Andrea and Ogden are training Zantana, or at least that's what they call the exercises they do out in the meadow. Emma and Annemarie insist that it's Zantana who's training the people around her. Not the other way around. She's a clever, obviously trained German Shepherd who, without hesitation, searches, tracks, and defends, on command. What Andrea finds quite unfair is how Zantana is drawn to Annemarie, even though all she does for the big dog is provide her with food. Ogden cheerfully points out that that's what the dog finds most important of all. Andrea agrees and whispers to Ogden that it's as if Zantana plays as big a part in Annemarie's peace and joy as the antidepressants they picked up at the pharmacy in Remerton.

They realize that the pharmacy's stock will run out as soon as more survivors find it. Without hesitation, they stock up on substantial supplies of antibiotics, painkillers, bandages, and other medical equipment. Andrea adds different ointments, skin lotion, antiseptics, regular band aids, antacid tablets, and all the toothbrushes and toothpaste she can find. The thought of having dental problems when there’s no dentist to be found is frightening. In the depleted grocery store closest to them, Andrea finds a rack of batteries that she empties.

Most of the canned goods have been picked clean long ago, but there are some groceries left that have a long shelf life. Sugar, pasta, flour, dry yeast, cornstarch, salt, powdered milk, rice, noodles, and breakfast cereal are packed onto the trailer behind the pickup truck. For some reason, not much of the dog food has been taken, so they bring several trays of canned food and bags of kibbles.

As they are about to leave the ICA store, Andrea's gaze falls upon the small section to the left of the checkouts. Mostly, there are newspapers and candy. They have already taken the few chocolate bars they could find for Annemarie, but here there is candy sold in bulk in open crates and some pre-packaged candy bags.

"Maybe some for Emma. Not that she should eat it every day, of course, but a piece of candy, like, on Saturdays?" Andrea asks Ogden, who has caught up with her.

"Yes, why not? But not the type in the crates. We don't know how many people have touched it and what kind of germs they carried. Take candy that's pre-packaged instead. By the way, which reminds me of something." Ogden leaves Andrea to pick up bags of various caramels, toffees, and licorice. He returns with his pockets full. "Dextrose in tablet form and powder. Could mean the difference between life and death, Andy."

Of course. Andrea should have remembered that. Her mother's cousin had diabetes and always carried dextrose tablets in his pocket. “That reminds me. Salt. Did you see any?”

“I took what was left, yes.”

At the last moment, Andrea grabs some different periodicals and comic books, both for children and adults, from the shelves. Annemarie likes crossword puzzles and photography magazines. Azim likes comic books, and so does Emma. She herself enjoys reading about science and technology. There are magazines for all tastes, though she skips the gossip magazines. They are old, and most of the people featured in them are dead anyway.

On the way back to The Hudskills, Andrea finds herself in a pensive mood. They haven't seen a single person in the part of Remerton they just visited, despite all the apartments and houses. How many have survived the virus? What percentage of the population in the US, and for that matter, the world, survived after the birds? 

So far, most of the people they've met have been lone survivors, or people in smaller groups. That both Ogden and Annemarie survived is unusual—a fluke. This makes Andrea afraid. If it is truly unusual, what are the chances that Theo really survived? Or perhaps her own immunity exists because of her genetic makeup, and that’s a much more comforting thought. 

 She forcefully pushes back the fear and the negative thoughts. She mustn't think like that, simply. Theo is alive, and she will find him. There must be a way, and even if it takes time, maybe a whole year, she will not give up. She promised her mother, and a promise to a dying person is sacred. She will never betray the woman who loved her more than anyone else in her entire life. Andrea looks at Ogden as he skillfully drives the pickup along the deserted highway. He is like a foster father, or rather a foster grandfather, and without him and Annemarie, she and Emma would not be doing this well. Or even be alive.

That is also something Andrea promises herself. She will never betray her new family either. With diligent training, she will become even better at using her baseball bat, shooting with a bow and arrow, throwing knives, and shooting with various weapons. Ogden has negotiated with Annemarie, and they have decided that Andrea will get her own pistols when she turns fifteen. Annemarie actually thinks they should wait until her eighteenth birthday, but when Ogden said, "If we wait, she might never see her eighteenth birthday," Annemarie gave in.

Ogden turns off toward the Hudskills and drives through the silent subdivision. They pass several houses with smashed windows, some have burned down, and others stand untouched in overgrown gardens. "Here we can pick apples in the fall. We didn't think about that last fall when everything was so new," he says. "There are many nice fruit trees here. And berry bushes. Annemarie is a whiz at making jam and applesauce."

