I tilted my head as I started picking up two sets of approaching footsteps. I pulled the silly grass crown off and dropped it on Nicky's head in a swift move. Nicky opened her mouth to protest me removing her creation and I jerked my head to the corner of the chicken coop. She immediately caught on and closed her mouth.

She leaned back against the coop and put on a bored look as she gazed at the distant trees. It surprised me as to how fast she played along. She must have been the top student in drama, provided they could get her to actually stay in the role they wanted her to play and not turn into a serial killer in the middle of a romance.

A minute later Daniel and Nina rounded the corner. Nina looked relieved, "Oh, here you are. I was beginning to get worried when I couldn't find you. I had to ask Daniel to track your scent. Why are you over here?"

I made a face, "I made the mistake of entering the mess hall during supper."

Nicky looked over and chuckled, "Don't worry, there weren't any casualties. But I don't think it is something that we should ever try again. In the future I will bring her a plate."

Nina and Daniel looked surprised. Nina looked at me in curiosity and concern, "Did something go wrong in the mess hall?"

I shrugged, "Nightstalkers and crowds simply do not mix. Have you ever gone into that place during the supper rush?"

Daniel replied, "Yes, it is louder than is comfortable and the amount of control I need to use is quite noticeable, but I have never had any real problem unless someone bumped into me. That only happened once or twice, even then they were only growled at."

Daniel was either far more accustomed to bustling humans than I ever had been or he was so far out of touch with his zombie instincts that he really wasn't bothered by that part of his instincts. It was probably a combination of the two, although I wasn't sure how solitary feral Terrors were.

Nina shrugged, "It isn't a problem for us to bring you a plate if you don't want to go in there. I came looking for you because I want to check your injuries."

My instincts may have settled down from supper, but I didn't want her poking my injuries at the moment. The fact that she had gone to the effort of tracking me down meant that she wasn't going to be dissuaded easily. "You checked them yesterday. I can tell that they are healing. Is this really necessary?"

Nina nodded. "I'd like another look at the wound on your back. I can put more salve on it at the same time to keep it from sticking to the bandages."

It irritated me that she kept wanting to tend my wounds. Zombies didn't get infections, so my wounds would heal without someone checking on them daily. Daniel leaned against the coop while watching me. I suspected that he was her backup as well as her tracker. I knew I wasn't going to be able to back out of this.

With a faint growl of irritation, I stood up, "Fine..."

Nicky yawned, "Well, I am going to head back to the archery lane and pick up where I left off. See you tomorrow."

Nicky stretched before heading off. I walked back with Nina. I kept my pace to the slow one I had used earlier. I didn't want the people here to realize that my leg was healing faster than before. I didn't feel like explaining how blood helped wounds. I also preferred it when people underestimated me. Either way, simply walking still sent pain lancing up and down my leg. It hadn't healed that much yet.

We went back to the room Nina had used yesterday. Daniel took a seat in the hallway outside. I sat on the wooden stool as Nina got me to take off my shirt. She unwrapped the numerous layers of bandages. I inspected the scabs even as Nina looked them over. The damage I had done yesterday was mostly reversed. By tomorrow morning the ones on my chest should be at the point it had been at when I first entered this place.

Nina smeared more salve on, "It looks like they are healing." She turned her attention to my back and sighed, "I am going to have to clean this one again."

I turned my head to look at her over my shoulder. I couldn't see the wound, "Why?"

"Just the way the bullet exited it left a flap of skin and it just doesn't want to stay down. The one corner keeps lifting. Sorry, but I have to trim part of this scab again otherwise it may start snagging the fabric of your shirt and pulling."

I growled lightly in frustration. It had taken hours for the throbbing to disappear yesterday after she had cleaned it. Daniel was obviously eavesdropping since I heard his faint growl from the next room as a threat to behave.

Nina paid no attention to my growl as she grabbed the small bag off the counter and turned her attention to my back. I felt cold metal touch my skin as some sort of tweezers started trying to raise the lifted part of the scab up so she could trim it. I gritted my teeth against the pain. I could tell she was trying to be gentle, but any wound was usually tender until it healed.

A growl rumbled through my chest and Nina apologized, "Sorry, I almost have it off. Just a bit more."

The scissors snipped as she tried to cut off part of the scab. I snarled at a sudden blast of pain as I dug my nails deep into the wooden stool to keep from slashing at her. Daniel's snarl echoed through the thin walls as he attempted to use his rank to make me back down if there was any possibility of me harming Nina.

Nina was immediately apologetic, "I'm sorry, I didn't realize that there was some skin in that part of the scab."

I took a deep breath, but she was telling the truth. Shit that hurt. I was surprised that Daniel hadn't barged into the room when I snarled, perhaps Nina's words had kept him out. Nina spoke again, "Hang on, I got the scab off. Just let me clean it up and put some salve on it."

My nails bit deeper into the wood as she carefully washed the wound again. Finally she reached over to grab a square stick-on bandage, "That should do it. I hope I don't have to open it up again."

I exhaled heavily. That made two of us. She put the bag back on the counter and put salve on my other scabs before wrapping the two miles of bandages around my chest. I failed to see why she used these long wrap up ones instead of adhesive pad bandages. I put my shirt back on.

I was still wearing shorts and she pushed up the edge of the one pant leg so she could unwrap the bandage. She frowned as she noticed some dried blood on the padding above the scab, "Try to take it easier. You pushed yourself enough that it bled."

She didn't sound overly concerned about my leg even though it looked pretty bad. But she knew that this scab had a tendency to crack and bleed a bit as I walked. It was still fairly soft from the salve and my own doctoring attempts. It didn't look like it had healed any since yesterday, although I could feel the slight difference when I walked.

