Hackett stood up as the woman noticed her talking, and took a quick look to see Utem was already drawing close. She stepped out onto the trail a little, and to her surprise the young woman approached her and asked if she was okay. Hackett looked at her silently until Utem neared, and flipped up her night vision.<br/><br/>"<strong>I'll live.</strong>" Hackett responded to her concern rather coldly, but welcomed the care. She glanced over at Utem as he sat down and eyed Ashleigh and the new guy, Jake she thought his name was. "<strong>Everyone okay?</strong>" Hackett looked at the group and at the young woman, looking out into the woods when Utem mentioend Derrick .<br/><br/>"<strong>No idea, he'll show when he shows, we can rest here for a little while.</strong>" Hackett spoke, flipping the safety on her rifle and looking up at the night, moon lit sky above with her own two eyes, without night vision. "<strong>If he's not here in 5 minutes we'll have to leave him behind. Your right, we can't keep getting into fights like this, we need to pick and choose when and where we initiate contact.</strong>" She didn't like leaving people behind, but Derrick had already proven he'd do the same for his own selfish reasons, Hackett would not lose much sleep in this regard. Her glares returned to the young woman, tempted to ask her the question poking in the back of her mind, but her better judgement told her not to.<br/><br/>She knew everyone was tired, things had not gone to plan but Hackett was well enough prepared for that eventuality, better now then a critical moment. Things would always go wrong, as they had, but preparedness and adaptability were key to overcoming challenges faced on the battlefield. Hackett looked at the young woman and put her hand on the womans shoulder, gently but her glove was warm from the heat of her weapon firing. "<strong>Do you know the status of the town just across that dried river and open fields just beyond those trees? Ever been there?</strong>" Hackett asked.