"That's good. Important with vitamins," Andrea says, pleased when Ogden nods approvingly.

They drive far in with the pickup and then take a narrow winding forest road a few more kilometers. There Ogden stops and waits for a while. Then he starts up the walkie-talkie. "Ogden to camp. Arrived. Over."

There is crackling in the speaker, but then Azim's voice is heard clearly. "We're here. Coming in a minute, boss. Over."

"Sounds good. Over and out." Ogden keeps the walkie-talkie on and constantly looks around. This, their handover point, where they transfer everything, they've retrieved onto small carts with large wheels that easily navigate the forest paths, is sensitive. If the gang that invaded their home during Christmas finds them here, with precious cargo and everything, they could lose everything—even their lives. Ogden is armed, and Andrea has her baseball bat, but if they are overpowered, it's over.

Now figures are moving further away, and Andrea relaxes marginally when she recognizes their own. Ten people with carts come jogging between the trees. They have a special place to wait where it is almost impossible to spot them. Now they are here, and everyone unloads the supplies quickly and quietly.

"It was easier when you could drive the old way. All the way," Lollo whispers, grimacing under the weight of a dog food bag. "Damn road pirates."

It's a new trend they've noticed. The major roads are occasionally guarded by people who stop the vehicles that come driving with provisions and other goods. They stop them, steal what they want, and for the most part let the ones getting robbed continue empty-handed. Andrea suspects that they let people live to be able to rob them again another day.

"It is what it is," Ogden says philosophically. "But so far, it’s all right to do it this way."

"Until that gang finds the pickup and the trailer." Magnus packs the last thing into his cart. "Then it will be worse to go out and get supplies."

"All the more important that we become self-sufficient as soon as possible." Ogden pats Magnus on the shoulder. "Me and Andy will come after and help pull. We're just going to hide the pickup and the trailer. It will be quick."

Andrea and Ogden are good at hiding the vehicle and the trailer. They have practiced and then put it into practice. Ogden drives the pickup into a dense thicket. He pushes the trailer in and places it upright on its side close to it. Meanwhile, Andrea takes out a camouflage net that they put over the vehicle and the trailer. They then weigh down the net with large stones, and finally they pull forward branches and bushes that they had prepared beforehand and place them strategically. When Andrea takes a few steps back, even she has difficulty seeing through the camouflage.

"Not bad," Ogden says. "What do you think, Andy? Time to head home and get some food? I think Annemarie has made her rabbit stew."

If it had been a little over a year ago, Andrea would never have even dreamed of eating rabbit stew. Or any kind of dish based on rabbits. She remembers her friend Ebba's rabbit, Frankie, from when they were in elementary school. They used to build obstacle courses for him in Ebba's room, and he was sweet and very cuddly. The thought of eating Frankie makes her stomach churn. Andrea pulls herself together. It's not Frankie they're going to eat. They are eating anonymous rabbits from the forest to survive. Big difference.

They catch up with Lollo and Magnus, who are walking last with their carts. Andrea helps Lollo with her cart, which is full of dog food and all the candy.

"I see you have prioritized perfectly," Lollo says and winks at Andrea. "Zantana gets hers, and you have candy for Emma."

"And chocolate for us grownups." Andrea glances at Lollo. The words slipped out before she could think.

"Chocolate is vital for us women." Lollo doesn't seem to mind that Andrea sees herself as one of the grownups, at least she doesn't protest. In fact, she seems to agree with it. "Especially for Annemarie."

"Exactly." With a lighter heart, Andrea smiles at Lollo.

Lollo's expression softens. "It's not often I see you smile, Andy. And I get it, we don't always have much to smile about. You're just so beautiful and when you do smile…I know it’s terribly cliché, but you radiate such light. If I may be so bold." She crinkles her nose at Andrea.

Beautiful? Is Lollo out of her mind, or does she need glasses? "Uh... thanks?" Now her cheeks are burning, but she can't help but smile again. Sure, it's silly and frivolous, but hearing even once that you’re beautiful to someone, even if it's obviously said by a person in dire need of an eye exam, feels good. She can’t help but bounce along as she pulls the cart towards home.

Home, yes. When did Ogden's place in The Hudskills become home? Andrea doesn't know, but she accepts that this is where she belongs—right now. The day she possesses the skills to go out on her own to look for Theo for real, then maybe everything will change, but right now her home is with this group of hardworking people within this forest. She will defend them to her last drop of blood if necessary, and she knows that they will do the same for her, if needed.

And something tells Andrea that it will become necessary, sooner or later.