#1

Leaning back slightly, the warm flesh of her palms meeting the cold tile, Ellie gave an endearing smile to Metro. She had heard his mumble, but decided against telling him which knight she was referring to. She had much to learn before deciding what Sir Metro truly was, for all she knew, the air between them now was calm and light now, but what about later? 

They were oceans apart from one another, each knowing only the waves that lapped at their individual shores. They knew only what was a given, not what was hidden deep within. She doubted that they ever would, though they needed to allow themselves to get closer. To branch out, to attach. Upon meeting Metro, something had stirred deep within the complexity that was Ellie, it sparked an impossible flame down in the darkness that had enveloped her very soul. She had been given hope, no matter how small the flame, it was still there. It was burning. Light that once was a part of her began to seep into the dark that had so thoroughly consumed her.

Hearing his next words, Ellie's warmhearted smile sunk deep into her features, disappearing as soon as it had formed. She was surprised to hear laughter follow the risque statement. If this was his attempt at flirting, he was losing her. Rolling her eyes, a storm brewing in the meadow that was her green gaze, carefully hidden, yet all the same, exposed. "Now, my [i]knight[/i]... I would strongly warn you off whatever course it is you have set. This princess, is not from a fairy-tale." Raw were the words that passed through her lips; enveloped in a soft silk, as they flew like graceful birds from her throat. She was giving a warning, not a threat. It was a part of her that wanted to laugh, to smile at him and give her own joke back. That part of her had been buried long ago, she was certain it hadn't existed anymore. Until now. She had laughed at this stranger, she had smiled, she had allowed herself to be...[i]human[/i] again. 

Even then, she couldn't escape from the horrid thoughts that perverted her mind. Melting into every crevice of her mind, turning each and every simple thought into something deeper, darker, dangerous. She hid it behind a smile, and a pretty face. Watching her father go AWOL, dealing with so much stress all at once, all leading to the end of humanity.... That did something to a girl. It changed her. It [i]transformed[/i] her, [i]morphed[/i] her into something not quite right. It turned her into a monster, of sorts. She could kill without batting one of her long eyelashes, she could leave behind any trace of morality. Without morality, without that vital sense of when to stop. More importantly, when to begin again, to feel the pang of regret, to have emotion within the barren husk of her soul. It was foreign. It was non-existent. Until now. 

Unstable and downright broken at best, Ellie is a masterful painting of lunacy. Bright and vibrant colors on her surface, but the longer you look, the darker she gets. Yet, here she was, sitting beside this man who, was unarmed. He was also the only real company she'd had in a long time. And....She missed that. Some part of her did, at least, and now here she was. Sharing plans and cradling his face and trying so hard to hold back the emotions she barely understood. Round, and round she went with this. 

Digging herself out of her thoughts, she swam back to the surface, breaking through into reality with a light gasp. "I do happen to have a map with me..." Should she mention her military father, and the training she'd had? No... That wasn't required of her. Besides, she'd share when they had some kind of understanding. Right now, all they had between them were two books, two very different people, and an idea, a single hope. "I don't have a compass, though." She sighed, that could've came in handy. Too late to fret over it now. A smile began to etch itself onto her face once more, "Now that you mention it, I do have some outdoors-man skill's." Thankfully her father had managed to teach her something valuable. 
---

After watching Metro relieve himself of what little food, and some digestive lining he had, she found herself no longer in the mood to eat. Which made the otherwise kindly offer of food only make her grimace. Pushing her bowl aside, Ellie shifted in her seat, wondering whether or not to ask how long he'd gone without a proper meal. That's when the sounds rang out. She almost missed them. Almost. The loud cluster of clanging came from afar, in a whole other section. Ellie was about to spring to her feet when she noted Metro already heading off; she'd almost missed his disappearing form as he faded into black, the corridor he entered swallowed him whole. 

[i]I have a bad feeling about this.[/i] Her mind began to race, already the possibility of death was on her mind. But no, she would've heard something, anything. Ellie glanced down at her gun, finger's twitching towards the grip. Shaking her head, Ellie dropped her hand back to her hip before standing up and peering over the corner of the aisle, trying to see past the dark hallway. Nothing. With a sigh, she took a step to head over, about to call out to Metro. Just as she opened her mouth, a piercing scream cut through the black and reached out to her, grasping her out of her from the deepest part of her mind and pulling her forcefully out. It was Metro, and he was in trouble. Taking no care to silence her footsteps, she rushed through the corridor that lead into the children's department, barely keeping upright as she slipped over a small fire-engine. Her emerald eyes wide with panic, heart beating with adrenaline, and her hand braced around the handle of her handgun. 

"METRO?!" Her voice rang out as she hollered, blaring through the quiet space. As she delved deeper into the small department, Ellie nearly choked on her own breath when she saw Metro, who was swearing like a sailor, clutching his bleeding leg....Just across from a dead Walker. It didn't take a genius to put two-and-two together, and if she was correct.... "Holy shit." She breathed, backing away from the wounded man, an incredulous look on her face. No- Not him. Not him, not now...Not again. She stepped over the body of the hopefully now fully dead Walker, and over to where a pained Metro tried to clog the gushing wound. Putting her gun back into the waistband of her jeans, Ellie leaned down and lifted off her small jacket, her high-school cheer souvenir, and lifted up Metro's pant-leg. She wasted no time covering the deep gashes with her jacket, wrapping it tightly in the fashion her father had taught her, enough to stop the blood from pouring out, but enough to constrict fully. That could cause more damage in the long run. 

After she was certain her jacket was secure, Ellie lifted one of Metro's arms and swung it around her shoulders. "C'mon, big guy." She grunted as she lifted the taller man, trying to find her strength and carry him out of the department. Though she struggled, she found a way to help to balance their weight, finding a rhythm to their movements, their steps molding into one. "You'll be alright..." She found herself muttering this phrase over and over again until they reached their little hovel- by now, the jacket was beyond salvageable. Damn, she liked that one too. Carefully as she could, Ellie lowered Metro to the ground, making sure not to bother his torn leg. She could leave him, she realized. She could get her things, what little he had, and go. She shook the thoughts from her mind. She wouldn't give up this time, she was tired of being alone. If that meant she had to lose her jacket, then so be it. Reaching into her bag for her father's med-kit, Ellie glanced over at her shoulder to Metro. If he was infected... She was going to go down with him. All because she stayed. She turned back to the bag, digging through her supplies with intent, sweat forming on her brow. "What happened back there?" The question that had been pressing against her lips had finally managed to force itself out, allowing Ellie to focus completely on the task at hand. Pulling out the med-kit, she gave a timid smile, and scooted closer to the wounded man. "A princess saving her knight, who knew?" She gave a shaky laugh, fumbling when she pried the small medical box open. 

"Hang on...This next part, might hurt...A lot." She hadn't had too much medical training, besides in health class. So, this whole thing was gonna be a bit new. Well, this should be interesting. The small flame within her grew, spreading warmth and light throughout her her once dull spirit. The ocean that separated them seemed to lessen, the wide berth between the two closing, ever so slowly.