Shawty had them Apple Bottom Jeans

Norman shook his head as Aspen spoke. "I'm not doubting my abilities, god damn it! I know what I can and can't do, I'm not stupid!" he yelled at her. "I can fight, but when it comes to technical things I am fucked." Norman bent over and picked up his knife again. "Had you not been there, I'd still be trying to save my skin against those zombies and probably ended up at the bottom of the ravine," he said, his voice getting softer the more the sentence went on. Norman shook his head a let out a sigh. "This is getting us..." he began before he was interrupted by the growling from his and Aspen's creatures. Wielding his knife and whipping around on the two, he shouted, "Would you two shut the fuck up?" One of the creatures tails flew at him, and he threw his stake up to block. Turning to face one, he was unable to tell which one, he jabbed forward with his knife.

Sighing as the creatures tail smacked his stake, but his knife missing, Norman stopped moving. Looking down upon the creatures, he made no effort to show emotion. "I told you both to shut up. You didn't. You got what you deserved," he explained. Nodding as Aspen's comment registered, Norman turned to her. "Yes, they are, but I have no idea what to do with them. Nor do I have any idea what to do now," he grunted out, leaning his back against the wall. "Split an apple and then decide?" he questioned her.

Norman looked at Aspen. She was explaining to him what to do. What she had said barely registered in his head. Closing his eyes, Norman took a deep breath. He held that stance for several minutes, trying to process what she was telling him to do. Opening his eyes slowly, he muttered, "You deserve far better than this, kid." Knelling down beside her, Norman placed both hands on the sides of her face, forcing her to look at him. He stared into her eyes for a time, attempting to share their emotions. Leaning in, Norman closed his eyes and kissed her on the forehead. Staring back at her, "I don't want to leave you, Aspen. They'd never forgive me back home if I made it," he said.

Glancing over his shoulder, Norman stared at the two creatures near him and Aspen. Taking a deep breath, he muttered, "I wonder what will come of Olive." Dropping his hands from Aspen's face, Norman stood up. Pacing a few steps away, he turned towards the opposing wall. Slamming the side of his fist into the wall, a small growl could be heard from his throat. Placing a fresh grip on his knife, Norman turned back to Aspen. Rather than wasting time talking, Norman walked to Aspen. Swinging his knife forward, Norman stabbed into her body. Releasing his hold on the knife, he dropped to his knees in front of her. A small number of tears ran down his face. "I'm so sorry, Aspen."

Norman stared at Aspen's lifeless body, absorbing everything that she had said. Her hand rested on his in the final position that she had left it in. The sound of the cannon barely registered in Norman's mind; the sound of his heartbeat and tears overpowered it. Flipping his hand over, he gripped her hand and laid it across her lap. Wiping the remaining tears from his face, Norman stared at his own hands. His mouth dropped open in shock. Aspen's blood covered his hand. Taking a deep breath, Norman reached over and pulled Aspen's knife from her side. He left his own impaled in her; the memory of it would be too strong to bear. Sighing, he reached around her again to pull the backpack from her. Placing the two new apples and her rope in the backpack along with the picture of the apple from before, he stood and placed the backpack on his shoulders.

Norman looked around and found Olive first. He noted the creature trying to revive Aspen. "I'm sorry bud, she's gone to a better place," he said with the utmost resentment. Turning, he found Deno and patted the creature's head. Sighing, Norman noted that the doors around him were open. Making his way to the first store room on his right, he walked in. Inside, he found a room of crates. Sighing once more, Norman made his way to one of the crates. Jabbing his metal stake into it, he attempted to pry it open.

Norman stared into the open crate for the longest time, taking in what he saw. Apples. So many apples. He honestly did not know what to do now. Norman looked towards Deno, who had waddled in here with him. "Whelp," he muttered. Giving a slight chuckle, he continued, "Apple Lord Supreme strikes again." Pulling his backpack off, Norman tossed six more apples into it, just in case. Returning the bag to his shoulders, he reached into the box and picked up an apple. Walking out of the room and back to Aspen, he laid the apple beside her. "It wasn't a waste," he said aloud. Turning back, he entered the room once more. Grabbing two apples, he held one out for Deno and took a bite of the other for himself. "We need to get out, buddy," he mumbled around the bite of apple. He walked out of the room, gave a final look towards Aspen, and looked for a door out.

Norman watched Deno stroll over to a new door and knock it open. Staring into the room, Norman noted the looted barrels and grimaced. "Musta been something good in those," he thought to himself. Glancing around the room, Norman found a set of stone stairs. Staring up them, he found nothing useful in where they went. Sliding his stake into his belt and grabbing his knife, Norman looked to Deno. "You ready, buddy?" he questioned the creature. Norman made his way up the stairs. To where, he had no idea.