Settle Down

Night approached and they were each assigned one of the small houses at the edge of the town. 3 people to a house so less space was taken up. Ret was sitting outside the one he was assigned with his brother and Cypher, talking to Mama.

     "Yeah the people here aren't the most friendly. To us at least." He sighed and Mama patted his back. "What makes you say that?" She asked. She hadn't been around them all that much today so she hadn't seen anything. "Oh you know glares, screamed at, some people would throw rocks, etc etc." he shrugged. He was exhausted from the day and the 3 day walk. "I'm sorry to hear that, I didn't think people would be so bitter hun.." she put her arm around his shoulders. To her surprise he didn't seem too bothered by the day's events. "Eh that's what you get when you work for a sociopath that killed not even god knows how many people for entertainment and money. It's the treatment I expected honestly." He said nonchalantly. He let Mama hug him since he didn't dare tell her to get off. He knew he was going to lose that battle.

         On the small back porch Cypher was sitting and watching the fence line and beyond it. She sighed and laid back and closed her eyes. A few moments go by then she hears soft footsteps on the wood. They were lighter then Jet's so she knew it wasn't him. Ret's steps would've been silent. Cypher slowly opened her eyes again and looked up into the face of Pippin. "Whatcha doin?" She asked and sat next to Cypher. Cypher sighed and sat back up. "What do you want." She mumbled and Pippin shrugged. "Just wanted to talk that's all." She smiled. "And brush your hair cause it's starting to get matted again." She started to scoot behind Cypher. "Seriously? That's it." She scoffed. Pippin dug in her backpack for the little portable brush she keeps on her. "Can I?" Pippin asked and Cypher sighed and nodded.

        Pippin gently started brushing her hair and talking about her day. Cypher listened quietly. She eventually leaned back against Pippin and closed her eyes again. She was eventually lulled to sleep and by the time Pippin notice she was Pippin was being called by Lasso to head to their shared house. She covered Cypher's ears. "Ok I'm coming!" She yelled back to him then leaned back and knocked door. Jet came out a few minutes later. "What's up?" He asked and looked down at her and Cypher. "Need me to grab her?" He chuckled and she nodded. "Please and thank you" she smiled and Jet picked Cypher up and carried her inside. Pippin then got up and jogged through the house and to the front to meet Lasso. "Night Ret!" She smiled and waved to Ret who was sitting on the front porch and he just waved back. Mama had already left so he was just sitting there alone. Pippin and Lasso then walked away to their tent.

Mama Williams got back to her house and looked around. She saw Bones laying on the small couch that his legs were too long for. He had already fallen asleep so she didn't bother trying to wake him to move him. She then wandered the house looking for Dallas. She checked everywhere but there was no sign of her. Before Mama had left to talk to Ret she was here. Mama went to the back porch and poked her head out. No where to be seen. "Oh god where did she wander off..." she mumbled then quickly walked to her sleeping son and nudged him awake. He woke up and looked at her "where did Dallas go?" She asked and Bones had to think for a moment. "For a walk I think..." he yawned. "Ok go back to sleep, I'll find her" she patted his head then quickly walked outside. "Please don't get shot...I hope no one mistakes you for a zom baby..." she mumbled while roaming around, searching for her friend.

Dallas on the other hand was just stumbling through town with Hercules right by her side. She had smoked a bit more then usual today so her thinking patterns were a bit foggier. She left the house to go somewhere. She didn't know exactly where that is but in her mind it was somewhere important. In all reality this important destination was just made up in her high mind but she tried to find it anyway. Hercules just calmly trotted next to her, making sure she at least stays out of danger but still let her walk. They had gotten pretty far from the house she was staying at when a young boy stepped onto his front porch. "Excuse me!.." he called nervously to get her attention. When she didn't hear him he got a little closer. "Um excuse me!...person with the dog!.." he yelled and she stopped walking then slowly turned to him.

"Hey kiddo...." She smiled warmly at the timid boy. He was very young and she probably looked like a monster to him. "Um.. my mommy wants you to come inside..." he told her shyly and a woman appeared in the doorway. "Come in please it's getting cold.." the woman started to walk to her and froze when she saw Hercules step in front of Dallas. "Easy Herc...ok.." she smiled at the woman and slowly shambled to her. The lady then led her inside and her son followed. "Oh my goodness you look so thin..let me get you something to eat, Sam can you go grab a blanket and a flashlight please?" She told her son and he ran off to another room. "I'm not hungry..but thank you for the offer..." Dallas told the woman as she was led to sit by the fire place.

"You must eat something dear. I have some leftover chicken you and your pup can eat" she gently patted Dallas's head and walked off to the kitchen. She didn't leave any room for Dallas to debate so she just sat there. She lightly swayed but still had a lazy smile. The woman came back with 2 plates of chicken. She sat in front of Dallas and gently gave one plate to her and the other she set on the floor in front of Hercules. Hercules looked at Dallas for approval and she nodded. Once she nodded he devoured the chicken on his plate. Dallas slowly started to eat when the little boy came back dragging a blanket and holding a flashlight. "Bring it here Sam" the woman held her hand out and he quickly ran to her and gave her the blanket and flashlight then shuffled back again away from Dallas. "What's your name dear?" The woman asked the skeleton girl as she gently wrapped the blanket around her while she was eating. "I'm Dallas..." she smiled at the woman and set the plate in her lap. "I'm sorry I'm full..." she apologized and the woman looked confused. "But you only had one bite." She said, clearly concerned. Dallas shrugged a little.

"Well we'll save it so you have something to munch on later when you feel hungry" she had her son put the plate in the kitchen then she picked up the flashlight. "Can I check something please?" The woman asked her and she nodded. The lady then scooted to closer to her. "I just want to check your eyes ok?" She turned the flashlight on and very gently tilted Dallas's head up. She then shown the flashlight in Dallas's face. "Hey..." she tried to look away but the woman held her face. "I'm just checking something- hold on- your pupils are enlarged and your eyes are badly bloodshot-" she mumbled. "I know...I have a bit of an issue..." she sighed and closed her eyes to hide the light. "Ok ok I'm all done" the woman turned the flash light off.

         Suddenly Hercules let out a soft huff sound and trotted to the door and started to paw at it. "Should I let him out?-" the lady asked and Dallas slowly nodded. The woman got up and opened the door and Hercules darted out. Then she saw who he was running to. "Hey Mama!" The lady smiled and waved. Mama went to her hand hugged her. "Long time no see sweets!" She smiled. She then looked over the lady's shoulder. "There you are" she sighed in relief. "We're you looking for....Dallas?" She asked Mama. "Yes, she's supposed to be staying with me" she explained and Dallas clumsily got up and shambled to the door. "Come on Dallas we gotta get back to Bones" she gently coaxed and held her arm out and Dallas leaned on her.

"Thank you for bringing her inside" Mama smiled at the woman then waved goodbye and lay Dallas back to the house. When they walked inside Mama bundled Dallas up in blankets to keep her warm. "You can't wander off Dal especially at night. Your body doesn't regulate heat anymore." She sighed and tried brushing Dallas's hair a little bit once she was bundled. "I'm sorry..." Dallas apologized. Her words were slurred a little bit so it was hard to understand. "It's fine just make sure you stay with one of us when you want to go for a walk ok? I don't want something mistaking you for a zom and shooting you alright?" She told her and Dallas sleepily nodded.

For the first time in a month everyone slept well that night.