Before Winter Comes [ze_kraken x Morgan]



181372
Despite having his own canteen, Ethan hurriedly brought the container to his lips with shaking hands, trying best to avoid metal clattering against metal as he drank from the water sparingly. He needed a cigarette - he could feel the craving tugging at the back of his mind, stabbing the corners of his temples as withdrawals set in. He did not dare light one - lurkers could smell just as well as any human could, and even if they could not recognize the scent of tobacco smoke they would investigate its source.

Ethan handed the canteen back to Riley, offering an unsteady, well-intending smile. He remembered his days back in Texas as a rookie, hearing how the vets felt after a while on the force after being exposed to high-tension situations time and time again. How they never truly adjusted to it, and how the only part that got easier was performing.

They were dealing with armed thugs, Ethan thought. That's nothing to say of flesh-eating monsters.

"Yeah, we made it this far," Ethan echoed hollowly.

How long had it been? Five years? That certainly had been far but there was still a great deal more to go. Was it worth-

"...Doors and doorways?"

Riley. She was asking him a question. What had it been? Ethan snapped back to attention, welcoming the distraction from his dark thoughts and rousing himself to his feet. He could see from the way Riley was moving the chairs around that she intended to begin setting up a loose barricade. Sensible. Without a word, Ethan began taking chairs and placing them first at the top of the stairs, securing them in place to fight tightly together on their own friction and overlapping chair legs. Next came bracing the door to their room, which he and Riley managed together with an overturned bookshelf that fit into the rusted doorknob perfectly.

Satisfied with their work, the two returned to their temporary shelter as Ethan produced his own rations from his bag. Salted and stale bread along with dried tomatoes. Meager, but at the very least filling enough to settle his rumbling stomach. He could still feel the compulsion to pull a cigarette from his bag and light it, but could fend it off for the time being as he and Riley ate in relative silence. Ethan washed down the last chunk of rough, stale bread with a small sip of water and turned to Riley.

"This is the hardest part," Ethan said, keeping his voice low just so Riley could hear him over the low groans of lurkers below on the streets. "Harder when you're alone."

He did not really know why he was saying what he was saying, but the distraction helped his craving.

"So," he paused then, chewing through his words like he had the stale bread. "I'm glad you're here. We'll get through this tomorrow, be back, and keep going. We made it this far."


 
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She was satisfied with the reinforcements they had made. Both of them knew all too well that nothing they could do would protect them from a rushing horde. But it didn't have to. They were supposed to be quiet when they went about their mission. Besides, there didn't seem to be an actual horde nearby. Not as far as they had seen through their scopes on their way down from the hills. Riley felt safer now. She was sure she could crawl into her bedroll and sleep when the time came. As they ate in silence, Riley briefly entertained the thought of sitting here playing cards with Ethan. To pass the time. But she dared not turn a light on. They would have to talk to each other instead. Fortunately, Ethan showed signs of improving on that front. She smiled and took a sip from the canteen she had offered Ethan moments ago.

The bread she ate was stale and dry. They rarely ate fresh bread in Haven. It was a funny thing, as bread was baked often enough. But most things were stored as long as they would keep, even if it didn't taste very well. It wasn't about eating well, it was just about eating in their little society. Riley looked up as Ethan spoke up. His words caught her off guard. They didn't match the image she had of him as a person. Riley saw Ethan as a brave, stoic but struggling man who spoke little but always pulled his weight and did what was needed. Hearing words like these coming from him was a surprise. She smiled again.

Riley nodded, not sure what to say. She agreed with him and she was very pleased to have him there as well. She wouldn't have been able to undertake this mission on her own. Well, she might, but she wouldn't have felt comfortable with it. Hell, she hadn't felt comfortable being selected for this. Her brown eyes were fixed on him for a few moments before she looked down at the bread in her hands. A memory triggered a sharp exhale through her nose - a short laugh.

"Do you remember the taste of apples?" She looked up for the briefest moment, instantly feeling silly. The question came out of the blue and had nothing to do with what they had been talking about. But lately, Riley had found herself thinking a lot about the past. About life before all this. About music she had liked. Movies. Life in general. And the memory of fresh apples had haunted her for a while now. Riley struggled to remember the taste. They didn't get fresh apples in Haven. All she could remember was that she had loved the taste of a fresh, red apple. Sitting there, eating stale bread in a dimly lit room, hiding from the dead, it didn't sound so bad at all. "I can't remember the taste anymore."

Riley silently cursed herself for reminiscing. She hadn't meant to make either of them sad. It was hard not to think of the past though, when you ventured outside the borders of Haven. After all, they walked among their past. Among the dead that were not dead and broken buildings. "Thank God for Ol' Maggie's fine cuisine." Riley decided to try and lighten the mood instead, raising the last piece of stale bread she had. She had some beets and a couple of potatoes as well. All of it was soon gone and her hunger was sated for the time being.
 


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"One of the guys on the force back in Texas had this old-school grandma, the sort that grew up in all that old-school Americana," Ethan began, smirking at the thought as he spoke. "She fucking loved the station, she made this great apple pie. It's funny, you know, she died probably two, three weeks before all this..."

He stopped then, swallowing down a bite of bread and washing it down with water, swallowing hard as the nostalgia broke and the weight of their reality returned. They were not old friends reliving the good old days in the comfort of their homes over food and drink. They sat where people had died, in a dusty and mold-infested shop surrounded by walking monsters grunting down below.

"Anyway," Ethan resumed after a brief pause. "Yeah. I've been trying to get Maggie to see if she could make one, but problem is apples. We haven't found a tree or anything yet."

Ethan closed his eyes and leaned his head back into the wall, exhaling sharply. Conversation was helping, but the urge to pull a cigarette and light it still pierced through his thinly veiled attempts to cloud it. It was his own damn fault, he thought as he reflected on the ridiculousness of it. Sustaining a smoking habit in this world - when he had nicotine patches left - had not been so bad, but those had run out almost two years ago now.

As the silence enveloped the room once more, Ethan and Riley focusing on finishing their meager rations as they kept a keen ear on the doorway and the stairs leading to their hiding spot, Ethan roused himself to his feet and began to shuffle around the cabinets of their room. He kept his movements fluid and quick, ensuring to keep hinges from creaking and contents from clamoring as he searched. He was not entirely sure what he was looking for as he rummaged through tupperware, rotted boxes, and office supplies.

