The voice of a man fell silent over the group as he finished reading the letter from the reporter. I was going to call him the reporter. It sounded cooler than Zak. Anyways, could that man read any slower. I had stumbled across an odd group about a month back. We were headed in the same direction so I tagged alone. The group had a man and a woman and a series of orphaned kids. Not all could be attributed to the woman, while some clearly could some were just to old for her. However, I came along and was the second oldest female in the group. I felt like the strange Aunt that no one wants to meet at a reunion. I should probably ditch this group before that man decides to make me his second wife.

Aside from me, the man was the only one who could read and he could not do that very well. He stuttered and mumbled as he went. He had to restart every sentence. No wonder the children did not know how to read. I listened and got the important points, however the whole time I was focused on the bird. I tried to reach out and pet it but it scooted away from me. I tried to slowly reach out for it again and that Bald Eagle flew to a higher branch beyond my reach. From there, it and I just stared at each other for a while. I did not know why it didn't like me. I had no plans to eat it. I just wanted to pet it.

Anyways, as the man finished the letter, he turned and looked at his 'family'. He explained his view on the matter and his wife just seemed to agree. I knew how this group was when I first spotted it. That hillbilly of a man made all the decisions and his wife was the only one who had any opinions that could challenge his. More than once since I have been here have I clashed with that man. Not physically, yet. I tried to teach the kids skills like reading and survival, but he did not want that so he stopped me. His wife naturally supported her husband like a good housewife and that was that. The children had no say ever. Anyway, the man thought it was a trap and that even if it was not one, there was no way they could get to beggar's point in two days. That last part was true. Some of the kids could not waddle that fast but then again the man stopped whenever his feet started hurting so we averaged a few miles a day.

This is where I politely interrupted, "Sir, I can cover that much ground in less time than needed. If the caravan is not already there, I can probably get there before it. If it is a trap, i could see it and warn you off. If it isn't, i could delay the caravan long enough for the family to arrive."

The man gave me a cold look and replied, "No, I will not risk my family on this fool. Trap or not. The keys are dangerous and it is only by own hands is this family stays safe. You wish to go, then go. You are but an unwanted dog anyways." He waved me off.

I smiled. I did not like being insulted like that but it didn't matter. It did not effect me. It was perfectly clear to me that he did not want me to interfere with his control over his family anymore. I collected my things and left the camp headed to Beggar's point. I felt bad for that group. If what he believed was true, if he could believed his own dogma of being the one thing keeping his family alive, then the day he kicks the bucket, his family will be soon to follow.

I put them behind me. They were not kin to me. After I got over a hill and out of sight I started running. I took up a pace that could carry me easily for miles. Beggar's point was waiting for me not far ahead.