Roaming down the streets was the outskirts caravan, riding early in the new morning and away from the rest stop, further north, deeper into the thick trees.

The spindly road winded on, only a short ditch of dirt and rock separated the cracked street and thriving woods. Some of the trees had thick, deep, almost grayed bark while others were paled and thin, they were bare until a few feet up then they were covered with lush rich pine nettles and deep spruce, the soil was blanketed in thick flat leaves of well hidden wild ginger and sprawling extensions of moss spread over rock and fallen trunks.

The soft, dark soiled ground would be frosting in the coming weeks as the air got colder, splotches of it so thick with fog you could hardly see ten feet inside.

The lines of cars kept on, following each other with ease with the pickup truck's heavy duty headlights keeping the way bright in the morning grog.

Ralph was in the front seat with his arm hung out of the window feeling the breeze against his scuffed knuckles.

He glanced to his side, snorting in a deep, bored, breath. He saw Wyatt in the passenger's seat, curled on his side, nestled against the door fast asleep. Ralph scoffed, prodding his teeth with his tongue he looked back to the road, glancing briefly at the radio before forcing himself to look away, his face suddenly twisted, now more sour than usual.

Ralph's eye darted back and forth, checking for onlookers despite the fact he was in a moving car, he saw no one but his brother, so Ralph reached over and slid a cigarette from the box sticking out of Wyatt's vest pocket and brought it to his lips. With a smirk he lit it, careful to blow the smoke out of the window to not give himself away.

Evidence of his crime wafting out of the truck Ralph settled back into leading.

The whipping wind dragged the smoke back with it, down the line of cars and becoming invisible with Iona, the driver behind him, hardly noticing it as it dissipated into nothing.

Iona kept her focus on their surroundings, making sure an animal didn't burst from the tree line or some sort of infected miraculously appeared, though she would admit she's been seeing them more and more on the road. A sicking pit grew in her stomach when they drove past a pair of moving corpses devouring fallen survivors.

Irvin frowned, he noticed her face scrunch, wincing in horror at the sight he didn't see.

“Little Acorn?” he called softly, she startled at his voice but quickly got the stern look back on her face. “What's on your mind?” he asked.

“Nothing.” she took a deep breath “Morning dad, we'll still be driving for a while if you want some more rest.” she said plainly, her voice flat and unemotional.

“Ah,” Irvin waved his hand dismissively but he had a warm smile on his wrinkled face, he relaxed back into his seat after glancing up at the morning sky “You know me. An early bird,” he twisted himself to turn and look to the back seat where Ruth was peacefully sleeping, a bright knitted blanket of multicolored intersecting triangles that looked homemade and old was draped over her, the edges were trimmed and the soft threads still looked strong despite the wear. He smiled at her then looked back forward, at the road and the back of Ralph's truck “I know you don't need it but I know you girls like your beauty sleep, we can always switch seats, I've driven in much worse conditions than this!” he said with a slight chuckle “I still have the keys to my first Minotaur 2-4.” he added, watching the blinking of the trucks turn signal.

“I know dad, you've told me a hundred times.” she replied with a sighing chuckle, but she couldn't help but grow a small smile.

“If only we could have brought it with us,” he mused with a huff, his tone falling, lowering in brief sadness “Them Rootbrains would never be able to get through that thing's doors.” he said fondly.

Iona squinted, then looked briefly surprised. She took her eyes off the road for a split second to look at her father “Did mom get her medicine before we left?” she asked before looking back, turning to the left down another, somehow even thinner road, which delved deeper into the foggy forests. She followed the light of that rusty pick up carefully.

“Oh sweety, you fret too much.” Ruth suddenly spoke from the back of the car, startling the both of them “Mom!” Iona shouted nearly at the same time Ruth added “And talk much too loud.” with a humorous grin.

Ruth exhaled a laugh, one hand over her pounding heart with the other holding the door rest.

