We packed what was left of our undamaged gear without so much as a word between us. Ashley started down the trail towards the hidden supply cache but I remained, unable to turn my back on the old rundown cabin. I heard her approach again from behind.
"We'll be back. I bet he was just late and he made the supply drop. A letter with good news attached and all."
It was unlike her to be this optimistic. I turned to her and her expression revealed nothing. I tightened the straps of my pack across my chest and nodded in agreement with a non committal grin.
Both of us, deep in thought, left us once again in the theme of silence. We used to converse about all of the things we hoped to find in the cache on our halfs day journey. We would go from wishing for cheeseburgers and handsome guys we knew from the past, to walking back up the mountain joking about how we would sooner leap off a cliff than brave eating another military MRE.
But now, anything. We would take anything. A sign that Dad was still alive and well.
"If we go to the town, we need a plan." I broke the silence before my own thoughts could consume me.
Ashley paused and wiped the sweat from her brow.
"We don't need one because the supplies will be there."
I couldn't tell if she even believed her own words.
"Yes, but it's better to plan ahead. We will be hungry by the time we reach the cache and we will have another several hours to reach the town. Stopping to camp again won't be an option."
She sighed and looked up at the sky as if to gauge the time.
"We won't reach the town by nightfall."
"I wouldn't have it any other way. Night gives us more cover if we need to run."
I glanced at the hunting knife on my belt. I'd fight before letting them take us if it came down to it. Ashley looked down at it too before shoving me slightly off the trail.
"Don't be a fucking hero. Heros get killed. Then what am I supposed to do? I might as well turn myself in."
"I was just thinking we need to stick together. No matter what. But if it comes down to it, and we are out of options, I want you to run. Far and fast. I can distract them."
I was more than prepared to meet my end to ensure her safety. I know she would do the same if she were able.
"You've lost your mind if you think I'm letting you bring your knife to a gun fight. I won't run."
Stubborn. She's so damn stubborn. But it would be hypocritical of me to say I wouldn't do the same. We were never very close before this. It's sad that the the end of the world had to happen to bring us together.
"Let's just keep a low profile. In and out. Talk to no one unless absolutely necessary. If we find trouble, we bolt. Got it?"
She cracked a smile and saluted me.
"Ooo, Yes Ma'am."
"Smart ass."
*********************************
We slowed our pace as we approached the hidden supply drop point. Hidden behind two large boulders and disguised amongst brushes. With shaking fingers and sweaty palms I pulled away the camouflage ghillie blanket. The crate was empty. My stomach dropped and I began to feel light headed. I heard a small thud behind me and turned to see Ashley on her knees. She really did think he would have come. I knelt beside her and put my head on her shoulder while she continued to stare at the empty cache.
"We have to keep moving" I told her softly.
I got up to continue our descent. Ash grabbed my arm and I turned to face her.
"He's dead isn't he."
He couldn't be. No, I wouldn't accept that.
"No. He's not dead. Don't say tha-"
"If he never comes back we're done for...Your bow is beyond repair. Our supplies are in shambles. Who's to say the bears won't be back once we do find food again?"
I pulled my arm from her grip and walked a few feet away and bent down to a purple flowering plant at my feet. I picked a handfull of leaves and returned to stand before my sister.
"Hold out your hand."
I handed her the leaves while her confused expression turned into one of dull annoyance.
"What the hell is this? You want me to graze now?"
"Cichorium intybus, or if you prefer, Chicory. The leaves are edible, and the root of the plant can be boiled and be eaten as a vegetable."
She stared at the leaves in her hand.
"That won't be enough. We can't survive off of foraging."
"I don't plan on it. In town we will focus on getting seeds. Cheap and a renewable food source. We also need to replace my bow string. Then I can hunt again. I can build traps for smaller game. Now, stop trying to tap out on me. There is always more that can be done."
Ashley stood up and popped the chicory leaves into her mouth. She grimaced almost immediately.
"I didn't say it would taste good."
I concealed a laugh behind my hand.
"Remind me to tell Dad that you majoring in botany wasn't useless after all."
She brushed past me with a mocking grin.