It didn’t take a genius to see that the man was exhausted. Tala watched as his chest heaved in and out, desperate to suck in fresh air. She lowered her weapon slightly deciding what she should do. Should she point him in the direction of the Mojave outpost or just leave him? Either way, it had to be better than where he came from before. Speaking of which…

"Legion. Legion are coming. Gotta hide."

Her blood ran cold like the morning frost. The Legion was here? This close? Her previous dilemma forgotten, her mind raced as she began to piece things together. This man was running from the explosion. The Legion was following him. She swore in her tribe’s tongue. They needed to get out of here fast.

She looked beyond the man as se could swear tiny specks were moving towards them, quickly if her eyes weren’t playing tricks on her. Turning back towards the crest of the hill, she continued her ascension. “Come on then,” she said over her shoulder, “There’s a place we can hide until they pass. Don’t know why their after you, and I don’t really care.”

Her breathing grew shallow as she reached the hilltop. Bending down, she felt along a crevice. Her fingers traced the course texture until she found a small latch. Tugging on the latch, a manmade concealed door opened before her as she stepped inside the musky interior. The lamps inside were lit. There was a smuggling caravan here. Movement from further within emphasized the point.

Two knocks. Three Slaps. Two knocks. One and a half slaps.

The click of a safety whispered in her ears. Be it putting the safety on or off, she didn’t know. The universal sign of a smuggler had been given. Only an unseasoned smuggler wouldn’t get it. 

She turned back and saw the man following behind her. She looked to the desert beyond. They were getting closer. 

Fearing her voice would echo, she waved urgently. They needed to disappear now. If the Legion came any closer, this safe house would be compromised with a fate worse than death soon following. She shuddered. Legion. They were the only group she truly feared out of all the gangs of the Nevada wastes.