---

You opened up more than I would have expected you to Amy, it is the beginning of your new self and Feng’s last name is Yi. Before the beast seized him he was David Yi and while a criminal wasn’t as he is now. He has become a skinwalker a predator of men and even your affection cannot alter that and the council will seek his life and they are not wrong in their thinking. He does not forgive so exile isn’t enough for him, he would return and try to take revenge and imprisoning him would mean his life is measured till those who want his life reach him. He will be executed and I will vote for it to be quickly done and speak for such mercy as he did not show many he held power over; we would be stained if we showed cruelty as justice and that is how one becomes a Monster.

You may not wish it this way but you are a minority and so it will be done; and I know of you and how you will expose your heart and gather enemies for it but not I. You may know so long as you seek no harm for our family I will support you. said Summer moving closer to Amy

Go ahead and be prickly to the others if you don’t want to be worried about them hurting you. she takes Amy’s hands in hers

I never poison those I care for, those I feel kinship with and though I worry about the people of Portland’s effect on you. You have been marked by more than ink or battle, experienced things few in Lasthope could understand.

Of course I could be completely wrong and I take responsibility for any mistakes I make so feel free to correct me.

Summer laughs softly and leans forward and touches foreheads briefly with Amy Call me names for teasing you if you like but you can always find rest in my home or camp, it's what I do.

I am by most people’s perceptions the town crazy woman because I chose not to act normally. Maybe I am crazy but what’s wrong with that if I mean you no harm? said Summer with a bright and delighted smile

Trevor had been too concerned with the possibility of an explosive device to notice the full extent of the crates behind him. The contents of the table in front of him held his gaze--empty bottles and cans of solvents and cleaners, boxes of sudafed opened and empty, empty butane bottles and old glass and metal bowls and pans, as well a few old hot plates. "I'm pretty sure this guy was making meth. Probably why he isn't here; Ran off and got himself bit." He snickered before looking over towards Maisy.

"Hey, you're awfully quiet. Find something good?" He asked while turning and walking back toward her. He stopped next to her and looked at what she was looking at. A green metal box with the words "Property of the U.S. Army" brushed over it. Trevor knelt down to examine the crate and moved it. "Still heavy and look," He pointed to one of the latches, "Still locked." Trevor said, looking back up to the girl. Even while kneeling, he was only just shorter than her. He offered his axe to her. The hammer end would surely be able to break the lock off with a good swing or two. "You want to do the honors?"

Maisy looked behind her as Trevor approached the crates. "I wonder what is inside." The rancher commented, returning her gaze towards the numerous stacked boxes. Trevor offered his axe to Maisy, and she reached over to take it from him. Wielding it in her hands, Maisy struck the blunt end of the axe down onto the latch, cracking it open like a piggy bank.

When the green metal crate opened, Maisy's eyes glistened. While guns were extremely uncommon fourteen years after the end of the world, before the duo stood a number of unfired 5.56x45mm, a staple of the American military. Maisy had not spotted any rifles yet, but at the moment, they had just become one of the richest people in the area.

Excitement took ahold of Maisy like gorilla glue sticking to paper. The rancher jumped around in joy, setting off a number of mouse traps in the process. Then, it happened. Maisy scooted over to Trevor, placing her calloused hands on the cold metal he wore around his body. Standing on the tips of her toes, Maisy leaned forward, her lips brushing against the bristles on Trevor's cheek as the rancher lost herself in the exhilaration of being lucky in hell itself.

Once the metal box was opened and he was given his axe back, the woodsmen picked up one of the many rounds that looked like they were poured into the container. "Hmm, 5.56 rounds. No corrosion or cracks in the casing." He felt the round in his hand before tossing it back into the box. He watched the other girl jump around in the darkness and couldn't help but smile. It was a good haul, sure, and he knew that Lasthope had several of these rifles guarding the walls. Trevor could feel a film on his fingers and sniffed them. "Hmm, oil, or maybe corrosion block. Would explain why they aren't corroded."

Then the tall man felt a hand on his shoulder and was about to look when he felt lips on his cheek and froze. And here he thought nothing could catch him off guard. Trevor stood there for a little while longer, and when she pulled away, he brought his hand up and felt his cheek. He didn't look at her right away, and just sort of stood there with a stupid look on his face. "Well then." He said looking at his hand. "Sooo, is that how you reward all the people that find cool stuff or just me?" He looked at her with a smile and a red face. "Cause if that's so, I'll go double check all these houses for cool shit."

It was excitement Maisy couldn't control until she realized what was happening. The duo stood as if they were frozen in time but only for a few seconds before Maisy grew red like a tomato. "H-Huh? W-what are you saying? It was just the heat of the moment!" Maisy exclaimed, darting her vision to a dark corner of the room, caught off guard.

Maisy crossed her arms as she struggled to come to terms with what she had just done. It was embarrassing, and enough to cause the second-in-command to become a flustered mess. "L-let's... Let's see what else is in these boxes, alright? I'll have the troopers help us carry it outside." The rancher replied, trying to focus back on the search, but the thought of what just happened was always in the back of her thoughts.

He found himself still smiling as the short girl explained herself. He watched her carefully as she spoke and turned red as well. Trevor giggled at her when she looked away and sighed. "Don't worry, Maze, your secret is safe with me." He turned back to the crates at hand and moved a few of the larger ones out. Trevor broke the awkward silence by slamming his ax into the top of the wooden crate. It had a few straps but was otherwise nailed together and he didn't have his entry tool with him.

The axe made a small hole in the top of the crate in a few swings. Trevor looked inside for a moment and could see green packages. he was still smiling but this time looked at Maisy. "You know, you're really cute when you're embarrassed. Also, I wonder whats in here." Reaching in and pulling out a green package that looked like a brick, he turned it over to read the contents. "An MRE. Chili and macaroni, pound cake, jalapeno cheese spread and crackers, candy, and watermelon beverage powder. Wow, and even coffee."

Trevor bit his lip and sighed. "You know, with all this and what ever else we found, we might have to send some of our guys back to Lasthope with everything and stay for a day or two. Hell, we are only thirty-five miles from the Fort." He looked back up at her then back to the pile of supplies. There were at least four more of these crates with multiple more green ones and other boxes. "You think we should send a runner to go get help with the rest of this?"

Like a punch to the gut, Maisy was caught off guard even more so. The rancher tried to get back on track, but Trevor just had to comment that she was cute when she was embarrassed. Maisy shook her flustered head, slapping her cheeks to focus back on the task. Walking over to where Trevor was hacking away at a sealed crate, Maisy took great interest in what he found. Most of the MREs were full of delicacies that Maisy had not tasted in years, each one prepared with spices or seasonings that were now a rarity.

"I don't think extra help is needed, but I have an idea that might lighten up the struggle of transporting everything. I bet the garages around here have trash can lids or those plastic sleds. We can secure the crates to them with rope, and drag them behind us with the horses to the Falls, where Jain can decide on what to do with everything. Think it'll work?" Maisy explained, struggling at making eye contact with the woodsman after what happened moments ago.

Trevor listened intently on what Maze was saying, and placed the MRE in his pack before continuing. "Alright, I'll go rally the troops if you want to stay here and get these ready for transport." He spoke while looking around for a stool or some way of getting these things out. "Might be better to bust out the floor a bit more and haul everything out." His mind could get away from what happened earlier when he had work to do. Trevor was able to find a small ladder to climb out with--an extension ladder that looked like it had some anchors on the floor.

He took one last look around, making sure he picked up everything. Suddenly remembering his spear, Trevor moved back to the table to grab it when he noticed what looked like a pineapple frag grenade. "No way." He carefully picked it up and looked at it. Flipping it upside down, he could see the hole drilled in the bottom and all his hopes were dashed. "Damn it, training grenade." He mumbled. For a moment, Trevor paused, holding the grenade in his hand he smiled and put it in his pocket. This is gonna be fun.

The man paused on the ladder one more time and looked back to the small blonde and smiled. Reaching the top of the ladder, Trevor noticed one of the troopers was standing near by chewing on a small portion of jerky. "Hey, grab a few others and help Maisy with the crates down there. I'll go with the two watching the stairs and clear the rest of the house." The trooper looked at him funny before moving off toward the entrance.

Trevor followed him to where the other troopers were resting and bullshitting and smiled. "Alright, boys and girls. We have found ourselves some gold in this basement, so it's time to go to work." He pointed to the two at the base of the stairs. "You two are going to help me clear the rest of the house and fashion some sort of sled to pull everything. Those who are not on security will help with the crates, so let's get to it."

Maisy nodded at Trevor, grabbing one of the green crates of ammo. While Trevor went off to clear the rest of the house, Maisy stacked the various crates near the ladder with the aid of a trooper. Then, the crates would be passed up the ladder in a chain moment, passed along until they were secured and safe according to Maisy's plan.

The boxes were another story. While they were filled with packs of prepackaged food for emergencies, they were undeniably heavy, needing at least two to carry them. With one on each end, the troopers carried the food crates in the same fashion as the ammo until nothing was left besides the table and the various mouse traps that littered the room.

During the transfer, Maisy was silent. The troopers were suprised that they had managed to stumble on a cache such as the one they did, but Maisy had been conflicted--her mind distracted and elsewhere. Trevor had left the area, for now, and it gave Maisy time to think. What kind of connection would exist between the two of them after today? The rancher's thoughts would replay each different scenario that she could think of in her head.

When there was nothing left, Maisy climbed out of the hole in the floor and returned to where the mules and horses had been waiting. A few Risen laid dead on the ground, their bodies searched for anything useful to the expedition and Lasthope. "Everything has been cleared from the basement." Maisy explained to Trevor, and looked up towards the sky. "We should head back before it gets too dark." The rancher continued to explain, now helping to secure their loot to the horses.

With goods in hand, the group rode back into the sunset, and across the highway towards the Celestial Falls. Maisy made sure to keep an eye on the crates that were attached to the makeshift sleds, as the rancher didn't want to lose one of them on the way. Thankfully, even with the bumping of the uneven dirt of the land and Falls, none had fallen loose from the group.

