As always, Adrian's relentless mind was back on where to call home for the winter. They'd already checked a long list of places. When they broke camp in the morning, they would continue north, towards the base in Montana, but he already knew what they'd find there: nothing. His followers were looking for the authority; Adrian was looking for the bunker under the compound, but if he kept picking up survivors regularly, there was no way that small shelter would hold them all. As a result, other than underground, he had no good ideas that he could live with.
The choice had been left entirely up to him, the camp indicating at the meeting that they had faith in his decisions, and though that had been the plan all along, it was still a heavy burden.
"It's like sheep," he muttered, knowing they were scared and lost, but Adrian was unable to imagine a situation where he would give over control of his own life so easily. They had no problem with being told where to sit and stand, and while it made things a lot easier, it showed him how weak they really were, and how much had to be done. He would have to push harder, do more for them.
They didn't even have a doctor yet, and that they needed desperately. Especially him, now that he'd been with Tonya. The sated blond grinned at the delicious memory. It was wrong, bad, and damn, he'd enjoyed it! Revenge had been better than cold…it had been fiery.
2
Pulling on a heavy jacket with a fading eagle on the back, Adrian stepped out into the cold, windy darkness, grateful for the almost inviting smell of the salty wind. Even with a hint of shit, it was still heaven compared to the reeking odors of smoke, decay, and blood that now hung over the towns and cities like a shroud.
Eager to make his nightly rounds of the perimeter guards, Adrian still took time to listen, hearing the soft murmur of voices and rustling of flaps. It told him his herd wasn't settled yet, and he knew he wouldn't return to his own rack until they were.
His eyes went first to the watch, nodding to those he could see. Listening for the others, he heard the almost constant crunch of boot steps as the Eagles prowled, eyes sweeping the darkness. Adrian was sure few, if any, of his new army would slack off. He had chosen most of them because they seemed to understand it might be only one man's dreams, but it was America's future. They were nine man teams of safety, of security, and he was teaching them as fast as he could.