KC and Bray paused as they reached the Eco camp. As the Eco tribe noticed the visitors with the returning party they all stopped what they were doing and looked cautiously over to the two. Bray was used to the sense of distrust they felt emanating from the tribe, but KC felt as if they were infringing on some sacred type ground and perhaps now was the best chance to leave. He pushed the feeling aside and followed Bray as Bray took a few more steps into the camp. They came to a pause again as Bray stood staring over to the other side of the camp, KC gave him a frown and looked over himself to see a man standing opposite, obviously Bray knew him.

The man approached a little apprehensively as if he wasn't sure what he was seeing before him, but as he reached them, his face widened into a smile and he held out a hand to them.

"Bray?"

"Hawk."

Bray took the other mans hand and gave it a hearty shake, to see anyone from the old days even mere acquaintances he'd only met once or twice was better than seeing no-one at all. He turned slightly to KC who was standing nearby watching events unfold.

"KC, this is Hawk, the Eco tribes leader," said Bray. "Hawk, this is KC, one of the Mallrat's."

"Hi," KC said extending his hand, which Hawk took and gave a firm handshake.

"KC," he gave him a curt nod before looking back to Bray. "I have a feeling we all have some stories to tell."

"Could say that," Bray smiled, trying to figure out where to start.

"Come join us," said Hawk extending his hand and point over the tribe camp. "We were just preparing our evening meal. Perhaps you want to rest first, you're a long way from home."

"Yes we are," Bray replied as they followed Hawk further into the camp alongside one of the campfires the tribe had set up. "We've actually just came from the old farm, we stayed there last night. We actually came here looking for you."

"Then I'm glad you have succeeded." Hawk said offering them to sit down.

Bray and KC sat, and a few other tribe members joined them, including the scouting party.

"Actually it's you who found us," KC interjected giving Mouse a little smile.

"Ah yes, Mouse is learning quite well the Eco ways," said Hawk and the little girl gave a wide cheeky smile as she sat cross legged by Hawk .

Food was produced on plates and set before the group as more Eco's started settling down around them.

"So, you seem to have been determined to find us," Hawk said as Bray and KC accepted the plates of food gratefully and started eating. "There must be a reason why?"

"It's a long story," mumbled KC between bites, before he savoured the taste of fresh vegetables, and paused to enjoy the moment.

"Then I suggest you start at the beginning," replied Hawk.

"We escaped from a techno camp a few days ago." said Bray, he'd been unable to figure out where to start or how to introduce that fact so he figured he'd get it out in the open straight away. "We've been prisoners in the slave camps, about three years now."

"Yeah ever since they arrived and took over the city," KC sighed, he doubted he'd ever get over the fact that three years of his life had been wasted by being a slave.

"We've been on the run ever since," Bray added. "We doubted we were being followed but couldn't be sure. We were headed for the city, but figured with the Techno's running the place, it may have been a lost cause, no point of escaping only to be captured again. So we headed for the farm instead, with the intent of searching the Eco's out. We didn't plan on finding you so soon though, but I'm glad we did."

"We haven't seen anything of the Techno's this side of the river and city, we've seen nobody else come to think of it," KC gave himself a frown at the thought before continuing. "I'm guessing the Techno's merely use the main road for transportation?"

"Well they did," Hawk said.

Bray and KC gave him inquisitive looks before he went on to explain.

"You did right not heading into the city. It isn't safe to go into, but not because of the Techno's. The Techno reign of the city ended a year or so ago, they disbanded when their leader was brought down from power. It was starting to get back onto its feet, but more problems came."

"Problems because of technology and the old ways," grumbled one of the Eco's before taking a drink from a flask they had lying by them.

Bray and KC gave a nod of acknowledgement, they both understood the Eco way of living off the earth and not returning to the old ways of society, like technology. They were also trying to take in the fact they'd been salves for a tribe which had apparently disbanded long ago.

"So wait, if the Techno's no longer rule the city, why is it so dangerous to return to. Another power in the Techno place?" Bray asked, trying to not let too many questions swamp his mind, he needed to go over things slowly or nothing would make sense.

