01. [Action]

[smallsurvivor]

[Clementine woke with a shudder, body jolting itself awake. She hadn't intended to fall asleep, and particularly not in a place like this. It was a wide open forest, far from the confines of a safe place. She must have been careless, probably exhausted. It was a miracle she woke up with her face still intact! Before she could do anything, there were certain important points that needed to be thoroughly examined. Her arms, suddenly bare (why bare? She'd been wearing two shirts when she was last awake!), didn't seem to have any visible bite marks. Nor did her legs. She was sore around her shoulders, though. Had she been bitten there?? She'd have to find a mirror to be sure.

Or other survivors. Clementine was supposed to be looking for Christa and Omid. She hoped they weren't dead. Moreover, she hoped she wasn't dying. Whatever happened before, staying here was a bad idea. Lee didn't give up everything just so she could forget what he said! She just needed to keep her gun close and--

Oh gosh. Even her gun was missing! She'd have to try to find an abandoned store with some other firearms. And then she'd potentially have to find a way away from whoever cleaned her up and changed her clothes. They were probably really nice people with good intentions, but what if they weren't? Ever since the walkers started shambling around, she'd thought she knew who was trustworthy. But now most of the trustworthy people were dead. And she was on her own and nobody was going to look after her and why wasn't her gun anywhere??

She needed to get moving. She'd go off on her own and she'd figure out where she was and why she was there and then retrace a trail back to Savannah. Christa and Omid were the last semblance of family she had left. They had to be somewhere. Clementine needed them to be somewhere. She needed them to be alive. She needed to touch their faces and gauge the life in their eyes and make sure nothing terrible happened. It was possible that the people who cleaned her up were still alive, but it was just too risky to try to attract anyone's attention. If she came across a pencil and paper, she'd just have to leave a thank you note instead.

At least the river was a landmark. Rivers led to oceans right? If Clementine followed the river far enough she'd have to run into the ocean, which was right next to the Savannah area where she wanted to be. Everything would work itself out. It just had to work itself out. More than enough bad things already happened.

Feel free to encounter Clementine anywhere on her journey. Perhaps she'll find you in the forest going about your business. Maybe you'll spot a silent pint-sized person peeking at you from around a corner near the outskirts of town. Clementine knows better than to approach. Walkers respond to sound. It's important to stay as quiet as possible.]

Comments

[yourfononsarewhack]

[Jade is indeed taking a stroll, hands in the pockets of his military uniform as per the norm, when he catches someone peeking at him nearby. He looks towards the corner she disappeared behind and figured he might as well check it out.]

My, my. Does someone fancy herself a little spy?

[smallsurvivor]

[He's a person who can speak! That's a sign of being alive at least. But he's not someone she's seen before. So what kind of person is he??

She shrinks back mutely, eyes wide. Should she be running right now? She's ready to break into a sprint at the slightest provocation.]

[yourfononsarewhack]

[The horrible kind. But not the kind who is ready to actively horrify little kids. He does stop several feet from her - in his rigid military pose - and gives her something like a friendly smile. Jade is still in his first week here, but he can already pinpoint the clothes of a New Feather.]

Shall I assume that you're new to this world?

[smallsurvivor]

What world?

[It's a tiny question, tentative. How far from Savannah did she wander?]

This. This isn't part of Crawford, is it?

[originaljackass]

[Presently, along the river in the forest, comes a man a whistling a tune. Trotting along behind him is a small dog-sized blue oxen that seems quite happily to trot behind him. He's made no notice of the little girl, just yet. He's happy to just make his way along, oblivious to all else.]

[smallsurvivor]

[fdhsjkfsjglh what is that even. All that noise and a blue-whatsisthing? Clementine can't help but follow behind, even daring to whisper at the man.]

Hey. It's not a good idea to make so much noise.

They can hear you.

[originaljackass]

[Hubba-wha. He turns around and stares at the little kid.

Oh. One of those little dresses.]

What? The suits? Nah, they only listen through the journals. We're good.

[smallsurvivor]

Not them! The Walkers! They'll kill you if they know where you are.

[This guy hasn't been in Georgia in a while, has he?]

[musubi]

[Isamu isn't sure what to make of the little thing creeping around buildings at first. Until he gets a better look, he almost assumes it's an animal.

It's a few minutes before he realizes it's a kid. Probably new. He doesn't know everyone in Luceti by a long shot, but that glimpse of white is a bit telling. New feather garb. He doesn't honestly blame her for being cautious. More new arrivals should be.

Plenty of people arrive like this all the time, so it isn't really any of his business, but unfortunately now that he's seen her he'll feel a little guilty if he just leaves her. Can't have that.

He stops, turning to just flat out stare at the last corner she dashed behind.]

You know, stalking is generally frowned upon.

[smallsurvivor]

[Discovered!! Clementine lets out a short squeal and scrambles several steps backward before she speaks.]

I'm not stalking. I'm just. Looking.

[musubi]

Well that's not a crime. I admit I'm not lacking in the looks department.

I think I'm a bit too old for you, though. Might want to try... oh what's his name... kid that was over at the house the other day... [Well there's that joke ruined.]

Anyway, there's no point scampering around like that. No one here's gonna hurt you.

[Not that he can really speak for everyone, but saying most people wouldn't hurt her isn't as reassuring.]