“Sorry Mom.” Iona apologized with relief. She followed another turn, the long winding road edged to the left as Iona kept them in the center of the thinly paved road.

“Do you thi-” Iona cut herself off as a voice blared from the radio “Hello everybody this here is yer driver Ralph speakin', we're comin' to a stop. There's a tree down on the road up here.” Ralph said in a mocking but playful tone, like a parody of a distinguished pilot.

The caravan began to slow as Ralph's message transmitted through their radios, Ralph's truck was stopped about ten feet from the thick trunk of a fallen pine. The branches cracked and crumbled, weighed down by its own browning leaves.

The bark was heavily damaged, bullet holes riddled one side while the other looked as if it had been struck by something heavy. Ralph gave a brief glance around but he didn't see any steel, no car parts or paint smears, he grumbled before taking a final drag of the tiny cigarette, smoking it down to the filter he put it out on the dashboard. Next to plenty of other round burns in the plastic.

The rest of them all came to a stop around him, giving a few feet of room between each some pulled up next to each other while others remained in a line. Iona looked back, she saw Renáta and Bonnie pull up on either side of her. She pushed herself up and out of the car, gesturing for her parents to wait where they were.

Bonnie popped out of her wagon quick as a fox, eyes glancing back and forth across the foggy sides of the street. Iona shrugged when they met eyes, then she looked over towards the truck.

“Wyatt!” Cooper shouted as he came barreling out of his mother's car, he nearly managed to run past them but Bonnie quickly caught him, hands reaching out she snagged him up and held him a few feet off the ground “Hey!” Cooper shouted, protesting, kicking his feet weakly.

“Bonnie!” Nancy exclaimed as she ran over to her, huffing, then she smiled at the two of them “Thank you.” she exhaled her words, following Cooper with her gaze as she set him down.

“What are we gonna do?” Fronie called as she, Ella-Mae, and Ford approached, followed by Arlene.

“Do we need to find a different route?” Dixie's voice came from the radios, she and her daughter remained tucked in their van and out of sight.

Ralph picked up his radio, briefly glancing at Wyatt. He hadn't moved, still asleep with his head nuzzled into the crook between the door and the headrest. Ralph ran his tongue across his lower tusk, one sharp and the other broken and stubbed, before he bunched his fist and drove it into Wyatt's gut startling him awake “Nah,” Ralph spoke into the radio, and while anyone who was listening could hear Wyatt yelp a curse in the background, whining “Fuck, fuck you man!” as the sound of a tussle was masked by Ralph's laughing voice “We'll hook it to the truck, drag it off the road.” he said before the truck door suddenly slammed open, the passenger's side, as Wyatt went to climb down to the road he was unceremoniously shoved out and thrown to the street with a grunt.

Cooper broke out laughing, now followed by Bonnie and Nancy as they approached the truck. They all heard Arlene snap out “Hey!” as she trotted faster to catch up with them. Aiming to get to the driver's door to rip Ralph a new one.

Cooper got to Wyatt's side first, Bonnie saw the red look of anger on Wyatt's face, his dark eyes narrow as Cooper kept chuckling. Cooper didn't notice, instead he kept smiling as he asked “What are you doing?” in amusement.

Wyatt pushed himself up then fell back on his butt, with a sigh he smiled back, a faint and slightly forced one but he tried to match the look on the boy's positive face “Just wakin' up,” he said rubbing his face to hide his awkward expression “Coops, be glad you ain't got a brother.” he muttered with a dry chuckle back, jokingly.

“You okay?” Bonnie asked as she reached her hand out offering it to Wyatt with a smile that borderlined on pitying.

“I'm fine,” he grumbled, standing up on his own rather than taking the hand he pretended he didn't see, looking off to the side, towards the dirt as he dusted himself off “Some tree blockin' us?” he asked before yawning.

