AN as some of you might have noticed I have deleted the chapters of my old story. I did this because I have decided to change a good deal of the story and didn't want people to get confused. I am sorry if this is confusing you now but I think it will make better sense if I do it this way. Alright so here is the next chapter.

Chapter 2

Sunrise

The morning dawned colder then the previous day. This confirmed my fears that winter was quickly approaching. As I watched the sun crest the horizon I wondered how my little band of misfits were going to survive the trip, let alone the winter. Silently I prayed to god that my tribe land and fort were still intact enough to support us for our first winter together.

As I turned to go back inside I noticed a second shadow in the early morning light. Bray sat atop a small 'watch tower' looking to be lost in thought. Climbing up the ladder I approached him silently watching his body language for subtle hints about his mood or what he could possibly be thinking.

It was easy to see his thoughts were not happy ones. He was tucked into a ball with his knees close to his chest, arms folded around them and his chin resting on his knees. For a brief moment I saw him in my minds eye like a lost child waiting for someone to find him only to snap out of it realizing that we all were just lost children hoping to be found.

"You can sit down and join me you know" Bray spoke so quietly that I nearly missed what he had said. I also nearly jumped out of my boots from shock that he knew I was there even though I had come up so quietly.

"True…" I said as I approached and sat down next to him my shoulder only inches away from his because of the small size of the 'tower'.

"What brings you up and out here at such an early time?" I let one leg dangle over the ledge but tucked my other leg up close to my chest mocking his position.

It didn't get a reply for a long while so I just continued to sit and enjoy the view of the early morning. It was typical for Bray to be silent; he had been that way since he came in unless he felt up to telling one of his bedtime stories. Then out of no where he shrugged his shoulders.

"So much has changed even over the past few years. It is hard to know who you are and where you belong." The way he spoke was more so like he was just thinking out loud then answering my question but I didn't interrupt and I didn't judge what he was saying. Sometimes everyone needs to vent especially in these times.

"Before the virus everything seemed so black and white either you belonged or you didn't. If you loved someone you didn't let them go without a fight but now in this new world if someone leaves or gets taken away everyone moves on like they were never around. Nothing in this new world seems right." Again he fell silent and I took that as my cue to speak.

"That is true, but Bray I don't think anything was ever as black and white as you make it out to be. Life gets harder as we grow older, even before the Virus that was true… in the time we live in we have been shoved forward in our lives, decisions and challenges that pre-virus we would have had to make in our late thirties early forties are being made now. Children who should be playing and having fun are working to survive. That is the only major change that had been made to our lives well that and our young care free perception of what life should be like."

As I spoke I reached over and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Even before the Virus I had to grow up quickly. My parents had divorced when I was two and both my dad and my mom seemed to blame me for what went wrong in their relationship. My older brother couldn't stay out of jail and my sister wouldn't do anything that my mom said so I was always punished for their mistakes. My mom and step dad were business owners and were never around so they carted me off to military school. My dad was a drunken fool who I never heard from. I've been on my own and grown up for years before the virus hit us."

Bray looked over at me shaking his head "Everyone is messed up in this new world hu?" It was so random that I burst out laughing. After calming down which took me at the very least five minutes I gave him a reassuring smile.

"So what got you onto this train of thought hum?" I questioned trying to get him to continue talking. He had said more in the last few minutes then in the whole time I had known him. Why should I let him stop now.

"We're Leaving" was his brief answer. But after a moment he continued. "Every time I seem to get settled in something changes or we move location. Before the Technos invaded I had finally found my place. Or so I thought."

He sighed but wasn't done "Elli, the girl that was here before, she told me that my tribe had moved on like I didn't even exist. Amber, my wife, had a son… my son and now she's moved on and with an ex-Techno of all people."

To say I was surprised at his continued monologue was an understatement. My heart ached for the pain I knew he was feeling. Out of old pre-Virus habit I leaned over and embraced him in a sideways hug my head resting on his shoulder.

For a moment he sat stunned. In our little group physical contact was limited to the children and this was even more true for Bray because he tended to isolate himself from everyone but the children. But after a moment he relaxed and accepted the comfort.

"This world is full of shifts in what we perceive as reality. It will continue to change until everything is right. I believe everyone is in for a major change thanks to the Technos. My tribe is going to be all new unless some of the others managed to survive and make their way back. I never even planned on being a tribal leader it just fell onto Joanna and my laps. Joanna is… was my co leader… she was and hopefully still is a wonderful girl. I just hope you get a chance to meet her."

He gave me a half smile and we proceeded to sit in comfortable silence until the sun was well on its way into the sky. Slowly the sounds of our camp evolved from nightly silence to the clatter and clang of daily living.

With a heavy sigh I looked over at Bray then got u p. "A new day… a new adventure hu? Come on… let's see what new things are awaiting us over that horizon" With a slight chuckle he joined me and we made our way down the tower and into the building to get ready for our new adventure.

000000000000 Later 0000000000000000

The group had gathered on the old drill field. Eleven people were in a group on the southern portion including me and nine others were divided into three smaller groups heading in various other directions. Late last night we had found an old map so that all groups could find their cities and plot their trips home.

Most groups had seven or eight days journey home but my rag tag group had nearly a week. Most of the people in my group had little desire to return to their old tribes, either they had been given news of the tribe members demise or the trip would have taken them more then two weeks of travel and in this age doing that alone could be a deadly adventure.

After an hour long goodbye to all of our new friends my group was all that was left remaining at the base. Ten eager faces watched me waiting for instructions and with a sigh I gave them my most confident smile. "This trip won't be easy. Most of you are still healing form our captors' punishments, because of this I want every adult to pair up"

"Sadly we have an odd number so Trista, Skye and Jake I want you in a group with Darien and Kristy. Sniper and Kale how about you keep an eye on Checkers and Bray and I will watch Lex and Chibi." Everyone nodded and got into their assigned mini groups. This would make it easier for everyone to stay together. And even if they did get separated at least they wouldn't be alone.

Soon we started out. As we did so I picked up Chibi and sat her on my hip. Then I placed Lex between me and Bray so that he couldn't venture off. Our little group took the lead seeing as I was the only person who knew exactly where we were going.