After leading the trio through the rolling gate lined at the top with barbed wire he closed and locked it up behind them with tow chain. Not that it would stop someone from cutting through the fence with bolt cutters, but that was what Forest was for. He'd shoot anyone that would try and Bruce made a fine alarm system. The dog, loyal to no one but his flock of sheep, left Forest with the (mostly) strangers and returned to his animals.<br/><br/>Forest brought them to a manual water pump and with the gun still in one hand, filled a bucket with another.<br/><br/>“There's already a pitcher in the house for drinkin', but if you want to wash up.”<br/><br/>He took the opportunity when Mason was finished to pull him aside, inquiring about who the other two really were.<br/><br/>“Now, I don't know either of those like I know you. Are they alright, or should I expect some problems?” Forest asked, holding Mason's bicep in his hand and leaning close. His old friend patted him in return, trying to ease his worries. Forest was looking to Wallis, judging him for his appearance the same as most did. Lex wasn't all that intimidating, no matter his height.<br/><br/>“Wallis is fine. Quiet, mostly keeps to himself. And Lex is harmless. I'll vouch for them both. Been traveling with them a while. It's how we've stayed alive this long, but goddammit, I'm tired,” Mason said with a sigh and Forest nodded. The group rejoined and the young man pointed them over to the two-story farmhouse. Nothing fancy, but spacious at least and made to keep cool during the summer and warm in the winter, never intended for central ac even before the reckoning. There was room for them and if Mason spoke on their behalf he'd give them a shot. He couldn't keep running himself at the pace he was going, trying to keep up with all the work involved. He knew Mason wasn't a stranger to hard work and discipline but he wasn't sure about the other two.<br/><br/>“I can whip something up for dinner. Nothing is ever as good as it used to be but I'm sure it'll be better than what you've been eating,” Forest told them, leading them into the old house, their feet loud on the porch. The front door was open, leading into the spacious living room. Everything had been left alone, pictures and furniture all in its place, even the old TV even if it wasn't useful for anything. The kitchen was just as large with an island counter. Atop it were baskets filled with eggs, smoked strips of meat, and vegetables that he'd grown. Setting the gun down wasn't something Forest seemed willing to do but he did toss the strap over him so that he would have use of both hands to throw meat into a pot. He pointed to the pitcher of water and then the cabinet beside it that would house cups.<br/><br/>“Please, help yourself,” he told his guests, adding a little water to the pot to soften the dried meat back up and break the salt back down into the mixture. Next went carrots, tomatoes, and an onion. Cooking inside was possible but not ideal. Propane for the stove was hard to come by and so Forest usually just heated the mixture up outside and stirred until he was satisfied it was edible.<br/><br/>“Mason, you remember how to start a fire? We can talk as it gets to cooking. The longer, the better it'll taste.” They went back outside and Forest sat down on the steps, watching Mason struggle to get a fire going, even with the help of matches.<br/><br/>“City life made you soft?” Forest teased.<br/><br/>“And country life as made you harder. I swear, Forest, you sound like your father now,” Mason returned. Forest looked at the other two.<br/><br/>“What did you all do before this?” Forest asked, trying to generate conversation and get an idea of how they might be useful. He knew Mason would pick back up on things with a little bit of practice.<br/><br/>“I laid cement for the city,” Wallis answered. Forest nodded his approval. That would mean he was used to physical labor beneath the sun, something that would be useful to him when it came time to cut the fields before the winter.