Beware the Scavengers [Tobi/Sophia]

Sophia had spent the last three days walking, Not non stop mind you, That's insane. In any case she had covered a decent amount of ground and thankfully only run into a handful of large clusters of muertos. Taking to sticking next to the river she had managed to find her way to a church connected to the main road by small dirt path, it's old steeple beginning to shed it's scaly shingled skin, the roof having a hole in the rear from a long fallen tree it wasn't the perfect building by any means. But the walls were strong and the exits were easily fortified. Not that there was much she had to do in that way as it seemed like whatever group had been here before had already done most of that work for her.

Spending the early morning hours fighting with pews and shelves to barricade the last rear exit before taking a break. Her knee had begun hurting before finishing the move so she knew she needed to get off it for a bit if she didn't want to hurt it even more and so she slung her pack and took to resting against the wall using it as a foot rest of sorts. "Safe for now." she mused to herself before chuckling at the thought of the people she had a run in with the previous day that fully believed her child routine. Pulling her pack up to open it she gently rested her leg against the ground before setting to opening the zipper attached to the backpack. Peering in at her haul she counted four cans of random perishables, a couple of boxes of ammo and a hoodie for the upcoming winter season which she had lifted from the building they used for storage. "You really shouldn't show everything you have to newbies.." she said with a smile.

Zipping the bag back up she brought it to lean against the wall before getting to her feet about the time that she heard the sound of an approaching engine. Fetching her pack she slung it around her shoulder and headed to the back office where she left a window slightly less barricaded if she needed to hop out. Planning to not be the one caught by surprise she slipped out the back window before sliding the piece of plywood back over the hole before making her way along the building to the corner turning the side of the building into the front, peeking along the edge she saw a balding man heading towards the front door, stopping in front of it Sophia watched for a time and listened as he began to call out to whoever he thought was inside. Which up until a few moments ago was her, but just her. waiting for him to finish before making her presence known Sophia waited for him to turn the opposite direction before walking a few steps away from the wall.

"There isn't anyone in there dude. They croaked or ran off long time ago." she said steadying the strap on her shoulder and letting her hand drift to her pocket where her switchblade was stored in case the man decided to attack instead of be civil. Waiting for the man to respond Sophia eyed him over, Not as much for threats but for supplies. All alone and no friends but a car. That probably had loads of supplies. "You looking for someone specific? I'm the only one here if you are. You ain't looking for me are you!?" her eyes opened at the thought that the man was sent by the group she had lifted the supplies from the previous day. Shit, did they catch me already? I thought I gave them the slip pretty good.. fuck.

stepping back as the man spun like a top to face her direction she looked him over once more, The guy looked rough, but then again so did she so she wasn't one to judge in that respect. All she cared about was moving, always keep moving. Pissed off people can't catch you if you aren't ever in the same place. The guy had just the thing for that, a car. As he began to answer she let the words meet her ears while she looked for any accomplices of his that might have been trying to ambush her if he was indeed part of that group from the other day. Not seeing any the man had just finished explaining that he wasn't in fact looking for someone. Sophia breathed a sigh of relief. Good, then he isn't one of them. She thought as she found her gaze shifting through the surroundings once more.

Moments would pass before anything further was said, Sophia still scanned the tree's every now and again before quickly snapping her sights back to the man in front of her. "So if you aren't one of those people, then who are you?" she asked tensing up at her words. if he had been affiliated with those folks at any point then he was dangerous, even if he wasn't with them anymore that was just the kind of people they appeared to be. Taking from them was probably a terrible choice in retrospect but what's done is done. No going back. All she has to do is keep as much distance between that place and her and she'll be good, right? Seeing the man shrug and turn to head back to his car Sophia felt a tug of distress at her heart, near desperation. "Wait! umm. can." she started but before she could finish the man turned and asked another question, one about her being alone.

Of course I'm alone. Who else is here? Dumbo? she thought of saying but bit her tongue. She needed a ride out of the area and being her usual snarky self wouldn't help the situation. Going quiet she shoved the annoyance that the question had caused in her back down before answering. "Three months. Roughly. I don't tend to get along with groups." she began explaining, intentionally redacting the bit about why she didn't ever get along with them she continued. "If you'd give me a lift that be great. I sorta.. Need to put as much distance away from this area and me as possible. I'd rather not say why." the words accompanied by the shakiness that fear brought, it wasn't a secret that they scared her. Even if she was quick and quiet they had guns. Big ones. And no matter how good your hiding place is it doesn't matter if they decide to spray the entire area with bullets. "I, think I gave them the slip but If you found this place so easily then that means they'll find it eventually as well." sliding her pack back up onto her shoulder she looked at the man. "I can pay you, I ain't got money or anything but I'm good at getting shiny's I need, I can pay you in supplies or by helping you with those skills." she then tacked on before stepping towards the man, still keeping a good lunging distance between them in case she needed to run as she waited for him to give her the go ahead.

