<div class="floatleft">(http://i43.tinypic.com/16718y9.jpg)</div><strong><em><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;">Lyguardia Fen</span></span></em></strong><br/>Human<br/>Day 1, Late Afternoon<br/><br/><hr/><br/>With a swift kick to the tire, her dusty old cowboy boots not even reacting, the woman almost seemed to growl. This was typical. Wherever she went, whenever she was so damn close, the old thing would break down on her. Retreating to sit atop the dirty Ford, toes tapping a tune against the windshield, bright brown eyes searched the road. She was off to the side, along the dirt that bore only weeds and a few, lingering remnants of road kill. Asking herself the question, "Should I stay, or should I go?" seemed to be a mood lifter as a small smirk crept onto her lips, The Clash's well-known lyrics spilling from her mouth.<br/><br/>"If I go there will be trouble<br/>An' if I stay there will be double<br/>So come on and let me know<br/>Should I stay or should I go?"<br/><br/>The young woman couldn't help but laugh, head shaking as she pulled the tip of her white Dorfman slightly lower, casting a stronger shadow against the heat that threatened to deepen her cheeks. Having no idea of what truly awaited her, how those simple song lyrics were only too true to her situation, she kept singing. Soon, the song turned to a hum, allowing her to finally try and make a decision. What to do?<br/><br/>Should she sit there, upon the roof of the rusty old pickup, awaiting some sort of assistance? Was that a smart move? Considering she hadn't passed a single soul in over two-hundred miles, that option began to feel extremely stupid. Who knows how long she would be sitting out there, getting laughed at my the passing vultures who only hoped and prayed for her to pass out, collapse right then and there, so they could swoop in for their feast. They were patient creatures, this she knew. And considering the lack of any food in the car, and over a week's worth of an empty stomach, the longest she could wait was a few more days. Water could only sustain her for so long, and she was running low on that, as well.<br/><br/>So then there's the walk. She could just barely see the outskirts of a town, maybe another 50 miles down the winding road. Barely. Just barely. That was the problem. Leaning to the left, she pulled a pair of binoculars from the small hook in the door, knowing all too well how many ghost towns ran amuck through such deserted areas. "Come on, papa," was all she muttered, pressing the twin magnifiers to her lids. "Hallelujah!" A full, throaty laugh escaped her as the movement within the town registered into her eyes and brain. At least she knew there were people out there, but there was another problem: time. Sure, she had all the time in the world, but were she to begin her trek now, the mixture of scalding sun and lack of anything of nutritious value in her stomach were a recipe for disaster - yet another option that would make the vultures happy. To walk, she'd have to wait until nightfall, then make her way out there.<br/><br/>"Should I stay or should I go," she mused once more, deciding to rid her torso of the plain, white t-shirt it bore. "Sooner or later, skin cancer is gonna come bite me in the ass." The t-shirt now splayed behind her, elbows resting upon it, the woman threw her head back, suddenly glad she had stolen the small, white bikini from that bitch of a saleswoman back in Colorado. It would allow her to continue absorbing color onto her already deep, olive skin. Of course, she ignored the dark jeans that covered her legs, boots that encased her feet; Colorado had brought a lot of vigilante running, so she only needed to even herself out. It's pretty hard to tan your arms and torso in a hoodie.<br/><br/>Eyes slowly closing, the twenty-two year-old began singing an old country favorite of hers. Her decision was made: she would sit and wait until nightfall before taking the old shot gun from behind the passenger's seat, along with a few extra rounds, and make her way into the town. Hopefully the presence of the hefty family heirloom didn't get her into trouble on the way in.