I was still somewhat irritated when I returned to the Stronghold. Nicky was lounging on a bench near the gate. She came over as the guard let me in. "There you are. I was beginning to wonder if I had to grab my trusty bow and start practicing blindfolded in hopes that you would come rescue any poor bystanders. What were you doing out there? Watching where the birds were shitting?"

I rolled my eyes and idly swung my hand at her with nails poised for a slash. She ducked my blow, as I expected her to, before she straightened up and sent a mock punch at my shoulder. I let her hit my shoulder, although I barely felt her teasing blow. She drawled in a sarcastic tone, "Yeah, yeah, I missed you too."

I snorted and shook my head, "Right."

Bizarrely enough, Nicky's sarcastic comments and utter lack of fear somehow defused my temper to something closer to normal. My instincts also saw her as harmless at this point, so her actions didn't really trigger my temper.

Nicky somehow also managed to avoid triggering my instincts in the first place. The amount of tolerance I had for this crazy yet loyal woman was bizarre and I had a hard time wrapping my head around it. Anyone else would have been in big trouble if they tried what she did.

The guard and a few bystanders were watching the exchange with wide shocked eyes. Nicky grinned at me, "Come on, I'll grab us some food. Want anything in particular? Want to eat on the roof? I can meet you up there."

I shrugged, "I wouldn't mind some fruit if there is any. The roof works for me."

Nicky grinned, "I can manage that. I'll meet you on the roof."

I nodded and headed toward the secondary building as Nicky went to brave the supper rush. My sharp ears picked up hushed and astonished muttering from people who had been watching from a window higher up.

"Shit. Did you see that?"

"That redhead didn't even look worried. I would have had a heart attack if a zombie tried to slash me."

"Yeah, me too. I have no plans to annoy her like that crazy lady does though."

"I am amazed that she is still alive. I know that Daniel wouldn't tolerate that sort of thing."

Looks like I had astonished them again. Then again, the building friendship between Nicky and me simply went against common sense and logic. Sticking one grouchy Nightstalker with one crazy human bent on annoying the hell out of everyone around her should have been a surefire recipe for disaster. Yet Nicky still lived. Somehow.

Nicky brought a small bowl with some various types of sliced fruit in it. I munched on the handful of fruit slowly while watching Nicky slowly mangle a slab of cooked meat. "Why are you using a butter knife?"

Nicky made a face, "I tried to take a steak knife, but Ben told me that I wasn't allowed such a dangerous weapon."

Considering she was still packing a dagger and that crazy pirate sword, I failed to see his logic. She looked up at me, "Feel like archery afterwards? I have improved."

"Sure." It wasn't like I had anything else to do.

~

I decided to try the various bows out. Each one fired a bit differently and I took the time to get used to each type. I had no desire to own or carry a bow, so it was strictly for practice or an emergency use. If nothing else, it is making Nicky extremely jealous.

My attempts with various bows were also getting some interest from the usual group lounging on the deck. Three people entered the field with a bouncing Liz in tow. I turned to examine the approaching group. All three seemed quite proud that they had managed to steal Liz away from Marissa.

I tilted my head and sighed faintly, but my voice held slight amusement, "And just what is my excuse supposed to be when Marissa comes looking for her?"

The one guy with brown hair grinned triumphantly before looking down at Liz. Liz smiled back up at him and spoke as if she was reciting something, "I am supposed to tell Marissa that some guy with brown hair asked if I wanted to do archery and I said yes."

I chuckled. I was definitely in a much better mood now than when I had left earlier, even if my shoulder still throbbed, "Plotting to corrupt the youth?"

The man grinned, "I consider it a lesson in accepting others regardless of their differences, so I can't really call it corruption."

Nicky came over with a grin, "Well, I call it a great way to get under Marissa's skin. Elevating her blood pressure keeps her cheeks nice and rosy red without the need for makeup."

The man shrugged as if the thought didn't bother him in the least before all three of them turned to go. The three had barely taken five steps before I spoke, "Would you three mind doing me a favor?"

The three turned with surprised expressions. That was clearly the last thing they had ever expected to hear from me. The woman collected her wits first, "What do you need?"

I glanced toward the deck of relaxing archers, "Could you please deliver a message for me? If that group promises to quit staring at me so much, they can come on the field. There is no way three of us can use fifteen archery lanes regardless of how bad our aim is."

Nicky snorted, "Speak for yourself, I make no such promises."

The woman nodded as a bit of excitement entered her expression, "Sure, we will pass it on."

"Thanks." I turned back to see Liz already coming out of the shed with her little bow and matching arrow.

Nicky raised her eyebrows as she returned to her firing spot, "What was that all about? Since when do you want more humans around?"

I smirked at her, "I don't, but there are two very good reasons. One, the entire population will think that I am relaxing and hopefully won't be watching me so closely. Two, if that group is doing archery, then they will be focusing mostly on that and not on staring at us."

She shrugged, "That sounds too much like thinking. I hope it works though."

