#missmvrder 002

[isolatednights]

aiyla had always been told the pain of loss eased with time ⸻ yet the memories still tugged at her heartstrings like nothing else. she hums softly in agreement, "it certainly was a sight." there's more at the tip of her tongue ( the admission that once, she'd wanted a bunch of kids of her own, but that seems to private of a truth to share ⸻ not when she knows such a thing would only caused looks of pity or question her sanity for wishing such a thing in this sort of world ). "so much glitter. i would find it weeks later clinging to the most random items." blue hues flicker over his attire as her head tilts slightly in interest to his admission. "it's safe to assume that when we scavenge for clothing and i pick something out that it's something you would have worn previously then? that'll just leave making you something you'd actually like that much easier as well," the latter bit more so mumbled to herself than anything.

one thing at a time. at the very least, she could manage that. releasing a soft puff of a breath, her head inclined to a nod ⸻ happy to leave everything else to him for the time being at least. at the mention of stopping for the evening however, hues flicker down the street toward the remaining houses they have to hit. there's a temptation to push him into looking through them, but the light is growing scarce, so with a sigh, she too concedes to this. "please don't tell me you'll be referring to me as machete from now on," she murmurs, giving his arm a little nudge as she steps around him back toward the house they've been hunkering down into. "and if you are, just know it's fair game for me to come up with something for you in turn."

It was easy to forget that there had been a life before this, that everyone had been someone else. Many people didn't like to talk about the before, the person they were once being gone entirely. Others seemed to only want to talk about the before and these were the kind of people Hudson tended to avoid. There was no use in trying to relive to good old day, they were gone forever and nothing would bring back the world they once knew. Maybe it seemed harsh to some but Hudson was all about surviving now and the dwelling didn't help. "God, you being swarmed by tiny humans is something I'd love to see," he said with a laugh. "Was there a lot of glitters involved?" Maybe back then they could have been something, Hudson wasn't the monster he had become. Or maybe that monster was there, inside of him, ready to come out and it only needed the right conditions to do so. That was what he told himself, when the guilt of his action was too strong, that it was in his nature. More than anything, it was a way for him to discharge all responsibilities of his actions, to not bear the weight of it. And Aiyla, she made him want to do both, to accept the full consequences of his actions and to run away from them as far as possible. "The end of the world has not changed much to my style." It wasn't entirely true, but he had never been the suit and tie kind of guy either. "Of course it will be magnificent. I'm already sorry for laughing about it and can't wait to wear what will be the greatest blob of wool of all time."

There had been comfort in Aiyla depending so heavily on him, some sick way of knowing she needed him and would stay by his side. It allowed him to feel good about himself, to be the hero for once and it wasn't a feeling he wanted to let go anytime soon. But he needed to, for her own good. There was no telling if Hudson would always be there, not that it would happen by choice, but Aiyla needed to be able to defend herself. "Right now, that's enough. If you focus on too many things at once, you're not really focusing on anything." There was endurance, speed and strength, all things that they all needed to work on all the time but that could come later. If she was able to stand her ground, that would be a good start. "Come on machete, for tonight it's enough."

[isolatednights]

a snort escapes her at the words. "can't say heels and designer anything would have held up against a bunch of unruly kindergarteners." she remarked, a dull ache pulling at her chest at the mention of her former occupation. aiyla had loved her job ⸻ when the world had begun to crumble, she'd tortured herself with wondering what had happened to the class of rambunctious little ones ( had nearly broken down once or twice since they'd left the camp behind and she's thought after the kids there ; managing to keep herself together and shove the thoughts into some dark crevice of her mind she'd not bothered with since ). "certainly an amusing picture though. what about you? were you a suit and tie sorta man, or more rugged?" blue hues eye him curiously. they've relied on one another for so much, yet there is still so much aiyla doesn't know about her companion. "well of course it will be a taunt ⸻ one that will stop the second you get on your knees and beg for forgiveness and compliment my magnificent creations. then ill give in and take pity on you and bundle you right up," she laughs.

the reassurance he offers is kind ⸻ it ought to put any of her worries at ease, yet aiyla still feels a lick of embarrassment. the fact that she's not bothered to better herself prior to now and relied so heavily upon hudson causes another bout of guilt to surface. dancing away from him a few more steps, brows draw together into a small frown at his words. "oh ⸻" that... would be an adjustment. aiyla had grown used to trudging along beside him without much of a second thought ; occasionally allowing her mind to drift knowing he'd keep an eye on them both. flushing, blue hues flicker away from him. "yeah. i ⸻ yeah, okay. i can do that. what um, what else should i be working on?"

