That evening, Harvey presented Julian with his new set of tools while they ate around the campfire.

  “Pretty basic, but it’s the best I can do in the short term. I didn’t have time to make handles, but once you have them carved, you just need to jam them into place and nail everything together.” Harvey explained.

  “This is perfect. I can’t believe you finished them so fast!” Julian said, taking the bundle.

  “Wasn’t just me, Elena helped a lot too.” Harvey smiled, turning to the girl sitting beside him. Her cheeks flushed, and she did everything to avoid making eye contact with Julian as she gave a quiet wave.

  “You guys have been spending a lot of time together in there.” Hannah quipped. “Hanging out with sweaty Harvey can’t be better than working on the wall, can it?”

  “Rude!” Harvey laughed. “I’d like to think my presence makes up for the smell.”

  “Impossible. We all need a shower, but it reeks in there.” Julian cackled.

  “Gary told me I was getting in the way on the wall crew and sent me Harvey’s way. He figures if anybody is going to put up with me it’d probably be Scoutmaster.” Elena squeaked.

  Harvey lurched, nearly dropping a steaming carrot into his lap. He hoped the others had missed the mention of that horrible nickname, but a devilish grin on Hannah’s face told him it was too late.

  A chunk of mashed potatoes nearly erupted from her mouth as a wheezing laugh caught in her throat. Her eyes bulged as she hid her mouth with her hand, fighting to swallow so the mocking could begin.

  “You’re Scoutmaster, Harvey? I’d heard people mention that name around town, but I had no idea they were talking about you!” She laughed.

  “Yeah, you guys were gone when Gary started calling me that.” Harvey lamented.

  “What a brutal nickname!” She slapped her leg, nearly knocking her box of food to the ground as her head reared back.

  “It’s not that funny, Hannah.” Julian grinned

  “It really is. My brothers were so stuck up in their Boy Scout days, talking about blood circles, merit badges, and being mountain men.” Hannah brought her voice as low and gruff as she could for the last part. “They’re all obsessed with carving sticks and starting fires with nothing but a rock and a knife until they finally get a date and realize how obnoxious they are.”

  “What the heck, Hannah. Just because your brothers were like that doesn’t mean Harvey was! The Boy Scouts teach a lot of valuable skills, and you’re going to appreciate that Harvey learned them when you’re stuck in the woods together tomorrow” Julian bumped her shoulder with his elbow.

  “No, she’s right. We’re all insufferable until we get a girlfriend.” Harvey laughed. “I still can’t believe I said blood circle in front of Gary.”

  “Speaking of, I’m sorry he said that to you Elena. Nobody’s putting up with you, we’re happy you’re here.” Julian encouraged.

  “Thanks,” Elena muttered,“ I know he means well. Just has his own way of saying things.”

  Harvey’s blood started to simmer when he heard her defending him, but he kept his mouth shut.

  They finished their meals and sat around the campfire talking for a few hours. Without streetlights and headlamps, working in the dark was a liability, so everyone in camp took the evenings as their time to relax and get to know each other. Julian sat whittling handles for his new tools as they heard stories from veilstriders who’d lived all over the world.

  They talked about the System. What it was, how to survive, thoughts about their own trial, and what other groups of humans might be going through. But, they also talked about home. People they loved, places they hoped to see again someday, and how they weren’t going to take the planet they’d lived on for granted after seeing what the alternatives could look like.

  Harvey laid on the soft earth and looked up at the empty sky, the moon shining down like a spotlight. At some point, he drifted off to sleep, the rhythmic cracking of the fire and the sound of wood being shaved by Julian’s sword drowning out the gentle conversation. He awoke to Hannah, gently shaking him awake.

  “Come on, Scoutmaster. I can’t let you sleep out here all night.” She whispered, holding a hand out to pull him to his feet.

  “Wha… what? Where is everyone?” He asked, groggily.

  “The last few just turned in for the night. I waited to let you get as much beauty sleep as I could.” Hannah smiled. “I need you at your best for tomorrow. Come on, let’s get you inside.”

  She helped him into the smithy, where he collapsed into his sleeping bag. He was asleep before his head hit the ground.

  Harvey awoke with a start when a strange taste assaulted his tongue. He sputtered, doing his best to spit whatever it was out as he clawed at the foreign object. Finally grabbing hold, he removed a tiny wood shaving. Groaning, he flopped back down into his sleeping bag, only to be reminded he’d forgotten to turn the robe he wore into his usual makeshift pillow when his head cracked against the wood floor.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  Just then, the front door swung open and delicious scents walked into the forge.

  “Good morning!” A chipper Julian called out.

  “Good morning…” Harvey groaned, massaging the back of his head.

  Hannah groaned, asking for “five more minutes” until they were finally coaxed out of bed. After a quick breakfast, they found themselves in front of the mirror stocking up for the trip out of town.

  “Do you have a slipsack yet?” Hannah asked, loading enough food and water for 30 people into her own.

  “Nope, can’t afford it.” Harvey replied.

  “How much more do you need? I can spot you.” Hannah offered.

  “I’ve only got a little over 1000 after buying some leather work gloves yesterday.” He explained.

