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Maddie stayed quiet, already knowing who the question was for.
"Had 'em lying around," Saff answered easily.
Dean grunted. "You came back with a lot more after you left," he said, and Maddie didn't like the tone of his voice. "Seems like maybe you were living somewhere around there."
Maddie definitely didn't like that, and she knew Saff wouldn't either. But now she also wondered what exactly Saff had come back with.
"Man, let it go," Carter cut in with an annoyed tone. "It doesn't matter."
Dean huffed, matching Carter's annoyance. "I'm just saying."
"Yeah, and I'm saying it doesn't matter," he declared.
Luckily, that seemed to end all conversation.
They waited for a few more minutes, briefly resting, but then they decided to keep moving. If they moved fast enough, Carter said they could make it to the new settlement before nightfall, and none of them wanted to spend another night in the woods.
They hiked for hours, crossing along different terrain. Sometimes traveling through the thick woods, where her cane would hit the thick trunks of the trees every few feet, and other times moving onto the smooth paved highway when the wooded area became too dense. She actually preferred the woods, knowing they were under the cover of the trees made her feel more at ease. She didn't worry as much about running into humans or even running into infected. It also just felt more calming, with the sounds of the birds and wind whistling through the leaves.
It wasn't as hot out that day either, so when they did walk in the direct sunlight, the warmth of the sun felt nice on her skin. But as the hours dragged on, she could feel the air getting coolerand cooler, and eventually, the sun stopped feeling as warm, and the cold shade felt just a little too cold.
Maddie stepped and suddenly felt a change in the ground, the surface evening out.
"Are we back on the highway?" she asked.
"No," Carter called back from ahead of her. "We're almost at the settlement. We're in town now."
Maddie's heart rate ticked up in anticipation at the thought of seeing her family. It felt like years had gone by since they’d been separated.
Saff's shoulders rolled as she adjusted the strap of her gun.
She wondered if she felt nervous at all. Maddie almost felt nervous for her being around so many people when she was used to being completely alone.
"Man, I can't wait for a hot shower," Dean said.
"Hot shower," Maddie repeated with a smile, tilting her head toward Saff.
But Saff didn't respond. Maddie could almost feel the tension rolling off her then, and she couldn't blame her.
They continued walking for another mile or so before Carter spoke up again.
"Okay, so remember what I said. They can be a little intense, this new group. So just let me talk and explain once we get there."
Maddie nodded, unease setting in at Carter's timid tone.
"Right after we make this last turn, you'll see it," Carter continued. "And once we get to the gate, just do whatever they ask you to do."
Now Maddie was really nervous. She wondered what they were about to walk into, what she was about to bring Saff into.
They walked a little further, then Saff guided her as she turned. And once they turned, she immediately felt the shift in Saff. Her arm stiffened. Even her walking felt tense. Maddiewanted to ask what she was seeing that made her react that way, but she thought it was probably best to avoid any unnecessary noise.
"Hey!" Carter suddenly called out, and Maddie jumped in surprise. Saff stopped walking.
"It's me!" he called again. "Carter and Dean. We're back from scouting."
Maddie thought she could hear some noises, maybe some type of shuffling or metal groaning. She couldn't quite tell. Then the silence dragged on. She wondered if whoever he’d called to had heard him.
Then finally, a loud voice answered. It sounded electronic, like it was coming through a megaphone.