A Path Of Blood And Brains

After spending the entire morning under the blazing sun, Arthur and Clementine finally headed inside to grab some water. As they made their way to the kitchen, Arthur spotted Maggie sitting in a chair near the couch.

"Hey there!" Clementine greeted her cheerfully as she brushed past and entered the kitchen.

"Hey." Maggie replied, a hint of boredom in her voice.

Arthur paused beside her. "Hey" he said, noticing her fiddling with her thumbs and casting glances around the room. "You ain't got nothin' better to do, huh?" he asked playfully.

A wry smile crept onto Maggie's face as she shrugged. Leaning back in her chair, she stretched her long, toned legs out in front of her. Her worn jeans hugged her curves, and the simple white tank top she wore accentuated her sun-kissed skin. "Well, I reckon I'm just waitin' for somethin'... or someone... to come along and shake things up a bit," she said, locking eyes with him and revealing a glimmer of mischief.

"Is that so?" Arthur hummed, scratching his beard thoughtfully. "I had a word with Hershel about makin' a supply run into town today. If you can sweet-talk your daddy into lettin' you tag along, maybe we can make it happen."

Maggie's eyes sparkled at the thought of adventure, and she immediately sat up straighter in her chair. "A supply run to town?" she mused, biting her lower lip as she considered the idea. "I reckon I could try to convince Daddy. He's been coddlin' me somethin' awful lately, actin' like I'm still a little girl. But if I promise to be careful and help out, he just might let me join you on this trip."

Arthur nodded, a smile forming on his lips. "Alright, listen up. Just keep it under your hat that I was the one who let you in on this supply run. You got that? No need to stir up any trouble," he said in a low tone, not quite a whisper but still discreet.

Maggie leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Mum's the word, sugar. I won't breathe a peep about you spillin' the beans. I know how to keep a secret, especially from Daddy and his overprotective ways. Now, let me go have a chat with him and try to talk some sense into that stubborn head of his. I'll be back in a flash!" With a confident nod, Maggie stood up and strutted out of the room, her hips swaying as she headed off to persuade her father.

Arthur chuckled softly before joining Clementine in the kitchen.

A few hours later, at 1 PM, Arthur and Maggie stood beside their horses, with Hershel nearby, along with Clementine. Hershel looked sternly at Arthur, his brow furrowed with concern. "You better keep her safe, Arthur. I want you bringing her back in one piece You understand?"

"Yes, Mr. Greene. I promise," Arthur replied respectfully, though Hershel had been repeating himself for the past ten minutes.

"Remember, she's my daughter. If anything happens—"

"Yes, Mr. Greene. I promise I'll look after her," Arthur reassured him again, maintaining eye contact.

Hershel turned to Maggie, his expression softening slightly. "Listen to Arthur. He knows what he's doing. And you be very careful out there, Maggie. No heroics, alright?"

Maggie nodded, her expression earnest. "I will, Daddy. I promise," she replied, a hint of rebellion in her tone.

Clementine stepped forward to give Arthur a tight hug. "Be careful. Promise you'll come back safe," she urged, her voice filled with concern.

"I promise, Clementine. We'll be back before you know it," he assured her, giving her a reassuring smile.

After their heartfelt exchange, both Arthur and Maggie mounted their horses and set off toward town.

The ride was mostly silent, the rhythmic sound of hooves on the ground the only noise accompanying them. As they arrived at the small town, they trotted slowly through the quiet streets, the air heavy with stillness.

They reached a small grocery shop, dismounting their horses with care. Arthur retrieved his shotgun from the satchel on his horse and ensured the hatchet was secured to his belt. He slung the shotgun over his shoulder and took the hatchet in hand, ready for whatever awaited them inside.

Once they entered the store, they quickly began filling Maggie's bag with supplies. They worked efficiently.

When they finished gathering what they needed, they stepped outside, and Maggie accidentally kicked a metal bucket, producing a loud clatter that echoed through the quiet street. They both froze in their tracks for a moment, eyes darting around as they listened intently. When silence enveloped them again, they exchanged a glance and continued their looting.

"Watch your step, Maggie. Don't wanna end up as a snack for those damn creatures," Arthur said, glancing around the street with a mixture of caution and relief as he noticed no walkers were lurking nearby.

"Sorry!" she replied, a hint of sheepishness in her tone as they mounted their horses. Once settled, she looked over at him, a hint of disappointment in her eyes. "That's it? We're already going back?"

Arthur nodded firmly, adjusting his grip on the reins. "What? This ain't 'bout havin' fun. Just grabbin' some supplies and makin' our way back. But I reckon it wasn't all that boring, was it?"

Maggie let out a soft sigh, her shoulders slumping slightly. "I guess it wasn't. It was nice to get away from home after three damn months." She paused, then added suggestively, "We could stay a little longer, though..." She licked her lips unconsciously, her expression playful yet earnest.

"Maggie..." Arthur warned, his brow furrowing as he met her gaze.

"Arthur! A young, healthy woman wants to sleep with you, and you won't take her up on the offer?" She raised an eyebrow, annoyance creeping into her voice. "You keep saying you won't do it because of Daddy, saying that he took you and Clem in, and it would be disrespectful, blah, blah, blah. But if Daddy doesn't know about it, it should be fine, no?"

Arthur sighed, a mix of frustration and bewilderment washing over him. "Why in the world would ya want to sleep with an old coot like me? Ain't exactly a prize, am I?"

