It's been 2 weeks now since Sophia woke up. After the meeting I called it was decided to minimize activity after dark. We also disposed of any livestock as they were a draw to undead. Thankfully all of the livestock was grown so none went to waste. A decision to start building another fence much further around the hollow was also established.

With the loss of livestock it also puts more pressure on growing our crops and being able to hunt and forage for food. I've had to take many more foraging and hunting trips than I would normally, but it's at least allowing me time to also go searching for Sophia's group. I went back to where I found her and tried my best to track her path but I haven't had much luck. Her tracks have mostly been covered by local wild life and undead.

When I'm not out foraging and hunting or searching for Sophia's group I've been at the hollow teaching Sophia what I can about different herbs and mushrooms as well as some beginner training with a bow. I want to make sure that she at least has some knowledge to help her in the future. Once I know she's capable of using a bow I'm going to teach her about throwing knifes since they will give her range against the undead being that she's so small and doesn't have the body weight to use a normal knife against them.

I know I'm not her mother and I'm sure her mother would probably not approve my teachings but I want to make sure Sophia can live to see her mother again if she's still out there. "Willow can I go with you today?" Sophia asked snapping me out of my thoughts. "Hmm I don't know about today, I'm planning to go pretty far out today. I'll likely be out till really late too" I said after some thought. "Aah" She whined. "Now none of that. It's getting dangerous out there, far too many undead roaming the forests now. I promised to reunite you and your mom but I can't do that if something happens to you before I find her" I huffed with my hands on my hips.

"Fine, I guess I'll help miss Mary in the garden today" She grumbled before cheering up and running off. "She's gotten out of her shell quite a bit now hasn't she?" Sammy said grinning as she walked over to me. "Yeah it's kinda hard to believe she's the same shy little girl I found. I suppose it's because she feels safe here" I said wistfully.

"Zack told me you were going on another run today... Still looking for her group?" Sammy asks curiously. "Yes... I promised her I would find them if they were still out there. It's just been difficult following her trail due to all the wildlife and undead in the woods lately" I groaned out. I grabbed my bow and quiver as well as my throwing knife set and my dual swords and position them all on my person around my traveling bag. "Woah your taking the whole setup today? Are you planning to run into trouble?" Sammy asked nervously.

"I can't be too careful lately with there being so many undead in the woods" I sighed out. "I'd feel safer with it if you would let me go with you" Zack added coming over to us. "I know but the Hollow needs you more. Plus the less people, the less it draws the undead to me." I answered back crossing my arms. "I know the risks but it would be good to have backup. You don't know who or what you're gonna come across while you're out there" Zack pleaded.

"No! I'm not taking the risk of anything happening to you or the Hollow if you were to go. There are too many undead in the woods now. If you think about it that means their running out of people to eat in the cities so now they're wandering till they find there next meal!" I argued. "The people here need you more here, than I do out there" I insisted. "Fine! But you better come back alive or I will go hunt you down" Zack conceded angrily.

"Babe, I know you're worried but I got this" I pointed out. I kissed Zack bye and hugged Sammy before heading towards the gates to leave. I unsheathed my swords then nodded at Jen to let her know I was ready. She opened the gate just enough for me to get out before she rushed to shut it, so no undead could get in. I took out the few that were close to me and continued off deeper into the woods to start my journey.

I kept a quiet steady pace through the woods till I got to the part of the river by where I found Sophia. The other day I went up the river following her trail before it doubled back and away towards where I found her. This time I'm going to go down the river till I find something. I've been hesitant to go this way as it leads towards the mega pile up on the highway. The last time I was by that pile up it was swarming with undead. No need to take chances if I can help it.

I quietly tracked the worn trail along the river. She had been out here in the woods a week before I found her. Im hoping to at least find evidence of where she might have taken shelter at. After about 3 hours the trail finally lead to an abandoned farmhouse. I scanned the farmhouse for movement inside before going in through the front door that was cracked open. I searched all through the house before coming across an open closet near the kitchen. It appears she had found herself a hide spot in that closet as there were blankets piled under the lowest shelf of the closet.

I noticed there was a dead possum in the closet now. It looks like someone put an arrow through it. So someone else has been in here after Sophia. I'm hoping it was someone was from her group out looking for her. I looked around the room a little more before going out the back of the house while looking for any more tracks to follow. About 2 feet into the yard I noticed men's boot prints. So I decided to follow them as they seem to be following very faint tracks themselves. "Whoever this person is they are a pretty good tracker. I almost didn't notice Sophia's tracks myself." I muttered to myself thoughtfully.

