Chapter 7

- Author -

Once lunch was done, an interesting conversation started, one Xenon wished to contribute to very much.

"We're running out of supplies, we need to make a run to the city." Said Shane, looking thoughtful. "Though this time, we should start looking for medicine."

"Yeah, we don't have any at the moment. We've only got bandages." Dale added.

"Who's gonna be going this time?" Morales said. He was a tall, rather fat man. His wife Miranda was by his side, with his son and daughter. "We've agreed to rotate each time." He added to accentuate the fact that he won't be going this time.

Which most of the group understood, as it was an exceedingly dangerous task. One slip up would mean his death.

"I don't suppose I could ask for a break?" Glenn said half-joking. He knew they'd guilt trip him into going, as he knew the city better than anyone of them.

"We'll count on you Glenn." Shane chuckled at his misfortune, though he didn't really mean it.

"I'll go." Jim announced.

"Count me in." Andrea added, followed by Theodore, or as everyone refers to him T-Dog, and Jacqui.

"I'll come as well." Xenon announced, drawing the attention to himself. Almost everyone was frowning at his words, as they didn't believe it was a good idea. But they understood where he came from: he was a teenager, they all had an unnecessary need to prove themselves.

"Are you sure that's a good idea, son?" Dale asked with a gentle tone, doing his best not to sound patronizing.

"Yes." Xenon nodded with conviction.

"You're still very young, you shouldn't have to deal with those things. You could get hurt." Lori said worriedly. "Let the adults handle them, we'll find you something else to do."

"I'm very grateful for your concern, Lori, but I will be alright. I had to deal with my fair share of walkers on my way here, so I believe I'm qualified enough. And quite frankly, I don't think my life is any more important than any of yours. I gotta pull my weight as well." Xenon went on a tirade with a passionate expression, doing his best to sound convincing. They fell in silence, considering his offer.

"Let'im go." Dayle interrupted them, which prompted them to glare at him for his nonchalant attitude. "His bat was full of blood and brains when I met him. He ain't bluffing, he knows what he's doing. Besides, we ain't his parents, he can take his own decisions." Xenon nodded at him with a smile, grateful to him for siding with them.

Dale was uncomfortable with the idea. He honestly believed that Xenon, a sixteen years old child should be spared the dangerous tasks, as they still had plenty of adults. It was their duty as the adults to take care of the younger ones. 'What next, we'd ask Carl to go risk his life for some food…' he thought, though he wouldn't say anything now, as he understood most of them were convinced. He'd talk to the kid privately and try convincing him.

"You heard the little man." Shane chuckled. "I say we give him a chance, see how he does on his first run."

"I'll come as well." Amy chimed in, which dropped quite a few jaws, including Xenon's.

"Amy!" Andrea exclaimed scandalously. "She isn't coming. We'll talk about this later." She added, turning to her sister.

"Well, before anyone says anything absurd again, I suggest we move on." Said Dale, ending the conversation. Dale asked Xenon to come with him, while Andrea dragged her sister away to talk her down.

"What the hell were you thinking?" she admonished her sister once they were alone. "I know you're smarter than this, so I would like you to explain to me why you'd want to risk your life for no reason." Saying that Andrea loved her sister to death would be an understatement. She would never forgive herself if something happened to Amy, not that she would allow anything to happen to her if she could help it.

"I agree with him."

"Peer pressure? Really, Amy. He's a boy, they all want to show the world how big their stick is, but I expect you to be more reasonable than him." Andrea didn't agree with him either, but she knew better than to say no to an 'independent' teenager. She wasn't his mother, and she'd only antagonize him by denying him his wish, even if it sounded like a death wish.