When camp was in sight, Maisy let a whistle to alert those on the perimeter that they were back, with loot in tow. "Leave it up to Southpaw and the Woodsman to find something good." Maisy called out, announcing their presence as they rode to the center of the group and dismounted. Opening an ammo crate and a MRE crate, Maisy pulled out a rifle round and a MRE. "Lady Luck didn't leave us yet." The rancher commented, and went to aid the troopers with unpacking the result of one colorful adventure.

Raphael brought up the rear of the group, it wasn't planned he had drifted towards the rear as they walked. While company was okay, Rafe enjoyed his solitude as well. Crowds got to be smothering, especially in the world as it was now; A world where the wrong crowd would literally tear you to pieces. And so, even among friends Raphael would drift to the edges of gatherings.

He watched the others as they separated, whether to join friends or to resume duties. Athena rested besides him tongue lolling. As the two turned their attention to study the newcomers, Rafe stretched behind the canine’s ears. “The world is starting to get a bit crowded, isn't it Theena?”

The dog got to her feet and shook herself. Taking the hint Raphael shook off his morose thoughts and strode into the camp. He worked his way into it’s depths, until he reached what he sought. Rafe crossed his arms and waited until Petra finished her speech. A party, maybe someone brought enough shine.

Raphael moved to intercept Petra, and finally did as she reached the falls. He left Athena with the crowd he worked his way through; The scout trusted his four legged companion explicitly. He didn't want to risk scaring the cub though. “Hey, Petsmart.” Rafe joked as he caught up to the head hostler.

The scout pulled the bottles from his pack and extended them towards Petra. “Dunno if lil smoky will need these; If so got you covered. If not…” Rafe shrugged. “I’ll talk to you later.” It occurred to him that if he had a hat he could tip it before leaving; Without such he just smirked. Raphael started off, ruffling the fur atop Ursula’s head as he passed.

The scout retrieved Athena, and the duo moved to where Rafe’s blankets were laid out. Making himself comfortable Raphael pulled the two books he collected from his bag. The first was a hard backed copy of The Art of War. The book looked as if it had been doing little more than collecting dust, even before the fall of civilization. He returned the hardbacked book to the bag and turned is attention to the other.

Honor Harrington On Basilisk Station read the cover. It was the mutual last name that inspired Raphael to grab the books. The paperback was in good condition for its obvious age; Rafe’s curiosity drove him to crack the book open. The scout relaxed, book in one hand, Athena resting under the other.

@ReusableSword@Poi@Wick@Polaris North@Dnafein@Joker892@FortunesFaded@DeadDrop



Jain rode Danny to the highest point in view of the camp and pulled out the satellite phone and began entering a long text message of her current situation.

Jain: Have made it to the falls in good order. Conducted sweep of Heavenly Acres: Found Large Ammunition. Provisions Cache. One lone female 4-5 years age. Request Evacuation Contingent 16 pack and provisions for one child will place under guard 45°14'33.9"N 121°05'47.4"W till relieved. Main contingent expedition proceeding as planned.

Then she sat back on Danny and looked over the beautiful terrain thinking how she plans one day to build a secure cabin and compound right here and retire. After all wasn’t this about spreading out and this was still close enough that she might push for the rail to pass through.

The thought of her in her 50s pushing the council for a rail route past her cattle ranch, who knew if things worked out Lasthope might top 50’000 people with birth and immigration by then.

Maybe the others spent too much time in the here and now and what can I get by tomorrow; she saw the future. She understood the reasons for having plans and goals. Maybe it wouldn’t be obvious in her lifetime the effect of their expedition but a successful one could link together the remaining parts of humanity. It wasn’t by chance that they had as goals either the Mississippi or the Great Lakes. They would also cross the Snake and Missouri along with countless other waterways which in history had always served as the most constant sources of transportation of humanity.

If man had made safe places they would be near water which could serve as a barrier, food, water and transportation source, they were the recipe for success. All anyone needed to do was look at what they had done with Bullrun and the truth was evident.

“What, then?” she asked no one as she was completely alone.

Then taking a deep breath she turned Danny back towards the camp and headed down hill.

What was life without its mysteries and memories?

Maisy, accompanied by Trevor and squad Beta, had returned to the expedition's encampment, but the rancher's thoughts were mostly elsewhere. The expedition had scored in terms of gains, and there was to be a "get to know each other" party, yet the second-in-command couldn't focus. Maisy's eyes stared deep into a small fire, while her hands fiddled with the small gearshift knob. The knob was rotated over and over in the palm of her hand as Maisy lost herself in her thoughts.

After all, Maisy was still human. There was a number of factors and events that the rancher was witness too as she lived on another day. The old beaten-up truck of Maisy's childhood stood dead on the road, dry of gas like a well in the drought. It had nostalgic memories attached to it, but the vehicle had been tainted by the hell on earth. The screams of hearing people torn apart by the dead while they hightailed it... well, it was a memory that Maisy didn't want to remember.

Then, there was the incident with Trevor in the basement of a house infested by walkers. Caught up in joy, Maisy kissed the woodsman right smack on the cheek. Trevor swore to keep it a secret, but would he? What implications would it have in the future? The questions Maisy had were ambiguous as they were numerous. Her eyes looked down at the gearshift knob in her hands, and Maisy sighed. "I wish I had my Pa's acoustic." The rancher said, not to anyone particular and more to herself, throwing the knob into the air before catching it and putting the object in her pouch. Music could calm the soul, and it was better than damned silence.

---

April was back at the falls with Lilly. She had cleaned her up and given her a bath in the water. In the sun it wasn't so bad but if you stopped moving for too long it was cold. She had her sitting on the edge with her swollen ankle soaking in the water. She had been chatting with the child and calmed her down and fed her. Hearing the guys coming back April looked up and smiled.

"I'm glad to see you two. Lilly is doing well and so is Jax." Lilly had buried her hands in Jax's fur and was petting him.

Darric looked at his sister and the child and he sat down near April. "I need your help. Elsa is ready to have a passel of kids and I don't know that she is the one and I need to know that before I consent to being father to an imagined 15 kids."

Hector chuckled and shook his head as he sat down next Jax and Lilly. "Still finding it hard seeing you as a father, no offense," he said and scratched behind Jax's ear while giving Lilly a smile. "But if ya want my opinion, I say you simply tell her you want things to go on slowly. Me and April have been doing it and you don't see a bun in the oven yet, do ya?" he said before looking to April with a stern look. "There ain't no bun in the oven is there?"

"No but there is a four year old on my lap so you tell me." She said sweetly with a grin. Darric chuckled at her expression.

"Yeah, she got you there buddy." he looked at the water. "I'm thinking I should just cut my losses with her and move on. Problem is there aren't a lot of choices around here. Not too many of the girls here catch my attention. That Amy chick is a bit off. Petra is pretty but she is very into her animals and there are others that I really haven't spent any time around. So who knows right?"

"I think you should let Elsa go if you feel like it's not going to work out. You can have a baby when Hector and I do...in ten years when he feels like it." April gave Hector a look and then back to her brother.

Hector chuckled and rubbed the back of his head with a sheepish smile. "Am I that predictable?" He asked with a grin. He leaned forward towards Darric. "Ya know, maybe I can hook you up with someone, that is if you're up for it," he said.

April raised her eyebrows. Wait...What? she worried. He really wanted to wait ten more years? Scouts didn't always live that long nor did troopers. She wanted to have kids sooner than that. She refused to look at Hector. Instead she picked up Lilly and went up higher to the water and started to show her how to skip rocks.

"Hook me up? With who? I thought I knew everyone you did if not more."

Hector grinned and shook his head. "Well I got a few new members in my team and I think one of them would be decent enough for ya. I think her name was Bella," he said and glanced towards April who was teaching Lilly how to skip rocks. "Also, did I say something? Your sister seems a bit upset," he said in a hushed voice to make sure she couldnt hear them.

"Yeah, I think you pissed her off. She wants kids in the next couple of years. I think I'll steal Lilly from her and go talk to Elsa. She won't kill me if I'm carrying a cute kid like Lilly. I might get out of there alive." he chuckled. "Good luck man."

Darric went up the hill and spoke to April a moment and left with Lilly on his arm. Her giggles could be heard for quite a distance as he tickled her upside down as he walked away.

April continued skipping rocks.

A heavy sigh escaped Hector watched April skip rocks for a few more seconds before pushing himself up and walking towards her. He could have worded it better, but he knew he should have kept his mouth shut on the baby subject. As he reached her side he turned towards the water and buried his hands into his pockets. He watched her skip rocks in silence and glanced towards her. "You mad?"

April stopped with the rocks and looked at him, then sighed and said, "I would think that having kids was something we would talk about not something that you just up and decide on your own. Why would you think that I would want to wait til I was 33 to have a baby? Why not next year or the year after? What if one of us dies in five years and we have nothing left of the other one? I think you deciding on your own was selfish and cruel."

Hector cringed and lowered his head with a sigh. "Look, I didnt mean it like that, its just..." he said and turned towards April with a frown. "I would love to have kids, but... what if something happened to both of us and we leave him or her behind? Sure I trust Darric, he can do the job, but just the fact that we would be leaving our child alone fucks with my head. I didn't mean to make a decision without you, I just sort of spat out shit that I didn't think about," he said and groaned as he ruffled his hair in frustration. "I don't know how to explain this shit, but I just want to let you know having a kid with you would be both the best and most terrifying thing to happen in my life."

April couldn't help it she smiled a little at his confession. "Mine too but I'd rather have a child who was ten years old with memories of us with him or her than one who was an infant who knew nothing of us." April walked slowly to him and wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled his hands out of his pockets.

"I'm not saying that I want a baby today or tomorrow but I don't want to wait for ten years either. Okay?" April kissed him a little seductively on the bottom lip catching it between her teeth and holding it just a second.

Hector nodded and looked down to April with a grin and let his hands run down her figure before planting a kiss onto her lips. "Ya know, if we work fast we can finish up by the time Darric is done using Lilly as a sheild," he chuckled and pulled her closer to him.

April pulled him down to her in a long kiss and tugged him into a cave behind the falls for a little privacy.

Darric ducked with Lilly in his arms and ran out of the tent that Elsa was in. A book hit him in the back of the head. "Well fuck you too Elsa!" He rubbed the back of his head and looked at Lilly. "Don't say that bad word ok. April will yell at me."

