[center][u]Nathalie Soltero | Finn’s Shelter/The creek | Finn & Nicole[/u][/center]

The aroma of something warm tempted Nathalie to wake up by appealing to her stomach. She turned over to find a comfortable position in her bed, sighing silently before feeling herself go deeper into her sleep. 

[b]“Nati wake up!”[/b] 

The voice seemed familiar. Too familiar. Nathalie groaned in her sleep, shifting a bit as she reached for the covers. 

[b]”Yeah Nati, wake up!”[/b] 

A softer voice from nearby giggle almost immediately after the first. Suddenly, Nathalie found herself sinking into her bed as she felt two people crawl on and jumped around, laughing and ripping the covers off of her. Nathalie’s lashes fluttered several times before her pale blue eyes could focus on the two girls hovering above her, waiting for her to wake up. They were her sisters, Alissa and Rose. Confusion clouded her mind as she saw her beautiful girls giggling and helping her sit up in bed, their hands already moving to Nat’s hair to braid it. [b]”Mom’s making my fave, meatloaf with mashed potatoes and sweet corn!”[/b] Rose nearly sang as she told Nathalie what their mother was making for dinner, smiling widely as she braided her older sisters hair. Rose was only 14, but she was a fountain of talent and could do anything she put her mind to. Alissa was the same as well, but way less outspoken. She was of few words but showed everyone she was a badass through her actions. [b]”Nati, why didn’t you tell us your [i]boyfriend[/i] was coming over?”[/b] Rose’s giggles soon turned into high pitches laughter, Alissa finally breaking and joining in on the laughing. Although Nathalie was beyond confused, what Rose said ripped her out of the initial shock and sent her into a near panic hearing that word. “Boyfriend?!” Her voice rang clear in her room, the faint echo catching her attention. She looked around and saw in awe as she recalled her old room, just the way she had left it. “Who told y’all... Now when have y’all ever seen me date someone? What is going on here?” The only response the young woman received were delighted giggles as the girls finished her braid and made off downstairs, their feet sounding like gallops as they raced down each stair. 

“What the hell?” Nathalie stood in front of her old mirror, looking at herself. She was dirty. No, she was beyond dirty. Clearly she had gone through hell and then some, yet she wore a simple tank top and shorts. As she looked down to her clean clothes, the clear clash of her dirty and mud splattered skin made her feel as if something was truly wrong, but she couldn’t put a finger on it. She kept staring at her reflection, noticing that she wasn’t as thin as she had just seen herself a few days ago. Her flattering curves were back, her hair was shiny, and her nails were manicured. “But why am I so fucking dirty?” She tried rubbing off some dirt from her arms but her mother’s voice rang clear through the halls as she called out for Nathalie to go downstairs for dinner. “M...mom?” Without thinking twice, Nathalie sprinted through the halls, nearly jumping down the entire staircase in order to get to the kitchen. She passed the dining table where her sisters sat, both smiling widely and whispering little secrets to each other. Nat shot them a look but continued past a door into the kitchen, her jaw dropping as she saw her mother getting together plates as a man behind her filled some cups with soda, his back turned to the women. “Mom?”

[b]”There you are! Oh I love it when your sisters braid your hair Mija! Andale, go sit down before your dad gets home, he’s going to be starving. Oh, I also invited your boyfriend over, you didn’t tell me he was so handsome! Que guapo!”[/b] 

“What? Mom I’m not - who is this?” She pointed to the man who had his back to them, only to take a few steps back when she realized who it was. “Finn?” Her voice cracked a bit but the man turned in response, grinning widely at her. [i]’Why the hell is Finn here? Where the hell is his sister?’[/i]

“Finn, where’s Nicole?” 

Nothing. The blonde man’s face didn’t even flinch. His green eyes didn’t blink. It was as if she had never said anything. “Finn! Where is Nicole?!” Nothing once more. Nathalie turned to look at her mom but she simply stood there looking confused, as if replicated Nat’s own confusion. The sound of a door opening and closing caused the petite woman to jump, her head turning quickly towards the door she had just came in through. “Dad?” Curiosity got the best of her and she left the two in the kitchen to go see who had just came in to her fucked up house. Indeed it was her dad, although, something was wrong. He seemed off, his limbs didn’t move the way a normal human should be moving. His clothes were torn and the look in his eyes, well there was no look. A blank stare straight into nothing. “Dad, what’s wrong?” The only response that she could elicit was a gargling groan from the man, which caused two more groans to echo from behind Nathalie where the dining table was. She turned to see what had responded in the same manner as her dad, and it was her sisters. Their smiles were gone, everything that was so animated about them was gone, and they seemed to also stare into nothing like their father. “Mom? Something’s wrong with the girls and dad.” Her voice was in no way loud, but it could have been clearly heard in the kitchen, as her mother also made her way towards the dining room. All four of them mirrored each other in the most disturbing way; they were all dead. Dead, but moving, and they were making their way towards Nathalie with their arms extended in any way but welcoming. 

