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Jack has been relaxing at their newest camping spot in Tall Trees – having returned because Blackwater was being attacked and needed help – at the Manzanita Trading Post. War Horse and Kentucky are hitched on the post outside of the main building; Jack is sitting on the stairs close by.
There’s a fresh layer of snow on the ground that hasn’t been touched yet. Not by the Undead nor by the living. Everyone is inside the main building in the middle of having a quiet lunch. Jack had taken a sandwich that someone forced into his hands before leaving but it was left uneaten next to him.
His Dad had run off to look for Pestilence after confirming that War had been following them. The horse keeps his distance but never strays far. It’s odd but better to know where one of those creatures is hanging about than always being on edge wondering.
Jack shuts his book and wonders if he can still make snow angels or if that would be insensitive to the situation. It’s been a while since he was allowed to relax and just be a kid even though he knows he has to be an adult right now; having to be serious, tough, and never showing weakness in case someone uses it against him.
However, his mind keeps wandering back to one memory that Jack had locked away a long time ago. Back before the end of the world, even back before Edgar Ross and his Dad’s hunting. A small moment when his Dad, Jack, and his sister went out close to Tall Trees to be able to play in the snow; his Dad watching over the two of them as their protector and guardian.
It feels like two lifetimes ago now.
Jack never gave himself the chance to think about his baby sister because it was easier to forget that she existed in the first place. He refused to talk about her with his parents because he didn’t want to upset them again.
Guess the end world can make you reflect on the past more than you want to.
“Jack?” His Dad calls his name, knocking Jack’s hat down to cover his eyes. “You alright, son?”
“Just fine, Pa.” Jack right his hat before holding the plate out for his Dad, who takes half of the sandwich. “How did it go with the horse?”
“I found it but don’t think it likes me all that much.” His Dad sat down next to him. “Though that other horse, the one on horse, came back. Even gave me a lift home since I forgot War Horse is here.”
Jack hasn’t been able to do much research into the Horses of the Apocalypse.
“You’re probably not Pestilence’s rider.” It’s only a theory with only a little bit of evidence to back it up. However, War allowing his Dad to ride him back does bring it back into play though. “Which means finding four riders for each horse, well three riders since you might be War’s Rider but I don’t know.”
His Dad’s weird – a similar weirdness to his Uncle Arthur – and tends to get himself into all kinds of trouble that sometimes doesn’t make any sense. Sometimes His Dad even says some really weird stuff or even repeats conversations that he should have no knowledge of in the first place.
“Whatever the case may be, we should get back on the road,” His Dad said. “We still have that other theory to work through.”
Jack gets to his feet and takes his plate back inside to give it back after taking his piece of the sandwich – before putting his book in Kentucky’s saddlebag. He follows his Dad’s lead, getting onto his horse and following the man back down the path; knowing that they have still a lot of stuff left to do.