“Yep.” Cooper nodded, hands on his hips as if he was in charge, he took a surged step forward towards the front of the truck, he could hear Ralph laugh and Arlene bicker but he was focused on the tree rather than them, he rubbed his nose which was chilled from the cold before he went on “Gonna have to move it outta here.” he said, adjusting his belt line “Got a plan Wyatt?” he asked, forcing an accent to try and match theirs. Wyatt watched him move to avoid Bonnie's confused stare.

“Cooper.” Nancy scolded lightly, then she looked over to Bonnie, who had her arms crossed over her chest. “Can we move it?” she asked a bit nervously.

“Yeah, I had'a truck 'n worse shape than that drag bigger payloads on the farm, that tree's busted up, we can move it.” she said with a gesture to the bottom edge of the tree, rough and mostly skinned of bark. “Just a bit of time off our day.” she finished, tone lower but not off putting, Nancy wasn't upset by the slight cold shoulder she was given, she just nodded in thanks and looked back to the front of the truck.

She watched Wyatt as he passed by the headlights and it hit her, Cooper was gone. She felt her heart drop when he suddenly screamed, the high pitched wail of his young voice split her ears but before she could move she watched as Wyatt tumbled back into view, Cooper pressing himself into his chest and shouting “It's in the tree!” with panic in his voice.

“Whut?” Wyatt muttered, stood still but his gaze snapped to the tree as Ralph approached the dead trunk. Nancy ran to Wyatt and pulled Cooper close, Wyatt waved her thanks as he, Bonnie and Iona ran to see what was going on.

As they cleared the truck and got a better view they all saw Arlene and Ralph, they were both staring down at the bottom of the trunk, Arlene had her arms crossed and Ralph waved, his voice was almost humorous as he called out “It's alright!” with a grumble “Look at the poor bastard.” as he gestured to a man, or what used to be a man, crushed under the trunk.

He still moved. His hands blackened with infection as he clawed his broken fingernails against the street trying to grab at Ralph's boot, Ralph pushed his boot closer to watch the undead grab at him just to pull away at the last second “Ooooh!” he taunted, grinning down at the infected corpse “Just missed me!” he chuckled, jutting his boot out again.

Arlene wordlessly slapped his arm and he shot her a glare “Whut?” he scoffed. Stepping back away from it.

“Oh ew!” Fronie exclaimed, peeking out from behind the front of the truck. Ford scoffed.

“Put the damn thing down.” Wyatt snapped as the three arrived at their sides, Bonnie just shoved past him and brought her axe down onto it. Ending it unceremoniously.

Wyatt stepped back, just once, caught off guard before he settled back into a casual lean. He turned his head and looked over to Ralph “Let's just move the damn tree.” he demanded grumpily.

Wyatt grabbed Ralph's arm, dragged him back two steps before letting him go to follow on his own, Ralph's complaining was ignored by the others as Iona stared at the twice dead man.

Bonnie took her axe and went back to her wagon to clean it, she had a blank bordering on sour look on her face, Arlene swallowed dryly as she past by them. All Iona could do was stare. She swore these poor infected things get stranger and stranger as they travel, she looked at the man's broken back, his clothing torn and mangled showing the wound, blood had long turned blackish and dried into the fabric, but what drew her attention most, at the edges of the wound, following the long surface scratches marking his flesh had small protrusions, Iona inched closer.

Leaning in she drew a concerned look from Arlene but she couldn't help herself, her stomach turned, thin petals mimicking the color of fresh blood split from the skin, filling the area between wounds and growing into the tree, vines rose up the broken trunk binding body to bark. Iona swallowed the bile she felt build in her throat and stood back up. She took a deep breath.

A step backwards helped clear her mind, get the disgust off her face. She looked over and waved Arlene to follow her, and she did without a second glance to the body.

“You kids stay back here.” Nancy said as she blocked the trio of teens from passing by Iona's car, they stood back at its trunk trying to see behind her. She even moved Cooper back with them, who was obviously pouting as he chewed into his lip.

“Are we still gonna make it to town on time?” Ella-Mae asked nervously, her hands fidgeted together as she stood in-between the twins.

