We are not safe?
Posted on Thu Oct 22nd, 2026 @ 1:23pm by Steward Joshua MacCallan & Founder Serena Reynolds M.D. & Herdmaster Chloe Rouen & Provisioner Kimberley Hathaway & Provisioner Mackenzie Ellis & Archivist Carmen Harris & Steward Vienna Quinn & Steward Timothy Reynolds & Steward Timothy Cotton & Defender Devon McCadden & Scout René Rouen & Steward Henri Rouen & Senior Medic Roman Quinn & Caretaker Thea Matthews & Scout Jack Harris & Scout Kelly Cardona & Herdmaster Myles Harris & Senior Mechanic Edward Harrison Jr
5,660 words; about a 28 minute read
Mission: Winter's hope
When Timothy reentered the house, Carmen had already gathered everyone who had been inside into the kitchen.
Serena looked at her husband. "What is it?" she asked carefully.
Thea had heard the shout now she stood waiting to hear what the commotion was all about, the last thing she needed was something to crop up so close to her son being born.
Vienna too stood waiting, she’d grabbed her bow the minute the shout went out, but remained indoors to protect those inside if she’d had to,
Devon entered, ready to serve. Keeping her bow handy and her weapon holstered, She kept a keen ear on the group. If something happened, Devon needed to be aware.
Timothy took hold of his wife's hands and said simply, "Tracks. Two sets, along the south fence line. And there was a mark carved into our gate post." He then turned to the group. "We knew something like this would happen. We knew that others would be doing their own form of recon. The fact of the matter is this, we know two individuals walked by, but did not announce themselves." He glanced at the dogs, who had not given any warning of danger, then he continued to speak.
"Clearly, they have some level of camouflage skill, or else the dogs would hallve let us know immediately." He took a breath, then continued. "Now, the idea has already been put forth to send out our own recon teams. Take it from someone who has trained to fight wars in weather like this, with the snow as deep as it is, and the temperature dropping again, going out there would be a mistake. For one, we don't have the proper gear. And for another, our group is still small and untrained, for the most part." He glanced at the fellow veterans in the room. "I know each of you can fire a weapon in defense, however, going after whomever scouted us, would be a purely offensive move. The rules for that are completely different. There are only a few of us, here in the group, that have that kind of real-world training. The rest of you, forgive me for being blunt, are just civilians. Given time, I will ensure that everyone has as much training as I can convey. For now, though, I feel that it would be best, if we sit and wait. Fortify our position here, we know this property, they don't. If anyone comes here, we make our stand, snd show them that we are not to be fucked with!"
“Agreed” Kelly nodded. “If we go out looking we leave people here unprotected, and with a baby on the way..” she looked towards Thea and offered a smile. “I don’t plan on letting anything happen.” She looked towards Timothy. “Maybe we can fortify the fences some more? Maybe set up an early warning system of some kind?”
Serena’s hands tightened around Timothy’s as he spoke. Tracks were one thing. The mark on the gate was another. Someone hadn’t simply passed by. They had come close enough to inspect the property, and they had wanted to leave something behind. She waited until he finished before speaking. “I agree. We don’t go chasing them.” Her voice was calm, though there was an unmistakable edge beneath it. “They came here to look at us. Fine. Let them look. But we make damn sure that if they come back, they don’t find us sitting around waiting to be surprised.” She glanced toward Kelly and nodded. “Early warning systems along the fence. Anything that makes noise if someone crosses where they shouldn’t. We should also make sure no one goes outside alone, especially after dark.”
Her gaze returned to Timothy. “And we need someone watching that south fence. If they came that way once, they may come that way again.”
Kimberly had remained quiet while Timothy explained what had been found. She folded her arms, her expression growing more concerned as the implications settled in. “What bothers me is the dogs,” she said finally. “They didn’t react. So either whoever was out there knew how to stay far enough away, or they knew how not to attract their attention.” Neither possibility made her particularly comfortable. “And if they marked the gate, there’s a reason.” Kimberly looked around the kitchen. “Maybe it means they’ve already checked this place. Maybe it tells someone else what they found. We shouldn’t assume those two people are the only ones out there.” She looked toward Serena. “We should check every door and window before it gets dark. Curtains closed once the lights are on, too. No point advertising exactly where everyone is inside the house.”
Serena nodded in agreement.
