbing for Tea, but she'd power through regardless. Tea was humming a small tune she heard from you tube not so long ago, a song that once gave her hope, and a bit of sadness too, given it was from a game she ordered, but never got to play.

'Let me face, let me face, let me face my fears~' She sung in her head.

Tea would shake her head, looking outside of the window, the sun was shining, and she could feel this day will eventually get better, with that thought after preparing a small tripod, she'd start up the fire again, she'd walk over to the kitchen and notice that some of the ingredients were still usable, she'd find some bacon, a few eggs...well four, and a little bit of salt. She'd be a little surprised but then again it isn't that far into the apocalypse. . .

"Nice thoughts, Tea." she told herself as she cracked open the eggs, adding a little bit of salt before whisking all four together. . . she'd prepare some omelette for the both of them, and she'd need to fry the bacon too. . . She'd look around for more stuff and she'd see a makeshift pan made out of sheet metal, it wasn't much but it will do, she'd search for some cooking oil . . . but there was none to be found, making sure there was none she'd have to rely on the Bacon it seems. . . which she didn't mind.

Making her way back to the living room she'd see Ranger already making his way down the steps, carrying both their bags.

"Morning." She greeted, placing the ingredients on the table.

"Morning. . . wait is that Bacon?" The male questioned, placing their bags, and their weapons on the floor.

A small grin on Tea's face, answered his questions. . . Tea would nod, ripping the bag open, and placing all twelve slices on the fairly large pan, placing it on the tripod she made earlier. "Yes indeed, and we even have eggs." She replied, gesturing to the bowl on the table.

"Well...atleast we have a normal breakfast..." He said before the sound of the dog beckoned him to go back up . . . He'd do just that, leaving Tea alone on the first floor again.

The sound of the sizzling and popping of the strips of bacon were music to her ears. . . she'd head back to the kitchen and grab a pair of tongs. . . well the cleanest one she could find, and start to individually flip the bacon strips. . . placing it onto a plastic container that will double as their plates. . . the oil that has been left over was used to cook her fluffy omelette, she'd place it on the table and place two strips of bacon in a separate container... that was for the dog.

She'd try to call for the two, but she'd notice they were already on their way down. . . the dog went down first and sat by the table, staring at Tea with intent and hungry eyes. . . She'd chuckle, placing the two bacon strips by his side as he happily ate, it crunched.

"By the way does he have a name?" She asked as she sat on the chairs. . . Ranger followed suit.

Tea pulled out two plastic forks, and handed one to him...

~Jun~

Smelling breakfast for the first time in weeks he'd happily dig in . . eating a slice of bacon as it crunched with every bite. . .

"I was hoping you would help me." He said, taking a bit of the egg, before stopping. .. he noticed he seemed to be a bit of a glutton because of that so he chuckled and slid the food over to her.

Tea raised an eyebrow. "Me?"

She asked, she pondered for a moment before smiling. "How about . . . spot?".

Jun stared at her for a moment, a fork that had egg on it close to his mouth as she mentioned the Idea she had for the dog's name, he tilted his head. . . then turned to the dog who began barking happily. . . it seems he liked the name.

"Well he seems to like it. . . " He stared at Spot, He shook his head before turning to eat, not the name he expected that this dog would take, but it would have to do. . . He'd eat the egg, noting how it tasted faintly of bacon as he went to grab another slice Tea was also helping herself to her portion.

"After this do we head out? where are we going...?" Tea asked, munching on a piece of bacon, while her fork was massaging the egg on her make shift plate.

He thought about that for a while before taking out his new map . . . It wasn't much but it was a list of the various camps of the raiders in the area. . . most of them were in the towns, but a fair few of them were in the woodlands. . . however given what happened last night? he'd prefer to stay away from the woods for the time being. . .

"I'm going to canada. . ." He answered. "you?" They never really established this, given everything that happened last night, it all happened too fast, he'd stare at her as she thought about it. "Canada" She replied,a small smile on her face. "If you'ed have me."

Jun stared at her for a moment and sigh. "So is the Food a sort of way to have me say yes?" He joked, earning a concerned look from her, "I-" She attempted to defuse the situation, but all she got was a small chuckle from Jun.

"I was joking. . . Of course you can come. " He sighed, "Besides you said you can drive. . . that helps quite a bit." He joked.

Tea stared at him and chuckled. . . "Y-yes." She then nibbled on the bacon. . . slightly embarassed.

Jun took two other strips of bacon before the last batch of eggs on his plate. . .

"Tea, I'll go check on the car, could you boil some water?"

The scent that greeted him wasn't what he expected, the scent was . . . just the humidity that is present after a nights worth of rain, but that wasn't what garnered his attention, it was the drag marks that lead into the forest, three, but he was sure that if he checked there would be others there too.

