STATUS REPORT: SCIENTISTS HAVE SUCCESSFULLY MADE IT TO MISSION LOCATION
SEARCH PARTIES WILL BE ESTABLISHED TO FIND AND RESCUE SURVIVORS
PLANS TO EXPAND OPERATIONS WILL BE CONSIDERED AS MISSION SUCCESS RATE INCREASES
THE DEAD HAVE GROWN IN NUMBER, REMAIN CAUTIOUS IN THE HEART OF INFECTION
"Is this the place?"
Ashton questions Kara, the sun barely illuminating the building hidden in the woods up ahead.
"Yes- right there. I think we should still have some people on lookout. Keep your hands up alright? You're with me so it should be fine, but I don't want to take any chances."
"Uhm- alright!"
The boy does as instructed, putting his hands high in the air. Kara doing the same as they begin to approach the building.
Two people stay outside, rusted damaged handguns in their hands. With hesitance they aim at the two figures in the distance, hands shaky. Eventually the weapons go back down as they see Kara.
"Kara? Hurry- it's almost night! One of them exclaims
"Is that a kid?" The other questions.
"Not now- let us in!"
"Fine- fine."
The two are motioned towards the inside of the building as they all enter one after the other. The inside of the place feels awfully compact. Ashton looks around, seeing a few people scattered about, each keeping themselves occupied via various chores. It all stops as they notice Ash with Kara.
Kara leads Ash over to a room near the very back of the building, housing a single man. He's an average build. Short black hair, Hazel eyes, with a thick leather coat on. Standing at around 5,9.
"..Who's this?"
"Ashton. I found him outside in the forest on my food run. He.. well, saved me from one of the husks."
"The kid saved you? How is he even still alive? The husks aren't too forgiving."
"He said he spent the duration hiding in trees."
"..Alright then. So- why'd you bring him here?"
"Well I'm not going to just leave him out there. He's thirteen."
"We barely have enough food to provide for ourselves. A weeks worth at most, and we haven't been finding much of anything outside. Another mouth to feed isn't going to help, especially one that isn't going to be helping much."
"Have a heart."
"He'd have a better chance out there than he would here. He made it this far hasn't he? He'll starve with us if we keep him here."
"And what happened to us working things out as a group? I thought we were all in this together, you aren't our boss Colt."
"..Fine- fine. You're right, sorry. I'll gather the others, we'll decide on this in an hour. Meet me in the kitchen."
The man gets up, walking past the two out of the room. Kara looks to Ashton apologetically.
"..I'm sorry- that was.. you shouldn't have to see that. Come with me.."
Kara leads the boy to her room.
"You can rest your feet in here for now. I'll call you when it's time, alright?"
"Yeah, sure!"
An hour comes and goes quickly as Kara returns to escort Ash to the kitchen. Inside, a group of 5 people sit. The man from earlier, a burly looking man with mutton chops, an elegant looking woman, a scrawny looking man, and a southern looking man.
"So.. now that everyone's here, what's the plan with the kid?" Colt questions.
"Well I'm making my stance clear. We can't kick him out, it's immoral. How would you all feel if you finally saw people in this mess and just got kicked out?" Kara states.
"Well I reckon we ain't gonn' just leave the kid to fend for himself yeah? We outta bring 'em in!" The southern looking man exclaims.
"Ugh, right. Could you possible use that brain of yours mister Wayne? We can barely support ourselves, we can't handle a kid right now. Besides, we need *useful* people with us." The elegant woman explains.
"Now hold on Bonnie! Are you telling me you're willing to leave this kid out there to die? He's made it this far, he could be useful! Plus he seems like a cool dude." The burly looking man states.
"Axel.. uhm- maybe you could consider that not everyone wants a brat under our roof? I hate kids, just the sight of them annoys me. ..So we should kick him out." The scrawny guy chimes in.
"Wait! Lucas, everyone. I know how you all are and I know this is going to turn into an argument first. So I'm making this clear now, no fighting. Understood?" Colt asks.
"Yes.." They all say in unison.
"So.. if we're looking at this in the sense of pros and cons, what does he bring to the table, and what do we lose from keeping him?"
"First off, he's another mouth to feed, one we can barely afford currently. Not just that, but he's barely even a teenager. Yes he's made it this far, but he could very well be a liability. Besides, being with us may be more dangerous than being out there. Out there he only has himself to worry about, in here we all are slowly starving without much to go around." Colt states.
"But wait just a minute- we don' even know what the kid good at yet now do we? Maybe we should ask him first, right? Tell me kid- what typa' things can you do?"
Ash is silent for a moment, before beginning to speak. "Well- name's Ash first off. I can tell what is and isn't safe to eat in the forest! That's been my main source of food. Plus animals tend to like me.. I could get us like- a chicken or cow. Something that gets us more food in the long run! ..Uhm- I'm sneaky and quick. I can get stuff for you all before anything there knows I even came by! ..Is- that enough for you all?"
The others go silent, staring at the boy as he divulges this information. Colt and the others begin whispering among themselves, Ash being clueless as to what decision they're coming to. After some time, Colt leaves the whisper circle, leaning in.
"..Well, Ash."