Ignoring the words of the two strangers, Del continued out of the cabin, his heart already beating rapidly, he was dreading having to go outside. Even more so, he was dreading returning empty-handed to camp. Why had those two had to show up now of all times? And why the thunderstorm? It had made him act so uncharacteristically, it always did…

Annoyed with himself and the whole situation, the black-haired man threw the door open and left the cabin, slamming the door shut behind him. It was ridiculous really! He lived in a world with rotting corpses whose sole purpose is to kill and eat anything living, in a world where just finding food was a struggle and a danger which could end in death but what was he scared of? Thunderstorms…

Another loud crackle made Delaney pick his pace up, soon breaking into a jog. He was quite a bit away from camp, the search for food and supplies seeming to drive him further and further away each time he went out, it would take time before he reached camp again. Due to the heavy downpour, his clothes were quickly becoming drenched, weighing down on the young man’s frame and slowing his pace down.

Once out of the woods, the rain could pour down freely on Del, no trees and leaves to block it and that, paired with the ever growing darkness around him and his companion, made it hard to see much at all. Ironically, the strikes of lightning accompanied by loud thunder was his only help now, every now and then lighting the city up just long enough to give the man an idea of where he was and how close he was to camp.

Loud rumbling made itself heard before the sky once more lit up, this time revealing a couple of walkers blocking his path home and his eyes darted around to find a way around as he slowed down and came to a stop. Before Del could find any alternative routes, the momentarial light had died and once again, they were swallowed in darkness.

“I’m sorry Shadow…” the man mumbled in as soft of a voice as he could, although his voice was coated with fear. So far the feline had remained rather dry underneath the hoodie of Del but now he was forced to take her out and put her on the ground, the cat swishing its tail back and forth in an annoyed manner as he did. Once the cat was placed on the ground, now able to escape easily if the need came, the young man reached over his shoulder and grabbed the crowbar that stuck out from his backpack.

With quiet steps, Del walked closer, hoping that this once he’d be able to sneak past before booking it the last way back to camp, after all it wasn't far now. He could only just make out the outlines of the walkers and hearing their groans and shuffling through the rain also proved hard. The only good thing was that it would hopefully be as hard for the walkers to see him so as long as he didn't walk right into one he should be fi-

As he’d been walking, something brushed against his shoulder and Del instantly froze, praying to any and all Gods that came to mind that it wasn't a walker. Really the walkers themselves didn't scare him that much but everything had him on edge right now. Lighting once more lit up the sky and he threw a quick glance over his shoulder, meeting the dead stare of a walker.

Just as the rotting corpse threw itself towards him with its mouth unhinged and ready to bite, the black-haired man took off sprinting, soon crashing right into another walker. Quickly he threw himself to the side and swung the crowbar at the being, feeling it connect and knowing that he'd made some space between the two before the sprint continued, curses leaving his mouth as he ran as fast as he possibly could, hoping that the feline was following after.

Soon the dull lights of camp could be seen in the distance. He had left the walkers behind a while ago now but that hadn't made him slow down as the sound of thunder still crackled through the dark night.

“Who's there?!”

A familiar voice rang as the young man got closer to camp, the voice belonging to Jasper, one of the guards on the night shift. “It's me! Open the damn gate!” Del shouted back, slowing down slightly at the sound of someone familiar.

“Hell you running from?!” The voice shot back. Jasper was clearly cautious to open the gate, not wanting any intruders to be able to make their way inside, even if that could mean sacrificing one of their own. The other man was Frenzy's puppet and he made no attempt to hide it, whatever that mad woman decided, he enforced.

Getting even closer to the gate, Del slowed down further, now walking as he entered the light of the camp. A quick glance to the side confirmed that his companion was still with him, displeased to be drenched in rain but otherwise fine. “Just a couple walkers I ran into a bit back, open already, I'm fucking freezing!”

“Were you bit-”

“No dammit! Let me in!”

The man on the other side glared at him for a second before opening the gate reluctantly, “Drop any supplies off with Daisy and then go get some sleep or whatever the hell you do,” the man sneered. Jasper and Del’s relationship was far from good, Jasper had shown a dislike for the other almost immediately and since Del had no need to try and change that, he never put in the effort to do so either.

“I know,” the young man quickly snapped back. Only he had no supplies to drop off and once Daisy told their leader, she'd be pissed. Before she found out anything though, he would change clothes and try to get some rest to prepare himself for whatever was about to come.