Gentlemen Are a Dying Breed

[Violet G. Monroe]

She listened carefully, but kept her eyes focused on the ground as he spoke. He crossed over a fallen tree. It took a little effort, to climb over, and she was surprised when she was too short to simply hop over. Instead, he had to straddle the decaying tree to get over.

When Lotto was finished, she offered another sad smile. It must have been horrible. To see those you'd cared about as one of those. Violet hadn't had that opportunity, and she hoped she would never have it. Then, he asked her what she'd been doing. She thought about how to word it before speaking.

"I was a professional dog trainer." She said, looking at Blackjack with a smile. The canine met her eyes and wagged his tail as he walked. Violet looked at Lotto now. "The day before, everything had been pretty normal. I mean, everyone was fine. The sun was shining, birds chirping..." Her voice trailed off as she remembered how blissful life had been before the apocalypse, and it made her slightly frustrated that she'd taken some of those days for granted. Then again, how was she to know that the end was approaching? It was like a clock had ticked down the days - except no one heard the clock ticking.

"The next morning, everything was quiet. Quieter than usual, but I thought nothing of it. I just assumed it was one of those days where the world wanted some peace. Just for a day." She said. "I went outside and this woman was screaming... I went to check on her, and Blackjack followed me. There was this other person, trying to bite the woman. He may have bit her before I was able to kill him, but I'm not sure. I didn't stick around long enough. After he was dead, I went to my parents' house, but they weren't there. Then, I realized that no where was safe. At first I thought only a few stupid people has snorted bath salt again, like the guy they reported in Florida." She explained. "Then I noticed that the entire population of Portland was in the same mindless state. They went after anything they moved - anything they couldn't control that moved, anyway. Vehicles mostly. I only saw a few people who were running from the things, and I didn't think it would be a good idea to help them. After all, I thought this had only happened in Portland. I drove for hours before my car ran out of gas, then I had to walk. I gathered supplies from a nearby hospital and convenient store before heading to the woods. I thought that the trees would provide better cover for me to get away. Then, a few weeks later - out of food and with very little water left - I found you." She said. The thought was a relief, and she smiled at it.

She couldn't count how many times she'd heaved Blackjack up a tree with her just so they could rest for a while. Having to lean against the trunk and balance herself and her canine in her lap had proved a challenge, but determination helped her pull it off. Each time they were in a tree, she'd cry, afraid that she was the last one left. Afraid that the others hadn't been able to think as fast as her and get away from the creatures. Luckily, she'd been wrong, and Lotto was proof, as was his story of the woman he found in the woods the night prior. Admittedly, it was huge relief, and she'd almost wanted to cry when she found him.

"I knew I'd have to go back to Portland for supplies." She said after a moment of silence. "I just didn't want to go alone." She mumbled. Typically, Violet was a strong, independent woman. However, this had taken almost all of her independence. While she was still just as stubborn and hard-headed and before - and a little fiestier - she knew that her independence had vanished. The worst part was, that independence had flown away before she ever awoke the next morning.

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[Leroy "Lotto" King]

[/color] Lotto said, he had known all along that he would travel with this woman, and her brilliant dog, but he had no idea he would feel this protective of her. Perhaps because she may be the last good thing on this earth, "We'll see what we can find in Portland, and we'll try to find your friend too," he reassured her. He felt like she might need it, hell, he needed reassurance too, but the relief on her was reassurance enough.

They continued through the forest, and when Lotto heard water, running water he turned in that direction with out warning, his body determined to finding this source, he came arcoss a shallow creek only a few yards off the direction they were heading, he mentally marked a tree to remember which way even though he figured Violet and Blackjack would know. He knelt beside the stream, feeling the damp mud soaking through the knees of his jeans, he cupped some water and splashed his face. The water felt like ice, but the after effect was nothing but fresh.

He sighed as he opened his eyes, the numbing affect the water had on him made his eyes droopy as the screamed for a warm towel, instead he rose his shirt up to dry off his face, and then let it fall back down. "Stay back buddy," Lotto said to Blackjack, "Her first," He explained nodding for Violet to kneel beside him so he could rinse her drying wound. Even though it was closing and drying he didn't want the drying blood on Blackjack to mix with the water that Violet was about to wash with, "You're next" he winked at the dog and couldn't help a smile, he knew that smart animal understood.


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[Violet G. Monroe]

Something seemed to bother Lotto, though he didn't speak about it, and Violet didn't ask. She wasn't one to probe into someone's business. If the question was asked, there was always an answer. It could be one of three things: silence, "I don't want to talk about it," or the actual answer. But this seemed deeper than that, and Vi didn't want to bother Lotto with her questions, and she probably wouldn't like the answer he gave. It was almost like it was something he regretted deeply. Regrets like that were better left alone.

Violet smiled at Lotto when he spoke the first time. "Thanks." She said. It was good to hear that she wasn't alone, admittedly. It was really good. It made her feel better about the situation at hand, though the situation was still shitty. When he spoke again, hope struck Violet's eyes, but it vanished quickly. What if she's dead....? She thought to herself. Violet sighed. Maybe Rose was dead. While Violet could hope not all she wanted, there was no point in looking forward to seeing her best friend's face... At least, not her normal face.

