Urban Dead: The Price of the Oath

[Caz]

"Do I get the same promise from you?" she asked, watching him closely.

[Josh]

"No, because I'll make sure you have time to get away. No compromising there, and you know why. You can smack me later."

[Caz]

For a moment, she looked as though she was about to object, but thought better of it and closed her mouth.

Standing up on the tips of her toes, she kissed him, chaste and quick.

"Let's go," she said, pulling the hood of the sheepskin coat up over her head. "It's only going to get colder."

[Caz]

For a moment, she looked as though she was about to object, but thought better of it and closed her mouth.

Standing up on the tips of her toes, she kissed him, chaste and quick.

"Let's go," she said, pulling the hood of the sheepskin coat up over her head. "It's only going to get colder."

[Josh]

"Time's wasting," he agreed, starting out the door. God damn her and her stubborness anyway. This was the one and only time...

[Caz]

She nodded, looked to Petro, then transmitted:

"Perhaps we could pick you up, then?" she asked. "There are some empty buildings within the perimeter. Less risk."

[Josh]

He blinked. "We never did get that damn radio..." He headed for one of the precious hoarded pickups, clambering and getting it started and warming up.

[Cynical Cat]

"Yes. Be wary. The leaders are keeping their hordes in doors. Warmer. Will spring out and attack. Almost got me."

[Cynical Cat]

She nodded, looked to Petro, then transmitted:"Perhaps we could pick you up, then?" she asked. "There are some empty buildings within the perimeter. Less risk."

Wendigo thought for a moment. "I have flares. They aren't using tools yet. I will go to safe spot. Let one off." The ghoul put on his heavy overcoat. Time to brave the cold.

[Josh]

Well, the world couldn't get any MORE insane, he supposed as he put his hands in front of the heater.

[Caz]

"Sounds like a plan," she agreed. "Be careful. Queen Bee out."

Melanie absently brushed her bangs behind her ears. They let the truck idle for a few moments as they waited for the signal.

[Josh]

"Yeah, good luck," he said after she let off the transmit key, shaking his head.

[Cynical Cat]

The shamblers didn't see to well in the dark and he didn't smell like prey. And he had learned to recognize their places. Enforcing even rudimentary stealth discipline on a mindless horde was pretty much impossible. He skirted the known places and kept his eyes and ears open for clues. It took him fifteen minutes to find a relatively safe area. He lit a flare and threw it into the night sky.

[Caz]

She looked to Petro. "What?" she asked in response to his sarcasm.

[Josh]

"Nothing," he said as he threw the truck into gear, heading for the flare. "We stop short and walk in from there."

It wasn't nothing. He didn't want a fucking thing to do with any zombies. They were the god damned enemy, and purging them out of the city was the only solution that would really satisfy him. It was intensely personal.

[Caz]

Melanie allowed the man to take point this time, partially because of their argument and partially because she would be better cover fire with the pistol than he'd be with the shotgun's range.

The safe area was the roof of a multi-level carpark used by a series of flat complexes in the area, and Melanie pointed them toward the outer steps so as to avoid walking through the ruined vehicles. Who knew what surprises would lurk there.

[Josh]

The shotgun was sweet, new and clean and fresh, test-fired just after receiving it, and chopped down to just past the slide. He moved up the outer steps, weapon at ready, watching the ice build-up carefully.

[Cynical Cat]

The did a last minute double check of the area.

[Caz]

As they neared the roof, she gently grabbed Petro's shoulder, holding him back.

"We're here!" she called.

"Are we still all clear?"

[Cynical Cat]

He emerged from the shadows. "Only ferals out now. Too cold. They're slow. Vulnerable. Leaders keeping them inside at night."

[Caz]

She holstered her weapon, nodded to him as she approached.

"How's the leg?" she asked, crouching to inspect the splint work.

And then she seemed to remember Petro's presence there. She glanced over her shoulder, beckoned for him to join them.

"You've already met, correct?" she asked.

[Cynical Cat]

"Yes. The leg is good."

[Josh]

He kept the shotgun up, but not pointed at Reaper. "Yeah, we met," he said, carefully keeping his poker face up.

[Cynical Cat]

"You wanted to speak."

[Caz]

"As did he," she said with a nod to Petro. She went to business:

"I've registered your radio code-name with the Emerald Guard," she said. "If you need aid or assistance or just a replenishing of any supplies, you can reach them on channel nineteen."

And her gaze drifted to her husband.