The year is 1911, and something has gone horribly wrong. The world has been hit by a plague of apocalyptic proportions. The dead have risen and wander the land in search of human flesh. Frequent storms batter the Earth and all plant life has seemingly died off. Cattle meat became rotten and those who dared to eat it joined the undead ranks. Initial survivors told stories of mythical creatures who stalk the wilderness, but not many had the courage to go and verify the tales. Those who did never returned. Small pockets of civilization sprung up all over the land after the major towns were decimated by the ravenous zombies, but they don't have nearly enough supplies to cope with the massive amounts of people begging for help.

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Simon rode his horse along the dirt path, keeping a vigilante eye out for any of the flesh-eating freaks that might be nearby. As he passed a corpse that had a gunshot wound to the head, he cast a thought back to when the whole thing had actually started. He'd been hiding off the track with the rest of his gang after committing a caravan robbery. As the night drew closer, one of the gang began to complain of a severe headache and went to lie down. Several hours later, he awoke. But not as himself. He began biting and scratching at the other bandits, turning them into the undead. Simon had to put down a couple before fleeing the camp on his horse and riding as hard as he could, putting as much distance between them and him.

It was when he rode through Armadillo, that he realised the epidemic wasn't restricted to just his group. Everybody was turning into one of the things. Friends were eating each other, with no recollection of their previous life. The law enforcement officers were swiftly overrun and devoured, leaving nobody to defend the hapless civilians that ran in every direction, screaming in terror. Simon was nearly killed in Armadillo, when a survivor who had gone crazy, probably from watching everyone he loved and cared about die at the hands of the undead, starting opening fire on everyone and everything he saw, not discriminating between alive and dead.

Simon was on his way to Thieves' Landing, his home before he ran away when he was young, expecting it to be somewhat safe, although he didn't know what he based his idea off of. He'd heard stories of supposed safe zones, but didn't believe them since everything was just so messed up. He just brushed them off as stories told by people who had seen too much and gone a bit loopy. Simon cast his glance into a field on his left, spotting a single undead male, shuffling around aimlessly. Wandering. Waiting for his next meal. Not knowing when it'd be. To be honest, Simon didn't know when his next meal would be either.

Joseph Reed looked to the darkened sky as he loaded his revolver, packed his bags, and paced towards his horse, eager to find out what was going on. His first instinct was to ride to Blackwater but, in his disrupted state, he began to ride west instead of east until he found himself approaching Thieve's Landing.

From afar, he could see that the town was in turmoil. Buildings and homes were set ablaze and pieces of wood scattered across the streets. He began to contemplate whether this was a good idea or not.

Buck lay in the branches of a tree. Lazily puffing away at his cigar. Suddenly there was a loud "SNAP" followed by a low moan. Buck glanced over the field where he had set his snare. At first it appeared he had caught a person instead of a rabbit, but as he watched closer he noticed the person was missing an arm and blindly trying to crawl forward despite his foot being caught.

"Goddamn...things." He muttered under his breath. Now he would have to find a new place to hunt. He looked at over the land to see where might prove better hunting. Since the outbreak, Buck had to learn he couldn't just "go" anywhere. He had to analyze and contemplate his every move. As he scanned the distance he saw two figures on horse back. They were several miles from each other so were probably not together.

"Wonder where they're going, or if they're even living. Only thing out that way is Thieve's Landing." With that though Buck slowly descended the tree and got onto his horse. He decided to follow them at a safe distance while he looked for better hunting ground. Hell, maybe since the outbreak Thieve's Landing was a safe haven. Only one way to find out.

As Joseph brought his horse's gallop to a slow trot, he entered Thieve's Landing, only to find that the town was over run and that the entire settlement was crawling with the undead. Startled by this shocking scene in front of him, he froze momentarily in his place. The undead grew aware of his presence and charged at him, pulling him from his horse. Attempting to think fast, he pulled his cattleman revolver from his holster and shot repeatedly until he had killed off enough undead to make a break for it, running towards any building he could take refuge in.

Realizing that the insides of buildings did not offer much more safety than the streets themselves, he jumped and grabbed the edge of the roof, hoisting himself ontop. He looked around and realized there were a few other survivors who had done the same thing, but they were much too far away to offer him and advice or instructions. In the distance, he spotted a man riding towards Thieves' Landing. He wished to warn him to turn away but knew it was not possible.

