It was the next day. Astrid had promised that today would be the day to show Cara the ropes. Cara told them to hold the scavenging trip back a bit, so she could talk to Lex about not working with him anymore. She took in a deep breath, pushing open the door to one of the greenhouses. Lex looked up at the noise, his eyebrows raising in surprise.

"Hi, Lex," she started off, twisting her fingers out of nerves. He brought his gaze back down to his work.

"I know." Her eyes widened as her mouth opened in close in shock.

"How did you find out?" she uttered out. He glanced up, a watery, wilted grin on his face.

"You don't think that Margret wouldn't inform a person that their co-worker decided to change responsibilities?" he asked rhetorically. Cara shook her head anyways.

"I guess I should have realized that she would tell you," she mumbled, a light blush coating her cheeks. Lex let out a  humorless chuckle, getting up from his crouched position. He walked towards her, pulling his gloves off as he went.

"You were great company," he told her trying to be a nice despite the situation. He stopped when they were about two feet apart. She gave him a small, apologetic smile.

"I'm not going to lie, I'm going to miss working in here," she responded back. Silence ensued between the two as they had a moment to just stare into each other's eyes. His watery grin took on a hint of sadness, before he shooed her away with his bare hand.

"Go, go. I'm sure your new co-workers are wondering where you are at by now." She nodded, saying a curt good-bye as she left the greenhouse. Behind her, Lex hung his head with a sigh before peeking up to watch the door close behind her.

Outside, she found Sterling and Astrid heading towards her.

"Here you are! Are you done saying your good-byes?" Astrid inquired as they neared her. Cara casted her eyes down to the ground as she gave her companion a slight nod. I'm going to miss working in the greenhouse, but I want to do this more. Astrid grabbed Cara's hand, a smile donning her face.

"Are you ready for your first run?" Cara nodded her head in confirmation. Astrid squealed, clapping her hands in excitement. They started their way back to the front gates of the town; Astrid and Sterling made sure to keep up conversation, filling Cara in with all there was to know about Ryseden and running.

"-and since we aren't allowed to have weapons within the walls, the people in charge of them bring out some for us to use when we go on runs," Astrid announced, an edge of bitterness in her tone. They continued to walk and talk, nearing the towering gates of the front of Ryseden.

There were a few people dressed in tight black pants, with heavy boots and bushy black coats. They wore matching scowls, and a handgun rested in each hand of the three people. Cara's eyes scanned over the guns, disappointment washing through her when she didn't spot her gun.

"Why are they all small guns?" Cara couldn't help the question that slid out of her mouth. Hard eyes turned towards her, but they did little to intimidate her.

"We don't want the loss of better weapons on runs," one answered in monotony. She was an older woman with a scar that ran from her temple to right below her cheekbone.

"In fear of the runners dying? To keep them from effectively protecting themselves against threats?" she asked callously, causing the woman to bristle. She clenched one of the guns tightly in her hand, her eyes narrowing in a challenging way.

"What she means to say is that she's glad to have a gun, and that we'll be on our way!" Sterling butted in, grabbing a gun for Cara and himself. She protested as Sterling dragged her away. Cara made sure to exchange seething glares with the holders of the guns as she was pulled away.

The gates parted, and the three of them left, heading towards a large city that Astrid had explained to her earlier. It was a trek to say the least. With the cold and the snow that had fallen through the previous couple weeks, they were slowed. By vehicle, the five mile walk wouldn't have been terrible. Astrid explained that the two vehicles they had for runs were currently getting fitted for the colder weather.

As they entered the city itself, the snow began to lessen. Her posture stiffened as she got closer to the towering buildings. The last time I was in a place like this... things didn't go so well. She grimaced at the thought. Cara turned her attention towards her surroundings, taking in the uneven ground they traversed over.

Her eyes raised a bit, scanning over cars smashed by fallen debris. Some say at awkward angles do to the split ground, or had doors or front ends smashed by unseen things. Others sat untouched, more than likely frozen closed with the season. Glass cracked under footfalls, muffled by snow. Buildings missed sectioned, or were broken in half completely. Craters filled certain areas of the ground. Where the bombs went off. Cara mused to herself.

