From the personal journal of Emma Sayers

Year 0, Day 5, Post-Storm

Barre is mostly rubble, but we scavenged. It took most of a day, but I now have a canteen, matches, and some packets of trail mix to add to my stash. We stopped at CVMC on the way. It was mostly vacant but surprisingly intact. A nurse, who seemed to be running the place, fixed Mrs. O'Dell and I up with first aid kits. Why not? The main power was gone, and the generator was on its last legs. There were few people left to treat, and plenty of supplies to spare.

Mr. Ellis decided to stay behind, to help where he could, and gave me his compass (useless or not) and hunting knife. The hospital had plenty of surgical steel with which to defend itself, if it needed to.

--

Mary. Emma shut her eyes, listening to the radio. She liked Mary. Over time, all the announcers had become unseen friends, but Mary reminded her so much of her older sister that it was like listening to a ghost on the airwaves. Who knew a spirit could be so soothing?

She was listening so intently to the radio that she didn't hear the real world again until the click of gun interrupted the sound of the music. In a flash, Emma was on her feet, backpack over her shoulder, radio in one hand, unsheathed knife in the other. She had not survived this long by being slow. On the other hand, she couldn't dodge a bullet any more than she could a dog. "Who are you?" she asked the stranger, staring at the barrel of the gun. "I don't want any trouble."

((I will post by days end. I was just waiting for word back from Rose if she got that this was a while after the storm))

Originally Posted by Darkestofsouls

((I will post by days end. I was just waiting for word back from Rose if she got that this was a while after the storm))

[-]Yea sorry about that, I understood that it was a while after the storm but forgot to put it in the post. I edited it a little so yea, good to go :P[-]

((Awesome, much better :D Now, then, I'll have a post up shortly. LOL for placeholder.))

Sarah watched the other girl carefully for a moment, then sighed, letting go of the Shovel. "Ok. Sorry, but I'm a little on edge." She looked down at her belly, then back up at Rachel. "I'm kind of working for two here." She rested her hand on the top of her belly as she stood. "I'm sorry, but do you have anything I could eat? I've been sitting her for what has to be about two days now." She staggered, tired, and hit her back against the nearby wall, using it to at least remain upright. "Ow."

Mordecai hid against the wall, peaking around it to watch as the Raiders in the train yard moved around. "Well, there are more then I would like, but as many as I expected." He looked at him. "But this area's too open. We'll need to lure them into the city if we want to handle them. Lets try to pick off one of the teams in there first, yeah?" He didn't wait for Isaac's approval as he slipped between a train car and headed towards the town.

As one of the Raiders laid his head back, he sighed, his eyes closed. He could almost hear..... His eyes shot open as the sound of music stopped. "Hey, boss, I think someone's around here." He looked about, but there were plenty of places for someone to hid. "Spread out!" He ordered, and the group started to disperse, hunting around and listening for loud noises.

[-]Once again I need to say sorry; however, I'm just a little bit confused. Do I reply to the black writing? [-]

((Edited and not needed....))

Originally Posted by BlackNBlueRose

[-]Once again I need to say sorry; however, I'm just a little bit confused. Do I reply to the black writing? [-]

((Your group is color-coded red. I guess if mine's black, I should go back and turn off the green... :sweat: ))

Originally Posted by Cicadetta

((Your group is color-coded red. I guess if mine's black, I should go back and turn off the green... :sweat: ))

((wait isnt me and her in the city and Mordecai is in the rail yard?))

Originally Posted by nekokid

((wait isnt me and her in the city and Mordecai is in the rail yard?))

((I thought you were in the Mordecai group though. Just because you haven't all met up yet... :sweat: Well, the DM will know...))

((i really dont know...how about we just reply on this then and wait for her to come back))

((That would probably be okay. My group's the black text, though.))

((hmm ok then))

Mordecai hid against the wall, peaking around it to watch as the Raiders in the train yard moved around. "Well, there are more then I would like, but as many as I expected." He looked at him. "But this area's too open. We'll need to lure them into the city if we want to handle them. Lets try to pick off one of the teams in there first, yeah?" He didn't wait for Isaac's approval as he slipped between a train car and headed towards the town.

