Chương 5: Brothers
Alister woke up early, just as the first light of dawn began to seep through the windows of the RV. He decided to forego his armor, feeling secure in this safe haven. With his sword in hand, he stepped out of the RV and headed toward the lakeside.
As he walked, he greeted Dale, who was perched on top of the RV, sipping his morning coffee. "Good morning, Sir Dale," Alister called out.
"Morning, Alister," Dale replied, lifting his cup in a friendly salute.
On his way to the lake, Alister encountered two men heading into the woods. One carried a crossbow and wore a jacket adorned with wings on the back. The other was older, with a dangerous aura and a balding head. The older man gave Alister a nod and a brief, scrutinizing look before patting the back of the man with the crossbow and disappearing into the woods.
Alister watched them go, curious. He recalled Shane mentioning two "rednecks" the previous night, but he was puzzled, noting about their necks were red at all. With a mental shrug, he continued to the lakeside.
Reaching the tranquil water's edge, Alister brandished his sword, feeling the familiar weight and balance in his hand. He assumed his standard stance and began his morning training routine. His movements were precise and fluid, a testament to his years of rigorous training. The rhythmic swishing of his sword cut through the stillness of the morning air as he honed his skills.
As the sun climbed higher in the sky, warming the air, Alister finished his training and sheathed his sword. Heading back to camp, he encountered the same two men he had seen earlier. The older man, now carrying a dead possum, walked alongside the younger man with the crossbow, who had several squirrels slung over his shoulder.
Alister, curious about their roles, spoke up as he joined them on the path back to camp. "Are you both hunters?"
The younger man with the crossbow, Daryl Dixon, glanced at him, his expression wary but not unfriendly. "Yeah, you could say that," he replied in a gruff voice. "Name's Daryl. This here's my brother, Merle."
Merle Dixon, the older of the two, gave a sly grin. "Hunters, scavengers, survivalists, take your pick. We do what we gotta do to get by."
Alister nodded thoughtfully. "Your skills are valuable in these times. I commend you for your resourcefulness."
Daryl shrugged, adjusting the weight of the squirrels on his back. "Just doin' what comes natural. Ain't nothin' fancy about it."
Merle's eyes glinted with a mixture of amusement and curiosity. "What about you, you a knight? You swing that sword around for fun, or you got some purpose behind it?"
Alister met Merle's gaze steadily. "I am a knight of the Greya Kingdom. My sword is my oath, my duty, and my honor."
Merle chuckled, shaking his head. "A real knight, huh? Well, ain't that somethin'. Just when you think the world's gone to hell, you meet someone like you."
Daryl smirked. "Let's just hope that sword of yours is as useful as our bows and knives out here."
Alister smiled faintly, appreciating their acceptance despite the strange circumstances. "I have no doubt it will be. Together, we can face whatever dangers this world holds."
The trio continued their walk back to camp, an unspoken understanding forming between the three. The brothers nodded and continued towards the camp. Alister admired their efficiency, skill and survival instincts.
As he approached the camp, Alister who was hungry after his training noticed a woman with brown hair tending to a pot of soup, a young boy playing nearby. The boy's laughter was a rare sound of innocence in this harsh world. Alister approached them, feeling the growl of hunger in his stomach.
"Hello," he greeted them with a warm voice. "I'm Alister. May I get a plate of the food?"
The woman looked up, a mixture of curiosity and caution in her eyes. "Hi, Alister. I'm Lori, and this is my son, Carl," she replied, gesturing to the boy.
Carl looked up at Alister with wide eyes. "Are you a real knight? I saw you had armor yesterday and it was so cool!" he asked, curiosity and excitement in his voice.
Alister smiled kindly. "I am indeed, young Carl." Patting the young boy's head.
"Nice to meet you, Lori, Carl," Alister said with a warm smile. "The soup smells wonderful."
Lori smiled, her initial wariness softening. "Thank you. It's not much, but we make do. Let me get you a bowl."
As she ladled soup into a bowl, Alister took a seat nearby, watching Carl with a fond smile. "You have a fine boy there. It's good to see a child's laughter in these times."
Lori handed Alister the bowl, her expression a mix of gratitude and sorrow. "We do what we can to keep some normalcy for him. It's not easy, but it's important."
Alister accepted the bowl with a nod of thanks. "Indeed. Keeping hope alive is essential. Thank you for sharing your food."
Lori nodded, sitting back down and watching Alister with interest as he began to eat. "So, where do you come from, Alister?"
"I am from a far, far land. I do not know where it is now." Lori sensing Alister's sorrow nodded and said to Alister she understands and left him alone to eat.
As Alister ate, he couldn't help but notice the curious stares from the people around him, especially from some of the women who admired his handsome, well-built stature. Unfazed, he focused on his meal, famished after his morning training. Once he finished the soup, he waved goodbye to Lori and Carl, thanking them for the meal.
He noticed Shane, Glenn, Dale, and a few others huddled around a table with a map spread out in the middle. Alister approached, and Shane was the first to notice him.
"What do you want, Alister?" Shane asked, his tone tinged with suspicion.
Alister met his gaze steadily. "I saw you gathered and thought I might be of assistance. In my kingdom, I was often involved in strategic discussions."
Shane raised an eyebrow, his skepticism evident. "Strategic discussions, huh? We're planning a supply run. Don't know if your "medieval" tactics are gonna help much here."
Glenn stepped in, trying to lighten the mood. "Hey, Shane, who knows? Maybe Alister can joust the walkers out of the way." He chuckled, giving Alister a friendly pat on the back.
Alister smiled slightly, appreciating Glenn's attempt at humor. "I may not know your ways yet, but I am a quick learner. And my sword has proven effective against these 'walkers.'"
Shane crossed his arms, still not entirely convinced. "Alright, but this isn't a game. You better pull your weight and not get anyone killed."
"I assure you, Shane, I have no intention of endangering anyone," Alister replied firmly. "I will do my part to protect and support this group."
Dale, sensing the tension, nodded. "Alister's right. We need all the help we can get. Let's work together and focus on surviving."
Glenn grinned, trying once more to ease the atmosphere. "Yeah, plus, who wouldn't want a knight in shining armor on their side?"
Shane reluctantly nodded, the animosity fading slightly. "Fine, but remember, this is the real world. No fairy tales."
Alister gave a solemn nod. "I understand, Shane. Let's focus on the task at hand and ensure everyone's safety."
With that, the group continued their planning, the tension easing as they began to work together, combining their different skills and knowledge adding information to what they know.
-------------Author's note-------------
I appreciate you all for enjoying this ff and that it really makes me happy to see you guys enjoying this but damn I never would've thought I'd struggle on making conversation because it's hard to get the character's personality in it. So enjoy to what I'm cooking up next it's diabolical.
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