The sun hung low in the sky as the group approached a neighborhood on the outskirts of Atlanta. Marcus, riding with Rick, spotted movement in one of the homes. Instinct told him this was worth investigating, so he urged the convoy to stop.
"Why are we stopping?" Shane asked, annoyed.
"There's someone in that house," Marcus replied, pointing toward the window.
Rick nodded. "Let's check it out. But stay cautious."
Meeting the Jones Family
The group approached the house cautiously, weapons at the ready. Marcus knocked on the door and called out, "We're not here to hurt you. Just passing through and looking for other survivors."
A moment later, the door creaked open, revealing a cautious Morgan Jones. Behind him stood his son Duane and his wife, Jenny. Jenny looked tired but alive—a detail Marcus didn't take lightly, given his prior knowledge of the show.
"What do you want?" Morgan asked warily.
"We're heading to Atlanta," Rick explained. "Looking for safety. We thought maybe you'd want to come with us."
Morgan hesitated but seemed intrigued. "You don't look like trouble, but I've got my family to think about."
"We're all in this together now," Marcus added. "Strength in numbers."
Jenny stepped forward. "Morgan, maybe we should go. We can't stay here forever."
After a moment's thought, Morgan nodded. "Alright. But if this goes south, we're out."
Preparing the Jones Family
The group helped the Jones family pack what they could—food, water, and any supplies they had scavenged. Marcus noticed Morgan's rifle and Duane's small baseball bat, appreciating their preparedness.
"Jenny," Marcus said gently, "have you been feeling, okay?"
Jenny nodded, puzzled. "Why do you ask?"
Marcus smiled, relieved. Her survival means the timeline is already changing.
As they loaded the cars, Marcus handed Morgan and Duane makeshift bows and a few arrows. "These might come in handy," he said.
The Journey to Atlanta
The expanded group set off, navigating the increasingly dangerous roads. Abandoned vehicles created bottlenecks, and walkers occasionally wandered into view.
At one point, the convoy was forced to stop when a massive pileup blocked their path.
"We'll have to clear away," Rick said grimly.
Marcus took the lead, organizing the group into teams. Jeffrey and Shane worked on moving smaller vehicles, while Marcus, Rick, and Morgan kept watch for walkers.
Carl, Duane, and Jenny stayed in the cars with Lori and Sarah, keeping an eye on the younger kids.
An Unexpected Attack
As they worked, a group of walkers emerged from the woods.
"Walkers!" Shane shouted, raising his shotgun.
Marcus quickly grabbed his bow, taking out the closest ones silently. Rick and Morgan joined in, using their weapons to hold the line.
One particularly fast walker lunged at Duane, but Marcus intercepted it with a crowbar swing, protecting the boy.
Walker Neutralized: +15 XP
Skill Progression: Close-Combat: Walker Neutralization +10%
After a tense few minutes, the area was clear.
"Everyone okay?" Marcus asked, scanning the group.
"We're fine," Morgan said, shaking his head. "But this isn't getting any easier."
Arriving in Atlanta
As they finally reached the outskirts of Atlanta, the scene was worse than any of them had imagined. Smoke rose from buildings, and the streets were littered with abandoned cars and bodies.
"This… this isn't what I expected," Lori whispered.
Marcus's system pinged, warning him of nearby walker activity. "We need to find shelter. Fast."
The group navigated carefully, eventually finding an empty office building to use as a temporary base. They barricaded the doors and set up a watch rotation.
New Bonds and Plans
That night, Marcus sat with Morgan, Rick, and Jeffrey to discuss their next steps.
"We need a plan," Rick said. "We can't stay here long."
Morgan nodded. "We need supplies. Food, water, maybe a way to communicate with other survivors."
"I'll help organize a supply run tomorrow," Marcus offered. "We'll need to be smart about it."
As they talked, Marcus checked his system:
Name: Marcus Grimes
Strength: 5
Agility/Dexterity: 6 (+1 from combat)
Endurance: 3
Intelligence: 6
Wisdom: 7 (+1 from leadership decisions)
Luck: 10 (Locked)
Skills:
Intermediate First Aid
Basic Mechanics (Intermediate)
Close-Combat: Walker Neutralization (Intermediate)
Survivalist Knowledge (Novice)
Teaching (Novice)
Foraging (Novice)
Urban Gardening (Novice)
Basic Blacksmithing (Novice)
Bow Crafting (Novice)
Basic Metalworking (Novice)
Improvised Weaponry (Novice)**
A New Chapter Begins
As the group settled in for the night, Marcus reflected on the journey so far. They had gained allies and faced dangers, but the challenges ahead would only grow.
"This is just the start. We'll survive. Together."