Sunfowers and Sunshine

Brandishing her knife from where it sat waiting upon her belt loop Katrina looked first to Anna then to the number of reanimated corpses on the far end of the isle. The first a man who looked like he had been on his way to work or a meeting at the end, his tattered business suit clung to his hollowed form, scraps torn from his midsection from which his innered spilled. 'Jesus they are some gross looking motherfuckers.' Kat thought as she shook her head. Flipping the blade in her hand she looked back to Anna and nodded to her signalling that she should take the lead. Having never been on a run together Kat hadn't been given a chance to judge the girls abilities with handling them. She'd heard rumors and the like that she wasn't too keen on being around them but Kat wasn't one to base her thoughts off word of mouth. "You take lead, I'll get the one on the right and any others that may show up. You take out the one on the left okay?" she said with another nod. Waiting for her to answer before she moved on.

Standing at the end of the isle awaiting Anna's answer Kat could tell by the look in the woman's eyes that she was scared, hell, So was Kat the first time she'd been face to face with them. Was this the first time she'd fought them as well? Soley and her had only arrived a few weeks prior and even though she'd seen Anna around the camp she'd never really talked to her, or seen her go out on runs and the like. Had she been at the camp since the beginning she may have very well not had to face them before. sensing the apprehension in her Kat flipped her knife back around and sheaved it again. Placing her hand on Anna's shoulder she looked her. "You got this. It's just two, maybe three of them. They'll fall fast and it'll be over before you know it." Kat said trying to reassure her companion. "Besides, I'll be there to watch your back." She added as her hands fell to her sides. Pulling her knife back out from it's holster Kat looked back down the isle. "You take the left, I'll get the one on the right. If any others show up we'll deal with it as they come." She repeated before waiting for her to move.

Hearing Anna agree and begin to move forward Kat followed close behind. The two deadheads had since been joined by a third, a larger man who looked to have been in his early fifties, a man that defiantly didn't go hungry as his stomach was bloated to the next country. "Okay. You get the suit, I'll deal with fatso and Mrs flower dress here." Kat said as she stepped over what remained of the toothpaste shelf. Tubes of it scattered the floor. "Careful." Kat said quietly as she planted her feet firmly on the other side. Looking back to make sure Anna had managed to do the same Kat nodded before turning her attention back to the dead at the end of the isle. They'd yet to take notice of their presence thankfully allowing the two of them to keep their advantage. That was, until Anna charged out without warning leaving Kat standing there dumbfounded for a moment. "No! Not like- Dammit!" She called before giving up and chasing after her. Charging the flower dressed woman first Kat used the nearby shelf to get air before landing a blow to the creatures face with her steel toed boot sending it flying to the ground. Landing she quickly drove her knife into the things skull before turning her attention to Fatso. "Come on big boy." She said as she waited to see what he was gonna do. Ducking as he lunged at her with a surprising amount of quickness for his size Kat spun to the right and quickly dispatched the second. While she did however a fourth had come out of somewhere or another and was now grappling with Anna on the ground. "Shit.." Kat grumbled as she stepped over the now fully dead flower dressed woman. Getting to her companion Kat drove her knife into the back of it's skull mere seconds before Anna managed to do the same.

Pulling the body off her Kat turned her attention to the girls arms and body. "Are you alright?" She asked. Seeing Anna nod in acknowledgment and begin getting to her feet Kat frowned and shook her head before wiping the blood off her knife on her pants leg and returning it to its home. "Word of advice." She started as she adjusted herself. "Never just run in blindly like that."

Hearing Anna answer by apologizing and explaining that she sucked at killing them but was trying to get better Kat shook her head and cracked a smile. "Don't sweat it. Just, take it slower next time yea?" Kat answered. Turning her attention to the shelves she began loading up their bag with an assortment of female hygiene products, as she did she heard Anna ask about her and Soley. Continuing to load up the bag Kat chuckled. "What you mean?" She asked before hearing her correct herself. "Oh. How long? Umm.. A few months now. Met her back at our old camp. She didn't speak a lick of English back then though. You think she's hard to understand now, broken English Sunflower is far better than no English Sunflower, I'll tell you that for free." Kat answered with a chuckle, her tone didn't carry any amount of annoyance at the matter though, in fact it felt like she was talking about someone she cared a greet deal for, which wasn't far off the mark. "I started out just trying to be her English teacher. But well.. Love, finds a way. I suppose." She explained further as she continued doing what she needed to.