There. Was that... glass? Ethan carefully removed a stack of tupperware containers from a hanging cabinet above a counter top, fishing out a dusty glass bottle. It was tinted a forest green, its label having well worn off and faded away years ago. As he swilled the bottle around its contents sloshed around. Curious, Ethan brushed the dust off the bottle and gently swirled its contents around again. It was about halfway full, the bottle stopped with a screw-on cap.

Resuming his seated position across from Riley, Ethan attempted to unscrew the bottle, grunting in exertion as its rusted cap resisted him. Ethan hmph-d and drew his knife from its sheath, anchoring it below the rusted rim of the cap and pushing up. The cap creaked open with a soft, grating scrape of metal on glass as Ethan hurriedly finishing unscrewing the bottle. He leaned down, giving it a brief sniff and recoiling almost instantaneously. He should have known from its square shape.

"It's Jaeger," he half-cursed, grimacing with a chuckle.

As much as he hated the stuff, he wanted to drink from it if even to let it momentarily wash away the dread of being far from home and exposed to the dangers of the world. Still, a bottle of alcohol was worth its weight in gold now - it could be used to create makeshift firebombs, trade, or treat injuries and burn them clean. One sip, then, Ethan thought to himself, hoisting the bottle to his lips and taking a quick swig. He recoiled immediately, shaking his head as the liquor burned its way across his tongue and down the back of his throat. Still, it left in its wake a rosy warmness that eased the edge just a little. He gestured to Riley with the bottle.

"It's your call," he said. "Figure one sip can't hurt, we save the rest for whatever we'll need it for."


 
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As much as it was surprising, she enjoyed listening to his little story. A memory from years ago. She knew everyone thought about the past. But perhaps not everyone was as vocal about it as Riley was right now. She didn't usually go around talking to people about the world before all this. It usually just made people sad. Sometimes happy, but mostly sad. Riley didn't really talk to very many people in Haven. She listened as Ethan continued. The thought of freshly baked apple pie made her heart swell, despite the unlikelihood of ever tasting one again. She could almost smell it and easily see Maggie's smiling face warning them not to overindulge. But for now all they had were their rations.

When they had finished eating, Riley packed their bags so they were as ready as they could be. She made sure all the food was eaten and the trash packed away. They didn't know for sure, but she was afraid the dead might still have some sense of smell. It wasn't a risk worth taking. When she was satisfied and she had prepped her sleeping kit, she turned and sat back down on her chair, watching Ethan.

"Jaeger?" She repeated, smirking. Riley could not remember the last time she had tasted that, but she was pretty sure it had been at a party and that she had been quite drunk. She couldn't remember the last time she had been drunk either. She watched the bottle as he held it toward her cautiously, but took it. She glanced up at Ethan again and then down at the bottle. Then she shrugged and carefully lifted the bottle to her lips, taking a sip. Her face contorted as she was quickly reminded of its taste. Riley handed it back to Ethan, swallowed and smiled again. She didn't like it, but it did leave a pleasant feeling in her chest. A sort of warmness that spread into her stomach and out to her fingertips.

"Now that was a blast from the past." Her voice carried a light undertone tinged with happiness. It was getting so dark inside that they would soon have to use the lantern she carried, though she dared only spread a dim light. It wouldn't do to fumble around in the dark when they were going to sleep, in case they knocked something over. "But yeah we should probably save it."

Rubbing her eyes, Riley felt their journey in her body. Some rest would do her good. She fought a yawn but had to give in. Her hands found the end of her braid and quickly unraveled it, letting her brown hair fall onto her shoulders. Riley ran her hands through her hair a few times, making a noise that clearly indicated the pleasure she felt. She tilted her head and stole a glance at Ethan again. He had the type of hair that looked good no matter what he did. She realized she was staring and averted her gaze.
 


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"I was more of a Jack Daniels type myself," Ethan admitted, taking the bottle from Riley.

He screwed the cap back in place and slid the bottle into his pack, hesitating momentarily around his pack of cigarettes before shifting his attention and removing his bedroll from the bag's straps. The light had all but faded now, casting the room in near pitch darkness. Ethan had never quite adjusted to life without street lights, feeling still that the world before had not ever been so dark even without the lights. Tom back in Haven had told him it was light pollution - and, maybe, it had been. Still, there was enough light to see the hazy outline of Riley cast in a pale outline by the moon.

Ethan blinked, eyes adjusting to the sudden influx of moonlight as he, rather unintentionally, watched Riley's hair tumble around her shoulders, spreading the moonlight across her tangled locks. Her hands shifted up and rustled, quite unsuccessfully, her hair, the messy brown strands budging uncooperatively as she coaxed them into a more agreeable state. His eyes shifted away as she turned her attention to him, eyes flashing with reflected moonlight as Ethan made as if he was rolling out his bedroll.


Ethan hunched over and straightened the bedroll out, being sure to avoid clattering around as he straightened the padded sleeping bag into place. Satisfied for now, he stole another glance at Riley before shifting out of his jacket and placing it by his pack, fishing his pistol from its holster and laying it within reach as he slipped off his boots and quiver, placing them by the crossbow and pack; if they found themselves in a situation where he did not have time to throw on his boots, they were likely dead anyway.

It was cold already. Cold enough that as he sat upright in his shirt, Ethan shivered, arms tucked tight to his chest as he looked back to Riley. He had not, until now, given much more than a brief look over the denizens of Haven. Truth be told, he had never seen Riley closer than 10 yards since his first arrival to Haven, and she had been obscured by the blinding light of her flashlight then. Oh, what a time it had been, having working batteries, he mused as he stole one last glance of Riley before his desire for comfort won out over his want to view more of Riley and he tucked himself into his bedroll, keeping it unzipped but tugged tight across his body.

Almost immediately the chilled night air leaking through the boarded up windows gave way to the warmth of the bedroll. Ethan lay there, motionless, staring up at the ceiling as he caught flickers of Riley moving in the corner of his eye. Down below the grunts and groans of the lurkers still echoed, but it was peaceful if even for the briefest moment...


 
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The silence only made her work more quietly. She did her best, like Ethan, to unpack and prepare her bedroll with as little noise as she could. Riley took her jacket off and her shirt, sleeping only in her tank top. She undid her belt and slid the knife off it, placing it right next to her so it would be easy to grab if she needed to. She placed her boots at the end of her bedroll and sat down. She rubbed her feet and flexed her toes a few times. Riley sighed and crawled into her bedroll as well. Ethan lay still next to her, a couple of feet between them, not saying anything. Was he tired, or was his mind racing like hers? She crawled into her bedroll and yawned, letting out a shaky breath as she shivered. The inside was not warm yet and the room was cold. The outside air easily crept in as well, but it would only be a matter of time before she would be warm. Riley pulled her feet up under her slightly and tried to still her breath and get warm.

