Apocalypsis 03 - Exodus

expert.”
    Rob laughed, but Fohi smiled, pleased with himself. “Thanks. Yeah, I am good that stuff, aren’t I? Demolitions expert . I like the sound of that.” He was nodding his head, biting his lip, looking off into space.
    “Yeah. You’re an expert only because you haven’t managed to blow yourself up yet,” said Rob.
    “Shut up, buttmunch,” said Fohi, snapping back to reality. “Stop harshing on my mellow all the time, would ya? Geez, why you always gotta do that?”
    “Hey, guys,” I said, interrupting Fohi’s whining. “You were looking for me? I assume to say goodbye, so … thanks. And goodbye.” I put my arms up and stepped towards Rob to give him a hug first. He moved towards me and pulled me into a huge embrace, picking me up off the ground so I was at the level of his shoulder, about a foot and a half higher than I was used to being.
    “Oh, wow, that’s a good one,” I said, giggling.
    He put me down, but grabbed my arms and held onto them as they were sliding away. “Not so fast, Bryn. Appreciate the hug, but we’re not saying goodbye; we’re going with you. That’s what we came to tell you.”
    “What?” I said, his words not computing.
    “He said we’re going with you,” said Fohi. “Isn’t that cool? We’re forming a new tribe and you’re the chief … esse. You’re gonna be the chiefesse.”
    I laughed, still confused. “You guys want to go with us? Are you serious?”
    “Serious as a heart attack,” said Rob, all the laughter gone from his voice. “We want nothing to do with a group of people that do what Kowi and Trip did tonight. That’s the old world. We want a new one. A better one.”
    “But I have nothing,” I said, flabbergasted. “I have no food, no weapons, no way to make clothes … you’d be starting from ground zero with me. Canner bait.”
    “We don’t care. We know we’ll find all that stuff eventually,” said Fohi. “Besides, who do you think helped get them that stuff in the first place?”
    “Other indians?” I said.
    “Native Americans!” scolded Fohi and Rob at the same time.
    “Oh, crap, sorry.”
    “Never mind. Anyway, what Fohi is trying to say is, we’ve got skills. And we want to use them for you … as part of your team. We’re ready to go with you tomorrow.”
    I didn’t know what to say. My mouth kept opening, but no sound would come out and no words would form. They were offering up their safety. Their three-meals-a-day security. Their family. All to go be a part of mine. I was humbled to the core and didn’t know how to tell them.
    “I can see you’re a little stunned by it, so we’ll just let you chew on that for a while and come get you in the morning, ‘kay?” said Fohi, patting me on the shoulder. “We’ve got some stuff to do tonight, but we’ll be ready.”
    Rob reached out and pulled me into another quick hug and then released me. “Chin up, Bryn. Everything’s gonna be okay. I promise.”
    “I promise too,” said Fohi, grabbing me in an awkward hug that felt more like a wrestling move. I closed my eyes until it was over, afraid if I looked at Rob or Fohi again, I would cry.
    They walked away and I waved feebly, too stunned to act like a proper friend and thank them aloud, and too afraid to argue them into staying. I was going to need all the loyal team members I could get.
    ***
    I got to the hut and found Paci waiting for me, along with my roommates. He held his finger up to his lips at them, in a gesture that seemed to be telling them to be quiet about something, and met me at the entrance.
    “Hey,” he said, searching my face.
    “Hey,” I responded, feeling totally awkward and weird about him being there, wondering what he’d been talking to my friends about before I arrived. I was hoping he wasn’t still mad at me, and I really didn’t want to say goodbye in front of everyone. I was sure to bawl and get all boogery again. My feelings for Paci were complicated, but at the very least, he’d been one of my most supportive friends - and this world was too small and scary sometimes to not really appreciate that.
    “Can I talk to you for a sec … like take a quick walk or something?”
    “I have to get to bed soon,” I said, eyeing him warily.
    “It won’t take long, I promise.”
    I shrugged. “Sure.” I looked over at Peter. “Be right back.”
    He waved me away, busy with his packing. There were three backpacks sitting on the floor next to him, filled to the brim, packed like