He'd eye the GMC Topkick, the tires were dirty, among other thigs. . . he'd open the door, and the inside of the cab was surprisingly clean. . . it would seat them, their bags, and the dog relatively well, as well as the back of the truck being something they can use for loot. . . but that was the idea anyways, he'd then turn to the gas meter...almost half full. It would be enough to get them to the next town. . . For a second he was hopeful, but he knew this would attract attention, the sound of the engine roaring will call raiders to them, even if he had that in mind, they can't drive the wooded route, he wasn't looking forward to meeting those things from last night.

He must have been eyeing the car for a while as he noticed Tea peaking from the door. He'd notice the worry in her eyes, she noticed the drag marks. . . of course she did, he'd click his tongue, it was gunna be better for the both of them if they left this area, and the best way to do that was using this truck.

He'd let out a small sigh and closed the door, going to his companion who was staring at the woods. . .

"What's wrong?" He asked, his hand brushing against his pistol...but Tea would shake her head.

"It's nothing, Just a bit spooked, so do we have car?"

Jun nodded... "Get the bags...is the water boiled?"

Tea would nod, and grab their bags... Their main weapons secured on to it, she'd place them on the back seat of the car. Spot barked happily, the dog would hop onto the back seat and laid between the two bags, he seemed to be comfortable.

Tea would sit in the driver's seat and take a little breath. "Right. . . So windows up?"

Jun nodded, he'd try to turn on the AC. . . and to their relief it turned on, the hum of the engine roaring to life was helping as well... with a pop, they were off, Tea made sure to masterfully get the car turned around, and away from the cabin they spent their first night together... and their first encounter with the so called 'Wendigo'

Jun can picture it in his mind, as they pulled out from the drive way, they would chase after them, their long spindly limbs propelling them in unnaturally fast speeds, it made him chuckle, really. He leaned his head against the back rest of the seat, looking to the person beside him who was calmer than she was as she eyed the woodlands. . . maybe she did see them? or was she just spooked at the drag marks?

He didn't want to ask, as it would simply start a rather dumb conversation that will end up scaring them both more than anything, and he wanted to focus as they were in the road. . .

He'd notice Tea flinching a little, like she was going to ask something, so he'd turn to her again.

"Something on your mind?" He asked.

"I was. . . just going to ask if you prefer if we keep to the woods, or out in the open."

Honestly both options were not appealing to him, as he eyed the vast roads infront of them littered with the carcasses of once functioning automobiles that made humanity's life easy . . . well debatable, traffic gams used to happen as well. He'd think for a while, nibbling on his thumb as he thought.

Tea was staring at him, but he didn't pay it mind, not noticing the small smile forming on her lips, followed by a giggle... the giggle he did notice.

"What's so funny...?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Oh nothing, you remind me of my little brother, He used to always do that when thinking of what to watch." the smile turned sour. "Sorry. . . I didn't mean to say that."

He'd scratch the back of his head, he wasn't sure on what to say as well, does he say 'It's alright?' does he pry more? he shook his head...none of those were good options. "I see. . . " So he said, as he reached for his pack, giving Spot a pat on the head as the dog slept. . .

Pulling out the map, His eyes lighting up as he noticed there were red marks around towns with the words 'outposts' on them, towns they had to avoid, he smiled, they at least had something to go on, but for now it seems the best option was to keep of the road, as there was a blockade at least four hours away from them.

He'd notice Tea taking a peak.

"I'm guessing we...go around?" He'd nod, that was the best they could do at the moment.

There was an odd silence between them, Jun was staring at the map, alternating between that, and the road a head, Meanwhile Tea was silent as well, humming the occasional tune, he'd recognize a few of them . . . The tune played in his head, the lyrics flowing in as if she was singing. . .

"Breath, should I take a deep...?" He found himself singing.

She'd stare at him for a moment. "You know this song?"

"Of course, anyone who knows about Kingdom Hearts does..." He smiled a little. The Title of a game that was part of his distant childhood carried warm memories, even if the games themselves were filled with tearful moments.

"I never got to play ..." Tea said with a sigh.

He raised an eyebrow. "You...haven't played Kingdom Hearts 3?" He asked.

She nodded. "Yeah, The game I ordered got stuck in shipping for a while... and all this happened." She chuckled. "But you know... I still have the song stuck in my head."

"It's a good song." He replied. "quite fitting for our predicament...we could use a bit of Kingdom Hearts."

"Ranger?" She asked, as she eyed him for a second.

"Yeah...?" That name had to be changed soon...he still cringes a bit if he hears it. . .

"Are you really sure you don't have a heart?" She said, trying to hold back laughter. . . she wasn't that successful. . .

"...really?" He asked raising an eyebrow at her.

"Come on...can you blame me?" She giggled, turning her gaze back at the road. "You're blonde...you have a hood."

