I hadn't taken more than ten steps before the man came to his senses and jogged to catch up. He gave me a wide berth of space, which was a wise move on his part. We caught up with Daniel moments later since he had been lagging to allow us to catch up.

Daniel glanced at him, "As you probably guessed, I am Daniel. What were you doing so far from the road?"

The man was nervous in the company of two zombies, "I'm Joe. Liz said that zombies walk along the roads, but not many were away from it. Turns out she was right. I was heading to another Stronghold and hoping to leave Liz there before I started sneezing. Every place so far has turned her away since she still has that cold. It's just a cold right?"

Daniel nodded absently, "Liz just has the cold. It has been showing up in quite a few Strongholds."

Joe sighed in relief, "That is good to hear."

He stopped talking as he saved his breath for walking. Liz was quite happy on my shoulders as she looked around with no fear.

What took less than two minutes to run at zombie speed, took us at least fifteen to walk at a swift pace that had Joe breathing hard. We exited the trees to see all of the humans anxiously awaiting our return.

Nina was in the driver seat in case trouble showed up, but was looking toward the tree line. She did a hilarious double take at the child on my shoulder. Nicky was standing in the back of the truck impatiently waiting for us to get closer, "Shit girl! You almost gave me a heart attack when you jumped off the truck like that. Give me some warning next time!"

Daniel snorted as he added his two cents, "You could have just told me to stop the truck."

I rolled my eyes at both of them before picking Liz off my shoulders and passing her up to Nicky, "I wasn't sure how much time I had to get over there when I caught the scent of her blood. For all I knew, a zombie had cornered her. Turns out that she just skinned her knees."

Nicky grinned at the child as she helped her into the back of the truck, "Hey Liz! Long time no see! How did you get out here?"

Daniel answered those questions for her, "She was turned away from Strongholds since she was sneezing. Marissa ran into the same problem that many travelers face when camping in unsecured buildings."

Nicky winced, "Ah. I see." Then she perked up as she turned to Liz, "Well, you can certainly travel with us." Nicky paused as she looked at the rather dirty man, "Wow. I don't think you could get your clothing any dirtier if you actually tried. I know Daniel has a spare shirt in his bag. Probably have to wait until we get to a Stronghold for pants that will fit though."

The man looked a bit embarrassed. I climbed into the truck to reclaim my recently abandoned seat. Daniel leaned over the side of the truck to dig in his bag. He tossed the purple and blue shirt toward the man, "You can keep that."

Nicky huffed in indignation, "That Terror really needs to work on his gratitude. Just giving away gifts. At least he will actually wear it."

Daniel updated Nina while Joe quickly tossed his filthy shirt on the side of the road before putting on the one that Nicky had so carefully colored with Daniel in mind. Nina had a syringe ready by the time he finished, "So do you want the cure or a serum to allow you to remain in control when you turn?"

"The cure please."

I wasn't even sure why Nina asked after getting the same answer over 300 times. Maybe we would find one crazy person who didn't mind drinking blood for the rest of their life. Liz climbed into my lap and I stifled my annoyance. Why me? There are three humans in the back of this truck. She could have picked any of them. Perhaps I should have stuck her in the cab of the truck with Nina...

Nina injected the cure and gestured to the truck, "Hop in. That cure should remove the infection within 6 hours, so you can stay at any Stronghold we stop at or continue with us."

If Nina keeps inviting people along, we are going to need a bus... Joe nodded slowly before getting into the truck, "Thank you. Once I can approach animals, I will stay at that location. I don't want to impose upon you."

The smell of his fear when he glanced at me or Daniel told the real reason that he was not planning to come with us for long. Just long enough to ensure that the cure truly worked.

Nicky frowned at him before pointing imperiously toward Logan and John, "Boys sit on that side and girls get this side. Girls can cross the line if they want, but the guys could get slashed by Trinity if they try it."

Joe didn't argue and quickly took a seat between Logan and John as he put his back against the cab. I raised my eyebrow at Nicky, "I have not slashed anyone yet. You are just trying to hog all of the available room."

The sleeping bags had been tied to the tailgate, so there was more room than previously, but we had other supplies such as gas and food that still took up quite a bit of room.

Nicky was unrepentant, "It keeps me happy."

For Nicky, that was actually a valid argument. Daniel started the truck and we resumed our drive. The smell of the zombie infection in Joe's blood was annoying. Liz sat quietly in my lap and just watched the scenery go by.

Logan kept watching Liz in my lap with a perplexed expression. My behavior was so vastly different from those other Nightstalkers he had met that he had a hard time believing what he was seeing. He didn't comment or ask any questions though.

Liz sneezed once before leaning back with a yawn as she closed her eyes. Within seconds she was asleep as she leaned against me.

~

I nodded toward Nicky, "Why don't you ask Nicky to show you some string tricks?"

Liz obediently looked in Nicky's direction. Nicky was also willing to be distracted from her cloud watching and managed to dig a spare shoelace out of her bag. To my disappointment, Liz didn't leave my lap as she watched Nicky make the string move and twist in various ways.

Daniel spoke, "There are two zombies ahead and I doubt I can avoid the Runner. Can you keep it at bay Trinity?"

The zombies were on opposite sides of the road and going in the ditch was not an option along this part of the highway. The Runner was almost certain to get his hands on the truck. I nodded as I shifted Liz off my lap, "Yes."

I was surprised that this was the first time I had to do this during this trip. Daniel had been able to avoid the previous ones. I moved toward John, "Move over. You aren't going to want this corner until that guy is behind us."

