Play it cool.

You step through the double doors, hands held out to your side. Gwen follows you, and taking your arm, leads you forward. As your eyes adjust to the light, you see a small barricade made up of cardboard and wood boxes. Behind it, a woman with short dark hair stands up from a crouch. She is very muscular, and wears a white shirt, from which her ample breasts jut out. She is holding a rifle, and slings it over her shoulder as you approach. You smile softly as you note that her nipples are hard. Probably just from fear.

Back behind the barricade, you see a small door, from which a woman with long brown hair stares at you. She's tall, and slim, with smallish breasts and a smirk on her face. She is not obviously armed, and wears a tight sweatshirt and jeans.

"You shouldn't be walking out like that honey." The woman with the rifle moves forward, and hugs Gwen. "We were worried about you. Where's Megan?"

"She's.....I don't want to talk about it." Gwen gestures towards you, as she removes herself from the womans face. "This is Alex. Alex, this is Terry."

"Nice." Terry comments, pointing at the woman who stands near the door. "That's just fucking great. Ok, Alex, let's get one thing straight right now. If you want in, you take orders from me. Got it?"

"Uhm, I'm sorry?" You reply.

"Gaah, do I have to explain everything?" Terry groans, sitting on a nearby box.

"Awww, come on, Terry, don't be a jerk today." The woman from the back room moves forward, as she speaks. You note that she seems to be eyeing you with an appraising glance.

"Oh, yeah," Terry comments, looking back at the woman. "Alex, Kim, Kim, Alex." She gestures to the other woman, obviously a bit annoyed.

"I haven't filled him in yet, so..." Gwen begins.

"Great. Just fucking great." Terry blurts, cutting off Gwen's comment. "Look, buddy, here's the deal. Gwen, Kim, and I are a team. Got it?"

"Sure." you say, trying to look nonchalant. This is not exactly the reception you had in mind.

"Allright. " Terry continues, her expression softening a bit. "We've been through hell the past few days, and we are not looking for a protector. We can take care of ourselves just fine."

"I'm not trying..." You begin, but Terry does not let you finish.

"I don't give a shit what you are either trying or not trying to do. Kay? If you want to stay with us here, you do as I say. And if you don't I shoot you, Capice?"

"Aren't you being a little ****?" you ask quietly. Terry stares at you with an accusing glare, before her expression softens somewhat. She looks at you with a new eye, but not an angry one.

"You know he is kinda cute." Kim pipes up, looking at you. You recognise her voice from earlier, and the compliment sends a warm glow through your heart.

"He risked a lot trusting me." Gwen comments, looking at Terry. "I think he deserves a chance."

Terry mulls over the statements for a few moments before she speaks.

"You got a gun?" she asks.

"Yes." You see no reason to lie.

"Do you swear, that as long as you are here you will not attack any of us?"

"Yes." you reply tersely, but honestly.

"Then, welcome. I hope you're a good shot."

You smile at the greeting. It seems that you have been accepted by this little ragged band. Right now, you wonder if you should get their whole stories, or just get some rest, since it is rather late.