“No, I bet it's gonna take hours to move that thing.” Fronie asserted as if she knew for sure, she grumbled and leaned back against Renáta's car, hands in her jacket pocket she tried to cross her arms.

“No it won't.” Nancy assured.

“How do you know?” Ford asked, his tone was harsh, almost aggressive if she didn't feel patronized at the same time.

Nancy took a deep breath but didn't make it obvious “Just, let Wyatt and them handle it okay? Iona's got a plan, Bonnie and the brothers are going to move the tree then we'll be right back on the road. Okay?” she replied in a more authoritative tone, bringing out a good 'teacher' voice as she explained to them “Just listen to us and everything is going to work out.” she assured with a gentle pat to Ella-Mae's shoulder, she gave a meek smile in reply but Ford blew raspberries at her, turning to walk back towards Arlene's car.

“Don't be such a jerk!” Cooper surged forward, shouting at Ford's back causing the older boy to stop mid step.

“What'd you call me?” Ford growled, slowly turning towards him.

“Watch it, shrimp.” Fronie grumbled, pushing against Cooper's hat pretending to ruffle his head despite the glare she got from Nancy, then she trailed after her brother. Both now quietly talking to each other as Cooper bunched his fists and watched them retreat.

His frustrated expression fell when Nancy held his shoulders, he looked up and saw her smile and he smiled back, albeit grumpily.

Ella-Mae awkwardly shifted her gaze between the mother and son and her two friends, brow pinched together and lips opening in close despite no words leaving her. She nearly jumped out of her skin when Nancy cleared her throat, she squeaked out “Sorry.” with a apologetic nod before she hurried after the twins.

Fronie and Ford parted to allow Ella-Mae to fall between them, shoulders raising as Ford snaked an arm around her shoulders and dragged her closer, chuckling like he just told a joke.

They all heard the rev of the truck's engine as Ralph brought it to life, he pulled back, easily dodging Iona and Bonnie's cars as he turned the truck back, maneuvering closer to the dead tree they heard snapping of branches and the crunching of dry pines as they backed up closer and closer.

Wyatt walked along the truck bed and pulled out a thick bundle of chain, he grunted from the weight bearing down on his shoulder but he carried it towards to the tree trunk, to the splintered bottom, where the roots were torn from the ground and ripped from the life line of nutrient filled soil and knocked to the road. He wrapped that chain around the thicker roots, tying a line to it and then dragging the other end towards the hitch on the truck's chassis.

“Come on bro, put some pep in ya step!” Ralph shouted, patting against the truck door playfully, trying to make a tune out of it. Wearing a lop sided smirk Ralph was watching Wyatt drag the chain, briefly throwing the middle finger up at him which caused Ralph to laugh.

He saw Wyatt in the rear view mirror for a moment before he tied the links around over and over again, making it extremely secure, then he finally hooked it to the hitch with a large metal latch.

Wyatt stepped back and slapped the back of the trunk, and Ralph revved in warning before he began to move forward.

The chain dragged until the less than two feet of slack went taut, the metal groaned as he began to drag the damaged tree trunk away.

Wyatt ran around the opposite side, away and out of danger as he regrouped with the others, standing beside Iona and Arlene.

They heard the bark further break, splintering against the concrete as it slowly cleared. Iona leaned her crowbar against her car door, rubbing the tense muscles in her neck while she watched Ralph drive, he was focused, for once keeping his mouth shut as he kept his attention on his task.

Bonnie stepped towards them, walking past Nancy and Cooper. She was just a step or two away from Iona when they heard a scream, Penelope's voice cut over the sound of the engine and dead tree, she screamed, then Dixie's voice called from the radio “They're in the forest!” with fear, she screeched “Move the damn tree!” as they heard her van spark to life.

“Cooper!” Nancy screamed as Cooper ran towards Penelope's car, he screamed her name with a break in his voice but before Nancy could even move to follow him Bonnie dashed by her, gently throwing her back towards Iona.