I murmured, "So do I."

The archery group was thrilled that I had invited them to join us on the field. They were already halfway here. I turned to string Liz's bow while they started stringing their own bows. We were on the furthest side of the archery field so they simply took up the lanes closest to the buildings.

They left the lane between them and us open as if ensuring that they didn't crowd us. They sent us some glances, but were putting effort into not actually watching us. Roughly thirty people were sharing twelve archery lanes and taking turns shooting. Some were doing impromptu competitions while others hung back and gossiped while waiting their turn.

I kept an eye on Liz as she kept trying out her bow. I wasn't able to relax as I had before with this many humans so close, but she didn't seem to notice. I always made her wait until Nicky went to collect her arrows before letting her go fetch her own. Nicky was definitely improving, but some things were never meant to be tested in real life.

A stir in the group beside us caught my attention. There were subtle but urgent whispers as people started moving, it had me watching them from the corner of my eye. I couldn't tell what was going on or hear what they were whispering and it was firing up my suspicious instincts again since they were obviously doing something.

I heard Marissa's voice, "Have any of you seen Liz?"

Someone from the archery group replied, "Not lately, have you tried the kitchens or the room where the men play darts?"

I inhaled in surprise. They had moved themselves to form a human wall while they had been shuffling around. Marissa was unable to see us on the other side of the carefully arranged group. I had not expected this. My instincts relaxed again as I realized that there was nothing more sinister afoot.

Marissa sounded worried, "I checked all of those places. She is usually over here when I can't find her."

"The guards wouldn't have let her outside of the fence, so she has to be in here somewhere."

"I know, but it is worrying me," Marissa took a deep breath before shouting, "Liz! Where are you?!"

Liz was the typical obedient child that most parents would have been proud of. She jumped in surprise and peered in Marissa's direction before calling, "Over here Marissa!"

The archers weren't impressed as Marissa went around them at a jog. With the looks they were giving her, I wouldn't have wanted to try pushing my way through that crowd if I had been in her shoes either. Marissa slowed noticeably the second she spotted me standing between Nicky and Liz. Her expression soured, unhappy to find me in the vicinity of her charge once more.

"Liz, what are you doing over here?"

Liz tilted her head and dutifully replied, "A brown haired man asked me if I wanted to go do archery and I said yes. He brought me over here."

A few archers smirked, obviously aware of the cover story as well as the identity of the culprit. Marissa sighed heavily, "You had me so worried when I couldn't find you. You really have to tell me when you are going somewhere."

"He said I could go anywhere in the fence if I was polite and listened to the adults."

I had a feeling that most of those adults would readily steer her in my direction given half a chance. Marissa shook her head, "You still need to tell me instead of just taking off."

I could almost imagine Daniel or Nina telling me those exact same words if they thought I would listen. Marissa took Liz's hand and started leading her away, giving me a dirty look as she passed me. I pulled my lips back from my teeth at her expression. It wiped the look off of her face immediately as she rapidly picked up her pace.

I had no clue how she kept forgetting I was a zombie when that was the entire reason she was keeping Liz away from me. It was like she had selective memory. I also wasn't sure why she was getting more and more unfriendly toward me. I hadn't actually done anything to her after all.

The archery group gave up their adopted formation as Marissa and Liz left the field. Nicky scowled at the annoying woman before shaking her head, "Well, they tried."

I was surprised that Nicky had noticed their actions. It was just more proof that she sometimes saw far more than she ever let on, at least when she wasn't grumpy or going off the deep end. Although she hadn't shown any signs of the really grumpy side of her since she gave up coffee.

I shrugged, "Apparently that brown haired guy hasn't corrupted the youth as much as he thought."

Nicky chuckled, "We will just have to explain the game to Liz next time."

I rolled my eyes, "This is beginning to sound like a weird game of keep away, with a child being the object."

Nicky shook her head, "Nah, it is just a test to see who is more stubborn, the locals or Marissa."

If I looked at it from that angle, I knew exactly who was going to win in the end. I went to put Liz's bow away. Nicky was still using her last five arrows and I had zero intention on approaching Liz's target while Nicky was firing at the target ten feet away. I was starting to trust her, but not that much.

I hung around practicing for another half an hour before I got bored and tired of the small crowd. I put my bow away and wandered back to Nicky, "I am done for the night."

Nicky nodded as she loosed her arrow. Over half of her arrows were actually on the target now, instead of barely hitting the board that was holding the target up. "See you tomorrow."

I walked wide around the group of archers with a polite nod as quite a few glanced at me as I passed. They nodded back. Most seemed quite happy or proud of themselves. I retreated to my room since I did not feel like having any more company this evening.

I sat on my bed and put my back against the wall. My shoulder still ached, firing a bow likely hadn't helped it any. Today had been a long day and I hoped that I wouldn't have one like it again.

I pulled the jar of red liquid out of my backpack and started doctoring my leg again. I had a feeling I was going to need every edge I could get in the next few days.