"So, where exactly are going to?" Jonah asked, Ellie nodding her head in agreement, him feeling the movement on his shoulder. It had been one week since he had made his final decision to stick with the odd group of Special Infected and now switched off with Ryan every now and then in carrying Ellie, claiming it was no trouble. In truth, Jonah carried whatever needed carrying, swapping his backpack for Ellie two hours ago, while Ryan had taken on some of the heavier items stuffed into a hiking pack. Fred and Geoff were the only ones who didn't carry items often, as they couldn't really fit them onto their backs, though they constantly offered to do so. Fred was currently trying to keep Jonah's backpack over his shoulder.

"Well, there've been rumors lately of places farther north about infected towns with those like us," Ryan replied.

"It would seem that a new term has been coined for Special Infected that are still sentient. That term is, well…Sentients. Apparently, there are even some Common Infected that still retained their sanity," Fred added. "That Wretch fellow sent a friend of his the other day. You three," Fred said, gesturing to Jonah, Ellie, and Geoff, "were sleeping when he came by. He told us to start heading in that general direction and to make sure we were actually prepared for that kind of trip."

"Which would explain your sudden interest in camping equipment," Jonah said, nodding his head in understanding. "But why did you grab a couple guns and a machete?"

"Because I'm going to teach you how to use a gun, that sword, and even that knife," Ryan said, Jonah opening his mouth to protest. "And before you start, I'm only doing this for your own good. Like we've explained before, most Special Infected still retain their sanity. But there are those who have lost it completely. We won't always be able to help you, especially if you get separated from us. You're going to have to learn how to defend yourself."

"We only want to make sure that you'll be okay," Ellie said.

"Look, to be honest, it would probably be better if you learn to accept killing as an everyday fact of life," Geoff put in. "For those Common Infected, it would be a blessing to be killed. A merciful act. To live one's life in that condition…from day to day. Imagine the kind of suffering one would feel. We all are blessed that we do not have to deal with such unbearable pain. Even more so that we can still speak and think. To still have memories of our lives before this crisis." Geoff then pointed at Jonah. "You are even more blessed, to not be in the grip of this affliction."

"Because he's a carrier," Ryan said. "His body has always had that disease, but it doesn't seem to be able to affect him."

"So…this is my fault?" Jonah asked. Ryan looked at him.

"No. It isn't. You can't help what you were born with." Ryan gave the pack on his back a tug. "Come on, we'll walk for a few more minutes, then stop and rest. And I'll start your training," he said to Jonah.

"Alright," Jonah said in defeat. "You want me to get a fire going before we start?"

"No, I'll handle that," Geoff said.

"I can't believe he did that," Ryan said. He and Jonah stared in disbelief at the very large bonfire Geoff had started using two boulders and a large pile of dead logs.

"How was the training?" Geoff asked, holding a branch with a dead deer staked on it, roasting it over the fire.

"You…how…" Ryan didn't know where to begin. So instead, he just settled for sitting down and tearing open a can of chili they had grabbed from the grocery store.

"Wow, Geoff. You really did handle it," Jonah said.

"I try," Geoff said.

"So, has there been anything on that radio?" Jonah asked Fred. Fred nodded to Ellie, who turned a knob on the battery powered radio and music began to pour out of the small speakers.

"Someone is keeping these stations going," Fred said. "And I'll bet it's one of those Sentient towns."

"Well, at least we can finally rest for longer than a night once we reach that Hard Rain place," Ryan said.

"Wait…what about me?" Jonah asked, the others looking at him. "That guy said it was all infected. What am I supposed to do once we get there?"

"I…huh…didn't actually give it a second thought," Ryan said.

"In all honesty, we just assumed you'd be as welcomed as us," Fred said. "But you bring up a good point. Like non-infected, an infected can hold a grudge against one they don't know without reason."

"Don't worry about it," Geoff said, letting his hand rest on Jonah's head, easily three times the size of Jonah's head. "If they try anything, they've got three of us to go through."

"But…there are five of us here," Jonah said. "Why only three?"

