Lucas suddenly wales up covered in a cold sweat.
He frantically scans his surroundings as he grabs his knife and grips it tightly. His heart rocks his entire body with every beat. He feels it in his chest and he can hear it in his ears.
Lucas sees that he is alone in his two person tent with some of his things. He uses his empty hand to move his hair back and off his forehead. It is hard to see so he knows that it's still early morning. He grabs his watch and sees that it's only 5:30 am.
He sits up from his sleeping bag and puts his shoes on. Lucas doesn't bother putting a shirt on, even with the rest of the camp being here. Not like any of them are awake anyway, hopefully the lookout is though.
He steps out of his tent and smells the fresh air. Lucas can see the various makeshift campfires that the families individually made.
Nobody has been here long enough to bother to get to know each other too well. It's been 5 days and people have trickled here into the quarry. Some more friendly than others.
You've got the extremely friendly and reasonable Dale Horvath on one hand. And then on the other hand you have the highly racist Merle Dixon. The two opposite ends of the spectrum. You've got Dale being the angel on your shoulder while Merle is the devils anus shitting down your back.
Then you've got the people that don't have anyone else. This is basically the general group that Lucas himself is in. He's joined by Glenn Rhee, a damn pizza delivery boy. At least he isn't afraid to speak his mind and is easy for Lucas to get along with. Dale is also in this sort of loner group, he's the oldest in the camp and also struggling with his past. He lost his wife to cancer just before they were about to travel in his new RV. He hit the lowest point in his life after his wife passed and had traveled alone until he saved two sisters in Atlanta and brought them along with him until they made it to the camp. The sisters are warming up to him, but he's still alone and working through his depression.
Joining along the solo group is a big guy named Theodore Douglas, better known at Tdog. Well, he prefers Tdog or just T. There's also a troubled man named Jim, a mechanic, that lost his family and is barely holding himself together. Then there was a woman named Jacqui that was in a similar situation to Jim, except instead of losing a wife and kid she lost her mother and her brother. There are a few others that either got separated from their family, lost their family during the apocalypse, or were alone even before the dead started eating the dead.
In the duo group is Merle with his brother Daryl. The latter isn't as racist, but he's no rainbow or sunshine. He's just a bit more down to earth and accepting than Merle….. sometimes. They both are your stereotypical redneck brother duo with Merle being the older brother.
Next in the duo group is Andrea and her younger sister Amy Harrison. They are both on their own. Andrea is 36 and Amy is 24. The age gap makes their relationship a bit strained. They were coming back from a trip they took together after years of Andrea not visiting Amy. They were going back to Amy's college but got stuck in Atlanta and Dale was able to save them. Once at the camp the sisters stuck together, but we're warming up to Dale. He was like a kind father or grandpa figure for them. But they weren't willing to just trust him right away, but saving them definitely earned him bonus points.
There were a few other people in the duo group. Some being couples, some being family, others being strangers that just stuck together since they were more afraid of being alone than being with a stranger.
Lastly is the family group with three or more. There was Morales, he didn't say his first name and preferred to be called by his last name. He is the wife of Miranda Morales. They had two kids, Louis and Eliza. Both kids are young, Eliza being 11 and Lois being 8.
Another family is the Peletier family. It's Carol, Ed, and their daughter Sophia. This is the family that Lucas, Shane, Lori, and Carl had been next to when they got stuck on the road. After witnessing Atlanta being Napalmed Shane and Lucas took Lori, Carl, and the Peletiers toward a place to camp. They eventually found the quarry and set up camp inside it. This is also how the other survivors got to the quarry. They followed the two families and everyone settled down.
People are still trickling by. But it's been getting longer and longer between new arrivals. Lucas believes that there won't be any more unless they start broadcasting their location and they aren't exactly willing to do that. But Shane has set up his radio to do just that. Mostly it's to try and find any other groups of survivors or people in need. But Lucas is very skeptical. But it's early enough in an apocalypse that there are still nice and innocent people.
Lucas goes for his run through the woods and along the cliff side of the quarry. He has a lot of stamina so he was able to explore and make sure the area was secure after the first two days of the camp being set up. He's also run up and down a river leading to a small lake in the quarry.
He keeps a decently fast pace as he's running. Lucas keeps his knife in a sheath on his hip. He isn't stupid enough to believe he is completely safe, plus he occasionally stop and does some mock fights like shadow boxing but with his knife.
Lucas finishes his run down near the lake which is below where they have set up camp. He doesn't bother washing himself since he wants to do some more shadow knife fights. Lucas imagine his old friend Zack. He was the knife specialist and enthusiast of the group. Lucas had learned a great deal of his knife skills from the guy. Zack had spikey black hair and was very sociable. And even more selfless, Lucas remembers how he jumped on top of the grenade without a second thought.