All Hudson could do at her fashion comment was laugh. He considered himself luckier than her with the clothes they found, shirts and pants often all fitted the same when they were his size or close. But it seemed that nothing fit her the way it should, not that it really mattered. They had clothes that were clean enough and warm enough, for now. They even had found a few winter things that should get them through winter. "What, not the fancy heels and designer clothes you used to wear?" He was just teasing but there was a part of Hudson that couldn't help but wonder what she had been like before, if the woman he knew and liked was anything like the one she was today. He was far from being the man he had been, but Aiyla didn't know the darkness that was just under the surface when it came to him. "Yes, I know you'll turn yourself into some marshmellow woman. Once you start, you won't be able to stop." He laughed harder at the idea of Aiyla no longer being able to walk because she had knitted herself too much. "And I'll be freezing because you don't want to share. Every layer will be one more taunt."

Hudson was relieved that she didn't take offence in his words, at least not in appearances. All he wanted was for her to stay alive. "You'll be better soon, I know it," he said trying to soften the words he had just said about all of it being luck. He knew that launching at her like that would caught her off-guard but he needed to see her to do to evaluate what should be changed. And if he was being honest, there was a lot that should be worked on, he just didn't know what to work on first. She wasn't bad, she just wasn't prepared the way she should. And even realizing that, Hudson felt some sort of anger, because she shouldn't have to be prepared for any of this. Not because he wanted to be her knight in a shinning armor at all cost, which if he was honest with himself pleased him to be, but because good people like Aiyla shouldn't have to be afraid, to constantly fight for survival. "From now on, I could be coming at you anytime. It's the only way to be sure you're prepared. Everything I come near you, I need you to think I'm coming at you, okay?"

[isolatednights]

another laugh escapes her ⸻ aiyla shooting the man an amused look. "what, my current fashion choices aren't enough for you?" there were essentials the woman kept ( shoes, a jacket and hat when the need called for it ), but everything else was an assortment of mixed-matched articles found when they scavenged homes, replaced as needed. the extras rarely fit the way they should, and while the woman had initially attempted keeping everything tidy, aiyla had lost her pickiness months prior and now just took whatever worked. "until i can't walk? how much do you think i'll be making to turn myself into a colorful marshmellow man?" the thought causes another bout of laughter to escape her, head shaking. "i'd try at least. would probably make time to make it ours, you know? but i imagine over time we'd grab little trinkets on trips out, books. make it less a place to lay our heads and more a home." that was the dream at least. something aiyla would continue to look forward to, even if it continued to be some 'what if' in the distant future.

part of her thinks she ought to feel hurt by how quickly the word tumbles from hudson's throat, but another part can't help but agree. the time she'd spent alone ( prior to the group ⸻ prior to hudson ) had been relatively short lived and looking back, it did seem a bit like a string of good luck that had allowed her to manage on her own for as long as she had. "better is all i can ask for," she eventually settles on before falling silent to listen to the rest of his words. the woman is forced to press her lips together ( to prevent herself from noting that she would only ever need to defend herself for long enough for him to get to her ⸻ but quickly realized that admitting how much she relied on him seemed... weak? foolish? ). "alright. fall into the stance whenever i can and practice." not that aiyla tended to spend much time standing about with how often they seemed to be moving, but perhaps she could watch more closely how hudson walked and try to mimic that. the order to block ( followed by his sharp approach ) caused a squeak of surprise to escape her ⸻ feet back pedaling half a step as she rose to try to do as instructed.

