Chapter 3
|September 10th, 2010|
Everyone slept semi-peacefully despite the situation and they were all grateful because it was going to be a long day. Amy and Andrea borrowed Dale's canoe and gear and went down to the water to spend the day fishing. Daryl and Merle took Diago and Louis into the woods with them to hunt. Glenn and T-Dog went up to the road to look for survivors and supplies. Faye took Jacqui, Miranda, Eliza, Maya, and Mara into the woods nearest of camp to forage. Dale stayed atop the RV to keep a lookout for danger.
Amy and Andrea came up with a dozen fish, Diago came back with deer, Jacqui and Miranda came back with wild vegetables and some fruit.
Freya prepped the deer for them and handed it all off to her husband. "Alright." She said getting the attention of the queasy looking group. "A deer this size usually yields some steaks, sausages, and burgers along with a large soup or stew and several gallons of broth as well as several pounds of smoked and dehydrated meat."
"Nicely done, Diago." Dale told the man who blushed lightly. He turned to Amy and Andrea. "You girls as well."
Faye smiled softly and sighed. "We don't mind processing what you bring in, but the truth is that we can't provide for you." She told them quietly. "We have to prepare for the future and my family has to come first for us."
"We understand." Dale told her kindly. They'd already done more than enough for them. "We're just grateful for the help you've offered."
Everyone seemed to agree with him, and she was grateful they understood.
It wasn't that she didn't want to offer them grain and dairy from their supply, it was that they were limited in what they had and didn't know when they'd be able to get more. They had no source of milk, and their greenhouse was only large enough to feed their family and put a little extra into their trailer.
The conversation took a lighter turn as the girls threw the fish on the grill with some seasoning and sliced fruit, mostly oranges and lemons. A pot of water was boiled and then filtered into the jug that came with the mess kit.
Glenn and T-Dog returned as the last of the fish and fruit was placed on the large tray. They drove up in a box truck followed by nearly a dozen different vehicles accounting to around two dozen newcomers.
"That's a lot of people." Dale said quietly, looking at the tray of food meant to feed everyone except the Dixons. It wouldn't feed everyone, not even half of the now much larger group.
"The flat ground isn't going to be enough space for everyone." Freya said quietly. "We can set up three tents, but we only have two cots, four hammocks, and a mattress pad. Four sleeping bags and eight blankets isn't enough either."
"Families should get priority." Jacqui said softly. "I'll give up my cot and sleeping bag for a hammock and blanket."
"That's very kind of you." Faye smiled at the woman before moving forward to greet the newcomers. "I'm Freya Dixon. Welcome to Bellwood Quarry."
"Thank you." A man with a gun holstered on his hip and a police department shirt on said as he stepped forward. "Where can we set up?"
Shane Walsh hadn't been expecting the warm welcome despite the assurances of the two men, but then again, he'd just witnessed them stealing a box truck so the fact that he'd gathered his best friend's wife and kid into the car and followed them proved that this was truly strange times.
"We're going to back the box truck into line a few feet from the camper and have room for two cars." Freya told them gesturing behind her. "We've got three tents, three cots, three hammocks, five sleeping bags, and seven blankets for those that need them."
Lori Grimes looked at the woman wondering why she was being so welcoming and generous until a pair of two little girls ran from the other side of the blue camper and were scooped up into her arms. A pair of girls a few years old were only steps behind the younger ones.
"Malia, Talia." Faye scolded softly, sighing tiredly as her eldest walked towards them with her bow slung over her shoulder.
"Sorry, Mama." The little ones said softly as Lara snagged them into her arms. "Lara!"
"Sorry, Mama." Lara said quietly, giving her little sister a look. "I was just putting lunch on the table when they ran off."
"It's alright, Lara." Freya said looking at Maya and Mara. "And you two?"
"We though Uncle Merle was back." They said in unison looking sheepish. "We just wanted ta scare them."
"Alright." Faye smiled. "Lara take your sisters to eat and make sure the zippers are above where they can reach."
"Sure thing." Lara said giving her little sister a stern look. "Get goin'."
Freya gave the newcomers an exasperated smile. "As I was saying..." She began gesturing to them. "There are more cars than we have room for, so you can just line them up on the other side of the flat area and set up your tents in front of them. Those left after that will have to be divided amongst the tents we have."
"Thank you." Shane said, feeling better about this now that he knows the parameters set. The largest family took two tents and a spot for their blue Jeep Grand Cherokee. Rosalie 'Rose' and Jackson 'Jax' Hale with their three-year-old daughter, Rose-Anne. Lily-Anne 'Lily' and Tyler Woods with their three-year-old daughter, Lily-Marie. The second spot was taken by Shane's blue Dodge Challenger with the final tent reserved for Lori and Carl.
Each tent got a double cot and sleeping bag along with a blanket while the boys' tent got another hammock and blanket.
This left a mattress pad, two hammocks, two sleeping bags, and three blankets. Freya took the supplies to the fifteen-foot box truck and bolted the two hammocks against the wall in each corner, slid the mattress pad into the attic, and placed a blanket on each hammock along with one of the sleeping bags on the bed. The final sleeping bag went into the church van.
Freya looked over the camp, trying to find who would need the truck the most and her eyes found the Morales family. She quickly approached them and offered a smile. "Hey." She greeted them warmly.