She rubbed some more salve on before bandaging it back up. I wasted no time exiting the room. Daniel watched me make my escape. That idiot should have arrived earlier at the truck stop and he could have taken a couple of those bullets. Then Nina would have someone else to torment.

I narrowed my eyes at him as I passed by him, "I never did hear why you were so late in showing up to the gun fight."

He shrugged, "I didn't expect to take that long. I was trying to skin the bear and bring the hide back, it would have made a very warm bed spread. I started running the second I heard the first gunshot."

I huffed as I shook my head, "Next time it is your turn to be the target."

He raised his eyebrow, "You expect to be shot at again?"

"With my luck? It is almost a guarantee." I kept walking before Nina finished cleaning the room and came out. That lady had more curiosity than any cat and I didn't feel like answering questions today.

Daniel frowned, "If anyone points a gun at you, or gives you any sort of trouble, let me know."

I waved a hand in acknowledgement as I exited the door. His comment had surprised me and reminded me of the others who were hoping I would remain here. This place was bizarre...

I retreated to my room as my shoulder throbbed in time with my heartbeat.

~

The next day was much the same as the last. I once more peeled vegetables. The kitchen staff were a bit more relaxed, but there were still some breaks in the conversation that my suspicious instincts locked onto with every occurrence.

Someone hadn't realized that I was here and started talking about the Runner that still hadn't gained control. Another person lightly elbowed her while pointedly looking in my direction. I pretended to not notice as I kept peeling some carrots. No one was saying anything about zombies while I was present. Perhaps they were worried about offending me.

After lunch I tracked down Nicky, "What are you doing this afternoon?"

She shrugged, "Not much. I tried to volunteer to go on a raid, but they turned me down. Some excuse about wanting to keep our group of newcomers inside the fence so there are some familiar faces for you. I bet the guy in charge was just scared because he saw me practicing archery last night."

I snorted, "Considering I haven't even seen any of the others since we got here, your archery skills are most likely the culprit."

She grinned at me, "Anyway, I am at loose ends. For some reason most groups don't want me working with them. What are your plans?"

"I am tired of being cooped up in here. Think they will miss us if we disappear until supper?"

Nicky chuckled, "Most will probably be relieved if I don't appear. They will likely assume you are on the roof or in your room. If we grab the side by side now, the mechanics will be at lunch and won't notice."

I tilted my head, "How is it that you have only been here three days and most of the people in this place hope to avoid you?"

She grinned, "It is a talent. I honed it at each Stronghold I stayed at."

I seriously hoped that she didn't try to hone that skill here... "Then the only person who will know that we left is the gate guard."

She rubbed her hands together, "Don't worry, I'll charm the gate guard. Leave him to me."

That poor guard. I shook my head silently as I followed her to the garage.

She pulled the side by side up to the nearest gate. She grinned and waved wildly at the guy on duty. He turned a bit red as he started opening up the gate and waved us through without a word.

"Why does he look embarrassed?"

Nicky grinned at me, "He made the mistake of offering me a cup of coffee this morning. We spent an entire hour playing hide and go seek. Well, he kept trying to hide as I kept trying to catch him. His friends somehow managed to convince Hank to trick me into thinking he was in a shed and then he locked me inside."

I snorted, "What happened to our bet?"

She defended herself, "Hey, I was avoiding it until he put the cup of coffee in front me and told me I was cute! I couldn't resist drinking it while he flirted with me. It isn't my fault that he ran off when I tried to kiss him."

I shook my head in disbelief, "So you decided to chase him for an hour?"

"What else was I supposed to do?"

Oh boy. How was I going to explain this? "Perhaps he didn't want to be chased?"

She shook her head vigorously, "No, I overheard him and his friends saying that if he wanted to get the girl, he had to be persistent and chase me if I played hard to get. I just followed their advice, but he avoids me every chance he gets and he won't even talk to me now."

Truthfully, I didn't blame the guy for avoiding her. However, I did blame him for giving her coffee and dragging me into this conversation. I shrugged as I indifferently dismissed him, "I wouldn't worry about him. He would probably just slow you down."

That guy didn't have a chance of trying to contain the amount of energy this little spitfire had. My rough dismissal of him seemed to cheer Nicky up, "Yeah, I don't think he could keep up with me. His friends had to help him after all. So do you plan to flirt with anyone here?"

I gave her an incredulous look. Really? Why would she ask that? That coffee had obviously messed up her mind. Nicky pressed, "Haven't you found anyone cute here yet? I know you haven't walked around much, but you have been in the mess hall a few times. Someone should have caught your eye by now."

I rolled my eyes, "Open up your eyes Nicky, I am a zombie. A kiss would likely be fatal. Besides, the zombie virus destroyed any romantic tendencies. Such inclinations don't occur to me or to any zombie."

She looked shocked, "Really? Boy, you really got the short end of the stick, didn't you?"

I didn't respond to that comment. I had never really wanted kids, so the loss didn't overly bother me. Nicky glanced back at me, "So if boyfriends are out, what about just friendship? You can't tell me that the virus wiped that out as well."

I sighed, "Friendship is possible. Not easy, but possible."

She looked curious, "Is that because of how grouchy you are or the fact that you hid on a mountaintop for a decade?"

I growled a faint rebuke at her, "Partly because of my short temper and partly due to how my instincts affect me. Not to mention the fact that most humans want nothing to do with zombies."

She chuckled, "They have no idea what they are missing. You zombies make life so much more interesting."

Considering that it came from Nicky, I doubted that it was a common sentiment.