69

"He headed this way" she called, the wind picking up and ruffling her fur.

"Why, this is not the way to the villages" Billy replied as he kicked his horse forward, Hope already out of sight again "Hope!"

"Damn it" he muttered, "now I see why she needs a good smacking."

"Like you can" she purred in his ear and he yelped then laughed as the coms came on line, finally far enough from the Dome to activate.

"Seriously though Sissy, why this way?" he asked "That fat farm was this way, we were told to NEVER come this way. North was always to be left alone. This entire sector is out of bounds. What the hell was he looking for?"

"The mall was this way" she said after a while "remember? The deer? Hen you and Liam … sorry."

"It's OK" he assured her "You can talk about him. Yes, we came this way and Dad came after us with his anger. You with your righteousness not thinking you would wind up in trouble too."

"We were told. Uncle Sean said too … never go north. Only the recon team from Fallbak ever come this way" she sighed "So why has he?"

"Ash" she said softly to herself, Billy nodding silently as he agreed he was the one who always led the teams that went North, his reposts of Zs still moving through that township keeping everyone away lest they create a scent marker that will lead them to their Domes.

"He is gonna stumble straight into the middle of town, you know he is. Even with his lack of direction he does have this inane ability to bloody get into stuff" Billy sighed "Tad is gonna be so pissed."

"Maybe I can catch him" she sped ahead leaving Billy to ride his horse on his own and he sighed as he patted it's neck.

"See Spitfire?" he said softly "All our family is a bit mad."

He then addressed Hope again "Gods, I hope Ash is not pissed to see us when it's not the agreed meeting time. He doesn't like crowds, prefers to live in the edge of the second dome, not even coming down to Stronghold in winter. He keeps watch over Fallback in the Northern caves system."

He rode through the dales to some old gates and Hope was there waiting "He went in. Looks like he is in the old part."

"So stupid" he sighed, "Do they know he's here?"

"Yeah, of course they do. They might not have the tech we do but they are as security wise as us, Tad and Dad did hone that into them when agreeing to let them have this spot for recons."

"Maybe they are hanging back because they don't recognise him" Billy surmised "They will know me though, even if you usually stay back."

"They will know it's me. They've seen Taddy in Wolfling form. Hopefully they will let us get him out without starting an argument, if he pisses them off … Tad will definitely put him in a hole!" Billy sighed "I don't have that much to do with Fallback, Ash and I only see one another when exchanging stock. He doesn't come down to the meetings, sends notes and stuff. Dad mutters that he's an 'Archie' and I never understood until now what he leant. He's eccentric that that old man."

As they walked though the gates Billy hesitated, patting his pockets, then going for the saddle bags, then placing a small red car on the gatepost.

"He's a bit big for those now" she snorted. "Been three years since they came. He's what … almost eleven now?"

"His baby brother isn't. Besides, it's tradition. I always leave him a dinky toy" Billy smiled softly "Even if we try not to interact, we still remember."

"It was a weird agreement" Hope said softly "They didn't want to come into the village with us, wanted to be alone out here. Tad and Dad understood. Not everyone is up for the communal life. They liked their freedom, the quiet."

"Yet they grew" Billy snorted.

"Still a lot smaller than us. It works OK? They have their spot, we have ours. No need for alarm" she stopped walking and Billy saw why, the man in the tree line almost invisible.

"Ash. It's me. Billy. Sorry to intrude, my uncle wandered off in a drunken stupor and he's come this way. Probably in a store down there ransacking it for more booze." Billy called out and the gun in the man's hand lowered as he stepped into the sunlight.

"Billy? Christ on a cross. Look at you. Your Tad isn't due for another month."

"I know … he will not be either. He's preggers again, So's my Marley. My second. Dad will probably be meeting you at the gates for the seasonal checks. I was wondering, the feed we send for last shutdown. Was it enough? Tad was worried too as the last reports were a bit jumbled.."

"You sent more than we asked for with the trades" Ash smiled "And still, we were lean those last few weeks. If your Tad hadn't slipped extras in we might have had to cull a lot more. I will consider that, I think maybe more winter feed this time around."

"He's down there alright" Hope spoke and Ash jumped then snorted. "Yes, it's still me Ashton."

"Well … I give you leave to explore our town. It's mostly abandoned but … we've not swept it yet this week and they do keep coming." Ash sighed "I would have thought with time Zs would perish but I agree with your Tad, as long as there are us, there are them."

"Thanks Ash. We will sweep while we are down here, say hi to Dinky for me" Billy smiled as he started to walk away and Ash called after him.

"Melanie also wanted to say thanks for those clothes sent in the winter pack. We did need those"

Billy waved back over his shoulder as their neighbour went back into the trees, heading to tell his team not to venture out for the rest of the day.

"Their decision to remain separate from Holdfast and Fallback must be respected." Hope said softly as they walked into the town "He's a great hunter and sweeper. Fallback would be lost without him, without us Wolfling they have to work harder to maintain security."

"Yes Boss" he smiled lovingly as she bolted ahead to sweep.