Dallen felt a few different emotions pass through him.  He almost broke down in front of everyone, Gwen being the only one to notice him pull himself back together.  "Come on," Dallen told the little girl.  "Tell me all about it."  He led her into the lodge, where pies and bread sticks were being cooked.  "You have to try the cinnamon sticks, I think you'll like them."

...

Hours later.  

A coloring book and crayons were gifted to Erin, found from Gwen when they first made sure this place was safe.  Dallen sat a few tables down, drinking some coffee as Gwen sat on the couch beside him.

"Do you remember our conversation last night," Gwen asked with a half smile.  "...you kinda blacked out in the middle of it..."

"Then no," Dallen replied, watching over Erin as she continued to color something in the pages of her book.

"Heh, I know seeing that little girl over there makes this harder for you," she said, and also caught Dallen's full attention now.  "You said you wanted to go back and bury your daughter...I just want you to know, I'll help you.  I'll go with you."

Dallen took another glance at Erin, a smile forming at his lips.  "That means a lot," he said to her.  "Thank you Gwen.  But no, I've led too many people to their deaths already.  Besides, Erin's alive, and she's here.  Right here, right now.  Going back will just get me killed."  He did want to, but he was also a realist.  He had dealt with the undead first hand, and he knew his chances of survival would be slim if he were to go back.  Kelsey would want him to live.

"Okay, I think you've made the right choice," Gwen ended with, as Lucy walked into the lodge fresh from a bath.  Gwen put her hand on dallen's in a friendly gesture, then got up and left him alone.  Lucy's first impulse was jealousy, but she quickly tried to shake the feeling away as she didn't want to become the immature one in the group of survivalists.  Instead, she went over and started eating with Riley.

Everyone seemed to be in or near the lodge at mid-day.  It was the perfect opportunity for a group meeting, and so Kenjen and Pastor Book took to the front of the room, beside the unlit fireplace.

"Everyone, please gather around," Kenjen spoke clearly, as the people gathered together.  

"Pick it up, people!" Leroy shouted to a few lagging behind.

"Everyone, it's been a few days since this thing all started," Kenjen began.  "We're tired, but we're alive.  We've all lost people, none of that is anyone here's fault.  This is bigger than that.  Here, we have a chance.  I know a lot of you are already anxious to leave, but we've been scouting.  There's nothing out there for miles.  We need to stay here and stay low for a while, then start to rebuild if necessary.  If anyone wants to leave then, then I won't argue with you.  For now, we have enough supplies to last us up to the winter.  We'll have to scavenge when winter comes, but we'll have plenty of time to do that."

"Jobs are being appointed out to everyone," the pastor spoke in.  "Security, farming, healthcare, and whatever else we need.  Please work with us, we're all in this together now."

"We need more runners," kenjen continued, himself and Gwen being the only two good ones.  "Gwen spotted a hospital 18 miles out.  She said it looked untouched from the inside.  The one thing we lack here are medical supplies, so we need to send a team to get them.  Right now it's just Gwen and myself.  Any takers?"

"I'll go," Dallen said after a slight beat.  It was either hide away in a room and cry over his daughter, or spring into action for those that were still alive.  He didn't want to lead anyone, but he would help and follow if for anything, just to keep himself busy.  He didn't even know what would happen to himself if he dwelled on the recent horrible events.

"Me too," Lucy spoke up, she wanted to help, but she also wanted to prove that her help was needed.  She was even more athletic than Dallen was, and if he could do it, so could she.

"I wanna go too," Steven added.

"No," Briggs butted in.  "I need you here with me.  We've got a lot more security measures to clear up before I sleep comfortable at night here.  They only need a small group."

Steven shrugged, looking over to Ethan who shook his head against the act.

"Count me in," the former bartender of the lodge spoke up.  "I'm Blake, I was the bartender here when things were...normal.  Closed bar until I return, heh."  He wasn't much of a runner type, as his idea of a workout was going up and down the stairs in his house.  His intentions were, however, for Gwen.  The pair had just met at the lodge, but he felt a connection with her that he felt strong about.  He had feelings for her, and felt less like a man when she would go out and scavenge by herself.  This time, he wanted to prove to her that he could be a viable member of the group.

Kenjen nodded to everyone as they joined the runner group.  Everyone else would pitch in, one way or another.  Briggs was already in charge of security, with Stevens and Ethan helping him out.  Others were to help in building up a fence that had been previously knocked down during some storm long ago.  Most of the woman would have duties in the kitchens, or with the fish that the fisherman brought back.  The skiiers would recon the entire mountain slope, making sure no signs of a threat would enter the ranger station.

"We head out in an hour," Kenjen ordered.