I kept following the tracks to the river again before what was left of Sophia's tracks disappeared. I noticed the man's tracks stopped before they back tracked up and down the river. I followed the same thinking trying to pick up her tracks again. I marked on my map where I am by the river before continuing to follow the man's tracks to see where they would take me. I followed his trail for about 3 more miles along the river before I noticed they crossed over a small group of 4 or 5 peoples tracks. I noted on the map my findings before continuing after the man's tracks that seem to be headed back towards the highway pile up.

I decided to briefly look around a bit before I have to head back, since I don't want to be out past dark. If I remember correctly, this particular pile up was about 6 miles long, unlike the one very much further up where the hollow is. So I made my way carefully between the vehicles on the highway, while definitely making sure to keep an eye and ear out for undead. It wasn't very long before I heard the dreadful sound of nearby undead groans. I quickly hid in a nearby car. I peeked my head up barely to see close to twenty undead wandering between the vehicles around me. "Oh fuck me" I whispered angrily before ducking down from sight again. There are way too many undead for me to kill without being noticed and overrun by them.

I'm only about a half mile into this jam and I'm pretty sure I only a few hours left before the sun goes down. I peeked my head again to see how many undead were near me. I'm relieved to find only about 3 are close to me and there isn't any along the side of the car I'm in by the edge of the forest. I'm going to need some sort of distraction to keep them from noticing me while I make a break for the forest. I carefully looked around the car I'm in to see what I could use as a distraction. I noticed this car still had its keys, so I turned the key to see if the battery was dead. Thankfully the dashboard lit up.

I peaked once more to see where the undead were around me. Of course the 3 from before but now a few new ones was wandering this way also. "Oh fucking come on" I cursed under my breath. I caught sight of a book in the back seat out of the corner of my eye. "Bingo" I said reaching to grab it. Once I had it I wedged it under the gas pedal and opened the passenger door before turning the car on and darting out the passenger side and to the edge of the highway. Once I got there I hid behind a railing piece and looked to see if any undead had noticed me. Thankfully, they were all crowding around the car that had run into a truck in front of it now. I didn't waste any more time looking at the car. I quietly took off through the forest on my way back to the hollow.

I finally made it to the hollow just after the sun had set. I knocked on the gate hoping someone was outside by it tonight. Quickly the gate was opened and I ran inside as quick as I could. "Thank God! I thought I lost you" Zack breathed yanking me into a hug. "For a second I thought you did too" I cried into his chest. "Come on let's get you inside and you can tell me all about it, love" He said comfortingly. When we walked into our treehouse Sophia leaped from her seat in the living space and immediately ran to me. "You came back! Are you ok? Did you find anything today?" She gushed out the rapid fire questions. "Woah, slow down a second. I just walked through the door." I said exasperated while shaking my head.

Sophia just stared expectantly at me. So I explained to them what happened. About me finding the house, the man's trail leading to the highway and getting trapped by the horde on the highway. "I'm sorry Sophia but until I can search the highway safely to see if the is any evidence of where they might have gone it'll be near impossible to find your group " I said regretfully. "I really hope we find them" Sophia said sadly. "Me too" I said giving her a comforting hug. "Let's get you to bed now" I said going with her to her room. After I got her tucked away in bed, I made my way to mine and Zack's room.

"Willow, I love you but you can't keep going out there without taking someone with you to watch your back" Zack stated firmly as I plopped on my back in our bed in exhaustion. "I understand your concern Zack, but you know everyone looks at me as their leader. But I can't lead! You, Zack are the leader they need not me. I hunt and I forage and I'm the best fighter we have and my abilities with my weapons make me the best for doing runs whether into the woods or into the city and you know it." I pointed out to him as he crawls in bed with me. "Willow you don't get it, love. All those things that you swear doesn't make you a good leader, are the very things they want in a leader. They trust you to ensure us all food and protection and the capability to find us a new home should something ever happen to the hollow" Zack stressed to me desperately. "I see there is no convincing you to see it my way " He huffed after seeing my stressed expression. "I love you Zack. Let's get some sleep please? I pleaded cuddling up with him.