LOTTIE STOOD next to Marcus, fiddling with the hem of her shirt. Marcus pleaded for his father to not make him go and Lottie felt bad.

"I dont want to go" Marcus signed to his father, a pleading look on his face. Lee signed, looking at Marcus from where he was crouched down.

"There's nothing to be scared of" He signed back. Lottie refrained from looking at him like he was an idiot. There was nothing to he scared of? Sorry Lee, but in case you haven't noticed, aliens are walking around that kill you if you make noise! I think that's something to be scared of. Lottie thought.

"of course there is" Marcus signed.

"I'll go" Regan offered. Lee sighed and stood up as he looked at her.

"I need you to stay and help your mother" He signed back.

Lottie turned to face Marcus and waved a hand infront of his face to get his attention. "we are going to be fine" She signed. Marcus sighed and nodded, going to face his father once more. Lottie huffed and turned his head towards her with a finger. "im serious. if Lee doesnt protect, you i will" She smiled, pretending to hold out a sword.

Marcus smiled at this and shook his head, glancing at the ground. Lottie nudged his shoulder and he nudged it back, causing the two to laugh quietly. They were embarrassed when they noticed the other three looking at them.

Regan turned away and stormed away after something Lee had said, and Lottie bit her lip. "next time" He signed to Evelyn before turning and walking towards Marcus and Lottie.

The pair followed past him slowly, and Lottie got one more nudge in Marcus's shoulder with a devious smile and speeding away.

—————

The trio made it to a river and the sound of water flowing filled Lottie's ears. Lee set his backpack down and walked towards the water. Lottie reached over and snatched Marcus's beanie and he glared at her, trying to grab it back. She shook her head and held it tightly in her hand with a smile before looking back at Lee.

Lee held a fish in his hand, trying to stop its flopping. He walked towards the pair and set the fish on the rock when it jumped out of his hands and Lottie back away while Marcus turned to run.

"They'll hear you" Marcus frantically signs in a panic,
glancing back and forth between the forest and his father. Lottie felt the panic set in before Lee shook his head.

"look at me" Lee signed, backing up. "listen"

"the river is loud." He explained, pointing to the river. "small sounds are safe. Big sounds, not safe. Unless..." he turned around. "theres another sound nearby thats louder."

Lee stood up and looked at the pair. "i wanna show you something"

After a while, the three made it to a loud roaring waterfall. Climbing up the wall so they were sitting under, Lee looked at it. Lottie held her hand out to feel the water with a small smile until she heard a yell.

She turned to Lee with wide eyes as he yells before he looks at them. "You're okay." He reassured, looking between them. "I promise."

Lottie thought for a moment before nodding. "Okay" she spoke softly, the feeling foreign to her. Marcus had to hide his smile at the sound of her voice, the sound music to his ears.

Marcus yells out and Lottie laughs, joining him. The two laugh like the kids they are at the realization that they are safe to make noise.

—————

The trio sat by the river, still near the waterfall so that it could muffle their words.

"Why didnt you let her come?" Marcus asked his father,
turning to face him.

Lottie sat a bit further away from them, partly because she didn't want to invade in a father-son conversation, but mostly because she wanted to hum.

Growing up, most of the time instead of singing along to a song, she would hum. To her, it sounded more
peaceful and soothing. And she hasnt been able to since the world ended.

She hummed one of her favorite songs, 'Dear Future Husband' as she let her hand run in the water. As she hummed along, she went back to her secret gardens and imagined that she strolled through the flowers, inhaling the floral scent and petting the rabbits.

After a small while, she had snapped out of her imagination when she felt a finger poking her shoulder. She blushed in embarrassment as Marcus was sat beside her with a small smirk.

"Hey." She greeted, facing him.

"What were you humming?" He asked, making the girl huff.

"Nothing" She answered, looking at him with an unamused look.

Marcus narrowed his eyes before snatching his beanie off Lottie's head and putting it back on his. Lottie's jaw dropped slightly and she groaned, splashing his with water.

"Hey!" He yelped, blocking his face before splashing her back. Lottie giggled and they broke out into a splash fight.

When a shadow casted over them they looked up to see Lee staring at them. The pair looked over at each other to see the way their hair dripped and water beads rolled down their face before bursting into laughter once more.

sorry for the wait and short chapter! im a little unmotivated