Carmen had been standing near the edge of the kitchen, listening to the adults talk. The mention of the tracks had been creepy enough. Hearing that someone had actually carved something into their gate was worse. “So they were watching us?” she asked. Her eyes moved between Timothy and Serena. “Because you don’t mark somebody’s gate if you’re just walking past.” She swallowed, trying very hard not to sound as nervous as she suddenly felt. “What if it’s not for them?” Carmen continued. “What if the mark is for other people? Like… telling them there are people living here?” That thought made her glance instinctively toward the windows. “And if we’re making things that make noise around the fence, can we make sure we know where they are?” She gave the adults a slightly sheepish look. “Because I really don’t want to be the idiot who goes outside tomorrow morning and sets off our own alarm.”
Timothy nodded and gave Carmen a soft grin, even though, on the inside, his military mind was going full bore. On the outside, he did not let it show. "Of course, Carmen. Any traps that are set would be out where we won't usually walk. And places that we would, everyone here would know exactly where those are and how to avoid them." He then looked back at the group. "For now, we need to keep doing what we need to do as normal. In case anyone is out there watching, we don't let them know we know they are out there." He then looked st Devon. "Starting today, you and I are going to be pulling opposite shifts, twelve hours on, twelve off. Once we are done planning here, I want you to go get some sleep. Tonight, we will start midnight to noon and noon to midnight
This week, you eill do the midnight to noon. Next week, we will swap."
Devon nodded, "Got it." It sounded like a plan to her. Prepping her gear, she listened to the ongoing plan.
Timothy then looked at the group's scouts. "While Devon and I are doing our overwatch shifts, I want you all to move about the surrounding area, as if you are actually on scouting runs. However, while you do so, keep an eye out for not only your targets, but places where we could put traps, both obvious and hidden. I want them to see some of them, I want then to move around them, then trip the real ones." He looked around the assembled group when he finished. These people may have all started as strangers, but now, they were a group, a community, a family. His family. If someone was targeting them, they would find out just how dangerous he would become, when defending his family.
"Any questions?"
Henri looked around at the group, paying especial attention to the younger children and adolescents. He turned to Timothy with a VERY concerned expression on his face. "We will need to train those not familiar with weapons, especially firearms. That takes time, ammunition and makes considerable noise that can be heard for kilometers. René is an excellent swordsman, he can handle a knife with equal skill, but he has only had a moderate amount of exposure to shotguns when we hunted and no experience with pistols of any kind to my knowledge. We should assume whoever is stalking the area most likely is armed with rifles, shotguns and pistols. How do you propose we prepare everyone for a firefight and keep it secret?"
Timothy frowned. It was a valid question. One he had already been working on his head. "Long term? We could build an indoor range, possibly underground, which would take care of the sound." He let out a frustrated breath. "Short term? Well, for the rifles, we could jury right some improvised suppressors, using blankets." He looked over at Edward and asked, "If I give you the suppressor from my rifle, would you be able to reverse engineer it and create one for the rest of our firearms?"
The large man thought about it for a few beats, then nodded. "I think so. It all depends on the materials I am able to use. Though, you should know, since im doing it by hand, the first batch will be very rough, until I'm able to get the hang of refining everything."
Timothy nodded, as he unscrewed the suppressor that was attached to the end of his Remington. He handing it over. "Make it a priority."
He then looked at the group again. "For now, those that do not have experience with firearms will start learning the basics. You'll learn how to break down, clean and maintain the weapons we have. Once you have shown me that you can strip down and reassemble our weapons blindfolded, then we will start teaching you how to use them defensively. Offensively will be the final lesson." He waited for any reactions or questions.
TJ kept deliberately silent as Tim and the others spoke. Tim wanted to run the show, it was fine with him. He knew how to hunt and shoot as did Kelly. The others he wasn't so sure about. Vienna could handle a bow but he doubted her brother Roman had ever shot a weapon. Rene could probably handle a weapon as well. The other would have to be taught.
Vienna nodded. “I can handle a hunting rifle, but it’s been a few years since my dad taught me so I’m a bit rusty.”
Thea gazed around at those in the room. “I can handle a hand gun, my husband made sure I knew how to defend myself. I haven’t really had to use mine though.”
René had remained silent for the discussion up to this point. He looked at Timothy and his grandfather thoughtfully. He considered their words and what it could imply about things to come. He spoke quietly in a tone thar betrayed his uncertainty. "I have no problem hunting for food or putting the Soulless to rest. Shooting a human being though. I...I don’t know if I can do that. I would be breaking the Sixth Commandment of God. 'Thou shall not kill."
