The boy’s mind had been heavy with his thoughts of hunger- his sheer desperation to get [i]anything[/i] to eat, even if it meant approaching the strangers he was so wary of. Up close, however, Dawn was able to see just how badly it had gotten for herself. The hollow, haggard look signature in ashlanders was especially prominent in his eyes, in the lines of his face, in the visible bones. The wings had garnered an interested glance, but it was the starved look that held her attention. 
 
“I’m not sure,” she admitted. “It’s, ah, my first time going there, actually. You could probably buy something to eat there, but I don’t know if they’d give anything for free.” Most settlements in the ash balked at the idea of giving away handouts- especially when it came to a meal that could be used to provide for one of their own. It was hard to blame them. Resources were growing more and more scarce by the day, and, if you managed to settle down long enough to establish a farm, you’d always be looking over your shoulder for any raiders who happened by. 
 
Still, Dawn couldn’t help but sympathize with the stranger. She would have been tempted to give him something to at least snack on along the way, had she not polished off one of her last cans a few minutes ago. If it wasn’t for the nearby settlement, it was likely she would have quickly found herself in the exact same position. Luckily, though, it seemed that at least one of the little gang they had put together had something to offer. Said offering also happened to be a freshly slain rodent, but when you lived in the wastes, you took what you could get. Dawn herself had hunted a few rats from time to time- although that was only really when things called for desperate measures. In the face of slow starvation, food poisoning seemed much less of a concern. 
 
“It might be good to take shelter before we, um, have a break, I think. That house- the one I was in, I mean- it still has a roof. And a door.” Of course, if someone was trying to get in, they could easily break down the wood or enter through one of the windows, but it was better than just standing out in the open air. Rubbing her shoulder, Dawn’s attention turned back to the newcomer, looking him over before speaking again. 
 
“What’s your name? If you don’t mind my asking, I mean. I’m Dawn.” 
 
It was only polite to ask, after all. 

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