It was the rain that woke Santiago from beneath his makeshift shelter. The soft pitter-patter of raindrops danced across the roof, creating an almost rythmic sound against the dark. Dribbles of water leaked from the hastily patched up tears in the roof. Some of it dripped onto the large man's head, breaking him away from his uneasy sleep. His eyes opened and, for a brief moment, confusion flashed through the sleepy haze. Santiago's hand instinctively moved to his bat--a habit born from necessity--before realization took over and his tensed form relaxed. Right. He was safe here. Or at least, safer than walking around out there.

Santiago awkwardly stretched his limbs in the cramped space, wincing as a sharp pain filled his body. The wound on his abdomen throbbed with a dull ache, a shadow of the pain it would grow into later in the day. It was only hours prior that he had the misfortune of running into a band of bandits. They had struck hard and fast, and, while Santiago had managed to fled, the damage was already done. While a clumsily wrapped bandaged had managed to staunch the bleeding, it'd take a real medic to do any longterm fixing up.

He grabbed his supplies, hefting the familiar weight of the bat before stepping outside. The ash sky gave little light, yet far in the distance was the unmistakable silhouette of buildings. He'd heard rumors of a mall. A sanctuary of supples and possible allies. There he'd find some help, something to keep going if for a little while. But he'd need to move fast. Giving his surroundings a quick, hasty look, Santiago gathered his bearings and set off towards the city.