No other choice

"So, where we going?" Scarlet knew how to ride a horse better than you did, but you acted like you knew everything about them. For the most part, that was 80% of riding a horse anyway: acting. The morning was a little more crisp than what you were used to, but it kept you focused on chatting - anything besides the bitter bite of the cold that came with the dawn of day. Your horse's slapped their lips together.

Scarlet looks over her shoulder. "What?"

"Where are you taking me?" you rephrase.

"Above pre-war Billings," she replies. "Up near the Rims."

"Seems a bit far," you reply. "If you're running weapons to Canada shouldn't you be making a move up to Lewistown...Roundup?"

Scarlet lets out a loud laugh, that is almost loud enough to make you feel embarrassed for asking. She looks over her shoulder and again, this time making an eye connection with you. "Winter, this far north, is already going to be a pain. If we stretch any further in without consolidating with what we have, it'd probably get us killed. Most of our shipments reach out of what used to Bozeman anyway. Besides, out of all the roads that connect the counties together, Billings and Bozeman are our best chance. That, and the further East you go the more people there are - lots of scattering when the bombs struck. Especially where the nukes were when they were stored in their silos. "

You shift. You remember passing Bozeman when coming up - you got the sense of a lot of trade, but didn't expect such nefarious activities to be happening there. Your horse lurched, climbing a hill as it followed Scarlet. A breeze tore through, blowing cold air into your face. You curse and huddle, hiding from the chill. "Who am I meeting?"

She thought for a moment, this time she didn't laugh at your question. "Ah, well there's a few of us, yeah? Just a small scouting party really, but we're all damn-well seasoned at this point. Just Kenji, Alexandra, and Flora besides our, uh, Toymaker."

"Toymaker?"

"It's more a title than a name." Scarlet says.

"Even I could have guessed that."

She peered back. "Don't snap at me like that! Her name is Amari, but you probably won't see her that often."

"That's a colorful sounding group you came up here with."

Scarlet snickers, slowing her horse down enough to beside you, apparently ready for a chat. "You're not wrong. Kenji came out of Cali-forn-ia. Alexandra, much further west, from New York, or Neo Torch if you prefer now. Flora out of Massachusetts, Boston? I can't remember now. And Amari...Well, you got me there. Probably out of Florida or something, but I couldn't honestly tell you. She's kinda weir-"

She swallows her words. "She's different, but- never mind...Anyway, we have other teams spread across the area, you've been recruited into the most successful one. I think the ones in Wyoming were killed by bears or something. Hot springs was it? Well, whatever it was, I think they died in that hell-hole Yellowstone."

"Anymore information?" You ask. Your throat had gone dry, so you reach for your canteen.

"You'll just have to make your introduction to them. I haven't seen or heard anything from since. Jesus, two months?" She gasps. "Maybe they're all dead? Hey, if everyone is dead you get to go back to where ever you were, by the way!"

You slouch down, the thought of riding this far for such a big contract just to find out it was all for nothing sounded awful. You buried and prayed that her people were still alive. Billings was city that was strict and harsh. You probably wouldn't last in there if they found out you were a contractor since they deemed it an unjust way of living. The day passed with general ease, and you did eventually run into some residents of the county. They were armed, as usual, but didn't seem as tense when they noticed Scarlet. She waved and smiled, greeting them kindly. Her hand stuffed somewhat awkwardly in the satchel of that hung off her horse. There was brief talk between her and the three other riders, who kept eyeing you.

Since you kept your original outfit's gear, you probably looked like some kind of soldier. But, Scarlet was an excellent liar, so they didn't suspect much from you at the end. You broke away from the city with blown buildings and metal walls and made for the mountains. The hollow building of an airport with downed planes gave the scenery on top a strange look. You passed without a second glance, but you felt uneasy passing it. Scarlet herself seemed to ride a little faster to get beyond it.

Soon, you were in an open field. Her horse galloped for a patch of trees before she stopped. Somewhere, in all the branches and mess of pine, there was a lone, dark building with all the windows broken out, and all the wood under a severe case of rot.

"Let me go in first." Scarlet commanded as she got off her steed. "And for the love of God Almighty, don't say anything when we go inside unless you are told to. We haven't had anyone new for months, so take no offense of any comments."