Sauntering around the tree nearest where they had set up camp he pulled the tire and rope he had found and made a tire swing and placed Lilly on it. "Let's give them a chance to make up okay? You like to swing right?"

Today has been a bit slow for Bella, killing a few walkers, finding a girl who nearly blown her team leader head off and losing her favorite knife. She sighed and flipped her hoodie over her head to hide from the sun. "I miss my bed," she mumbled to herself as she walked through the camp. Though she halted at the sound of a childs laughter. She glanced to her right and raised an eyebrow to see an unusual sight for her. It was the girl they had found in their sweep and she was being pushed on a tire swing by another teams leader, she forgot his name. She watched the two play and couldn't help but smirk. Soon she decided to join the two and walked towards the two with her hands buried into her hoodie. As she reached the two she gave a small smile and waved towards the girl. "Hey there, looks like you're having fun," she said and chuckled. She glanced up at the man and chuckled sheepishly. "Hey, sorry if I'm interrupting your play time, but it looked fun," she said and stuck out her hand. "Bella."

Darric looked up and smiled at the girl speaking to him and Lilly. "Hey, no you aren't interrupting us. We are just playing around on the swing. Hey you are on Hector's team right? I think he's mentioned a couple of new people."

Lilly wanted down so he stopped the swing and let her off. She ran around the area pretending to be an airplane. Darric sat down on the ground and Lilly catapulted herself into his upper body sending him backwards laughing.

Bella watched the two play and covered her smile as she chuckled. They looked like they were having fun. "Well glad Hector told ya about us, but I dont think he has mentioned you yet. Your a leader for another team right? Whats your name?" she asked as she sat down across from the two.

"I'm Darric and this is Lilly. She is my new buddy. Isn't that right squirt?" Lilly answered by giggling. Darric smiled at Bella. He thought she seemed nice. Maybe Hector was right.

"Darric said a bad word when that lady hit his head with a book. ..but I'm not saying it...." Darric turned her upside down and tickled her tummy. She howled with glee.

Bella raised an eyebrow and smiled. "A bad word?" she questioned and looked to Darric. "Now why would a lady be throwing things at your pretty little head?" she asked with a grin.

Darric actually had the grace to blush at that question and before he could stop her Lilly said, "She got mad!" Lilly's eyes got big as saucers. " Essa said a bad word first." Darric laughed at her and listened. Lilly continued. "He said he wasn't gonna give her fiffy babies when she wasn't the one." She looked up at Darric matter of factly and asked. "The one what?"

Darric was beet red at this point and looked at Lilly and said matter of factly. "Elsa is not the lady I'd want to make my wife so we can't have babies." Lilly climbed up and said "Okay I'm gonna play on the swing some more." She ran over and climbed up and started swinging it.

Darric scratched his head a bit embarrassed. "Kids say the darnedest things, huh?"

Bella crossed her arms and gave Darric an amused smirk. "They sure do," she chuckled and watched Lilly swing. "Cute kid, she seems totally different from when we found her," she said and shrugged. "Well, as long as she is up and moving then its fine," she looked back to Darric and tilted her head. "So, things not working out in the love life?" she chuckled.

Darric shook his head. "Its not that she isn't a nice person, she is I just don't love her. My sister and Hector love each other and you can see it. I want that you know, someone I can try to grow old with. I know it's kind of old fashioned but what's the point of life if not family and the love and strength that comes with it?" Darric felt a little like he said too much and that it might have made him look weird. He asked her, "So how is your love life?" with a smirk.

Bellas eyes widened a bit from the question and rubbed the back of her head with a sheepish smile as she crossed her legs. "Me? Love life? Now that is a fantasy!" she laughed. She shook her head and shrugged. "Never actually had time to hook up with someone, always been training or studying," she confessed. She let a grin slip onto her face as she raised an eyebrow towards Darric. "Why so interested? Just out of a relationship and now your back on the hunt?" she joked.

Darric chuckled and glanced over at Lilly on the swing. "Elsa and I've been off and on for a while. She wanted to get serious and I didn't. I'm not sure if you would call it one relationship or ten short ones. I don't want to have a different girl every night, it's too exhausting. I have to keep my eyes open or I might walk right past Miss Right. So I ask you. Are you my Miss Right?" Darric asked her softly. His voice was teasing and light. He wasn't wanting her to run off but he wanted to let her know he was interested in her too.

Bella couldnt help but snicker. She didnt mean to be rude, but his question just seemed to amuse her. She shrugged and scratched her cheek. "Miss right? Not sure really, maybe if ya get to know me a little better youll find out," she said with a wink. She pushed herself up from the ground and grinned at Darric. "Well it was nice meeting you Darric, we should talk again some other time," she said and waved to Lilly. "And hopefully we can play next time to. You looked like you were having fun," she chuckled and turned away from the two with a wave. As she walked away she seemed to have that Darric fellow on her mind. She thought for a moment and blushed a bit. Maybe she could find time for someone special..

Darric got to his feet and smiled at her as she kind of waved at him and Lilly. He could tell she kind of liked something about him. She was very happy when she left. Much more so than when she had gotten there. Darric chuckled and grabbed Lilly off of the swing and turned her upside down. Her shrieking laughter filled the ears of all in the area. His gaze followed Bella as she walked off. He would keep his eyes on that one. Figuring that they had had enough time he headed back to Hector and April's to drop Lilly off.

@Rumikoohara@Polaris North@Deaddrop@poi@Dnafein@fortunesfaded@Narcissisticpotato@reusablesword

The ride back was fun, the rest of the squad couldn’t believe what they found and were in a good mood. However, he did notice that Maisy was being quiet, she was still paying attention and giving orders but seemed distant. This did confuse him slightly, he knew they only thing that changed was that kiss and how flustered she was after, did it truly bother her that much.

This thought would prove to be his focus other than making sure their path was clear, occasionally he would glance back at the other girl. His thoughts eventually trailed through his memories to the only women he had ever loved, Sara. Trevor quickly changed his train of thought by yelling at the squad, “you better not drop any of that, you don’t find that every day.”

The greeting with the others went well, their prize had bought up the morale of the team and now there was talk of a party. The armored man didn’t spend too much time with them while the others moved the supplies, he simply rode hank back to his pack horse to retrieve a few things. Really he was only checking on his personal effects, it’s not to say that he didn’t trust the people from Lasthope he just didn’t know them well enough yet.

Retrieving a sealed canteen and a guitar for the party he headed back to where the others were unloading supplies. He left hank with the other horses and was pleased to find that most of the supplies had been moved and that Maisy was still there. He had to admit the girl still seemed a bit distant, he simply figured she either wasn’t used to that or was used to that with someone else. Still, she didn’t look depressed or her heart was filled with sorrow.

He looked away from her and stepped up onto a burnt out rusted truck, sitting down on the roof he lightly strummed his guitar and smiled. He sat the sealed canteen down next to him and began to play. A few notes at first just so see if he couldn’t grab the girl's attention, whether or not she would look at him he would still smile at her. After strumming the guitar to make sure it was tuned he began to sing, he didn’t sing very often and rarely did he do it around those from Lasthope. Trevor always likes to see the look on their faces when he sings, he is quite good.

“Chewing on a piece of grass
Walking down the road
Tell me, how long you gonna stay here, Joe?
Some people say this town don't look good in snow
You don't care, I know

Ventura Highway in the sunshine
Where the days are longer
The nights are stronger than moonshine
You're gonna go I know

'Cause the free wind is blowin' through your hair
And the days surround your daylight there
Seasons crying no despair
Alligator lizards in the air, in the air

Wishin' on a falling star
Waitin' for the early train
Sorry boy, but I've been hit by purple rain
Aw, come on, Joe, you can always
Change your name
Thanks a lot, son, just the same

Ventura Highway in the sunshine
Where the days are longer
The nights are stronger than moonshine
You're gonna go I know

'Cause the free wind is blowin' through your hair
And the days surround your daylight there
Seasons crying no despair
Alligator lizards in the air, in the air”

He continued to strum the guitar and smiled, “Now if no one takes this from me im goanna keep going.”

@Poi

Darric had dropped Lilly back off with her new parental figures and he went up to the falls. He was tired and dirty and he just wanted to get in a swim before dinner. It was getting a little darker out and the water would soon be getting colder.

Hector wore a large grin as Lilly arrived and gestured for her to come sit next to him. "Hey there little trooper, just in time for dinner," he chuckled as he finished preparing their MRE dinner. Lilly happily ran over to Hector and jumped to his side with a smile. She looked to the MREs with confusion and looked up to Hector with a tilted head.

"Whats that?" she asked. Hector smiled as mixed the pork within the MRE packet.

"It's a MRE, meal ready to eat. It's not the best, but it will keep ya going," he said and offered her a bite. "Try it," Lilly was a bit hesitant, but after a violent rumble within her gut she quickly accepted his offer and took a bite from his plastic spoon. She chewed in silence as she tasted the food and after a few seconds smiled with delight.

"Its good!" she exclaimed with joy. Hector chuckled and gave her the packet.

"Then by all mean chow down, I got a beef MRE with my name on it," he said as he grabbed the beef meal. He looked to April and grinned. "What's your pleasure for the night?"

"Well, I was thinking that the festivities tonight might make a little one happy. Oh and that beef sounds good to me too." She said biting into her MRE. "I think Darric needs some time to sort out his recent Elsa issues."

Lilly stabbed her food and ate like a starved person. "Essa was mean to him. She was yelling and she threw something at him. I don't like her."

April's eyebrows lifted at this news. "You don't, Huh. I see why. That wasn't very nice was it?" She glanced up at Hector and caught his eyes and smiled softly. Lilly shook her head and kept eating.

Darric had washed and he was just swimming around, diving down every so often to bring back up a shell or pretty piece of rock. He figured he could make a necklace for Lilly or something else that she might like. He walked out of the water and pulled on his shorts and sat down and shaking out his hair like a wet dog. He then began inspecting his finds.

Bella crept silently through the camp grounds as she made her way to the falls. She made sure not to run into anyone seeing as how she didnt want anybody knowing what she was up to. She felt her stress getting the better of her and needed to cool down, literaly. Soon enough she reached the falls and grinned happily as she saw the cool looking waters. She stood atop of a rock near the water and stood tall as she took a deep breath.