The couple smile back at her, having grown to like the woman and her family. "What's up?" Diago asked curiously wondering if she needed help with something.
"I was wondering if you wanted the box truck." She offered to their confusion. "I put down a mattress pad and bolted in two hammocks. It's got more space than your tent and car."
"Why us?" Diago asked taking the offered keys hesitantly. He wanted to accept the kind gesture, but it was a big deal, and he had nothing to offer in return.
"You're the only other family with more than one child." Freya answered giving them a knowing look. "You need a platform to build on and I'm offering one."
"Thank you." Miranda said softly while holding her children to herself. "You've been very generous."
Faye just smiled softly at her and walked over to the young women standing away from everyone. They each had a duffle bag and were dressed for running track.
"Do you need some help?" She asked them, noticing the university logo on their tank tops. "I'm Freya, but everyone calls me Faye."
"I'm Kara, this is Kenna." The brunette said. "We were third year medical students at Emory."
"I've been there." Faye said with a grin. "I'm a board-certified surgeon in Fetal, Neo-Natal, Pediatric, and Trauma."
"Woah." Kenna said impressed beyond belief. "Aren't you like, thirty?"
"I'm thirty-two." Freya told them with a smirk before sobering. "I'm guessing you don't have anything else?"
"We packed our dorm and caught a ride with some friends heading out of the city." Kara frowned with tears in her eyes. "Jessa was torn apart on the highway."
"I'm sorry." Faye sympathized. "Let's see what we can do about that."
They followed the woman towards a couple with two children who were pulling things from a tent and a small car. "Miranda, Diago. Can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Sure." Miranda said before looking at her children. "Don't leave our sight."
Freya stepped to the side with the couple and sighed. "I know it's a lot to ask, but are you willing to part with your car?"
The Morales couple shared a confused look and then nodded. "We were going to leave it behind either way. Why?" Diago asked and Faye gestured to the girls standing awkwardly a few feet away.
"That's Kenna and Kara. They're third year medical students at Emory. All they have are their duffle bags." Freya explained softly. "I'm gonna have them stay in the tent you're moving out of, but I'd feel better if they had a mode of transportation."
"Of course." Miranda said grabbing the car keys and handing them over. "We don't need it anymore thanks to you."
"I appreciate it." Faye told them and then nodded to herself. "We'll make enough dinner for you tonight. It won't be much, but we've got some homemade bread and cheese to go with the meat."
"That sounds great." Diago told the younger woman gratefully. "We'll be done here in just a few minutes."
Freya walked back to the young women and offered them the keys. "The Morales' are moving into the box truck, so the tent and car are yours. You'll have to share a cot and a sleeping bag, but its better than nothing."
"Thank you." Kenna stated gratefully. "Is there anything we can do around here to help out?"
"Take tonight to get settled but stop by the big tent in the corner when you get up tomorrow and we'll find something for you to do." Faye told them as they stood out of the way while the family of four moved their things. "Either of you know how to hunt, fish, or forage?"
"We grew up hunting not far here." Kara said with a smile. "We're decent with a bow and arrow."
"Perfect. You can come hunting with me and my girls tomorrow." Freya told them happily. "Are you okay with longbows?"
"Yeah." Kenna answered with a nod and then hesitated before speaking. "We've never done the bleeding or skinning or gutting."
"We'll teach you if you're willing to learn." Faye said reassuringly. She understood their hesitation and she didn't blame them. "Everyone starts somewhere"
The conversation was over, so Freya retrieved the second cot and sleeping bag from the tent before walking over to the church van.
"Hey, Faye." T-Dog greeted walking over. "How's everything going?"
"It's all good. We've got one cot and two sleeping bags left for whoever needs it." She told him with a smile. "The Morales' moved into the box truck and gave their truck and tent to the two college girls."
"We've got a problem." Shane said walking over the woman that had unknowing become in charge of everything. "There's a few people that don't have tents or bedding."
"T, do you mind if some people stay in the church van?" Faye asked and he shook his head. Her eyes moved to the man that was leading the newcomers. "The van's got a mattress pad and a double sleeping bag."
"I'll let Nate and Dahlia know." Shane said with relief. "Thank you."
Freya relaxed minutely as she looked back at T-Dog. "You're a good man, T." She told him before carrying the cot towards the girls' tent and peaking in with a grin. "Hey, Jac."
"What's up, Faye?" The woman asked lifting her head from her new hammock. "Is that for me?"
Faye grinned and nodded. "No one else needs it."
"Awesome." Jacqui stated climbing out of the hammock carefully. "Thanks, sweetheart."
"No problem." Freya told her as she helped fold the hammock and return it to its case. She took the hammock and blanket, leaving the woman with her cot and sleeping bag. She walked over towards Shane, who was standing at the entrance of his tent looking awkward as he talked to Lori. "Shane!"
"What's up?" He asked turning towards her. His face shows his relief when she holds out the hammock for him to take. "Thank you."
"No problem." Faye gave the woman a kind smile before holding out the blanket. "You might be sharing a cot with your son, but you kids are blanket thief's."
"Thank you." Lori said clutching the soft warm-blue blanket to her chest. "I'm Lori Grimes."
"Nice to meet you." Freya stated and waved to them before heading towards her camper.