[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/171017/44cf20284a77625f09ec4dbbc96654f2.png[/img]
[sup]Collaboration between: [@Poi] & [@ReusableSword][/sup]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3GGocmSAYw[/youtube][/center]

[color=gray]Trevor had been too concerned with the possibility of an explosive device to notice the full extent of the crates behind him. The contents of the table in front of him held his gaze--empty bottles and cans of solvents and cleaners, boxes of sudafed opened and empty, empty butane bottles and old glass and metal bowls and pans, as well a few old hot plates.[/color] [color=39b54a][b]"I'm pretty sure this guy was making meth. Probably why he isn't here; Ran off and got himself bit."[/b][/color] [color=gray]He snickered before looking over towards Maisy.[/color]

[color=39b54a][b]"Hey, you're awfully quiet. Find something good?"[/b][/color] [color=gray]He asked while turning and walking back toward her. He stopped next to her and looked at what she was looking at. A green metal box with the words "Property of the U.S. Army" brushed over it. Trevor knelt down to examine the crate and moved it.[/color] [color=39b54a][b]"Still heavy and look,[/b][/color]" [color=gray]He pointed to one of the latches,[/color] [color=39b54a][b]"Still locked."[/b][/color] [color=gray]Trevor said, looking back up to the girl. Even while kneeling, he was only just shorter than her. He offered his axe to her. The hammer end would surely be able to break the lock off with a good swing or two.[/color] [color=39b54a][b]"You want to do the honors?"[/b][/color]
 
[color=gray]Maisy looked behind her as Trevor approached the crates.[/color] [color=moccasin][b]"I wonder what is inside."[/b][/color] [color=gray]The rancher commented, returning her gaze towards the numerous stacked boxes. Trevor offered his axe to Maisy, and she reached over to take it from him. Wielding it in her hands, Maisy struck the blunt end of the axe down onto the latch, cracking it open like a piggy bank.

When the green metal crate opened, Maisy's eyes glistened. While guns were extremely uncommon fourteen years after the end of the world, before the duo stood a number of unfired 5.56x45mm, a staple of the American military. Maisy had not spotted any rifles yet, but at the moment, they had just become one of the richest people in the area.

Excitement took ahold of Maisy like gorilla glue sticking to paper. The rancher jumped around in joy, setting off a number of mouse traps in the process. Then, it happened. Maisy scooted over to Trevor, placing her calloused hands on the cold metal he wore around his body. Standing on the tips of her toes, Maisy leaned forward, her lips brushing against the bristles on Trevor's cheek as the rancher lost herself in the exhilaration of being lucky in hell itself.

Once the metal box was opened and he was given his axe back, the woodsmen picked up one of the many rounds that looked like they were poured into the container.[/color] [color=39b54a][b]"Hmm, 5.56 rounds. No corrosion or cracks in the casing."[/b][/color] [color=gray]He felt the round in his hand before tossing it back into the box. He watched the other girl jump around in the darkness and couldn't help but smile. It was a good haul, sure, and he knew that Lasthope had several of these rifles guarding the walls. Trevor could feel a film on his fingers and sniffed them.[/color] [color=39b54a][b]"Hmm, oil, or maybe corrosion block. Would explain why they aren't corroded."[/b][/color]

[color=gray]Then the tall man felt a hand on his shoulder and was about to look when he felt lips on his cheek and froze. And here he thought nothing could catch him off guard. Trevor stood there for a little while longer, and when she pulled away, he brought his hand up and felt his cheek. He didn't look at her right away, and just sort of stood there with a stupid look on his face.[/color] [color=39b54a][b]"Well then."[/b][/color] [color=gray]He said looking at his hand.[/color] [color=39b54a][b]"Sooo, is that how you reward all the people that find cool stuff or just me?"[/b][/color] [color=gray]He looked at her with a smile and a red face.[/color] [color=39b54a][b]"Cause if that's so, I'll go double check all these houses for cool shit."[/b][/color]

[color=gray]It was excitement Maisy couldn't control until she realized what was happening. The duo stood as if they were frozen in time but only for a few seconds before Maisy grew red like a tomato.[/color] [color=moccasin][b]"H-Huh? W-what are you saying? It was just the heat of the moment!"[/b][/color] [color=gray]Maisy exclaimed, darting her vision to a dark corner of the room, caught off guard. 

Maisy crossed her arms as she struggled to come to terms with what she had just done. It was embarrassing, and enough to cause the second-in-command to become a flustered mess.[/color] [color=moccasin][b]"L-let's... Let's see what else is in these boxes, alright? I'll have the troopers help us carry it outside."[/b][/color] [color=gray]The rancher replied, trying to focus back on the search, but the thought of what just happened was always in the back of her thoughts.

He found himself still smiling as the short girl explained herself. He watched her carefully as she spoke and turned red as well. Trevor giggled at her when she looked away and sighed.[/color] [color=39b54a][b]"Don't worry, Maze, your secret is safe with me."[/b][/color] [color=gray]He turned back to the crates at hand and moved a few of the larger ones out. Trevor broke the awkward silence by slamming his ax into the top of the wooden crate. It had a few straps but was otherwise nailed together and he didn't have his entry tool with him. 