"Now this is gonna feel good," she said as she quickly yanked off her clothing to reveal her bare skin. She shuttered with delight as the cool air washed over and chuckled. With a giddy laugh she leaped off of the rock and cannon balled into the water while yelling, "Take me now water!" she splashed into the water and felt her stress wash away as she remained under water. After a few seconds she rose to the surface and took in a deep breath before laughing with joy.

Darric was on the other side of the water from Bella and he heard her and slipped his shorts back off and slipped back into the water and he swam up behind her and began to speak with a soft chuckle. "I've changed my name to water and so now you give yourself to me. How lucky am I to receive such a gift?" He fully expected to get hit or splashed or something so he figured he would at least get in a quick kiss or something first. He placed his hands on either shoulder and he kissed her neck softly.

As Bella heard a familliar voice she froze stiff and tried to figure out what to do, but before she could she felt someone kiss her neck and let out a yelp before diving into the water and swimming a fair distance away. Soon she came to the surface, but only allowed her head to be shown as she glared towards Darric with puffed up red cheeks. "What the hell!? You creep! Perv!" she shouted at him as she covered her chest from under water. She didnt know what else to say, things like this never happened.

Darric laughed, his deep resonating voice carried across the water. The genuine shock in her voice let him know that he had really surprised her. "Creep? So you say. Perv? Most definitely and as such that is literally the definition of a guy. You forgot a few words though" He slowly made his way towards her as he spoke. His eyes showed no harm but definite laughter and interest. "such as honest, protective and sexy." With the last word he grinned.

Bella simply continued to glare at him as she kept her distance from him by circling him. She scoffed. "Sexy? I saw walkers better looking than you," she said before feeling her bare back make contact with a rock within the falls. She looked around her surroundings with wide eyes as she saw that she was now trapped. She shrunk a little and began to shake as Darric grew closer. She was actually starting to feel a hint of fear now.

Darric laughed and as soon as he could see that she was afraid of him his entire demeanor changed. He stopped moving towards her and said, "Bella why do you look like you are afraid of me? You needn't be. I won't hurt you. I'm just teasing you." Darric could tell something had happened either to her or someone close to her.

Bella still felt a small bit of fear, but she forced herself to relax and looked away from Darric with guilty eyes. "S-sorry, just please stay over there for now," she said as she slightly sunk deeper into the water. Her face was red with embarassment and she only snuck a few glances towards him. He wasnt a bad looker, but she shook her head and sighed. "Ya know sneaking up on a naked women is the least attractive thing a man can do," she said in attempts to break the ice she had created.

Darric looked at her a minute and decided not to tell her it usually got him a lot of laughs. "I'm sorry if I scared you. I thought you could tell what kind of person I was by this afternoon. I would never hurt a woman. I've killed men for less than that. I'm going to get dressed. I don't want you to be afraid that I will jump on you at any second. You can meet me over there when you are ready." He pointed and then turned towards the shoreline.

Bella nodded and watched him walk towards the shore. She closed her eyes and dunked her head into the water as guilt began to fill her heart. She knew he wasnt that kind of person, but it was an old instinct of hers that made her act like that. She peeked out from the water and saw that he had gotten dressed and sighed as she made her way towards the shore. She climbed onto the rock she had jumped from and quickly snatched up her clothes. She hastily put her clothing back on and peeked around the rock to see Darric waiting on her. She sighed, rubbed her face and walked out. She avoided eye contact and rubbed her arm with unease as the guilt was still there. She sat down on a log near the water and stared at the ground with shame. She didnt know what to say, so she just simply stayed silent.

Darric watched her for a second and then he walked over to her and he sat down with the stones and shells he had found. "I found these and I was thinking that I might make Lilly a necklace from them. What do you think?"

She glanced at the stones and shells and felt a small smile come to her face. "I think she will love them, they are very pretty," she said. She thought it was cute he was making her a necklace and chuckled.

Darric smiled. Wrapping the stones back up he set them aside carefully and looked at her a little perplexed as to how to begin. "I was hoping your reaction would be to turn laughing and smack me playfully or to splash me or something along those lines. It never occurred to me that you would be afraid when you realized who it was. I have been interested in you since the second I saw you today and I would like to get to know you and spend time with you but -" He sighed then continued "-if that isn't something you would like, just tell me now. I won't hold it against you and I'll make sure not to bother you or scare you anymore."

He wouldn't usually be so blunt but after his breakup with Elsa and then scaring Bella he wasn't in the mood to tiptoe anymore than he already had. He really didn't see what he did as so terrible. No one else had ever reacted like she did and he wasn't sure if he wanted to find out she was totally broken.

Bella cuffed her hands together tightly and stared towards the ground. Her cheeks had become warm as he told her of his interest and only cursed herself for reacting like that. She looked to him and shook her head. "Darric I really didnt mean to react like that, it was just..." she couldn't finish and sighed. "Look, I think your a good guy and to be honest I would like to see you more as well, but i dont think Im up for anything too fast. You think we could just start things off slow?" she finished with a small smile.

Darric nodded and got up and pulled her to her feet. "Sure we can." He put an arm around her waist and made sure she didn't slip on the rocks as they made their way to the grassy area a few feet away. He stopped and picked up his things. He shoved all of his things into the bag he carried and walked back to camp in his shorts barefoot with her at his side. He had slipped his hand over hers and held onto it in case she slipped and just because he liked holding her hand.He figured if she yanked it away from him then she was too damaged for him to handle right now.

Bella wasn't sure what to do next, she had never held hands with a guy before. She had always tried her best to stay out of a relationship, but something about Darric pushed her towards it. She tightened her grip on his hand and felt a small smile come to her face as her cheeks turned slightly red. This was actually nice.

Darric lead her down to the camp where they had music blaring and there were lots of people dancing and he turned her in his arms and began dancing with her and a group of others to Chemical Infatuation by Like A Storm. He danced off for a moment and came back with a beer for each of them.Darric was having a great time now.

Bella laughed as the music filled the air. She was a horrible dancer, but she lost herself in the music and simply tried to keep up with Darric. After a bit of dancing she went to the side, panting and smiling with joy. After clearing a bit of hair from her face she looked around and saw Darric approaching with two drinks for the two. She chuckled and nodded in thanks as she took the beer from his hand. "Thanks, I could use a cold one after that embarrassing work out," she laughed before taking a sip.

Darric grinned. "No worries, no one cares how silly we look none of us was ever taught to dance. We just move the way it feels good to move with the music." He was caught off guard by a short person running up and knocking him over.

"Darric!" Lilly yelled gleefully. Darric was left on his back with one arm in the air holding his beer upright.

"Bella rescue my beer please!" The instant she took it he laughed and he leapt up child in tow under his arm and carried her out onto the makeshift dance floor and started dancing with her. Soon he was swinging her and playing with her like she was a wild monkey and Lilly was screaming with laughter.

April and Hector sat down next to Bella and laughed at Darric's shenanigans with the child. April snuggled into Hector's chest and whispered something that made himm blush. "So Lilly was telling us that she met you earlier with Darric. He is crazy right?" She said grinning.

Bella chuckled sheepishly as she scratched her cheek. "Yeah, he is a bit strange, but he really is nice," she said and looked at Darric dancing with Lilly. She smiled and felt her cheeks warm up slightly. Hector saw her look and grinned before letting out a howl of laughter. Bella jumped as Hector laughed. "W-what!?" Hector shook his head and looked to April.

"I swear your brother is always on the hunt. He just broke up with one chick just to get together with another. Someone needs to put a leash on that dog!" he laughed as Bella's cheeks grew even redder.

"W-we didn't hook up yet!" she shouted with puffed up cheeks. Hector pointed her with a grin and a raised eyebrow.

"Yet?" Bella lowered her head in embarrassment and sighed. Her team leader is a real ass.

A few minutes later Darric ran off of the dance floor and dove onto the ground next to Bella and April. Lilly was on his heels laughing all the way. "April a little help? " Lilly had jumped onto his back and was trying to get him to give her a horsey ride. "Lilly you've worn me out. Get Hector to give you a ride around the camp." Lilly jumped off of him and wrapped her arms around Hector's neck and April giggled at his expression.

Darric with a look of mischevious exhaustion crawled over to Bella and lay down in front of her and lay his head in her lap and grinned up at her. "I am totally at your mercy. The child sucked the energy out of me! Do with me what you will."

Bellas eyes widened in surprise as her already red cheeks felt like they would burst into flames any second. "W-w-what!? I-I, uhhh..." she wasn't use to this kind of affection yet. She hesitated for a second and gulped before she gently stroked his hair with her hand. She avoided eye contact and chuckled nervously. "I really got to get used to this," she mumbled, not knowing if Darric heard her. She looked to April. "Is he always like this?" she asked as she glanced down towards his exposed torso. She felt her heart skip a beat to see his well built figure, she snapped her eyes away from the lovely scene. She really needed to get used to this.

Darric grinned and watched Hector playing pony and laughed. April nodded. "Almost all of the time. At work he is mostly all business but goofing off is his chosen behavior most of the time. He is only serious when he feels the need to be." April offered her some prized cookies that she was saving for the trip by hiding them from Hector who typically devoured them quickly. "Have one while you can. The horsey and rider will be back any moment and then you won't get a chance."

Lilly was shrieking at something and Darric raised up to his knees kissed Bella's cheek and said, "Be right back!" Before running after Hector who was running with Lilly on his shoulders.

Bella stiffened as Darric kissed her cheek and watched him run towards Hector and Lilly playing. Once he was far enough she let out a heavy sigh and rubbed the cheek he had kissed. She looked to April and clutched her hands together as she rested them on her lap. "Um, April, do you mind if I ask you a few questions about your brother?" she asked. "What, um, what kind of girls does he like?"

April smiled as she watched the boys playing with Lilly. "Nice ones, pretty ones. I have no idea how he ended up with Elsa so many times. Actually I do. She begged him to go back to her. Elsa is ...hmm how can I put this? She is a bitch who used any means she could to keep him with her." April chewed on her cookies and said. "I think he is getting ready to settle down. He is 25 and he seems bored with bedhopping and all that entails. He is looking for Miss Right I think."