Jun would sigh, this wasn't the first time he was told this. . . A bitter smile formed on his lips as he reminisced about the past.

~Years ago~

It was about four years ago... he was laying on his bed, his eyes fixed on his little sister as she shoved two Ps3 games at his chest. . . "Kingdom Hearts 1.5 and 2.5 remixes?" He raised an eyebrow, His sister, having a wide grin on her face as she nodded.

"Come on, you have to play it." She insisted, sitting on his bed now.

"But. . .why?" he asked, a bit of a frown on his face, He was never into RPGs, but somehow he let it slip that he wanted to try Kingdom Hearts.

"These are your copies." He said. "You begged Mom and Dad to get them for you." He waved one around.

"Yes, and now you need to play them" She huffed. "Come on, you said you wanted to try them!" She was pouting now. . .

"Fine Fine. . . if I can find our old PS3 Anyways..." He shrugged off.

"Good! you won't regret it!" She giggled. "Besides... one of the characters there looks like you." She grinned . . .

~Present day~

Before he knew it he was waking up. . . Tea was still driving, and the dog was awake now.

"Morning." Tea said, jokingly...

"How long have I been out for?" He asked as he shook his head.

"About two hours.." she replied. She avoided eye contact with him for some reason, while this could Just be a result of her and her diving, he felt something off about this.

He however didn't want to pry, so he just yawned and grabbed the map. . . they should be relatively close to the first outpost. "Alright. . . lets go around the highway." He said.

Earning a look from Tea, he could read her face now.

"I have a feeling they'll be waiting by the wooded area." He pointed at the map, there was a faint circle, drawn on by a pencil. "Let's take our chances and go through the highway overlooking the town... We'll take refuge there..."

Tea nodded, and before they noticed, they were off road, the dog's ears perked up as he stared at the dark woods ahead. . .

He was worried, but as Tea mentioned, they only came out during the rain. .. with that in mind, and clear skies was around them, he felt safe staying at the overhanging cliff. . .Tea drove over and parked near the edge of the woods, the cliff overlooking the town was peaceful, they had some time, so Jun would position near the edge, taking his rifle from the back seat of the car, and going prone, aiming down the sights . . . Noting the two small figures he saw in the distance, it would be easier if he had an actual sight and not using Irons...but he'll make do.

"Tea?" He called out, his gun trained on one of the small figures.

Tea was beside him, staring down at the small town. "Ranger, I don't think that's a good idea."

He didn't reply, he knew he was unlikely to hit them from all the way here, but regardless it was good to have visual confirmation of people down there.

He'd groan and sit back up, his legs dangling down on the cliffside, he sat there, eyeing the town. . . and the two silhouettes he found.

'twipp'

"Tea, what do you think?"

He'd turn to her, she was staring down as well, her finger on her chin. . .

"There are multiple survivors down there..." She noted. "There could easily be between two and thirty." She'd place a hand on her hip, staring at the town. "You want my opinion?"

Jun stared at her, nodding.

'twip'

Tea would sit next to him, the dog slowly following, laying on it's back as it took in some of the afternoon sun. Earning a chuckle from the two humans looking over it.

"In my opinion, we should just go past the town . . . we have enough supplies." She said before sighing.

Jun pondered, and eyed the two figures in the distance, she was right there was no reason to fight off people that could be avoided, so he nodded. "Right let's just drive around them."

'Twip'

Jun would adjust his seating position, getting back up as soon as he felt his legs back on solid ground.

And he'd notice something as soon as he got up. "Tea---"

He tackled her down, they laid back on the rocky surface, as he felt something fly by their head by their head.

He looked around and he saw it, an arrow was stuck on the tree just behind them, he'd roll to the side and take out his pistol.

"TEA, CAR, NOW." he yelled, the dog growled and ran off. "SPOT!" he yelled out.

A distant yelp could be heard and Jun ran off, something in his brain just snapped, "RANGER!!!!" Tea called out. Before he noticed he was running into the woods, gun drawn, he could see two people in the distance one was holding a broken off arrow, and spot limping away from them both, he eyed them as he ran. . . past the trees and he'd notice them both turn to face him, the taller one, was readying his weapon, so in an instant, Jun ducked, feeling an arrow fly by his head.

One of the things he learned in his time out here, Bows take a longer time to reload. So he tackled the taller person and pushing them to the ground. Noticing the darker colored male, He didn't waste a second, He'd bash his face with the butt of his gun and yanked him up, using him as a shield. . . pressing his gun against the side of his head.

Turning to what was now revealed to be a younger female, darker skinned as well, holding another makeshift bow, arrow at the ready.

"Let go of him." She begged, her hands shaking.

"Fat Chance in hell kid." He said pushing the barrel into his ear more.