After traveling with us for so long, John was aware that I didn't like people in my personal space and he moved to the other side of the truck. I kneeled just behind the cab and waited for us to get closer. Nicky pulled Liz to the middle of the truck bed and made her sit down. She didn't want to chance the normal zombie managing to reach them from the other side.

The growls and snarls of Runner could be heard long before he got close. Joe jumped as the Runner banged on Nina's door. I took that as my cue to lean over the side of the truck and snarl viciously at the zombie. It took a couple of steps back in surprise. Then we were past it.

I heard Daniel exhale slowly. My challenging snarl would have sparked his instincts just as much as mine would have if a Runner had snarled at me. Daniel had swerved just far enough away that the slower normal zombie wasn't able to reach the truck.

I moved back to my spot. The three men in the back were watching me with surprise and unease. Nicky yawned as she moved to where she had been previously. Liz looked curious as she climbed back into my lap, "How did you make that noise? It sounded like a doggy."

Nicky started snickering and I narrowed my eyes at the redhead. This had better not become my new nickname... I turned back to face the inquisitive child, "It is a sound that zombies can make when they choose."

"You aren't a zombie."

I sighed. I had never thought that I would be arguing with someone to convince them that I was, in fact, a zombie. "Well, I am."

She shook her head in denial, "No. Zombies eat people. You have never eaten anyone."

Nicky was having far too much fun listening to this debate. I tried to explain things to Liz once more, "Not all zombies eat people. Some still have a human mind. Those ones don't eat people."

She tilted her head as she tried to understand, "So you are a good zombie?"

I give up... "We'll go with that."

"Cool!"

I was not the only person to give Liz an odd look. Her eyes were shining with the excitement of her new discovery. "Do all good zombies use a bow? I remember you helped me shoot my bow."

Oh boy, what have I gotten myself into this time? I sighed heavily as I resigned myself to answering questions for a while, "Shooting a bow is like dancing. Anyone can do it with practice. Sane zombies are a lot like people. We can learn things."

"What is a sane zombie?"

"One that can talk and doesn't try to eat you." In theory, there could be a sane mute out there somewhere, but I highly doubted that Liz would meet one anytime within the next decade.

She nodded seriously, although she was still excited, "Do all zombies have red eyes?"

"All zombies have red eyes, but sane zombies can change the color of their eyes if they want." I noticed that all three men looked surprised at that fact. I wasn't sure why it surprised Logan or John, they had both seen Daniel change his eye color. Maybe they had not been aware that it was a conscious choice.

Liz nodded eagerly, "Can I see your eyes?"

I shook my head, "Some zombies have problems when it is sunny like this and I am one of them. Remind me once it is dark out."

I would have thought that Logan knew that Nightstalkers were light sensitive, but it looked like this was new information to him. It wasn't exactly uncommon knowledge, so he was probably just surprised to hear it confirmed. John looked intrigued and simply listened. Joe was listening as well.

Liz was a bit disappointed, but didn't argue, "Okay." She looked at the passing trees, "Where are we going?"

"We are traveling to other Strongholds to spread the cure for the sneezing zombie virus."

She looked confused, "I was sneezing, but I'm not a zombie."

These questions were grating on my patience as all questions did, "You have a cold. Some colds make people sneeze. It is a different virus."

"Are there any kids there?"

"I have no idea."

Thankfully she fell silent as she got distracted by watching Nicky play with the rubik's cube. I turned toward Joe, "Do you plan to take care of Liz when you find a place to stay?"

He shook his head, "No, I only looked after her because I was the only person around. She knows you, and considering she's on your lap, she's probably more familiar with your group."

Nicky glanced at Joe before looking at Liz, "Hey Liz, do you want to go with Joe or stay with us?"

"I want to stay with you guys."

Joe shrugged, "There you go."

That had not been my original hope. I honestly knew nothing about kids and I couldn't even foist her off on Marissa now. It was bad enough just trying to keep an eye on Nicky. I didn't need to add a fearless seven year old into the equation.

~

As we drove up to the Stronghold gate, I glanced at Joe, "Animals will still avoid you at the moment, but you should really grab a shower and a set of clean clothes while Nina checks this place for any who are infected."

He nodded silently, although my comment that he wasn't fully cured yet seemed to have disappointed him. I wasn't really concerned about what this man did in the Stronghold or if he was too slow and got left behind. I had a different and more pressing concern.

I eyed up Liz and Nicky. So far Nicky had been so well behaved in the various Strongholds that it was making me uneasy that my luck was about to run out in a rather unfortunate way. I knew nothing about how to keep a kid out of trouble either.

Is it possible to kill two birds with one stone? I knew that in real life I stood a chance of making a rock do that particular trick, but this was a different type of ball game with some rather unorthodox players who were probably not about to follow the rules.

"Nicky, you are in charge of looking after Liz."

Nicky nodded, "Sure."

I really hope I don't regret this... I was past having second thoughts about my idea. I was into fifth and sixth thoughts already. Perhaps I needed more backup on this...

I glanced at John and Logan, "And you two are in charge of keeping her out of trouble."

Logan winced slightly at that unfavorable task. John scratched his head, "I am not sure if I am able to assist in that one. Can I watch the kid instead?"

Nicky grinned at the hapless two men, "Oh, you two are so screwed. And no, I am the one who gets to look after Liz."

I growled faintly, "Language Nicky. If she starts repeating such words, I will be blaming you."

"Sorry."

Liz was in my lap once more. She looked up at me as she attempted to mimic my growl. Nicky rolled over howling in laughter. The others were all snickering or chuckling. I shook my head in faint amusement at the irony of who Liz chose to copy, "That was not quite what I had expected."

Liz looked around in slight confusion at their reaction before grinning as she realized that she had made them all laugh. So much for Nicky being the bad influence...