Bella let April words float in her head and looked towards Darric. "Settle down?" she muttered to herself as the thought came to her. It sounded nice, but could people really just settle down in today's world? With death of all types around every corner it seemed impossible for people to have a real relationship, but as she watched Hector and April she saw no problem. They both seemed so happy and full of life. They were in love. She looked down the ground and smiled. "Maybe, I could be Miss Right?" she said, but shook her head. They just met today and they barely know anything about each other. Why was she thinking about settling down now? She sighed and looked back to April with a sad frown. "Why is this crap so confusing?" she mumbled.

April looked up at her and looked at her brother as he was chasing Hector and Lilly around a tree. "Don't you know? All good things require work and will come in time to you when you need them most. That is what my mom used to say all the time. Darric remembers her better than I do but he doesn't like to talk about them. I think it hurts him too deeply to remember. He was not even 7 when we ended up on our own and he had to save me, a lot. He took care of me and he got us here. He deserves someone who really loves him like I have in Hector." She grinned looking at them as Hector was now on the ground with Lilly standing over him shaking her finger at him. Darric was laughing bent over double.

"If he is your mister right don't let him go. You couldn't do better than him. Ever wonder why he and Hector are best buds? They have the same heart." April touched her shoulder and went towards the small group and lifted Lilly into the air and the child wrapped her arms around April's neck. The boys gravitated back to where Bella was sitting. Darric grabbed the cookies first. "Nahhh, uh uh you always eat them all I'm taking mine first!"

Hector reeled back his head with a fake offended gasp. "Me? Eat all of those amazing ass cookies? How dare you sir!" he looked to Lilly with a quivering lip and pointed to Darric. "See how mean he is?" he said. Lilly pointed to Darric with puffed up cheeks.

"Give daddy a cookie!" she shouted. Hector froze for a second and looked to April with wide eyes. He wanted to make sure he heard that right.

April smirked and Darric stopped and looked at Lilly and asked her, "Him? Hector is your daddy?"

Lilly suddenly worried that Darric would be mad at her said, "Yes, because he comes with my mama so he is my daddy." Darric grinned and looked at April with a smile.

"You know what Lilly that makes perfect sense. If you want April and Hector to be your Mommy and Daddy you should get to choose that. Can I be your fun and protective uncle Darric?" Lilly nodded and gave him a kiss on his cheek and proceeded to nearly strangle him in a hug.

"I thought you were gonna be my boyfriend Darric." Darric chuckled at that. "Lilly I can't. I'm Bella's boyfriend. You don't want her to cry do you? Besides, if I'm your uncle then I can beat up mean boys for you. How about that?"

Lilly liked that idea and raised her hands above her head and yelled yippee. Darric turned to Bella and whispered to her. "I hope you can stand being my girlfriend because if not I have to play the age card on a 4year old."

Bella thought for a moment and felt a smile come to her lips. She held his hand gently and nodded. "I think I can handle it for now," she said and pulled him down so she could give a quick kiss on his cheek. "Besides, it looks like there is never a dull moment with you. Could be fun," she chuckled.

April chuckled as her brother blushed just a little. She reached over and stole a cookie from Hector and tossed it to Darric. Darric ate the cookie in one bite and rose to his feet and pulled Bella to the dance floor for a slow song. Pulling her into his arms he held her close and took in the scent of flowers in her hair. "So you think you can handle me? I'm a bit crazy I admit that but only in a fun kind of way. I'd never hurt you on purpose. I might step on your toes while we dance but that doesn't count." He gave her a lopsided grin.

Bella chuckled and shook her head as she laid her head into his chest. "God, my first boyfriend and he is the weirdest guy in the camp," she laughed and looked up to him with a smile. "I couldn't have picked anyone better."

Darric blushed in the darkness and leaned forwards and kissed her lips tenderly. Darric looked at Bella's eyes and saw something in them. He whispered to her. "Let's get a little further away from all these people." He took her hand and pointed up a path where he knew they could look down on the festivities but they could talk in private.

His sister watched from the sidelines as Lilly was tying her boot in knots on her lap. April's grin was proud as she watched her brother and Bella.

Hector chuckled and crossed his arms as he watched Bella and Darric break away from the party. He looked to April and wrapped his arm around her. "Think they will make a good couple?" he asked with amusement.

She nodded, "I think so. She is nothing like Elsa so that is a plus. The way he looks at her ...I think she could be the one he picks to settle down with. She doesn't even realize how she looks at him. It's cute how oblivious to it she is." April moved onto Hector's lap when Lilly got up and was trying to capture a grasshopper.

Darric took Bella up to a grassy area that overlooked the main area of the camp. Sitting down he patted the ground next to him. "I don't bite unless you want me to." He said giving her a mischievous grin.

Bella rolled her eyes and took a seat next to him. She hugged her knees to her chest and smiled as she looked down at the camp grounds. All of the lights and people having fun really brought a smile to her face. She looked to Darric, took a deep breath and rested her head onto his shoulder as they looked down at the camp. "As long as you're biting I don't mind," she whispered loud enough for him to hear.

Darric chuckled and looked into her eyes. "What do you want? Bites or kisses?"

She blushed slightly and avoided eye contact. "Well, maybe a bit of both?" she said.

Darric wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled them both further back from the slope downhill and he lay on his back with her atop him and he kissed her deeply. He had purposely given her the control so if she got freaked out she wouldn't be trapped. It was in her power to stop anything she didn't want to happen. Darric was more intrigued by her than he knew how to say.

Bella giggled slightly as she sat atop of him and stared down at him with a smile. She ran her hands up his body slowly and blushed even harder as she felt his toned body. She shook her head and chuckled. "This is so weird," she laughed and lowered herself down to his face to kiss him again. "Im not really sure what to do next," she smiled sheepishly.

Darric was not sure how much more he could take as she moved innocently over his body. Her torso was moving over his with her hands and her derriere was pleasantly teasing his manhood. "Do whatever you want to do. You can be in charge. But I'm telling you that you are teasing me something fierce." He said huskily as he rubbed her thigh with his hand.

Bella raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Teasing?" she asked and rubbed her rear against him a little more. She chuckled and began to kiss his chest and neck softly as she rubbed his toned body. "I have no idea what your talking about," she said innocently before nibbling on his earlobe. She really didnt have a clue what she was doing, but she just went with it. Plus it was fun.

Darric laughed and grabbed her by the waist and sat up so he was holding her on his lap and her nose was less than an inch from his. "Innocent you may be but that was intentional teasing." He chuckled again and kissed her up and down her neck and ran his hands over her body til she was breathing as heavily as he was. He nibbled on her earlobe and the side of her neck and he moved her shirt, just a little and started kissing her shoulder.

Bella did her best to control herself, but feeling Darric explore her body was nearly maddening for her. She let one hand travel over him while she used her other hand to pull his head into her chest.

Darric was so caught up in the moment he literally stopped the moment she touched him intimately. His voice was barely controlled. "Bella," He took a couple of deep breaths and his voice was little more than a whisper. "If you don't want to lose your innocence you should get up off of me right now. If you stay where you are I don't know how much longer I can-"

Bella cut him off as she locked her lips with his in a passionate kiss. After holding it for a few seconds she broke the kiss and smiled softly at him. "It's okay, I want to lose my innocence to Mr. Right," she chuckled and slid her shirt off.

Hearing her words and seeing her lift her shirt off he picked her up and stood up in one movement and carried her the back way to her tent. Once they were in her tent he went about kissing her properly and he began caressing her as he slowly removed her clothing. He wanted her to feel the heat he was feeling and that might kill him but he was going to make it enjoyable for her.

Bella was nervous, but excited at the same time. She didn't know how, but she didn't pay much attention to it all as she lost herself within Darrics warm and comforting presence. She kissed him several times around the neck as she pulled herself closer to him, their bare skin now gently rubbing against one another. She looked up at him with a grin and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Lead the way."

Darric picked her up and laid her on the makeshift bedding and lay with her. When he was at the point of no return he looked her in the eye through glazed eyes and asked her clearly. He didn't want to be accused of anything wrong in the morning light. "Are you sure, after this I would rather die than stop."

Bella smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck as she pulled him in closer to her face. "I'm sure," she whispered and kissed him deeply as she let her nails gently travel down his spine.

After quite a long session of lovemaking Darric finally collapsed over her and rolled onto his back pulling her into his side and kissing her tenderly. He was so out of breath he couldn't speak right away. He just lay there kissing her tenderly.

Bella held onto Darric tightly and buried her head into his chest as she panted heavily. She looked up to her lover and smiled. "Great first date huh?" she chuckled.

Her question made Darric laugh out loud as he cradled her to him. "Oddly it sounds similar to April and Hector's first date. They ended up in bed too." Kissing her neck softly he asked her, "Did I hurt you too much?"

Bella smiled and shook her head. "No, it was like crashing waves of pleasure," she said and chuckled. "Though the faces you made were a bit cute, it was hard not to laugh."

Darric reared back and feigned offense. "What? I thought your expressions were endearing. So you thought I looked like what? A monkey?" With that he began to tickle her and eek like a monkey making her laugh out loud.

A passerby the tent heard the animal noises and started laughing catching Darric and Bella's attention. Darric started laughing into her shoulder and cuddled her against him yanking the covers over their entwined bodies.

@Rumikoohara@Polaris North@Deaddrop@poi@Dnafein@fortunesfaded@Narcissisticpotato@reusablesword

@DeadDrop



Vicky sat before her little tent enjoying the night air facing out so that the Campfires wouldn’t affect her night vision which was one of the best unassisted in the Marksmen but she payed for it by muting her vision so much in daylight wearing dark temple shielded sunglasses that she was a little color blind. She didn’t mind so much though because her eyes had always been light sensitive which made it hard for her to enjoy the bright colors most prefered.

Vicky was Nightwatch and because of that slept almost as soon as dusk approached then awakening about 200 hours and deploying around 300 to a position that gave her a protected blind with the optimal lines of sight. Tonight because the Teamsters were feeling boisterous she got less than normal but didn’t mind because she had a love for music and dancing, oh how she loved to slow dance.