Maybe his teasing hadn't been fair but Hudson needed to reminded himself that he had done a good thing at least once since the outbreak. He needed to feel important in her eyes. Because too many times, Hudson doubted himself. He knew she would be better off with another group or at least someone honest. But for now, all she had was himself and parts of the man wondered if all he was doing was keeping her away from all of that, from what would be best for her, or what he thought would be. "I'd pay to see that, you dressed up in all sort of colors, probably not even able to walk because of how many layers you'd have," he said with a chuckle. "The outside doesn't have to look like much but I know you'd make any house great on the inside." Could he dare dream of that, hope it could come true? They could be safe and happy, for a while in such a place.

"Luck," he said before thinking, a word he now regretted. It was his fear of loosing her that had talk, that wanted her more protected, shielded from anything and everything that could hurt her, him included. "You made a few good moves with it but it's not enough." It would never be enough, not when it came to her safety. "But we can try to make you even better." It wasn't like she had much of a choice, not if they kept going like they were and even if she decided to find another camp, this wasn't the kind of world where not being able to defend yourself was possible anymore. "No, you won't have time to think about much if anyone or anything comes at you. That's why we make it instinct, it has to become muscle memory." He had thought a few how to fight before, mostly for sport, before the outbreak. But this was different, this was survival. "Best way is to get into that position as much as possible, whenever you can, even when just standing. You need to just get into that position without thinking." Having a good stance was only part of the battle. "You don't carry much weight so you'll have to use your opponent. For now we should focus on defence before getting into offence." Slowly walking to her, there was half a smirk on his features. "Block," he said before gently launching at her to test her reflexes.

[isolatednights]

"oh yes, because i would definitely be diving had first into danger without your gentle, guiding hand," she laughs. as teasing as the statement is, aiyla knows there is some truth in it. since the camp had fallen, hudson had given her proper direction ( a reason to be cautious when looking for supplies ⸻ a reason to keep moving forward. there was no telling what she would have done had she been alone after all that had gone down ). "no ⸻ now i don't think i'll make you one. i'm going to wrap myself up in a plethora of lovingly homemade, slightly disfigured looking scarfs, hats, gloves, you name it and you can sit there envious. only once you're on your knees begging am i going to give you one now." her jovial attitude dimes slightly at the mention of raiders. aiyla had been fortunate never to run into any before, but when newcomers had trickled into the camp she'd heard rumors here and there about what some people were willing to do to survive these days. "suppose you're right. maybe we'll get lucky and the house we pick wont be visible from the mainland so we can actually make it a home and not have to make it appear abandoned," she muses.

"at least i know how to kill the undead with it if needed," not that there had been much of that as of late. a few stragglers that wandered too close, but hudson always seemed to get there first ( and they avoided large numbers as it was ). machete set aside, she carefully shifted her feet into the fighting stance she'd been taught by someone at the camp sometime before hudson had shown up. "hows this look?" blue hues rise to look at him and a brow rises, "will i even have time to worry about planting my feet if someones coming at me?" she murmurs.

"Oh, the idea of moving to the coast is all yours, I was talking about the keeping you alive one," he said with a grin before chuckling. Moment like these made it all worth it, the running scared, not knowing when they'd be safe. Not that he had shown it to her, that he was scared too. But to talk with her like this, to exchange banters and laugh, it was made him go on, what he held onto when things got harder. "I'll wear it but I'll bitch and moan about it." He would do it, just for the sake of it, but he'd be happy to wear it. When Aiyla said she didn't knew how to knit, Hudson laughed. "Oh it's going to be something to see if you don't know how. Maybe you should practice on one for yourself first." As if fashion even mattered anymore. Warm was warm, no matter the look of it. "That could work but I don't if I'd rather do something that would give off a more abandoned look to it. There are people out there who don't care about others." If anyone knew that, it was Hudson. After all, he was one of these people. "They'll see something protect and will want it."

"I'm very worried about my ass but mostly because you don't really know how to use it yet," Hudson said with a laugh. There was nothing more dangerous than someone waving around a weapon they didn't know how to use. "Dammit," he cursed under his breath as Aiyla walked out. She knew he would follow after her. "Hand to hand it is." As if he had a choice. Hudson knew she would come after him no matter what. "We'll keep it for last. Show me your stance," he said, motioning to her feet. It seemed this wouldn't be the nice and quiet night he thought they'd have and maybe that was for the best.