There were no more words she would speak to Ethan now. The day had passed and the two of them needed to rest. She didn't want to disturb him as he was trying to fall asleep. Riley wanted to sleep all through the night if she could, and looked forward to not be aware of the constant danger they were in. "Good night, Ethan." She whispered gently, closing her eyes, her breathing slowing with every breath. After that, it didn't take long for sleep to claim her and Riley slept calmly through the night.



Morning. Early morning. Riley stirred in her bedroll. The room was quiet but still chilly. A pair of brown eyes searched it but found that everything was as it had been the night before. Ethan was next to her still asleep. She pushed herself up to a sitting position, a mess of brown hair falling about her face and shoulders. She tried to find a crack in the boarded windows and yawned. The sun was rising but not yet peeking over the hills around them. It wouldn't be long though. There were no alarm clocks being used anymore. Not in Haven. They were noisy and could be a death sentence if brought on a mission like this. But it didn't matter. Riley's inner clock had been set on sunrise. She always woke when the first rays of sun reached them.

She took a few seconds to rub her eyes and wake up. Or try to at least. Riley unzipped her bedroll and flung it off her, flexing her toes again. She put on socks and boots, turned to Ethan and gave him a gentle shove. "Ethan." She half-whispered. She almost felt bad for waking him, but that was quickly washed away by her sense of duty to their task at hand. She knew they had to get going, and she knew he would think the same. But he looked peaceful as he slept, though, and not so worried and serious as he often did. "Ethan the sun is up."
 


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For the first time in months Ethan slept through the night. He had tossed and turned after laying down, the craving for a cigarette pushing his resolve to its limit, but as sleep uneasily grasped Ethan it dragged him steadily but surely into its depths. Whatever dreams he conjured were lost as the combination of filtered sunlight and Riley's voice roused him from his peaceful slumber. The former cop jolted, darting upright and glowering around, hand wrapped tight around the hilt of his knife. His heart threatened to burst from his chest for the briefest instant as he relaxed, letting out a sharp sigh as he realized it was only Riley.

"Right," Ethan remarked, voice trailing off.

He shook himself, attempting to ease his tensed muscles as he forced his beating heart to still. Once his muscles were not quite so stiff and alert, Ethan shifted out of his bedroll and went about packing it back up. He clasped it to his pack before taking a drink from his canteen, planting himself down seated on the floor in front of Riley as he went about putting his boots back on. Satisfied, he cleared his throat.

"So," he started, voice cracking momentarily from lack of use. "First goal is going to be to find the supermarket and hardware store - we can check the roof first, see if we can access other buildings and avoid the ground."

Ethan had often utilized connected buildings to avoid drawing unwanted attention - even if they saved no time, they were often safer than an approach at ground level with threats on all sides.

"We might be able to view it better from there, too, and pick off a few of the lurkers along the path with the crossbows," he continued.

Already the craving was coming back as the initial grogginess of wakefulness wore off. Ethan distracted himself by counting his crossbow bolts and ensuring they were in proper shape as he waited for Riley's response - he wanted her opinion, since she had been the one to analyze the map. He was flying off of pure experience and intuition. Perhaps she had a better plan.


 
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She had been more startled than she had let on, when Ethan had jumped up. Especially because he was holding his knife so tightly. She knew he was't going to hurt her, but what if he had woken up thinking she was one of the dead. It was an unpleasant thought. Fortunately, Ethan seemed to quickly calm down and began putting on his boots and pack up his bedroll. Riley said nothing, not wanting to bring it up in case it would embarrass him. Instead she focused on packing up her own things and preparing her backpack for travel. She put on her shirt and her jacket, instantly feeling more protected against the chill air. She found a chair and sat down, listening to what Ethan had to say.

He went straight to business. It was very much like him, she thought to herself and tried to hide a smile. Riley redid the laces on her boots and made sure they were tight. Her fingers began braiding her hair again. They worked quickly. She had done it thousands of times by now, so it was hardly a challenge anymore. Riley was pretty sure she could do it blindfolded and still end up with a pretty good result.

"Yeah." She let out, still braiding. "It'd be a good idea to have a look and see what the lay out of the street is. We can pick out the best way to get to the store. The less we have to walk on the ground the better, if you ask me." Riley wanted to move on the rooftops as much as they could because she didn't want to get up close to the dead. While they did have the maps and she still had a rough lay out of the town in her head, it was worth more to go onto the roof and look for yourself. Maps didn't mention collapsed buildings or road blocks or the like. Assessing the situation first hand was a smarter move.

As she finished the braid, Riley tilted her head as she watched Ethan, smiling at him. He seemed distracted. As if something was bothering him, but she wasn't sure what it was. Maybe this was just how he reacted when danger was close all around them. Maybe it was his stress-response. Whatever it was, Riley wanted to take it away. Once they were out there and going about their mission, she was pretty sure it would go away, though.

"Good morning, Ethan." The words lingered in the air for a moment. None of them had said it until now. Riley cared a lot about little things like that. Small gestures and small, good deeds. It was what kept them human. It was the glue that kept everything together. "Do you want to eat? I'm not really hungry." Riley was a little nervous and had little appetite. She figured it wouldn't hurt to save some food for later if they could.
 


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"Yeah, good morning," Ethan replied as an afterthought, hoisting himself to his feet and throwing his pack on over his back. "I think I'll pass on the food as well."

Food in the morning, especially before a run, made Ethan sick to his stomach. Not to mention that, assuming all went well, the pair had enough food between them for no more than two days which was just enough for their run today and their trip back tomorrow.

Ethan, crossbow in hand and gear all stowed away, gestured for Riley to follow as he set about delicately deconstructing the barricade the two had erected the night before. It was a time-consuming process, made all the lengthier by the duo's desire to maintain a low profile. Once the hallway had been cleared, they proceeded out to the main set of stairs and to a ladder in the corner of the second-floor hallway with roof access. Once atop the roof, Ethan tested the security of the ground beneath their feet before determining that, at least for now, their combined weight would not result in catastrophe later down the line.

"This way," he whispered in a hushed tone to Riley, creeping along crouched low towards the edge of the roof.

Planting his crossbow firmly across the parapet between the roof and the other side, elbows braced against the damp and cold concrete, Ethan gazed over the edge and down below. Lurkers roamed the street just below them - four by his count, all spread out across the street. To their front was an utterly destroyed building, rubble spilling out over the grass-strewn pavement. He could just barely make out the corners of the original foundation, so heavily eroded and cracked through with vegetation as to be almost unrecognizable.

