Summers took a breath. Then another. His hand lay on Asle’s head, trying to sense if her condition had gotten any worse.

“She good?” Cortez watched them with a look of concern.

“I think so... It doesn’t look anything like my head did, anyway.”

“That’s because she’s smarter than you.” Cortez tussled Asle’s hair, giving her a small smile.

Thankfully, Asle had returned to normal after a few days, just as Summers had. They’d been careful to watch her diet, if her condition was anything like Summers’ own, that meant she too would have to deal with the hamr absorbing anything she ate. The last thing anyone wanted was for her to sprout some wings or horns. Though that was the least of their worries.

Nowak had led them to a river he insisted would get them past the Nevada border. However, from the moment they’d left the coastal village, they hadn’t seen any sign of life. No people, no animals, Summers hadn’t even managed to see a fish in the large river that flowed beside them. Considering they were heading upstream, that suggested something ahead was the issue.

“How are we on food?” Summers asked, looking to Synel.

She’d been handling their travelling supplies, something that was woefully limited at the moment. Their quick escape from the village meant they’d left without really restocking.

Synel shook her head in response.

“Not well.” Synel moved to one a horse that held a few packs at its side. “Two weeks if we don’t ration. Assuming the water is safe.”

Summers nodded, thinking.

“Do you know any cities nearby?”

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.” Nowak interjected. “Think about it, if the army’s pulling out, what do you think that means for everyone else?”

“You really think marching into a fight with these two is a good plan?” Summers gestured to Asle and Synel.

“And we still have the food issue.” Cortez added.

“I know…” Nowak pinched the bridge of his nose. He had a map of the region sprawled out in front of him.

Synel moved to the map, looking it over.

“I agree with Mr. Nowak. Any cities nearby will likely have suffered some kind of opposition.” Synel gestured to the river they were using as a landmark. “This is a major trade route between the coastal and eastern cities, I’d have expected to see someone. That we haven’t, suggests…”

“…Something bad.” Asle finished.

Summers noticed the tension in both her and Synel’s shoulders as they spoke.

“…We could turn back.”

“…No.” Synel’s response took Summers off guard. “Don’t misunderstand me. If I had a choice I would have gladly stayed with the ship. But I’m not confident any of the nearby settlements would be safe for long. If not because of what we saw, then because of the factions that would take advantage of their weakness. And that could prove just as dangerous an alternative.”

“The people in town hadn’t seen anyone from the east for a long time.” Asle elaborated.

“…Great.”

“I suggest we continue on.” Synel gestured to the map. “If we stretch what we have, I believe we could make it to this base of yours, if just barely.”

“That’s assuming the armies’ still there.” Cortez pointed out.

“They are.” Nowak interjected. “That message was automated, but if something big enough to take out the army hit the base, I don’t think there would be anything left standing. They’re transmitting, they have power. That at least implies infrastructure.”

“And what if we get there and no one’s waiting for us?” Summers questioned. “I don’t know if that’s a fight we can win.”

“I’m not seeing any better options here.” Nowak glanced at Summers. “You said there are more of those things on their way, where can we leave them that it’s going to be safe?”

“Any city has to be safer than this.” Summers gestured at the open forest around them.

“But if I’m like you...” Asle rubbed at her neck. “If I’m… different now, I could hurt them...”

Summers paused at that.

It was a valid point. Summers wasn’t even sure if his “problem” was under control. If Asle was left alone, who knew what could happen, given enough time.

“What about the rest of you?” Summers turned to Pat, Orvar and the twins. They stood a few feet away, watching for anything coming their way.

Pat blinked.

“We’ll do as you command, commander.”

The others nodded as if that settled the matter.

“…Of course you will.” Summers turned to Synel, speaking in Nos. “You really think the base is our best chance?”

Synel put a finger to her chin in thought.

“Yours? No. You could run back to the city and live long, prosperous lives. With your weapons and power, it would be likely you’d make it. It’s the best course of action for both Asle and I.”

“…I appreciate the honesty?”

“You should, it’s a rarity.”

Summers sighed.

Asle still looked at him, clearly trying to put on a brave face. He didn’t disagree with Synel, but they had a long road ahead of them. Hopefully, a lot could still change.

After another few days on the road, nothing had changed.

“Saw a couple birds earlier, not much else.” Cortez hefted her gun, looking off into the distance.

“That figures.” Summers watched the horizon, pushing down a pang of hunger. “Well, could still be something out there.”

Considering they were near what was probably the largest body of fresh water around, they’d expected to have run into something by now.

It was eerily similar to the canyon they’d found the fog in. Only on a much, much grander scale.