Jimmy was riding slow on his horse. He had no clear destination, however the road he was taking leaded towards Blackwater. He hoped he would find some food and a place to lay down. "Damn! I'm so hungry I could eat a horse!" Said Jimmy as his horse began neighing. "What!!! I wasn't talking about you! You're my buddy, my friend, my companion. I love you!" Said Jimmy to the horse as he patted him on the neck. Then he bypassed a dead guy, half eaten by zombies who had a pouch on his shoulder. Jimmy stopped the horse and climbed down from it as he approached the dead guy and sticked his hand inside the pouch, finding some bread and a bottle of whisky.

"Yeah, now that's what i'm talking about!" Said Jimmy satisfied as he began biting off the bread. Jimmy's horse had two saddle bags on him. After taking some bites off the bread Jimmy opens one of the saddle bags and puts the rest of the bread inside. Then he takes off the cap off the whisky bottle and takes a good sip from it. Afterwards he takes the bottle away from the mouth and blows out some air. After turning his view towards the dead guy, Jimmy raises the whisky bottle while looking at him. "Cheers! I'll keep you in my prayers." Said Jimmy while looking at the dead guy as he took another sip and then he screwed the cap back on, putting the bottle in the same saddle bag where the half eaten bread was. Then he climbes back on his horse and continues heading towards Blackwater.

Buck rode up the path to Thieve's Landing. He had lost sight of one of the men, but was sure one of them came this way. As he entered the small town he pulled his horse to a stop. "Whoa there boy." He spoke softly. "Damn there's a lot of these things." He observed, looking over the completely undead town. The creatures had not noticed him yet, so he took that advantage to observe the town. Buck noticed that there was a man (czechmate46) standing on top of the roof. Buck could tell that he needed help and would surely perish without aid. Buck had lasted this long on his whits and survival skill. Not by playing hero.

Buck turned his horse around and went to leave. His horse bucked up as it turned into a small group of the creatures. He had not noticed them coming up behind him. Buck quickly spurred his horse into the town. He knocked a few of the creatures that surrounded the man on the roof back with the butt of his rifle. He called up to the man: "Jump the fuck down!" The man looked over the roof and seemed to study Buck and his horse. Buck knocked another creature back with his rifle. "Do you want to damn die up there? Jump!"

Hesitantly, Joseph looked down at the man on the ground, yelling up to him. "Are you sure? They can't get up here!" Not that he knew much about what was happening - it had been just a day since the plague of the undead had finally made it's way to his ranch and taken his wife and son - but he had seen that these creatures, as dangerous as they were, did not contain the intellect to do complicated things; such as climb.

However, he was happy to see someone who was not an undead. He wished to know what was going on. He peered down at him, upon his horse. He had no choice but to trust him. He must have been dealing with this plague longer than he, himself, had. Following the man's instructions, he whistled for his horse and prepared to jump to the ground and scurry to his horse.

Hesitantly, Joseph looked down at the man on the ground, yelling up to him. "Are you sure? They can't get up here!" Not that he knew much about what was happening - it had been just a day since the plague of the undead had finally made it's way to his ranch and taken his wife and son - but he had seen that these creatures, as dangerous as they were, did not contain the intellect to do complicated things; such as climb.

However, he was happy to see someone who was not an undead. He wished to know what was going on. He peered down at him, upon his horse. He had no choice but to trust him. He must have been dealing with this plague longer than he, himself, had. Following the man's instructions, he whistled for his horse and prepared to jump to the ground and scurry to his horse.

Out of nowhere a horse came galloping and knocked over a dozen of the creatures. The man quickly jumped on his horse. "If I'da known you had a horse I woulda left you alone." Buck smiled at him. "But enough pleasant bullshit. Follow me!" Buck spurred his horse right through Theive's Landing and out the other side. At full gallop horses seemed to be able to plow through the creatures. Normally horses don't run over people, but Buck guess that horse instinct could tell these creatures weren't human.

Buck and the man rode at full gallop for several minutes before Buck slowed his horse down. They were riding through a clearing and none of the creatures were in sight. Buck spied a small grove of trees up ahead. "Hey stranger. Name's Buck." He said as the other man rode up besides him. "I know you probably thought that roof was the best place for ya. Well, it ain't. Those damned things will wear ya down. Wait you out. You gotta keep moving. Least that's what I've found. They don't seem to take to woods real well. They prefer towns and high grass. Just like damned wolves." Buck laughed as they headed to the small grove of trees.

Following the man, Joseph spurred his horse out of Thieves' Landing, amazed at the amount of undead that he was effortlessly ploughing through with his horse. The man he was following appeared to have great knowledge; for that he was grateful. At times like this, he really needed a helping hand.