Further down the street were similar structures, either partially or totally worn or destroyed with a few remaining upright. Just to the duo's left stood such a standing structure, appearing to be in as decent a condition as such a neglected building could. To their right was where the road sprawled back into the foothills. Ethan made a note of the tall, narrow corner ventilation pipe, now sprouting a handful of various weeds and other plants, as a landmark should they need to retreat back this way later.

As he shifted his attention back to the street below, he suppressed the urge to groan in frustration as a handful of Lurkers in a pack emerged from the corner of an upright building, grunting and clicking as they prowled the street. The others acknowledged the newcomers with a handful of groans, but otherwise remained intent on their sporadic hunt. Before being spotted, Ethan calmly and fluidly shifted back behind the parapet and looked to Riley.

"See anything exploitable?" He muttered, keeping his ears pressed for the sounds of agitated lurkers.




 
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If she hadn't been completely awake before, she was now. The chill morning air always did something to the mind, especially when it was in a tired state, and usually it was a positive effect. Only now they were both keenly aware of the threat they faced. The excitement of that knowledge also playing a part in waking her. Riley's breath was calm, but she was straining to focus and take her surroundings in. She was trying to find buildings they could use, plan routes they could take to get to their destination. It wasn't that far either, but it was far enough for both of them to be spotted by the lurkers. What awaited them in the supermarket and the hardware store, they couldn't know. Though neither one had said it it loud, they were both silently aware that they might come into close contact with the dead, unless their targets buildings had been boarded up sufficiently. Riley hoped that was the case.

Taking a few moments to have a last look at the streets below them and the buildings, closing her eyes and finding her mental picture of the map of the area, Riley finally had something useful to contribute with. She peered over the parapet and along the street below them. She squatted back down and leaned against the parapet. "The hardware store should be in that direction." She said, gesturing with her hand, keeping her voice low. "Not far." If they could move undisturbed, it would take them ten minutes to get there, by her estimates. Longer perhaps, since they were trying to remain undiscovered. "If we can get to that building," She pointed to the building to their left, which still stood in fair condition. "We should be able to move down a floor and then use the rooftops."

Riley leaned on the parapet again and gestured for Ethan to follow. "Hardware store." She said and gestured in its direction. "That building," She pointed at the building to their left. "Rooftops." Her finger slowly traced the row of rooftops below them. It wouldn't take them all the way, but it was the best plan she could make to keep them off the ground. "That's the building closest to the store we can see from here, I don't know what it looks like beyond that." Riley explained, pointing to the farthest rooftop she could see in the direction they needed to go. "But it's the best I can do without knowing any more. We'll probably have to move the last bit on the ground, but I promise it's not far."

It had been unlikely that they could get there along the rooftops alone, unless they had zip-wires and more technological gear. But Riley had never owned or seen that. Besides, it'd make too much noise. It wouldn't be difficult to make for their crossbows, but it would attract the dead below. Despite their dim and slow minds, they could easily find their way up their building to get them. She leaned away from the parapet once again and looked at Ethan, trying to gauge his reaction and read his mind. "What do you think?" Riley asked, wondering if he thought her plan was insane, or if it was something he was willing to try. It beat walking along the street, in her mind. And that would keep them safer. Raiding the hardware store and the supermarket had better be worth it.
 

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"Rooftops might be our best bet," Ethan agreed, gingerly unfurling his crossbow's strings and removing the bolt, tucking it into his quiver as he slung the weapon a cross his back again. "We'll keep low when we can, away from the edges."

He cast a glance back at the doorway to the roof behind them, scanning the rooftop for anything they might be able to use to barricade it should the dead decide to wander up the stairs. Though they were not expert climbers, Lurkers were smart enough and had a wide enough map of their territory to know how to reach distant prey even if that route took them through pathways not apparent to them.

Settling on a bit of exposed pipe poking from a hole in the roof, Ethan wrenched the pipe from the rotting ceiling panels of the floor below as silently as he could and propped it up against the door, jamming its knob; it was not much, but it would buy them time.

"Follow my lead," Ethan muttered, gesturing for Riley to follow.

The once-officer, hunched low to avoid being seen over the rooftop parapets, crept along the roof and over to where the roof of his and Riley's building ended and another began. Hands scuffing the damp surface of the adjoining parapet, Ethan hauled himself over the divider and to the other side, landing delicately on his boots without so much as a scuff of leather on worn roofing.

The pair continued their glacial progress, hopping from roof to roof, taking every precaution to remain quiet as a mouse as they ventured from rooftop to rooftop. Ethan could see the store by their third such hop, well off in the distance past the rooftop Riley had pointed out earlier. Down below, Ethan could hear the muffled grunts and groans of Lurkers on the prowl. Had they noticed fresh prey in their presence or were they just hungry? The doubt ate at Ethan as they progressed further and further from the relative safety of the edge of the town and, for a moment at least, the craving for another cigarette gave way in favor of steadfast determination to stay unnoticed.

As they rounded the last dividing wall between rooftops and stood within sight of the hardware store clear as day, Ethan crouched down against the parapet overlooking the once-parking lot in front of the store. Riley joined him shortly after, the pair casting uneasy glances over the edge below. The crowds of Lurkers were at their thickest here, forming loose packs of sorts that shifted in and out of alleyways and through ruined buildings. For the moment at least the pair remained unnoticed, with not a single trace of the dead behind them atop the roofs.

"Well, shit," Ethan whispered, leaning back down and looking at Riley. "This is going to be an interesting day."



 
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On their way, she did her best to Ethan’s shadow. To remain unnoticed and walk where he walked. She pulled herself over parapets the same way and place he did and was very mindful of every step she took. Riley watched Ethan’s long limbs move with determination and strength she wouldn’t initially have attributed him. It wasn’t brute strength. It was hard and solid, able to hold a muscle in a certain position for a while. It helped him stay quiet while they moved.

In that regard the two of them were sort of similar. Though Riley was not as lanky to look upon; she was fit and well trained. Her core strength helped her control her muscles and move smoothly across the rooftops. Silently, she commended the two of them for their quick but quiet progress. Still, her heart was in her throat by the time they reached the parapet overlooking the hardware store parking lot.

“You don’t say.” Came the reply. ‘Interesting’ was one word for it. Already her mind raced. There was not a chance they were going street level, with that amount of lurkers down there. They would either have to make a distraction, or somehow get around them. The space between where they were and the hardware store was all parking lot, however, so there were no rooftops they could use. Riley looked around at the nearby buildings. None of them were really usable. Then she looked at Ethan’s crossbow and paused. No. No that was too risky. She shook her head. None of them had anything to create a distraction with. Nothing that would be loud enough, at least. Plus, agitated lurkers were more dangerous even if they weren’t close.