The sun was rising as Lucas continued to focus on getting back into the fighting mindset. He's done so since he's arrived at the quarry, after he witnessed the attack on Atlanta.
As he does various maneuvers with his knife he also focuses on coming to terms with his time in the military. But he doesn't make much ground on that so he decides that moving past it is better than trying to work through it currently. Trying to tackle it head on made his nightmares worse and his sleeping schedule as crappy as it is currently. Waking up in a cold sweat and going for early morning runs.
After the sun is up signaling it's now around 7 to 7:30 he goes for a quick dip in the water. After washing himself he grabs his knife and shoes and heads back up to his tent. A few people were up and about, but they didn't seem happy about it. Even in the apocalypse, certain people aren't morning people.
Lucas goes to his tent and gets dressed. One would think that working out for over one hour and a half he would be tired and be able to go to sleep. But they'd be wrong, he was more awake than before. Just with some fatigue to his muscles is all that exercise amounted to.
Lucas exits his tent and looks around. He spots Dale on top of his RV with his bucket hat on and his rifle over his shoulder on his back.
He walks up to the old man and greets him. "How are you doing this morning Dale?"
"Wishing I had the same amount of energy you have Lucas" Dale smiles as he looks down at Lucas.
"I'd give you some if I could" Lucas shrugs. "Did Shane say if he was sending a group into town for supplies?"
Dale scratches his chin. "I think it was decided that Glenn would be going solo into Atlanta. Something about it being easier to run away if he only had to worry about himself. And the fact he knows Atlanta pretty well from his delivery job" Dale snaps. "Oh yeah, Daryl and Merle will be hunting for food the camp officially. Andrea and Amy are tasked with fishing. The women decided to do chores like laundry and cooking. And the other men were told to do various other jobs. It was about time we got some order in here. Everyone was, and still kinda are, worried only about themselves and those close to them. I think we will eventually become close and form a sort of community between us"
Lucas raises an eyebrow. "I missed that much in one night? I'm assuming Shane was deemed King of the Quarry? And you are sounding much better"
"Feeling much better too. Talking with Amy and Andrea has really helped I think. Anyway, yeah. Shane was picked as leader, he practically was before, now it's just official. Amiright?" Dale looks at the trees and over at the lake as he talks. "What we're you doing last night?"
Lucas remembers freaking out and having a panic attack and other mental issues all mixed together. He had to get away from people and only came back to camp late at night. "Just was checking the area just in case. Also wanted to get used to our new surroundings. Last night I think I explored the last part"
"Hmmm~" Dale looks at Lucas for a few seconds as he decides to believe that or not. "Anyway, Shane said he would talk with you about what you would do once you got back so I'd talk with him when you get the chance"
Lucas gives a thumbs up. "Roger that"
Lucas goes over to Shane's tent which is between his and Lori's and Carl's shared tent. He taps the side of the tent and whispers. "Shane. Wake up. It's morning already"
The zipper opens the door to the tent and Shane walks out as he buckled his belt. "If it's morning already then why are you whispering?"
Lucas shrugs. "Probably because Lori and Carl could use the extra sleep"
Shane shrugs. "Fair enough. But Carl is a heavy sleeper you know"
"I know" Lucas puts his hands in his jean pockets. "So about what I'm gonna be doing for this camp"
Shane finishes buckling his pants. "Right, ok Boyscout-"
"I instantly regretted telling you and Rick about that" Lucas dramatically rolls his eyes and moves his head to the side.
Lucas gets serious and looks Shane dead in the eyes. "Anyway, I have to request that I be allowed to go into town"
Shane looks at Lucas. "To search for your family?"
Lucas takes a deep breath. "Yeah. I need to know for sure if they're gone or not. I need this closure"
Shane narrows his eyes. "Even if you don't find anything?"
Lucas nods. "Yes. Even if I don't find anything. Worse case scenario I go into town and grab some supplies and come back"
Shane grabs Lucas' shirt collar. "No! Worse case scenario you die! You die a pointless death and the people here have one less person to protect them! That's not even talking about how they feel about you as a person Lucas. And if you die in Atlantas nobody will want to go there for supplies after you die in the city"
Lucas grabs Shane's wrist. "I'm not going because I'm suicidal Shane! Are you telling me that if Lori believed there was a chance for Rick to be alive she would just sit around with her thumbs up her ass? No. Even you went and checked on him. You couldn't just leave Rick in the hospital and needed to at least try your best to save him. So why is it that what I'm doing is so looked down upon?" Lucas squeezes Shane's wrists, his tone changes to a flat one. "And I'm not that easy to kill Shane. You don't know how I've outlived my entire unit"
Shane lets go of Lucas' collar after a second and Lucas lets go of his wrists.
