tekki-writes

[tekki-writes]

A Strange Devotion

summary: Camellia is a farmer and herbalist in the hidden town of Jackson in Wyoming. This tiny place is a winter oasis in a world of sickness, chaos and danger. When she meets Tommy’s older brother, Joel and the young girl he’s traveling with, everything begins to change. But could it be for the better? pairing: joel miller x female oc word count: 1k rating: 16+

note: this is my first time posting a fic publicly after many years, please excuse any inconsistencies music inspo: Jose Gonzalez - Local Valley Chapter 1 | Chapter 2

Camellia lived in the homes in the edges of the small town, near an open field where she was able to grow and harvest some medicinal herbs and other small crops. She had two beehives that helped supply some of the town. She lived in proximity with two other small families but Camellia was a family of one. But it wasn’t always like that. Like her and many others, the infected had consumed people she loved and held dear. 

It was a foggy morning. Camellia carried two buckets full of fertilizer to hopefully help yield more crops. As she was steadily working on the flower bed, she heard the familiar crunch of footsteps in the dirt. Camellia turned around to see Maria approaching her.

“Everything is growing beautifully, Cammie.”

“I’m surprised. I thought for sure the flood would have ruined everything.” Camellia stayed quiet for a moment. “But you’re not here to compliment my gardening skills are you?”

Maria sighed, “We really need you to take over Lou’s crops.” She stopped digging and looked sternly at Maria, “I don’t know if you’ve noticed but I’m pretty short handed as it is right now.”

“You’re the only one even remotely capable of keeping them alive. No one else seems to understand.”

“That’s because everyone else is too busy hunting for animals instead of taking the time to learn to grow food that will outlast meat.”

“Please.”

The quiet stillness was deafening. Camellia stared into the distance and wiped her brow. She stood and wiped her hands on her apron. “Fine.” She let out a loud grunt before falling to the ground. “The knee. Acting up again…” She limped slowly before regaining the strength to walk normally. Maria helped her up.

“Come to the next hall meeting. We’ll get you all setup.” 

“You mean the next party?,” she laughed at Maria. “Hey, that was a one time thing. I didn't think they were going to be so loose and rowdy.”

“That’s the last time I bring them my homemade vermouth.” Maria laughed alongside Camellia. 

“I’ll be there.”

“Good.”

[tekki-writes]

A Strange Devotion

summary: Camellia is a farmer and herbalist in the hidden town of Jackson in Wyoming. This tiny place is a winter oasis in a world of sickness, chaos and danger. When she meets Tommy’s older brother, Joel and the young girl he’s traveling with, everything begins to change. But could it be for the better? pairing: joel miller x female oc word count: 1k rating: 16+

note: this is my first time posting a fic publicly after many years, please excuse any inconsistencies music inspo: Jose Gonzalez - Local Valley

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2

“This thing is so itchy!” Ellie exclaims, scratching at the bug bite on her leg. “Stop scratching it, you’ll make it worse.” Joel says. They had been hunting for rabbits for the last few days and had finally gotten a break. “Well…how do I make it go away?” Joel stared at it for a moment, “I would just put a hot spoon to it.”

“Sooo you want me to burn it off?”

“It helps ease the itchiness.”

Ellie gave him a confused look then laughed. They were finally back at the entrance of the town. They were carrying a sackful of rabbits that were ready for a nice, warm stew. “How many people do you think this will feed?” the inquisitive girl asked him. “A good amount,” he said vaguely. “We’ll probably have to go out for more in a few days.”

Joel and Ellie arrived at the back entrance of the kitchen in the dining hall. They dropped off their catch and Joel stayed chatting with the prep cooks for a little bit. Ellie wandered off into the kitchen, a strange smell peeking her curiosity.

There was a woman mixing an enormous pot of…soup? But it didn’t smell like soup. It was pleasant and almost sweet. The woman was vigorously stirring the pot when she noticed Ellie approaching her.

“Oh hello,” the woman that greeted her was tall and lean. Her skin a golden, deep olive color and her eyes a light hazel. She was wearing an oversized green sweater and a pink, faded head wrap. She was sweating profusely from the heat of the stove.

Ellie was quiet for a moment and then looked at the pot, “What are you making? It doesn’t smell like food.”

“That’s because it’s not. It’s a salve.”

“Salve?”

“For wounds and cuts,” the woman continued mixing, slowing down this time. There were old tin containers on the counter. One of them was full. The woman stopped mixing and began pouring the melted mixture into the tins. “It’s a mixture of plants and beeswax. It’ll solidify like this one and you can use it whenever you’d like.”

“Will it work on this?” Ellie pulled her pant leg up to show the woman her bug bite. “It should. But this might be better.” The woman heated up a spoon over the flame and pressed it on the bite.

“W-wait!”, the young girl exclaimed. But it was too late, the woman had already pressed the now warm spoon to her skin. At that moment, a man walked into the kitchen staring down at them both. “What’s going on?”

“The hot spoon trick worked!” Ellie yelled out happily. The woman smiled at her and then looked at him for a moment. “Here, let’s put some of this on too.” She applied one of the solid balms on the girl’s skin and it melted in, soothing the bite.

“Better?” she asked.

“Yes,” Ellie answered with a grin. “I’m Ellie. And this is Joel.”

“Tommy’s brother right?”

“The one and only.”

The woman let out a small laugh. “I’m Camellia. I grow some of the herbs in town and a couple of beehives.”

“You grow bees?” Ellie asked.

“I wish it was that easy,” Camellia said, as she continued pouring the mixture into the tins. “I can show you how it works sometime…when you’re not too busy hunting.”

Ellie smiled and nodded. Joel looked at the woman, “Thank you.” He seemed quiet and stern, the complete opposite of the young girl. “ ‘suppose we’ll see you around.”

She turned to look at him, “I suppose you will.” She smiled.