Peyton took Louie's statement in with a small nod, then turned away. Louie set her Med bag down in a corner as Peyton moved to the front of the barn. He stood facing everyone, his stance relaxed but in command. Voices cut off and everyone turned to look at him.

"Thank you everyone for coming. I know all of you and so there is no need for introductions, so we will get going. Follow me," Peyton said.

He turned and left the barn at a quick jog. Ryland was the first one to quickly fall in behind Peyton, everyone else following suit. Their boots kicked up clouds of dirt as they went. Louie waited for the last person to exit before bringing up the rear. The group quickly fell into a natural pace, spreading themselves out to give each other the needed room. At the front Peyton turned and started shouting over the heads of everyone.

"Today we are going to keep it simple," Peyton said. "We'll start with a mile run before heading into training tactics. One of the keys to survival isn't just knowing the right amount of moves and skills, but having the stamina to be able to perform those moves after fighting for an hour. Find your rhythm and remember to keep breathing." 

He spun back around and picked up the pace, the members rushing to keep up with him. Heads turned as they raced by, clouds trailing behind them, making them look like one immense being.   

The chill in the air became a blessing as the team kept going, their unaccustomed bodies absorbing the breeze as it swept in and around them, cooling their heated skin. Louie's lungs started to burn. Her muscles ached and her boots felt as if they were made of lead, but she didn't stop. Peyton said something to the member that was right behind him, then slowed his pace. He moved through the group, checking on everyone until he came along side Louie. She kept her eyes focused before her, a grim determination set into her features.

"How are you doing?" Peyton asked, eyeing the sweat that was beading on her forehead.

Louie had the urge to punch him right then and there, but settled for saying a brief fine. Peyton opened his mouth but Louie spoke before he could, her words coming out in disjointed bursts.

"Peyton...if the next...thing you say... is that you are...going to go...easy on me...then I suggest...you keep it...to yourself..."

The sentence took all of Louie's strength, but the result had the desired effect. Peyton didn't say anything, only smiled.

"The thought never crossed my mind."

He picked up speed and resumed his position at the head of the team.

After they had run the perimeter four times, Peyton brought them back to the barn. Members came to stunted stops, their faces red and perspiration covering their foreheads. Some bent over their knees, fighting to get breath into their lungs, arms shaking slightly. Louie walked to the side of the barn and pulled off her jacket, tossing it aside.

Her lungs felt as if they were on fire and her legs felt as if they were made of jelly, but she forced herself to keep standing. She clasped her hands behind herself, taking in deep breathes. Peyton removed his jacket and looked around the group, his eyes seem to note those there were still standing and those that had opted for the ground.

"Alright, as I let you catch your breath, I'm going to go over the basics of what you should know about every Crawler. How they operate. How they react to certain things," Peyton said, his voice even, showing no sign he had even run a mile. 

Peyton pulled a makeshift dummy up to the front. It was made from straw and burlap sacks and held up by a  cross. Members settled themselves onto the ground, seeing that they were given a moments rest for the time being. Louie grabbed an old crate and perched on the side.

"What you have to know is that Crawlers don't feel pain. There is nothing you could do to them that would stop them from coming after you. But they can die and they are still human in the sense that their heart and brain need to be functioning in some capacity for them to keep moving. They bleed as well, but they will still chase you down to the last ounce of blood in their veins. That's why where you attack them is key."

Peyton, in one fluid movement, slipped his knife from its holster on his belt and brought it up to the dummy.

"Here are the main areas you should always target. Head, back of the neck on the spinal column and the heart."

He moved his knife to each point as he said them.

"I understand these places are not the easiest to get to, but they are the most effective and mean survival. You can go for the arms or legs, but they will still come after you. With that said, we are going to run through a few general maneuvers that you should get your body accustomed to, so that when something happens it reacts on instinct. Up." He made the command and it was instantly obeyed, the tone in his voice not letting anyone believe there was room to argue.

Louie stood, her legs protesting with the movement. Everyone made a semi circle around Peyton and watched as he demonstrated a series of movements, ranging from ducks, to rolls, to lunges. Louie wasn't sure what she had been expecting, but was surprised as she studied Peyton and felt that everything he did looked easy. He went through the whole routine three times before he stopped, facing the group.

"Alright, I want you find a section of the barn and go through the routine. I will walk around and correct you on any mistakes. Any questions?" Peyton asked.

Louie glanced at the faces of the team and realized they had the same thoughts she did. Peyton sensed what they were thinking and smirked.

"I understand what I just did looks simple, but remember that I am starting out with today are the basics. The movements that should be a gut reaction by the time we are done. Believe me, doing that routine with two knives clutched in your fists is a lot more difficult. Now move."

The command was obeyed and the team broke apart, finding corners and space to move around in. Louie slipped into one of the sections that had held the baby animals, the space not much bigger than three tables pushed together, but a good fit.

She slowly moved through the routine, the simple positions feeling awkward and foreign to her limbs. As she tucked and rolled to the side, she began to realize that it had only looked easy because Peyton was the one doing it. With each new step in the routine her muscles started to protest. By the time she had finished it altogether there was an ache that clung to her every step.