Isaac realized that his master was more just letting him know what was going on rather than inquiring for input. He kept his eyes open for potential raider who may be in hiding to ambush. Being in the city always made it easier for an ambush as there were more places to hide. Isaac was painfully aware of their surrounding and kept his senses sharp. He could not fight as well as Mordecai but if he could spot an attack before hand it would help massively.

(( not sure if it is easier for people if everyone in the same group used the same color or not but I figured it wouldn't hurt. Also Dark Isaac is a very talented spotter/tracker so if they do get taken by surprise [very possible cause he isn't a god] it most likely would be done by ninjas XP just kidding [had a point but is a little spacey hopes some of this makes sense]))

Stephanie blinked.

"Don't want trouble? If you didn't want trouble, you wouldn't be anywhere near a city this size," Stephanie said coolly. She didn't lower the gun. "Where're you headin' to?"

Stephanie didn't expect the woman to answer. Why would she? Meh. She shot a glance at Nim, who was starting to emit low, threatening growls.

((Ok, so we want to do group colors? I was just using them to differentiate between my characters. Blue for Sarah, Red for Mordecai, and Black for Raiders. If you guys want to color-code yours in the same way, that's fine, Mordecai's group can be Dark Red, and Sarah's group can be Blue, and Green can be the last group, if we want. Or we can color-code by character, which also works. Whatever you guys like better.))

Originally Posted by Darkestofsouls

Sarah watched the other girl carefully for a moment, then sighed, letting go of the Shovel. "Ok. Sorry, but I'm a little on edge." She looked down at her belly, then back up at Rachel. "I'm kind of working for two here." She rested her hand on the top of her belly as she stood. "I'm sorry, but do you have anything I could eat? I've been sitting her for what has to be about two days now." She staggered, tired, and hit her back against the nearby wall, using it to at least remain upright. "Ow."

Originally Posted by Darkestofsouls

((Ok, so we want to do group colors? I was just using them to differentiate between my characters. Blue for Sarah, Red for Mordecai, and Black for Raiders. If you guys want to color-code yours in the same way, that's fine, Mordecai's group can be Dark Red, and Sarah's group can be Blue, and Green can be the last group, if we want. Or we can color-code by character, which also works. Whatever you guys like better.))

((Color coding in group seems to be good, it might be a bit confusing otherwise :sweat:))

Rachel hurried over to give the other woman a hand. She obviously hadn't eaten in days, from her look. "Of course. Just found a relatively untouched house nearby, it's just over there." She jerked a head towards the house she'd came from. "I'm still looking for water though, haven't been having much luck. But enough talk. Let's get you over there first." Rachel was somewhat glad that the two house's distance wasn't too far apart, so if they hurried, hopefully no one would see them.

Sarah smiled. "Thank you. I'm Sarah, by the way." She looked at her boyfriend one last time, then decided she'd have no choice. She hoped he'd forgive her for not giving him a proper burial. She turned her head suddenly, looking past Rachel and out the door. "I think someone's out there."

((Sorry, Crazy, missed your post earlier, but here's your way in now.))

((ok then dark red then))
Adam started to here the raiders yelling about spreading out as he swore under his breath "Ok you come with me and get the stuff you want and pack up" his said pointing over at Ezabella "we got to get out of here if we dont want to be killed"he said as he moved over to the water fountain and filled up his water bottle and got some more for himself "you can take those Cd's but not the boombox..." he said finshing up with the water

Originally Posted by Wolf-Elf-Child95

Stephanie blinked.

"Don't want trouble? If you didn't want trouble, you wouldn't be anywhere near a city this size," Stephanie said coolly. She didn't lower the gun. "Where're you headin' to?"

Stephanie didn't expect the woman to answer. Why would she? Meh. She shot a glance at Nim, who was starting to emit low, threatening growls.

From the personal journal of Emma Sayers

Year 0, Day 6, Post-Storm

We spent last night in the hospital. The beds were more comfortable than you'd expect, not because they were anything special as hospital beds go, but because neither Mrs. O'Dell nor I expected to be sleeping in another bed anytime soon. There was no power to spare for television or radio, even though we were itching for news about the Storm, and how widespread it had been.

The lack of new patients at CVMC might have been encouraging if not for the loss of power and skeleton crew of a medical staff.

Before we left, the head nurse led a memorial service in the hospital's chapel for all the dead. I decided to hold a private ceremony for my family later.

