"A hybrid. Those things are as dumb as donkeys, they only react to sounds and what they see. They don't have brains, their brains are infected..." I said, refusing to believe what I heard from Kin.
"Am not sure, but when I was on the tree I saw 'em, it was with a wolf. It looked me straight in the eyes and turned around. Am still baffled how we are still alive-"
"if it were to be a normal zombie, they would have stormed us by now," I said, interrupting him.
"Yeah. That's why I said a hybrid. No normal zombie will see us and not attack. I think the one I saw was independent and intellectual. It had the ability to reason-" Kin said, he held his head while he spoke.
"Are you sure you saw a zombie? Perhaps you saw some survivors like us and a dog. Are you alright?"I said, believing the impact of the fall made him blabber nonsense.
"I know what I saw. I know. I am sure of it " Kin said to me and himself.
"Okay then. What about the hordes we saw last night? How do you want to answer that? You didn't see a hybrid last night remember? Maybe you hallucinated."
" How do you expect me to see in the dark with no light? Dane stop acting like this. We need to figure what I saw out ."
"Let's head east," I pronounced
"To camp?"
"No our camp's west. Since you said we need to head in the opposite direction from camp and keep everyone back there safe. I don't even understand what you are saying. One time you asked me why I hadn't headed back to camp then you said we needed to head another direction far from camp. Be clear. What are you trying to say?"
"You ask a lot of questions, how's your leg? Pack your things and let's go! Okay, here's what I meant to say. We won't head for camp today, we need to find somewhere safe and stay for a couple of days, and then we head back to camp. No questions"
"Since you claim you saw and hybrid, don't you think humanity and life on Earth are doomed? Struggling with dumb ones proved to be a freakin' pain in the ass now dealing with an intelligent one "
Kin sighed trying his best to walk, he wasn't injured. He was just trying to get his footing. I grabbed my new walking stick and led the way. Supprinsly Kin followed I remembered the leftover I remained, I reached for my bag, scrambled it a little bit and Finlay brought It out.
"Here, I kept yours. I made a fire and roasted it." I said, handing Kin his lunch.
"Well, thanks," My friend said, as he munched and devoured the little piece of the bird.
I wished I was back at camp and didn't get separated. We probably would have all been back from hunting by now. Heyt will have opened the mini-fence we managed to build to keep predators and Zombies at bay. I wanted to speak to Kin but I chose to keep shut. I had no idea what Kin was saying.
"He's saying complete nonsense a hybrid zombie?" I muttered to myself. "Wait why am I heading in the opposite direction from camp? why don't I just turn around?" My decision was made, I stopped, and Kin stopped too.
" Why did you stop?" Kin asked
"Am heading back to camp"
"Wait what part of waiting a couple of days do you not understand?" Kin was angry.
"Kin. I have to be sure everyone is safe. I can't keep thinking and deliberating on probabilities and possibilities of their safety. If you don't want to come, it's fine though. Go out in the open and be swarmed by the horde we saw and your hybrid."
"So, you don't believe me. I thought all that I had said you understood them. Then why are you turning now from leading the way? " Kin didn't understand me. I didn't understand him either.
"Bro. I have made up my mind. I'm sorry" I said, turning to the direction of where I think would lead me to camp. I knew Kin would follow me, so I didn't bother calling him along. As I expected, he did, but he did not say a word.
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The night was fast approaching, the sky and clouds were bright with twilight of the setting sun. Me and Kin walked about three miles but we couldn't find camp. I prayed we did not encounter the horde of zombies we saw or random and stray zombies. My prayers were answered.
There was no place safe aside from trees to stay for the night. With my sprained ankle and wrist I doubted if I could climb a tree. Kin was quiet throughout our walk. I didn't even hear him breathe, he was just watching me and following me.
"We should have gotten closer to camp by now," I said awaiting a response, there wasn't any.
"Are you okay?" I asked Kin.
"Yeah," Kin answered.
"Where do you think we should stay for the night?" I asked trying to get him to speak.
"Wherever you please," Kin replied.
"I'll make a fire before it gets dark," I said.
"Okay," Kin said.
I made a fire plough and a tinder nest to start a fire to roast the bird we ate I brought it along with me. It was straneous and it drained an immense amount of energy from me. I looked around for dried-up barks from trees, which were easy to find. My shoulders still hurt from rolling a stick on another stick I carved with a hole.
"Kin I need a hand" I called to Kin who rested on a tree and watched me.
"Good," He said, "I wanna go and pee." He said as he walked away.
I knew he wasn't going to come for a while, so I began my efforts to make a fire.
Thirty minutes passed by, and there wasn't an ember or a hint of smoke. Kin was playing an intentional game that I ceased to understand. How many gallons of water did he drink to be peeing for over thirty minutes? I continued with the work I placed before me. If I added pressure while rolling the stick my wrist hurt. I was frustrated after, trying over and over again with no results. I was sweaty and exhausted.
"Kin, you know sometimes, I do wonder which side you are on. Is it the zombies or us?" I asked sarcastically there was no response. I stood up with my walking stick and went in the direction Kin went to pee.
I saw him. He placed his hands on his lips indicating for me to shush...