The next day was as bright and warm as the day before, and the three teams set out shortly after sunrise. At Poe's suggestion, they went the same direction as the day before, but they would go further, at least another hour's hike. Unfortunately, all three teams came back without any good news.

That evening, a small storm rolled in, dropping the temperature dramatically along with hard rain and small hail. Everyone huddled close together under the tarp, waiting it out as patiently as possible, and finally the storm passed. Fires were restarted, and Caleb and Bill, two of the older gentlemen, headed for the creek, determined to catch some fish. "They like the rain," Caleb said with a grin. Poe didn't expect much, but shortly before sunset the two men came back with four small fish. It wasn't much, but it brought everyone's spirits up. The two men were determined to work harder the next day to get more fish, and Ezra would set up two snares before heading out with Sabine for more recon.

Poe was more than a little hungry when he and Rey set out the next morning. If they didn't find anything today… Poe didn't want to think about it. These hikes were taking their toll on the six people doing them, with no results. But the idea of just sitting at the crash site, waiting…

Rey seemed to sense his dour mood and didn't try to converse with him like she usually did. He appreciated it, finding the silence between them comfortable, and by the time they reached the point where they had turned around the day before, his attitude was much improved.

"You know," he started as they climbed over a large fallen tree. "I've never told you how grateful I am that I sat next to you on that plane," he told Rey.

She smiled and shook her head. "And why is that?"

"Well, it's really hard being myself anymore, when I'm recognized everywhere I go," he continued. "Right away I could tell you either didn't recognize me or you didn't care, and that made me more comfortable with you. And then this happened." He waved his hand, gesturing around them. "I can't imagine being stuck out here in a life and death situation with a rabid fan."

Rey laughed, but it was a short, almost choked sound. He glanced over at her, but she was focused on the rocky ground in front of her. She seemed embarrassed, but Poe pushed on.

"I guess what I'm getting at, is that I hope that when we make it out of this, we can still… I can still…" Shit. It had been a long time since he'd been at a loss for words.

She was looking at him now, her eyes huge and beautiful, and… hopeful? Or was he just seeing his own hope in her eyes?

He stopped and she stopped as well, tilting her head as she waited patiently for him to continue.

"I hope we can still keep in touch," he said in a rush. "Still… be friends."

She blinked a couple of times. "I'd like that," she said softly.

"It's not gonna be easy," he said. "Being a celebrity is…" he winced. "I try to keep my personal life as private as possible, but there's always someone watching. Someone waiting for anything that will be fodder for great gossip. It's hard to maintain any kind of relationship with people who aren't already in the business and used to that." Why was he trying to talk her out of this? "Are you sure you want anything to do with that?"

She gave him a soft smile. "I really don't know," she said with a shrug. "But I'd like to try." She looked down, a soft blush on her cheeks. "I really like you, Poe. You've been such a compassionate leader for us all during this time, and I would be very proud to be considered your friend, whether you're famous or not." Her smile grew as she huffed a laugh.

Poe smiled back at her.

"But, you should probably know-"

A sharp rattle of branches behind him made her stop and she gasped as he spun around to see what made the noise. Two elk were crashing through the trees, apparently having been spooked by the two of them in their path.

"Wow," Poe said softly as he watched the large herbivores speed away into the brush, their antlers like magical crowns on their heads.

"Poe! Look!" Rey moved past him toward where the elk had been. "They were following a trail." She pushed aside a bush and stepped onto bare earth. She looked up and down the trail, her expression excited.

"Yeah, but is it elk-made or man-made?" Poe asked as he followed her.

She walked up the trail a bit. "It's hard to tell after the rain yesterday," she said, but then she stopped suddenly and kneeled down. "Look!"

Poe kneeled down next to her. Right next to a bush that covered part of the trail was an obvious tread mark from a hiking boot.

"It looks like part of it was rubbed out in the rain," Rey said. "So, it can't be from today." She looked up at him. "But it can't be that old, either."

They both stood and looked up and down the trail. Poe felt the sudden urge to start running along it, not stopping until he found help. But which direction?

"Should we follow it?" he asked.

"We're already so far away from the camp," Rey said. "We'd never get back before nightfall. Then they would worry about us."

Poe thought about the others waiting for them at the crash site. "A lot of those people won't be able to hike this far out," he said solemnly. More than half the survivors were either overweight or elderly or both. A hike through this wilderness at this altitude would be impossible for most of them. He focused on Rey, who was nodding sadly. "They're safe where they are," he told her. "We can go back tonight, let them know what we found, then come back out tomorrow, and follow this thing until we find help."

Rey nodded again, her expression worried but determined.

Poe looked at his watch, then up and down the trail once more, a part of him hoping upon hope that someone would be coming along while they stood there. "If it's a backpacking trail, we could still be days away from civilization."

"Or the trailhead could be just over the next ridge," Rey countered.

Poe smiled at her. "Yeah." He took a deep breath. "Let's get back."

Three hours later, they walked back into camp. Sabine met them.

"No luck for us," she said, indicating not only Ezra, but Finn and Kaz. "You guys?"

Poe couldn't help but grin. "We found a trail," he said, speaking loudly enough the others could hear. As everyone started talking excitedly, he soothed them. "Now hold on. We don't know how long it is, and it's a good eight miles or so from here, so we're not all going to be able to follow it." He explained his plan. "You all are doing wonderful here, and you're safe." He nodded toward their two resident fishermen, who had managed to collect a dozen good sized fish while he and Rey had been gone. "I want you all to stay here. Either someone will find you in a day or so, or Rey and I will find help and direct them here."

Most of the group looked relieved, if a bit disappointed. The mention that the trail was so far away was enough to douse their excitement, but not their hope.

"But should you-" one of the older ladies, Carmen, started.

"If anyone says that I shouldn't be the one to go because I'm too 'valuable'," Poe interrupted her. "I'm going to go dunk you in that ice cold creek over yonder."

Everyone laughed.

That night, Rey and Poe dined on fresh fish roasted over a fire. They had several empty water bottles ready to be filled at the creek in the morning, and the last of the snacks provided by the airline were packed along with clothing and other necessities in two backpacks that had been carry-ons belonging to a couple of the survivors. Poe saw both Finn and Rose take Rey aside and talk to her, worry on their faces, but Rey answered them with an expression full of confidence.

Poe lay in his normal spot, staring at the fire, and soon Rey joined him, lying on her side facing him.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Poe asked her. "I could ask Finn or Kaz to go with me."

"I am very sure," she told him, her eyes on his. "We already know each other and the terrain. We can make better time than anyone else."

"And if we get eaten by a bear?"

She snorted. "Well, I hope it's a mama bear, and she feeds us to her cubs."

Poe laughed. "How about a wolf?"

"I would love to see a wolf," Rey responded. "I'm kind of bummed we haven't heard any, yet. Goodnight, Poe." She closed her eyes.

"Goodnight, Rey," he responded, terrified but excited about the adventure awaiting them tomorrow.

XXXXXX