Wyatt snatched her crowbar and slid past Nancy as she tripped forward, caught by Iona, Irvin was shouting into the radio demanding answers, then they heard the screams of the twins joining Penelope's.

“Get that fucking tree moved!” Wyatt screamed as he kept after Bonnie.

They ran towards them, they saw Dixie's van struggling, trying to inch back and forth as two infected straggled towards the side door, more of them approaching from the forest, emerging from the fog like an ambush, their grabbing fingers and gnashing teeth desperately tried to reach flesh, seeking it with a dire need, empty, blackened eyes with blown, spiked pupils, locked onto the movement behind the glass.

Cooper was right in front of Bonnie, a mere few feet from a lunging infected as the creature clawed forward at them, Bonnie swung her axe high over Cooper's head, slashing the infected's chest, ripping the fabric of the night gown as the axe tore a piece of her middle out, it staggered back, no yelp of pain nor reaction outside of stumbling from the force of her swing, Bonnie snatched at Cooper's collar, dragging him back as he screamed again “Penelope!” in fear, he flared his limbs as Bonnie yanked him up against her side, backing up as more infected joined the rest, clawing towards them.

She swung the axe in warning but the infected didn't care, nor didn't she notice the gaping tear down her torso, lunging forward again causing Bonnie to punch her back with the handle of the axe, she turned, facing her body towards the desperate hands of the infected woman and keeping Cooper away from her.

Then down came the sharpened end of Iona's crowbar, Wyatt drove it into the root filled skull of the woman before he kicked back a second lunging creature. “Penelope!” screamed Cooper as Bonnie dragged him back, Nancy suddenly appeared at her side snatching at Cooper and Bonnie nearly fought her back before she realized who she was, Bonnie passed Cooper to her and she ran. Leaving Wyatt and Bonnie to hold her escape, now two handed Bonnie drove her axe down and crushed the head of another infected, Wyatt pushed forward, towards the undead trying to pry into the van. Penelope's and Dixie's screams still coming from inside, with a quick glance they didn't see the twins, but Wyatt was too focused on what was in front of him to worry too much as he drove his boot into the shirtless man's side, he could see movement under the sickly thin skin, vines slithered through the veins and dug into muscle.

He knocked the infected into the other before he stabbed them down, slamming into their heads over and over again, groaning left their throats, nonreactive to the pain but they roared in hunger.

Bonnie ran forward towards the three lagging behind, finally breaking the tree line they reached out toward her, she swung her axe and severed a reaching hand.

Wyatt grunted as he was suddenly slammed back against Dixie's car, he locked eyes with the infected that threatened to tear him apart, the blooming red in its eye bore into him “Fuck!” he grunted, pressing the crowbar into its biting mouth trying desperately to keep it back.

Bonnie turned, eyes going wide when she saw him pinned “Wyatt!” she shouted, she went to run to him but had to dodge another grab, she fretted, swinging and knocking back the remaining two.

Wyatt shouted, stumbling, his face twisted in fear as it ground chipped teeth against the crowbar, bone cracking, tongue pressing forward running along the bottom of the metal trying to reach Wyatt.

Then suddenly an arrow flew forward, piercing through the biting man's head, it went limp, pressing against Wyatt before he threw it to the ground in panic, he yelled, just a loud noise of frustration and relief.

He leaned against the van as Bonnie slew another infected, her eyes scanning the tree line she saw more of them sluggishly moving towards them, dozens silhouettes in the fog, eyes wide she looked back to the others “There's more! Get to the cars!” she screamed, her voice carrying over the panicked screams and fearful commands, over the engines themselves and she quickly saw Ella-Mae running towards them, Arlene right behind her with a thin bow slung over her shoulder and a bundle of arrows in her hand.