Bringing his horse to a heavy trot, he rode along side the man who introduced himself as Buck. "Howdy, Buck. I'm Joseph Reed," he introduced himself then thanked him for advice he had given him and for coming to his rescue back in Thieve's Landing. Taking a deep breath, he began to ask the question that had boggled his mind since his wife and son had turned into undeads. "So, do you know what in the hell is going on?"

"Shit. That's what's going on." Buck replied as they got into the grove of trees. Buck unshouldered his rifle and dismounted his horse. He made a quick check of the small grove and didn't find any of the creatures. There was a small pond which Buck quickly filled his canteen and drank deeply of the cool water. He then went and set up a few snare on the outskirts of the grove hoping to catch some dinner.

Joseph watched silently as Buck set everything up. Buck checked out a few trees until finding one that caught his eye. He started climbing up until he was about 8 feet off the ground. He propped himself up between two branches and looked down at Joseph. "Get you a drink of water and shimmy on up one of these trees. It's a bit hard, but you'll learn how to sleep in 'em. I learned during my years as a bounty hunter. Most people, and it looks like these creatures, never look in trees for people. Hopefully my traps will catch us some grub. I haven't eaten most of the day." Buck leaned back and tilted his hat forward to take a nap. Normally Buck would be suspicious of anyone new, but once these creatures started arriving, he worried a little less. He figured he didn't have any food or anything of value. Joseph already had a gun, so Buck's weapons should be safe. Even so, Buck was a fairly light sleeper, and if Joseph wanted to shoot him, he'd have done it already.

"Oh," Joseph was at a loss for words. He had really hoped for more than an explanation than that. Did anyone have clue as to what was happening? Or was Buck just as clueless as he was?

Following Buck's instructions, Joseph dunked an empty flask into the pond and took small, shallow sips. He then proceeded to climb the tree next to Buck's - or at least tried to-. Growing up in Blackwater, Joseph never did activities that other kids had done, such as climb trees. While he had become a rancher in his early twenties, he had yet to ever climb a tree. Struggling immensely, he finally managed to perch himself on one of the thick branches and took a deep breath as he listened to what Buck had to say. He was a bounty hunter - and it seemed like he was a skilled one. Thankful for his company, Joseph listened in silence, typical for him, and considered his advice.

"Mister Buck," Joseph began, unsure whether he should continue to speak, as it seemed Buck was falling into slumber. "I really meant what I said before. My wife and son turned into those hideous creatures just yesterday and my ranch has become over run...I have to know what this is and what it means."

"I'm really sorry for you son." Buck said, tilting his hat up a little to look at Joseph. "Might be some type of disease. You know, like the Consumption. You get it, spread it, then die. I'm not any type of doctor. So I could be wrong." Buck went to try and rest again, when something about Joseph made his pause. Joseph was looking down at the ground dishearteningly. The kid seemed at a loss for what to do in a world with these creatures in it. Buck felt the same way when he first lost his parents and became a bounty hunter. Years alone hunting criminals and relying on no one but himself had made him well suited for these kind of things. But not everyone had the same "luxury" as him. Joseph had a family that he had just lost and then they became these creatures?

"Hey kid." Buck said as Joseph looked at him. "If, if ya want. First thing in the morning, we can go check out the next town over. I think they have a good doctor over there. Maybe he figured something out and isn't all eaten up. Or we can check out your ranch. See what we find. I'm not really book smart. I just know how to survive, so I'll leave the planning up to you." Buck managed a smile and tilted his hat back down a bit. "If you need anything son, just holler. I'm a light sleeper and can fall asleep anywhere. So you won't bother me."

"Maybe," Joseph sighed, after hearing what Buck had to say. "But I never seen no disease that raises people from the dead. I just dont understand it all." He glanced to the ground sullenly, unsure what they could possibly do now other than rest for the time being then head out and look for other survivors.

But it seemed Buck had something else in mind. Joseph liked the way he thought. Even though Buck claimed not to be too bright, he didnt give himself enough credit. He definitely had the critical thinking skills needed to survive. "That's very kind of you to offer," Joseph said, feeling his lips twitch into a smile. "I think we should continue our travel. Maybe make our way to Armadillo. I heard there's a highly acclaimed doctor there." He fidgeted on his branch before continuing. "You know, I doubt you should be calling me 'kid'," he joked. "I may not look my age, but I'm approaching forty." Joseph could tell, by the pitch of Buck's voice, that he was definitely younger than he was. Yet all the same, he saw him as equal.

