Seperated; The Milton Ranch

"Really...I can't thank you enough." said Jim Milton, resting on one of the beds, clutching his bandaged arm.

"No problem I guess..." Jess sighed, finishing up with his bandage and motioning to stand up.

"We're not the kind of people to leave someone injured behind." Scott assured him with a smile.

"You can give us our reward when you're feeling better."

"Jess!"

"No no, it's alright. I did say I would reward you when you found me two days ago."

Scott looked at Jess scornfully, shaking his head in disapprovement. She grunted, rolled her eyes, and left the tent muttering under her breath.

"It's ok Jim. You don't have to reward us."

"It's fine, I'm totally willing."

Scott nodded and took a seat on the dilapidated bed and smiled at him, clearly desiring to hear what this "reward" was.

"I own a ranch close to here, just west of here." Jim said proudly, watching Scott's eyes widen and sparkle.

"A ranch? With cattle, and food and everything?!"

"You got it. We got all kinds of resources at our disposal, and I'm willing to take you and your friends to stay!"

"Hold on, 'we'?"

"Yuppers, I'm there with my parents and my sister."

Scott could barely contain his excitement, practically bursting with exhileration. He bolted up to his feet and slowly backed away to the tent's exit.

"Excuse me one moment." He said with a grin, and dashed as fast as he could go to Jess' tent.

He ran past Lorrie, who had woken up from a nap and ignored her confused look, almost knocking down Jess' tent entirely as he entered.

"What the hell?! Why're you running?!" She stood up nervously, "Is it bikers?! Monsters?!"

"Niether! Jim owns a ranch with his family, and is offering to let us stay there!"

His excitment faded as he recieved a hard smack to the cheek.

"You idiot! Don't go barreling around like we're being attacked!"

"So...it's a no?" He whimpered and shrugged.

She grunted and rolled her eyes.

"Of course it's a no. We barely know the guy and he suddenly offers THAT to us?" She walked to the other part of her tent and pulled out her rifle, which she sat down with and began to clean, "It could be a trap. An offer like that is too good to pass up and that's exactly what he wants."

"Oh come on Jess, you don't know that - "

"Plus, we can't leave without Max and Bron, so it's a no."

"Wha - Who made you in charge?"

"I did. It's not like you're capable of leading, Lorrie too."

Scott sighed and began to walk out, but froze in his tracks as he got a sudden idea.

"You wanted to get further away from here, Dallas right?"

Jess nodded, fixating her eyes on her gun.

"Dallas is west of here, so is the ranch. We'll be even further and it'll be much more comfortable than this campsite. Think, once we're all recovered, we can leave the ranch if we want and head to Dallas!"

This seemed to work, because she suddenly stopped what she was doing, and sighed.

"Fine, but we HAVE to leave a note for Max and Bron so they know where we are."

"Deal."

~o~

"See anything?" Bron asked from below the towering tree, looking up nervously as he twiddled his thumbs.

"No, just more trees. Trees as far as the eye can see."

"Oh Max! We shouldn't have gone too far from camp!"

"Its ok!" He assured the gentle giant, sliding down the tree slowly, "We're not lost."

"You said that two days ago."

"And I meant it! We just have to keep going this way."

Bron sighed, but chose not to protest any longer, for it would not solve their current perdicament. They trekked on through the dense forest, swatting branches away from their heads and staying vigilant for any threats. They had been there, as Bron said, for two days, having to sleep high in the trees at night, and walk for hours on end on the ground below. They had successfully lead the group of monsters away from their refuge, but as a result, got lost in the depths of the carnivorous greenery.

"Man I'm hungry...." Bron said to himself, clutching his stomach.

"Me too, that rabbit would have been pretty handy." Max nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, if you managed to hit it." Bron joked.

"Heh, yeah. Maybe I should stick to bigger targets." Max smiled.

"What if the others think we got hurt or killed?"

"We haven't been gone that long. If we get back today we'll be lucky."

"Are you sure it was this way?"

"I'm sure, I remember this path here."

"I hope so..."

They went on further, every slight sound made them jump and cock their weapons, but no enemy was in sight. After their energy was depleted, they took a rest against a large tree and stared up at the sun shimmering through the tree leaves.

"I think I have some bread here." Max said in the silence, ripping off a piece and handing it to Bron.

"Is that all the food you have?"

Max nodded.

"I can't accept it."

"Bron..."

"Max, you've done a lot for me, and Lorrie, and...Mike. And if it wasn't for you, I would still be pent up in that sorry excuse for a safe zone." Bron clenched his fist and grunted. "It's time I did something for you, as thanks. So you eat it."

Max wanted to protest, but smiled and gave in.

"Oh alright..."

Max looked up, an opening in the trees allowed the sun to shine upon them. This small insignificant occurence, gave him...hope.