The hamr didn’t seem to differentiate between species, though from what little Summers could parse from his memories, he was fairly certain it needed people. Bottom line was that is spread like a virus, and probably had more than enough time to take root in the local ecosystems. Since everything needed to eat…

The only real question was what happened to the infected.

They’d stopped on a small hill overlooking a clearing around the river. The forest was thick, old wood that made travelling all that much harder. On more than one occasion Summers had needed to kick a fallen tree off the road. Though that was, admittedly, pretty fun.

He dug into the worryingly light pack at his horses’ side, pulling out the last of their MRE’s, a burrito bowl.

Part of him was a little sad to see it go.

Asle moved beside him, digging through her own pack. Summers thought for a moment before tossing the package to her. MRE’s had been more or less safe for him, so it followed that it should be the same for her. And she seemed to like them.

“…Thank you.” Asle gave Summers a half bow before she started to unwrap the package in her lap.

He’d noticed she’d been unusually quiet since they left the village. And it was clear she was still more than a little tense.

Summers sat beside her.

“You doing okay?”

She nodded.

Summers glanced over at Pat and Orvar, they were eating together by the horses, as if it were any other day.

“To die in battle is an honor.” Asle prompted.

Summers turned back to the girl, confused.

“What?”

“…My dad told me that.” Asle fiddled with the package, tearing it open. “They aren’t afraid because their… souls will be honored.”

Summers watched the girl skeptically.

“Was your dad a soldier?”

“No. Not… he was a chief… they’re supposed to fight.”

“…Oh.” Summers pulled over his pack. “Is that something you wanted to do? Fight?”

Asle hesitated.

“I don’t.” Summers explained. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m not afraid to fight. Or die. Well no, that’s a lie, I’m absolutely terrified, but I’m not about to let you show me up.”

Asle only smiled as Summers continued.

“Point is, this was always a job for me. Something I did so I could get my life on track.” Summers pulled a piece of hard tack from a pouch and took a chunk from it.

“…I don’t like hurting people.”

“I know. So, what do you want to do then? You’re gonna have to have a plan when we get through this, right?”

Asle seemed uncertain for a moment before she nodded again.

“I liked it when we were travelling. Exploring, and meeting new people.”

Summers allowed himself a moment to think about that. Despite everything that had happened, and discounting the parts he’d been fighting, or running for his life, it had been fun.

“…Yeah, I’d like that too.”

“Contact!” Cortez yelled from the other side of camp.

Summers immediately stood, lifting his weapon, and heading over to Cortez’ side. Asle gave a brief expression of worry before Pat and the others moved to cover her and Synel behind the mounts.

Summers saw a single figure breaking the horizon. Completely normal, save for the almost comically large arm at his side, one that was clearly not his own. He was dressed in the rough, earth toned clothing Summers had come to associate with the elves. A local.

As Summers watched, the man made no move towards them, he only stood there watching from the tree-line.

“Leave or we will open fire!” Nowak called over in Nos.

The man didn’t move for several long seconds.

Nowak glanced at Summers.

“…Sounded like you said it right.”

“Hey asshole!” Cortez yelled in English. “Get out of here!”

After another moment, the man turned, walking back into the trees.

“…Huh.” Summers remarked. “I guess he didn’t want any trouble.”

“There’s another six, near as I can see.”

Cortez climbed down from the tree, landing with a soft thud.

It had been half a week since they sighted the strange elven man watching them. Now, apparently, more of his friends had shown up. A lot more.

“Five on the other side.” Nowak called out.

“What the fuck are they doing?” Summers watched the distant men.

“Waiting, seems like.” Cortez watched the group that was staring at them from the tree-line. “Could always shoot ‘em.” She offered.

“At that distance, even I could only get one or two at best.” Summers eyed the men. They were at the extreme range for their rifles. He didn’t think that was a coincidence.

“No.” Nowak cautioned. “You remember what that thing did in town? We kill one, there’s a good chance the others will just pick it up and get it moving again. Besides which, we’re travelling light so we don’t have to deal with one of those big fuckers.”

“Yeah, but there’s a good chance they’re just waiting for reinforcements to rush us.” Summers countered.

“How are they talking to each other?” Cortez looked at the small group of people on the horizon. “It’s not like they have radios.”

“…I don’t know.”

Nowak considered that.

“We’ll rest tonight, I want to try outrunning them in the morning.”

“You want us to sleep with those things watching us?” Cortez looked skeptical.

“We need the horses to rest, they try to rush us they got a lot of ground to cover. Plenty to put them down.”

Summers thought for a moment, bringing his gun up and looking at the closest men through his scope.

There were a few soldiers mixed in with elven company. None of them wore any kind of expression. More importantly, he could see what they were looking at.

To Summers' surprise, every single one was staring right back at him.