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All things considered they had lucked out with the washroom incident so it made sense to Cecil that guard duty was now apart of their regular routine. He wasn't sure how helpful he would be but he would certainly do his best. It was important to look out for everyone in their group but there were a few he hoped would stay well within the safety of the university.

Putting on the jersey that was now required of them Cecil shimmied it into place down his torso. While it was a large it was still a little tight across the chest and just barely covered his stomach. At least he had another shirt on underneath but he really wondered if that was enough. A little self conscious about it he threw a flannel button up over top of the whole thing but at least left the number in the front exposed. It was far from fashionable but it was doubtful anything like that mattered anymore.

Appropriately numbered he headed off to meet with whoever he had been paired with, hoping he wasn't running late. His cell phone had been his only real source of telling the time and that had been lost a month ago.

As he grew closer to his destination he saw Rook in the distance and the mentor he had been paired with not far behind him. With a smile he rose his hand in greeting focusing on Rook first. "Hey!" His smile remained in place as he stepped up beside Rook though it soon became a little more awkward as the boy pointed out an obvious flaw with his shirt. "No need to be jealous of all of this, Rook." But despite his teasing tone he still pulled a bit at the bottom of the jersey.

"So it looks like we're paired up today, yeah?" His gaze drifted around the area still at a loss for how quiet the university had become. Though he wondered if it would stay that way on their adventure.

When his mentor finally caught up they too looked out over the area in thought. "We should just patrol for now, but lets stick together. Let's head this way toward the university."

Cecil didn't have much to argue about that and looked to Rook to see his thoughts on the matter. "I'm assuming your up for a stroll."

Cecil's smile grew the longer Rook spoke, more amused than anything by his words. "I am at a bit of a disadvantage I admit." He chuckled. "But we can't all be lucky enough to be able to shop in the kid's section." Normally Cecil wasn't very sassy but it seemed Rook had learned to bring out the best in the taller man. At least he was playful about it, trying to keep the tone light and not hurt feelings.

"Oh come off it, you're not bad at all." Cecil gave Rook a playful shove in return for the elbowing. "You're just full of more energy than some can handle that's all."

His companion's eagerness to get going did not go unnoticed and Cecil let out a small chuckle at the jab to his midsection. "If I get sick am I to entrust you and your amazing cooking skills to nurse me back to health? Or would that just put me out of my misery?"

But as soon as the mentor was calling for silence Cecil grew quiet and started to walk. For the most part everything seemed fine but not long into their journey he stopped when he heard a noise. An odd scratching noise, faint at first and just as it grew louder it suddenly stopped. Maybe it was just him?

"Did someone else hear that or was it just me?" He was on high alert now, remembering the incident in the washroom not long ago. Would this turn out to be the same?

"Almost." He had repeated the word for emphasis, smiling wider still, but there was no lie when it came to Rook's next statement. He knew he was tall.

But when Rook seemed more disbelieving than not of his words Cecil only shook his head. "You can quote me all you want. I'll say it again to anyone myself if I need to." And he was sincere about it. To him Rook was a good guy and he would stand by him no matter what.

He had to hold a chuckle back when Rook admitted eating his food might be the last thing Cecil ever did. Not a word was spoken about it, instead Cecil just hoped he wouldn't get sick. No need to test the theory that Rook's cooking would do him in. There were plenty of other dangers already.

With his focus now on the noise, or the noise that was no longer there, Cecil strained to listen into the silence. "It sounded like scratching. Like from the bathrooms last night." And just as soon as he said that it came again, the rapid scratch scratch scratch of nails against a hard surface. Or at least Cecil would assume. He wasn't as keen to know if it was more of the infected but that was why they were out here in the first place.

"File up and stay close," His mentor said in a soft tone. "We'll check it out together."

Cecil followed suit behind his mentor, hoping there wouldn't be a moment they would need to hide. He felt he would be ill suited to simply dash behind something. Like a cartoon character trying to hide behind a house plant, that would be how effective it would be.

Glancing back to make sure Rook was close Cecil focused back ahead as they came around the corner. The noise had grown louder, clearer, and when they finally came within sight of the cause there was a pause.

"Is that it?" Cecil heard his mentor whisper, glancing ahead to find a small kitten clawing at fallen leaves.

Aside from the scratching noise it had been almost deafeningly quiet. That was why when Rook spoke up Cecil jumped, grabbing hold of his mentor by the shoulders as he yelped. With wide eyes he turned back to Rook silently mouthing the word 'why?'

"Would you two be quiet," His mentor hissed, brushing Cecil's hands away. "We don't want to attract unwanted attention."

Not even sorry. You cut him deep Rook. You cut him deep. Cecil tried to look offended but it ended up being more effort than just smiling and shaking his head. Rook reminded him a lot of a friend. A friend he wasn't sure what became of him.

"Funny," Cecil turned his attention back to the tiny ball of fuzzy playing in the leaves only to see it dart off shortly after. He wasn't sure what startled it but he could hear Rook making a fuss behind him.

"Are you sure you didn't just scare it-" Cecil was silenced when his mentor jerked him back with effort toward the waste bins Rook had pointed out. By that time he could hear it. A completely different noise than before. He lowered down into a crouch next to Rook looking to his companion in a questioning way and trying to mouth out a question. 'What is that?'