I climbed up to the highest point of the jungle gym and sat on a cross joint in the ropes. My eyes strayed to where Diane was teaching fighting practice yet again. Ace was helping her. None of those he was teaching could get a touch on him unless he allowed it.

He had been fired two weeks ago, but even before that point, his fighting skills were so good that none of the fired people could get a touch on him. Well, other than Diane of course. It had been a humbling experience for those who thought that simply having Heartfire gave them the advantage over someone who wasn't fired.

Most of those below were from that big group we brought back from the settlement. The ones who wanted to be messengers were pushing themselves hard. They were counting the days until Roland would allow them to get the Heartfire virus.

They had already agreed that they would not go out as Messengers until Roland cleared them as sufficiently trained. That meant that they needed not only fighting skills to survive an ambush or a Swift, but familiarity of common edible plants so they didn't starve, as well as knowledge about bartering and how much something was worth.

They also needed to have Heartfire for at least three months before being released to live out their dream of being a Messenger while being able to use Sanctuary as their home base. They didn't resent any of the rules and were very excited about the training. Every one of them gave it their all when it came to any kind of training.

They weren't the only ones on that crowded field either. Over fifty others were either practicing existing skills or learning new ones. Roland had put in an order for twelve more trucks. He planned to break them into two groups of six. Dave's group was getting one set and someone else was putting together their own group as well. Sanctuary would soon have three trading caravans.

A mechanical squealing noise made me glance over my shoulder towards the cliff. That rock-boring tool was nearly worn out and it was a good thing that Roland had found more to replace it. It was no wonder that the original tools had almost worn out.

We had started carving a few homes on the fourth and fifth ledge, but were mostly expanding the first, second and third ledges as we built more homes. There were finally enough homes for everyone to have their own. We didn't slow down in our building though, not with the slow trickle of newcomers that occasionally returned with Roland on his trips.

Sandy and Ace still resided in our guest rooms since they had no desire to have a home of their own and Diane didn't mind the company. We were rarely inside the rooms unless we were sleeping.

I was somewhat bored up here since the other children were with their parents elsewhere. This close to the cliffs, the meadow was very sheltered from wind, but I could still feel the cold breeze. Snow had appeared a few days ago, but had melted. If it fell again, it wouldn't be melting at this temperature.

I had known winter would return one day. I was very glad that we were in Sanctuary with its shelter and preserved stores of food. Roland had traded for most of our food, but we had supplied all of our own fodder and animal feed. Roland had also traded for several harvesters and other farm tools that could be pulled behind a horse or one of our new solar tractors.

I looked up just in time for a snowflake to hit my nose as it gently descended from heaven. Winter was truly here to stay until spring decided to make its appearance. I knew this winter would be much different from my last one in Bethany Fort.

Oddly enough, the snowflake reminded me of the night I had first spotted Diane from the window of my home. My eyes strayed to the energetic and focused lady who was correcting the form of some people. I honestly couldn't imagine life without her now. As much as I loved Sanctuary, I knew if she left that I would follow.

I doubted she would though. I could tell that she loved it here. Sanctuary was a place where she was welcomed for who she was and the skills she had. Her glowing eyes and abilities no longer made her stand out when so many others had the same eyes.

She was accepted here. I was accepted. Not only accepted, but welcomed with friendship that somehow ran deeper than the mere word could convey. The feeling reminded me of the love that my family shared.

That was it. Those in Sanctuary were closer to family than to friends. We all lived together, worked together, had the same goals, and we supported everyone wherever we could. It was a wild and zombie-filled world out there and we worked together to get through it.

It never took more than a week or so for any newcomer to find their niche and try their best to become part of the community. No one judged anyone else. Those with Heartfire never looked down on those slower or weaker than them. Those without Heartfire never begrudged those who had it.

We all accepted each other's differences and similarities. It was the very foundation of Sanctuary and how it had been built. Like a big family, we didn't always get along perfectly, but any differences of opinion were worked through like adults as those involved came to a compromise.

It was odd to think that I might once more have a family. Only this family was nearly 200 people at this point...

I followed Diane in curiosity as she went to track down the Messengers who had just been cleared for duty. It was late November, but they finally had enough training to satisfy Roland. He had requested that they travel in groups of threes for their first few trips. They had readily agreed and had gone off to pack up as they practically flew through the air in their exhilaration.