"There's a supermarket we can hit up a few blocks down on Jefferson. That might have some good stuff to help introduce to you," Sterling filled the still air with his suggestion. Astrid shook her head in disapproval, pointing down another way as they passed an empty intersection. 

"No, no, that's picked over well. There's a gas station on Myers street that way that was boarded and locked up once the raiding started. The gun runners looked there for a owner weapon. They said it was still fairly full," she retorted, causing Sterling to roll his eyes playfully.

"Fine, Oh Great Queen of the Scavenge," Sterling cooed sarcastically. Astrid sent him a large grin, before prancing off into the direction of the gas station.

Cara shivered with anxiety as she watched their carefree nature. Aren't they worried about Blights? What about... others?

"Cara? What are you waiting for? Come on!" called Astrid. She brought her gaze to her companion and away from her environment to find her at the next intersection already. She sent another hesitant look to the buildings before picking up her pace to meet up with the other two runners.

Soon they were at the gas station. Weeds grew through cracks in the ground. The overhang of the gas pumps was collapsed, shielding the front windows from the road. The glass was dusted, opaqueness growing with years of being untouched. Other windows were shattered from rioters trying to get in. All the windows held weather worn wood, turning sunbaked and soft with rot.

"We'll look for the opening with the most rot and go from there," Sterling called as they stood under the metal canopy. It shielded a bit of the winter breeze. Sterling and Astrid went around opposite sides of the building as Cara prowled the front.

Her eyes searched the wood for darkened spots. Finding a large section of some, she used her gun as a hammer, beating out the blockade to see inside. Daylight filtered in, which was followed by a sharp, warning hiss. She reeled back from the window in time for a gleaming eyed possum to come flying out to attack her.

An involuntary screech left her mouth as she stumbled back, falling to the ground. As the animal went to leap for her, she raised her gun, firing off a shot. The bullet went through the rodent's eye, and with little resistance, rocketed through the skull and out the back of the head.

The animal collapsed at her feet, the blood seeping out into a puddle as Sterling and Astrid came running back to the front of the building. Both of their eyes were wide with terror, before calming down at the side of the animal.

"You scared the shit out of me!" Astrid exclaimed as she side stepped the animal to help Cara up. She grabbed her arm as she hulled Cara up.

"It scared the shit out of me," Cara admitted as she looked back to the window. With the escape of the animal, more wood had fallen away. "I think I found our way in." Sterling shook his head as she approached the opening once more, pulling away the loose boards.

"Ain't no way in hell I'm going through that thing!" he complained as he eyed the new entrance warily. "Who's to say how many of those... animals are left?" Both girls sent Sterling a scalding glare as Astrid went to help pull away boards. Once they were done, they glanced into the darkened building before stepping aside.

"Ladies first," Astrid smirked, gesturing to Sterling to go in. He sent her back a mean look before slowly making his way up to the newly formed hole. He peeked his head inside, sending Astrid a pleading look. She gestured once again for him to go in, and he let out a dissatisfied whine.

One by one, the two girls followed in after him, first Cara then Astrid.

Everything was covered in a film of dirt and dust, making colors appear lighter and duller than what they were. The only thing that showed any sign of life were the scuttle marks the possum left as it had made its way around the room. Cara watched as Sterling broke off, a tattered piece of paper in his hand.

"So, do we just grab what doesn't look damaged?" Cara asked as she followed Sterling grumbling to himself as he weaved between isles. Astrid laughed as she handed Cara her own piece of paper.

"If we did that, we would bring so much more things home. No, we take inventory of the store house, and whatever we are lacking in, we go search for. I mean, if you find sweets like candy, by all means bring it back. That stuff is worship worthy," Astrid explained before heading off her own way. Cara looked down at her list, mentally learning the list.

-Napkins/paper towels

- Empty bottles (preferably thick plastic or glass)

-Metal scraps (any size or shape)

Her eyes scanned over the remaining materials before bringing her gaze back up to the abandoned building. Well, lets get to work I suppose.