The former Dominion of King Edward, Vermont, Post Great Collapse

Marco and Archie dash headfirst into the panicking crowd, as the snarling Herd tear away at Xir, small clumps of Infected breaking away to seek out the Immune woman and her baby. In the distance, the Immune woman sprints frantically in the direction of the tunnel, intending to flee back to the safety of the settlement's walls. Archie pants like an overworked dog as he barely manages to keep pace with Marco, too tired to point out the Infected darting in and out of the crowd, tackling any unfortunate in their way, clearing away the chaff so that they can reach the real prize. The Herd would pursue the Immune woman and child back to the settlement given half the chance.

"That stupid bitch!" Archie snaps between breaths, "She'll doom us all!"

"Pick up the pace!" Marco orders, "We need to beat her to the tunnel. Once we're there, we can just toss her out to the Herd!"

But before Archie can reply, a earsplitting bellow tears across the landscape, causing everyone to put their hands to their ears. Archie turns to the source of the noise, the mound of Infected bodies that had dog piled Xir. And in an explosive second, the mound erupts like a volcano, sending Infected flying through the air. As the loose Herd packs rain down from the sky, Xir emerges from the center of the carnage, back in the form of the nightmare bear.

"Oh shit." Archie mutters as his legs start pumping faster than ever before.

A ripping sound, like the tearing of fabric is heard and Xir begins to grow, steadily getting bigger and bigger. The bear's pelt rips apart in places, revealing bloody red cords of muscle, ready to inflict violence. The Herd, realizing the danger Xir poses to them, abandons their chase of the Immune woman and swarm the nightmare bear like blood clotting a wound. The Herd steadily begin to bury Xir under their bodies once again, but the bear keeps growing, eventually reaching the height of the ancient trees towering overhead. Infected hang impotently from the bear's body, their legs dangling high above the ground as they bite furiously away at the bear.

"Fuck. Fuck." Marco breathes, "The bear's now a giant. Oh my God."

The bear swings and stomps away at the Herd, drawing blood from the mob with every strike. The Infected on their part show no fear, rushing Xir without hesitation, regardless of how many of their fellows fall to its onslaught. Small bite marks and wounds dot the bear's body, the fruit of the Herd's determination. As the two sides fight, more and more Infected emerge from the woods, ready to do battle.

"The virus can hurt Xir." Archie remarks, spellbound at the sight.

"Who cares about that now!" Marco shouts, "The virus can hurt us too! Now pick up the pace!'

Archie goes back to scrambling for the tunnel while the Herd gather at Xir's titanic feet and grab on to the beast's legs. With grunts and coofs of exertion, the Herd begins shaking Xir's legs with all their strength, causing the beast to wobble unsteadily. Xir roars in outrage, desperately lashing out at the Herd, but the press of bodies is too much for it. With a final triumphant coof, the Herd manages to send Xir toppling to the ground like a sawed down oak.

"Damn!" Marco screams Xir slams into the ground, the shock waves sending him stumbling. A quick glance back shows the Herd pouring all over the bear's prone body, eager to finish the fight.

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"Almost there." Archie gasps as the duo steadily close in on the mouth of the tunnel, some survivors fleeing blindly down into the darkness. And just ahead of them is the Immune woman.

"Won't someone deal with her?" Archie asks no one in particular.

In that moment, the majorette pokes her head out of the tunnel and runs straight to the Immune woman. With a single motion, the majorette slams the stock of her rifle into the Immune woman's back, sending the target sprawling to the ground. Claire and the trumpet boy quickly emerge from the tunnel as well, bringing up the rear, heedless of the people running past them.

"Great work, Claire." Marco congratulates, "Just leave the woman and her baby out here. The Herd can handle the rest."

"I don't think so." Claire smirks, sweat making a mess of her makeup, "I'm not done with her yet."

"This is not the time to be jealous." Archie reprimands, "We need to run while there's still time!"

And right on cue, the roar of the nightmare bear blasts out again, and the ground shakes as both sides begin their struggle anew.

"No one's running. Not her. Not the baby." Clair leers as she and the trumpet boy level their guns at Archie as well as Marco, "And certainly not the two of you."

"What are you playing at?" Marco demands, hands tightening on his own rifle.

"Great Xir needs the mother and child." Claire smiles, "They're going to be my ticket into His paradise."

"What?" Marco yells, dumbfounded as Archie facepalms.

"I'm getting out of this dump." Claire says, "Going to Maine, where there's no virus, no Herd. Paradise exists, Marco. You could have joined us if you had only believed."

"You were a Queen." Archie points out cautiously.

"Until Eddie got rid of me." Claire snaps angrily, "So much for that. I'm going to a place where I'll truly belong. Where He will make me perfect."

With that said, Claire reaches for a wig and tosses it away, revealing a freshly shaved head.

"I've already begun the process." she declares, "The priests will complete it once we reach Maine."

"You seriously want to mutilate yourself?" Marco asks disbelievingly, "Like those sick freaks you brought into the settlement?"

"They were made perfect." Claire insists, her face going bug eyed with intensity, "I will be made perfect."

"Then go." Archie shrugs, acting more calmly than he feels, "Take the woman and her child and go. It has nothing to do with the rest of us."

"But my dearest servants want to tag along with me to Maine as well." Clair grins lopsidedly as the trumpet boy looks remorsefully at Archie, "I need to trade something for their entry into paradise."

"Xir's not interested in us." Archie huffs.

"He's always interested in His enemies being laid low." Claire scoffs, "There's merit to be had in killing the two of you. Not much, but just enough for my precious pair to join me in paradise."

"You're crazy." Marco grinds out.

"No. I see the world as it truly is." Claire shushes, "But it doesn't matter anyway. Not for the two of you."

Claire takes over guarding the Immune woman from the majorette as the two youths form an impromptu firing squad facing Archie and Marco. Claire's chirps out one more time.

"Goodbye."