"She's hard to understand sometimes but she's a sweetheart if you talk to her." She continued. "Oh. By the way. Sunflower isn't a cute nickname or anything. Nicknames are... Ugh.. " Shaking her head Kat pinched her nose. "Only person that gets the free pass is her. You hear me?" Kat said, her tone serious with an air of humor so Anna knew she wasn't angry or anything.  " And yea, I know what you're thinking. 'But Sunflower's a nickname though.' Or something like that right? Well, Not really. Ya see, Her name. Soley. It means Sunflower in Icelandic."

Looking to the left and towards Anna Kat smiled. "What about you? You and Kyle. How'd you two meet? High school sweethearts? or he steal your heart somewhere else?" She asked.

Her pleasant smile staying on her features as she waited for Edward to speak up on what he wanted to discuss Soley brought her right hand to rest on her guitar case, her index finger tapped with a rhythmic beat as the cool air brushed against her cheek. Curiosity ticking her brain as she wait for her leader to speak brought both her hands to rest atop her guitar case, her left hand began playing with the zipper and her smile stayed firmly in place as Edward began to speak. Listening as he that it wasn't a problem with the guitar or her playing as much as it was an idea Soley's ears perked up. "Idea?" She echoed as her curiosity came to a peak. "what's idea?"

Going quiet as Edward began to speak again Soley tilted her head again as she heard him ask if she'd like to have a band for the fort, a band that would serve to raise the general morale of the camp. Morale? What was that? Happiness maybe? Soley didn't know.. "Band?" She echoed. "Why band? Like freedom of self." She answered, Not that the idea of playing in a band didn't appeal to her, in fact it very much did but on the other hand it meant having to work harder to make herself known unless Kat was with her but she was busy with her armory work usually and probably wouldn't join. That in mind Soley shook her head.

"Play Guitar is relax time, People hear is fine, I do not mind. But band? I. Don't know." She answered, looking back to Edward Soley let her gaze meet his as she smiled "I think." She answered.  No promise though." Sliding her guitar case over to the side again Soley got to her feet and stretched before dusting herself off. Judging by the position of the sun she had about an hour before she needed to be back in the kitchen to help them start preparing for dinner service and she planned on spinning that time working on the song she was writing for Kat, not that it was anything special, at least to anyone outside of the two of them anyway. Grabbing her guitar case Soley swung the strap back around her shoulder before looking back to Edward. "Thank you for offer Mr. Edward. I think it over, okay?" She said. Nodding a goodbye Soley made her way across the courtyard and into the housing tent that served her and Kat. Setting her guitar case on the chair in the corner Soley fell to the bed and blew raspberries. "Hljómsveit.."(A band..) She muttered as she laid her head on the cushion of the bed. To her right on the side of the bed sat one of Kat's belts. "Veltir fyrir þér hvað Kat mun hugsa"(wonder what kat will think.) She wondered. Turning around Soley shifted her weight to lay on her girlfriends side of the bed, taking a deep breath she closed her eyes and relaxed while she waited for an hour or so to pass.

Getting to her feet with a small hop Kat bent down and grabbed her bag, shoving the last few pieces of supplies in to it she zipped it up and slung it over her shoulder in one quick motion. Spinning around to face Anna she looked at her for a time. Having asked about how she and Kyle met before getting to her feet she raised an eyebrow. "So what about you and Kyle? Hmmmm?" She said. Cautious as always she followed up her question by looking around the area, Apart from the bodies they had left and the stench they all gave off the place was now quiet, and as peaceful as they were going to get these days.

Satisfied they had no more guests that wanted to eat their flesh Kat looked back to Anna upon hearing her begin to answer the question she had asked moments ago, Beginning to walk back towards the front of the store Kat motioned for Anna to walk and talk. Making their way out of the isle and back towards the front of the store Kat listened to the story with interest, her eyes scanning the isles as they passed by one by one. As they walked she heard as Anna explained that she and Kyle had both worked in a movie theater before the end, continuing on she further explained that he was a manager and she was a general all round worker, sometimes the kitchen, others the counter. Nodding Kat chuckled, she'd never worked a day in her life in a established place of business so the entire thought was as foreign to her as English was to Soley when she first came to the states.