Taking her position in the passengers seat Sophia sat her pack in the floor between her legs before buckling up. It was habit, even if she hadn't sat in a car in nearly three months it was nearly ingrained into her being by this point. Watching as the man took his place in the drivers seat and turned the engine over Sophia delighted in the feeling of being in an automobile again. It beat walking ten fold. taking to looking out the side window as the car began to roll she watched as the car spun around and the church began to fall away in the rear view mirror.

Turning back onto the main road Sophia turned to the man "Ya, That's sorta what I meant by my skills. I'm really good at getting the slip on people." she chuckled at his remark that he had made as they got in the car a few moments before. Always looking around as they drove she didn't much care for the area they were in. Only thing around was an old school if that map she found in the back office of the church was any good and that sure didn't seem like a place to house decent supplies. As the scenery flew passed the silence was broken by the man asking more questions. "What should you call me? Um.. Well Red's fine. It's what everyone tends to call me. You can sorta guess why." she said as a finger found it's way up to tap the top of her head drawing attention to the burnt red hair that made her stick out like a sore thumb in crowds. "I'll think about telling you what my actual name is. You gotta earn that information though, It ain't something I just tell anyone."

As they went down the road and small buildings began popping up she heard Tobi ask about a map, it was true. She did have one, whether it was new or old though was still up for debate. Leaning down she unzipped her pack and dug out the folded up area map from the church office, a quick glance around the area had proven once again fruitless and so she handed the map to him. "Here, Not sure how new it is since it was in that old church but it's a map." Waiting for Tobi to take it she watched as she saw the school she had seen a few days prior on her travels begin to come into view. At the same time, as if on queue a pair of trucks began to catch up to them from behind. "Oh shit.." Sophia muttered at the sight. "Tobi, You might want to find a place to pull off so we can hide. You remember those folks I said I was running from? Yea.. I think that may be them.." she said as she pointed to draw his attention to what was closing fast from their rear. 

Grabbing what she could after recovering from the swift stop of the vehicle Sophia lunged from the car after making sure her bag was securely shut and back around her shoulders before following Tobi into one of the buildings. Reaching the inside as the two cars began making their way into the parking lot the inside was a maze of hallways and classrooms. "Good." Sophia said as she quickly signaled to Tobi to follow her. Quickly making her way to the back classroom of the first hallways she made note of a door that exited to an adjacent hallway, The room was line with dusty beakers. scattered through the room where black topped tables, each with their own sink and Bunsen burner frosted windows lined the outside wall casting ghostly hues of dim light into the room. The late evening air stale with the smell of long bad chemicals from years passed Sophia crouched low behind the furthest cabinet from the door from which any pursuer would chase. Hearing the distant calls of men from the hall Sophia looked at Tobi. "They'll come in here." She said with certainty. Looking over the counter the voices sounded as if they began to separate from one another, three grew quieter while a fourth grew ever so louder. "Once he comes in he'll stick to the front of the class by the door. Don't make a sound." Her words carried as if she had dealt with it a thousand times, because she had. Not only after the end but before as well. Countless times her father would take her out on one of their late night lifts where they had to hide and sneak around, most of the time it was from common people but a few times it was from guards.

