For a long while, he'd stayed in the streets. He didn't know of any survivors, since the accidents in New York were so recent. He hadn't much to fight with, a wooden baseball bat he'd pulled from the smoldering garage of his old home. He'd stayed there countless times, going out into the streets to look for food or survivors, possibly, but had to go back at nightfall, especially with all the animals now inhabiting the overgrown city.

_He finally stepped out of the front door to his old home, pushing the debris and weeds that had suddenly appeared there. He clutched the bat, looking around with crystal-clear blue eyes. He wore a plain gray sweater, that was rather loose on him, and his dark hair fell over his face. He was really for anything, and wasn't sure if he would be required to kill anything today, or he could just find vegetation. That would be his first choice; vegetables over animal meat? He walked out onto the pavement, past the gate to his front yard and looked out around the city.

_A small breeze was blowing through the collapsed buildings, and Alexander John was silent. His hair blew gently across his face, leaving room for his piercing eyes to search the ground. He was beginning to wonder, what ever happened to his sister? He never witnessed the small girl's death; she was just taken away. Maybe she survived. A crash broke his thoughts. He looked over to his right, his legs bracing the cement of the road. A large feline emitted from a flipped car, and it had something between it's large teeth. Alex froze, clutching the bat.

_The cat seemed stunned to be attacked from such an odd angle. Alex yelled when he saw the girl, watching her slip through the floors; three, then two, then one. He yowled, seeing her in so much pain, he cringed. The cat snarled at the girl, it's tail flicking from side to side. Alex yelled out, the cat's head whipping back to him. He'd gone closer to the cat, bringing up the bat and slamming it down over the animal's head.

_He let out the breath he'd been holding as the cat crumpled to the ground; knocked cold. The area above the cat's eye, where he'd been clobbered, was seeping blood down his cheek and onto the pavement. Alex froze then remembered the girl. She must've been in awful pain. Alex pumped his legs to reach her as fast as possible. Hey, hey, He repeated, skidding to a halt before her and throwing the bat to the ground. He looked her over. Don't move your arm, He spoke calmly, reaching out and touching her.

_The boy was still amazed that there were actual humans here. He must've been so blind; she was in the skyscraper, maybe there were more. Jopie. He turned back to her. Sit down, let me fix this up. He said softly, urging her to sit. He looked around for a moment, seeing nothing to clean it up but his own clothing.

_Alex realized how cute she was up close. He scoffed at her remark about her arm not being broken. It sure looked like it. His white teeth nibbled ferociously on his snakebite piercing, his eyes swimming in thought. Panicky thought, mostly. He didn't know this situation would come so quickly. Are you positive? It looks pretty screwed up to me. He shook his head, grimacing. No offense though. That wasn't towards you. He snapped, correcting himself.

_She asked if he was okay. He nodded. I'm fine, don't worry about me. He said hastily, kneeling down and touching her arm. Roll up your sleeve for me, He said, looking at the bloodstains. He then realized he'd never apologized. I'm sorry you had to see all that. I didn't see the cat until he jumped out at me. He said, tossing his head to keep the hair from his eyes as he examined her arm. His eyes never met hers, so it was as if he were just speaking aloud.

_Alex nodded, acknowledging her point. You're the only human I know that survived. He said softly. He didn't know there were survivors; now that he did he was quite surprised that he hadn't found any yet. He then smiled bitterly as she spoke out; it was a bit awkward for him. She seemed to just spill her guts - which wasn't a bad thing - he was partially glad, and surprised. Oh, I'm sorry. He said, rather stupidly. His whole family had died too; well, maybe not his sister, he wasn't too sure quite yet. But he had no right to apologize; he'd seen the same scene.

_Alex, He said with a nod. Alex Bracken. He said politely. You must know more humans, He said, motioning to her gory gash in her arm. He saw specks of splinted wood protruding from it; making him rather queasy. He didn't want to do anything to her arm just yet; only because he wasn't good with medical-ness, and hadn't ever dealt with big cuts except for on himself. It was hard to treat someone else, because you don't know where or how it hurts. He'd never been fond of it.

_ You must know someone that can fix this up. I'm sorry I'm... not good with this sort of thing. Alex said, rocking back on his heels and ruffling through the black hair at the nape of his neck sheepishly. He wouldn't lie. Plus he wanted to meet some of these humans; maybe there would be a connection to Jopie. Or maybe she had been shipped off, slaved to death, then killed brutally at the axe.

_Alex still didn't know her name. He smiled softly, eying her bloody arm. Let me help you with that... He said, trailing off in guesses of her name. He touched her arm and smiled softly, walking next to her. His eyes were smoldering as he smiled, his cheeks flushing. The weather around them was a little different now, the morning haze had lifted and there was a peaceful spring sun above them. It was an odd sight against the collapsing buildings and still-crumbling ash-covered cement jungle. Everything in sight was overgrown. Alex hated it. But there was much hope for him. He realized this meant other actual humans other people. He hadn't seen anyone since his sister disapeared and he woke up in a cement jungle. He was just thankful that she was there. He nodded at her facts with the hunt; it did indeed take his breath but it did not surprise him.

_Of coarse,Alex nodded with a small smile. She looked almost a tad bit annoyed with him; so he tried to be as polite as possible and considerate. He kept steady because in spite of his extreme giddiness that he actually met some humans, other than himself, he wanted to be welcome in this new community. Alex held her arm gently and smiled softly; almost shyly. Thank you as well. He never realized why he actually said that; the words just tumble out of him sometimes. Alex nodded and continued to walk at her pace.

ooc! yay! omigoshes, you're back! yesh, in the Vein. You start? Because I replied last =)