The taller male struggled a little, noting how weak this man was despite his taller stature, he felt like he could break him at any moment, he'd place his knee against the back of his, ready to make him kneel at a moment's notice...or at worse case scenario, break his leg.

"I'm going to count to five." She said pulling on the string, he'd notice the shaking even more, so he'd pull back the hammer of his gun, cocking it.

"Yeah? Well I'm going to count to three." He replied, his finger on the trigger, ready to pull it on a moment's notice.

"Okay okay Easy kid..." The male spoke up. trying to struggle. "We ain't looking for trouble--"

"Yeah? Explain the arrow in my dog then." His vision was split between the two of them, not taking a chance, only relaxing a bit as he heard footsteps and saw the silhouette of his partner approaching

"I'd do as he says.." Tea spoke up, carrying her shotgun and pressing it against the Kid's back, equally as shaky. "Come on, put the bow down..." She begged. "Don't make us pull the trigger."

The kid lowered her bow, defeated and raised her arms into the air. "Good girl." Tea nodded and then turned to Jun.

He snarled, and pushed the male to the ground. "Tea, can you check on spot." He gestured to the dog limping towards them, an arrow wedged in it's hind leg.

Tea nodded and, with her gun aimed at the girl, went over to check at the dog.. whimpering in pain.

Jun however had his eyes trained on the male. "Not looking for trouble, yet you two fired arrows at us." He growled at them.

"We thought you were one of them Raiders..." the man said, his hands up in the air.

"They could still be..." The girl said, her eyes fixed on the guns aimed at them.

"No kid... if they were they would have both shot us now." The male confidently says.

"Besides. . . no Raider would react like that towards a dog." He gestured at the now slightly better off dog, Tea patching up it's hindleg with a few rags and some alcohol.

"We could still blow your brains out if you move funny." Jun said. . ."Tea, is Spot okay?"

"Yeah... He won't be running or anything... but he'll be fine." Tea stood up, and aimed her gun at the girl again.

The man slowly stood up. "Look...kid we're sorry about your dog, but you know how it is...I'm travelling with my daughter, and I'd be damned if I don't try to hit the first Raider I see...especially one with a vehicle."

"Good point, shame you won't learn from this mistake." He'd press the gun at the man's chest.

"Ranger?" Tea asked. "We're not going to do this...are we?"

"..." Jun was silent for a bit, his eyes shifting to Tea, then to the two people that were in gun point. .

"Ranger... It was an honest mistake--"

"Kid... we have water and food, we'd be glad to share them if you let us go." The man gestured. "Please." He begged.

~Tea~

She was shaking as her companion's eyes shot daggers into the man he was confronting, the girl was all but crying now. . . and it pained Tea to have to do this. . .her finger was on the trigger.

But to her surprise she heard a groan from Ranger.

"Don't need your supplies. . . what I need is information." He said. "The town down there, how many people are in it."

The man seemed to think for a moment. "Well, not the sort you'd want to mess with, there are six men and two women in that town, armed, and maybe even dangerous if they can aim properly."

Ranger nodded. " so eight, Raiders?" he asked.

The man nodded back. "We were trying to go around, then we heard your truck there. . . so we assumed you two were from the flock down there. . . "

"We still could be, what makes you think we aren't?" Tea asked...trying to sound intimidating... but it came out as a squeak more than anything.

This earned her a raised eyebrow from both Ranger, and the man.

"for one I know the people down there don't have dogs..." The male chuckled.

"And why is that?" Ranger asked.

"Because me and my Kid here...were captured by them a while back...well me, my wife and my kid." He added.

That last addition earned a little worry from her partner as he noticed his expression soften for a bit

Tea got a good closer look at them, and she'd notice blood stains on the girl, and a few bruises on her darker skin, then she'd relent a little.

"So they ARE looking for you." Ranger would say as he looked around them.

Tea would panic a little, the male would look down. .. "Yeah." He answered.

Ranger nodded. . . then turned to the little girl. "You got a way out of this area then?"

"Nah. . . all we're banking on is slipping away when it's dark."

"Bad idea, they're usually patrolling that time." Ranger added. "People always go for that trope." Jokingly.

"Right. . . " The male said. "So how about you two just let us go...and we can all just--"

"No." Ranger cut him off. "You're coming with us, at least until outside of this area."

The male's eyes widened with surprise." Why, what?"

"if you get captured, there is a chance you'd rat about us." He rationalized. "I don't want to take that risk." He gestured for them to turn around. "Pick up your bags, and walk, slowly." He still was aiming at them.

The girl protested a bit. "D-dad...what if they're just taking us back to the camp?"

A reasonable worry, they were pointing guns at them.

"Diana, if they were with the raiders, they would have put two bullets between my eyes." he said optimistically

Tea didn't know why Ranger was doing this, but. . . maybe she'll find out later?