[bionically]

[It’s approaching two months since the freak accident that had made breathing, coughing, and sneezing a nightmare for him - and being able to enjoying active, relatively pain-free days again is that much more of a blessing especially in the wake of the recent shift that has left him seeking his usual outlets to release his pent-up anger and restlessness. Exhausting physical exercise had a way of quieting the nagging chatter in his mind.

On his way to the Battledome (walking briskly today rather than swinging,) Spencer nearly overlooks the flash of white of Clementine’s new feather dress against the snowy backdrop. But then comes the doubletake. Is that a little kid?]

[smallsurvivor]

[It might be a little kid. The Domed area is huge and imposing on the outside, but looks like it might be warm within? Clem's mostly examining the perimeter of it, trying to climb up to a window to see if it's been overrun by walkers. Her wings are twitchy and puffy in expression of her struggle, little arms straining for purchase during her climb.]

[bionically]

[Hell; his eyes weren’t kidding. Either the poor kid was recently captured and experimented on or was an unfortunate new arrival, judging by the standard Malnosso-issue clothes.

He notes her Herculean effort and keeps a respectful distance for a moment, wondering what exactly she’s aiming to accomplish. Initiating conversation is the best way to find out, and the first step in introducing her to the idea of heading indoors, he muses.]

Careful, kiddo; those wings ain’t gonna keep you up if you slip.

[He tones down the authoritative note to his voice as not to come off as intimidating. Although it's a possibility that his conspicuous, clunky-looking bionic arm will undo that effort.]

[ribbonbon]

[Lately, Pilouette has been making more and more of an effort to familiarize herself with the forest. This day, however, she doesn't quite make it to the forest before spotting an unfamiliar little girl watching her from around the corner of a nearby building. She's not quite sure what to say.

She briefly considers calling out to her, but...maybe this kid is just shy? Instead, she quietly waves, offering a friendly smile.]

[smallsurvivor]

[Waving is okay. Waving is a gesture people do when they're alive. Clementine supposes it's okay to save back. Her arm stretches out to reciprocate the gesture. There. Wave accomplished.

She still doesn't approach, though. That's entirely too terrifying.]

[ribbonbon]

[Oh! A wave. That's good! Pilouette doesn't hang around a lot of kids so she feels the teeniest bit awkward. She takes a step toward her before speaking, but still keeps her distance.]

H...Hey! Are you okay?

[nascidanosargasso]

[Two weeks have passed, and Daisy is still in Keimi's body. Being bound on a smaller body meant for water, it bothered her a little that she would continue to depend on the wheelchair to move around. With only Vice Admiral Smoker's exercises, and her own swimming exercises as a mermaid, she continued to feel vulnerable -- the Battle Dome's options were now limited.

But it was that, or remaining in her room for even more. She continued to wander outside because of it.

While her senses were similarly hampened, Daisy kept her training. She noticed a sudden movement in the corner of her eyes, around the outside of the fourth community housing. Her green head turned, then moved her wheelchair towards it.]

Hello?

[smallsurvivor]

[Is.

Is that a mermaid?

Clementine's not prepared for this. She quickly sprints for the nearest tree, shimmying up into the branches so she might be able to steal a longer look at this mermaid-person. She's got to be dreaming.]

[nascidanosargasso]

[She stops the second she spots the movement behind the forest. Without her augmented sight, it is harder to spot her accurately... but until she notices her. It was a child.

Daisy understood it well: Her own paranoia, and Mendez' lessons about keeping your guard high. She still remembers the training beside the lake when they were all nine.

But she has to help. Daisy turns to where she sees the girl, and puts both hands on her lap, softening her body language.]

It's alright. You're in civilization. You can come out, now.

[sugarglitch]

[So the trees in Luceti aren't peppermint and they aren't doublestriped so at least they don't break on every misstep. But Vanellope hangs out on them every now and then, anyway. They're good places for stalking unsuspecting people. Like kids! There were so few kids her age around that she follows her for a few meters, glitching from branch to branch until her curiosity gets the best of her.

She teleports a few feet ahead so that when she speaks up and Clem looks - she's right in front of her.]

Hello!

[smallsurvivor]

[It's enough to startle her, but she doesn't quite scream in the traditional way. She shrieks while inhaling, muting the noise as she stumbles back.

Fellow small person, she has no idea who you are or how you did that, but that is not okay. There's a beat before she thinks to add:] You're too loud. They'll get you if you're loud.

[sugarglitch]

Oh. Sorry. [She drops her voice to a whisper, tucking her head down while glancing around at the relatively empty forest around them.]

Who's "they"?

[dancing_flames]

[Shuda may only have one eye, but that doesn't mean he can't tell that there's someone staring at him from behind one of the buildings. He's a swordsman, and one of the most important skills a swordsman can have is the ability to sense when there are potential enemies around. A glance out of the corner of his eye tells him that there's nothing to worry about, however; if anything, she seems more scared of him than anything else. Not that he blames her-- he's not exactly the most reassuring-looking person with his scars, missing eye, and cybernetic hand.

At least he's used to this.]

You can come out of there. I'm not going to hurt you.

[knightofratatosk]

[While Clem may not be willing to approach others, this particular furball has no such hesitation and will come trotting right up to her, plunking down on the ground in front of her and trilling to say hello. Okay, so he's a little strange-looking, but see? He's friendly!

And he would very much appreciate being petted, if she doesn't freak out over him first.]