Page 23 of My Apocalypse Mountain Man
That night, we camped outside Old Pines rather than staying in the settlement. Too many people, too much noise after the attack. I need space to think.
"You okay?" Sierra asks, sitting beside me by the fire.
"Thinking about what you said. About building the infrastructure."
"Having second thoughts?"
"No. Just... it's a big commitment. Changes everything."
"We can handle it."
"Can we?" I look at her. "These Wolves, whoever they are, they're not going away. And if we set up a real communication network, we'll be targets. They'll want to take us out first."
"Then we make sure they can't. I'm not naive. I know this is dangerous. But doing nothing is more dangerous. Those settlements that got wiped out? They were alone. They had no warning, no backup, no way to call for help." She takes my hand. "We can change that."
"It'll mean more runs. More time away from the mountain. More exposure."
"I know."
"And you're okay with that?"
"Are you?"
I think about it. About the isolation I maintained for three years, and how it kept me safe but also kept me alone. About the people in Old Pines who survived today because Sierra and I were here. About building something that might actually last.
"Yeah," I say finally. "I'm okay with that."
"Good." She leans into me. "Besides, you're not getting rid of me that easily."
"I wouldn't dream of it."
We sit in comfortable silence, watching the fire. Tomorrow, we'll head back to the mountain and start building a real communication network. We'll become targets. We'll be taking on more risk than ever.
But we'll be doing it together.
And somehow, that makes it worth it.
eight
Kole
Morningcheck-inshavebecomeroutine—Old Pines, Black Peak, Riverwatch, and two other settlements all touch base daily. We share information about zombie movements, weather patterns, supply needs. Nothing formal, nothing binding, just neighbors helping neighbors.
Sierra's in her element, coordinating it all from our upgraded radio station. Tom made good on his promise of supplies. We've got better equipment now, more reliable power from the expanded solar array, even a backup generator.
"Morning, Mountain Station," A voice crackles over the radio. "All quiet in Old Pines. How's the weather looking up there?"
"Clear skies," Sierra reports. "Should hold for the next few days. Good window for travel if anyone needs it."
"Copy that. We've got a supply run planned for Black Peak. You two need anything?"
Sierra glances at me, eyebrows raised in question. I check our inventory mentally and nod.
"Could use some medical supplies if you've got them to spare," she says. "And coffee. Always coffee."
After sign-off, Sierra spins in her chair to face me. "See? This is working."
"I never said it wasn't."
