When the gun went off three times, each for a different person, the other five scrambled from sight.

Without another word, the boy slowly stood, white as bone. "I-I..."

"Yes, it's me," the woman said, then looked over the familiar faces. "It's Holly." Wasting no time, she grabbed her knife and cut through the rope that bound their hands. "We have a lot to talk about."

Scurrying forward, Jade attacked her with a hug, crying softly. "I thought you were dead."

She returned the gesture, barely composed. "I missed you all. It's been too long." Sniffling, she politely stepped back, offering everyone a smile. "A lot's happened... with both of us."

"Yeah," Forest muttered, at a standstill. "We need to catch up."

"I see you've got puppies," Holly said, no longer smiling, "but where are the others?" Her tone was dangerously low. "Please, I need an answer."

"Winter and Skylar-" he began.

"-no..."

"-are alive."

She released a breath, more than relieved. "Thank goodness!" she cried. "Where are they? And where is Jett?"

Autumn suddenly came forward, all too timid. "They're on the ground," she replied, giving a nod. "They were shot."

Following her gaze, the woman was shaken to the core. "I didn't shoot them, did I?" With that, she dropped to her knees and felt each for a pulse. "They're breathing, but they're so cold!" She searched Autumn's face. "I didn't shoot them, right?"

"It wasn't you. It was the people that you shot... and killed."

"Oh, I see." Head down, she examined Winter and Skylar for a moment, then shook their shoulders. "Why aren't they waking up?"

"I don't know," Forest said, guilt stabbing at his heart, "but they've been through a lot. They died. It really is a miracle that they're still here."

Holly slowly turned to the boy before rising to her feet. "Jett was shot too, right?" Fear gleamed in her eyes. "He's gone, isn't he?"

Forest only nodded, trying to hold back the tears.

She set her jaw and ignored the puppies at her feet. "Let's... just get back."

-

When their journey had begun, there were seven of them and they were coming back with seven. Only, somebody had been replaced and was never to return. Jett. The man wouldn't even get a proper burial. With a sigh, Forest did what little he could to distract himself.

One step at a time.

He glanced behind him, then set his jaw. Winter and Skylar had yet to awaken. "Jade and Galant - are you guys sure you've got them?"

"Yeah," Jade said with a grunt, "I've got Sky. It's only been half an hour."

"What about you, Galant?"

"Yes, it's all good," he mumbled nonchalantly. "I just want to get to that farmhouse so that we can get prepared. I know my people better than anyone. Holly killed those three, yes, but five got away. They'll come back, and there will be more. I just know that they won't wait to kill me this time." He paused. "If we don't get b-"

"As Skylar would say, you're rambling again," Forest said, but shook his head. "Sorry, continue."

The man huffed. "I'm not that bad, am I?"

Before the boy could respond a certain sound caught his attention: a groan. He spun around, and grinned when it was confirmed. "Winter, is that you?"

Galant carefully lowered her from his shoulder, onto the ground. "Are you good? Want water or anything?"

Winter ignored him as she struggled upright. "What happened?" But then her face darkened. With a shaky hand, she felt the bullet wound to her chest. "H-how? How am I alive?"

"I don't know," Autumn admitted, stepping forward, "but who cares?" She crouched down to her level, smiling like a maniac. "You're here and that's what matters."

Knowing it was God, the boy decided to keep his mouth shut. For now. "How are you feeling?"

"Just how you'd expect," she grumbled, frowning at her twin. "I-I don't understand."

"We'll explain later." Autumn wrapped her into a hug. "I thought I lost you back there."

Winter swallowed hard, returning the gesture. "I died, Bambi." She pulled back. "I just know I did!"

"Your heart stopped, so now you're a miracle. Both you and Skylar," Forest said, before patting her on the shoulder. When she chuckled dryly, he kneeled down and gave her a hug as well. "I'm really glad you're back."

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"I'm lost. Really, what's happening?" Shaking her head, Winter looked around, suddenly desperate. "Wait, where's Jett?"

"He d-"

"I know he was shot too!" She searched her brother's face, then hers twisted with anger. "No, he can't be. Our uncle can't be dead!"

Forest cringed at the last word, but quickly recovered. "Win, I'm sorry, but it's too late. He's gone."

"He can't be."

When Autumn gave her another hug, the boy stood, and crossed his arms. "At least two of you made it. Jett just wasn't so lucky." He sighed heavily, struggling to remain composed. "He's the one that got away."

There was a long, delicate pause.

Exhaling softly, Holly offered a small smile. "Winter, can you stand?"

She blinked at her. "What?"

Holly stepped to her side, then held out a hand. "I can help."

"Wait," she said, frozen in place, "is that you?"

She nodded. "You're not hallucinating, it really is me." A smirk slipped over her face. "I've missed you too."

Without warning, the girl accepted her hand and gave a hug of embrace. "It's been too long. Its been months! I was beginning to lose hope." Stepped back, she suddenly frowned. "What's wrong?"

The woman shifted under her gaze. "Sorry, it's just... your arm. I'm not used to it yet."

"Oh." Winter swallowed hard, uncomfortable. "Yeah, that was a long time ago."

"Yeah, I understand, sweetie. I'm ju-"

"Guys, it hurts," Winter interrupted, clutching her stomach. "I think blood's leaking through the bandage."

"Really?" she asked, concerned. Pulling up her shirt, Holly immediately released a breath. "You're good, for now." Then she paused, studying her. "Can you stand on your own?"