"That's because you stay with Ellie," Ryan said. "We defend you, but you have to defend Ellie at the same time. She isn't a fighter." Ellie looked down at the ground. "And with any luck, she won't have to be one." Jonah looked at Ryan, who had stopped eating, looking back, holding his gaze. Finally, Jonah nodded and Ryan resumed eating.

"Hey, Fred, mind tossing me the salt?" Jonah asked, slicing off some of the deer meat and skinning it.

"Jonah, you can either wake up now and save us all a lot of trouble or I can let Mr. Nine-Iron do the talking," Ryan said.

"Ryan!" Ellie admonished, though her voice still remained the same volume. Ryan sighed, putting the golf club down.

"Perhaps some water," Fred suggested. He picked up the bucket and ran to the stream, filling it up before coming back and promptly dumping the freezing water on Jonah, who woke up, spluttering.

"I'm up!" Jonah exclaimed. "I'm up!"

"About time," Ryan said. "Come on, I want to try and make the first town by nightfall. It's only a couple of miles from here. A two or three hour walk."

"Okay, okay," Jonah said, rubbing his eyes and yawning. "Let's get going. Who's carrying Ellie first?"

"I'll take her," Ryan said, pulling Ellie onto his back. "You make sure to grab the pack. Geoff, you sure that fire's completely out?"

"Well, if you'd like to stick your hand in the ashes to be sure, go ahead," Geoff replied.

"I'll just take your word for it," Ryan replied smartly. "Now, which way?"

"I believe that way, if this map is correct," Fred said, pointing in a random direction. "Or is it this way?" he said to himself, turning the map over. Jonah walked up, taking the map from Fred and turned the opposite way Fred had pointed.

"This is the right way," Jonah said matter-of-factly. Fred looked at Ryan, who shrugged.

"Hey, the kid's dad was in the military. He must have taught him some survival skills," Ryan said, following Jonah, Fred and Geoff taking the rear guard.

"Jonah," Ellie said. Jonah turned to look back at her over his shoulder.

"Yeah?" Jonah asked.

"What was your life like before the infection?"

"Um…well…I guess it was rather boring," Jonah replied, tapping his chin. "My mom died when I was six and my dad was in the military until I was thirteen. My life involved a lot of moving back and forth across the country. Sometimes I'd be home by myself because my dad had to go overseas. I was always good at making friends, so I was never really lonely. But I never got into video games. I was more of an outdoors person. I was always able to get my friends to come on at least one camping trip with me in the different states."

"That sounds nice," Ellie said.

"Well..what about you?"

"Oh…to be honest, I don't remember much. I remember…waking up all alone on a college campus. I remember being so scared of that loneliness…that's why I cry whenever I'm alone. Because I'm scared of it."

"She really was the only being there," Ryan spoke up. "When I first met her, I had just been infected myself. I didn't know what was going on. I heard crying and when I walked into a room, there was Ellie, sitting there, sobbing. Not a single soul around for about two miles. After that, we started traveling together. She would always get scared whenever I had to leave her alone for a bit. But apparently, other Witches would attack when startled. So I was able to leave her, knowing she'd be safe most of the time because of that crying."

"What about you, Fred?" Jonah asked.

"Well, as I explained, I was a biology professor. I remember a woman…but I don't know if she may have been a student, stranger, friend, so on and so forth. I just couldn't remember her relation to me. No name. Not even her voice. Just a random face," Fred replied.

"Geoff?"

"Hmm," Geoff said. "I believe…I may have been a poet of some kind. Or perhaps a teacher. As you have all seen, I am rather different from my fellow Tanks. The only thing I can recall consistently is that I had a daughter. But her name…for some reason, her name always eludes me."

"Well…that just leaves you, Ryan…"

"No thanks," Ryan said. "My past isn't something I like to think about."

"Why? Because you can't remember?"

"No. Because I remember," Ryan said. "I remember a good bit of my past. And I don't like it one bit."

"Oh," Jonah said. "Okay. Then…um, anyone know a good word game?"

So, now they're headed to a town filled with nothing but infected. Sentients are now on the scene and this idea originally came from Apocalypse Survivor's story, The Hybrid. Please Review. Also, I've decided that I'll only do chapter names when I can actually think of them.