"The virus, it was somehow released once more into society," Hawk explained slowly. "The city has been a no go zone since the explosion."

"Explosion!" KC said suddenly, not quite taking in what was being told to him. First he was a slave for a tribe which no longer existed, and now not only was the virus once more on the loose, but there had been an explosion in the city.

"Hundreds fled the city when it was found a new virus was about to be released," Hawk said. "We learned what we could from many of the kids who fled the city to the forests, mountains, anywhere they could go to get away too. Apparently the virus was spread via an explosion somewhere in the city, we sent scouts out to check what was happening, but the city is no longer safe to go to. The people who stayed, those who've survived don't have long to live or much to live for. There is much devastation there."

Bray and KC were silent, they were having trouble taking it all in. KC set his plate down on the ground; he'd suddenly lost his appetite. The whole camp was silent, and Bray found it hard to draw his eyes from the plate in his hands. There was too much information swarming his mind and too many questions wanting to be asked.

"City destroyed," KC whispered softly beside him, shaking his head in dis-belief, "Virus?"

"What about-," said Bray quietly before looking up and over to Hawk and clearing his throat. "What about the Mallrat's? Do you know what happened to them?"

Hawk looked away and Bray felt a sinking feeling deep inside his stomach. KC took a deep breath and suddenly felt the need to get out of this camp and back at the farm. He wanted to be anywhere form here, and hour or so before he'd been so pleased they'd found the Eco's, but now, he wished they'd never found them. Then his world wouldn't be crumbling around him, no city to return to, no friends to embrace once more, his family gone.

"We've not had word from them since the devastation. As I said we sent out scouts for information, they came back with nothing, no-one knew what happened to them." Hawk said trying to extend hope, no news was good news the old saying had been. But everyday his hope faded. "They could still be out there, somewhere. If Eagle is out there she will return to us."

Deep down Hawk wanted to believe this, but Amber wouldn't have taken this long to return to the tribe and he feared for the worst for her and the rest of her tribe. He looked at Bray who was looking at him with a strange look.

"Eagle, Amber's, she is alive," Bray asked calmly.

Hawk frowned before remembering, casting his mind back a few years. Trudy and Amber had been found wandering the forests. Amber was ill after giving birth to her son, and had recuperated with the Tribe before being taken by the Techno's and then returning to the city. All this after Bray had been taken by the Techno's himself.

"Amber is alive," replied Hawk with a smile to Bray, although it was a short lived moment. At this moment he didn't know if she was alive or dead.

"And she has a baby," Mouse said with a sigh as she thought of the Mallrat's before she looked at Bray with a soft gaze. "He has the same name as you."

Bray had the sudden need to be alone, this was a lot of information he had to process and the camp suddenly felt small and enclosed.

"You're tired," Hawk said standing suddenly and implying to a few of the Eco's who scurried off to one of the tents and shifted a few thing about. "This is a lot for you to take in all at once, rest now and we'll talk later."

Bray and KC both stood silently and walked over to the tent which had been sorted for them. Inside it was simply made out, two makeshift beds made up on the floor, a lamp of some kind hung from above. KC sat down heavily on one of the beds, Bray sat down by him. Neither of them spoke, both trying to process the information. KC crossed his legs, propped his elbows on his knees and put his head in his hands.

"I don't understand," KC said without raising his head. "We've been slaving away in those camps for three years and half that time the Techno's haven't even been...Techno's."

Bray nodded, it was something he was having a hard time coming to terms with also. Along with a lot of other things they'd been told.

"I have a son," he said simply, that was one thing he was having trouble coming to terms with. Before it had been hope that Amber and the baby had survived, now it was truth and the reality was just setting in.

"Yeah congratulations," KC replied still not lifting his head. He suddenly felt exhausted, like the past few days were starting to catch up with him. But at the same time he didn't want to think, he wanted to figure things out and try and make some sense out of it all.

Bray shot him a look and poked him gently with a hand.

"You ok?" he asked.

"Not really," KC sighed honestly, shaking his head slightly and looking up and turning his head to look at Bray. "You?"

"I'm not sure what I am at the moment," Bray said ,"Confused, angry, happy..."

He trailed off and they sat in silence once more.