[isolatednights]

"oh yes, because i contributed nothing to this plan whatsoever," she remarks, eyes sparkling with amusements as they roll. "you'll get what you get and you'll like it," aiyla teases, but makes a mental note of the comment all the same. if they somehow manage to stumble upon the supplies, she'll be sure to pluck the green and blue. at the question over whether or not she can actually knit is posed, the woman can't help but snort. "absolutely no idea. but i'm sure it can't be that hard." likely one of many useful skills to learn, if they were capable of finding the supplies for it and if they really were planning to hunker down somewhere long term. eyeing the map one final time, she hums in thought. aiyla had worked as a kindergarten teacher before all this had happened ⸻ defensive planning wasn't exactly her strong suit, but she'd always done well on the creativity front. "maybe a wall on either side of the bridge? with some sort of spiked barricades scattered between in case the first wall fails? we can look at it all once we get there of course but it's a thought."

something about the nickname ( honey ) makes her skin tingle pleasantly ⸻ goosebumps flushing over her skin and aiyla is abruptly turning to step out the door to hide her reaction from the man. "you're just worried i'd kick your ass if i did," a grin is flashed over her shoulder before she's peeking out the window to ensure the street is still clear and stepping out the front door ⸻ knowing full well he'll follow along right behind her. "i figured hand to hand would be a bit more of a useful start anyways." the undead were something she'd grown more familiar with dealing with since they'd been on their own ⸻ it was people she was more worried about. "the shed with the seeds is over at that house," pointing in the direction, her brow furrows, "figured we could hit that last. a nice, easy last stop?"

"Of course it's a perfect plan, it's mine after all," Hudson said with a bright smile. Keeping her alive was the only thing that mattered to him, the only thing that made him feel like a good man, or at least, as close to such a thing he could ever be again. Not that he would ever tell her that, or anyone. Maybe he needed to pretend his past didn't exist, keep her as far away from it as possible just so he could feel almost worthy to have her look at him like she did, to have her trust him. Because if Aiyla knew the truth about him, she would want to be as far away from him as possible. And Hudson wouldn't blame her. Some days, he could barely stand himself. The man was way past telling himself he did what he did because it was what was needed to survive, not after he met so many people who did things differently. And even when he could try and fool himself, Hudson knew, deep down, that he had a choice and was making the wrong one. And yet, he didn't care back then. Now things were different because of her. It was just too late.

"Nothing yellow please, it really clashes with my complexion. I'm partial to green but blue I could see working." If Aiyla knitted him anything, he would be happy and cherish whatever she made. And he knew a scarf could be useful. "Do you really know how to knit?" Somehow, he thought only old ladies knew how to knit but it also wouldn't surprise him if she could. The woman's laugh was a sound Hudson never tired of hearing and he joined her with his own chuckles. "I wouldn't risk destroying the road entirely, just in case this hypothetical boat of yours break down or something," he said as he looked at the map. "But depending on what we find there, we could find a way to secure it. We wouldn't need the full road, just enough to pass for supply hunts and such." At Aiyla's pointing the door, and showing the machete that Hudson swore was a big as her, he put his hands in the air as surrender. "I'm not letting you swing that at me in the dark honey but tomorrow, maybe."

[isolatednights]

fond memory certainly is one way to put it and she can't help but chuckle softly at his request, "that sounds like a perfect plan to me." and avoiding others are they currently were? the only things they really needed to worry about were supplies and the undead. they moved with such care ⸻ planned things so carefully, but aiyla could see where his reasoning was coming from ( and knew there would be no dissuading him ). "well, how about we start lessons then? at least when we're bunking down somewhere relatively safe and have the time?" she waves around the house they've been residing in as of late. this was probably a lost opportunity now that they were planning to move on in the morning, but there was always that night, wasn't there?

