Through The Ashes

16

"Windridge. Big neighborhood. Big houses," Nicky said, scanning the faces of everyone in the tent. "Riverside. Big town. Small and tight spaces."

Del stood at the back of the tent, arms crossed as he listened in silence to the group's discussion. His sharp eyes darted between Jorn and the others.

Jorn's thoughts were split between practicality and unease.

Windridge seemed like the safer bet—quiet, deserted, with the potential for untouched supplies. But she couldn't shake the feeling that the emptiness might be deceiving. Big houses meant big risks too, just in different ways. Hidden dangers. Traps. People still desperate enough to be lurking.

And Riverside...

The thought alone made her stomach twist.

Too much movement. Too many unknowns. It was a busy area before everything went to hell, and the idea of navigating through its narrow, cluttered streets now, swarming with hordes of The Rot or survivors who'd do anything to keep what they had—made her uneasy.

In all honesty, no one wanted to go to Riverside, but they couldn't leave any stone unturned.

Windridge made the most sense. Fewer unknowns, quieter, maybe less chance of running into something dangerous. But she couldn't ignore that Riverside, with all its risks, could be a goldmine. They needed to stay ahead of their inventory.

"We thought of splitting up into two groups of five," Brady said. "One team goes east, one team goes west."

"Splitting up," Del began, his deep voice cutting through the quiet. "It's an option, but not without risks of its own."

He looked around the circle, his gaze settling briefly on Jorn before continuing. "Riverside is dangerous, no question. More infected, more movement, more uncertainty. But it's also more likely to have what we need—food, medicine, supplies we can use. Windridge? Yeah, it's quiet. Might have a few things lying around, but nothing guaranteed."

"Jorn," Del said, nodding toward her, "You willing to take point on Windridge? Now is your time." His eyes were searching hers, finally testing her after her bold act of disobedience.

Jorn held her ground, Del's eyes heavy with expectation. His question hung in the air, and for a moment, the whole tent seemed to be holding its breath, waiting for her response.

"Yeah," Jorn said curtly. "I'll take point on Windridge."

"Good," Del said, nodding. "Becca, Mara, Eli, and Yosef will go with you. You'll need to cover more ground, so pack accordingly."

"And the Riverside group?" Brady asked, eager to get the hunt finalized.

Del turned his attention to Brady, scanning the room again. "Brady, you'll take Silas, Harrem, Ana, and Gareth. The hunt at Riverside will only commence when Jorn and her group come back. I can't risk all ten of you out at the same time."

"Sounds good to me," Brady said.

"Jorn. You'll leave at first light in two days," Del continued. "Yosef's your backup. Eli and Becca will carry supplies. Mara will stay near you in case anything unexpected happens."

Jorn nodded, her facial expression stone.

"I'm proud of each and every one of you for getting together and working as a team on these plans," Nicky said softly. "Doing what you do is not easy, but you do it, putting others before yourselves. You are brothers and sisters bound not by blood, but by unfortunate circumstances and courage."

Nicky's words hung in the air, soft but powerful, touching a deep chord within. It was a rare moment of openness for someone who was usually all business.