The first rays of dawn painted the forest in hues of gold and amber as Ethan woke. He stretched, his muscles humming with the residual energy of his enhanced stats, the lingering aches from previous battles now mere phantom sensations. He was still some distance from the small camp, having chosen to observe them from a safe distance through the night. His Perception, at 16, had allowed him to track their every subtle movement, confirming their discipline and wariness.
He returned to the camp as Purna stoked the dying embers of the fire. Sam B was already up, meticulously cleaning his formidable blade. Xian Mei, ever silent and graceful, practiced a series of fluid movements in the periphery, her knives a blur in the early light. They acknowledged his presence with curt nods, a silent invitation to join them.
"Slept well?" Purna asked, her voice flat, but without hostility.
"As well as anyone can in this world," Ethan replied, sitting down by the fire. He pulled out a protein bar from his backpack, offering one to each of them. "Breakfast."
Purna hesitated for a moment, then took one, her gaze still assessing. Sam B grunted his thanks, tearing into his. Xian Mei accepted hers with a graceful nod. The shared food, a simple gesture, seemed to ease the lingering tension, if only by a fraction.
"You said you cleared a town," Sam B commented between bites, his eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Alone?"
Ethan chewed slowly, choosing his words carefully. "It was mostly walkers. A couple of thugs. Got a little messy." He understated his battles, not wanting to reveal the true extent of his strength or the presence of a Butcher. He needed to build trust, not alarm them. "Just got lucky with a few good swings."
Xian Mei, surprisingly, spoke. Her voice was soft, almost a whisper, but carried an undeniable intensity. "Your movements last night, when you approached... they were very quiet. Like a ghost."
Ethan met her gaze, a small, knowing smile touching his lips. "Been moving through a lot of woods. Learn to tread lightly." He knew his Agility at 17 was far beyond 'treading lightly,' but it was a plausible excuse for now.
Purna watched the exchange, her expression unreadable. "You said you're heading to a farm. Specific one?"
Ethan decided to be direct. "Hershel Greene's farm. Heard it's safe. Know of it?"
A flicker of surprise crossed Purna's face, quickly mirrored by Sam B. "Hershel Greene?" Sam B repeated, a hint of recognition in his voice. "We heard rumors of a place like that. A safe haven. Never thought it was real."
"We were considering heading that way ourselves," Purna admitted, her eyes now more curious than suspicious. "If it's as safe as they say, it might be worth checking out. We've been drifting for too long."
"Drifting across the country, it seems," Ethan mused aloud, a subtle probe. He needed to understand how they got here.
Sam B let out a short, humorless laugh. "You could say that. Been a long road. And a lot of dead things." He didn't elaborate, clearly wary of sharing too much of their bizarre journey.
The conversation shifted to the practicalities of survival. They discussed their routes, the dangers they'd encountered, and the types of infected they'd fought. Ethan carefully contributed his knowledge of walkers, thugs, and even screamers, always framing it as "things he'd seen" or "heard about," rather than knowledge gleaned from a video game system. He observed their reactions when he mentioned the more dangerous variants, noting their grim acknowledgments. They knew these things.
As the sun rose higher, Purna outlined their immediate plans. "We're going to break camp, then follow this highway for a bit. See if we can find any more gas, or a vehicle. This walking is getting old."
"I'm heading the same way," Ethan offered. "Mind if I join? A few more hands are always better, especially on a road like this." He extended the invitation, subtly acknowledging their capabilities.
Purna studied him, then looked at Sam B and Xian Mei. Sam B nodded slowly. Xian Mei gave a subtle, almost imperceptible nod. The unspoken decision was made.
"Alright, Ethan," Purna said, her voice firmer. "But we work together. No lone wolf stuff. We cover each other's backs."
"Agreed," Ethan affirmed, a genuine sense of relief washing over him. This was it. A real alliance.
They broke camp efficiently, moving with a practiced synchronization. Purna took the lead, her pistol ready, scanning ahead. Sam B took the rear, his machete glinting in the sun. Xian Mei moved silently on one flank, a blur in the trees. Ethan took the other flank, his bat resting easily on his shoulder, his senses expanded to cover their periphery.
Their first challenge came mid-morning. A small group of walkers, perhaps five or six, shambled onto the highway from a side road, drawn by the sounds of their movement.
"Spread out!" Purna barked, her voice sharp and clear. "Take them down!"
Ethan moved instinctively. He didn't rush. He observed. Purna's pistol barked, dropping a walker with a clean headshot. Sam B roared, charging into two others, his machete a whirlwind of destruction. Xian Mei darted in, a fluid dance of precise, silent strikes, her knives ending lives with chilling efficiency.
Ethan chose his targets, moving to intercept a walker that was veering towards Purna. He swung his bat with controlled power, a single, devastating blow that pulped its skull. He didn't overdo it, not wanting to draw undue attention to his overwhelming Strength. He finished another, then moved to support Sam B, who was grappling with a particularly tenacious walker. With a quick, powerful shove, Ethan sent the walker stumbling back, allowing Sam B to finish it.
The skirmish was over in less than a minute. Clean. Efficient.
"Good work," Purna commented, reloading her pistol. Her eyes lingered on Ethan for a moment. "You're fast. And strong. You hit hard." There was a hint of curiosity in her tone.
"Months of practice," Ethan simply said, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow. He played it down. He knew he was faster and stronger than any of them, but they didn't need to know by how much. Not yet.
Sam B clapped him on the shoulder, a heavy, approving thump. "You ain't bad, kid. You ain't bad at all."
Xian Mei gave him a rare, small smile. "Your movements are... precise."
The tentative alliance solidified. They were a unit now. Ethan, the Silent Powerhouse, blending his System enhanced abilities with their battle-hardened instincts. The highway stretched before them, a path to the Greene Farm, and to whatever new horrors, or new hopes, lay beyond the horizon. He knew this journey would be different now. And in a way, that felt right.