Aleway is in their hut first. Lilly greets him with a hug, he does his best to hide his fear. Hugging back, he moves as Samuel scamper in. Samuel is spooked and hugs his moms legs. Aleway takes the moment to go get the little bit of money he has saved up over the last year, now old enough he was able to do odd jobs. He counts the odd alloy chips, almost two hundred of them. He slips them in his travel pack having left the meat in the eating room. He checks his knife, bow, hatchet and bedroll. He is ready to go as Samuel comes in. Aleway grabs his brother in a tight hug "We will be OK, need any help?" Samuel hugs back and shakes his head "No thank you, I just want a few things. I'll find new books." Aleway nods letting Samuel go, watching his brother pack his weapons, a reading glass, a few scrolls, his savings, and a few of his lighter trinquets. They come back to the main room, seeing their dad they hurry over hugging his legs. He looks distressed, Darzen looks between Lilly and his boys. A sigh "These people still won't listen to Emry. And I was hoping it wouldn't be this severe, I don't know weather to travel with them south to Tith or to go somewhere I know is safe till we know what is going on." Lilith nods, holding her words as Emry appears in their doorway. A soft smile" Watch the traders, they carry death. And know not that they do." Lilith nods looking to Darzen who replies" Hence why my plan feels safer. We don't know what is going on up north, and there has been fewer traders over the past little bit." The family agrees on their plan, and head out. Emry sticking with the boys, slipping them a sweet. Darzen and his family are the fourth on the rutty road south, one of the other village leaders catches up to him. Darzen gives him a glance" How can I help you Mace?" The man, a survivor of a war sighs" I can already tell that you aren't with us on this." Darzen nods, glancing at the smoke to the north. It drifts east, with the current air movement" This, I feel isn't war. And as I pled to you and the others, I still feel we should break contact till we know what is happening for sure." Mace flexes his jaw, but understands and knows Darzen well." Do what you feel needs done. I trust your gut, but I have a conscious." Darzen shakes his head" It's been too long since I heard of any merchant's from Tith? Or the northerners. Something is very wrong." Mace thinks on that, and nods. His pregnant wife comes up, Mace excuses himself and helps her. Darzen hugs Lilly to him, kissing her forehead. The boys guide Emry and giggle, one whispering Eew playfully. It was Aleway, trying to help Samuel stay calm. Darzen chuckles and shakes hid head. The day creeps into afternoon Darzen gathers his boys and heads west. He had planned for if a day had come like this, he had a spot up in the mountains. Another rust shelf, but this one was different. Darzen had preserved knowlage books and devices up here for his boys. He had been waiting to bring them up here, but fate had pushed the hand. There is a loud popping of an engine, several look to the sky. Big war choppers and armored air choppers head from the south. The purities choppers, the south city must be sending aid. A couple drones pass at high speed not far above the villagers heads. Those cities had preserved what was known as modern technologies. Dez watches the village people try to hide among the brush, leery eyes to the sky. Darzen feels a light tug on his tunic. He looks down, finding Samuel looking up. Teary eyes, fear quivering lips "Daddy, are we going to die?" This takes Darzen back to his boys where still kids. Strong, learning, but still little boys in a really fucked up world. He bends scooping Samuel up and hugging him "No son, we are strong like our predicessors. We will be just fine." Lilly nods, looking pale. Darzen breaks up the trail, hearing another engine from the north. This one is one he knows, a man named Mack. A trader, a seven foot tall jolly black gentleman. The rest of the village has continued onward. Emry and a family of three has continued to follow him, seeing his logic. The three where Greth, Mary, and their daughter Beth who had just turned eight. Beth had a thing for Aleway and Samuel, which made the boys shy. Mack rolls to a stop, almost falling from his truck. He is wounded, a gunshot wound to his shoulder. Lilly races up to him. He smiles "Ahh my angel." Mack pulls himself to a sit, weak from blood loss. Darzen knows the man's lingo and asks the boys to stay with Emry. A no questions obedience, they sit and catch up with Beth. Darzen walks up to Mack, looking him over "You look like shit. What's the shake down out north." Mack looks up as he is washed and stitched up, light cringes. Mack sighs "It's fucked, all fucked. Those dome sitters went ballistic, massive exodus. People running with their skin boiling, I was getting away from that area." Darzen nods, sounds like a sick ess "How'd you get shot boss?" Mack frowns "Some fucker tried to steal my truck, so few have guns u was a bit shocked." Darzen nods, watching his wife and the other woman finish up. The woman scamper off to catch back up to the rest of the village. Lilly stands, going to get a water skin. She returns and let's Mack during, looking up at her husband" That doesn't sound good at all, we need to move in case of other problem people." Darzen nods in reply, then he looks at Mack" Not bleeding to death any more, can you make it? " Mack looks thoughtful, but nods" Yeah Darzen, if you can help me back in.. I'm bailing as far south as I can go.. That shit ain't cool up north." Darzen helps the big man up, Mack does his part. He looks from the cab of the old truck "Whatever God you pray to, may he watch over you and your family." Darzen nods "God speed my friend, hope to see you again." Mack nods starting the old truck, closing the door. Darzen watches him stop and load as many villagers as he can and he'd south. Darzen gathers his family and heads west.

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The day passes, Darzen watching his boys and Beth talk. And choppers heading north. Lilly staying at his side, she had been to the emergency place he set up. She was a bit eager today, light suggestive gripes. Darzen understands, it has been a few ays since they caressed. He chuckles kissing her cheek whispering "Tonight my love. Stone carries no sound." He watches her blush knowing what he is thinking.

It is night fall When they reach the old mine. Darzen takes several minutes grunting to move the heavy steel door, Greth helping him. They eventually get the old door worked open, Samuel finding some oil among the rusted hulks. Samuel smiles proudly that he was able to help through knowlage. Darzen steps as side letting the boys, and others in. Him and Greth pull the door closed and bar it. Lilly lights torches leading everyone down to the main chamber, it's about a quarter mile of downward slope. Once there, Darzen had a fire pit set up. Everyone helps getting wood and materials together, and soon a fire is burning. Beth, Lilly, and Mary get dinner cooking, the meat Darzen and the boys got, vegetables, and herbs. Darzen takes the boys back and shows them their rooms he had set up. Samuel sets his torch in the holder and stares in awe at all the books, trinquets, and tools. Darzen smiles waving Aleway to his room, Aleway looks over the traps and weapon making tools. He hugs his dad "Thank you." Darzen nods patting him on the head, they sit down to sharpen spear and knife together.

Soon dinner is called, they join the rest of the group in the main room. It's warm, and the meal gets quite jovial. Emry and Darzen singing old songs, Gareth playing his harmonica he found. Soon everyone is tired and heads to bed, Darzen pulls Lilly into their room and hugs her close. Just wanting her company, before the next several hours of passionate love making.