He shook my hand, but kept his weapon between us.

 

“We’re not looking for trouble, but it’s been a while since we’ve seen anyone alive up here.” He said.

 

I waved off his apology, noticing that Sarah still had her gun at the ready. “That’s alright, don’t worry about it. It’s a dangerous world out here, you can’t be too careful.”

 

The boy stepped out from behind his father and pushed back the brim of his hat, appraising me with the same bright blue eyes as his mother. “How many of you are there?” He asked.

 

“What makes you think I’m not alone?”

 

“Nobody could survive up here by themselves for long. You don’t look starved, and your clothes are clean. Somebody has to be helping you.”

 

I grinned. The kid was sharp. “You’re right. My friend Gabriel is back up the trail a little ways. He should be along shortly.”

 

“Why didn’t he come with you?” The woman asked, her tone suspicious.

 

A deep, rough voice called out from the hillside behind me. “Just wanted to make sure you folks were friendly.”

 

We all jumped.

 

Gabe appeared from out of nowhere, pushing back the hood of his ghillie suit and striding into the clearing. The tall, powerfully built ex-Marine wore a thick cloak of foliage and leaves, and carried his rifle with the large scope still mounted to the upper rail. A pair of piercing grey eyes stared out from beneath heavy black brows on a face that carried a painful collection of scars. Tom took an involuntary step back and dropped a nervous hand to the pistol on his hip. Gabe stopped in his tracks and held up a hand, white teeth contrasting with a black beard that widened into a smile.

 

“Whoa now folks, I know I’m ugly, but that don’t mean you need to shoot me for it.”

 

Nobody laughed, but after a few tense seconds they did at least relax their grips on their weapons a bit. Gabriel walked over to hand me his rifle and began extricating himself from his ghillie suit.

 

“How did you get so close to us? I didn’t even hear you.” Tom said, a little shaken.

 

“I’ve been sneaking around in the woods since I was knee-high to a grasshopper. Got pretty good at it after a while.” Gabe replied, still smiling.

 

I gave him an irritated glare while he rolled up his camouflage and strapped it to the bottom of his pack. I very much wanted to ask him what the hell he was thinking stalking down the hill like that and scaring these poor people half to death. When he finished sorting himself out, he put his gear back on and I handed him his rifle.

 

“I have to admit, I’m surprised to see you folks. Eric and I haven’t seen anyone up this way since the Outbreak.” Gabe said.

 

“We haven’t been here long.” Sarah said, eyeing Gabe suspiciously.

 

Brian stared at Gabriel with open curiosity and stepped closer to him.

 

“What’s that?” The boy asked pointing to the sword on his hip.