Peyton's footsteps and voice floated through the air, mixing with the grunts and mutterings of the member's as they came to the same realization Louie had, their untrained limbs revolting against the simple movement. Peyton made it to Louie as she was setting into doing the routine for the third time. She didn't notice him standing in the small doorway, her thoughts zeroed in on doing every movement just so, controlling her body that was fighting against her.

"You have good control," Peyton said.

Every muscle in Louie tensed, startled by his presence. She turned and faced him, working to keep her breathing from sounding too labored. Peyton stepped forward.

"Do the roll and lunge again."

Louie did as Peyton asked, her hair a wild mess, falling into her face as she rolled over the ground and settled onto her feet. Peyton raised a hand stopping her.

"Hold your position. The roll is more than just the actual act of rolling. Its rolling and landing in a position that you could naturally rise from. Try to rise."

Louie did so but she lost her balance and stumbled as she came up. In a second Peyton was in front of her, his hand inches from her neck. Shocked at his sudden closeness, Louie tried to step back but found the wood wall pressed against her back.

"See in the instant you were unbalanced I had the advantage over you and you would be dead."

Peyton took a step back and Louie relaxed her shoulders, understanding coming to her.

"Seconds mean life or death," Peyton said. "You hesitate, you stumble, you falter for even the mere hint of a moment and that could be all it takes. That's why this isn't some simple routine. Its about knowing exactly where to place your foot. How to stand so that you are always prepared. Crouching in a way that your legs won't get stiff. Now, watch."

Peyton demonstrated the roll, his body like liquid, easily pivoting off the earth and then settling into a crouched position that was solid, before he rose effortlessly.  Louie nodded.

"Now, do the lunge," Peyton said.

Louie lunged forward, her legs screaming with the pain, but she kept her face blank. Peyton walked over to her and tapped her on the shoulder. With the simple touch Louie staggered to the side, and fell into the wall.

"Your legs are too far apart. Its not about how far you can go, but how far you can go and still be stable. Again."

Righting herself, Louie lunged again, this time keeping her feet closer together. Peyton pressed on her shoulder, but Louie was ready for it and anchored her feet more firmly on the ground. Peyton nodded, but then pushed just slightly harder and Louie stumbled again, her locked legs unable to respond fast enough. Peyton's hand shot out and caught her arm before she hit the wall, pulling back into a standing position.

"Tensing your muscles and locking your legs will get you killed. Your strength and stability need to come from the core." Peyton place a hand on his abdomen. "It's how you can move fluidly as well as standing with the solidity of a boulder. Make sense?"

Louie nodded, though every muscle felt weak and drained.

"Now lunge again. Don't focus on keeping your feet planted, but tightening your core."

Louie lunged again, tensing her abs. This time when Peyton pushed on her shoulder her stance was solid. He pushed harder and Louie felt herself about to stagger, but Peyton stabilized her with a hand on her shoulder.

"This is also why you practice the moves, so that when you feel yourself about to fall, your body will naturally go into a roll. Your downward momentum becomes an asset instead of a hinderance."

Louie straightened, Peyton's hand falling away.

"Keep going through it and remember that every action should be purposeful and draw strength from your center."

Peyton then left and his voice drifted back to Louie as he moved onto the next member and she started the routine all over again.

Peyton's voice called out for everyone to come back to the front awhile later and Louie fell in step behind Ryland, who for once, wasn't talking.

"Now, lets run," Peyton said.

Louie could almost hear the inaudible groans emanating from every member's mind as Peyton turned to the open door and headed out into the night. Louie didn't wait this time, instead trailed after him, her whole body numb with a deep ache that coursed through her muscles. At the sight of Louie taking the lead, every member quickly put their unspoken protests aside and followed suit. It didn't take long before Louie was passed by everyone but she barely noticed, her mind pulling up every ounce of strength she had to put one foot in front of the other. 

The sky was streaked over head with soft sunset colors, their tail ends stretching out into the horizon. The dark shapes of the broken down building and bare trees standing out against the sky. Peyton led them back into the barn after going twice around the perimeter. Louie felt like she might throw up as she stopped walking but held it in and settled onto the crate. Silence filled the space as everyone tried to drink their body weight in water.

"Do the routine twice and you are free to go," Peyton called out.

Everyone moved sluggishly to their original sections, their faces showing their bodies haggard feelings. Louie forced herself to stay concentrated on her core and keeping her balance as she went through each move. But her body was winning in the battle against her mind. Her movements more clumsy than coordinated. By the time she was done, her body was screaming in pain and she felt she might pass out from the strain, but she held herself together by shear power of will.

Stepping back into the main area, she found that she was one of the last people there. Louie moved over to the water faucet and started drinking, the cool liquid refreshing her weary body. Sweat clung to her arms and face, and made her clothes stick to her body. Every muscle seemed to be revolting against her. Every limb felt as if it weighted a million pounds and every thought was stolen away by the ache that was attacking her. Footsteps sounded behind her and Louie turned to see Peyton standing by the doorway looking at her. Though Louie felt she might die from the effort, she clasped her hands behind her back and straightened her spin.

"You don't have anything to prove to me," Peyton said.

Louie made no reply. A long moment passed between them in which Louie felt her arms shake from the effort of holding them behind her.

"I can close up," Louie said.

Peyton nodded and left. When she could no longer hear his footsteps, Louie collapsed onto the floor. She debated whether she would have the strength to get up again. As she sat there she knew that Peyton was one of the top people she had to prove something to.

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