Vienna stepped up alongside René taking old of his hand. “I’ll help train others, but I won’t kill a healthy human being. We’ve lost enough of them already.”
Roman squeezed Thea's hand as he looked at Vienna and Rene. "I'm a doctor. I save lives or try to and that will always be my first option. However, I won't let anyone hurt Thea or Vienna or anyone in this group. I'll stop them anyway I can."
Thea offered a somewhat concerned smile. “I’m a weak point for all of you, if we had to move quickly I’d just slow you all down.”
"Stop it Thea. You are not a weak point for us." Roman answered firmly but not unkindly. "We all depend on each other, it’s what makes this community survive."
Thea nodded as she kept a firm hold on Roman’s hand. “I worry, you know I do. I will do what I can to help.”
"I know you do but worrying isn't going to help you or the baby." Roman replied, "Besides we all do the best we can. It's all anyone can ask for."
Timothy listened to the group. He noticed that the grandchildren of the couple who had owned the cabin they were currently living in were quiet, sitting by the fireplace, with the dogs. The former Ranger responded to the group. "As a former Ranger, I have been taught to kill. I have also been in combat and have had to kill my enemy. It is an act that isn't for everyone, so I will not pressure anyone to do so. All I ask, is that you train to defend." He then looked ar René, a softer look in his eyes. "I respect you for your beliefs, René. Just know that, in this new world, there will be those who come at us, who do not share your same views, no matter how wholesome they are. Whether you end up killing out of anger or defense, one day, it will happen." He reached out and gently squeezed the younger man's right shoulder, as he added, "Though I hope, for your sake, that day is far in the future."
René stood there thinking. Could he kill someone? Would he kill someone? He looked at those gathered about the room. Fight for those in the room was a yes. He looked at Vienna standing next to him. He would die for her if need be. Same as he would for sister and grandpa. Same as everyone else present. He looked back to Timothy and nodded solemnly. "So do I Monsieur. So do I."
Chloé's expression had steadily tightened during the conversation. She had remained quiet when René spoke, but when Timothy told her brother that one day killing someone would happen, her eyes snapped toward him. “I don't think that is something you can know.” Her voice was soft, as it usually was, but there was nothing uncertain about the words. Chloé shifted a little closer to René. “Maybe it happens. Maybe it doesn't. But René gets to decide what kind of person René is.” She glanced at Vienna before looking back at Timothy. “Teaching us how to protect ourselves, oui. Teaching us what to do if someone comes here, yes. But there is a difference between preparing someone for the possibility and telling them that eventually they will have to kill.” She hesitated, then added more quietly, “I would like to learn. I don't know guns. Not really. But I can learn the safety and the cleaning and whatever else you think I should know. I just don't want knowing how to use one to mean I have to want to use one on somebody.”
Serena looked from Chloé to Timothy. There was a small part of her that wanted to step in simply because he was her husband. Another part—the doctor, the mother and the woman who had watched this little collection of strangers slowly become something resembling a family—knew Chloé had a point. “She’s right about one thing,” Serena said. “We don't know what any of us will do until we're put in that position.” Her gaze lingered briefly on René. “And I hope most of us never find out.” Then she looked around the room. “But I do want everyone trained.” She released one of Timothy's hands but remained beside him. “Not because I expect everyone here to become a soldier. I don't. We need people who can grow food, care for the animals, cook, fix things, treat injuries, keep watch, look after the children and a hundred other things that have nothing to do with pulling a trigger.” Her eyes moved toward Thea. “And being pregnant does not make someone a weak point.” Then toward Roman. “Nor does being a doctor mean the only thing you can contribute is medicine.” Finally she looked around the entire kitchen. “But everyone should know what to do if something gets through that door.”
Carmen, who had been chewing absently on the inside of her cheek, raised her hand halfway before seeming to realize they weren't in school and dropping it again. “Can some of the training be about what we do if something happens rather than just shooting?” She glanced around. “Like... where everyone goes. Who gets the kids. Who gets the dogs. What door we use if we have to get out. What happens if whoever is on watch shouts that someone's coming.” Carmen frowned. “Because if everybody grabs a gun and starts running in different directions, that seems like a really good way for one of us to accidentally shoot someone we actually like.” There was a brief pause. “And I would prefer not to be accidentally shot.”