There were cars in the parking lot, and some of their keys could be found in dead patients' personal effects. It seemed disrespectful to take them, but there didn't seem to be much choice in the matter. Better than hot-wiring them, anyway. Mrs. O'Dell had family near Pittsburgh she needed to find, and I needed one to get out west. I have an aunt and uncle in Lawrence, Kansas, and they’re my best bet right now. I'm hoping this little hatchback will take me to them.

--

"I don’t want any trouble," Emma repeated, hoping her voice wasn't wavering too much. She didn't lower her knife, at least. "A city this size, I'm in, I'm out, I'm gone. Raiders tend to want to... advertise." It sometimes made them easier to avoid, at least some of the groups Emma had encountered. Though not always. Emma had the scars to prove it. She didn't want trouble, but sometimes she was willing to risk it. Sometimes it was even worth it. The fact that she still had her old Army surplus bag was evidence of that.

"I'm headed east," she added. "Thought I'd stop here real quick, see if they still gave out ice water. Guess not, huh?" It was a lame joke, but when all else failed...

[-] I'm still a little confused about what group I am in.... sorry just tell me the color if we are doing the color thing. Then I will be able to get it.....[-]

(( you are in my group and your color is dark red))

Stephanie paused after listening to the womans' explanation. They couldn't just stand here like this forever, and the woman didn't appear to have any weapon other than the knife she was brandishing.

The girl looked around a few times, to make sure that the woman was being truthful about her travelling solo. Nim didn't seem to register anyone hidden in the shadows, either; she would know better than Stephanie.

Rather abruptly, Stephanie crossed her legs where she stood, and sank to the ground, placing the gun on the ground beside her. As if she were following some cue, Nim also relaxed, wagging her tail and lolling her tongue in a doggy-grin.

"Well, I'm goin' the same way's you," Stephanie replied, as if plopping to the ground in the middle of a stare-down were a perfectly normal thing to do. "You don't seem like you got anythin' 'gainst people me me'n Nim. How's 'bout we go together, eh? Might be fun."

From the personal journal of Emma Sayers

Year 0, Day 7, Post-Storm

It's nearly dark, so this entry has to be short. I'm stopped at an abandoned campground of some sort. I've spent the day on winding back roads, since the main routes are either jammed with abandoned cars, or blocked by survivors. The roadblocks aren't manned by anyone official, as far as I can tell, but I never did get close enough to ask for a badge.

There are lots of abandoned places. Has it only been a week? I guess panic does that to people. It is convenient, though. I stopped at a small gas station before I crossed into New York, and managed to fill up my tank manually. The back seat is now stocked with wrenches, pliers, oil, tools I don't even know the names for, in case the car breaks down. Not that I'd know how to fix it, but it makes me feel better, anyway. The food was mostly gone, though, and that's the most important thing.

I'll end up on foot eventually, I'm sure of it.

---

Emma remained standing, balanced on the balls of her feet, ready to run. The stranger's behavior was unusual, to say the least. It wasn't threatening. In fact, it was so much the opposite of threatening that it could easily be a trick. "I have nothing against you," she hedged carefully. "I don't want to hurt you, but how do I know you don't want to hurt me?"

She took another look at the dog. It wasn't threatening at all, and dogs weren't good at hiding their intentions. But this one could still be picking up cues from its owner, she decided. It was better not to trust that, either. Then again, what was the old saw about friends and enemies?

"You know what? Nevermind. If we manage to find a car, will you know how to drive it?"

Stephanie scratched the back of Nim's head as she thought of what to say.

"Well, I s'pose you could say I know how to drive," she said slowly, frowning. "But... I don't have a license." Not that it mattered these days. "I mean, I haven't driven in ages, you know."

"Oh, by th'way," Stephanie added as an after-thought, "Y'don't have to worry 'bout me'n Nim. We're cool with you. You don't got anythin' we want."

((>.> Black and Blue Rose has poofed, and we need her to continue with Chikuma and nekokid. I'd hate to have to drop the person who I started this thread for, but she had 4 days to make some kind of post before I have to do just that.))

((Also, we need Crazy to continue with Crazy and Fading to continue, and Crazy HAS been on, so she also has 4 days to get in touch with me, or that's two dropped, and that won't be much fun :cry:))