“Mom? Dad?! Stop!” Her voice grew more shrill with each word that escaped her lips as she moved further back. She began to realize what was happening, and what would soon happen to her if she didn’t run. “Finn! Finn please! Nicole, help!” Tears began to stream down Nathalie’s face as she began to climb into furniture to escape the grips of death that her family seemed to promise her. 

[center]~[/center]

In Nicole’s cot, Nathalie practically thrashed around, covered in sweat. Her screams in her dreams came out as murmurs and mumbles as she tried to cry for help. In a fraction of a second, the woman woke up gasping for air, her eyes wide open as if she had just been brought back to life. She had sat up at the same time as she had woken up, seeming almost cartoon like in her action. Sweat rolled down her face and tears dropped from her eyes. It took her a second to realize that she was not in any danger, and that she was safe with Finn and Nicole inside of their shelter. “God damn it!” Nathalie hissed as she pushed off as much clothing as possible. She set down what must have been Finn’s jacket on the cot before setting down her own, then continuing by taking off her long sleeve black shirt. She remained in her sports bra and her jeans with boots although that still seemed to be too hot. “Nic?” Nathalie walked over to Nicole, smiling as she saw the young girl cooking. “So grown up,” she grinned a bit as she ruffled Nicole’s hair. “Hey, is there a place I can freshen up? It’s so hot and I just need to splash myself with cold water.” 

Nicole had explained to Nathalie that there was a creek nearby, just a few feet away from the shelter and secluded by greenery. It was the perfect place to have a picnic if there wasn’t the impending danger of being killed my living or dead. Nathalie had begged her to let her go for a few minutes to clear her mind and get some cold water on her skin. It was clear that the young girl didn’t feel comfortable due to her older brother being asleep. She mentioned waiting for him to be awake so he could accompany her, but Nathalie insisted that she would be gone just a few minutes and that she would only take her machete to show that she wouldn’t run off. “Plus, my clothes will still be here. I will not run off without a shirt. I’ll be fine, I promise. Remember, I always keep my promises.” Nathalie smiled sweetly at Nicole, finally getting the girl to agree. Before letting her out, the two double checked to make sure that there were no dead walking below and that there were no living in sight. Once they were in the clear, Nicole helped Nathalie down and told her to return in five minutes or she’d wake up Finn to get her. 

“Just five minutes,” Nathalie whispered before making her way towards the directions she was given. Just about a hundred feet or so, possibly more, and Nathalie could hear the sound of running water. It was ever so soft, but just enough to already wash some relief over her. They were right about it being completely hidden from sight. It was like a hidden gem in the middle of so much chaos. Pushing past the greenery, Nathalie’s eyes opened wide with excitement as she saw the crystal blue water flow slowly. It must have been a natural spring since it didn’t really seem to be coming from any where. She immediately started looking out for wildlife. While the place might’ve been secured of dead by Finn’s traps, gators and snakes respected no rules. Fortunately for her, it was clear. [i]’It’s mine. It’s all mine for now! I get a piece of heaven all to myself!’[/i] Nathalie’s eyes brimmed with tears as she crouched down to touch the water, it was unbelievable refreshing and just the right temperature to cool herself down. She began with splashing her face, then the back of her neck, then her arms and in top of her chest above the sport bra line; it wasn’t enough though. She needed more of it. She wanted to feel clean and refreshed like she hadn’t in almost eight or nine months. Hell it might have been a year for all she knew, since the outbreak had felt like it happened centuries ago. Biting her lip, Nathalie’s eyes shot up to look around to make sure no one was there. [i]’Just for a minute’[/i], she convinced herself as she quickly took off every piece of clothing she had on her body, including the shoes. Her eyes scanned the water until she found the perfect spot to walk into and sink herself in. It was possible the deepest part of the creek, only about four feet deep, but it was enough for someone of Nat’s stature to be able to go right in and keep herself semi hidden. It was paradise, even if it was for a short moment. 


[@Juniper]