Kimberley gave a small snort despite herself. “That makes two of us.”
She uncrossed her arms. “I'll learn the basics, but I'm not pretending I'm suddenly going to turn into some crack shot because Timothy shows me which end is dangerous.” Her expression became more serious. “But Carmen's right. We need a plan for the people who aren't fighting too.” Kimberley gestured toward the house around them. “If something happens, somebody needs to make sure nobody panics. Somebody needs to know where the medical supplies are. Somebody needs to make sure we've got food and water ready if we're forced into one part of the house for hours. Someone needs to account for everyone.” She paused. “And somebody needs to make sure that if we do have to leave, we're not standing in the driveway trying to work out who has the keys.”
Carmen immediately nodded. “We should have bags.”
Serena looked at her. “Bags?”
“For everyone,” Carmen explained. “Not huge ones. Just enough that if somebody says we have to go, we grab them. Clothes. Water. Whatever else. We shouldn't have to pack while people are coming through the fence.”
That earned a slow nod from Serena. “That is an extremely good idea.”
Carmen looked pleased with herself for approximately half a second before another thought occurred to her. “And I can make a list.”
Kimberley smiled. “Of course you can.”
“A proper one,” Carmen insisted. “People, weapons, bags, vehicles, where everybody is supposed to go. And the alarms once we put them up.” She pointed toward Timothy. “Including those. Because I was serious about not setting one off myself.”
Serena finally looked back to Timothy. “So, we train.” She squeezed his hand again. “Everyone learns weapon safety. Everyone learns how to maintain what we have. Anyone willing to learn to shoot can learn when we can do it safely. But we also train for the things that happen around the shooting.” Her expression hardened slightly. “Evacuation. Fire. Someone getting through the perimeter. Someone injured outside. Someone missing. What we do if the house is breached.” She looked toward the darkened windows. “And until we know who made those tracks and what that mark means, nobody goes anywhere alone.”
Chloé nodded faintly.
Kimberley did as well.
Carmen glanced toward the window again, considerably less comfortable than she wanted anyone to notice.
Serena drew a breath. “We don't need everyone here to become soldiers.” Her eyes moved across the gathered group. “We need everyone here to know how to keep each other alive.”
Timothy grinned softly as he listened tp the group discuss the situation. "Please don't misunderstand me, everyone. I was not meaning that we become a special forces unit. Far from it. I know that not everyone can do what a soldier is trained to do. There are things that I don't know how to do. I can't cook to save my life, unless its simple bar-b-que, ask her." He tipped his head towards his wife as he chuckled softly at his own expense. He then looked back at René as he continued. "I knew soldiers who trained to fight for years, but were fortunate to never have to fire a single round in anger. So, it is possible. All I was saying was that each of us, who have not yet been forced to take a life ,will have to look into our own souls, should the situation arrive and there is no other choice."
He then let out a breath, his eyes falling slightly, before they rose again and said, "Planning for survival, and implementing those plans are an excellent idea...." he paused a beat before adding, "As much as I hate to say it...part of that planning needs to include what to do...if one of us becomes one of those things out there. If that happens, we cannot hesitate. The safety of the group and the kids us too important." He looked each of them in the eye as he spoke. This would be the hardest thing any of them would ever have to deal with. He too, wondered just how quickly he would be able to put his wife or...he shuddered to think...PJ, out of their misery, if they ever became one of those undead creatures.
"The simple fact is, we don't know what will happen to us when we do finally pass. I prey that we stay that way. However, a plan would need to be created on what to do if things go horribly wrong."
==
The discussion had given Joshua an idea. If they were going to set up early-warning systems around the property, they would need wire, batteries and anything else they could salvage. There had to be something useful among the boxes left behind by the cabin's owners. He left the group and headed to search. He started in the storage room. Most of what he found was disappointing. Christmas decorations, old camping equipment, extension cords and several boxes of things that probably hadn't been touched in years. Then he found a battered black equipment case tucked behind an old toolbox. It was heavier than he expected. "Well, what have we got here?" The case had faded lettering on its lid and two substantial metal clasps. Inside, carefully packed in protective foam, was a radio transceiver, a microphone, several lengths of coiled cable and a notebook. Joshua lifted the radio out.
It was considerably more complicated than the little handheld radios the group had been using. Rows of buttons surrounded a digital display, and there were connections on the back that he didn't recognise. A sticker on the side identified it as a Yaesu FT-857D. Beneath it sat a laminated card bearing an amateur radio call sign, together with a handwritten list of frequencies.