Looking over her shoulder Kat chuckled. "A movie theater huh? You guys get all those free tickets and everything I heard they get?" She teased playfully. Going quiet again as Anna began explaining how their relationship came to be from that Kat looked to the ground, She'd had her fair share of bad relationships as well, more than she'd ever tell the truth about in fact, before that there was the terrible childhood, bouncing from one foster home to the next; Never having a true home. Listening further as Anna continued on Kat chuckled again when she heard her mention Kyles uncle, a man named Troy who was in and out of prison, how he had cost his nephew his first chance at 'the academy', which she assumed was the police academy but didn't know for sure. Hearing how they tolerated him but that she never liked him Kat brought her hands to grip the back of her neck as they walked. "Wanna know something?" She asked, shooting Anna a sideways glance. "I've never met anyone from my family. Pops went to prison for something before I was born. Ma ODed when I was two." Chuckling again Kat looked forward, The two were closing on the front of the store and could see Kyle waiting to greet them. "Everyone else I was related to were either on drugs or in gangs so the courts threw me into the system. I bounced between so many families I can't even count."  Looking to Anna she let her smile be replaced with a frown. "Guess what I'm tryin to say is, Even if he's a fuck up; He's still family. And.. Family's all ya got."

Making their way to Kyle Kat let her smile return as she heard him greet them. "Yup, All good here. Got our goodies and ready to roll!" She said before jogging passed the both of them through the door. Looking back she shot Anna a glance. "Keep that between us 'kay? Sunflower ain't even know that yet." With those words she turned and set out to join the others by the truck.

The cool winter air on her face, the sound of kids laughing in the distance, her favorite quilt lay half done in front of her as she quietly worked on it's completion. Across the way rested her mother, her soft features fully focused on her own work. Peaceful was the word she'd describe the scene. But that wasn't what this world was, at least not fully. Something was missing, something was off. "Hvar er pabbi?"(Where's dad?) she asked her mother. But her mother didn't answer. Repeating herself a number of times Soley got to her feet after again not receiving an answer. Setting the quilt she was working on to the side she crossed the short distance between herself and her mother and shook her. "mamma." She called again as she shook her shoulder.

Repeating the process another three times Soley looked at her mother with concern. 'what's going on?' she questioned to herself. Beginning to panic Soley looked to the office where her father usually resided. Entering she was greeted by nothingness, panic beginning to fully set in now she turned back to her mother. "MOMMA!" She shouted again, but her mother was no longer there. Now finding herself alone in the middle of her house Soley searched, and searched some more. But they were gone. "hvar ertu!"(Where are you!) she shouted, from outside she could hear the sound of crackling fire and as she opened the door the heat hit her, in the fire were her parents, screaming in agony. Then, the scene faded.

Opening her eyes Soley took a shaky breath, drool had pooled under her cheek and as she sat up she wiped the spittle away. "Þetta var bara draumur.."(It was just a dream..) she sighed in relief. Looking to the houses front door still stuck in a sleep filled haze Soley still heard one sound from her dream, the sound of crackling fire. Where was it coming from? Curious Soley did her usual routine first her weapon, then her bag. Both of which Kat insisted she keep on her at all times. Looking to her guitar she decided to fetch it too just in case it was earlier than she thought and she still had time to pluck away. Then she set out. Reaching the door she slowly opened it and as she did the hellscape was revealed to her. Something had gone horribly wrong, she didn't know what and she didn't have time to think on it. The place was aflame and across the way she could see the dead beginning to get the advantage of the guards. Rushing out she quickly made her way to Edwards office in search of their leader, but he wasn't there, nor was he with the guards that currently fought desperately to save a home that was already lost. Frantic she made her way to where they stored the vehicles they used for runs, but they were still gone. 'Still gone! Shit! Where are they!? she thought as she raced to the gate, Having a number of close calls with the dead as she exited the safe house Soley had brandished her knife, between her and the woods lay about six of the dead. Rushing them she took two out before avoiding the final four. Looking back after she made sure that she had lost the group from before she reached up and gripped her hair in her hands and cried.

