From the journal of John Archer, the Archivist, May 11

May 11, 2017

Dr. Ben says that Henry will be ready to travel tomorrow. His fever broke day before yesterday and he is starting to be able to eat and keep down soup and other liquids. His survival has made Dr Ben really want to get to Aspen to try to set up a lab and see if he can figure out why Henry survived while no one else has. According to the doctor, there probably have been a few who have survived,  but not so anyone has heard about.

We are spending the day packing up our camp, except for our beds for tonight. Anything that is not essential for us to have our today is being packed away. Only the food and items we need to prepare and cook for today are staying unpacked. All the extras we have gotten used to having out this last week or so have to be packed up. This means putting all the children's books and toys away.
The children were not that happy about moving on. They don't want to leave their play structures and give up their new games. But, we made them a promise that we will build them a really cool play area when we have a secured compound in Aspen. I even told them that with all those rich peoples houses, there should be some awesome structures to take and make their own. They started planning out the way they want their area to look as soon as I walked away, arguing as only children can about what hypothetical structure will go where. They are making a list of the types of play structures they want the scouts to keep their eyes open for. Now, they are excited about moving on.
I think that Jenna is the next more excited about getting to Aspen. Everyone keeps talking about the young adults that Gary and Williams but for Jenna, they represent the chance to have people near her own age around. I imagine that is priceless for her. To be able to talk to someone who understands all the slang and jargon she grew up using. I know she has been really good with the smaller children and also with the adults, but it will be good for her to have people her own age around.

I am looking forward to being in one place for longer than a week or so. I want to find some books about how to do useful stuff and sit in one place while I read to my hearts content. I know I will have to take my turn on scouting duty and patrol, but in between, reading and heaven. I want to learn to do something that will contribute to the group in a positive way. I feel really useless most of the time and I want that to stop. Whether it is electrical work or wood work or whatever, I need to make myself more useful to these people who have gotten me through thick and thin since this pandemic started.
We will be ready to go tomorrow morning. Williams and Gary are going to lead us to the place they left their truck last time and then go to the group already in Aspen. They are going to talk to them about working together and surviving together. I hope they will see the wisdom in combining our groups together. It will give them more people to do the things that have to be done to survive in this world and give one of our people others her own age. Hopefully, they will be willing to become one group. We will all be in a better position if we do.

As a writer and artist, I appreciate any readers and their comments. Thank you for taking the time to read this blog. Please, come read the other blog I write for our artisan collective, Raven's Castle Creations, on our website at www.ravencastlecreations.com. It includes posts on art, the mythology of symbols we use in our art, history and more! Also, come see the art we produce in our Etsy store at etsy.com/shop/RavenCastleCreations. Follow us on Twitter at @ravencastleart and on Facebook at @ravencastlecreations.