Her eyes darted to the roof of the hardware store, then she leaned over and looked below and then sat back down. Riley looked at Ethan and then his crossbow and back again. “Look,” She started. “There’s no way we can get down there unless we want to die. There’s too many of them.” Her voice was kept low and so she leaned in closer to Ethan. “Sneaking past them looks impossible.” She produced a length of rope and placed it on the ground. “We could tie this to one of our bolts and aim it at the roof of the store.” She looked at Ethan, trying to gauge whether he thought she was insane. “Make a zip line?”

The two of them weren’t particularly heavy and the rope she had brought could bear them, she knew. It was the climb back up the line that would prove difficult. The angle was steep so getting back to their current rooftop could become a challenge. Unless they found another way around the mass below them, she saw few other alternatives that would keep them out of danger. Lurkers weren’t slow when they first spotted you or caught your scent. They’d fly into a frothy rage and run at you, mind set on consuming your flesh. They were so primal. Riley wasn’t sure they knew why they did it.

“I know it’s risky, but as far as I see it, it’s either this way or we have to get down there and try to sneak around them.” She added. If they managed to pull this off, it’d make for a great story when they came back and people asked how it went.
 


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Part One - The Road From Haven
Risky had been right. After a number of attempts, their arrows had failed to produce much more than a flimsy line from structure to structure. Making matters worse was with every failed shot and drag, more and more lurkers grew attracted to the steady sounds of arrows clattering and being dragged back by their attached cords to where Ethan and Riley were perched. The disorganized and disparate grunts and groans below gave way to a low chorus, one that rang plenty with danger and spoke of a rough voyage home if they continued.

After mutual agreement, Ethan and Riley had packed their weapons and made their return to their makeshift shelter, not that either of them felt particularly safe returning down the ladder and spending the night with dozens of lurkers about. The two pitched camp atop the roof of the shop, said their good nights, and fallen into a shallow and troubled slumber. The next morning, after the lurkers had dispersed, the duo made their way back up the long and windy road back to Haven with little to show for it.

Tense silence accompanied them as they marched, an alertness born of near-encirclement and devouring honing the pair's senses to every trace of danger. By nightfall of the third day out from Haven, they had returned home without much fanfare. Markus had greeted them at the gate into the town and ushered them in after a brief exchange, informing them that they could meet with Tom the next day. The two continued into town for a moment, both coming to a gradual halt in the middle of the square, the intersection of roads meeting at town hall in the center.

"Well," Ethan began, the rest of the words spilling forth almost haphazardly. "That went about as well as expected, didn't it?"


He chuckled, breath fogging in the chill evening air and dissipating as quickly as the laughter.

"You did good," he added. "If you want, I'll talk to Tom, see that you get sent out ranging a bit more. It'll be good having someone I can trust watching my back."

---

Intermission - Interlopers in the Dark
Chris stood over the crest of a steep cliff overlooking what had been at one point a highway, keeping his silhouette from peeking out over the ridge from would-be onlookers down below. He had been posted overlooking this stretch of road for over a day now, living off of scrounged up squirrels and birds and rainwater. He clutched his rifle in his hands, paced the cliff side, and slept - rather uneasily - in a hammock he had lined in a tree. No prospects had lined this part of the mountain for days, and yet he waited and shuffled from road to road.

It was just past the onset of twilight that something finally stirred along Chris' undisturbed track of highway. Chris fell down to a knee and peered through the scope of his rifle at two figures coming up the road from the town below.

Didn't think anyone still tried down there, he thought, sighting a man and a woman walking side-by-side along the empty stretch of road. He flicked his safety off before noticing they were both armed with what looked to be rifles, grunting under his breath. They were still a good way out of earshot, so Chris went prone along the cliff and peered over the side watching them as they went by. They did not look like wandering survivors to Chris - their gear was too nice, their clothes too clean. That meant a settlement somewhere, presumably somewhere close given they were going on foot and walking with some level of confidence that came from knowing they were close to home.

Once the two passed once again out of earshot, Chris fished his map from his pack and matched the town below to the road he overlooked now. There was a town about three miles up the road, one not yet surveyed. Excited, Chris jolted to his feet and began to pack up his things...He had to tell the others. There would be a reward in for him if this turned out to be something real.

Without further delay, his things packed, Chris rushed down the gentle slopes flanking the cliff and began to march back to base camp...


 
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Sleep hadn't come easy. And when it did, it was uneasy and more than once she woke and peered into the darkness, worry gripping her heart. Riley cursed herself for it. There was nothing there, nothing that was going to hurt her. Ethan was still close, sleeping. Added to that was the disappointment she felt at not being able to get down into the store. All they had managed to do was scout out the location. If they decided to raid this town in numbers, Riley and Ethan could tell them exactly where to go and where not to go. But there were a lot of the dead below and it would most likely be foolish to come here in numbers. Finally, deep into the night, she had managed to let herself sink into a deeper sleep that lasted until the rays of the sun broke the darkness. They had packed up quickly and were soon on their way home. Despite her disappointment, Riley also felt a sense of relief when they were back on the road into the hills.

Ethan was not a talkative man. That much she had gathered pretty quickly. But she didn't mind. Perhaps, if she was to work with him again at some point the two of them would talk more. He was a serious man and not one who found striking up a conversation easy, it seemed. Riley had noticed how he carefully began every time he had tried. But when he did speak, his words always carried his point across efficiently. She had studied him quietly and discretely the whole trip, but especially during their journey home. It seemed faster than when they had initially set out, though it was uneventful.

Standing back in the middle of Haven, she felt safer. There guards near the walls and friendly people milled about, tending to their daily chores. Riley faced Ethan when he spoke up, a smile appearing on her face. She shrugged and nodded, not wanting to voice her disappointment. The thought of going outside Haven mad her nervous initially. It was dangerous. Riley wasn't sure she was cut out for it, but Ethan had said she had done well. She considered it for a moment and then slowly nodded again. She had never been one to back down from a challenge. "Sure. Likewise. I'd prefer to be out there with someone I can trust." Riley said, giving his arm a nudge. "If you think I'm up for the task." She smiled.