  “Oof, didn’t know we were in a different tax bracket.” Hannah joked. “I’ll just buy you one.”

  Before he could protest, a second slipsack appeared in her hand, and she handed it over to him.

  “Whoa, you didn’t have to do that!” Harvey exclaimed.

  “I know, lucky for you I’m awesome.” Hannah replied, loading up his new storage with more essentials before they walked out of town.

  “Seriously, thank you. I’ve been worrying about how I was going to earn enough merit to buy everything I need in the short run, and this helps a lot.” Harvey continued.

  “No worries. It’s not lost on me that we basically holed you up as our on demand blacksmith while Julian and I get to go have awesome adventures together.” Hannah replied, following her path to the living forest.

  “It’s not bad, I’m actually really enjoying it. It’s interesting work and makes me a lot stronger, but I do feel bad that I’m not helping find survivors.” Harvey replied, marching behind her. Despite her shorter frame, he had to push to keep up. She walked with purpose, obviously comfortable out in the wilderness.

  The overwhelming panic that clouded his mind the last time he’d been out this far was gone, but he still had to get used to navigating the mess of roots and leaves on the hill beneath him.

  “Everyone has their job to do.” Hannah sighed. “Julian finally beat that into me over the last few days. I wanted you to be out here with us, but he convinced me that the setup we have is the right thing to do.”

  Her tone was somber and sincere, a shock compared to the cheery, mocking voice he’d grown accustomed to.

  “I’m surprised it meant that much to you.” Harvey added.

  “I don’t know. We talked about how we died, and the next thing I know I’m supposed to leave you alone with a bunch of strangers in a zombie-infested ghost town? I was worried about you!” She explained. “It’s not exactly safe out here, but Julian keeps things from getting too dire. I felt bad that we left you behind while we got to get stronger, make money, and help people.”

  “I won’t lie and say I didn’t feel guilty for a while. Making a bunch of shoddy nails didn’t feel like much help compared to what you guys were doing, but I’m starting to accept that my role is valuable too.” Harvey started.

  “The stonetusk attack would’ve gone very differently if you weren’t there.” Hannah remarked.

  “Yeah… that, and I wouldn’t have been able to help Elena as much. It’s just one person, but getting to know her has really helped me wrap my head around my own stuff.” Harvey continued.

  “Speaking of Elena,” Hannah began, whipping to flash a sly grin his way, “are you in love?”

  “What?” He stopped in his tracks, staring up at her.

  “You heard me! Are you in love?” Hannah jabbed, walking back down the hill to face him.

  “Not even close, she’s just a friend.” Harvey stammered.

  “Bull. I think you’re full of it.” Hannah laughed.

  “No I’m not! She’s more like a sister.” Harvey explained.

  “Well, let me ask. What are you so worried about saving merit for then? I bought your slipsack, and you already have your profession figured out.” Hannah asked.

  “I was…” Harvey began, recognizing the trap immediately as Hannah’s smile grew wider, “saving up to buy a profession guide for Elena.”

  “Ha! I knew it.” Hannah shouted, turning to continue walking.

  “Come on, you don’t understand. I’m just trying to help her get on her feet. The same way you and Julian helped me!” Harvey groaned, rushing after her.

  “We didn’t buy you anything, you worked for that all on your own.” Hannah replied.

  “Yeah, but she won’t. She’s too scared to leave the outpost, and I can’t stand leaving her behind.” Harvey explained.

  “Because you love her?” Hannah asked.

  “No, I don’t.” Harvey shot back.

  “Yes, you do!” Hannah jeered.

  “Hannah, I really don’t. Besides, she’s 17? I’m not a creep.” Harvey continued.

  “Come on, The System changed everything. I don’t think some police officer is going to come after you if you start dating a 17 year old. If you really don’t feel that way about her, why go through so much trouble to help her out? There’s dozens of other veilstriders who deserve the same, and she’s already got Gary looking out for her.” Hannah asked.

  “Gross, don’t get me started. I can’t for the life of me figure out why she still follows him around like she’s his daughter or something.” Harvey groaned. “Listen, I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but Elena has an older brother who killed himself.”

  Hannah stopped in her tracks, the steady crunch of leaves under their feet turning to silence as they stared.

  “When she learned about me, she said she never understood why he did it.” Harvey continued. “Why he left her behind, just like I left my own sister behind. She was so angry at me, but it was because I was a living embodiment of him. Someone who made the same mistake… He was never able to explain how he felt, and he was never able to apologize.”

  A deafening silence hung in the air, even the forest quieting in reverence.

  “I would give anything to let my family know it wasn’t their fault. That I regret the decision I made. But, I can’t. What I can do, is make sure there’s someone looking out for Elena. Keep her alive until she makes it back to her real family, and hope someone else does the same for Eleanor. That’s why I need to buy her that guidebook, so she can at least get strong enough to not become collateral damage when the war starts.”

  Hannah gave an apologetic smile, tears welling up in her eyes as Harvey’s determination grew fierce. When she finished, she wrapped him up in a hug that belied her small frame.

  “You’re a good man, Harvey.” She whispered.

  The winds stirred again, the forest exhaling as their moment came to a close. Without a word, they began their climb towards life once again.