Falling to her knee's she pressed her face into the ground and screamed, their home, all that they had, was gone. Again. Sucking in a sharp heave of air Soley looked up again and heard approaching engines. 'Kat and the others! she thought as she rushed to her feet. Reaching the edge of the woods again she looked for the group of dead she had previously run from but they had made their way into the base propper, watching on as the group of cars stopped short of the gate Soley rushed out and towards the car. Seeing Kat step out she slammed herself into her arms. "Kat! It gone! All Gone!" Feeling her girlfriends had run down the length of her back Soley shuttered

"Shh.. I'm here." Kat soothed her. Pulling away after a few seconds Kat looked her girlfriends over for any sign of injury or bites, Satified that there were none she looked back to the others

"Well this is just how I wanted to end my day.." She said sarcastically. "What now?"

Sucking air through her teeth Soley buried her head into her lover as the tears began to flow, Letting the breath out in a shaky mix of hot, damp air Soley gripped her girlfriends clothing tightly in her fists. "They. Gone.. All Gone.. Again.. Just like..." She stammered. Stopping short when she felt Kat's hand on her head she looked up. Above her the steadfast face of her girlfriends looked back at her with a soft smile.

"Shhh, You're safe now." Kat said as she continued to run a hand down her lovers back, holding her close Kat looked back to the burning wreck that they used to call home, Clicking her tongue in annoyance she tore her eyes from the chaos and flames. "So what now?" She asked, but it looked like the group had a problem of their own. Kyle's mother was still missing and from the looks of it he was hell bent on finding her, at least until Rollins talked some sense into him. "So we head there, Get everyone safe then double back and look for survivors yea?" Kat said.

Seeing everyone nod in agreement they turned and began heading out. Getting everyone situated in their vehicles again Kat made sure Soley was set to go before buckling herself into her seat. Resting her rifle in the floorboard of the car she looked to the side to see Soley had done the same with her guitar case, she really couldn't go anywhere without that thing could she? Kat thought with as much amusement as she could muster given the current situation.

A number of minutes later the group arrived at the backup safe house. Dismounting from the vehicle Kat fetched her rifle and slung it over her shoulder before helping Soley out of the car. Waiting for her to gather her things she surveyed the area, a few stragglers had taken notice of their cars as they pulled away but they'd lost interest fast, and thanks to the out of the way location of the backup safe house there wasn't much in the way of the dead here either. Turning to the rest as they all climbed out of their vehicles Kat regrouped with Kyle and the rest while Soley made her way quickly through the gate and into the watchtower. Following suit shortly thereafter Kat found Soley sitting on a bed near an older woman, Kyle following close behind her it didn't take long before her identity became known, it was his mother. Smiling a greeting as she learned who she was Kat was grateful she was still alive, but there were many that surely weren't, and even more that were still trapped there.

Taking notice of the tears that had begun to form in Soley's eyes Kat shook her head. "Shh..You're safe now." She spoke crouching down to her girlfriends level. Taking her head in her hands she brought her in to a hug and held her there for a time until the tears stopped. Behind her she heard some of the others begin discussing going out and looking for survivors, Knowing that there was a good amount of children that called the settlement home Kat sighed. Pulling Soley from her chest she looked her in the eyes. "I'm gonna go see what the plan is, stay here and keep Kyles mom company okay?"

Seeing Soley nod in agreement Kat turned back towards Kyle and the rest. Rejoining them she looked to their solemn faces "So what's the plan?" She asked.

Looking to Kyle as he approached and began providing an answer Kat nodded, listening further as he spoke about how his mother told him that Edward had gone back to find more survivors and that if he didn't return in the morning that they should leave. "Shouldn't we-?"

"Don't shoot! Please!" A young voice called from outside.

"What the fuck?" Kat then responded hearing the voice. Approaching the window she looked out towards the gate to see where the voice had come from, what she saw surprised her, a group of kids, the oldest no more than thirteen or fourteen.

"Mr. Edward told us to walk this way until we saw a tower. Is.. Is this it? Please tell me this is it..." The eldest spoke.

Watching from above Kat recognized the eldest kid, From what she could remember her name was Zoey, her mother was the head of grub that Soley worked for. Pulling herself away from the window Kat crossed the room to the stairs and climbed down, joining the guards she looked at both of them as they approached, obviously weary she pushed passed them

"Zoey, right?" She asked.

