After the Humble workers tapped all the gas stations they could and after the supplies were stripped from homes, we went on our way down to Monroe. Still no demons in sight, but plenty of animals. In Monroe, we found a group of survivors, more cars for us, we'll get down to DC in no time at all.

Jean's driving for once, Jack's helping Dave load up guns. No Norbert this time, spending some time with Rose. Jon bangs on the radio, "Damn dispatcher!" Dave rolls his wrists, "What's he sayin' now?" "They're cutting out rations again!" Dave loads a bullet in, "We have been getting less and less."

Jean smiles, "Maybe they're counting it." Jon rubs his knees, "I seriously doubt that." Jack smiles, "You can have some of mine, Jon." "I'm more worried about Mama." I yawn, "How is she? Haven't talked to her in a bit." Dave smirks, "Go ask her before we get forced on another suicide mission."

I smile, "Alright. Tell them they'll hear me on the roof." Jean yells while focusing on the road, "Be careful! Last time, you punched a hole in a roof!" I laugh, "At least I'm not breaking any more transmissions."

I smile as the wind hits my face, I leap from top of the cars of the convoy. I'm slowly getting better at controlling it, I land and my knees ache. I roar at the pain. Still hurts, rapidly switching it on and off. I'm still that weak old man, it's like a broken valve. Still can't push enough energy to take hits on a whim. A soldier shakes his head at me in a panic. I leap and he bangs on the roof as I dent it in a little. I lift the tarp of the transport and hop down, the truck lowers for a second to take my sudden weight gain.

Rose's face lights up, "Cowboy!" Mama smiles, "Been a little bit, you avoiding me?" Norbert sighs, "At least Jon warned us this time."

Mama taps her seat, "I knew." Norbert rolls his eyes, "Then why didn't you tell us? Spooked Rose half to death." I sit down, "Sorry about last time, not much to do while on the road." "This is why the soldiers don't like you very much." "Norbert!" "It's true, Hearth."

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She sighs, "Mama Hearth." I rub the crack on my arm, "Mama, what's going on? Anything weird?" "You're talking about the demons. I think it has to do with the Anointed." "You think?" Norbert crosses his arms as Rose watches our back and forth, "Yeah, everyone's been talking all about it. Army's itching to kill them off." "And the animals. They're bigger, smarter, stronger. But we haven't seen many on the roads." Mama stops tapping her seat, "I'm not sure why they're avoiding us."

"Must be because of Norbie!" Norbert blushes as I laugh and point at her, "I love this kid." "I'm just here to keep her safe." Mama smiles at me and I smile back. "Norbie will give them a good kick and they'll run far away!"

Norbert's forces his game face on as we laugh, "Yeah, he's really tough. Oh! Rose, you want to hear about the ferocious dog I saw?" "A doggie?" Mama yawns, "What dog? Couldn't hear over the chatter of the convoy and the shooting."

"A wolf, tall as me, it could breathe fire." "Whoaaa." "It stopped at nothing to defend it's babies. It ran after me so fast." "How'd you escape!?" "I managed to run far far away. But then Norbert shot at the ground." "He did!?" "Oh, yeah! That wolf ran far away, back to it's family." Norbert and Mama frown. Damn soldiers killed that poor mother on their way through.

"That'll teach that mean wolf!" Norbert shakes his head, I guess she missed the message. "But I didn't want to hurt her, she had a family too." "I'm going to be merciful too, like Norbie." I smile and Mama nods at me, "They're throwing you back out, Diesel." I sigh, "Alright, I gotta go." They all shout bye as the convoy slows down and I hop out the back.