Matt forced a smile in reply, her mention of the old group digging up painful memories. He could see how much it had hurt her too, and the weak, shaky sense of hope she clung to was tragic to see. On the one hand he couldn't just crush her hopes and dreams of finding their old friends, but on the other, she couldn't move on if she didn't accept it. He decided inaction was the best action for now and hid his emotions behind a loving smile, taking her into his arms for a quick embrace.
"It's possible. It's a small world, and they were all fighters. But let's not get too hopeful, okay? The most we should expect is some food and a decent tent. If we plan for the worst, we can only be pleasantly surprised."
He said, petting her hair for a minute. 

After a moment, they separate and Matt lifting his rifle back into the crook of his arm, setting off towards the campground.