Freyja was relieved when Susan (easy name to remember) shook her hand. But when the woman mentioned the bodies, Freyja's smile faltered. She hadn't even thought of interfering with the bodies. She didn't know them, and didn't feel responsible in the least for their final rites. Freyja glanced back to the scowling Esther, who crossed her arms moodily.

Esther lifted her head and declared, "You'd be mad if you think we're going to interfere with all these corspses. Waste of bloody time, and damn resources-"

Freyja interrupted her mean-spirited friend, "Esther, I understand that you value your time, but we do intend to look for survivors just as much as we'd scavenge for resources."

Esther shot back, "If someone needs help- they'd shout for it. No use trying to check every blue body underneath the goddamn sky-"

And as if it were planned, there was the most subtle of banging noises. Freyja turned, eyes wide as she strained to hear it. Esther swore under her breath.

Freyja said to Susan, "Susan, we might need your help after all. Would you accompany us to investigate? Esther, you're coming too, stand by with your first aid kit."

...

Upon Freyja's word, Esther muttered some cusses, shouted at her grandfather to watch the dogs, and stormed off towards the banging. Stupid woman- being all bossy- if she didn't have those sled dogs, Esther would have been halfway to the other settlement by now. Maybe she should find Will and skedaddle out of here before Freyja gets one of her big adventuring ideas again.

Lucky thing the wind was low, and it wasn't too hard to find the banging noise. Ignoring the women behind her, Esther rushed over to the bare bones of a burnt house. The concrete floor was charred, but the banging was definitely coming from there.

Esther stomped her foot, and shouted, "Who's there?"

They better not be dying. Esther's only got so much bandages to spare.

...

Starlight groaned when the snowball missed the stranger, but when he came closer, she realized that she had never seen him before. For a moment, she felt shy, but remembered her father's instructions when meeting one of his friends, "Hiya Dr. Will! Call me Starlight."

Her eyes fell on the dog- and she couldn't help squealing, "Is that a puppy? I've never seen one this close before- can I touch him? What's his name? Does he bite? How old is he? Is he a robot or a real dog?"

She wanted to touch him too, but knew better. Last time she touched something without permission, she was punished. Starlight shivered voilently, but ignored it. Her father would come get her anytime, and she wanted to stay with Dr. Will and his puppy some more.

Susan saw that her words about the bodies had been taken the wrong way by the second woman, who stood aggressively and slightly behind Freyja. Susan immediately held up her hands and shook her head, glancing between the two women as they exchanged private words. “Wasn't trying to suggest anything that wasn't my place,” she said softly, already wondering if she should be on her way. Sure, every group had conflict, but this place was just itching to be picked over by people with bad intentions. Should she stay and risk herself to help? Or go and play it safe, wiping these folks from her memory?

Susan had the decision made for her, however, because even before she actually decided, even as the two women argued about looking for survivors, muffled, hollow, clanging sound begin to ring from somewhere nearby. Susan tilted her head to bed or locate the sound, freezing just as the other two did.

When Freyja hurriedly turned back to her and requested her aid, Susan just nodded silently and followed after her, noticing how the grumpy woman—Esther, was it?—stomped after them, obviously a very happy person. Susan just shrugged to herself and kept her face blank.

When they had arrived at the burned down shell of a house or building with a crumpled concrete floor, Esther began stomping and calling out for whoever was making the sound. Susan’s eyes widened in shock; what was this woman thinking? Couldn't she see that, just a few feet from where she was stomping around, the floor had caved in and was covered in debris?

“Hey!” Susan wasn't one for yelling, but she did so to get Esther's attention. “The floor—look out!" But that was all she had time to say before the lip of the concrete hole crumbled away, widening, and a large crack spread across the rest of the floor, coming towards Susan. She threw herself down and away as the foundation roared, and didn't see what happened next, lying as she was facedown in the snow.

…

Aidan paused in his banging, looking surprised, and Jimmy's eyes widened, showing very white in his dirt-covered face. “That sounds like Esther!” He began to try to struggle to his feet, but only managed to roll over on his side, on the opposite side of the room from Aiden, who was yelling at him to stay down. Aidan's instincts had kicked in, and he knew something was wrong, though he couldn't say what. Not yet.

Jimmy, into much pain, was unable to stand—and it probably saved his life. Had he been in the middle of the room when the cave-in above them widened, he would've been crushed by falling concrete. As it was, he was only knocked back down. He threw his arms over his head and held very still his eyes screwed shut and his teeth clenched.

