<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'">The blonde male was quick to reply back to Lorenzo when he thanked the strangers for helping them chase away the coyotes. But the answer didn’t please Lorenzo. He glanced at Lucille who was gathering up the arrows from the dog-corpses and begrudgingly agreed to that assumption.</span><br/><br/><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'">Lucille didn’t show it but on the inside she was smirking. She saw it plenty of times; people get too comfy when they think they’re safe or cling to the illusion that they can lead a normal life...It makes people soft, weak.</span><br/><br/><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'">Lorenzo watched how Lucille handed the arrows back to the archer. He could tell by the way she ran her tongue over her teeth that she wasn’t pleased with the man’s comment on how she should be grateful that he hit the dogs and not her. That feisty woman never passes a challenge when she hears one…</span><br/><br/><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'"><i>'nother man who thinks they’re better than me</i>, she thought to herself. <i>We’ll see about that</i>…She was just as observant as the archer was, her ego even allowed her to think she may have been better. She noticed how he behaved around the brunette behind him, he was firmly placed between her and them. <i>Very protective...A clutch</i>. They had this look about their eyes...a look Lucille was very familiar with. It was the same ones she had once relished during her marauding days.</span><br/><br/><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'">“Almost feels like home…” She muttered under her breath as she climbed up the ridge to get a better view of the area herself. But she was smart enough to keep her distance from the couple, heck, she even turned her back towards them to make them feel a tiny bit more comfortable.</span><br/><br/><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'">Lorenzo was less observant, but still aware of the tension between the pairs. He was more worried about Lucille’s reactions, having witnessed them plenty of times at the settlement. She was surprisingly calm...He straightened himself again when the young brunette revealed herself from behind the archer. Her comment about how he never missed made him arch his brows. <i>Dat’s good to know</i>, he thought.</span><br/><br/><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'">When Dex asked if there were any other people coming Lorenzo briefly exchanged a glance with Lucille before returning it to the archer, “We are it... I’m not sure about de other settlements.” Lorenzo trailed off uncomfortably, the strangers must be disappointed that they weren’t big brawny men armed to the teeth. Well...Lucille was armed to the teeth if the archer payed attention, it was hard to miss all those knives clutching to her. The archer might also have noticed the bend pieces of number plates poking behind the laces of her boots.</span><br/><br/><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'">After an awkward moment of silence it was decided by the archer that whoever killed the coyotes could claim it as their own. Lucille looked down at the dogs, they weren’t much to look at really. “Ya can keep the pelt but I want the meat.” drying meats don’t take as much time as treating pelts.</span><br/><br/><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'">She listened when the brunette offered her own opinion about the corpses. She frowned briefly though, not realizing that everyone was on a schedule. She figured they’d get there when they get there. If the place was still up and running. It wouldn’t be the first story she heard about people looking for sanctuary only to find ruins instead...</span><br/><br/><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'">But then Sofia caught them both of guard when she asked them about a list. The two stared at each other, clear confusion painted on Lorenzo’s face while the gears in Lucille’s head began ticking. Their silence must’ve motivated Sofia to ask them more, like what part of town they were from.</span><br/><br/><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'">Lorenzo piped up then, his accent thick as always, “We’re from past de flooded suburbans,” he said as he pointed a little ways past the lake where neat houses sat side by side with overgrown gardens. He lifted his hand, fully understanding why they needed to be certain. “Va bene. We’d do de same.”</span><br/><br/><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'">Normally Lucille would be very opposed to telling a random stranger where their homebase was...but in this case….fuck it. She explained, “He volunteered, I got booted out.”</span><br/><br/><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'">Lorenzo tilted his head at her, feeling sorry for her. “It wasn’t like dat. We're the strongest dey had.”</span><br/><br/><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'">Normally Lucille would be very opposed to telling a random stranger where their homebase was...but in this case….fuck it. She explained, “He volunteered, I got booted out.”</span><br/><br/><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'">Lorenzo tilted his head at her, feeling sorry for her. “It wasn’t like dat. You’re one of the strongest dey had.”</span><br/><br/><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'">Lucille turned to him, still atop the ridge by the couple. “Most of them are old and decrepit. And the ones that ain’t are too busy poppin’ babies. Sarah was practically pickin’ names.” she said with a wicked smile, hands on her hips. “Ya wanted out, I was no longer welcome.”</span><br/><br/><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'">Lorenzo hated to admit it but she was right. He came to the realization that perhaps none ever planned on sending someone to see if the Haven rumors were true. No wonder he didn’t hear of ‘the list’. In fact they never went to meetings, all there was were rumors and then a decision that needed to be made. He glanced back at Lucille who was climbing back down to grab the dog she killed by the hinds… it was an excuse to get rid of her.</span><br/><br/><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'">Lucille was getting cranky from the heat and lack of vices in her bloodstream. She dragged the dog-corpse towards the mall, seeing as that place was in better shape then anything else around them.</span><br/><br/><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'">While she did, she announced, “Don’t know what ya’ll are gonna do but I’m skinnin’ this thing and gettin’ its meat.” She figured if there were supposed to be others joining them then they might as well set up camp for the night. At least they can dry the meat, and make up a game plan. “If no one else comes by tomorrow, fuck ‘em!”</span>