Even he hadn’t realized how bad it was out there. There was no way to tell if the girl was too scared and exaggerating her own experiences, it didn't seem so from how strong and sure her voice was. In the occasional trips outside the town’s borders he had seen some gruesome sights, men acting as rabid things, to call them animals would be unfair to nature. It was very much believable to him, given what had befallen his own family.<br/><br/>“But we have water,” John nodded from behind the bars, “and plenty of it.” There is every chance water was a disadvantage for them, it would explain why they have not crossed the river directly, but he didn’t voice these thoughts till he could be sure.<br/><br/>He ran a finger down the scar on his cheek, remembering a certain old friend. He would need his hound, a well trained Husky. A dog that was as tall as his waist, he almost never brought it into others company, it was a wild one but obedient when given a strong hand. John had found it on one of his trips past the border, and it had some of that bestial edge the girl spoke of. Only time and care had nurtured it back to health.<br/><br/>Fortunately there been had no signals from his flare traps yet, that was one good sign, the snares and traps wouldn’t stop a large group but they would tell people where the trouble was. He was no military expert but where to choose the fight would be critical.<br/><br/>“Abigail your sister needs to think of herself for a time, of you. Not the others out there, tell her to conserve her thoughts, comfort her. Kayla is right, do not allow her to despair, I will not leave her behind no matter what is on the horizon. I promise I will be there for you both, whatever is to come.” He gave a sincerely look to the girl and a nod, checking the rifle once more, and turning to the door once more on the guards signal. This was why he was spared all those years ago, the question he had always asked himself, why he had made it and they had not, it would be answered in the coming nights.