Redbird [Lupa][Zombie AU][/tlvg/]

“So, what do we do, Lyra?” Lizy looks up from Lemy, having just laid a cold compress on his forehead after giving him his dose of antibiotics. It's hard to get him to swallow, but Lizy is careful. Lupa is sitting at his bedside and holding his hand, a morose look on her face. Lyra is looking on from the doorway of the bedroom; it is her brother, her full brother, and she is the de facto leader.

Lyra sighs and crosses her arms. “We hope the fever breaks and the antibiotics last. We can have Loan ask around when she makes her usual runs.” Lizy nods. "For now, just keep him comfortable."

“It’s not gonna last.” Lupa says, her hand holding Lemy’s and rubbing her thumb over his skin. “We were already half-way through the bottle, we’ve used half of that. If we wait around he’s going to die, and then, he’s gonna-“

“What would you rather we do, Lupa?” Lyra looks pointedly at Lupa, who looks back defiantly. Lyra steps forward into the room.

“I go. Head towards the hospital. It's probably a three day trip.” Lupa suggests. "I can grab other supplies for our own use and trade."

"That's uncharted territory. We have no idea what's going on over there. You can't go by yourself." Lyra bends down to eye level.

"You can't send Loan with me, you need her on trade runs." Lupa states correctly; Loan had surprisingly adapted well to the change in circumstance, though, it made Lupa uneasy.

"I need to keep this family together. I'm not going to send you out there to die." Lyra says quietly.

"If you don't Lemy dies, so you need to make a choice, Lyra!" Lupa stands up and pokes Lyra's chest.

"Stop fighting!" Lizy shouts.

It's quiet and still for a moment. They both look at Lizy, who is obviously upset, but not willing to show it. She's grown up a lot over the last couple years, but she is still a child.

"If you had been more careful, I wouldn't have to make this decision." Lyra shouts and turns towards the door. "I'm going to discuss it with the others."

Then she leaves. Lupa collapses into a chair, pulls out a cigarette butt, mostly just filter at this point. She lights it, sucks in the smoke, and mashes it out. She lets the smoke escape her lips in small wisps. She notices Lizy looking at her.

"Do you need help... Lizy?" She says as she stands and pockets the remnant.

"I'm gonna change the bandages. You don't have to be here for that. It's gross." Lizy says as she pulls out a roll of gauze.

"I want to help. It's my fault, right?" Lupa cracks a smile.

"No. Don't say that." Lizy says as she snaps on some gloves. "You're a good girl."

Lupa walks over as Lizy pulls back the covers, revealing Lemy's bandages.

"Lupa, could you hold his leg up?" Lizy says.

Lupa silently lifts the leg up and Lizy begins unwrapping the bandages. Lupa's expression the deterioration of her condition as she watches the layers of gauze yellow and redden with each layer, the scent of puss growing in the air. Lizy doesn't react. She pulls out a wad of gauze from the wound. She seems to appraise it before putting a similarly sized wad of fresh gauze in and beginning to wrap it back up. Lupa thanks God that she doesn't have to smell it or see it any more as it disappears beneath layers of white.

"Is it- Will he-" Lupa begins before losing the words.

"It's better. We need the antibiotics, but I don't think you should go alone." Lizy says as she bunches up the used bandages and chucks them into a waste bin. "I'm gonna go check on the animals. You don't have to help me with that."

//
The family is together, sitting in what was once the living room. Lyra is sitting a high-backed chair with ripped leather upholstery, while the rest are scattered about, lying on couches, scavenged from the other houses in the neighborhood, and the youngest sit on the floor. They have been discussing the matter of Lupa leaving to get medicine of a while now, the room has settled into a tense silence; Lyra being against it, Lupa wanting to go and being supported by Lizy.

"I say we let her go." Loan says simply. "We need someone to go. She's free. I've seen her take care of herself."

Leia, Lyle, and Lizy nod along. Loan, as a key provider for the camp, is able to pull a lot of sway, even if she doesn't particularly care for making those decisions herself. Lyra often would rely on that passivity to bring the others along.

“She could get hurt too or even die alone.” Lyra says, her fingers digging into the crackled leather. “And we don’t have the numbers to send someone else with her. It’s better to just go by our usual routes.”

“Nah. Our trade routes are drying up for special stuff. Besides that, what do you think we can trade for anti-biotics. That’s a big ask. We trade what’s left of these houses, that’s fine for food, but’s not desirable.” Loan stands and walks over to Lupa.

“We have that copper wire. That’s worth something.” Leia suggests.

“That’s right. We should be able to get a lot for that.” Lyra says.

“The fact remains. We need to find someone who has some. I don’t know anyone who does. Our best shot is the hospital; either finding it or trading for it.” Loan says, she squats down in front of Loan. “Loops, I think you can do this. You’re a tough cookie. Do you think you got this?”

“Yeah, I got this.” Lupa nods.

“See?” Loan says as she turns. “Now, Liena’s got dinner ready and I think we’re decided.”

“Fine.” Lyra says. “We’ll get her ready to leave in the morning. Thank you, Loan.”

“No problem.” Loan says as she stands up and heads for the kitchen.

///
The sun peeks in through the window when Lupa wakes up. Lacy’s arm outstretched over her and holding her loosely. She sighs as it is a nice tender moment in a period of hardship. Gingerly, she moves Lacy arm and swings her legs to the floor. Lacy claws at space before settling on a pillow, her eyes fluttering open when Lupa is tightening the laces of her boots.

“Be careful, okay? We’ll be waiting for you, so you better come back.” Lacy murmurs in the pillow.

“I was planning on it.” Lupa smiles as she finishes tying the knot.

“I hope it goes to plan then.” Lacy says. “I’m gonna sleep a bit more, I’m gonna be helping Loan strip down the house down the street.”

“No problem. Sweet dreams.” Lupa says as she heads out the door.

“Good bye, Lupa.” Lacy says as she curls up with the pillow.

Loan was waiting for her downstairs at the kitchen table. A beat up hiking pack was sitting on the table. Lupa took a seat and Loan started digging through the bag.

“6 feet rope. 6 square foot tarp. Sleeping bag. Canteen, full. Compass. Map. 5 feet copper wire. 6 cereal bars. Knife. Revolver pistol. Box of ammo, 18.” Loan says as she sets each thing on the table and starts repacking the bag.

“Did you sleep?” Lupa asks out of curiousity and Loan sighs in response.

“I didn’t sleep before and I don’t sleep now.” She says pulling at her dark eye bags. “That should be enough wire if you need to trade. It’s not worth much, but it’s more than sheet rock.”

Lupa nods.

“Are you nervous?” Loan askes, noticing the younger girl’s trepidation.

“Yeah.” She nods.

“That’s fine. Understandable, really.” Loan says as she pours some coffee for them. “It’ll pass. You should head out soon, but drink some coffee with me.”

“Sure.” Lupa says as she grabs hold of the hot brown water, which had as much relation to coffee as it did coca-cola.