"tease all you want, but you'll be begging me to make you a scarf before winters up, mark my words!" there's a grin on her face because she can almost picture it ⸻ the man wrapped up in some monstrosity she's made because aiyla's never actually knit before in her life, and in the most peculiar color because who can be picky in this day and age? a few bubbly giggles escape her at the thought before her attention is turning to where he's pointed on the map. it's a small little island, but a peppering of cabins and cottages might be good. they could be outfit for other purposes ( or other people ). "looks like theres a road on to the island, think we could secure it easy enough?" she questions, casting him a brief glance. "or, maybe if we find a boat we could always find a way to destroy it? really ensure its safe there?" either way, it was better than any other option thus far. "perfect," snatching the machete she'd taken to carrying around, her head cocked toward the door, "ready to go when you are then."

You're the reason I'm alive. Hudson knew the words were meant to comfort him but it wasn't working. The man shouldn't be the only reason she was alive. Anger was rising again, flashbacks of that day, of her being almost surrounded, or being in such danger and Hudson's fists closed under the table, clinching so hard that they were turning white. He didn't want Aiyla to see it, to glimpse at the anger festering deep inside of him, often threatening to boil over the surface. There was a part of him that worried that she would want to leave his side if she saw the monster in him. The way Aiyla looked at him was so open, so full of trust that Hudson didn't want to ruin that. She was the only good thing that crossed his path since the outbreak and when he was near her, he almost believed he could be a better man. "As much as it's a flattering thing to hear and such a fond memory, I'd rather not redo the whole thing, if that's okay with you." He wanted his tone to be playful and reassuring but her next words drove right through him. "It would be my fault if I hadn't been able to protect you Aiyla. So until we work on your aim and kicks, I need you safe." Hudson would never say that she couldn't be able to defend herself, eventually, but it would take more training before that day came.

"Does your magical place also comes with a rocking chair and some yarn to knit grandma?" He was teasing now but it does sounded magical and as close to heaven as one could have these days. Focusing on the map once more, Hudson eventually pointed an area they hadn't explored yet. "I remember this place having a few cabins and cottages. Nothing too fancy that rich folks would want to secure and hide in. That's where we go." Maybe there would be other survivors but somehow, Hudson doubted. At least not many, mostly isolated people, or they'd hear about such a camp existing. After all, before he settled into the same camp as Aiyla, that was his job, raiding places. Just one more thing to the list of things he knew Aiyla would dislike about him. The softest and warmth of her lips left him speechless, the brush of them on his cheek being more than he deserved, and less than he wanted. "Good thing I actually like being stuck with you," he said clearing his throat. "Seeds packs are a great idea and it's not like they'll cost us space."

[isolatednights]

with their plan to move on the following morning, aiyla knew they'd have to be thorough in the few houses that remained ( and maybe return to one or two they'd already gone through to finish picking it clean now that they were thinking of settling down ⸻ before, she'd looked over supplies that might be used to establish themselves ; gardening tools, packets of seeds ⸻ things she thought might be worth while going back for now ). his words tear her from her internal musings, brow furrowing. "hudson..." she murmurs. "you're the reason i'm alive." despite how much of that day was a blur of panic, aiyla had long since come to the realization that there was no way she would have made it out of that camp without him guiding her along. and every day since, he was the reason she never went to bed hungry. why she could safely sleep at night and why she had the drive to keep going. "and if something were to happen to me? it wouldn't be your fault. the world wasn't safe before, and it isn't safe now. so try not to worry yourself over the what ifs that may never happen. right now, we're both alive and well. lets focus on that instead, hm? or if you want to think about the future, maybe something more hopeful? like finding that magical place for us ⸻ a roaring fire on a cold night, tucked away in a cabin we know the dead can't get to. sounds much better to me."

blue hues watch him for a moment before she's pushing to her feet ⸻ leaning forward half way to press a kiss to his cheek and murmur, "besides, you're stuck with me chan." pulling away with a smile, aiyla pads over to the pack she'd prepared earlier that morning and slings it over her shoulder. "let's explore those few houses. there was a shed at one of the others i wanted to head back to as well ⸻ seed packs are probably worth grabbing now, right?"