Ford shoved by, eyes wide as he searched for his sister and Ella-Mae. He charged forward nearly knocking Wyatt over but he snagged his collar “Get off me!” Ford exclaimed, fighting against Wyatt's grip but he was stronger, it didn't take much effort for Wyatt to pull him off balance, dragging him backwards towards Arlene.

“Ralph move that tree!” Wyatt shouted bouncing on his feet, taking a step back as Bonnie went to his side, whilst Arlene ran by she touched his shoulder reassuringly. She grabbed at Ford who was passed towards her, he tried to yank free but Ella-Mae's look of concern appeared from behind Arlene's back, hiding in her shadow.

He perked up seeing her, he nearly knocked Arlene over getting to Ella-Mae's side as she threw herself into the back car with Fronie, who seemed dumbstruck. Arlene locked the doors and twisted the key sparking on the engine, Bonnie lunged forward and killed a faster infected, knocking its knee to better expose the top of its head. Splitting the skull like the logs she'd cut for firewood.

The cars began to move. Room was quickly cleared as Nancy drove over the dirt, skirting past the tree clearing Ralph had made leaving room for Iona to follow, Wyatt jumped forward as Dixie sped off, nearly clipping him with the van. Him and Bonnie now holding the rear, backing towards their own cars, eyes scanning the tree line as more snarls, more roars, and footsteps echoed around them.

“Get in yer car!” Wyatt shouted as he split off from Bonnie, waving her towards her wagon and with a look of reluctance and a nod she ran to it.

Bonnie jumped in the driver's seat and turned the key, she watched as Wyatt unwound the chain as quickly as he could, she tore into her lip but forced herself to drive forward, moving through the opening and following the caravan.

“Come on bro come on!” Ralph shouted, watching him in the mirror as he snapped the roots rather than bother unwinding any more, Wyatt shouted “You could help me!” As he dragged it towards the trunk, Ralph's eyes scanned the street, seeing the small horde of them approaching, destroyed bodies with flesh torn open, the holes and wounds littering their paled forms were blooming with plant life. His hand snapped to his crossbow and he leaned out of the driver's side window “Wyatt! Move your ass!” Ralph screamed.

Wyatt bundled the chain best he could and threw it into the flat bed, he heard it slam against their supplies and he cringed, he didn't care enough in the moment as he pushed the overhung chain into the trunk, finally clearing it from the ground.

Wyatt dodged the lunging grasp of a vine riddled hand and scrambled to the passenger's side door. He threw it open and locked eyes with Ralph for a split second “Go!” Wyatt screamed as he threw himself into the truck and slammed the door behind him. The sound of slamming fists sounded against the door as the following undead threw themselves rabidly against the door.

Ralph shook his head, cheering out a triumphant “Whoot!” as he spun the truck around, clipping a few infected with the back end as he sped after the group.

“Wyatt!” Bonnie's voice called from the radio.

“You two better be there!” Arlene's voice came next.

Taking a few deep breaths Wyatt grabbed the radio and spoke with a relieved sigh “We're here.” as Ralph drove forward, speeding up in an attempt to catch up to the others “Everybody okay?” he asked looking up and through the windshield.

“I want the driver of each car to reply in some way.” Iona's voice sounded quickly after his “Renáta are you okay?” she added.

“I think so.” Renáta replied.

“We're okay in here, all four of us.” Arlene added.

“Penelope's okay, so am I.” Dixie sighed.

“So are me and Cooper, thank you, thanks.” Nancy said in relief.

“We need to be more careful.” Iona's voice came through next, low, nervous and almost scolding before she added quietly “I'm glad to hear from you all.” before clicking off. She turned her head and looked at her parents, both nervous. Ruth was breathing heavily, gently patting her chest as she tried to calm herself.

“Where are we going to regroup? Or should we just keep driving?” Dixie asked with a tremble in her tone.

“Just keep driving, follow me. It won't be long.” Iona replied “We'll get to town in no time. Just stay calm.” she assured, riding forward, now with Nancy leading the pack she slowed and pulled to the side just long enough for Iona to overtake her, now taking the lead.

