<strong>The wastelands, outskirts of Briar Rose</strong><br/><br/>Nick guided Marie away from the little farm-to-market road that led to Briar Rose.  He needed to follow the road, but he didn't want to be close to it.  The road had a high chance of being watched and guarded.  Travelling cross country was slower, but much safer.  He didn't talk.  He ghosted, walking silently and extending his senses, alert for game and danger.  Watching and listening especially for the greatest danger of all - other humans.<br/><br/>Dusk found Nick scouting a house near the edge in town.  The location was perfect for his needs.  It was a large brick home sitting on a small hill overlooking town.  The view would be perfect.  Perhaps a little too perfect.  There might be a spider at home. The house itself wasn't intact.  It had obviously been looted, broken windows, broken front door, but that didn't mean it was empty.<br/><br/>Nick pulled Marie to him.  "Break out the blankets.  We'll watch that house from here until it gets dark. It's cold.  I'm waiting to see if anyone starts a fire.  Sit beside me and throw the blankets over both of us.  We'll share bodyheat."<br/><br/>He wasn't making a pass.  The sun was going down and the wind was getting cold.  He would rather be in the shelter of that ruined house, but he wasn't at all sure it was safe.  He also felt uneasy.  Something about Briar Rose gave him a bad vibe.  Then he spotted it, a little trail of smoke from a chimney in town.  Yes, the town was occupied.  He alternated his binoculars between the house just in front of them and the town farther down.