Fear flickered in her eyes. "I'll try." For a moment, Winter was keeping steady, but soon she lost her balance and fell to the ground. "It still hurts," she cried.

Forest rubbed circles over her back, feeling guilty. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" she questioned.

"You were shot."

"Yeah, but I'm not the one who died!" Winter said, frustrated, but then gave a dismissive wave. "I guess I'm still in shock."

I can tell. The boy closed his eyes, and sat beside her. "We'll go when you're ready," he said. "I can support you, if you want."

She sighed. "You said Skylar's alive, but where is she?" Following his gaze, her face burned with remorse. "Did she wake up yet?"

"Not yet."

Winter paused, running a hand through her hair. "This is a lot to take it. First, I come back from the dead, then I find out that my uncle... died, and suddenly Holly's back! Who even saved us?"

"That was Holly," Galant said, not caring to meet her eyes. "We were out of options and she came when we needed her the most. She's the hero of today. We'll have a new one tomorrow."

Forest set his jaw as he stood. "We'll be okay. I know we will." Leaning against a tree, the boy closed his eyes. "I know we will." Even without Jett.

-

"Someone stabbed them, right?"

Startled, Forest's attention snapped to Galant. "What?"

"The three that were killed back there," he said, then paused. "If not, they are walkers now."

Jade shifted on her feet, shaking her head. "No one did," she admitted, low and hesitant.

The man searched her face, squinting, then sighed softly. "That's a shame. A real shame."

"Guys," came a reluctant voice, "I'm ready."

Winter. Turning to her, Forest offered a smile and came forward. "I've got you." He helped her upright with a grunt. "Ready?"

"Yeah."

And so they began.

When their trip had begun, it was an early morning, the sun just starting to rise; but now it was well into the afternoon. Feet stumbling over the earth, each of them were drained and desperate to get home. All knew, however, that there was still plenty of ground to cover.

This would go on for several hours.

The blue-eyed woman with the crooked smile. Forest tried to ignore the lingering thought, but it was of no use. Why this was coming back, the boy hadn't the slightest. They were no longer going to be held captive at that prison, so where could this woman even be?

Distracting himself, Forest looked to Winter. "You doing okay?"

His sister took a breath. "I'm... still really confused." She bit her lip. "I can't believe that I'm never going to see our uncle again. Like you said, we've already lost Dad. The last of our family is us, Forest; his three children."

"I know," he said after a moment, "I know." The boy shook his head. "Since there's so much going on now, I haven't had time to think about it. I mean, Holly's back! But I know that soon the realization is going to hit me like a brick." He wiped at an eye. "Very, very soon."

"Yeah, I haven't come to terms with it either."

"But it's okay," Forest said finally, chuckling, "really. You and Skylar didn't have to come back, and you did. Thank God."

Her eyes gleamed with surprise. "What does God have to do with any of this?" she asked. "Nothing."

"You'd be surprised." Forest met her questioning eyes. "It's a miracle, remember? A literal miracle."

"What?"

"You were right, Win. You actually died, but you were brought back," the boy said, then paused. "I prayed and God had mercy."

"Autumn!" she suddenly called. "Can you replace our brother? He's having a crisis, or something."

Aren't we all? With a sigh, the boy switched roles with a confused Autumn, then caught up with Holly.

"What was that about?" the woman asked, raising an eyebrow. "It was so sudden!" She laughed for a moment. "Well, siblings fight, so it's n-"

"-they died."

Her smile dropped without a trace. "What do you mean?"

"Jett, Skylar, and Winter were shot in the heart and died instantly," Forest answered, locking her with his gaze, "but two came back."

"Did you pray?" she asked knowingly. When the boy nodded, Holly grinned. "You are no longer skeptical of His existence, are you? There's no grey?"

Forest shook his head. "My whole life, I've always wondered if there was someone out there, and now I know." The boy swallowed hard. "Now I know."

She wrapped an arm over his shoulder. "Now you know."

"Five escaped, but I guess Jett's the real one who got away," he mumbled, then set his jaw.

"I guess so."

-

"Another couple of hours, you think?" Winter said, struggling for air. "I-I think I need a break."

"Probably, yeah, and sure," Jade replied, coming to a halt. "I've got water. Do you want some?"

Winter gave a shallow nod, then dropped to her knees. "Definitely." When given the bottle, she found that it was half-full and chugged the remaining contents down. "Thanks."

Jade accepted the container, studying her, before turning around. "Galant, how's Skylar?"

With a grunt, the man laid her back down, then crossed his arms. "Nope, she ain't awake yet, but did stir a few times."

Forest stepped forward, his face lit up, and watched her for a moment. "Well, she isn't now," he said, frowning.

Galant gave the boy a thoughtful look. "She's alive, so that's what matters." With that, he kneeled beside her and examined the wound. "She's got a strong heart." He paused. "Forest, tell me... which shot is more effective: the head or the heart?"

"Well, I've only killed walkers. You always want to get them in the head."

"For the living, it's different," Galant mumbled, considering his next words. "You get them in the heart, and that's exactly where she was shot. Both her and Winter."

"What are you saying?" Forest questioned, searching his eyes. "I don't understand."

"I'm saying that this is near impossible. Both of the bullets tore through their arteries, and neither are dead!" His tone dark, the man ran a hand down his face. "I wanna know how."

"I know h-"

"Jett's the only one who died, and I want to know how." Shaking his head, Galant looked down at Skylar once more, and froze. "She's not breathing anymore."