As it turned out, the place had a few things to offer. Either Sacramento was hit earlier than San Francisco or the residents really put in some hours to create a community with some normalcy. There were still "stores", although money wasn't much of a commodity, and many of them served a similar purpose to what they did before the outbreak. The dentistry was a more general medical facility, the corner store was a storehouse and distribution center for all manner of legal vice, the pizzeria served anything people couldn't microwave, and what was once a trendy dress shop now served a wide variety of practical clothing. People of all ages were walking around, running and patronizing businesses, socializing with each other. Gracie had to admit to herself that she never thought she'd see a child again, much less a group of them crowded around and gleefully petting a large dog.<br/><br/>Also excited to see another dog was Toffee, who broke into a full sprint so fast that Gracie barely had time to tighten or relax her grip as he sped toward his fellow canine. The result was his leash being yanked so roughly from her hand that it nearly pulled the waifish blonde to the ground. Children scrambled to get out of his way as he barked and leapt excitedly in their direction, sure to bowl over anyone in his way. Thankfully for all concerned, the poorly trained hound's intentions were entirely playful. He and his new friends merely treated each other to some cursory sniffs before they began wrestling and chasing each other in circles.