Scavenger Run Revisited

A streak of watery sunlight spread across the compound's courtyard, casting long reflections in the melting patches of snow. Though winter's grip was weakening, the cold wind still carried a bitter edge. People moved with a guarded sense of purpose, as if aware that each day of improved weather also meant the roads were more open—for friend and foe alike.

Leila stood at the main gate, arms folded against the chill, waiting for the scout team she'd sent out at dawn. The mission had been a cautious foray to revisit old scavenging sites—an attempt to gather supplies or confirm that thawing conditions hadn't revealed hidden stockpiles. Mark had personally led the group, along with a few watchers, hoping to find anything to strengthen the community's precarious resource situation.

When the team finally emerged from behind the orchard, Leila could see tension etched on their faces before they even spoke. Mud spattered their boots, and Mark carried a rifle slung tight across his chest, his expression grim.

He greeted Leila with a curt nod, gesturing her and a few key members—Darren, Tamsin, Kai, and Fiona—into the main hall to debrief. Onlookers exchanged glances, sensing that whatever news the scouts brought wasn't purely about extra supplies. A hush of anticipation settled over those milling around the courtyard.

Inside the hall, Mark took a moment to sip water, clearing his throat before delivering the core revelation: "We tried scouting the old gas station two miles southeast. We've salvaged from there before, but it looks like a band of raiders has taken it over. They've barricaded pumps and windows, erected makeshift watchtowers from scrap metal."

Leila's stomach tightened. "How many?" she asked.

Mark exhaled. "A dozen, maybe more. They're well-armed. We watched from a distance—didn't dare get too close. Saw them chase off a wandering traveler. Brutal efficiency, zero hesitation. They staked territory around the gas station like it's their fortress now."

A low mutter spread among the small gathering. Tamsin cursed under her breath. Darren frowned deeply. "The refugees' stories keep checking out. There is indeed a vicious band consolidating resources. Could be the same group rumored to be led by Jace or Ellie."

Leila pressed her lips together. For days, rumors of Jace and Ellie leading a cunning band had haunted her. The battered photo Fiona discovered only heightened her dread. Yet, hearing Mark confirm raiders had overtaken a strategic location—a gas station—stirred fresh anxiety. "We need more intel," she said firmly. "We can't let them push closer without understanding if this is indeed Jace and Ellie."

Kai glanced at Leila, expression earnest, as though wanting to ensure she was all right amidst this avalanche of news. But she averted her gaze, forcing focus on Mark. "Can we glean more about their organization or leadership from a distance?" she asked.

Mark nodded. "Yes, that's the idea. We propose a stealth approach. We'll circle the station at night, attempt to observe patrol routines, maybe overhear their chatter. But it's risky—if they spot us, we're trapped in open ground. Snow's melting, but it's still slippery."

Darren, arms folded, chimed in. "I'll take a couple watchers. We'll move quietly, approach from the treeline to the south. Once we confirm if Jace or Ellie's there, we can slip away."

Leila nodded, though worry twisted her gut. Her voice betrayed her tension. "We need to confirm. If it's them—" She stopped short, the memory of Jace's smirk searing her mind. Forcing composure, she continued, "We must know how large their force is, how they operate. Then we'll decide on alliances or confrontation."

The conversation took a heavy turn when Darren revealed a detail that made Leila's heart stutter. "On our way back," he said, "we spotted tripwire traps along a deserted road near the station—almost invisible under mud and leftover snow. They were rigged to set off small noise makers, maybe homemade grenades. The way they were hidden… it reminded me of sabotage we encountered in the past. Very cunning, not brute force but methodical."

A hush descended. Leila's mind raced. Ellie had always been the brains behind Jace's betrayals in that old timeline—an expert at stealthy sabotage. She bit her lip. "Are you sure it's that sophisticated?" she asked, trying to maintain a neutral tone even as her pulse hammered.

Darren shrugged, grim. "I can't confirm for certain it was Ellie's handiwork, but it matched descriptions of her style from older members. Could be a coincidence, or it could be her. Either way, it's cunning enough that folks traveling those roads won't see it coming until it's too late."

A wave of unease weighed on everyone in the hall. Fiona paled, recalling how Ellie's cunning had nearly cost Leila her life before. Tamsin fiddled anxiously with a ration ledger, expression grim. Mark knuckled his brow, muttering, "We're dealing with something bigger than random raiders, that's for sure."

Leila felt a flicker of panic bubble up, but she swallowed it down. This might truly be Jace and Ellie, forging a foothold dangerously close. She forced her voice to remain measured. "We'll proceed with the stealth approach. Darren, pick watchers you trust implicitly. We can't let infiltration sabotage us from inside." At that last sentence, her voice trembled slightly, recalling the vanished supplies.

As the group dispersed, Tamsin and Mark headed off to finalize watch schedules, and Fiona lingered momentarily, giving Leila a searching glance. "You sure you're okay?" the medic asked softly.

Leila mustered a tight smile, stonewalling her concern. "I'm fine. Just anxious about how close these raiders are." Fiona nodded, not wholly convinced, but didn't press. She left to check on the refugees, ensuring they remained accounted for.

Kai, who'd watched the entire discussion from the sidelines, stepped forward quietly. His eyes reflected a deep worry—for both the external threat and Leila's internal turmoil. "You did well," he said gently, nodding to her calm leadership. "But don't let it eat you up."

She wanted to express gratitude, to let him see how deeply unsettled she was, but the memory of Jace's betrayal scalded her mind. "I—I appreciate it," she managed awkwardly, voice clipped. "But we have no time to get personal. Focus on the watchers." She turned, leaving him with a pang of disappointment etched across his features. Once again, she refused the solace he offered, the fear of heartbreak overshadowing any possible trust.

By dusk, watchers fanned out along the orchard's perimeter, scanning for any sign of movement from the newly confirmed raiders at the gas station. The melting snow made travel possible, but also gave cover to cunning traps. Tamsin ordered caution for every foraging party, Mark's stealth mission prepared to depart in the coming nights to gather intel.

Within the shelter, tension spiked. The possibility of Ellie's sabotage style near the roads hammered home that the rumored band was no rumor at all. People whispered that Jace and Ellie's final vendetta could be approaching, uncertain how they might strike or when. And in the midst of this rising anxiety, Leila's internal conflict raged on. She kept Kai at arm's length, burying her old scars even deeper as the threat of facing Jace and Ellie anew loomed over every plan.