When it has been silent for a few moments and some of the dust in the air had cleared, he looked up and saw that the hole above them now opened to the sky. Liberation! He turned to grin at Aiden, and the expression froze on his face.

Where Aiden had been standing, there was only a pile of concrete and beams.

…

Will looked at Starlight carefully. Did she just call me doctor? He was pretty sure that was what he had heard but why would she call him that? Bigger question still, in a town where everyone knew everyone, why didn't he know her?

"Where are your parents? Are you okay?” The gruff and rude part of him vanished, as he contemplated her, immediately feeling protective. Her eyes fell upon Max and she instantly group excited, seeming very young for her age, whatever that might be. It was actually hard to determine, he realized.

“This is Max. He's not a puppy, but a grown-up wolf dog. And yeah, you can touch him.” He showed her how to make a fist an offer her knuckles to the dog and explained why. Max sniffed her hand delicately and then the tip of his pink tongue licked her knuckles. Max looked up at Will for approval, tongue lolling, and Will's eyes softened as he laid his big hand on the dog's head.

He noticed Starlight shiver convulsively and could've kicked himself. She was out here without a coat and barefoot, to boot! He quickly stood and peeled off his brown duster, having many layers underneath to keep him warm, and handed it to her. “Here, put this on.” He was just casting about for something for her to put on her feet when you both felt and heard the ominous rumble on the other side of the settlement. Max barked once, ready to go.

Knowing something was terribly wrong, feeling it in his gut, Will turned to follow after Max, who had taken off away from them toward the sound. Glancing back at the girl, he cursed internally, grabbed her hand, and pulled her after him. "Come on!"

Freyja barely had time to react when she heard the Susan's warning- and then the floor gave away. Esther had jumped out of the way, but the damage had already been done.

Freyja rushed forward, shaking a horrified Esther, "Act now, regret later, there's someone down there!"

The foundation had broken apart, leaving a giant hole in the floor. Metal beams struck out, and the air was filled with awful dust. Frejya pulled up her neckwarmer, ensuring she wouldn't breathe in any of the dust.

"Hello?" Freyja called tentatively, and in the rubble, spotted a single person's silhoutte, "Sir?"

Esther was shaking, so Freyja gestured for her to step back, "Esther, go check up on Susan." and Esther did, almost robotically.

In the distance, Freyja could hear her robot dogs barking, but she knew Abe would take care of them. Right now, she inched forward, carefully creeping to the edge of the beams, "Hello?"

She hoped that there was at least one living person left down there. She peered closer, and then she saw him (her?). A single person, sitting in the corner. They weren't moving.

Freyja swore under her breath, and jumped down to the incredibly dusty area. Her eyes burned, but she needed to investigate. She approached the sitting figure, noticing their state. They were wounded. Badly.

"Hi, I'm Freyja," Freyja said quickly, dropping down to her knees beside him, "Let me help you,"

...

Starlight was amazed at how soft the puppy- no, the wolfdog's fur was! She'd never felt anything like it. Dr. Will was very kind to let her do this. Whenever he was ready to do his experiments on her, she would behave very well for him.

Starlight could hardly feel her toes, but she was too happy petting the wolf-dog! He was warm, and Starlight liked him almost as much as she liked Dr. Will.

Dr. Will even offered his coat- what a nice person! Most doctors didn't care if she was dressed or not. Starlight grinned and pulled it on, "It smells stinky. And it's ugly. Do you have any sweet one-"

A loud sound- and Starlight nearly screamed. Then Dr. Will was pulling her and she had no idea where. Was it time for experiments already? Where was her father? Maybe he could get her a nice smelling coat.

But all thoughts of pretty coats fell from her mind when she saw the large dust cloud. For the first time in a long time, she didn't like where this doctor was taking her. But her father always said to listen to the doctors, so she shut her mouth and quickly followed Dr. Will.

...

Abe heard the crash, but didn't pay too much attention to it. But when the sled-dogs started barking, Abe begrudgingly let one loose. This was one of the bigger dogs- it leaped forward, racing towards Freyja. Maybe it could help... somehow.

Susan rocketed to her feet as soon as everything grew still. She heard Esther and Freyja speaking as she gained her feet, and then Esther shakily approached her through the dust that clogged the air. Susan pulled her scarf up over her mouth to keep her airway clear as she met Esther. She barely had a moment to spare for the other woman, who has now earned Susan’s disdain: as far as Susan was concerned, Esther's temperament had caused the collapse and potentially endangered anyone inside. Therefore, she only nodded brusquely as she quickly walked by and headed for the new hole in the foundation.

