Khal stayed as still as he could hopping the woman didn’t hear him, which was a stupid though. Anything within a fifty yard radius probably heard the loud sudden clank of metal on concrete. So instead he thought he would wait her out, which was his second mistake. As he stated pressed against the wall he tried to think how to get himself out of this, but his thought process was cut short by the woman’s gun in his face. He had been in this place before. An ocean away, a much more dangerous threat had held a much more dangerous gun to his face. The scar along his neck began to itch. As she spoke he studied her stance. She was confident and held the gun like she would take the shot, though Khal knew she could probably take her if he was fast enough he didn’t want to try, this was the first actual human he had seen in a month, even if she was trying to kill him.

“Look I don’t mean harm, I didn’t realize anyone else was here, My name is Khalin Hefran, I lived here when the world was, well when it was normal” only after he stopped talking did he realize that he still had the bat in his right hand, Kaz had his nose in Khals palm, trying to calm him. But even as the dog did his job, he glared at the woman, his canine muscles bunched ready to launch himself into a fight, hackles raised.

“Look I’ll set my bat down, and maybe we can talk this out, we don’t need to be killing each other, we’ve got enough monsters trying to do that for us” he turned his head away from her, to place his bat against the wall, revealing his scar.

When she lowered her gun he took a deep breath and made a signal with his right hand. Kaz sat down and his hostile nature seemed to instantly disappear. Khalin kept his eye on the woman. He wasn't sure, even tho she had put up her weapon, that she would t try again to kill him. He watched as her emotions changed from angry to puzzled, to shock. At first he himself was puzzled at why she had gone through such a rollercoaster. Then he understood. Her voice and name brought back a nastalgic smile and he nodded his head

"Wow!" He exclaimed. "I can't believe anyone is actually still here!" Khalin wasn't sure if he should hug her, shake her hand, or give her a high-five, she he just awkwardly stuffed his hands in his pockets. He studied her and mentally kicked himself for not recognizing her sooner. Although she looked older she still had some of the same features she had when they were younger.

"I came back to see if my family was still here" he stopped and a distant look came from his eyes but a nudge from Kaz made him snap out of it. "What about you? You seem rougher and tougher than the last time we saw one another." That statement brought back another flood of images. Kids smiling on graduation day, excited to go out into the real world. Khalin wished they could go back to those days. He didn't want to ask but he felt like he needed to "is there-did anyone else make it? Your family? Any other of the twons folk?" He felt like he knew the answer, especially due to the town crawling with walkers. He really just needed it to be confirmed so that he would stop looking.

Khalin s heart ached for her. He knew it was hard on anyone to lose a family member, let alone their whole family. She hadn't asked but he felt like sharing, just so she knew if she needed to, she could talk to him. "My parents were already walkers when I got back, and my sister had shot herself she she didn't have to become one" a lump swelled in his throat and he swallowed it.
Shrugging his shoulders he acknowledged her comment. "I'm sure it has happened to a lot of people, but that doesn't make it hurt any less." He sighed then looked down at his dog.
"this is Kasbec, he's my best friend, and my only friend up until about two minutes ago" Kasbecs tail stirred up dirt when his name was said. "We served together in the force. We retired together when we went through a pretty crazy experience. He's been by my side for three years" when she checked her shoulder he did the same unconsciously grabbing the bat in case any unwanted visitors strolled around.
Khalin felt an overwhelming since of guilt come over him. He and his group of friends in high school had always vowed to go through life together. To never let anything or anyone separate or break their bonds, but when Khalin had enlisted in the military, he never told his friends where he was going, or that he was leaving at all. He just left them, and would never see any of them, besides Valentina again. trying to distract himself from the thoughts he shifted his feet.
"we shouldn't stay out here very long, it's gonna be dark soon, if you'd like we can find a place for the night and catch up, or we can go a different way now, whatever works for you" it truly made his heart happy to see one of his old friends again. And he would hate to part with her so early. But in today's world, he wouldn't blame her for not wanting to spend a night with someone she hadn't seen or heard from in years.

Khalin listened to her words carefully. He then nodded and followed. He held his bat in his right hand, and let his other rest on his pistol. Even as a right handed shooter, and swinger, the military had made Khalin skilled with both. In fact the military had changed a lot about him. He used to be a good grades kid who would only have fun on Friday nights kind of guy. He never got into trouble. Never picked fights, and he never said a cruel word or did a cruel deed in his.. past life, as he called it. Had Val been a stranger, after they talked it out he probably would've double crossed her and possibly even killed her. Which scared him. He never knew which side of himself was going to show.
As he followed her he noticed it was later than he thought. They had about ten minutes of daylight left then it would start to get tricky. Her words pulled him from his brain.
"honestly, I'd rather you do that than just let some rando walk up to you, at least you're careful" although there were cons to being with another person, there were more pros. Like for instance, having someone to watch your back, with that thought he checked over his shoulder. And Khal actually had someone to talk to, not just his dog who looked at him like he was crazy.
As if summoning him Kaz nudged his leg roughly. Khal knew what that meant. Walkers. He didn't risk saying anything to Val, he just quickly reached forward and lightly grabbed the area just a over her elbow. He tried to do it in a manner that wouldn't make her get upset or even pull a gun on him, again, but it was slightly hard, especially at the end of the world. So he pressed a finger to his lips and painted an apologetic gaze onto his face the waited, as the sound of scuffing feet grew closer.

Khalin hadn't meant the scare her and flinched lightly when she had pulled the machete on him, for good reason. When she had started forward he did too, he stepped where she stepped in an attempt to be more quiet as a bigger human. Kaz crept silently behind them, knowing his warning had found its way into the real world.
when Val signaled for him to take the walkers on the side. He sprang into action. The walkers were headed for Val because that was the first human they saw. He wouldn't let them get to her. He swung his bat hard, completely deaden king one of the walkers. He continued on swinging and pivoting. He wasn't very fast she he had to use his strength to his advantage.
He risked a glance Ofer at Val to see if she was alright. There was a Walker collapsed on top of her. For a moment he thought it was still alive and a new stream of adrenaline surged through him, he wanted to rush over and help her, but a grab on the arm made him quickly freak out and swing his bat at the creature. He hit its shoulder breaking its arm clean off, blood spraying onto his bare arm. He swung again this time for the head.
Khalin continued to swing and take out the gruesome beings. When he was done he frantically looked for Kaz. The dog was on top of a dumpster, snapping at a Walker trying to reach him. The dog rarely ever backed, some of his military training, so now he just snarled and snapped at the air when the Walker was close. Quickly Khalin tan over and took care of the creature. He reached his arms out like a hug for the canine and Kaz launched himself into it. Khal set him down then turned to Val to see if she needed any help, and frankly it looked like she could take a whole hoard if she needed to.