In Passing

I seen Trace coming and he was in a hurry, I went toward him "What's wrong? Did something happen?" I asked.

I stopped and bent down, holding my knees as i caught my breath. "Oh shit. Im so tired. There...i swallowed, theres a girl. I saw a girl."

"In the forest? What did she look like?"

"I thought of her and smiled. "She was pretty, like you pretty. Clean too. Which means there are others."

"Others? What are you talking about, others?" I asked as I came up behind Cody, having caught the end of their conversation.

I blushed a little looking at Trace and then back to Diego "He seen a girl in the forest."

"A girl? What kind of girl? There hasn't been anyone new around these parts in a good twenty years. Or so my father said. What did she look like Trace?"

I looked at him and said "She looked like a girl. What the hell do you mean what did she look like. She looked, well your age really."

I rolled my eyes. "I meant, did she look clean, well dressed, or did she look tired, disheveled like she's been traveling for awhile."

"She looked tired, but way healthy. Clean as well. She didnt see me. She was singing this song though, i....this sounds nuts but iv'e heard it before, somewhere."

I nodded slowly and tucked my knife in the back of my belt. "Let's check it out. Show me where you saw her."

"If she wasn't bothering anyone then why bother her?"

I smiled and looked at her, "We need to know what is out there, especially if they are close. Dont be afraid." i said.

"I'm coming too, then." I said "I'll go get my back pack."

She went and got her pack and we went to the place where the girl had been, and still was. There was a small stream on one side and she was laying back on a rock. "See, told ya she kinda looked like you."

"We all know where our parents came from, we've heard the stories. She could be one of them. We need to find out. Hurry it up, let's go."

"No, we are not. If she is awaiting others, then we could be outnumbered. Geez dude, think."

"You think I don't know how to be stealthy? I'm not going to approach her unless she gives me cause to. I just want to check things out. I'm going whether you join me or not. What do you think would happen if she's with others and they find our camp? You think I want that to happen?"

I looked at Cody, "Please stay here okay, i don't want anything happening to you. She moves, you follow her, okay?" i asked looking at her. "You don't leave our area though, just find out which way she is going."

"That's the plan anyway. I want to follow her, see if she's with others, see where their camp is. I have no plans to approach them though."

"Alright, I'll watch her."

"We'll all go, let's go," I said and followed Trace.

Diego

"Where do you think we are gonna go, walking into a camp we have no idea who runs it? This is not smart man. We should go get dad."

I rolled my eyes. "I am not going to walk into their camp. I am going to scout, stealthily, and just gather some visual info. Once again, I'm not going to approach anyone. It's gonna be fine. If you don't wanna go, don't come, but I'm going."