Uncaring Fate:
The sun was climbing higher in the sky, and Yollie could see the refining towers of Fractionation Station #4 shining in the distance. As she watched, a dust cloud rose and a big Alpha Company tanker rolled out from one of the refinery fueling gantries. She could tell it was Alpha Company's because it was dark green with eight wheels and a nose like a gila monster. Soon it was joined by a few of Alpha Company's tan military trucks and the small group of vehicles headed slowly toward the Travel Stop and its ever-thirsty crowd of travelers.
Yollie watched the Gila with interest as it moved from the shiny pumping station toward the Travel Stop just outside of her home. Her first instinct had been to head home and give her parents the rabbit before moving on to the Travel Stop, but it looked like more activity than usual was gracing the place.
She stood up, pushing the herbs and wild flowers she had gathered into her well-used leather messenger bag. Inside was a mixture of odds and ends, and some essentials. She mostly used the bag to store herbs, a bottle or two of water, and anything interesting she happened to find in her travels. Content that her curiosity would win out over her familial obligations, she sighed and tied the rabbit off to her belt by its feet.
Like a deer moving through the woods, she stuck to established game paths, allowing her feet to silently pad at the ground through comfortable moccasins. The sun was starting to rise higher in the sky and the heat was starting to come on, but she welcomed it, knowing that the sun was the giver of life and that the land-people must absorb its energy and respect its power.
When she got to the outskirts of the Taco Bell parking lot, she waited patiently and silently making sure to observe everything and, more importantly, everyone before making her way inside. In this way, she could see who looked jumpy, irritated or tired. She could see who was armed and with what. She could find threats before they found her. It was second-nature now, and all East Highland Hills children were taught about the threat of outsiders and how to prepare for it long before they were ever allowed to step foot inside of the Travel Stop.
Confident that nothing was too out of the ordinary, she made her way over to a familiar face. She had known Lucas for some time, and while they weren't close by any means, she did appreciate the books or seed he sometimes was able to get a hold of. She also had a soft spot for his mean old dog, "Dog."
She approached like a shadow, as was her way, remaining quiet and as out of sight as she could. She knew Dog would smell her before he saw her, but habits were habits and she was not accustomed to letting her dog down.
She waited patiently until Lucas noticed her and then approached.
"Mr. Lucas," she said with a slight nod, keeping her eyes on the man who was already at the stand. She let her guard down for a second as she took a step toward Dog, a big smile coming over her face.
"And you thought I would forget about you, big boy?" She reached into her messenger bag and pulled out some dried meat. It was squirrel and was what remained of her breakfast, but she couldn't help but do anything other than spoil Dog when she saw him.
Ironically for a hunter, she happened to like animals more than people for the most part; animals could be easily read: their moods, their needs, their intentions. People, not so much.
After feeding dog, she stands awkwardly, watching the odd situation between Mr. Lucas and the man unfold in front of her.