Urban Dead: The Price of the Oath

[Pcm979]

"Oh hush, you," Melanie said. She kissed Punt on the cheek. "Thanks for behaving," she said with a wink. "And for being there for Jared."

Punt mumbled something vague and headed off towards the infirmary, Jared nearby.

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[Pcm979]

"Well back then it was an idea worth mocking," she said. "I was so unstable..." She leaned against Mike with a contented sigh.

He chuckled and snuggled closer. After a moment, he asked in a musing fashion:

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[Josh]

One day later

Sun set under the edge of the clouds, painting the overcast in rich reds and oranges. He flicked open the lighter and lit his cigarette, then looked at the fading sun.

Darek's condition was still up in the air. The Irregulars were going to need time to rebuild. Malton appeared to be in for one of the coldest winters he'd ever seen since his family had moved into the city.

The last one was a blessing, so long as it held.

He took a drag on the cigarette, crouching on one of the rooftop utility buildings, and looked out over the field. One of the patrol teams was trudging in, having been relieved from the line. Tomorrow, work would resume as they continued to extend their defensive perimeter in anticipation of spring.

Maybe the government would get their shit together and figure out how to get them out of this mess. Or maybe the world in general would just fall apart if the virus got out.

Either way, they were going to be ready. They'd weathered another storm, these people, and he knew in his bones they could face whatever was coming.

One of the rooftop exit doors opened. He spotted a familiar flash of red hair, before a small hood was pulled over it, and grinned. Flipping the cigarette away, he bounced down to the roof and walked toward her.

It was good to be home.