The blade he put close to Mew's jugular vein starts to graze his skin.
"I lead a group, we have shelter, you don't have to be on the run forever."
"I don't trust human, I can kill walkers on my own."
"Good, we need your skill."
"What's in it for me?"
"Food and bed?"

#EmFlashFic

"Name?"
"Gulf."
"OK Gulf, release me so I can treat your wound. My friend is outside, we have a car and rifles."
The radio beeps.
"Hurry up, there are walkers in front of me. Stop adopting stray cats!" Tul protests.
"This is no ordinary cat."
"You said that about Win and Becky."

Gulf let go of his neck and Mew coughs.
"Sorry." Gulf mumbles.
"It's okay, that's a good survival instinct, I shouldn't have sneak up on you."
Mew looks at the set of knives strapped tightly around his hips.
"Alone?"
"Yes."
"How long?"
"Since Christmas."
"Wow. Tul, heard that?"

"He must went through a lot. Hurry pack the foods and meds, before Maengmum chew our heads." Tul said from the radio HT.
"How about the walkers?" Mew asks as he sweeps the canned foods into his bag.
"Bloody blast their heads, don't worry."
"Thanks."
Gulf follows him to the car.

Gulf sits on the back seat with pile of blankets and food supplies. He assumes the two men are on the run for their group.
"I'm Mew and this is Tul, and his katana."
"These are yours?" Gulf eyes the weapon.
"Ah, yes. I play rifles."
"Cool."
"Wait until you meet the whole family."

The shelter is an abandoned school with high metal fences. A woman shouts for the gate to be opened. A young man opened the gate and helps them with the supplies.
"Welcome home," he greets.
"Got a good training with your bow and arrow, Winnie?" Mew teases.
"Yup, oh, who is this?"

Mew introduces him to Maengmum, who seems to be the pack's mother, a boss, she got a rifle. Then a big man named Max, Tul's partner, a shooter. The young man is Win, he got bow and arrow strapped on his back. The two other girls are Becky and Name, both got revolvers on them.

There are two other guys in a room labeled 'Chemistry Lab'.
"That's Tong, he made us some explosive, and the small one is Title, his student."
"I'm not small, P'Mew."
"New recruit?" Tong asks.
"Met him on the run, he's been alone since Dec."
"Wicked."
"I know." Mew looks proud.

After the exhausting introduction, the Win guy guides him to a bathroom.
"There's hot water, you can only use it for 3 minutes tho. There's soap inside and here's clean clothes, mine, I think we're the same size. I'll be guarding you outside. So, take your time."
"Thanks."

Gulf tears the pants sticking to his legs, covered in dried blood and mud, the courtesy of his run. What's is this? June? Mental, he survived alone for months. He winces when the soap touches his scars. He doesn't know his legs are full of them. He hopes they have meds for him.

After he is clean and bandaged. Gulf joins the group in the emergency dining room. Max, the big guy got a 'Kiss the Cook's apron on him and he is serving them foods in stainless steel tray. Rice. Gulf hasn't had that for a year.
"We got canned tuna today, enjoy," Max says to him.

Dinner was satisfying, then Mew shows him to his room, he is roommate with the Apocalypse's Legolas, Win.
"It's not much but we have clean beds," Mew says. "Win here has good ears, if walkers break in, he'll signal us."
"I got you," Win says from under his blanket.
"Thank you."

By midnight, Gulf is awakened by a loud thud as Win jumps from his bed to grab his bow and arrows. There are sounds of gunshots outside.
"Don't worry, P'Mew is on watch, uh, but please put on your knive's strap, might be useful."
Gulf nods and does as Win told him to.
"Let's go!"

The walkers broke in from the back of the school building. The walkers are cornered, Gulf watches as Mew shot them and Tul cut their heads with his katana. Tong finishes the writhing bodies with acidic liquid.
"Ew, that's gross," Win comments.
"Help Tong burn them," Mew orders.

Gulf is left speechless with their effective team work. They know what they're doing, something he's not used to. He helped them burn the bodies.
"Your first night here and there's a break already, sorry," Tong says.
"No, it's ok."
"When you feel better, you can train with Tul."

The five of them gather in one of the classroom turned living room.
"You okay Gulf?" Tul asks.
"Ye-yes."
"Must be used to walker's attack," Mew hands him a cup of tea. "This shelter is shabby but it's a our safe home, hope you'll like it here."
Gulf looks the them, maybe he will.

Gulf goes to bed for the second time that night. Win keeps his bow beside him and Gulf keeps his strap on.

"Good night, you two." Mew checks on them as he prepares to continue his watch shift. "I know it's hard but try your best to sleep."

"Okay," the two boys reply.

-the end-