"Y-Yes Ma'am." Zoey answered.

"Where's Mr. Edward? Is he with you?"

"N-No Ma'am, He sent us this way and continued looking for people."

Clicking her tongue Kat then looked back to the window above her and shook her head, turning to the two guards she nodded to them giving them the queue to stand down. Turning back to the kids she crouched down. "You did good Zoey, getting these kids and yourself here in one piece." She said placing a hand on Zoey's shoulder. She could see in her eyes that she was on the verge of crying. Pulling her in to a hug Kat chuckled. "Don't cry in front of the kids. You're strong you know?" She whispered.

"Ye-Yes Ma'am.. Sorry.." Zoey answered with a knot in her throat. "I-I don't know where my mom is..."

Pulling away Kat looked Zoey in the eyes and grabbed her shoulders. "Well, until we find her Soley and I'll take care of you, deal?"

Wiping away the beginnings of the tears that had formed in her eyes Zoey nodded. "Deal."

Escorting the kids upstairs Kat returned to Kyle and the rest after making sure Zoey was safely with Soley. "Ed sent them this way." She noted. "So Where do we head if he doesn't show?"

A time later the group had dispersed and returned to one corner of the tower or another. Having taken a seat next to Soley Kat leaned against her girlfriend while Zoey lay asleep on Soley's lap. "You're pretty good at that." Kat noted.

"Good? what?" Soley responded.

Wordlessly Kat answered by pointing to Zoey asleep in her lap.

"Oh. I just do what mom do with me when kid." Soley answered in her cute half broken English.

Hearing someone at the gate again Kat got to her feet and approached the window, this group however, Kat didn't recognize; a man and a woman with a kid at their side. "Who's that?" She asked aloud as she grabbed her rifle and descended the stairs to join the guards.

Kyle couldn't sleep even if he tried to, he was to wired with what happened with seeing their home burned down. He turned to look at his wife Anna who was trying to sleep but she just kept tossing and turning for the most part. When he heard people at the gate he saw Kat quickly going over and he figured he could deal with it while He looked to his wife once more. The couple looked at one another and Anna reached out holding his hand. Kyle just smiled at his lovely wife and he squeezed her hand lightly to reassure her that everything would be fine. "It's going to be okay babe. We all have each other to look out for." said Kyle softly to Anna as he didn't want to wake up the others that were inside. "I just don't want to lose you." said Anna softly to Kyle. She knew she was sounding selfish but her love for Kyle was strong and through the tough times she had in her past he was always there for her. Kyle just lightly patted her hand and just smiled at her. The two of them shared a kiss and shortly after that Kat came up with the kids. It was then she asked where they could go next if Edward doesn't show up and Kyle let out a heavy sigh looking away from Kat as he was thinking of what place would be safe. "I mean...I'll be honest I don't know." said Kyle with a shrug.




He got lost in his thoughts yet again before answering her. "I heard of a settlement in Virginia but I mean that's just a rumor." said Kyle to Kat as he remember someone talking about a settlement he heard of in Virginia but he didn't know if what the man said was true or not. "We could take our chances out there and hope for the best." said Kyle to Kat. Some time had past and Kyle could hear the guards talking to someone at the gate. Kyle looked out the window as did Kat and he didn't recognize them as well. He grabbed his M1911A1 that as near by and placed in in the back of his waistband having his shirt cover up the gun he looked to Kat. "If something goes wrong back me up, if everything seems fine I'll give ya a nod." said Kyle to Kat. He quickly walked down to the watchtower and made it to the gate. He put his hand on the guards' shoulders signaling them to stand down both guards did and Kyle looked at the man as he heard his name. "Castillo...Interesting name. So I gotta few questions for you." said Kyle to the man in front of him. He looked behind the man for a moment and noticed a young woman and a kid with them.

"Alright first question where did you come from?

Second question do you have any weapons on you?

Last question can we trust you?" asked Kyle to the man in front of him. Kyle stared into the man's eyes and soon enough his police training kicked in he was good at telling if people were lying or not. He wanted to give this man and his possible family the benifit of the doubt, but even if he did let them in he would have the guards search them just in case they were hiding a weapon and if they were he would toss them out. He had his people here to look out for and this was a test after all.