She felt less than reassured, however. It had been three days since they’d seen a living human other than the small scouting group that had splintered off from their original group of travelers, and three weeks since they’d seen anyone outside of that. No survivors, no towns hidden away from the dead. Nothing, except for orcs.

It felt like they were alone in the world.

The five took to the path again, moving quietly and cautiously through the trees, ready for attack, ready for any trap that might spring shut on them.

Rachael was still worried they weren’t ready, but she knew that if they waited much longer they ran the risk of being unprepared for winter, so she’d set a date and pushed for preparations. Some of their group were afraid to leave the safety of the hospital, and others were unable to make the long trip, so the number that set out from their temporary home was lower than Rachael had wanted. But she would never force someone to make the journey. She knew it was a risk, even if she was optimistic of the endeavor.

Of her small team, the two fittest and most promising were Claudia and Jason. He was in his early thirties, with skin the color of milk chocolate and brown eyes flecked with bits of gold. Claudia, ten years younger, had lighter skin and green eyes. She looked like a fashion model, and he looked like an accountant, but they moved well and could fight.

***

After two weeks of slow and strenuous travel, they’d found a school with fences and walls intact, and very few orcs in the immediate vicinity. Everyone was exhausted, so Brett had suggested they take up camp for a few days, give people a chance to rest. Despite her own desire to keep moving, Rachael had agreed, dealing with her own restlessness by deciding to scout the surrounding area for supplies and survivors. Alice and three others had volunteered to go with her.

After two days of cautious exploration, they’d found only meager supplies and there were no signs of survivors anywhere. It was disconcerting, and Rachael decided to give them one more night of searching before heading back to their group and declaring this area an orc zone.

Sunrise breached the horizon as the five broke through the edge of the forest. They paused for a moment to appreciate the pure light reflecting off a stream that wound its way between scattered suburban-style homes and spacious farmland. At first glance it was if nothing bad had ever happened here. But, as they took a closer look, certain details became obvious: shattered windows, doors hanging on broken hinges, garbage scattered along the ground, and the slow movement of a half dozen or so orcs shambling through the streets, looking for prey.

“Let’s go around,” suggested Claudia.