Shane winces slightly as his left wrist aches. "Fine. You can do what you want. But you will be given a list of supplies to look out for beyond the normal food and water shit" Shane begins walking away. "Just don't get yourself killed"
Lucas watches Shane walk away. He looks down at his hands and balls them into fists.
"Are you ok? What was that about?" A young female asks from behind Lucas.
He turns around and sees a blond woman. It was Amy, and she looked like she just got out of her tent and was rubbing her right eye.
Lucas gives her a small wave. "Morning Amy. And I'm good. I just told Shane that I'm gonna be going to Atlanta to look for my brother and parents when I get the chance"
"Your leaving?!" She quickly asks. "I-I mean, are you coming back?"
Lucas gives her a smile. "I'm just gonna be taking day trips into the city every now and then. I'll also be grabbing supplies as well. I'm a careful guy so nobody should worry about me" He looks over to the side and sees the skinny and small Glenn exit his tent. "I think Glenn is the one people need to worry about"
Amy puts her hands behind her back. "Well I think both of you need to be worried about. The city probably still has thousands of those….."
"Walkers" Lucas says.
Amy looks down at her feet. "Yeah, thousands of those Walkers" She looks up. "When are you and Glenn gonna be going?"
Lucas scratches the side of his face. "We aren't exactly going together. But I'd say we have to do so sooner rather than later. It's better to be prepared"
"Alright" Amy smiles. "Let us know when you leave? Please?"
"I'm not going to disappear without letting somebody know" Lucas puts his hands on his hips. "I heard you and your sister are going to start fishing for us. Do you two have room for one more? I like to fish too"
Amy's face brightens and her innocent smile almost blinds Lucas. "There's room, we're gonna be going out on the boat in a bit. I'm afraid that we only have two poles though, but you can use mine"
Lucas smiles. "Thank you, but I've got my own. I picked it up just before… everything happened. So all three of us can go fishing. Does Dale want to come?"
Amy looks up at the top of the RV and sees Dale sitting down on a lawn chair with an umbrella over him and a pair of binoculars in hand. "I think he's is a bit too comfortable up there"
"I guess you're right. I'll go grab my rod and tackle box" Lucas waves as he walks to his truck. "See you in a bit"
"Bye!" Amy gives a short goodbye and quickly goes back to her and Andrea's tent to tell her sister that Lucas is going to be joining them.
"Andrea!" She quietly says in a high pitch.
Andrea sits up and moves her hair out of her face. "What is it Amy?" She groggily asks her little sister.
"Lucas is going to go fishing with us!" She excitedly tells Andrea as half her body is sticking out of the tent.
Andrea rubs her eyes with her knuckles. "What? Why would he do that?"
Amy crawls into the tent fully now. "He asked if he could join us and I told him there was room! He even has his own fishing rod and tackle box!"
Andrea stretches her arms and legs. "Aren't you excited"
Amy sits down. "Am not"
Andrea smirks. "No? Well I'm excited that Lucas is gonna be joining us, at least there will be some eye candy besides the worms to the fish"
"I can say the same" Lucas comments as he walks past their tent with his fishing rod in his hand and his tackle box in his other hand.
"Eeeehhh!" Amy squeaks in surprise.
Amy and Andrea blush, not having expected Lucas or anyone to walk by. Amy left the tent unzipped when she came in too.
"Andrea~" Amy complains.
Andrea holds her hands up. "I didn't do anything"
Amy narrows her eyes at her sister. "I saw him first"
Andrea's smirk comes back. "So what? Are you claiming him?"
Amy's blush gets deeper and she looks to the side. "N-no! Why would I claim him?!"
Andrea shrugs. "Then he's fair game then"
"Andrea!" Amy glares at her older sister.
"What?" Andrea rolls her eyes. "It's not everyday you can see a man built like him"
"You're only after his body?" Amy incredulously asks.
"Well, I'm not going to deny that his body isn't a driving factor. But he has that sort of vibe to him" Andrea looks out the open tent door at Lucas' back. "Are you telling me his body isn't tantalizing?"
"Andrea!" Amy tries to stop her sister. She looks out the tent and also sees Lucas in jeans and a white tshirt. "I-It's not tantalizing"
"Riiiiight~" Andrea mocks her sister as she gets up. "Cmon, we can't leave him waiting for too long"
——————
Lucas is sitting down near the water at the bottom of the Quarry. He looks out across the water and enjoys the peace of the view. His fishing pole and box are next to him, the boat off to the side.
He can hear the sound of birds chirping and a calm wind. It's actually pretty calming to him.
He wonders if his brother even likes camping anymore. It has been a few years since he talked with him. Lucas looks down at the sunglasses in his hand and pinches the bridge of the frame and lets it swing side to side.
Lucas knows that his family is probably dead. But, he wants confirmation. And if they are alive…. What would he do? Lucas has wondered about this a lot over the past few days if not weeks. But since he saw Atlantas he thought about it even more.