The trio watched the back of the two youngsters as they hobbled out of the mountain town. He knew Aidan would keep walking until nightfall, as they had done many times before. They shrank into a small dot that ascended the flat road and disappeared in the distance.

“They gone?” Bandana finally asked.

“Yes,” Slacks replied. At the bald man’s words, he fell over and gasped for air. Helmet grabbed one hand, and Slacks grabbed the other to keep him from smashing his head on the ground.

“You held out well,” the older man said softly.

“Sorry, I can’t help dig,” he whispered as he closed his eyes. He fell asleep, but the two knew he wouldn’t make it through the night.

They wordlessly got to work.