[color=6ecff6][u]Chapter 2[/u][/color]

Somewhere in the forests near Cordova combat boots stomped all around a campsite where tents had been pitched the previous night. The Troopers and Rangers that made up this expedition were only twenty strong and had basic armaments; the Rangers being the only exception to this as they were decked out in the signature Veteran Dusters and possessed Brush guns as well as other arms befitting their ranks.
 
“This place ain't so bad there’s plenty of trees and look!” The Trooper held out a canteen of water. “Checked the radiation levels of a nearby creek and well, it’s just fine. Has some residual radiation, but it’s well within acceptable levels.”
 
“Good find Private Beckard.” A tall Ranger with clean cut hair said as he smacked Beckard across the back. “Alright if anyone needs to top off their canteen ask Beckard to show you the way, then show anyone else that asks. Lets get this campsite packed up. I want to see if we can find some locals. Keep your guns loaded and ready for trouble don’t know how civilized these people may be.”
 
A collective “YES SIR!!” Echoed throughout the campsite.
 
The Troopers moved about briskly as the site was cleaned up within an hour. Tents were rolled and dirt was shoveled onto the firepit, one of the Privates stopped to inspect something he saw out of the corner of his eye. An odd large white mushroom that seemed to have strings or webbing of some kind attached to it. As he peered closer it jumped up from the ground and scurried off leaving the Private flat on his ass gasping for air.
 
One of the Rangers darted over to his side.”Private are you injured!”
 
He shook his head as he caught his breath.”N..No Sir. What the hell was that, some kind of bug!?”
 
“Did it bite you Private?”
 
“No Sir. Just took off as soon as I got close.”
 
“Well.” The Ranger said taking a look at the direction the Private was pointing. “Let this be a lesson to all of you, don't go poking your noses where they don’t belong. We have no idea what the native flora and fauna is like. Best to assume it’s dangerous till we figure out otherwise.. Right then let’s get a move on, we’re burning daylight.”
 
The Troopers filled in a line as they nervously looked over their shoulders, this was a strange land it had only been a few days and things had already become quite odd. The forest would sometimes have an eerie clam with nothing but the sound of wind blowing through the trees. Other times eyes would peer out from the branches belonging to birds that had a gray plumage.
 
They would march on for hours before they made their next camp, and as they moved closer towards the big cities more and more Factions would take note of their presence.