3531 by John Black Page B

listen but only the breeze swirling among the jagged rocks was all he heard. He finally allowed himself to fall asleep.
                  The next three days, they continued their southern direction. Each evening, they used the HO-2 in a feeble attempt to keep up their limited water supply.
                  “Doesn't it ever rain?” he asked.
                  She only shook her no, watching the device give out several ounces of water before losing power again. By dark he gave up at trying to repair it.
                  “I'm now more worried about our water, then I am another alliance attack,” said Donovan.
                  “Well I think we are well beyond their borders anyway.” She watched him sit on a rock frustrated at their situation.
                  She went over to him, “Come on, I think we are better off now then we were back there.”
                  He grinned at her attempt to cheer him up. “You know whatever we find, they will be in some form of clan.”
                  “That doesn't mean they will be hostile,” she argued.
                  He looked at her, “then why weren't you in a gang back in that town?”
                  She said nothing for the longest time. “I was,” she paused a moment. “When my dad never returned, I couldn't stay where I was so I began adventuring out. Sneaking from building to building, looking for food and something to drink. I found a stash of food, it would have kept me alive for weeks. Well I ate some and found a kid, much younger then myself. I gave him a little. He led me to a small group of people. They allowed me to join, pooling our resources we started thriving a little, until a stalker found us and we fled. Bigger gangs killed a few of us, including the kid. I knew I was the target.” She looked at him, and sighed. “The alliance started coming after me and the remaining part of the group held them off while I fled. I felt guilty for running but they pleaded for me to.” She wiped her tear stained face. “That's when you found me.”
                  Seeing the pain in her face, he hugged her. She clung to him as if to never let go. While it was expensive to cry, she started sobbing. She felt it was safe to do so.
                  “I'm sorry Rachel,” Donovan caressed her shoulder, trying to ease her pain.
                  “Its what I keep trying to tell you, everyone that had cared for you, would want you to survive another day.”
                  He gave a simper, “you keep telling me that.”
                  Playfully she punched him in the arm, “you're doing it better then you realize, Mr. I've killed me some stalkers and hunter-killers.”
                  He rested his chin on top of her head. “Someone needs to keep you out of trouble.”
                  They both got in the sleeping bag, she drew close to him and kissed him on the cheek.
                  He lifted his eyebrows in total surprise.
                  “I'm sorry,” she didn't know what possessed her to do that.
                  He glanced down at her, “sorry for what?” he asked.
                  “Well it can be expensive showing and giving someone emotions and feelings, out here.”
                  “Why?” he asked.
                  “Death is quite common out here Donovan, one must guard their heart.”
                  He considered her thoughts a moment. “Seems to me everything is a calculated risk, I wouldn't let that stop me.”
                  “Maybe,” she replied with a yawn.
                  He couldn't help but feel where she had kissed him. Feeling the moisture of her kiss, he didn't know how to process her gesture.
                  Opening his