I sat in the truck bed with my back against the cab. Hank and Ben had gone over a map they had found and they chose a route that we would try to follow in hopes of finding a Stronghold.

Tom had been persistent enough to get himself and the children to ride in the cab as Hank drove. The others sat in the truck bed with me. Nicky had no problems sitting beside me. Ben was still leery of me and gave me my space. Marissa seemed to have gotten over the worst of her fears, but she still didn't come close.

The horn honked and I rose into a crouch. We passed a Runner who reached for the truck, if it got a good grip, it could pull itself in with us. I lunged forward with a ferocious snarl as I swiped out with my nails. My sudden presence startled it and it balked with a snarl of its own. The truck was out of reach within a second. I resumed my seat. Chloe had her tail tucked and whined in fear. We had tied her to the truck just in case she tried to jump.

With the debris and pot holes in the road we couldn't go that fast and Runners were a potential threat. I had said that I could keep one or two at bay as long as we kept moving. I don't think they realized exactly what that entailed at the time. Ben and Marissa were white and their eyes were round at my method of keeping the Runner at bay. Nicky was grinning widely while sporting her new sunglasses.

Nicky elbowed my side lightly. I raised an eyebrow at her with a light growl. She wasn't fazed as she grinned at me, "I love having a zombie as a friend. You make things interesting."

Yep. She had definitely been dropped on her head as a child. I shook my head at her unique outlook on life. Of all people to not be bothered by the fact that I was a zombie...

To my surprise she wrapped an arm around me, "You may be growly, but deep down you are just a big softy. Why else would you hang out with humans?" I didn't appreciate the contact.

I rolled my eyes before swiftly wrapping my arm around her neck and giving her a noogie. She flailed her arms as she tried to get me off. I was gentle and released her seconds later. Ben was watching in shock as Nicky took it all in stride. She lightly punched my arm in retaliation as we grinned at each other. She raised her eyebrows, "So you can put the run on the Runners, what about other Nightstalkers or Terrors?"

"They would have to be feral to come after us. I have the upper hand over another Nightstalker because I am in control and can use weapons. I have never met a Terror before, but they are stronger and faster than Nightstalkers."

She frowned, "So if we come across a Terror we're screwed?"

I nodded, "Pretty much. I wouldn't be able to hold one off for more than three or four seconds and you wouldn't be able to get away in that much time. I might be able to grab one of the children and run, but if it gave chase we would be done for."

She made a face, "Let's avoid Terrors then."

Ben muttered, "I don't think it is something you can plan for. Our original plan had been to avoid all zombies and now I am sitting in the box of a truck with one."

I snorted, "If you had let me out of that store earlier, you would likely still be oblivious."

He made a face as Nicky laughed. Her laughter was interrupted as the truck suddenly slowed to a stop. I stood up and looked forward. I gave a growl of irritation at the sight that met my eyes. The bridge had washed out. The deep swift water wasn't something even this jacked up truck could cross. Hank opened the driver's door, "I guess we have to backtrack and use the other road. Hopefully that bridge is intact. But I have bad news."

Ben frowned, "What is it?"

Hank sighed, "This truck is terribly hard on gas and we are under a quarter tank."

Nicky piped up, "Stop by any other vehicles and we can try to siphon their gas out."

Hank nodded and got back inside. I sat down as the truck started moving. Nicky pulled out the tubing that she had insisted on taking from the store. She had planned to siphon gas when she packed it in the truck. I wondered what kind of a past this fierce and yet crazy lady had. On one hand she was a crazy lunatic, on the other hand she was a fierce spitfire with a touchy temper that matched her red hair.

I had noticed her scent shift the tiniest bit a few times and I had a suspicion that she was bipolar. Technically I was dealing with two people and no medication to make them get along. Her crazy self seemed to like me while her grouchy fighter personality gave me the same grudging respect that she gave Hank.

I watched the river grow more distant. I hoped that this truck wouldn't give out on us too soon.

~

Nicky groaned, "We have to walk again?!"

No one answered her since the answer was obvious. We weren't exactly on foot by choice. Every other vehicle we had checked had also run out of gas. The truck now joined the others as a roadside monument to show that we did not make it to our destination.

Ben looked at his map, "In theory, the Strongholds are within a day's drive of each other. They don't like being out at night. Not only can they not see any approaching zombies, but Nightstalkers come out to play. No offense Trinity..."

"None taken." I scanned the horizon and tested the air. Seven nervous humans, various large mammals somewhere nearby, and the faint hint of sun warmed concrete. The concrete was actual concrete and not just the hot tarmac we were standing on. I looked at Ben, "Is there a town nearby? I am scenting some sort of building. We can probably take shelter there or find another vehicle."

Ben glanced at me in surprise, "I am not exactly sure where we are on this road, but there should be another small hamlet ahead somewhere."

Nicky headed for the trees, "Well, let's get this show on the road. The sooner we move, the sooner we can rest."

We followed her. Tom and Marissa insisted on carrying the kids. I let them, if we crossed a zombie I would be the one to intercept it. Nicky looked back at me, "It was in this direction right?" She had been getting grouchier as we had been walking. Her scent was also starting to shift under the scent of sweat.

I nodded, "The smell is much stronger. We should reach it in another ten minutes or so." I could smell zombies as well. I didn't scent any Runners though.

Before too long we were looking at the small town. It was even smaller than the last one. Five stores and maybe a dozen houses. I wasn't even sure it rated the classification of a hamlet. Perhaps it qualified as some sort of residence for a family reunion...

Two zombies staggered around. I took a step forward, "Let me get rid of those two zombies. Wait here, give a holler if something shows up, but I am not scenting anything other than those two."

I jogged toward a small house. The zombies swiftly noticed me and gave chase. I opened the door and went inside and out the back door, closing it behind me. I swiftly went around and closed the front door. That should suffice. This house didn't have large windows or glass doors, so the zombies wouldn't be able to escape.

I quickly checked out the town, but other than the two zombies, I didn't find anything. I thoroughly checked the grocery store. It was tiny, smaller than many houses. It had been looted at one point and the back door was missing. I did catch a faint whiff of a man, but it was so weak that it was likely days old. I returned to those waiting for me, "All clear. Just avoid that one house. Not much in the grocery store, someone beat us to it. No way to secure it either."

Ben nodded, "Can you check out that hotel while we scavenge in the grocery store?"

I nodded, "Give a holler if you need help."

I checked every room in the small hotel. The short hallways only had six large rooms so it didn't take long. This place obviously didn't get many tourists. The funniest part was that this place had a flat roof with lawn chairs and a raised firepit. We could actually have a cooked meal. The roof had raised sides that formed a waist high parapet, so the kids weren't in danger of falling off.

Nicky came out of the grocery store and waved at me. I waved back before vaulting off the hotel roof. My knees bent to absorb the impact as I landed on the grass, dropping off of a one-story building was well within my Nightstalker abilities. Nicky looked jealous as I approached her, "Show off. This place is pretty well empty, what did you find over there?"

I shrugged, "Six rooms and no zombies. There is a patio and firepit on the roof though."

"Sweet. We can finally have a hot meal."

I kept an eye out for trouble as we all headed to the hotel. I volunteered to collect firewood in case there were more zombies around. It was a task I didn't mind. I got a breath of fresh air that wasn't tainted by the close proximity of humans.