Ellie stood, flanked by two guards on each side, as she watched the newcomers trundle up the hill. When they got close Ellie raised her arm to order her men to raise their weapons. The leader of the group also raised her hand, signalling her people to stop.

"State your name and intent." Ellie ordered, eyes narrowing at the group.

The group's leader dismounted her horse and raised her hands, almost as if in surrender. "Don't shoot GI Jane" the woman smiled at Ellie, "We don't want any trouble" she walked closer and closer to Ellie until one of the guards lined his sight up with her.

"Close enough" he growled

The woman nodded "Ok, relax now." she offered a hand to Ellie "Names Jenna Cohen, this is my Battalion, we're couriers."

Ellie raised an eyebrow, confused, "Couriers?"

Jenna grinned patronisingly "Mail men"

Ellie frowned "I know what a couriers are" she grumbled, a petulant note in her voice "But since when are there any now. The concept of Couriers died out years before the infection even started."

Jenna rolled her eyes "And so did hand spun wool, but you're wearing it" she shook her head "People want to send mail and we deliver it."

Ellie scrutinised the woman in front of her. She had dark skin and dark hair, a large scar sat on her right cheekbone and her short but shaggy hair fell messily over her eyes. She wore beige cotton trousers, leather boots, a white cotton blouse and a brown waistcoat. She had a leather holster with a revolver in it, and a double-barrelled shotgun strapped to her back. Ellie looked past her at the courier's carts "Prove it. Prove you're couriers."

Jenna nodded "Ok, what ever you say Rambo" she turned to a tall lanky Hispanic man who was steering the first cart, "Carl! Pass the Fall Creek bag will ya?" the men nodded and rummaged around the cart for a second before pulling out a burlap sack with the words Fall Creek written on it and passed it to Jenna.

Jenna walked back and pulled out a white envelope with the name Maggie Dunn on it. "Is there a Maggie Dunn here?" Jenna called out.

Ellie turned to look up at Hopkins, recognising the name "bring Maggie out here please."

Moments later Hopkins came back with a nervous looking Maggie Dunn. Maggie was a small woman with ridiculously curly red hair; she was almost hiding behind Hopkins. Jenna smiled kindly at her "Your letter miss."

Maggie took the letter carefully and opened it with great care, as if it might explode at any moment. As she read the letter her face lit up "It's from my sister!" Maggie laughed in disbelief "She's alive, and living in Wichita!" Maggie worked in the medical centre as a nurse, she and her sister had been very young when their parents died and they where thrown into the strongholds orphanages, just like Ellie had been. When they where in their mid teens the stronghold they lived on was overthrown and came under the control of bandits, and in the rush to escape, Maggie and her sister had been separated. Though Maggie was usually friendly and calm, every year on her sister's birthday she would have a little celebration and a good cry, assuming she'd never see her sister again.

Jenna chuckled "Took us while to track you down Ma'am. That letter's been all over the country trying to get to you."

Maggie smiled at Jenna through her tears "Thank you, thank you so much!" she said clutching the letter to her chest.

Ellie narrowed her eyes at the caravan, still not entirely convinced but she didn't have much of a choice but to comply, she sighed kicking at some rocks on the ground in irritation "So, how do you operate and what will it mean for us?"

Jenna smiled at Ellie "Good, we're being reasonable now." Ellie stared angrily at her "We'll stay about three days, distribute the letters and packages we have, pick up letters to be sent else where, and re-supply for the next leg of our journey."

Ellie nodded "Will you need accommodation?"

Jenna shook her head "We just need somewhere to rest the horses and set up our tents."

Ellie sighed "There is a stable where the horses can stay and a rest stop for caravans just across from it."

Jenna beamed and clapped Ellie on the shoulder "Your hospitality is much appreciated"

Ellie grabbed Jenna's wrist "Just, please don't make any trouble"

Jenna smiled back "Trouble? Me? Don't be absurd."

Ellie groaned, this was going to be a long three days.