After Today (Left 4 Dead, Strong Language)

[Petrichor]

Denzak "Zach" DeFaun



All was silent. Well, except for the usual Infected groaning around the block. The door to the abandoned apartment building had been blocked in a while ago, so there was no need to worry about any of those coming in and taking his shit. Well, except for Jockeys, but they were easy to get rid of. Still, though it was relatively "peaceful", A Hunter sat below the window, listening for the usual sounds of gunfire and cars. Gunpowder didn't stink up the air, as no survivors had passed through in a while. A Common lay dead and rotting slightly on the floor, and a single sharpened claw reached over to grab a barely-attached arm.

"Pffff. It's been ages since anything's happened. No Tanks, no Witches. Nothin' but Commons." Zach thought a moment as he bit into the twice-deceased's arm. "Least there aren't any survivors blazing their guns yet." He knew that was really testing it, but it was just so fucking boring lately that he almost wanted some Survivors to show up just to kick up his adrenaline.

There was a loud, wet sound from upstairs and a sickly pink shot past the Hunter's window; his "roommate" upstairs was fishing for Commons. She didn't eat them, but she said that if she dangled a Common right, the others would go to it like a pinata. Zach would probably agree if he could see. Still, the fact that he could move, hear, and taste the air like a cat made up for the lack of sight.

"Wonder if I can find a radio somewhere that survivors aren't blasting S.O.S. messages over," he thought out loud. He wasn't really hungry anymore, so he turned to the wall and began sharpening his claws on it. Well, he called them claws, they were technically hands but fuck science, claws sound cooler. The carvings were really just swirls that he made into a helix at the end. "Oh, mighty Helix Fossil," he laughed. "Tell me your secrets."

His claw froze in place, however, as he picked up something. The Hunter shrunk down from the window and turned his back towards the wall, nonexistent eyes darting about. "I know you're there," he said shakily. "I... I'll cut you!" The threat was backed by absolutely nothing -- he was running off of fear and nothing else. I'm sorry for asking for something to happen! I'll never ask again! I don't want to die, being a Hunter is awesome! he prayed to whoever or whatever was listening manically.

"Okay, I won't hurt you, but I know you're there!"

[FENRIS]

Shrike Maddix

Snoozing alone in a tub, Shrike drooled on himself as he lay awkwardly on his stomach, his lanky arms holding onto the faucet while his long legs were folded and the bottoms of his converse rested on his rear. A small puddle of saliva formed on the arm of his hoodie, soaking his skin underneath. A loud snore left his mouth and surprised him, causing him to howl and crawl up onto the ceiling. Still half-asleep, the hunter realized that it was only him and let go, falling back into the tub with a thump.

He was hungry, how long had it been since he ate last? Shrike let out a yawn and stretched before stumbling out of the tub and heading towards a window to look for a meal. Lash hadn't returned in a really long time, making the young man assume he probably died. He sighed at that thought, Lash was his only friend in the world and now it seemed like he was once again alone.

Squeezing himself through the broken pane of glass, Shrike sniffed around for something but only smelled the Common Infected roaming the streets. A low growl made its way up into his mouth as his stomach gurgled and moaned to be fed. Within seconds the zombie was scaling the side of the apartment complex and preparing to strike, homing in on a Common below. With a shriek he was gone, his powerful legs propelling him up and gravity pushing him down on top of the shuffling corpse.

It cried out but Shrike snarled and ripped at it, his claws digging into the rotting flesh and shoving the meat into his maw. It tasted so good at that moment and as he kept ripping and feeding, ripping and feeding. The Common just lay there, almost accepting his fate as his torso was savagely opened up and his body cannibalized. Shrike grunted as he finished with the body and lifted his 'gaze' towards the other's head, taking it between his bloody hands and sinking his teeth into it's cheek. There wasn't much meat on the head but Shrike took what he could before ripping it off and tossing it away. He felt better now.

As soon as his instincts calmed, Shrike rose to his feet and began to walk around aimlessly among the living dead. It was really quiet as of late, he knew the survivors were heading somewhere thanks to his talk about a year ago with Styx but he wasn't sure where and how safe it was to leave the city. He just hoped Styx was okay though, she was perfect and didn't deserve to die. She was also 'the one' but Shrike knew she couldn't be at the same time. She was living first of all, but oh did he love her so. She smelled so good and her hands were soft, not to mention she was clean and friendly. But he knew he couldn't be with her and if he stuck around her too long she'd end up like Jenny. Jenny was also 'the one' until he had her guts in his mouth.

Rounding a corner, the sound of a voice startled Shrike. "What?" He squeaked, confused and scared of the threat. He'd much rather not be cut thanks, he had dealt with enough pain in his short life. Slowly he walked out into sight and held his still dripping hands up. "Yo, calm down dude. I was just looking for some leather." He called out nervously.

Ooc: N/a

[Petrichor]

Denzak "Zach" DeFaun



There was someone there. There was someone there. There was someone there. He'd heard it, he wasn't crazy! But it sounded as scared as he was. But survivors would just shoot him. Who was there and how'd they get into the building? But it - he - sounded as scared as he was. Zach couldn't attack, not now. Not until he heard a gun click, then he would kill. But not now.

The Hunter against the wall slowly lowered himself until his spine was back below his head. He couldn't see the other, but he could smell them well enough to know they weren't human. If whoever this is managed to get up here, he realized, he's either a Smoker, Jockey, or another Hunter. But a Smoker would be hacking up a lung and a Jockey would be trying to ride me like a horse right now. Wait, that sounded wrong. Zach shook his head. It's been silent for a few minutes, except for a low growl that had emitted from his throat before he knew that the other one was scared, too.

