Simple boredom on this one, here is Iris Potter, the Girl-Who-Lived, the Red Mage, She-Who-Immolates-Things in the Walking Dead universe. If you want more, please review

Sophia Peletier was terrified beyond words, her young mind not able to fully comprehend the horrors surrounding and pursuing her. Sheriff Grimes had told her to stay put, and stay hidden, she had wanted to obey him really, her mama always told her to listen to the police after all but...she couldn't.

The walkers sniffed her out, how could they do that anyway with how horribly they reeked? Stupid silly thoughts of a stupid little girl as she ran for safety, where ever that was, if you listened in on the adults like she and Carl had a few nights...it likely didn't exist anymore.

Seeing a church in the distance Sophia pumped her tired legs harder, trying to ignore the stitch in her side and the burning of her lungs as she did her darnedest to reach God's shelter. That's what the old ladies in town always said the church was, right? A place where God would protect those who believed in Christ and lived as proper Christians?

This thought was derailed as she tripped over a severed arm, a poor postal worker's if the patch on the bloodied sleeve was anything to go by.

Landing painfully onto the hard sun baked ground she rolled over groaning and then gasped as she tried to backpedal from the horde of shambling corpses stumbling towards her, eyes widening in horror she couldn't help screaming.

"STAY AWAY! NO NO NO NO!" Oh God she could smell them now, the putrid rotting auras surrounding them making her throw up as they leaned down to feast on her flesh when a loud whistle cut through the air.

"Heyya boyos, ready for an arse woop'in?" The walkers stopped and stared in the direction the voice came from, Sophia dared to turn her head a fraction and took in the image before her.

It was a woman, long wine red hair billowing in the wind as she stood there with her arms crossed looking supremely unimpressed. She couldn't get a closer look because the woman extended one of her hands and suddenly a gout of violet and black flames exploded forth blinding her.

As the light burnt away her vision Sophia felt her exhaustion finally take hold, she wanted to fight it but...she was so tired, so worn out. Sophia was about to pass out when she felt a pair of arms lift her off the ground, she tried to strike the figure but couldn't muster the strength to break away.

A moment later she heard a pleasantly accented voice chuckle out, "A fighter this one, don't worry sweetheart, I'll keep you safe."

Sophia awoke with a start, sitting up from a comfortable layer of blankets placed atop a pew she looked about in bewilderment and couldn't help smiling slightly. She'd made it to the church after all, go her. Taking in her surroundings her hopes fell when she saw the damage done to the buildings interior, and, more telling than not, the pile of rotting bodies on the floor.

Eventually her gaze fell upon her savior, who was standing behind the raised podium, the gold crucifix upon the wall shining from the wane sunlight. Its reflection highlighted the woman's crimson hair with a warm glow as her shoulders shook, and Sophia belatedly realized the hunched over figure was crying.

"Miss...are you all right?" Freezing the woman glanced up and Sophia had to do her best not to scream as she took in her glowing violet eyes. Wiping her nose the woman slid on a pair of aviator sunglasses and shot her a watery smile as she nodded and stepped away from the podium, slowly walking towards the girl.

She was wearing heavy black cargo pants that may have been military, the pockets obviously stuffed with whatever the woman deemed necessary to survive. Along with that were a pair of black combat boots, fingerless gloves, and an Iron Maiden t-shirt over which she wore a leather bomber jacket with the Union Jack sewn on its sleeve.

Oh, and she was beautiful, unblemished porcelain skin that looked like it had been scrubbed fresh only minutes ago. This made Sophia jealous for a moment before she glanced down and realized her filthy clothes were spotlessly clean, as was she. What?

Taking a knee before the child the woman smiled warmly up at her while nodding slowly, "Yes dear, I'm fine, I just...I just feel very bad with how many people are dying out there." She grimaced while near silently muttering "All of them...poor things."

Sophia was confused but pushed that aside as she extended her hand towards the now bemused woman, "That's good, I'm glad you're ok. Thank you for saving me ma'am, you aren't from around here are you? Oh I'm Sophia Peletier by the way"

Chuckling the woman accepted the small girl's hand while shaking it lightly, "I love kids, so adaptable, and you're quite welcome little one. Also you're right, I'm from merry old England, Surrey, a suburb of London to be specific. Name's Iris, Iris Potter, nice to meet you!"

Sophia released the woman's hand and stared at her a few seconds before quietly asking, "Are we safe, for now at least?"

Iris grimaced at that while shaking her gloved hand back and forth lightly, "Safe is such an...open term. I'm going to go with 'Safe'ish' and leave it at that kiddo. Now, umm...not to sound insensitive but are your parents about these parts?"

Sophia perked up at that, "My mama must be worried sick! Her name is Carol and we were traveling down the highway when we ran into a pileup. Walkers showed up and...and I ran..."

Iris hmm'd at that before nodding slowly, "Nothing to be ashamed of, sodding zombies must be terrifying to you folks instead of be'in a mild inconvenience...Pileup on the highway you say...hmm...someone left a message for you, directions to follow. If you want...well I can try and help you find them?"

Sophia perked up at that nodding quickly, "Would you ma'am?! I...you don't owe me anything but...but my mama..." Iris actually looked like she was about to sob, even with the sunglasses on before she sniffed and nodded.

"We'll find your mama on the morrow kiddo, I promise."

Sophia beamed up at the redhead before shifting over on the blankets making room for her in the process.

"I can't imagine there were many blankets in here ma'am, would you like to share my space?" Smiling sadly as she easily read between the lines Iris sat down and let Sophia cuddle up to her, the girl in question sat for awhile and realized how...quiet everything was.

Before long she was lulling to sleep as Iris began singing in a foreign tongue, she had no idea what was being said but it sounded...beautiful and sad... Nearing slumber she finally mumbled out.

"What was that?"

Iris snorted lightly, "Ba Mo Leanabh, better with a flute and violin but hey...beggars can't be choosers..."

Sophia nodded a bit while yawning before asking, "What was the fire from before, and why are your eyes all glowy?"

Iris responded without missing a beat, "Oh, I'm a witch."

"Cool," Sophia muttered as she fell into the land of Morpheus.

Being in a world of the dead while being the Mistress of Death is not...pleasant.