Peering through the dust, she squinted and saw Freyja crouched next to a figure huddled on the ground. Cursing softly to herself, for the person looked injured, she called down into the gloom, “How badly are they hurt? What do you need me to do?” She hoped that whoever they were, they weren't hurt beyond helping.

…

Jimmy gazed blearily at the stranger who suddenly appeared before him, offering her help. He was tired, so very tired. It was a struggle now to keep his eyes open. In fact, as he sat there, staring at her, he believed he might've zoned out for a minute. When he came back to himself, he felt rather urgently that there was something important he needed to remember.

Jimmy struggled valiantly for a moment. He reached out and grasped the stranger by her hand, clutching it with feeble strength. He had to tell her… tell her… something…

But then Jimmy's hand slipped from hers and fell limply into his lap as he lost consciousness.

…

Will dashed around the last corner before the final stretch between houses, headed toward the large cloud of dust he saw rising from where he had perceived the sound. It helped that Max was leading the way, but didn't help that the girl he was dragging along was literally having to be almost…dragged along. It wasn't any fault of hers; she simply couldn't keep up with his long strides.

Seeing Esther standing at the edge of the cloud of dust, he dropped the girl off with her, snapping, “Watch her!” even as he continued running across the foundation toward the hole he spotted. There was a woman crouched at the edge, calling down inside. Belatedly, he recognized her as the second stranger who had arrived when he left to look for survivors.

Taking barely a moment to look down inside to see what he might be jumping into, Will leapt into the hole after he discerned two figures huddled in the darkness. Never stopping his momentum (he was a man of action, after all), he strode forward and crouched next to that woman… what was her name, Freyja? He found himself staring into Jimmy's unconscious face.

He noted the gash in the man's calf, realizing he needed immediate medical attention. He reached out and lightly tapped the young man on the cheek, as he spoke to the woman beside him: “Has he said anything?”

He figured she had already requested some medical supplies…she seemed competent, he supposed. He certainly hoped she was. Otherwise she would be more trouble for him. Everybody else seemed to be. Except Aiden. Now there was a good kid… But where was he? Gods above, had he survived the attack?

Whoever this man was, he was not looking good. For a moment, he was awake- a good sign- and he gripped onto her with surprising urgency. Freyja didn't get to understand. There were loose files all around- and someone's belt was tied tightly around his leg.

Someone had been with him.

A sickening feeling plummetted in Freyja's gut, and her eyes flickered to the rubble.

Maybe he had two belts- maybe-

Freyja didn't have time to debate. They had to act fast.

She heard Susan's shout- and Freyja called up, "Someone's hurt and someone might be trapped! Get one of my sled dogs- and come down here, quick!"

Just then, Will appeared, and he looked at the injured man with a spark of familiarity.

"He didn't say anything." Freyja told Will, "But I think someone might be with him. Under the rubble."

Freyja gestured up, "It's not safe here, I'll carry him, but I'll need your help to pull him up to the surface.

Freyja wiggled her fingers, getting ready to help the stranger. She could easily walk with him, but not climb. She'd need help.

...

Esther felt numb all over- and it wasn't the cold. She snapped out of it when Will appeared out of nowhere- with a child? What's a child doing here? A cold child???

Esther moved quickly, glancing over the freezing little girl. She looked nervous... confused? WHERE WERE HER SHOES?

Esther shook her head- this wouldn't do. She needed to warm her up- and fast. Esther whistled loudly, summoning Scarfy the Cat from who-knows where. The cat easily draped itself around the strange little girl, earning giggles.

...

Just then, one of Freyja's bigger sled dogs rushed up. His name was Happy- and he was more than excited to be near the action. It stood at the edge, its tail whipping across in excitement. Was there a job to do? Some digging? A lost friend? Maybe both!

One of her sled dogs?

Susan briefly wondered why Freyja might want one of those, but then realized they would be convenient for lifting heavy loads; maybe they could help pull the injured man out. Maybe they could help another ways, too.

Before she could move, there was a blur of movement beside her, and Susan (who was rarely caught surprised) gave us sharp gasp as a man literally ran past her and leapt into the hole, seemingly with a little thought to his own safety. She watched in astonishment as he landed in a neat crouch on the floor below her, having obviously calculated his jump (whether it looked like it or not) and made his way toward Freyja.