"I, uh," Zach coughed, his voice a little cracked from not talking in a while. That was why his voice was cracked, not because of fear. "Who and what are you? You don't smell like a human. How'd you get in here?" He listened for a second for something besides panicked breathing. "What do you want?"


(Mutual terror is great at bringing zombies together.)

[FENRIS]

Shrike Maddix

Shrike just stood there confused, his hands still above his head, as he tried to figure out what exactly was going on. He sniffed around a bit, catching the scent of a Common Infected along with another Hunter. Slowly he lowered one hand to rub his nose, smearing it with blood and leftover guts, and sniffled. He didn't think there were any other hunters in town other than Hawk, and the only other infected he knew that still had a mind was him, Lash, Hawk, and Gurgle. Seeing a stranger was a bit weird to be honest and he didn't quite know what to do. Hell, it was like meeting Styx all over again. Except this guy smelled like shit like everyone else in town and was a dude. Major difference was him being a dude.

"I'm Shrike and I'm dead." He decided to start with. He wasn't sure what else to really say, meaning he did say his name and he sure was dead. God knows how long he had been a walking corpse, how old was he? Was he legal yet to drink? If he was he was missing out and that was lame, except for the fact he didn't know how zombies partied. He assumed it'd die soon after it started. Quickly the Hunter bit his bottom lip to hide the fact he was laughing at his own pun he made in his head. Oh that was a good one, he had to try and remember that one. Lash would get a kick out of that for sure, either that or he'd literally kick Shrike for making such a lame joke. He'd tell the stranger in front of him but he didn't seem like a lover of dad jokes and awful puns, with hope his subtle outburst wouldn't piss him off any more than he already was.

Oh, he didn't answer all his questions. Coughing, Shrike tried to regain composure and steady his voice, but oh man was that ever great. Who said being a zombie was all serious business? "Ahem, uhh well I don't know how I got in here considering I don't even remember waking up if that counts as anything. And as I said before, I'm looking for leather. Preferably not chewed on already but I'm not fussy. As long as it's still tough and impossible to chew through I'll be happy to take it off your hands." He replied finally. Just talking about it made his mouth water, leather was so good in his opinion and no one could tell him otherwise. Just the feel and texture and saltiness of it made him crave it more than anything else. If he didn't need to eat to stay alive he'd totally make his diet nothing but various kinds of leather he finds.

Distracted once more, Shrike forgot he wasn't the only one there and began to rummage around for something to curb his craving. It was hard not having eyes to see and his nose was now inhaling nothing but the blood he coated it in but his hands were still good and his sense of taste was excellent so picking things up and tasting them seemed to be the logical thing to do in his situation. Nope nope nope nope nope bad idea bad idea oh god!! He definitely was not fussy but the unknown substance he had in his hands tasted like satan's ass and he found himself grossed out more than anything else. After a bit he dropped whatever was in his hand and rubbed his tongue on his hoodie to rid himself of the taste in his mouth. "Well that was probably the most disgusting thing I have ever tasted in my life. If I wasn't dead already I'm pretty sure I would be right now." He announced to no one in particular.

Ooc: Shhh that pun was perfect I have become a dad

[Petrichor]

Denzak "Zach" DeFaun



What. "I... kind of realized the dead thing," Zach replied, leveling his voice. "People tend to smell... different." He wanted to cough awkwardly, but he felt like that'd just be copying the other. The panic had lowered slightly now, so the Hunter tried desperately to think, to grab onto some strand of logic.

The other... the other couldn't see, obviously. From the noise it seemed like he'd be standing, but Zach only knew one kind of blind Infected, and that was... well. "Good to know I'm not the only H-Hunter," he stammered out. He wasn't quite used to talking at all, especially to other people. People? Could they still be called that? "I... don't get out much, though, so, uh..." Shit, how does conversation work?

There was a twinge of irritation that Shrike didn't know how he'd gotten in. Had he just fallen out of the sky or something, well, actually, knowing his own limits, Zach wouldn't be surprised if the poor fuck had jumped too high and fallen through the roof. It would explain why he was obsessing over leather. Zach had to chew on things occasionally, but he mostly kept it as bone for sharpness, and his claws were more effective anyways.

"Leather. I've seen a lot of shit. Well, not seen, but still. I have never met an Infected who was obsessed with leather. Guess you really do learn something new every day." By now, Zach had relaxed enough that he sat back down on his haunches. He couldn't understand what was so great about standing -- the disease had granted him cat-like reflexes, so why not abuse that?

He heard the other Hunter rummage around, and Zach panicked slightly that he was looking for a weapon, but then he picked up a -- Oh. Oh, he wasn't --

As soon Shrike began to gag and explained his distaste, Zach couldn't take anymore, and he just couldn't. He put his head in his hands and started cracking up. "Dude. You just..." he could barely talk. Well, he could already barely talk, but now he was laughing too much. "You... that moldly plate has been sitting and rotting there for months. And you tasted it?"

This was just too good. Zach could hardly take it. "Man, you... You hungry or something? You should've... You should've just asked! Shit, man!" He reached over and grabbed the common, ripping the re-deceased's forearm off. Zach had been chewing on it, but the other obviously needed it more. "Here, grabbed this yesterday. You need it m-" He just couldn't stop laughing. "You obviously need it more than I do!" Zach just started wheezing like a Smoker. He couldn't take it, it was too hilarious. "You - you licked the plate! I was leaving that around so that survivors wouldn't come in! Fuck, man!"

About half a minute passed before the Hunter could breathe again, but when he could, he inhaled like he had never known air before. "Leather. You asked for leather, right? Through the hall to your right is a wardrobe, pretty sure there's some leather shoes or a jacket in there. Chew that or some shit, just... free of charge, that was priceless!"