"The old world where I'm from has been dead for years," she answers, waiting for him where the trail picks up on the other side. She keeps glancing at the water while they're beside it, then checks around them again as they move on. The longer they're out, the easier it becomes both to relax and, as a result, sink further into the old habits she developed over time to watch for walkers.

"It's hard to tell how long exactly but it's been over ten years since the big cities went down. Everywhere I know of ran out of gas a few years after that? Makes it easier to hear the walkers." A beat that lasts a few easy steps. "Makes it loud here. That's taking some getting used to. And how many people there are."