Then, the sound of running water pierced the air. Violet looked up from the ground hopefully. Lotta had heard the sound, too, and was heading in the general direction. It was only about half a mile off course, and Lotto marked a tree for direction. It was something Violet would have never thought to do. Then again, she also wouldn't have come to the brook for anything, so there would have been no need. She watched Lotto clean his face with the water, and then mimicked him when he kept Blackjack from heading towards the water. She cleaned her wounds with the cold water, and breathed a sigh of relief when she sat back on her knees. As the water dripped from her chin, cheek, and bangs, she smiled. Though the water was cold, it was the best thing she'd felt in a while. Besides the heart beat of another person, of course.

When she stood, Blackjack leapt into the water, barking at the droplets that flew as his weight crashed into the liquid. He waded around, and seemed happy. The clear water now began to take on a rusty hue. Violet whistled, and Blackjack came to the edge of the brook where she was kneeling. She began using her hands to remove the rest of the blood from her beloved animal. Then, she saw it. The deep cut in his neck. Her hands froze, and she looked at Blackjack. He acted as if it wasn't even there. His tail wagging, tongue lolling from his mouth happily. With caution, she examined the wound, only to find that it wasn't that deep at all. Merely a little more than a scratch. She sighed with relief and took peroxide from her cloth back, and poured it over the wound. Blackjack didn't flinch, but instead, climbed from the water and shook his coat.

Violet then took alcohol from her bag and poured it over her hands. She wasn't about to risk the infection seeping into her pores, though the chances of that didn't seem likely. When she stood, she looped an arm through Lotto's, as if they'd been best friends for years. Honestly, she was afraid that if she didn't hold on to him, something bad was happening. While she hated fear and doubt, she couldn't help it. "Ready for Portland?" She asked, giving a sad smile.

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[Leroy "Lotto" King]

[/color] He asked as they continued traveling, he really didn't want to know, and Violet seemed quiet, something was on her mind.... he had things on his mind too, so they remained in their thoughts, he figured she was scared to go back just as he was, but she was right they needed supplies, and it wasn't like there was any where else closer. After a while, they reached a clearing, a rocky kill that sloped down onto the high way, I5 to be exact, "Is he going to be okay climbing down?" He asked, it wasn't that steep, but he would carry the dog if need be. He took a glance at the city, the murky waters of the river shimmered and reflected the grey clouds, smoke was raising from buildings, a dying fire, one wiped through the city shortly after the chaos broke out, oh yes, because burning these things would fix everything. He was sure some survivors were trapped, and choked to death on their own mistakes. He was quiet, staring over, could he hear them? One of them screaming in that grotesque way they did....one thing he knew for sure, this trip was going to be one hell of a ride.

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[Violet G. Monroe]

Violet thought for a moment. "I don't think it's too far." She replied. Admittedly, she was dreading the return. Portland had been her favorite city. Mostly because it was the only one she'd ever lived in, and growing up there made it impossible to forget each street. Portland was her home, and now, it was nothing more than a feeding ground for the infected.

Then, it came into sight. Smoke boiling up, reaching for the sky as if it too were afraid of what had become of the Earth. Violet stiffened and held her breath. She could see some of the infected limping along. They were bloody, and missing limbs, as well as large chunks of flesh. Some limbs hung by nothing more than a strip of skin. The sight of them sickened her. How did all of this happen? Her heart pounded. It was so loud that she thought Lotto could hear it. She knew Blackjack could, especially when the dog nudged her hand. She scratched behind his ears. "I'll be fine." She mumbled, and Blackjack cocked his head to the side. She giggled before looking back at the city, then to Lotto as he asked a question.

"I think he'll have it easier than we will." She said with a laugh as she moved closer to the edge. It was steep, but not so much that it would be impossible to go down. It would be quicker than finding a way around, if there even was one. If Violet was right, all of the highways around Portland had steep hills on each side. Well, on the left side anyway. The right side was pretty much flat, until you went further down the highway, that is.

She glanced back up to the city. She was ready to get this over with. At least they had weapons. Lotto had his bat, and she had blades stashed in her bag, shoes, pockets, and bra. However, while they were here, she planned on getting more. That would obviously mean going to a weapons shop, but it would be worth it. What she was after was a sword of any kind. Any kind that was light and small. There was no way she'd be able to weild a large sword, so something like a katana would be ideal. "Let's get this over with." She mumbled before beginning to go down the slope. Blackjack followed behind her, almost mimicking her steps until he became comfortable with the uneven land. Then he began bounding back and forth between the bottom and Violet, wagging his tail and barking excitedly.

Violet felt sadness stab her chest. Blackjack thought it was time to go back home. It made her feel sick that he didn't realize that this wasn't even close to over. She knew what he was expecting. He was expecting to go home to a dog food bowl filled to the brim with Iams, and fresh water. Vi also knew that he was ready to curl up at the foot of the bed and sleep, but that wasn't what was about to happen. Blackjack barked again, and a groan sounded. Distant, but still too close for comfort. Violet shushed Blackjack, and he began to stick by Violet once more, all excitment gone now that he realized the attention he was attracting.

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ooc; Do we need to move our posting to the actual city now? Or just keep it here until we decide where they will hide out?

[Leroy "Lotto" King]

((ooc: yes, do you want to start the thread in the city, or shall I?))

[Violet G. Monroe]

ooc; I'll start it if you want. I don't mind. ^-^