In the van Arlene was driving she heard the three fretting in the back and tried to remain focused on the road rather than their conversation, Ford's eyes scanned up and down on Ella-Mae looking for any injury, Ella-Mae exhaled a deep breath holding her hand over her pounding heart, she didn't notice his eyes on her at first, eyes shut trying to calm herself down.

“That was close.” Fronie mumbled, then she lowered her head. Looking away in frustration “I can't believe I froze up.” she added awkwardly. She looked over at Ford and noticed his gaze lingering.

Ella-Mae opened her eyes, trying to remove the images of the undead from her mind but as she turned to look towards Fronie she saw, and felt, Ford's gaze on her. He reached over before she had a chance to speak and pulled at her arms, she squeaked “Ford!” and quickly pulled away.

“I'm just checking if you're hurt!” Ford exclaimed, quickly yanking his hands back.

“I'm fine!” she snapped, slightly raising her voice. She then swallowed, bunching her hands on her lap she looked away. “I'm sorry.” she huffed, hardly speaking.

“You all okay?” Arlene intervened. Herself now just calming down.

Then there was a sudden screech, a blaring from the radio with two grunting voices on the other end, until finally they heard “I wanna talk to Penny!” Cooper exclaimed. His voice pierced through the speakers. More sounds of scuffling were heard until Penelope's voice came through “I'm okay Cooper!” she replied, her voice almost sounding embarrassed.

Nancy in the end gave up, with tensions rising so high the adults didn't seem to really mind allowing the two children time to talk, after reassuring one another ten times they were okay their mundane conversation became calming background noise for the group, the song track to the rest of the few hour ride to the small town of Mallten.

Irvin gripped about batteries again but they let the two stay on, eventually the mood settled and they all kept their eyes forward.

The fog filled forests gave way to misty plains, farmlands that have started to overgrow, tall grass and wild flowers slowly overtaking the tilled plots and trimmed gardens. Cooper excitedly pointed to a few Bidson still meandering about their massive fenced in pen, eating their fill seemingly content despite the absence of their caretakers.

Cooper's voice came from the radio again, now curious rather than concerned “Bonnie did you have Bidson on your farm?” he asked, pressing himself against the glass to watch them until they rode out of sight.

“Yeah, had 'a few for milk. Better than cows!” she replied, forcing cheer into her voice.

“We had Bidson for a while, back when we were kids.” Arlene added, she took a breath before continuing “Remember, Ralph? When dad'd get pissed off he'd make us brush them over and over and we didn't even sheer them.” her voice held amusement now but the growing positivity she felt was dashed as Ralph's curt reply struck her.

“Don't act like you give'a damn.” his words pretty much killed the conversation and quiet returned to their drive.

In the distance, far off past a few more acres of farmsteads, they could see the beginnings of Mallten, chipped paint on the short squared buildings and cars parked and crashed were the first things they saw, their nerves rose, Iona felt her heart drop to the pit of her stomach. Buildings had been singed, brittle, ashy wood had long since burnt itself out. A car was driven into the front, clearly had smashed into the porch, it was a smaller older one that once had wood paneling from the looks of its remains.

Iona didn't see any bodies. She slowed her car to a stop. She stared at the town's welcome sign, a crashed truck beside the blood smeared wood. The bold black letters had cracked, smudged and chipped. She felt her father's worried gaze burn into her but she didn't know what to say. Iona didn't expect it to be this bad, she's been here before and it's always been a quiet, peaceful place, the memories she held suddenly felt corrupted seeing the small town defiled and in ruins.

Shakily she reached to the radio, the plastic cool against her skin, which was hot with nerves “Stay back everyone. We need to rethink the plan.” her voice spoke hollowly, devoid of emotion as she processed the sight before her.

At her word the caravan all came to a stop around her, sharing similar thoughts and worries. All fixated on what used to be Mallten.