Taking note of a beaker near the table they were at she grabbed it before hearing the man that was sent to check their hall a room over. "Alright, Once he comes in throw this over there if he starts heading this way." she said as she pointed to a body near the door. It wasn't moving but she knew for a fact from the blood around it's mouth and torso that it wasn't just a normal body. "Once we do. Follow me." Her instructions conveyed in a hushed seriousness before hearing the man step back into the hallway and finding his way into their room. As she had suspected he mostly kept to the front of the room, his weapon, a large rifle that Sophia didn't recognize rested in both his hands and he glanced around the room. "Where the fuck are those assholes." she heard the man grumble as he continued to look around the room. Soon he turned to leave but as he did a small animal scurried along a shelf adjacent to the position her and Tobi hid, knocking it to the ground. Catching it Sophia kept the sound from being loud enough to wake the muerto but in doing so she drew unintentional attention their way from the man. Quickly making her way back behind the cabinet she turned and before the man could see her tossed the beaker at the head of the creature in the front corner nearest the outside wall. It grumbled lightly before its head slowly looked up at the man that had been searching for them, Growling hungerly as it shambled to its feet and took notice of the man with the rifle. Hearing the man shout an obscenity as he shuffled away back towards the door three shots sounded through the building. The Muerto fell dead, but the damage was done. if their were any muerto's here, they were awake now. As the man turned back to the room he gave it one last glance before four more of the creatures, drawn by the sound of the man's weapon shambled out from the room across the hall. Shouting he made a haisty retreat which queued Sophia to look to Tobi. "Lets go."

Getting to her feet she looked through the door into the side hall before turning back to Tobi. "Muerto's at the end. One of our friends as well, There's a window to the right, I say we hop out and hid out in the woods until they leave and the dead decide we aren't worth looking for." With those words she waited for the man's Input, If he did choose to go further into the building there was no telling what they would run in to. The sound of distant gunshots sounded from the down the hall telling her that a good amount had begun to congregate on their visitors, From the short time she had spent with them she knew they were dangerous, but they weren't dumb. if they were firing now and in such large quantities it only meant one thing. There was more than they thought there were by a decent margin. And that didn't bode well in Sophia's mind. Looking back through the door she saw a small cluster shambling down the main hallway towards the gunshots. A cluster of maybe thirteen or so ranging in age from elderly to teen shambled towards the sounds. turning back to Tobi Sophia looked to the door the man had disappeared through. "Alright dude, I say we book it and wait. What do you wanna do?"

Glancing out the door to the small hallway once more as Tobi asked her where the window was Sophia looked first in the direction of the Meurtos, seeing as nearly all where gone and only a few stragglers remained she turned back to Tobi. "This way." she said before hearing one of the men down the hall mention the man's name. Not that it surprised her, if they were chasing him it was probably for a reason, just like why they were chasing her. Reaching the window, it's glass long since shattered and laying about she turned to Tobi. Looking passed him for a moment to make sure no one was following before turning back to the window. Climbing out she felt the ground crunch beneath her feet as she landed which was followed by the man's in short order. So they know your name, and they're chasing you. Defector maybe? hmm. She thought the matter over as they retreated ever so further into the woods behind the school. 

Reaching a small cluster of fallen logs that would act as a decent resting place Sophia stopped. "Lets wait here." She said as she sat down on one of the logs. In truth she wanted to go a little bit further in but her knee wasn't allowing it, the pain had already creeped up on her and she needed to get off of it. Watching as the man took up a seat nearby she looked around the area. The school was completely obstructed by foliage by this point, the distant sound of gunfire still echoed into the air. "Back there. They said your name." Sophia started, before looking back to Tobi. "You said they were after you, what you do? I mean, I'm not judging you or anything, I was with'm to. It was only a few and I never gave anyone a name But I was starving." she started again, letting her head fall to the ground she curled her arms around her stomach and pulled her legs up to her chest. "They wouldn't give me anything until I told them my name and where I came from. So the following night I took some of their food and ran off. I guess one of the guards so me leaving because the next day they showed up at the nearby cabin that I'd decided to hide out in." Looking back at the man Sophia waited to see what his reaction was to the realization that she stole from the group he feared. Her hand played with the rings that dangled around her neck she spun them a couple of times around her finger before she continued. "That's... That's why I don't tend to get along with groups, Good ones anyways. If I need something I take it." she said, hoping the man wouldn't react badly to the news that she was a thief, a rouge. "People don't usually react positively to their stuff disappearing and me along with them. I understand if you hate me now. Most do." she tacked on, downtrodden from the thought that she might have just screwed up the first chance at a traveling buddy she had in a while she looked back to the ground. Not caring if the man attacked or not she just listened, listened to the distant gunshots, the birds that still chirped in the late summer evening and to what he man had to say if it was anything at all.

Chuckling at the compliments she was being given it caught Sophia off guard when Tobi not only didn't scold her for the way she is but in fact praised her in a way. Hearing him explain his connection with the group he referred to as 'The Scavengers' she began to understand why he was running. Unlike her that had taken what wasn't hers he was one of them, and as he had said they weren't exactly a group that let you just walk off after you joined. Sophia had run into a couple groups like that, one being the group that enjoyed their torture more than anything and that she still has nightmares about to this day. As long as they weren't as sadistic as those fucks then hopefully this isn't as bad.

