fallen_earth | New Arrivals

Who: Tom Mason
Where: The School

What: The harshness of the New England winter is starting to take its toll on those who found sanctuary in the old school. It still is a lot better than sleeping in a car or inside of a tent, but still it was cold. The cold also took its toll on those who were with him, and people got sick and people did perish not only to the hoards of walkers but to the elements.

And of course, the winter and the increasing number of zombies as his sons called them, brought in more survivors looking for sanctuary. Tom wasn't about to turn them down, he didn't have that in him. This did put a strain on supplies, but he couldn't leave the group from Atlanta to die.

Tom walks the hallways, and he is looking to meet with the new arrivals and to make them feel at home. He knew there will be some who aren't happy, but he is more than happy to welcome the new survivors to his humble group of nearly two hundred survivors. "We're not here to argue, we're all here to work together right now. We can't afford to be picky when it comes to the potential help coming through our doors."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

When he brought up Pope and his group, Audrey nodded. He was right and the new group seemed grateful to be there, and hadn't complained like Pope did on a daily basis. Still, it was the end of the world and people would do anything to get what they wanted.

"And when Pope and his group were brought in, we actually watched them and gave them restictions," she said. "I'm not saying we lock them up. I just think they need to be watched more carefully until we know we can trust them."

When he looked away from her, Audrey sighed and moved so she was standing in front of him. Looking up and him, she shook her head. "I know that, Tom, but aren't you worried that maybe our luck might run out sooner or later, and we invite someone in that's a serial killer?" she asked.

Tom still questioned Pope's loyalty to the group, if anything the man has proved himself more of a potential loose canon. "Oh I know we're keeping a very close eye on, Pope. These people, they haven't pulled a gun on us or threatened my family. They also didn't try to take our supplies by force." Tom pointed out in favor of the people from both Atlanta and New York.

He knew exactly what she meant, and he cringed when she brought up the idea of an open door to a serial killer. Tom froze in place, and he bit down on his bottom lip. "We don't have any access to people's records, so everyone we let in we do so out of word of mouth." But he knew he was played a dangerous game, if it would not be a serial killer perhaps it could be someone with the next plague or worse.

"But I agree, we'll do what we can to keep an eye on them. I'll do what I can to talk with them and have some of our people keep close watch over them." Tom started towards the doors to get some fresh air; the cold polar air had been a blessing as was the cold harsh winter. "But we should also try to make them feel welcomed here."

"Believe me, Tom, I don't want to be the one that brings this stuff up," Audrey said when she saw his reaction to her comment about one of them being a serial killer. Maybe she was being a little over dramatic, and maybe she wasn't. All Audrey knew was she didn't want to see anyone die because they had let the wrong people in.

"The group from Atlanta... their leader is Rick, and he said he was a sheriff once. Maybe you could speak to him? He'd probably be able to tell you a little more about the group," she suggested before stepping out of the way so he could go outside.

Without missing a beat, she followed him out. Audrey really didn't want to be a pest, but this was important. "But, you're right and we can have some people watch over them for a few days and see how they act. So far they look grateful to be here," she said as she wrapped her coat tightly around her body.

"Someone needs to, I need some good minds to help keep me grounded and my head leveled to everything we're going through." Tom pulled his coat in close to help keep himself warm, and he looked towards the fencing around the school, it was bitter cold and damp from the snow that had melted.

He rubbed his hands together for warmth, and he knew she was right, but how to turn down the masses who were looking for warmth and safety proved to be a weakness of Tom's. "He's the one with the kid about Matt's age, I'll try to talk with him." Little does he know Rick would be the type of man to close the door to anymore new comers.

"I've got no problems there, at least it will give the idea that we're working to make them feel much more welcomed. We're also going to need to see about more supplies, and to plan to turn the football field into a garden."

Audrey was glad Tom was going to speak to Rick. She believed it was best to let the new people know what was expected of them now instead of waiting until after something happened. "Good. I'm sure they're good people, though," she said with a small shrug.

As they stood out there, she started to wish it was summer, or that she had someone to keep her warm. A lot of the survivors were starting to hook up, trying to find someone to emotionally connect with since there was not much left of the world they lived in. She, on the other hand, hadn't and it sometimes made all of this a little more depressing.

"I think a few people were talking about a supply run. We might want to find out who and give them a list if there's anything important we need."

Tom lifted his hands up and he blew into them before he rubbed them together to help keep his hands warm. "I've seen a few of them in passing, and you're right about them looking like good people. We're all displaced and at a loss as to what's wrong. And, history hasn't seen anything like this before."

He lowered his arms to his side, and stuffed his hands into his pockets. "The dead coming back to life, it is almost biblical," muses Tom, and he looked over at the barricade that had been put into place to keep the zombies out. "Not only that, but it would give us a chance to get to work with Rick's people."

The two had different styles of leading, and Tom knew it, he knew there could be a chance some might begin to question him. "I'll let you talk to the others and get a list of what's needed."

New Arrivals

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