I'm losing her before I ever really had her.
Dinner is awkward. Hazel sits on the opposite side of the fire, her attention focused entirely on her food. When Eric asks her a question about medical training, she answers easily, warmly. When Patricia mentions tomorrow's route, Hazel engages without hesitation.
But she won't look at me.
After the meal, I try. "Hazel, can we—"
"I'm going to help Jess reorganize the medical supplies," she says, standing abruptly. "We're running low on gauze."
"We have plenty of gauze," Jess says, confused. Then she catches my expression and adds, "But, uh, yeah. Could use a second set of hands."
They disappear toward the supply ATV, leaving me sitting by the fire like an idiot.
"She just needs time," Ken offers quietly.
"Yeah." I poke at the fire with a stick. "Or she's figured out that getting close to people in this world is a mistake, and she's smart enough to cut her losses."
"You don't believe that."
"I don't know what I believe anymore."
After everyone else has gone to their tents, I pull out the radio for our scheduled check-in. At least this is something I know how to do. Something I'm good at.
"Northern routes, this is Mountain Station. How copy?"
"Mountain Station, this is Travis. Reading you five by five."
"Good to hear your voice, Travis. Sierra says hi." There's warmth in Cole's tone—we've been coordinating routes for over a year now, and he's become more than just a contact. He's a friend. "You're still on track for Old Pines?"
"Affirmative. Two days out, maybe less if terrain cooperates."
"Copy that. Be advised—Tom's been trying to raise the medical convoy for over a week now. No response."
My stomach drops. "That's Hazel's convoy. We found the sole survivor three days ago."
Silence on the other end, then: "Shit. How bad?"
"Total loss. Seven dead. Coordinated raider attack, same signature Ruby and Mayson have been tracking."
"Hold on, I'm patching through to Hope Tower. Rebecca and Joseph need to hear this."
The radio crackles as Cole switches frequencies. A moment later, Rebecca's voice comes through, steady and professional.
"Travis, this is Hope Tower. Cole briefed us. What's the situation?"
"Survivor's name is Hazel Cooper, trained medic. She was carrying medical supplies to Old Pines when we found her. We're completing the delivery."
"Good man." That's Joseph in the background. "Those families have been waiting months."
"That's not all," I continue. "The attack was professional. Coordinated. They disabled vehicles first, then systematically eliminated the crew. This wasn't opportunistic—this was planned."
Rebecca's voice sharpens. "Same pattern as the attacks near Hope Tower?"
"Identical."
"Hold for Mayson."
More crackling. I glance toward the fire where Hazel sits with Jess, their heads bent together over something. She looks up, catches my eye, and the worry on her face tells me she knows this conversation is about her crew.
