Darius had never been one for people in general. His Father had taught him well that most people were looking for food or shelter, and in the world that now existed, both were in short supply. The small tribe of 'folken' he'd been raised in consisted of just handful of farmers and mountain peoples, and the one constant was fear. Fear of mutated creatures, fear of hunger and disease, and fear of the bands of marauders that traveled the land looking for the weak and foolish. Other 'Peoplen' meant one thing, trouble, and unless they had something for trade, were a nuisance at best, and at worst... a threat.<br/><br/>He patted his small white dog who lay sleeping at between him and the fire, thinking on what next needed to be done in the following day as night began to fall. He'd found the shivering pup in the brush a year early, apparently healthy, but no mother in sight. He'd debated keeping the animal, but realizing the small creatures usefulness to warn of approaching danger, he'd kept it, and raised it. He'd called him "Watcher" because the dog rarely barked, he simply looked around quietly while being petted, and had saved him from several unwanted run-ins.<br/><br/><script class="js-extraPhrases" type="application/json">
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</div><br/><br/>The gentle twilight created dark silhouettes of the trees down the path below, and the mountains in the distance. He leaned back in the salvaged car seat sitting upon the ground, his eyes straining to read the small faded book "Into the Wild". He'd found it on a rubbish pile as a youth, and had learned to read by firelight, learning what each letter and word meant as one of the old farmers had taught him the common tongue of Engelis.<br/><br/>He'd spent a month hewing the small camp from the hillside. The spot was perfect, the hill provided drainage, and the rocky cliff face held a shallow cave. The elevated position allowed him to see in several directions, and anyone with loud engines could be heard coming from the road below. Only the thick brush to one side several hundred feet away allowed anyone to approach unseen, but he'd figured that whoever came that direction would have to do so through serious woodlands, and also be exposed as soon as they did so.<br/><br/>It was then he heard the noise, Watcher was already on his feet, observing something emerging from the bushes nearby. Darius grabbed for the small 22-rifle, and pointed it at the figure that approached.<br/><i><br/>
 “Um, hello,"<br/>
</i><br/>Darius stood up, his 6'4" medium frame blocking the fire as he cocked the rifle quickly, almost cursing himself for being caught unaware.<i>How could he have been so careless?</i><br/><br/>"<b>Who e' be!? Speak fast!</b>" Darius spoke fast and alarmed, as Watcher growled at the approaching woman.