Third Person's View

*Play Song*

The next morning, Aaron and Aphmau soundly snuck back into the cave, everyone still dozing and snoring on their sleeping bags.

The both sneaked into theirs, landing themselves in a position similar to what they were in last time.

Aphmau smiled, her head tilted upwards to look at his face.

Aaron had the bandanna now on, but he wore a different expression now.

Softer, as he had a small smirk on his face for a change.

"You youngsters...even in the middle of an apocalypse...." A voice spoke.

Aaron and Aphmau both swivel their heads to the origin of the voice, where they saw a hidden figure slouched against the cavern's wall.

She used her fingertips to trace the outline of her bow, observing every curve and every design as she spoke. "It amazes me...."

Aphmau asked why, and Aaron merely raised an eyebrow, both exiting from the sleeping bag.

Crystal grinned, but it wasn't her usual manic smile, it was kinder, almost warm.

"Even....in the middle of a zombie apocalypse....you still have two idiotic humans doing it in broad daylight."

Yeah, that sounds like Crystal.

Aphmau eyes bulged as her face flushed with color, and Aaron scratched the back of his neck.

"But, that's beside the point. The point is that I find that no matter how bad the situation, no matter how horrific the conditions.....you can still find happiness." She then went back to tracing her bow, but Aphmau interrupted her activity.

"Crystal.....did you ever have—" Aphmau started, her voice drifting off as she sees a rare sight.

Crystal, her face sour.

But then, it brightened, revealing that iconic smile.

"That's a story for another time dearest, maybe when there isn't a dead dude trying to get at this hot bod. Maybe." She conveniently runs her hands down her sides, making them smile.

"Hot bod? Where—" Travis slurred, yelping the next moment from what I assumed was a nut punch from Katelyn inside the sleeping bag.

Everyone started to wake up as they started to pack up their stuff and relocate.

They couldn't stay in one place for too long, it wouldn't be long for Ein or the walkers to found them.

Crystal pops her head out of the cave for a split second, waving a motion sensor in hand, realizing shaking a motion sensor was contradicting, before just holding it in the air.

She nods to Violet, who motions for everyone to follow them out of the cave as silently and gracefully as they could, which they failed miserably at.

Mostly because of Garroth.

Oh and Kawaii~chan, who was carrying pots?

Though she still wore a sad expression, she somehow had some sweets on her that Cadenza and her were casually nibbling at as they sneaked.

They were about a day walk away from PASA now, just a few more miles of forest area then the rest is an open field.

Aphmau had been walking by herself before she felt fingers brush hers. A gasp parted her lips as a jolt of awareness careened through her body, looking down to see Aaron's fingers interlocking with hers.

She wasn't even afraid of the redness of her face anymore, she could just blame it on sunburn.

Sure, you can have casual sex during in an open forest during an invasion but noooo, you can't even stop at an abandoned convenience store and pick up some freaking sunscreen.

But hey, its a fanfiction, chill. IM CHILL OKAY

WHO AM I TALKING TO NOW?!

The sun burned their visions as it warped downwards. A field of undulating grass before them.

They smiled and some laughed in joy, whooping in delight.

The homestretch.....they were gonna make it!

Oh crystals.....did I speak too soon?

Lol, duh.

Shortly after such whooping, came the roar of a gas engine, and the whooping of a different kind.

One of also a delight, but also a fusion of relief.

And mania.

They looked over their shoulders briefly before their flight-or-fight reflex finally kicked in.

Well all I can say, it was definitely not the seal slapping option.

They took off into the field of tall, dead grass, the bristles of the deceased plant prickling the group as they practically glided through the grass blades.

But that was nothing, compared to 3 Dodge trucks, full of screeching raiders. They swayed with the motions of the truck, as most had one hand on the truck and the other waving a deadly weapon in the air, speeding towards them.

The vehicles overtook the group and started to circle them, like a pack of sharks rounding its prey up.

The group closed into a back to back circle, weapons drawn and arrows nocked.

The trucks eventually slowed down, the tornado effect gone from the wind as a certain figure dismounts one of the trucks.

Aphmau hid her face in his presence, but that didn't stop him from speaking.

"What do we have here, boys!" He yelled, his voice graveled from what Aphmau assumed was endless amounts of booze. He wore a black leather cloak, piercings outlining his ears till they looked inhuman, and he had streak of electric blue spread across his jet black roots.

The raiders whooped back in reply to Ein, all wearing an attire similar to his.

"It's surprising....such a large group alive at a time like this. Such a rough place is no place for soft doves."

Ein then titled his head slightly. "Especially a dove—like you, dearest Aphmau."

Aaron swiveled his head to her, then back to Ein. "You know him?"

Aphmau nodded slightly but still—regardless of Ein already knowing it was her—she hid her face.

"Know me? Boy, this girl adores me. She worships the very air I breathe!" Ein cackled, a foul grin spreading on his face.

Aphmau said nothing, she only shuddered.

But before Ein could make another snarky comment, another scarf wearing figure emerges from one of the trucks, taking a stand near Ein, his gaze glued to Nana.

Nana inches forward, confused at first, but then her expression converts to a shocked one, as she says one word.

One syllable.

One name.

"Zane..."

Have a nice day my crystals!