Joshua opened the notebook. The first pages contained instructions for connecting the radio to a battery and setting up the portable antenna. Further inside, someone had recorded conversations, dates, locations and the names of other amateur radio operators. One entry caught his attention. Emergency communications – regional repeaters and HF contact schedule.
"Okay. This could actually be useful." He rummaged through the rest of the case, discovering a portable antenna, a roll of coaxial cable and a power lead fitted with battery clips.
There was no guarantee the equipment still worked, but it was worth investigating. Joshua carefully repacked everything before carrying the case downstairs. He waited for an appropriate break in the conversation before setting it on the kitchen table and opening the lid. "Before we spend the next three days stringing tin cans around the fences, I found something you might want to see." He lifted the radio from its protective foam. "It's a ham radio. Proper one, from the looks of it. There's an antenna, cables, instructions and a book full of frequencies."
He glanced towards Timothy. "I don't know if it works yet. But if we can get it running, maybe we can listen to what's happening outside our little corner of the world." He paused. "And if we're really lucky, maybe there's somebody out there who can tell us whether we're the only people being watched."
When Joshua set the radio case down, Jack recognized immediately. In a tone that was possibly sharper than he meant it, he stepped forward. "That belongs to my grandfather! He had that stored safely up in the attic!" He was surprisingly defensive about the object, even though the entire group had been living in their grandparent's cabin for a couple months now.
"Easy Jack," Timothy put up his hand to stop the advancing teen. "We know that most of the thing in this house belongs to your family. And we all will take very good care of anything we borrow." He glanced at Joshua, giving the man a hidden signal to go easy on the kid. They were all stressed right now, and needed to work together.
Joshua caught Timothy’s look immediately. He set the radio down rather than continuing to hold it, then raised both hands slightly. “Hey. I’m not trying to take it, Jack.” His tone had lost the lightness it had carried when he first brought the case downstairs. “I didn’t know it belonged to your grandfather. I found the case while I was looking for wire and batteries for the alarms. That’s all.” Joshua glanced at the radio before looking back at the teenager. “And if you don’t want us using it, then we don’t use it.”
He meant it. For all the things the group had been forced to share since the world had fallen apart, Joshua understood there were still things that mattered because of who they had belonged to. “But…” He hesitated. “Your grandfather kept emergency frequencies written down. Regional repeaters. Contact schedules. He didn’t just own a radio. From the looks of that notebook, he knew exactly what he was doing with it.” Joshua gently nudged the open case toward Jack. “So maybe you can help us.” He nodded toward the notebook. “You know anything about it? Ever watch him use it?”
Serena had remained beside Timothy, watching Jack carefully. “Joshua’s right about one thing,” she said gently. “Nobody is going to take anything belonging to your grandparents without asking you.” Her eyes moved briefly around the room. They had all become comfortable here. Perhaps too comfortable sometimes. The house had become *their* home because it had needed to be, but before that it had been Jack’s grandparents’ home. That distinction still mattered. Serena looked back at Jack. “But this may also be something your grandfather left behind that could help keep you, your family and everyone standing in this kitchen alive.”
She stepped a little closer, though not enough to crowd him. “That doesn’t mean we get to claim it.” A faint smile touched her face. “It means we ask.” She gestured toward the case. “Would you be willing to let Joshua and Edward look at it with you? Nobody transmits anything. Nobody alters it. We see if it still works, and for now we only listen.” Her expression became more serious. “Especially after what happened at the fence, I would much rather know what is happening around us than send people out there trying to find out.”
Joshua nodded. “Receive only.” Then he added, looking directly at Jack, “And you stay with it.” He pointed lightly toward the radio. “It’s your grandfather’s equipment. You should be the one helping decide what happens with it.” Joshua paused, then gave him the faintest grin. “Besides, if your grandfather was serious enough about this stuff to keep an emergency contact book, there’s a pretty decent chance you know more about it than I do.”
Serena glanced toward Timothy. "And if we do manage to hear anything, we keep it quiet. We don’t answer anyone until we know who we’re listening to.” Her eyes flicked toward the windows. Someone had already been close enough to their home to leave a mark on their gate. The last thing Serena wanted was for the group to announce themselves to whoever else might be listening. “For once,” she added quietly, “I think learning something without telling the rest of the world where we are would be a very good advantage.”