"Maybe," Joseph sighed, after hearing what Buck had to say. "But I never seen no disease that raises people from the dead. I just dont understand it all." He glanced to the ground sullenly, unsure what they could possibly do now other than rest for the time being then head out and look for other survivors.

But it seemed Buck had something else in mind. Joseph liked the way he thought. Even though Buck claimed not to be too bright, he didnt give himself enough credit. He definitely had the critical thinking skills needed to survive. "That's very kind of you to offer," Joseph said, feeling his lips twitch into a smile. "I think we should continue our travel. Maybe make our way to Armadillo. I heard there's a highly acclaimed doctor there." He fidgeted on his branch before continuing. "You know, I doubt you should be calling me 'kid'," he joked. "I may not look my age, but I'm approaching forty." Joseph could tell, by the pitch of Buck's voice, that he was definitely younger than he was. Yet all the same, he saw him as equal.

"I certainty meant no offense." Buck said. "Force of habit. Kid and son are just little terms of endearment." Buck chuckled slightly. "Armadillo in the morning it is." With that he drifted off into a soft slumber. He awoke the next morning and looked around. The horses were by the pond and there were none of those creatures to be seen. He climbed down from the tree and checked his snares. He had managed to snag a squirrel. "Better than nothing." He shrugged.

He quickly skinned and gutted the squirrel and gathered a few twigs and small branches. They couldn't afford a big fire. Might attract some unwanted attention. As he gathered the branches and kindling he called up to Joseph. "Rise and shine mister. I'll have a little bit of breakfast ready in a few. Then we can head to Armadillo." Buck started the small fire and began to cook the squirrel. He divided up the meat evenly for them both. "It's not much, but it'll stop the hunger pangs." Buck said as the squirrel finished cooking.

"No offense taken," Joseph found himself chuckling. He had never truly looked his age at any point in his life, it was no surprise to him. Pulling off the scarf from around his neck, he placed it over his eyes to block out the light, and quickly fell into slumber despite the uncomfortableness of the tree branch.

Joseph awoke to the sound of Buck's voice, offering him breakfast. He felt a brief pang of guilt - this man had been so welcoming and generous to him and he had given him nothing. Remembering that he had brought some food with him from his ranch, he pulled out two apples and handed one of them to Buck. "Thank you for your kindness," he said. "I was so afraid I would be alone...that I wouldn't find another person who wasnt an undead. I'm just very glad we crossed paths."

Night descended on Nuevo Paraíso with an orchestra of screams, discharging rifles and the shrieks of the undead. The 21st Infantry Company of the Mexican army, headed by capitan Evarado Anselm, made its stand against the endless tide in their walled sanctuary. El Presido was possibly the safest place to be in all of Mexico at that moment in time, but judging the situation for what it was, then that was a weak sentiment.

The parapets of the prison were alive with Evarado's men, and they fired their weapons with little love for accuracy. A horde of the undead had gathered under the fort's main gate, and it was so thick with upright corpses that there was simply no need to aim. The Mexicans, despite their fear, and the grievous losses they had sustained over the last twenty four hours, put the flesh eaters to the sword in short order.

Though no sooner had the garrison regrouped, then another shambling mass of zombies appeared from the darkness. The situation was growing dimmer by the minute, and a quick ammo count revealed that the 21st Infantry Company was about an hour away from hand-to-hand combat. Not for the first time since this nightmare had started, Evarado wondered whether the sinners of Hell had arisen to claim the likes of him.

After packing up all of his provisions and finishing the form of "breakfast" that he and Buck had, Joseph strolled over to his horse where he fed him a rationed proportion of a carrot and mounted up. Suddenly, an idea struck him. "Perhaps we should go to Mexico...maybe the situation isn't as bad there." Joseph wasn't sure what reaction he would get. But it seemed that was more logical than going to Armadillo. Who knew what was there waiting for them. Surely things werent as bad in Mexico.

Buck finished his squirrel and took the apple and nodded at Joseph. He stood up and walked over to his horse and presented it the apple. It gobbled it up immediately. Buck smiled and patted his horse as Joseph and he packed up what little they had. "Mexico, huh?" Buck responded to Joseph's request. "Well hell, I don't see any reason why not. It's a little bit of a ride. But it's fairly clear travel. Should be able to see any of those things coming a mile away."

With that, Buck jumped onto his horse and bellowed: "Mexico!" as he spurred his horse south.