So it was that when Amy Walker a Trooper she had assigned the callsign Ermine showed up and dove into her own tent obviously in search of something

While Maisy attempted to come to terms with her emotions and thoughts, Trevor was also lost in his own thoughts. Sometimes they would lock eyes, but only for a second before Maisy would look away. It was then when Trevor disappeared, leaving Maisy confused as he had left. Nonetheless, Trevor's disappearance had allowed Maisy to focus somewhat, and the movement of supplies went by much faster. A few of the expedition were digging around in the MRE boxes--something Maisy would've preferred saving, but she let them go ahead. It was to be a party, and eating like the old days would be a nice touch.

Then, Maisy heard the strum of a guitar. Nothing as far as a song, but simple notes came forth from the guitar. Maisy looked around to pinpoint the location of the sound, and noticed Trevor standing on top of an old truck, or rather the carcass of one. It had been burned to the core, but Trevor didn't mind using it as a stage. Their eyes had met once more, and only then had Maisy noticed he was smiling at her. It had brought a rosy red to Maisy's cheeks once again, especially as Trevor had singled out the second-in-command from everyone else in the expedition. Seconds later, Trevor started to strum and sing away to a tune of years past, playing it on his makeshift stage.

In truth, it was entrancing. Trevor must've heard Maisy comment to herself earlier, but he wasn't a bad singer, nor was he bad with the guitar. A few minutes passed as Maisy listened with a smile on her face, cheeks still stained red. The song soon ended, but Trevor wasn't done with Maisy yet. The woodsman made a point to say that if anyone didn't take the guitar from him he'd keep playing, and eventually Maisy gave in. Climbing the bed of the truck, Maisy took the guitar from Trevor, herself smiling like an idiot. "Know any Cash?" Maisy asked, strumming the guitar a bit to get used to playing once again.

Without waiting for an answer, Maisy began to strum away. Each cord that the rancher strummed brought Maisy back to a simpler time, when she was much younger. Maisy found herself still singing, but she was back home on her family's porch, strumming away on a warm summer evening. A nice glass of tea sat on a table, while the music was accented by the sound of insects and the occasional animal. Maisy could see her cousins tap their feet to the music, and as well her parents slow-dancing. The rancher noticed her aunt and uncle being there too, topping everything off as a Palmer reunion.



By the time the last cord was strung, Maisy had returned back from the dreamland she was in. Some were listening to Maisy play and sing, and a couple clapped their appreciation. "Should we keep going?" Maisy asked, more so to Trevor. Nonetheless, those that were listening cheered them on, hoping for more. If only every day was like this... Maisy thought, strumming a few random cords as she waited for an answer from Trevor. Simpler times existed, if only for a minute in the end of the world. It was like a long dream, yet one they were destined to catch.

---

Listening to the girl sing on that burnt up truck brought a smile to the man's face. He was in the bed of the pickup now. Occasionally Trevor would drink from the canteen--the sweet honey wine he enjoyed so much was a sweet reminder of the celebrations and feasts his father would put on. Like the signing of the treaty that brought his people together with Lasthope, the celebration took a few days to put together.

Sending out so many hunting and search teams did drain their supplies temporarily but it was worth it. There was still mistrust between the two people at the time, however, one thing the people of New Fort Stevens were great at was partying. Throwing old grudges and mistrust aside, the new unified people drank, feasted, and partied. His father tries to get a celebration going every year around the same time, mostly to show appreciation and to just have fun.

Still, Trevor continued to listen to her sing, tapping his foot along with the beat. Some bystanders had begun to dance, hum, or try to sing along. At least grabbing his guitar was a good idea. Maisy finished her song but still kept strumming with a question about continuing. "Cash, right?" He asked with a smile, his face turning a bit red from the alcohol and seeing her face red. "Let's see if you can keep up." Without changing a beat or matching the rhythm of the guitar, he began to sing.

The tempo was upbeat as was the surroundings. Trevor sipped away from his flask, while Maisy strummed away, singing from the heart. Together, the two of them were caught smiling, as if they were no longer in a hellish world of death. As if they were two friends having fun singing and playing along to music they enjoyed and loved. So, when Trevor offered a challenge, Maisy was quick to accept.

"I'd like to see what you know." Maisy smirked to herself, returning her attention to the acoustic guitar in her hands. It wasn't quite the guitar Maisy knew all too well, but it had a nice sound to it. The guitar had been perfect company to their singing, and the clapping and cheering was more than enough of a testament. Following along with Trevor, Maisy strummed the strings and sung along to an old Cash classic: Long Legged Guitar Pickin' Man.



Again they were met with cheers and applause, he was happy that there was still some good in this world even if it was seldom and hard to find. A rather anxious young man came up to them and asked for the guitar. Trevor looked to Maisy and gently took his guitar back from her and handed it to the young man. "Don't you dare break it." The young man smiled. "I would never think of doing such a thing, sir.”

The boy walked off to the other side of the old parking lot where a few others waited and discussed something among themselves. He turned his attention back to Maisy who was still on top of the truck and offered her his canteen. "Would you like some mead?" He smiled and took another small drink. "It's very sweet."

Trevor could hear the guitar again, this time it was a newer song. The boy who took the guitar wasn't singing but his two friends were. The song they picked was a slow song: She's My Kind of Rain by Tim McGraw. For a moment Trevor watched as some bystanders grabbed someone else and began dancing. Looking up to Maisy, Trevor offered his hand to help her down onto the bed of the truck. "So, Maze, would you like to dance?"

The guitar was taken from Maisy's hands once the song ended, and Trevor passed it along to a boy who was willing to play. They had said a few words, but before Maisy heard them, Trevor interjected, offering his canteen. "I would love some." Maisy replied with a smile, taking the canteen from his hands. It was strong, as was most mead, but it was sweet like honey.

Shortly after Maisy handed back the flask, the boys from before had started to play the guitar. Different from the music that was played earlier, this time it was slow, and many had grabbed a partner to dance too. Trevor offered his hand to help Maisy off the torched truck bed, and Maisy climbed down with the woodsman's help.

Then, Trevor had offered to dance with Maisy. His words were enough to return the blush to Maisy's cheeks, as if Trevor had been swooning the rancher the entire time. "Sure," Maisy answered, keeping their hands entwined. The rancher had felt budding feelings, yet the uncertainty was still real.

The music was soothing as they slowly danced in each others arms. One would expect one of his size to be clumsy, but he was taught to dance as part of his training. It helped to keep movements fluid and balanced, that and his mother was intent on not letting some customs die. He was quiet for a little while, his old instinct to keep an eye on their surroundings kept him quiet while he enjoyed how close she had allowed him to get while still being comfortable.

But as the song continued Trevor couldn't help but think of the last time he did this with someone. "Sara..." The thought crept up on him, and he hesitated for a moment mid dance. To try to get his mind off her, he looked down at Maisy and sighed. "You know, I do enjoy your company. You seem to put up with my crazy rather well enough." He paused again for a moment. "So, since I have a secret about you..." Again, he paused not sure of how to continue.

"I suppose it's only fair if you have a secret of mine." He spoke quietly, slowly turning his back on the others. "I have only ever loved one woman and her name was Sara." He could feel it building inside--the anger and rage that follows the tears and sorrow. "I was seventeen and she was sixteen. She got bit and I killed her before she turned." He wasn't going to tell her the whole story, rather he couldn't. He knew what happens when he tries. The anger and sorrow hasn't changed, and little by little it still eats away at him. "Everyone back at the fort thinks she was left behind."

He paused for a moment suddenly realizing he has never told anyone dawned on him. The true danger of what he said was no one knew. If they did they would question him on not just that, but other strange occurrences as well. "There is a lot of blood on my hands, Maze, and I'm afraid that if I told you everything you would push me away like the others."

The dance wasn't as great as what her parents could showcase, but Maisy danced anyway. Trevor was clumsy, while Maisy was somewhat skilled, but they were having a fun time. It was quiet, although Maisy didn't mind. Both of them had their own thoughts to think about, becoming evident as Trevor began to hesitate, mumbling a name.

Maisy had been confused as Trevor stopped, but she had understood as he paused to explained what devils that had been bothering him. "I don't see any wrong in your actions. You did what you had to do, Trevor. You did what you had to do to spare someone you loved a terrible fate." Maisy explained, placing a hand on his shoulder as a calming gesture.

"Listen, Trevor. You're not alone. I've had to soil my hands with both the blood of my enemies and comrades. I've had to kill and put down in the name of Lasthope so it stays a bastion of humanity. It's probably why some people think I'm a stuck-up bitch." Maisy replied, sighing as she lowered her voice. "Like Amy, for instance. I'm sure she wants to put that ice pick in my back for reasons unknown to me." The rancher went on to explain, leading Trevor over to the edge of the truck bed to sit down.

"There is no black or white in the world we live in. Only gray, or otherwise, a mixture of good and bad. Like I've told Jain, everything happens for a reason we may not even know. It's just a matter of what we do with it after it happens." Maisy finished, sighing once more. Perhaps what the rancher said was pure nonsense, or perhaps it was all philosophical. Maybe Maisy had a inkling of understanding the world they lived in, or perhaps she was as ignorant as the next guy.

Trevor closed his eyes while she spoke, paying close attention to every word. He did flinch when she touched him, it was an unusual feeling for him having human contact that wasn't in a fighting manner. "Part of me believes you, another part doesn't, and another has always known. I don't lose sleep over the enemies I've killed, only friends and family." He followed her to the edge of the truck and sat down with her.

"I think you're pretty cool." He sighed and looked back towards the others as they laughed and danced to a different tune than the one from earlier. "Even if I don't say anything, I hear the rumors and the things the others say about me. Stories and tales that spread through your camp of Trevor Stevens, the monster, the murderer, the boogie man." He was trying to relate his situation with hers. "They hear stories or partial stories about my exploits before we joined up with you. Clearing camps in the night, using injured people to draw others out, hell, even killing kids." Again, he paused.

"I'm not saying I didn't do these things, but there is a reason I do what I do. My father's training was brutal, I could have died on multiple occasions but I survived and eventually I became brutal." He knew that the first few months they were a part of Lasthope some major policy changes came through. Some tactics they used were deemed too barbaric from the Lasthope leadership. "I just hope that I don't scare you when I flip that switch and go from the adventurer to the warrior."