Jack glanced at his two younger siblings. With their parents, and now grandparents gone, he was the one responfor keeping them safe. As he looked around the group, he looked each one in the eye. Since they had come here, they had only been respectful and supportive. Perhaps, in a flash of grief, he had overreacted.
Looking back at Joshua, he blushed slightly, "S-sorry," he said softly. "I shouldn't have snapped at you like that." He raises his eyes to the other man's, "My grandpa taught me everything there is to know about that radio. It's because of him, I was going to be going to M.I.T. on a scholarship for electrical engineering and communications."
Joshua nodded. "Then you can find the best place to set it up and help us understand it right? You are in charge of it."
A shy grin slowly filled the left side of the teen's face. He finally nodded in agreement. "Okay," he said simply. He thenadded, "the connection to the main antenna is actually upstairs, near where you found the radio."
Henri examined the shortwave radio during the discussion. It was infinitely more modern than his father's shortwave radio set he and Chloe had found gathering dust in the cellar the previous summer. It was unlikely, but the device sitting on the dining room table might provide a means of communicating with family back in France. He turned to his granddaughter. "Coccinelle (Ladybug) would you please accompany young Mister Harris in inspecting the antenna connection?"
Chloe nodded and moved to stand by Jack. "I know a little." she said in her accented English.
Serena watched the exchange between Jack, Joshua and Chloé with a small, thoughtful smile. What had begun as a frightening discovery at the fence had somehow led to something potentially hopeful. The radio might prove useless, or it might become one of the most valuable things they possessed. Either way, seeing Jack take ownership of something his grandfather had treasured was important in its own right. There had been too much loss already. She looked around the kitchen, taking in the faces of the people who had become their makeshift family. Some were frightened, others determined, and a few were trying very hard not to show what they were feeling. "All right," she said, raising her voice just enough to regain everyone's attention. "I think we've covered quite a lot today, and I don't want us frightening ourselves with every possible thing that could go wrong."
She offered a reassuring smile. "But Timothy is right. We do need to prepare for things we'd rather not think about. Including what happens when someone dies. As a doctor, I've spent most of my adult life trying to prevent that, and I have no intention of changing now." Her expression softened. "However, if the worst happens, we need to know what to do. We need to be able to protect everyone without forgetting that the person we're dealing with was someone we loved. We'll work out a procedure for that, and we'll make sure everyone understands it."
She glanced towards Thea, then towards the younger members of their community. "And I want something else understood. Nobody here is a burden. Not because they're pregnant, not because they're young, not because they're elderly, and certainly not because they aren't comfortable holding a gun. Every single person here contributes something." Serena paused, allowing her words to settle.
"Tomorrow, I'd like to start putting together proper emergency medical supplies and evacuation kits. Carmen, I think your lists are going to be invaluable. We need to know what we have, what we're missing, and what we can reasonably manage if we ever have to leave." Her gaze moved towards the radio. "And perhaps, if we're lucky, Jack and the others will be able to give us something we haven't had much of lately. Information."
She smiled faintly. "Although I think we should all remember that just because someone is out there doesn't necessarily mean they're an enemy. We need to be careful, certainly, but I don't want us becoming so frightened of other people that we forget how to recognise someone who genuinely needs help." It was a difficult balance, and she knew it. They had children to protect, animals depending on them, and a baby who would soon be joining their little community. Finally, Serena turned towards Timothy and slipped her hand into his. "I think we've given everyone enough to think about for one day, darling." She squeezed his hand. "Let's get back to what passes for normal around here. We still have meals to prepare, animals to care for, and plenty of work that isn't going to do itself." Her smile widened slightly. "And I would very much prefer that we didn't let a couple of mysterious footprints convince us to stop living."
Yet even as she spoke, her eyes briefly wandered towards the windows. Somewhere beyond those walls, someone had approached their home, watched it closely enough to leave a mark, and disappeared without being noticed. That troubled her considerably more than she intended to admit aloud. But looking around at the people gathered in the kitchen, Serena reminded herself of something important. They had survived this long because they had learned to trust one another. They had shared food, responsibilities, laughter and grief. They had taken strangers into their lives and made them family. Whatever was waiting beyond that fence, she wasn't about to let fear destroy what they had built. "Come on, everyone," she said warmly. "Let's get on with it. Winter isn't going to wait for us." And neither, she suspected, would the rest of the world.
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