Refocusing on Freyja reminded Susan that the other woman had asked her to do something. Standing quickly, so quickly she almost became dizzy, Susan turned and prepared to run back toward the front of the settlement where are the sled dogs were. But just as she dug in her toe to push off, none other than one of those same sled dogs burst around the corner, tail wagging wildly in excitement. Before it could get too distracted, she put two fingers in her mouth and whistled sharp and loud, attracting it's attention.

"This way!" She beckoned to the robot dog and then turn in clambered down into the hole in the ground, making her way carefully toward Freyja, the tall stranger, and the wounded man, hoping the dog would follow after her.

“There's a dog here,” she said quietly, standing behind Freyja as the two others crouched before the wounded individual. She calmly surveyed the scene, realizing this man was seriously injured…

…

Will looked at Freyja in astonishment when she mentioned there being another person here. He glanced back at the rubble, but knew that would have to wait for a moment, even as his heart clenched briefly. Aiden…

He nodded about her carrying Jimmy, and after carefully checking the tourniquet was secure, helped lift the younger man into the other woman's arms. Then he turned to face the blue-haired stranger behind him.

"You mentioned a dog,” he said gruffly and without preamble. He looked around for it. “If you can help—" dammit, what was her name, again?— “…Freyja… get this man out of here, the dog and I can shift rubble.” Without waiting for their response, he turned toward the rubble pile and began to shift the smaller stones carefully out of the way. It wouldn't do to cause another collapse and damage whoever was underneath even more.

Gods, please don't be Aiden…

With the injured man in her arms, Freyja felt a little better about the whole situation. His breathing was strong and ragged- Esther would know what to do. She just had to get him up there.

When Happy, her sled dog, appeared with Susan, Freyja gave them both a tentative smile, "Thank you. You can use him to shift the bigger rubble. At the top of Happy's back, there's a small compartment. Should be some tools you need. A chisel, rope- anything you tell him to do he'll listen."

At least, Freyja hoped he'd listen. Happy was a playful dog, and got a little too excited at times. Freyja sent him a stern look, "Happy. Listen to Susan and Will."

With that, Happy leaped up to Will, peering over his shoulder as the poor man desperately dug with his hands. The sight made Freyja's chest ache. He must have known the person under there.

Freyja scrambled up to the surface, ignoring the burn in her legs as she focused on keeping the injured man comfortable. When she finally got to the top, she was more than surprised to see a kid there. But quickly got over it.

"Hi there," Freyja grunted with a strained smile- and without a single word, the small girl reached out her hands to try to pull Freyja up.

...

Esther couldn't help doting on the small child. She had taken off her own extra socks- as much as she could spare- to keep the small one warm. And a blanket. The child had no physical injuries, except for an uncanny amount of tiny circular scars on her arms and legs. Esther would think of that later- Freyja was coming closed.

A part of Esther groaned in disappointment when she saw the injured man- their resources were already limited. Why waste resources on a dying man? But one look from Freyja and Esther sighed in acceptance.

She nodded when Freyja said they'll take the injured man to the shed, and set up a temporary camp there. She didn't have to ask to know they were also taking the child.

As soon as they reached the sled dogs, Esther saw her grandfather looking concerned. He blurted out, "Who's the kid?"

The little girl, Starlight, didn't saw anything, but was hovering around the injured man. Esther didn't have time for any more observations. She got to work, setting up a sterile small camp for the injured man. Freyja assisted her- and did a pretty decent job. A part of Esther wished that Freyja was the one doing this alone while Esther was out doing something else. But, she had schooling while Freyja didn't.

The injured man would live.

But he'd need a lot of attention and care. Lots of rest. He probably could walk in a few days, depending on his pain tolerance. Esther just hoped it wouldn't be her to babysit him.

When all was done. Esther noticed that Starlight was sitting in the corner of the tent. Watching the man with wide eyes. She hadn't said a single word.

...

Abe watched as Esther and Freyja and some random girl try to save some man's life. He looked familiar, but Abe couldn't put his finger on it. Oh well, he'd find out later.

Abe heard a loud bark from the pit- and immediately decided it was more interesting there than here. Gathering two more sled dogs, he raced over to the pit.

He saw that wolf-dog, but didn't touch him. He knew Will didn't like him messing around with his animals. Abe leaned over the edge, and propped himself up on his elbows, "Oy! What's going on in there?"