If Hudson had been a better man, someone kind and gentle like Aiyla, he would have cared about everyone they had left behind. He would have felt sad and angry for them and would have wondered, like Aiyla had just did, if anyone else had made it out alive. Maybe he even would have tried to go back for them, or try to look for any survivors. But he wasn't that kind of man, at least not anymore and he didn't if he could ever be like that. All Hudson cared about was that she was safe. Aiyla hadn't let anything tarnish her, had remained so perfectly generous and loving that Hudson sometimes looked at her and wondered how she had done it, not let the weight of it turn her angry and sour, like he had. "Couple more," he agreed. He constantly feared that the house they missed or the one they passed would have been the one with the thing they needed the most, as if such a thing even existed, as if what they really needed could be found in some abandoned house.

The way Aiyla correct him was not lost on Hudson and he couldn't help but softly laugh at it. The woman had proved to be an asset in more way than he thought she could ever be and it was clear she had no desire to be left behind. But at the same time, if they did found some secure place to settle, the man knew he would fight hard to keep her there as much as possible. All he wanted was to protect so the idea of putting her in harm's way was not something he wanted to think about. "We'll see if we ever get that magical place to ourselves. I'm already putting you in enough danger as it is. If something happened to you because of me, I couldn't forgive myself." He had almost lost her once already and that moment was one that he replay too often already.

[isolatednights]

when blues hues flicker to look at him, her expression is a mix of sad understanding. they'll never know exactly what caused their camp to crumble the way it had, but aiyla can understand why the man might believe it was the greed ( or stupidity ) of others that was its cause. she would like to believe that it was just a string of bad luck and poor circumstances ⸻ but perhaps that's naive of her. when he eases into the seat beside her, the woman reaches out almost blindly to scoop up his hand and offer it a gentle squeeze of understanding ( both at his anger and the quiet admission he supplies after the fact ).

"couple more houses in the neighborhood we could hit today. leave first thing in the morning?" aiyla had a general idea which way they would need to drive to get toward the coast. and now that they had a plan, there were other things she was mentally adding to her list of what to grab ( things that might not have been essential with them moving around as they were, but might be needed or wanted if they really did find a place to settle ). it was a prospect that gave her hope ⸻ the thought of having a place to call home again. "we could go on a run for more supplies," she corrects gently. "even if we manage to find someplace safe, i'm not just going to wait around while you go out on your own. we stick together."

It had been a mistake to ask her that, something Hudson knew the moment the words left his mouth. The man didn't know what make him more afraid, that she would say she missed and he would do everything in his power to find another camp for her or that Aiyla thought he was asking that to get rid of her somehow. And asking the question too close to asking himself if he missed it. If some part of him hadn't felt like he belonged there, despite everything he told himself. When the world went to hell, Hudson lost everyone he cared about, either as they died in front of him, powerless to help them or because they had been too far when communications were caught. For so long, he had searched for those whose whereabouts he didn't know, inquired to everyone he met but it seemed impossible to find anyone. And then he came upon the camp. Hudson didn't want to feel at ease, didn't want to get attached to anyone, didn't want to replace anyone. Aiyla changed all that or maybe, she changed him. The man hadn't realized how much he cared for her until he risked everything for her. Now he was holding onto her, maybe more than she was to him.

"If everyone was so great, how did that happened?" Hudson couldn't help the anger poking into his voice. But she was right, there had been some normalcy to the camp and he had enjoyed the same things as her, missed them to this day, even if he had tried his best not to. "I know," he said softly, sitting down next to Aiyla. "There are things I miss to." This was an admission he never made to anyone, that he had found something for himself there too. "That sounds like the best plan. We have almost everything to do all of that, we just need to find the best place. Then we can see what we're missing and once everything is secure, I could try to make a run for more supplies or something." Maybe they could even find other people that thought like them, people that could form a close-knit community. Right there and now, Hudson had the sudden realization that if it was what Aiyla wanted, he would do it.