Trevor was silent for just a little while longer before standing up and stepping off the truck. "Sorry, I know I can be a bit to serious or intense sometimes, but thank you for listening." He offered to help her off the truck again, feeling the cool night air beginning to wrap around him. "Would you like me to walk you back to your tent?"

Maisy sat in silence, listening to each one of Trevor's words with closed eyes. Perhaps Trevor had been adquately worried or perhaps he was too worried, but Maisy decided that she would be there for him. What kind of leader would Maisy be if she let worries get the best of everyone? By any means, Maisy wouldn't be a great leader if she did.

Silence overtook both of them once more. Neither a word or a peep came from either the rancher or the woodsman for several minutes before Trevor made the first move, thanking Maisy for listening and offering to escort her to her tent. "Any time, Trevor." Maisy replied, taking his hand to climb down off the truck.

The walk over to the tent was short, and relatively uneventful. The tent itself was also nothing special--just a typical camping tent. Together they stopped in front of the tent and said their nightly farewells, but Maisy was not yet ready to let Trevor go. "...but sometimes I think you worry too much." Maisy whispered into the woodsman's ear, the rancher standing on her toes. Almost unlike a jest, the rancher placed an out-of-sight kiss on Trevor's cheek before leaving him to his doings.

It was going to be a good night, and they both knew it.

@NarcissisticPotato@Polaris North@Dnafein@Joker892@Poi@FortunesFaded@Wick@ReusableSword

This event is the day before the launch of the contact with Arlington
Enjoy my Insanity

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Okay everyone this is a map of Arlington Oregon said Jain as she laid out her map

"We had trade with five traders who used 84 hwy 6 years ago and said there was an active town here and our duty is to verify if those reports are true." said Jain pointing at her hand drawn map.

The map was on treated leather that had bleached it nearly white and made for tough maps if properly taken care of; it was as a little thicker than heavy paper and in equal stack heavier physically as well. Her ink was made of boiled bark that rendered a black oil that didn’t bleed beyond the stroke of her calligraphy set’s nibs. It wasn’t the precision art of a draftsman’s board but her details copious.

”April and Rafe I want you two here at 45.701830, -120.253558 at 615 hours and 45.713585, -120.232677 at no later than 900 hours which is the beginning of the wind farm that follows a set of ridges on the west side of Arlington. You will verify if they are being used as observation posts or have potential active camera’s, we use em why shouldn’t others that have access to electricity.

We will establish a base camp here at 45.713861, -120.245335 Jones Canyon at 1400 hours which I need you Maisy to hold with the pack train and Troopers in reserve till I give the call to bring them up slow or hard. I know it’s boring but that why I need you to ride herd on them and am sure the Petra will be helpful in assisting as far as the train is concerned.

Hector you will be her second in Command and in charge of the reaction force in case I want it hard and fast.

Doctors please prepare anything you need in the result things get rough, hopefully you two’s worst case is saddle sores and that better not be the trooper’s fault.

The Scouting force will be eye blind* by 2000 hours and be confined to camp till launch no fires

We will proceed in force up Jones Canyon screened by our Marksmen both sides at 100 hours the moon is in it’s waxing 3rd stage so enough light to see but not too far. she looks up at April as she moves her finger to near the next marked point.

Our forces will stop short of here which I’m calling Jones Canyon Ranch at 45.691284, -120.233462 where we will wait while Vicky and Billy see if it’s a working ranch.

If it isn’t occupied we will proceed to the wind farm and this is where it will get tricky if it is because I need April’s force along with the Marksmen to trot it out of the area to what appears to be a gravel mine of something of that nature; I couldn’t find a listing.

Here you will divide your forces April's will move East along Rattlesnake road’s southern side under power lines for about 3/4s of a mile where you will encounter Hwy 19 and cross if it safe. Your next Marker will be the Slatt Substation which might have active personal so avoid using it as more than a turning point.

Here at 45.709041, -120.153846 is what looks like it was a marshalling yard for the windmill engineering branch and surrounded by a strong cyclone fence which may or may not presently be fortified but is near the Airport road which you can use to speed up navigation. To what appears to be one of those dirt strip types so it was never what you call active but still has machine shops.

The runway is oriented North-Northwest and at its northwest end is a ridge point that will give you height and observation of the town and the up river view of Hwy 84 past the town. All totalled it will be a good six mile run for you and yours across open terrain because that side of town is dry scrub so I’d try to be in position about an hour before daylight which should be about 730 hours.

Once you’re there April you’ll have the catbird’s seat because the sun will be behind you. Jain chuckles looks at Billy and Vicky

You two will find a good overwatch position anywhere you feel fuzzy but I need you on observation of any gate on Hwy 19 because that’ll be the direction I will use for my approach to parlay.

I will be in position at 45.705640, -120.203864 here at Sunrise on this point where I can observe April’s point and she mine where I will maintain till 900 hours and initiate radio contact 3231 beeps countersign 1 okay 3 wait. If your signal is wait I will hold till 1030 hours before proceeding or aborting; 1 okay 3 abort

Jain left the map open and looked around her group and chuckled

Now before anyone points out how this could all be a waste of preparation because no one’s home, Plans go to shit or whatever negative comment I have to say I have weighed everyone of them but I am human and there might be flaws you see that I don’t.

So as they say Speak now or Forever bound in Peace

A lot had happened the previous day, James noted to himself. He had been stuck near his tent with Sphinx beside him. It wasn't any emergency or even something to be worried about - it was one of those times when James was so invested in a book that it'll take a Risen or a medical emergency to get him pried off his book. It had been an interesting read, so far. James didn't seem to come off as the type of guy to read books alone, but that's just how he is. However, he would look back up time and time again, especially since they had made an impromptu 'party' of sorts. Normally, James would join but he had other plans. By the time he had gone through most of the book with only little more to go, it was night and it was suggested that he should sleep. Understanding that tomorrow would be another big day, James decided to stop there and go to sleep.

Waking up at an ungodly hour in the morning, James was still as peppy as ever. Joining the few who cooked something for the others, he began helping out. It was the usual routine for the young doctor, considering there wasn't much for him to do yet. Aside from Jax's injury and some of the dogs feeling a bit anxious than normal, there wasn't many incidents. Not yet at least. Breakfast was given out and then it was time for briefing. James was at the edge of the group, quietly listening on. He knows what he had to do - like almost always, he would be in the reserve group with another doctor and varying Troopers. James wasn't bothered by this, though the worry that hung above his head along with the anxiety that he feels whenever the other Troopers were out. While he believed that he could at least help whenever they came back with injuries, but he couldn't help the dead. He never showed how worried he really is, but he made sure to tell them to be careful whenever they went out.

And when he said those words, he really meant it.

He was rather glad that Maisy had been second-in-command. Honestly, while they didn't talk as much as the others, she had been a relatively good friend. He heard her and that new guy, Trevor, seeing last night while he was reading. Maybe he should bring that up when they talked. She had a good voice after all - Trevor too, but James wasn't sure how to approach him yet. He was from another area, after all, which in turn made him quite an unknown subject to James. A smirk played on his lips. Hey, maybe he could tease Maisy a little bit. Hopefully she doesn't get too pissed easily, she didn't seem like it after all.

He was snapped out of his thoughts when Jain concluded the placements. James had no questions for the leader. His task was very simple; though he might have to catch someone so that he could ask them to keep a lookout for books or anything that could be read in the case that Arlington wasn't even functional anymore. Which reminds him, he had to finish that book he was reading. But maybe that could be put off for later. He waited for the others to be dismissed so he hung back with his hands inside his pockets.

April shoved stones she had been working on sharpening and put her sling shot and several knives into her bag. She was focussed on the meeting and something Jain had said bugged her. Hector had told her what the leader had said to him. He had thought she had been flirting with him and April had laughed it off saying. "No way, Jain's into chicks she was just teasing you."

However, "Hector you will be her second in Command and in charge of the reaction force in case I want it hard and fast." could totally be taken as flirting from anyone except Jain? It bugged her, a lot but she knew that Jain would never. She and April had been friends too long. Then again, would she? She needed to tell Hector to be alert around Jain just in case she was batting for both teams currently.

April was also still a little bothered by how upset Lilly had gotten at being sent back to Lasthope without her or Hector or anyone that she knew now. It was finally Darric who had gotten her to settle down. She had extracted a promise of a necklace from him if she was good. The memory made April smile. He really was a good guy. Hector's expression when Lilly cried, was so sad she worried he might fight the entire camp to make her happy.

She reached down and petted Jax. He seemed to be feeling much better. It had only been a few days but he seemed to be healing quickly. She owed James, again. She looked over herself. Bag packed, dressed appropriately, boots on and tied, she was ready. Now where the heck was Rafe and where was her crew of scouts?

@Rumikoohara@Poi@lord orgasmo@Dnafein@joker892@reusablesword@fortunesfaded@narcissisticpotato@Polaris North

William studied the map as Jain outlined her plan. He calculated distances in his head and frowned. The marksman knew the best site for overwatch, unfortunately the commander's position, and much of the city, was outside his range. Still…

”If you are committed to your plan,” Billy started, looking to Jain for a sign one way or another. ”You should consider posting an observation team here.” The marksman tapped the windfarm.

”The height the turbines offer allow a number of great sight lines.” Billy grunted, ”In fact, they may already have something established there.”

The marksman shrugged. If they had a lookout atop a turbine it’d be hard to take; With the ladder on the inside two could hold it as long as they had food and water. If taken by surprise though, well anyone atop a turbine would have nowhere to go.

Having shared his idea, William turned his attention to the rest of the map. The wish for topographic details mattered little. Until he could see the lay of the land himself he would have little additional input to offer.

@Wick

Guilt and frustration. Thats what filled Hectors mind as he managed his team before their next job. The past three days have been a bit stressful and heart breaking for the Trooper because of having to send Lilly back to Lasthope. He knew it was good for her and that she would be much safer, but the tears that fell from her sad eyes were worse than being torn apart by walkers. He let out a sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Sorry Lilly," he muttered to himself before he looked to Franklin. "Franklin, I want you to lead a few of the men to act as our rear guard," Franklin nodded. "Alex, I want you to lead the right flank," Alex rolled his eyes and nodded. "Bella, you are left flank."