Had she not been one to keep herself in shape, she would have been so much more tired than she was. Still, she couldn't wait to get back to her little space and lie down. They would meet with Tom the next day, so now they had time to rest and eat. Riley shifted her weight onto her right foot and tilted her head to the side. "Anyway, Ethan, I'll see you later? If not then tomorrow. I want to go home and get these boots off." A light, soft laugh escaped her as she looked down at her feet. She nodded at him and then began moving away from him, toward her quarters.

The door creaked on its hinges when she closed it behind her. Everything looked exactly as it had when she had left. Riley walked in and placed her backpack on the bed and emptied. She sorted the contents in items she needed to return to Tom and her own belongings. Her knife she placed on the nightstand. She moved the contents that weren't hers to the table and put the rest back in their places. Riley sat down on the bed, untied her boots and took them off. A sigh of pleasure escaped her as she reached down, took her socks off and rubbed her feet. She sat like that for a short while before leaning back and letting her body hit the soft bed. "You'll fall asleep if you stay here, Gray." She muttered to herself, but still didn't move. Compared to recent nights, this was luxury.
 
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Ethan lingered in town square for a moment, watching Riley as she headed back to her quarters, thoughts of their trip still lurking in the back of his mind and tugging his attention away from reality. There had been no direct danger to either of them, but one misstep, one accidental noise, and they would have joined the lurkers back in Coker Creek. Only, they had not, and here Ethan stood blankly watching Riley veer out of sight and back to her quarters.

One day at a time, Ethan thought, pivoting and heading opposite of the direction Riley had gone. Back to home. His room had been as he left it - dusty, with the same creaking floorboards and lifeless ceiling fan. The bed looked like it had not been used in years, a thick film of dust having settled across the comforter which once might have been blue but was not a pale grey.

Ethan shut the door behind him and bolted it, shuffling without intention towards the bed and seating himself on the edge with a puff of dust and a groan of aged mattress springs. He did not remember sorting his belongings and preparing the items to be returned to the armor. He did not remember removing his boots and sinking under the covers. He did not remember even reaching for and lighting a cigarette, only there he lay, staring blankly at the ceiling, taking a long drag and exhaling with shaking breath. A relief unlike any other spread through his lungs, feeling icy cold through his veins as it spread, sending his arm hairs rocketing up.

By the time Ethan extinguished the cigarette in the ashtray by his bed, the world appeared sharper, clearer. He could better recall the journey home, feel his throbbing feet with the sweet ache that only came with relaxing after a long journey, recognize the lingering look of disappointment on Riley's face when they had returned empty-handed. He sighed, already feeling sleep's warm embrace tugging his mind back into a hazy unawareness of the world. Before he knew it, all was black.

When he woke, Ethan was quick to collect his things and head out into Haven, appreciating as he always did when coming home from a run the sense of security that came from city walls and a comfortable bed to sleep. He returned his weapons to the armory and waited outside city hall for Riley, tapping his foot impatiently as he took out a cigarette and lit it, taking the occasional drag as life began in Haven with the steadily rising sun.


---
Chris had arrived at base camp by nightfall and before the night was done he and his fellows had rallied with their target in sight. The morning came and Chris had been tasked with leading the scouting party - three men, each with a rifle foraged ahead of the pack down the road Chris had seen the others wander down, staying low on by the trees off to either side of the road, weapons at the ready in case they came across sentries.

There were none.

Baffled, Chris had begun to doubt that his find had been anything other than two stragglers but by midday he and his small contingent had arrived at a turn in the road down which stood a large wall made of scrap metal, tires, and ruined cars. Stakes lined the gate, bits of lurkers still stuck in the spikes. Chris nudged Josh to his left, smirking.

"See? Told you," he muttered, shifting to a better concealed vantage point.

"I don't see anybody, could be abandoned," Rebecca countered, peering through the scope of her rifle at the town's walls. "Wait. I spot two guards up top, looks like they've got firearms too."

"That's just on this wall," Chris replied, gesturing to Josh and Rebecca. "Scout out the other walls, see if they have more gates, how many guns up top. If you're spotted, fire freely and regroup by the old watch post overlooking the valley. Meet back here by sunset otherwise, learn all you can. We'll strike tomorrow night."


 
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She had taken the liberty of allowing herself fifteen extra minutes in bed, after she woke up. The activities from the past few days could be felt in her body, from shoulders to her feet. Her shoulders and upper back were a little bit sore and tired. But it was a familiar feeling, nothing strange to her at all. In fact, it made her feel good. Like she had accomplished something. Except they hadn't. Not really. She sighed, sat up and paused. Her feet were not as sore as the day before and she was soon on her feet, after wiggling her toes a little bit. Standing up, she let the covers fall and stretched. The rays of the sun peeked through blinds and made everything feel familiar and safe again. She realized that this feeling was one she had taken for granted, despite her sometimes pessimistic outlook on life. Riley made a mental note never to take the safety and comfort of Haven for granted again.

With an empty stomach but otherwise ready for the day, she entered the main street of Haven. First stop would be the armory to return the weapons they had borrowed for the trip. Riley had been curious to improve her skills with firearms, but hadn't had the chance to. Not on this trip. And she wasn't sure when she would. They couldn't go around shooting guns where and whenever they liked. It was a waste of precious ammo and it would attract far too much attention. She would have to learn on the job; when it really mattered and she really had to.

The cold wind was stopped by a dark blue sweater she had found in her drawer. It was a chilly morning, and Riley didn't have much fat on her to keep her warm. So warm clothes would have to be the solution. Her hair hung down her back in the usual braid. She walked with her back to the sun, it's rays casting a reddish hue to it. Her cargo pants from the trip had been replaced with fresh, black ones. Her boots were the same. Approaching cituy hall, she spotted Ethan. He was smoking, obviously waiting for her. He looked a little impatient, but she paid no mind to it. People were moving about, tending to their jobs and chores, bringing Haven to life.

"Morning." She said when she reached him. Stating that Ethan looked fresh and prepared for the day would be a stretch. Riley had found that he had a sort of weary expression on his face, most of the time. But given the things he had been through, she couldn't blame him. Besides, it suited him. Serious man. "All good and rested?" She ventured a smile. Her brown orbs met his before they glanced over at the door to city hall. She wondered what Tom was going to say when they had talked him through their journey.

Riley hadn't really thought much about what to tell him, other than everything. She expected Tom to ask them some questions, or to ask them to run him through their route. But there wasn't much to tell. They had encountered a few wild deer on their way out, taken their time scouting the town and then slowly made their approach. It had been dangerous and they hadn't succeeded in getting into the store. It was as simple as that. Would he be disappointed? She sighed, thinking that he might be best off asking Ethan. "We best get inside. Can't keep Tom waiting." Riley motioned in the direction of city hall and began heading for it.
 