Hearing the praise from the man once more she couldn't help but let a soft laugh out when she heard his condition of not stealing from him. Looking up from the ground she gave the man a genuine smile, not the fake innocent one she used to get into normal camps but one that truly conveyed her happiness. "Don't worry dude, I only steal from people I don't know or I don't like. You aren't either of them." Letting her bag fall from her shoulder she brought it to rest in front of her before unzipping it and fishing out the map she was planning on handing to him in the car before their little run in with The Scavengers. "Here, As proof I'll give you this." she said, handing the map out to him. Waiting for him to take it she wondered if the long healed scar from that knife digging into her shoulder would be noticed. Not that she hides it or anything. It's just part of her, and the people that caused it are about five states away at this point. The dreams still haunt her though. "We really need to get away from this place, not just this place but this state. Maybe try again somewhere else? If we find a place with some nicer people I can get us in." she said as she threw on her fake 'innocent child' routine. "Would you let us stay for a few days sir? We've been on the road for ages." She said, the innocence in her voice sounding as if she was fresh out of the sheltered life, but that was far from the truth.

Reaching back in her bag after the man took the map she waited for his voice to start again as she fished out the hoodie and slid it over herself. The night's were getting colder and the sun was setting. Sophia didn't exactly mind the cold, just rather stayed warm. "So, what's the plan T? If they didn't trash the car I say we head to a different state, try to load up again and then head on. Up to you though. I'd rather not stick around where those guys can find us though."

Sliding her arm into the armhole of the hoodie Sophia listened to the mans plan, or the beginnings of one anyway. "Fort Worth?" She asked as he mentioned it. She too had heard of of it, although the main point of interest was the military base that seemed to have a sizable amount of people in it, most of which were military personnel which in her mind was the closest thing to law enforcement remaining. "Last time I heard anything about that place was back in Oklahoma. There's apparently a good sized group down there protected by whats left of the air base that town was known for. Not sure I'd be too welcomed in a place like that. But that place is huge so there's bound to be other, smaller places scattered around." She said before going quiet, Listening for any sound of footsteps or growls she took a moment before she was satisfied they were still alone.

"It's gonna be hard without a car but there's bound to be another along the way, Mississippi seemed to be a trusting place before the end, don't know how many cars I've seen with their keys just clamped in the sun shield." she said, it was almost as if people didn't fear each other before, like everyone knew everyone. Maybe that was true who knew? in any case in Sophia's mind the best course of action would be run on what they had and what they find or otherwise take until they find another car. "I don't think checking the car is a good idea. We're bound to find another one somewhere in this town or maybe on a farm or something, They're everywhere here. If those people are smart then they'll be watching the car. If I was by myself I would slip away through the woods and see where I come out. Go from there. I have enough canned food to last a couple of days. I'm guessing you have the same if not more so that's what I want to do." She explained before getting to her feet and stretching. The day had been long but was long from over, by morning they'd surely have search parties out for them which meant the night ahead was their only window of escape.

Taking a few steps away from the log she swung her bag back around her shoulder before turning around towards Tobi. "To me the best course of action is run. Right now. Find us a place to hide out while we look for a car. And then head to Texas." With that she looked for the branch she remembered passing as they came in and turned to begin walking in the opposite direction, Waiting for Tobi to start following before venturing even deeper into the woods. On the other side would be the start of a farm plot which hopefully would be abandoned but you never knew. If Sophia was alone she would scope it out and decide from there, But whether or not that would have to come to be was still up in the air. At the moment all she focused on was her footsteps. Making sure to place them as gently as possible and to avoid large clusters of sticks. The sun had since set and the trees now danced with the shadows of the moon, it would be a solid hour or so before they reached the other side but it would take a lot of work to follow them this deep, with the thought of escaping lodged firmly in her mind she trudged on, Tobi tagging along was just an afterthought while she moved. To the outside observer the girl would look extremely suspicious but as she moved the common person ear wouldn't be able to tell her apart from the general never ending sound of nature. At most sounding like a small animal scurrying through the woods.

Night air blowing through the tree's and the sounds of nocturnal animals filling the air the duo trudged on, Keeping up the pace would prove to be difficult for the girl the more they did it but for now there wasn't anything she wouldn't do to get as far away from those people as she possibly could.