From the journal of Marie Costa, May 11

May 11, 2017

I thought we would just walk out to the truck and everything would go smoothly. I don't know why I didn't take the undead into account. The last time we were out here, we had like seven undead walk into the receiving area and we weren't making even a quarter of the noise that day that we were making today. Between the pallet jacks and everyone talking about how to load the supplies so they don't move.

We hadn't been out there for more than five minutes and the first pallet wasn't even all the way into the trailer when the first group of undead came around the corner of the store. We were ready, some of us had formed a half circle around the people loading the truck and we took out the group smoothly. But then, a large group, at least fifteen, and we were out numbered. I gave the signal we had agreed on, for if things got hairy. The entire crew came to attention and turned their attention to the group of undead. It took all eleven of us loading the truck, and going to the cabin, to take out the group. At this point, only two people were refusing to leave the store, Jackie and Andrew.
I am really worried about the two staying here, but they know the possibilities since we've talked about them in meetings. They also know, once we're gone, we're gone. Only Isabella knows where the cabin is at and we are not leaving a map with them in case someone comes here. It would lead them right to where more supplies are and where we happened to be. I can't believe that Andrew doesn't see the danger in staying.
Anyway, we took out the group and the loaders got back to work, but made sure to move a little faster and quieter. We got the truck loaded in the next half hour and only had to take out a couple of small groups of undead. Then we got back inside quickly.
We made one more sweep of the store to make sure we had everything we needed or wanted. I pulled Andrew aside and talked to him about staying and what could happen but he said he can't leave Jackie by herself. That's not a good reason to put yourself in danger and possibly die. But to each their own.
We left an hour later, after everyone else tried to get Jackie and Andrew to come with us. I knew there wouldn't be any changing of their minds, but I let the others try all the same. When everyone else finally gave up, we grabbed the last of our supplies and headed to the truck. We had decided to pack ourselves into the cab so no one had to ride with the pallets, in case they moved. It was a tight squeeze, and people were stuffed in like sardines, even in the sleeping area.
Jorge got us moving and we waved to the two standing in the receiving door. I was really sad, and sick to my stomach, that we hadn't been able to get them to come with us. But it's out of our hands.
It took us almost two hours to get to the cabin. When we first saw it through the windshield, it was magical. The sun was shining right on it and the solar panels were still in place. We piled out of the truck and streched out the kinks from being packed in the cab. Isabella went to the porch and pulled the family key from under the loose board. The rest of us had spread out to make sure there were no undead around the place. The coast was clear and we all joined Isabella inside.

There are three bedrooms, all small, but still there. We are going to be more crowded that at the store, but there is less danger of people coming to take what we have. We are far enough off the highway that no one should see our smoke from the cabin or hear us, as long as we kept it reasonable. There is even a small Honda here that runs. A couple of the people here are considering going to see if their families might still be alive. The chances are less than slim, but if I had close family, I would want to know.
We spent the rest of the afternoon getting the trailer into position so it wasn't in the way and we can use it for storage. It makes it really handy to not have to get the pallets off the truck without a pallet jack or fork lift.
We figured out where everyone is sleeping and made up beds. We put food in the kitchen and collected firewood from the shed out back. Even the stove in the kitchen is a wood burning stove, so it looks we're all going to get a crash course in survival cooking. We chose soup as our first meal, to make it easier on everyone, and had a small celebration with a few beers after dinner. We made it. We're safer and still mostly together. Now, life can really begin for us.

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.