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"Morning," Ethan echoed, flicking the nub of his cigarette to the ground and grinding it down with his booted foot. "About as rested as it gets after hitting the road."

Ethan frowned, brow furrowing as he investigated Riley's face for a brief moment. He saw in her face the same lingering tiredness he felt, not just in the sense of a rough night or two but in years of hardship just now making itself known after a trip out on the road. A pang of sympathy shot through him as Riley gestured toward city hall. Shaking himself back to the present, Ethan nodded and followed right behind Riley.

Tom stood waiting for them in the main lobby, leaning against what was at one point the receptionist's desk. Before everything, Haven was a small county seat and its main administrative offices barely contained more than half a dozen offices and a handful of meeting rooms on the second floor. The first floor was largely ceremonial, decorated in fine column works and with ample waiting space. Now, the chairs were arranged in mock barricades and metal grated doors had been welded to block the stairs up to the second floor with balcony space that overlooked the first floor.

Ethan snapped his attention back from admiring city hall to Tom, who was busy greeting Riley with his usual gusto. He and Ethan shook hands before Tom paced back to the receptionist desk in the center of the space.

"So I notice neither of you brought back any supplies," he stated, eyeing the two inquisitively. "Was the find legitimate?"

Ethan cleared his throat, shuffling in place as he collected his thoughts.

"Everything Eliza said checks out," he replied. "Barricades looked intact when we arrived, town was stirring a bit more with lurkers. Someone stirred them up or they're herding up, either way we should make a security report of that and stay on alert for the next couple days. Eliza or I should look into diverting them back down the mountain in the next week."

"Right, right," Tom said.

He steepled his fingers and looked to Ethan with stern eyes.

"So you couldn't get into it, then, I take it?"

"You could potentially link around Coker Creek from the other side and approach from the rear if you feel like adding two or three more days to the trip, otherwise, no safe approach. It's that or go loud, arm the militia and get down there, but it's starting to get a bit too cold to go seizing territory like that. Besides, with this lot there's not much to go around in terms of fighters."

"I see, I see," Tom said slowly, steepled fingers shifting to crossed arms. "And what about Riley?"

He spoke as if she was not present with them, barely acknowledging her existence. Ethan shot an apologetic glance at Riley briefly before answering.

"Natural talent," Ethan replied. "Could be a replacement to Eliza for runs, we work well together."

"Right," Tom nodded, finally turning his attention to Riley. "So what's your take on all this?"


 
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She accepted his reply as it was pretty much how she was feeling herself. Riley was tired in a way she wasn't when she took laps around Haven. None of her other exercises left her aching in the same way. It wasn't overwhelming. She was tough. Ethan was tough. And they were here, up and at 'em. But it was still there in the back of her mind and in the muscles of her back and her legs and feet. But it wouldn't do to linger on, though. They had more urgent matters top attend to. Tom would be eager to hear what they had to say, though she feared he would be disappointed. Entering Town hall, she learned quickly that she had been right. He was waiting for them, eagerly receiving them. Riley flashed him a brief smile and a nod in greeting.

Riley had never grown to like Tom. There was something about him she couldn't quite place. A sort of greediness, though she couldn't point to a specific thing he did that was necessarily greedy. It was a wonder, however, that he managed to stay overweight when food was scarce and winter approaching. There was something about him that had planted a small seed of distrust in her, over the years. It had never really bloomed, as Tom was good at talking to people and get on their good side. Riley had always wondered if he abused his power to his own advantage. But when she thought about it, she couldn't find a reason for how she felt. So instead of acting on it or speaking out, Riley kept quiet and kept working.

Pulling her out of her own thoughts, Tom spoke up. He cut straight to the chase, pointing out that they hadn't brought anything back. There was a moment of uncomfortable silence. Riley was the inexperienced one, so she didn't want to speak out of turn. Ethan came to her rescue. Listening as he spoke, she found that he covered most everything. She agreed with him on every count. Annoyance shot through her when Tom mentioned her name as if she wasn't there, but Ethan's apologetic glance soothed her and she shifted her weight and let out a breath. It made her happy, even, that he thought she could replace Eliza. Not because it was a competition, but because it meant that she had done well and that she was valuable on a mission. Riley wanted to help where she could and if Ethan could use her, she'd gladly come along.

She had expected Tom to ask Ethan further questions. As their conversation went along, she had almost not expected him to ask her at all. Ethan had covered pretty much all there was to cover, she thought. Riley shrugged and cleared her throat. "Ethan covered most of it." She began. "It's a difficult town to approach in some ways, but you could go around it if we want to spend those extra days." Riley called the map of the area to memory. "From where we came into the town, it was hard and extremely dangerous to get to the store. Perhaps another, longer route might prove more fruitful." It was something they hadn't given more thought to, as none of them wished to put themselves through more danger than needed.

Riley watched Tom, wondering if that was answer enough, or if he wanted to know more. She glanced at Ethan, trying to gauge if she was saying the right things, or if there was something she had forgotten. It had been a good trip, despite them returning empty handed and disappointed. Riley had learned a little bit about how to plan for and go on these runs. If she was to come along for more in the future, this was precious experience.
 
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"I see," Tom said, brow furrowing.

He crossed his arms, resting them around the crest of his gut and giving the pair a thoughtful stare. Ethan thought for a moment he had meant to scold them, lecture them on the safety of the community as he was known to do. He relaxed as he saw the corner of Tom's eyes wrinkle in the beginnings of a smile, slowly but steadily letting out his long sigh of relief to avoid shuddering. Ethan had survived Tom's lectures more than once, but Riley did not need to be subjected to one of those quite yet.

"Well, might be we'll be able to look into come spring. Get to Eliza before the day's over, you two will draw the horde off some time in the next couple of days. You're scheduled for drills with the sentries this week starting tomorrow, so once you get 'round that we'll have you leave."

Ethan nodded.

"And as for Riley," Tom turned his attention back to Riley, offering her a shrewd smile as well. "I'm sure the workshop's been missing you. If you want, I'm sure Ethan wouldn't mind taking you on with the other sentries, learn a thing or two more about handling weapons."

Without waiting for a response, Tom shooed both of them.

"I'll touch base with you all when we need people to go on a run, 'til then, enjoy being home."

Ethan and Riley left the lobby, standing once again in the center of Haven. They exchanged a handful of words before going about their tasks - Riley back to the workshop, Ethan to find Eliza. He found her patrolling the main gate's wall, pacing with her rifle in hand. She greeted Ethan enthusiastically, the two clasping in a brief embrace.