Six groups of Messengers were eagerly packing. They had worked out routes that allowed them regular contact with every settlement at least once a month. One of the groups was heading towards Wainwright and Diane had a letter to send.

The Messengers had already declared that they would charge any citizen of Sanctuary a discounted rate for to deliver letters or small parcels. Quite a few others had written letters in preparation for their first trips.

One young man left a room and Diane hailed him, "Hey Trevor, do you have a second?"

Trevor stopped with a grin, "Certainly. What can I do for you?"

He was still on cloud 9 after Roland's announcement and he had probably seen the fat envelope and payment in Diane's hand.

"I heard you are planning on eventually going to Wainwright Fort?"

"Yes, they are the fifth stop on our circuit." I grinned as he almost added the word Ma'am. A few of the Messengers-to-be had tried to use that title of respect, but Diane liked it about as much as Roland liked being called Sir. Trevor had been one of main culprits, but he had made the mistake of calling her that on the training field. Diane had left him flopped down in a snowbank in exhaustion with numerous bruises as trophies. He had never uttered that word again.

"Would you be willing to carry my letter to Wainwright Fort? I have a few things to offer for payment, which would you prefer?" Diane held up a few items in her other hand. All were small, light, and, with Diane's usual approach, valuable enough to count as overpaying.

Trevor nodded and took the letter before tucking it in his backpack, "I will certainly deliver it."

Diane spread out the payment items in her hands, "Thank you. Take your pick. Which one would you like?"

Trevor took a step back with a grin, "None of them. There is no charge."

I blinked in surprise. No charge? But I knew for a fact that the Messengers had accepted payment for every other letter they had promised to deliver. Diane looked just as surprised as I did.

"What do you mean no charge? I can't possibly ask you to do something for nothing. Besides, I know that you declared a discounted rate, not a free ride." I wondered if Trevor was aware of what can of worms he opened up. Diane always overpaid for having something delivered.

Trevor had clearly been warned about her overpaying obsession and his grin only got wider, "We will never charge you to deliver a mere letter."

Diane snorted, still halfway amused at his stubbornness, "That excuse is rubbish and you know it. I know you took payment from others. Pick your payment or something will mysteriously appear in your room or backpack."

I shook my head at the battle Trevor had picked. Diane hated taking advantage of people and was determined to work hard for what she got in return. She wasn't about to let go of this matter lightly either.

Trevor waved her comment off, "Don't bother, it will simply reappear in your room once I find it."

Diane rolled her eyes, "Then give me my letter back and I will go pay one of the other two in your group."

Trevor chuckled, "Oh, but they won't take the payment either. No Messenger will."

Diane narrowed her eyes at him, "And why not?"

Trevor lost his teasing expression and his face clearly showed the respect and admiration he held for Diane, "No Messenger will ever take payment from you for delivering something small. Without the Heartfire running through your veins, and your willingness to share it, we would never have had the opportunity to do this. Without it, none of this would have been possible. This is our way of paying you back for the gift you have given us that we enjoy every day."

Diane watched him for several seconds, but he was clearly not teasing this time. Diane shook her head, "Well, you can keep enjoying it, but take something for payment. It is your first trip after all. If you want to repay me, then please make sure it doesn't get water damaged."

Trevor grinned once more, "Ah, but keeping letters dry is part of our job. Messengers get to choose if they accept a letter and we also get to decide on the price. My price is free. I will also deliver your letter within two weeks unless disaster strikes."

Trevor turned and quickly jumped onto a slide to escape to ground level. He stopped and waved at Diane, "We will be back by Christmas, so until then, have fun!" He quickly sprinted towards the kitchen where the two others in his group were waiting.

Diane watched them go, "Oh... This isn't over..."

I remained silent. Trevor would have been smarter to take a payment now and just claim that she still had credit on file for later letters. Diane wasn't one to not pay for something, and when she was determined, not much could stand in her way. She clearly didn't count the blood donation as a payment.

I thought Messengers' gesture of gratitude was very thoughtful. How all of them had come to the same resolution was a mystery for another day, but I suspected that it had been a much-debated topic. They would have also had to have spoken with someone more familiar with Diane to know that she insisted on overpaying.

Other than some people in Roland's original crew, I wasn't aware of anyone who knew how much Diane paid for letters. The list of suspects was quite short.