[isolatednights]

the mention of their last camp makes her shudder. with how quickly things had fallen into chaos that day, a lot of what occurred was a blur ⸻ what she can vividly remember however, is hudson's hand in hers, the sound of panicked screams and the feel of other bodies colliding into her as they all attempted to flee. she still thinks about it sometimes ⸻ during long stretches of night when sleep evades her.

when hudson clips on the suggestion of another camp, she stills. a moment passes before shoulders hunch and her head hangs ( the weight on her palms increasing against the table ever so slightly ). did she miss it? certain aspects, maybe. but people had grown unpredictable since things had gone belly up ⸻ the worst traits of humanity rising to the surface, and people did terrible things when desperate. "i miss the relative normalcy," she murmurs. "the group dinners. the laughter. watching after those kids. the last camp.... we were lucky. a lot of them were decent people. i don't know how many of those are left these days," its a quiet admission ⸻ as if made out of shame. "i know they say safety in numbers or whatever," not that she believed that anymore, given how quickly their group had turned against one another in favor of trying to survive when the camp had fallen, "but we've managed on our own thus far pretty well. i think we head toward the coast. maybe see if there's an inhabitable island with a water source. try and actually settle somewhere. fish. make a garden. water collectors."

"I just don't want last time to happen again." His words were sharp and tense, the reminder of how he almost lost her not something he liked. He was still convinced that someone had been careless or worse, planned the whole attack. There was no way that a camp that looked that secured could just suddenly be taken over. For a man who had trust issues before that incident, the days since had solidified every thought he had about camps and the people who ran them. Hudson didn't know if the solitary life was what he could do for the rest of his life but he also couldn't see himself joining another group of survivors, at least not now.

Following the movement of Aiyla's hand, his eyes once again settled on the map. There were times when all he wanted to do was burn the damn thing and the more colored it got, the more he had to fight that feeling of anger. "We've been lucky gathering supply but we're bound to run out of luck soon." Hudson was a realistic, not an optimistic man. The man fell silent for a moment, as he mulled over their options, which were too few for his likings. If he was alone, maybe he'd risk a couple of other cities but his mind didn't think only of that singular now. Which at times added to his frustration. "I think our best options are the coast or another camp." He couldn't believe he was saying it but he had to think of her too. "Do you miss it?" Hudson couldn't even look at Aiyla as he asked her that question, too afraid of the answer. If she said she wanted to find another camp, could he stay, only for her?

[isolatednights]

"when was the last time we saw another living person?" she counters with an arched brow ⸻ blue hues raising once more to look at her companion. aiyla wasn't entirely convinced that heading to the coast was the best option ( because if she'd had the thought, surely others had as well ), but they'd spent so long wandering aimlessly, bumping between one location and the next ( driven by lack of supplies and the undead ). at some point, they needed to think long term. releasing a soft sigh, a hand smooths over the map once more.

"i don't know where else we'd go," the admission comes quietly. "the cities are too dangerous." crawling with the undead, last she'd known. "and at some point we're going to stop finding neighborhoods like this. other survivors would have picked through them all, right?" and aiyla isn't some great survivalist. she's managed this long because she's had hudson, but what would they do if the food ran out? hunt? aiyla's aim was decent, but tracking something? god help them. "do you think its best? heading to the coast?"

If Hudson was honest, he hadn't even thought before jumping in to save Aiyla's life. He was the knight in shinning armor type, knew too well that his survival was his own only and thought the same extended to others. Never before had he hesitate before saving himself first but when he saw her overpowered, something stronger than his logic took hold. The man didn't hesitate to save her, even if it meant his own life. They've been travelling together since, keeping to themselves. Maybe camp life hadn't been for him or maybe he just felt too protective of the woman now to let go. Whatever it was, he refused to think about or even let her thank him when they both made it out alive. Survival had become more complicated now because for the first time since the outbreak, it didn't mean only his, a thought that would petrify him if he was honest with himself.

"What are the chances of us finding a water source that hasn't been claimed? We've been lucky with this neighbourhood but maybe that's just because whoever was here fled there." Still, despite his questioning, it was most likely their best chance of making it in the long run. Hudson sighed as he looked over her shoulder at the map that was way too colored for his liking. "If you think that's best, we can leave by morning."