"Thought you might have finally abandoned us," Eliza quipped, taking a seat in a plastic chair perched overlooking the main road into Haven. "Come on, take a seat."

"No not quite yet," Ethan said, seating himself by Eliza.

Eliza was a sturdy woman, roughly the same height as Ethan, her hair shaved down to her scalp. A pair of stern brown eyes gazed out from an equally stern brow, jaw chiseled seemingly from tough stone. She dressed in a plain white tank top stained with dirt and sweat, torn jeans, and a tactical vest over top it all with knee pads and shoulder pads nearly shredded from use protecting her knees and shoulders.

"So what brings you here," she asked after a pause. "I know it wasn't to come make idle chatter."

She knew him well, Ethan mused.

"Tom wants us to draw the herd out of Coker Creek some time next week, he'll let us know when exactly. Bikes still in good condition?"

"Motors are working fine, engines still plenty loud," Eliza answered, gazing out over the road.

"Anything interesting today?" Ethan asked, joining Eliza in gazing out over the road.

"A little bit of movement out over the crest of that hill," Eliza pointed it to where the road turned and the hill which Haven stood on began to roll down. "Nothing worth noting I don't think, but we'll keep an eye out. I'll have you take my watch tonight if you don't mind? Just in case I'm wrong."

"You got it. I'll go take a rest now, then. Leave the rifle up here when you change watch."

"Thanks, Ethan," Eliza patted him on the shoulder. "Stay a while?"

"Don't think I will," Ethan stood, tapping Eliza in turn. "Stay sharp, let me know if you see anything else suspicious."

"Will do."


---
Rebecca had returned first and had taken up refuge in the watch post. She kept a low profile, taking advantage of the lull in the day to rest and let her mind wander for what felt like the first time in weeks. She daydreamed of home - real home, that was. Her little brother had just turned twelve when the news broke of some new virus, had come home from school with a light fever and an upset stomach. They had thought nothing of it, but then a few days became a week, a week became two. Nothing they had done seemed to help, and by the end of the third week it was too late.

She shook herself down, snapping back to attention. She hated that she could not remember much before the day her brother's eyes opened again. The memories came in fragments like stills of an old film - the images were warped, the sounds surreal. Life after the start of the plague had been all she had known. She remembered she had just accepted a college offer and was due to move up a week before her brother became sick. Worst of all, she thought, was that she could barely remember his name. It had been so long ago, and so much had happened that the Rebecca that was might as well have died too. She was someone new now.

Suddenly she could hear a noise down below - footsteps. Not the footsteps of a lurker, no, they were too consistent and measured. They were the footsteps of someone trying to be quiet and failing.

"Who's that?" She called out, fishing her handgun and knife from her belt and bracing herself against the back of the watch post aiming at the ladder up.

"Chris," came his familiar voice. "Don't shoot."

"Wasn't planning on it," Rebecca called back, poking her head out over the edge of the watch post's wooden walls. "Where's Josh?"

"He's on outpost guard overlooking the main road," Chris explained. "He'll stay there watching for anyone leaving through that gate and warn us."

"Got it, so what's our plan?"

"We'll have to talk it through with the others back at camp, but I think we can distract them at the main gate while you and a few of the other runners go up the flanks. You'll make quick work of those walls, they were meant to keep out lurkers not people and the trees grow way too close to them. You'll be covered the whole way. Handguns and blades only, though. We need every big gun we can get on the front wall."

"Let me guess," Rebecca said. "I'll be the one running back to camp to let them know this is a legitimate find?"

"Yup," Chris replied. "I'll stay here and monitor the other approaches down the hill, you're the runner after all. Run."

"Alright, my rifle'll stay here. I'm faster without it," Rebecca said.

She clambered down the ladder, leaving her pack behind. She took with her only her knife, her handgun, and a small package of foil-wrapped bread with her canteen. If she needed anything else between here and there, well, she was dead anyways.

"See you soon."


 
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She left the briefing wondering what Tom really thought of her. He had been talking to Ethan about her as if she wasn't there. It wasn't until he had looked at her to hear her side of the story that she actually felt he acknowledged her presence. But perhaps she thought on it too much. Riley shook her head at her self, walking up the road toward her workshop. She had spoken to Ethan for a little bit, but they had quickly parted ways to go about their tasks.

The wind was chilly and made the hairs on the back of her neck stand, though she wasn't cold. It was just beginning to be colder and colder. Winter in this world was never fun, and she was worried they might face a harsh one. Perhaps, in the future, it was worth looking to the south? But that was a monumental undertaking that entailed more danger than she could imagine. She quickly pushed that thought out of her mind. Riley opened the door to her workshop and stepped inside. It looked much like it had when she had left it. Henry had been there, messing about with a few traps, she could see. He had a certain way of working. The way he tied his knots were a dead giveaway. It made her smile.

Quickly her hands set about her work, re-stocking the shelves in the workshop with traps. Some of them took only a few minutes to make as they were simple, easy contraptions. Others were more elaborate and took longer. Still, it didn't take long before her focus washed away her sense of time and the minutes flew by. While she worked, she wondered what Ethan might be doing now. If he was also thinking about their journey? Riley had fond it quite scary, but also exhilarating in a way she hadn't experienced before.

"Back already?" The voice was deep but smooth. It was also familiar. Henry stood leaned against the door frame and watched her. He was a big man. Wide shoulders and large hands. His hair was short and graying and so was the stubble on his face. He held two plates of food. A stale piece of bread, some beans and an apple. Riley turned slowly and watched him for a moment. Had it been anyone else, she might have been startled, but Henry had a way of sneaking up on her without surprising her. He was one of the few friends she had made in Haven. "It's well past noon." His voice was almost scolding, but there was a playfulness in his eye. He handed one of the plates to Riley and took a bite of the bread from his own.

"Thanks, Henry." Riley said. As per usual, time had raced past her without her noticing. She swallowed and cleared her throat. She knew Henry was going to want to know about the trip, but there was only little to tell him. She also knew that he had been worried for her leaving, but he tried to hide it. "Before you ask..." She began. They both chuckled. "It was a relatively uneventful journey." Riley said and shrugged. "There were a few stores we were supposed to check out, but eventually we couldn't get there safely so we decided to come back home." It could be said as simple as that.

Henry watched her and nodded. He was pleased to her that they hadn't been in great danger. "You're back safe. That's all that matters." He said, glancing at her and then kept eating. The two of them small-talked while they ate their meal. They didn't touch on any serious or deep subjects, but were mostly just happy with each other's company.
 
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