“Um, a germaphobe in the zombie apocalypse?” Jay asked, and the group seemed to shift their eyes to him, and he dropped it.
Dad cleared his throat before taking the moment to introduce everyone as he addressed the group as a whole, and then he let out a heavy sigh. “We appreciate you taking us in. I’ve never seen anything like what we saw through that window. There is no doubt in my mind you saved our lives, and we are grateful.”
“You’re more than welcome,” Nathan told him.
“What was that god awful screech last night?” Mom ran a hand through her hair a couple of times as she glanced around. “I’ve never heard anything remotely like that before.”
“Mountain lion probably got bit,” Charles stated, and a chill ran through me. “Something to watch out for since it probably turned.”
“Um, can we check on the horses?” Spencer asked, rocking back and forth on her heels. “I’m sure they’re terrified.”
“Yeah. Let’s head over. I noticed the sheds lasted through the horde for once. Which was a happy surprise. The hordes usually tear right through them, but Micah reinforced the structures with steel last year after one came through.” Benjamin led the group to the large shed.
Soft whinnying of the horses started the moment Benjamin opened the lock and slowly opened the door.
Trigger, Dolly, and Belle peered out at us, eyes wide with fear.
We gave the three of them space, careful not to make any sudden movements that could startle them.
Trigger made his way to Spencer, and Dolly and Belle went to my parents. The three of them nudged their persons’ hands with their noses, eager to see that they were there.
A pain spread through my chest as I watched them interact with their horses. I missed Kovu and his companionship, but most of all, ithurtto think of how he left this world. He had brought me so much joy and peace that no matter what had happened, I had thought we would face it together.
But in the end, I wasn’t able to lift his spirits the way he had lifted mine all those years.
Nathan moved beside me and threaded his fingers through mine as Micah kept his hands on my hips, and I leaned into his warm chest.
They didn’t say anything. They just provided the comfort they knew I needed.
“They barely ate anything,” Jay said as he peered into the shed. “They drank some water, but not all of it.”
“Probably because of stress,” Dad explained, stroking Belle’s nose with worry creased into his forehead. “We’ll move the water buckets and grain outside and let them eat.”
“Sounds good.” Benjamin ran a hand down his face before clasping his hands together. “We didn’t get to go over all the rules and what you should know when you arrived because of the horde. First thing to know is that we have Bane, Micah’s dog who had been turned. He’s become a sort of alarm for danger. If he’s snarling and growling, it’s time to either have a weapon or lock yourself up in the treehouse,windows shut. You heard themountain lion. It should be no shock that there are things that can climb and still carry the virus or just do damage.”
“Windows shut, got it,” Spencer muttered, running her hands down her arms.
“Nathan.” Benjamin nodded at him, and Nathan squeezed my hand before taking over.
“How to survive in the zombie apocalypse 101—if you hear some weird shit,don’tgo investigate it. Turn the other way and leave it be, but be cautious of the area you heard it. Your safety is never guaranteed.” He glanced around the group as Bane made a low whine, and an arrow landed in the skull of another zombie near the trees. “Each treehouse has four exits. The smaller window at the top wall of the bathroom, the larger window in the living room, and the medium-sized window in one of the bedrooms. There are two ways to get down from the treehouse. The peg ladder and the rope ladder hooked to the railing that is constantly pulled up. Only use that ladder if necessary. It makes it easier for zombies, other survivors who don’t know about the pegs since they’re well concealed, or animals to get up.”
“Once hope is lost, there is no chance of survival,” Micah added gruffly. “We need to stay positive and look forward to the future. Set small goals and work toward them.”
“That’s a great point.” Nathan squeezed my hand again. “I’ve drawn a few maps for each treehouse. There should be one hanging in the kitchen area of each one. It has the immediate area and a few other areas near us mapped out. I’ve marked the best kill spots, danger zones, hunting spots, and the river on them. If you’re not good with direction, take it with you if you ever need to go anywhere.”
“Another thing is that each treehouse has a small radio. Feel free to listen but never respond. The radios are all charged by solar, but we don’t always know who else is listening and whattheir intentions are,” Sally explained, fumbling with the zipper of her coat, and Benjamin zipped it for her.
“The seasons are changing faster than expected this year. Wood stove is the best source of heat, but only use it when you cannot stand the cold any longer during the day. Always turn it on at night. Nights get well below freezing,” Benjamin explained before turning back to the group.
“All of that makes sense, but what happens now?” Spencer asked as she loved on Trigger.
“There was minimal damage to the Oasis even with the biggest horde yet passing through.” Benjamin looked around the clearing, planting his hands on his hips. “I need to check the water tanks and the river. We should probably go hunting and have some fresh cooked meat for dinner so you’re all up on energy. Then you can go check on that ranch of yours tomorrow morning. We’ll build a coop and another shed for the horses for when you come back. Gives us something to do with all the treated lumber Micah has laying around.”
“We’re not sure if we’ll be coming back, though,” Dad mentioned hesitantly. “We are so grateful for your hospitality, but I don’t think we’re ready to leave our home unless we have no choice in the matter.”
“Respectfully, Tom, you need to be realistic. Ava, Charles, and Jack lost their home last year to a horde. They barely made it out alive, and they lost Jack’s brother in the heat of it. We’re just trying to make sure you’re not out there barely surviving. The ranch is probably destroyed. You know some zombies use brute force to go through windows. Sure, you’ll be able to rebuild and clean up, but there will always be another horde. Are you telling me you’re okay with having to do this every year or more when a horde comes through?”
Dad thinned his lips into a line and shook his head. “We’ll think on it and decide after we see the ranch.”