"Fun," she said with a sigh. Hector nodded and looked to his team with a frown.

"Look people, I know you all hate working with other teams, I do to, but the boss gave the orders so do what I do," he paused for a second and spread his arms open. "Suck it up!" his team all groaned in annoyance and frustration and Hector couldnt help but chuckle and shake his head. Bella continued to sharpen her spear and looked at Hector.

"Wouldnt it be better if we hooked up with a better team, like Darrics?" she asked. Hector shrugged.

"Probably, but they werent so there is nothing we can do about it," he said and smirked as glanced towards her. "Besides, I dont want my formation broken when you to go off into the bushes," Bellas cheeks turn red as she glared at Hector.

"You ass, you act like we do it all the time. We just started dating!" Hector grinned as the rest of the team listen with stifled laughter.

"Ya sure about that? Your tent seems awfully rowdy for the past three nights. Plus I think I heard a monkey going crazy in there," the team couldnt hold it in anymore and burst into laughter as Bella lowered her head in embarrassment. Hector swore her face was steaming from the heat.

"Ah come on boss, your no better!" Franklin shouted. Hector snapped his head towards Franklin with wide eyes.

"What are you going on about?" he questioned as he saw Franklin wipe a tear from his eye.

"I mean you and April keep the whole camp awake when you go at it. Hell, I can feel the ground shake!" Franklin laughed before Alex sprung up to his feet waving his arms about.

"Its an earthquak!" the team once again roared with laughter along with Bella joining in. Hector only huffed an crossed his arms.

"Asses," he mumbled.

April walked up behind Franklin having heard it all as she approached. She smacked Franklin upside the head and chuckled. "Jealous? You poor deprived boys. Go find a girlfriend or shut up. Bella have you seen my brother? He must be with Rafe or talking to Jain." She turned to Hector and grabbed his hand and pulled him away from his team for a moment.

"Do me a favor? Watch yourself around Jain. Some of the things she is saying lately is just a little off for her. She might be willing to play ball with both teams if you know what I mean. Just don't let her mess with you. I don't think she would try anything but you just never know."

Hector raised an eyebrow before letting a smirk crawl onto his face. "April, I thought I would never see it. You're getting territorial on me. Thats usually my thing," he chuckled and wrapped his arms around her waist before pulling her in close. "Kinda cute when you do it," he said and kissed her forehead.

"Get ready for another eathquake!" Hector rolled his eyes as he heard laughter once again from behind him.

April smirked, "It's not the first time. I'm always watching others around you. Women are the most territorial creatures on the planet. Don't fuck with our men or our families. I'm just more casual about it. Don't make the mistake in thinking that I wouldn't fight for you."

April grinned and put her hand on his chest and whispered in his ear. "I'd gladly kill for you. Only a deaf, dumb, and blind girl would go near you." She ended her statement with a serious smile and chuckled at the look on his face. April was pretty certain if Hector had gotten his way at that exact moment there might have been a lot of laughter from his team.

Standing on her tip toes her eyes sparkled in laughter at his smoldering eyes. She had gotten him all riled up by showing a little jealousy."Well big guy I'll keep looking for Darric."

Hector cleared his throat and shook his head. "I swear that man is never to be seen when he is needed," he mumbled and looked to Bella. "You know where he is Bella?" she simply shook her head and shrugged.

"Havent seen him since this morning," she said.

"Monkey got out of the cage," one of the men chuckled, causing the team to join him. Hector rolled his eyes and looked back to April.

"If I see him I will send him your way," he promised and leaned closer to her ear. "You're also gonna have to take care of a certain problem you stirred up with this man," he whispered into her ear with a grin.

April smirked and swatted his ass as she sauntered just out of his reach and turned towards the group of scouts across the camp. Her smile was wide and her step was smooth. "Later my love, count on it."

Grinning to herself as she put distance between the troopers and headed to the scouts she was taking into the field. She looked around the group and didn't see Darric. She stood back a moment and took a deep breath and let out a loud shrill bird call that was not all that unusual for the area. Not even a moment later came a lone wolf howl. The other scouts stopped and looked at her. Some were familiar with communicating in the field. Some were not used to being on the same types of missions and had only heard about them.

Hector had known she and Darric communicated this way. Rafe had known it too. She and Darric were the ones who gave the idea for in field communication. There was a very scary time before they found Lasthope that Darric and his little six year old sister had gotten separated and he found her by her bird calls. It was a game they had practiced when they were on their own.

Darric showed up not two minutes later. "Sorry I was getting a look at the map."

@Rumikoohara @Poi @lord orgasmo @Dnafein @reusablesword @fortunesfaded @narcissisticpotato @Polaris North

Loud cackling could be heard in the distance. An easily recognizable, all too familiar, cackle. It was Alex, all dressed up. Skipping to and fro, he danced down the way, looking for something to do. Apparently, he was going on some sort of mission, or something. Now, who was he meeting up with? April, was it? Yeah, that sounded right.

Raphael rolled the badly chewed tennis ball between his hands, he eyed his opponent as she eyed the ball. The scout hefted it and tossed the ball towards the outskirts of the camp. Athena leapt after it. Rafe smirked and straightened from where April told him to meet her; His smirk faded as an irritating sound reached his ears.

Rafe had no idea why Jain, or Mr. Raintree for that matter, listed the cosplayer as a scout. That one made more noise than a trooper. Raphael sighed and whistled, collecting the ball from Athena the scout thought for a second. "He's probably lost again eh, Theena?"

The only response the dog gave was a wag of her tail. "Let's help, shall we?" Rafe turned and threw the ball towards the cackle. Athena gave a brief whine before charging after the ball.

But wait! what was that, off in the distance? Something green, and getting much to close. Landing just short of him, a dog had been chasing it. Athena, was it? Eh, it didn't matter. Or did it. No, probably not. "Come on now, let's meet up with the others."

The walk was short, but Ysran eventually arrived next to Rafe, Ball in hand, and dog in tow. "I'm going to assume this is yours, then?" He said with a short bow, extending his arm towards Rafe. He then stood up and began to take his vest off. " Man, this thing gets tighter everyday, I swear. Maybe I should loosen the threads..." He spoke in a serious tone now, back as Alex. Now to play the waiting game.

When Alex picked up the ball Athena whined, and started circling him. While she seemed to follow, the dog moved back and forth more herding then following. When they arrived Athena moved to Raphael's side. The scout looked at the other and shook his head. "No, it's hers." Rafe said, and Athena moved forward grabbing the ball carefully.

As Alex took off his vest, Raphael shared a look and a shrug with Alicia and Jonah. "Maybe a diet is in order? And April will be here as soon as she finds her brother. Shouldn't be long."

April sauntered over in a good mood and when she looked around she didn't see Darric. After a loud bird call he answered her with a lone wolf howl and appeared a moment later. She casually looked at her group.

"Jonah, tie your shoes. Alicia your bag has a hole in it get a different one." She watched the teenagers and wondered what Jain was thinking assigning new scouts to a mission that could turn into a battle. She turned to Rafe and found nothing wrong with him or Athena. He was her partner though and he knew how she worked.

Looking at Alex she smacked his gut a little and said, "Don't worry you are going to work that off this trip. I have heard about you. I hear you are noisy. You better not be. If anyone gets killed because you were noisy you will suffer the same fate at my own hands. Got it?" April was dead serious. She had been on missions that there was nothing interesting but more often than not there was always some crazy shit going down.

"Heh, yep, loud and proud. Just like I always was. But not to worry, I'm only loud when the costume is on...Mostly anyways. Besides, it's my job. I cause a distraction, you go in, and nobody's the wiser, after all, who can resist an insane magician? But for now I think I'll keep this on. Don't really feel like changing out of it right now. And remember this: it's just an act."

A moment later Jonah was ready and Alicia was back with a different bag. Raising her arm to signal them to follow she grabbed her bag and waved at Jain to let her know they were going. "Jax come. Move out guys!"

The plan was as straightforward as it could have been, or at least in Maisy's case. Designated to commanding the home front once more, Maisy quickly went to gather the troopers that had been left in her command to establish a perimeter around the desired encampment. It was a small outcrop from the edge of the main road, a few miles back from an old rest stop for semi-trucks and travelers. The encampment was relatively open and could be seen for miles, but it was far enough from the actual city for anyone to sneak up on them without a trooper spotting them first.

Yet, that was all to it, and so Maisy let her mind wander as she awaited a signal or the hour to decide the encampment's next move. At first, the rancher had thought about Trevor. A boy wonder he was, somehow being able to tame the wilderness that was the heart. It had been an awkward last few days, but there had been a connection of sorts blossoming between the woodsman and the rancher. Maisy couldn't tell the future, but she could certainly see the present, and that there was more than meets the eye. Perhaps others had seen or noticed, but Maisy had been distracted by her own emotions to notice, or care for any matter.

Then, the rancher's thoughts shifted to the home she had lived in until that fateful day, when a horde of infected had swarmed the fields and the ranch. Had someone broken in, and claimed it as a hideout or shelter just as they did in the past? Did her relatives make way to the ranch, only to find that they had fled death itself? Or, more importantly, was the ranch itself still standing? The questions swirled Maisy's head as much as answers did, and even those were numerous and akin to conspiracy theories. By Jove, Maisy desperately wanted to see her childhood home once more, yet until then she had to content herself with ways to kill boredom.

"Dad-blame it," Maisy exclaimed, albeit quietly as she gazed at her hand. She had taken up flintknapping glass and rock spear and arrow heads not long after civilization fell, where a ranch hand had taught Maisy to help replenish the stock used to keep both Risen and predators at bay. Nevertheless, even a longtime veteran of the craft could not prevent flying debris nicking their fingers and hands. Sighing, Maisy dug into her pouch, pulling forth a roll of duct tape. Tearing a piece off, Maisy covered the small wound with the tape, and soon returned to her flintknapping. Wasting actual medical supplies on a tiny cut would've asinine, and so an old redneck tradition would have to suffice.

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