A Family in the East?

As Madeline continued eastward she came across a small group of people. Two men and 4 women accompanied by three small children. They had a cart pushed by a Brahmin, one of the strangely mutated cows with two heads. The men had their heads on a swivel and spotted Madeline.

"Come on out. Show yourself!" They said the weapons at the ready, but not showing overly aggressive. It was the wasteland. They were just as wary of her as she was of them.

Madeline showed herself slowly. A weapon likewise in her hand.

"I don't mean trouble." Madeline said.

"Its just you?" One of the men looked around eyeing Madeline then the rocks all around suspiciously.

"Its just me. Don't shoot." Madeline demanded with an air of certainty.

After a brief discussion between the men and two of the women the older looking man, presumably the leader, yelled out.

"Alright--come down slow. No funny business." he motioned with his bolt action rifle.

Madeline eased her way down a rocky embankment. She showed no sudden moves and upon reaching the small group saw that two of the women were just young women, nearer her own age.

"Strange to see a single traveler out in the wastes. Especially a woman." The leader of the band said with some suspicion.