The axe made a small hole in the top of the crate in a few swings. Trevor looked inside for a moment and could see green packages. he was still smiling but this time looked at Maisy.[/color] [color=39b54a][b]"You know, you're really cute when you're embarrassed. Also, I wonder whats in here."[/b][/color] [color=gray]Reaching in and pulling out a green package that looked like a brick, he turned it over to read the contents.[/color] [color=39b54a][b]"An MRE. Chili and macaroni, pound cake, jalapeno cheese spread and crackers, candy, and watermelon beverage powder. Wow, and even coffee." [/b][/color]

[color=gray]Trevor bit his lip and sighed.[/color] [color=39b54a][b]"You know, with all this and what ever else we found, we might have to send some of our guys back to Lasthope with everything and stay for a day or two. Hell, we are only thirty-five miles from the Fort."[/b][/color] [color=gray]He looked back up at her then back to the pile of supplies. There were at least four more of these crates with multiple more green ones and other boxes.[/color] [color=39b54a][b]"You think we should send a runner to go get help with the rest of this?"[/b][/color] 

[color=gray]Like a punch to the gut, Maisy was caught off guard even more so. The rancher tried to get back on track, but Trevor just had to comment that she was cute when she was embarrassed. Maisy shook her flustered head, slapping her cheeks to focus back on the task. Walking over to where Trevor was hacking away at a sealed crate, Maisy took great interest in what he found. Most of the MREs were full of delicacies that Maisy had not tasted in years, each one prepared with spices or seasonings that were now a rarity.[/color]

[color=moccasin][b]"I don't think extra help is needed, but I have an idea that might lighten up the struggle of transporting everything. I bet the garages around here have trash can lids or those plastic sleds. We can secure the crates to them with rope, and drag them behind us with the horses to the Falls, where Jain can decide on what to do with everything. Think it'll work?"[/b][/color] [color=gray]Maisy explained, struggling at making eye contact with the woodsman after what happened moments ago.

Trevor listened intently on what Maze was saying, and placed the MRE in his pack before continuing.[/color] [color=39b54a][b]"Alright, I'll go rally the troops if you want to stay here and get these ready for transport."[/b][/color] [color=gray]He spoke while looking around for a stool or some way of getting these things out.[/color] [color=39b54a][b]"Might be better to bust out the floor a bit more and haul everything out."[/b][/color] [color=gray]His mind could get away from what happened earlier when he had work to do. Trevor was able to find a small ladder to climb out with--an extension ladder that looked like it had some anchors on the floor.

He took one last look around, making sure he picked up everything. Suddenly remembering his spear, Trevor moved back to the table to grab it when he noticed what looked like a pineapple frag grenade.[/color] [color=39b54a][b]"No way."[/b][/color] [color=gray]He carefully picked it up and looked at it. Flipping it upside down, he could see the hole drilled in the bottom and all his hopes were dashed.[/color] [color=39b54a][b]"Damn it, training grenade."[/b][/color] [color=gray]He mumbled. For a moment, Trevor paused, holding the grenade in his hand he smiled and put it in his pocket.[/color] [color=39b54a][i]This is gonna be fun.[/i][/color]

[color=gray]The man paused on the ladder one more time and looked back to the small blonde and smiled. Reaching the top of the ladder, Trevor noticed one of the troopers was standing near by chewing on a small portion of jerky.[/color] [color=39b54a][b]"Hey, grab a few others and help Maisy with the crates down there. I'll go with the two watching the stairs and clear the rest of the house."[/b][/color] [color=gray]The trooper looked at him funny before moving off toward the entrance.

Trevor followed him to where the other troopers were resting and bullshitting and smiled.[/color] [color=39b54a][b]"Alright, boys and girls. We have found ourselves some gold in this basement, so it's time to go to work."[/b][/color] [color=gray]He pointed to the two at the base of the stairs.[/color] [color=39b54a][b]"You two are going to help me clear the rest of the house and fashion some sort of sled to pull everything. Those who are not on security will help with the crates, so let's get to it."[/b][/color]

[color=gray]Maisy nodded at Trevor, grabbing one of the green crates of ammo. While Trevor went off to clear the rest of the house, Maisy stacked the various crates near the ladder with the aid of a trooper. Then, the crates would be passed up the ladder in a chain moment, passed along until they were secured and safe according to Maisy's plan.

The boxes were another story. While they were filled with packs of prepackaged food for emergencies, they were undeniably heavy, needing at least two to carry them. With one on each end, the troopers carried the food crates in the same fashion as the ammo until nothing was left besides the table and the various mouse traps that littered the room.

During the transfer, Maisy was silent. The troopers were suprised that they had managed to stumble on a cache such as the one they did, but Maisy had been conflicted--her mind distracted and elsewhere. Trevor had left the area, for now, and it gave Maisy time to think. What kind of connection would exist between the two of them after today? The rancher's thoughts would replay each different scenario that she could think of in her head.

When there was nothing left, Maisy climbed out of the hole in the floor and returned to where the mules and horses had been waiting. A few Risen laid dead on the ground, their bodies searched for anything useful to the expedition and Lasthope.[/color] [color=moccasin][b]"Everything has been cleared from the basement."[/b][/color] [color=gray]Maisy explained to Trevor, and looked up towards the sky.[/color] [color=moccasin][b]"We should head back before it gets too dark."[/b][/color] [color=gray]The rancher continued to explain, now helping to secure their loot to the horses.

With goods in hand, the group rode back into the sunset, and across the highway towards the Celestial Falls. Maisy made sure to keep an eye on the crates that were attached to the makeshift sleds, as the rancher didn't want to lose one of them on the way. Thankfully, even with the bumping of the uneven dirt of the land and Falls, none had fallen loose from the group.

When camp was in sight, Maisy let a whistle to alert those on the perimeter that they were back, with loot in tow.[/color] [color=moccasin][b]"Leave it up to Southpaw and the Woodsman to find something good."[/b][/color] [color=gray]Maisy called out, announcing their presence as they rode to the center of the group and dismounted. Opening an ammo crate and a MRE crate, Maisy pulled out a rifle round and a MRE.[/color] [color=moccasin][b]"Lady Luck didn't leave us yet."[/b][/color] [color=gray]The rancher commented, and went to aid the troopers with unpacking the result of one colorful adventure.[/color]