"Come on, Arthur! You're not old, you're just... seasoned," she teased, a playful smirk dancing on her lips. "And you've got that rugged look going on. It's not like you're some decrepit old man. Besides, I know you handle yourself. You're strong, capable, and you've got that whole 'mysterious outlaw' vibe. It's kinda hot."

Arthur rolled his eyes, a half-smile betraying his amusement despite himself. "Maggie, you're just saying that 'cause you're bored. You don't really want to be with me; it's just the thrill of the chase."

She huffed, crossing her arms defiantly. "Please! I know what I want. I'm not some naïve little girl. You think I haven't noticed how you look at me? There's something there, I can feel it!"

"Yeah? Well, maybe you're mistakin' somethin' else for somethin' else," Arthur replied with a chuckle, shaking his head. "You should be thinkin' about findin' a nice young fella instead of an old fool like me."

"Nice young fellas don't have the experience or the—" she leaned closer, lowering her voice conspiratorially, "—skills that you do. You know how to survive out, Arthur. I can tell that you've been hell and back. I want someone who knows what they're doing, not some kid who's going to get me killed."

Arthur's expression softened for a brief moment, but he quickly steeled himself. "You're makin' a mistake, Maggie. It's not all about survival. There's more to it, and I ain't the right man for you. Plus, think about your daddy. You really wanna stir that pot?"

Maggie rolled her eyes dramatically. "Oh, come on! You're acting like he's gonna hunt you down with a shotgun or something. Just keep it a secret! You and I could have a good time—"

"Maggie!" Arthur interrupted, raising his hands in exasperation. "You're like a bull in a china shop! I can't just ignore the fact that you're Hershel's daughter. What do you think this is, some kind of romance novel?"

"Maybe it should be!" she shot back, her voice rising. "Look, I'm tired of pretending to be some delicate flower. I'm a woman, and I know what I want. Besides, you're not exactly a saint yourself. I bet you've been through your share of trouble; don't act like you're some paragon of virtue!"

Arthur sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. "You're makin' this way harder than it needs to be, Maggie. I'm not gonna be the cause of a rift between you and your father. It ain't worth it."

"Fine!" she snapped, crossing her arms again, her expression defiant. "But one day, you're gonna regret it, Arthur. I'm not a girl you can brush aside. One day, you'll see."

"Yeah? Well, that day ain't today," he replied, unable to suppress his smirk. "Now let's get back before your daddy sends Otis after us."

———

As Arthur and Maggie arrived back at the farm, they expertly hitched their horses to the post. The familiar sight of the homestead brought a sense of relief after their excursion into town. The sun was beginning to dip in the sky.

Just as they stepped inside the house, they were greeted by an exuberant Clementine, who rushed over to Arthur, her worry melting into a bright smile. "You two are back!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around him in a tight hug.

"Yes, yes," Arthur chuckled, gently patting her head. "You had nothin' to worry 'bout, sweetheart."

Clementine pulled back, her big eyes scanning him for any signs of trouble. Satisfied, she beamed at him. Meanwhile, Maggie made her way into the kitchen, where her father, Hershel, was waiting. He enveloped her in a warm hug, relief evident in his expression as she shared the bounty they had looted from the grocery store.

Arthur, however, realized he had forgotten something crucial for his own comfort. He turned to Clementine, and asked her to grab his pack of cigarettes for him. Clementine pouted slightly, and reluctantly obliged his request.

"Thanks, Clem," Arthur said, flashing a grateful smile. He stepped outside, eager to soothe his hunger for a smoke.

Once outside, Arthur took a deep breath of the crisp evening air, enjoying the brief moment of solitude as he lit up his cigarette. The familiar taste of tobacco calmed his nerves. He strolled around the yard, letting the smoke trail lazily behind him, until he passed by the barn.

Suddenly, he froze, hearing the unsettling sounds of groans and moans emanating from within. A heavy sigh escaped his lips. Hershel insisted that these creatures were still people, simply sick and in need of help. But Arthur knew better. Hershel's wife had died—just one day after Arthur arrived at the Greene farm. Not long after, Hershel's son, Shawn, had gone out hunting alone and returned bitten, only to become one of those abominations that now occupied the barn alongside his mother and a handful of other walkers that Hershel and Otis had caught and confined.

Once, Arthur had tried to persuade Hershel to put them down, but the old man had become furious, and Arthur had quickly learned to tread lightly around that topic. He would do anything to ensure that he and Clementine remained under Hershel's roof, as it was a safer haven.

"It's quite unsettling, isn't it?" a voice broke through his thoughts.

Arthur turned to see Jimmy, Beth's boyfriend, standing a few paces away, shifting nervously from one foot to the other.

"Ah, what you doin' here, son?" Arthur asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I came to tell you that dinner's ready," Jimmy replied, glancing toward the barn with an anxious expression. "So... the barn. It's quite worrisome, yeah?"

Arthur shrugged, trying to downplay the gravity of the situation. "I guess... I wouldn't worry too much, though. They're just like dumb animals. Get to a high ground, and just shoot 'em."

Jimmy nodded slowly, taking in Arthur's words as he began to walk back toward the house.

Arthur stayed behind for a moment longer, watching the barn door, contemplating the walkers within. The sounds of the walkers continued. After finishing his cigarette, he exhaled one last cloud of smoke before turning back toward the house, ready to join the others for dinner.