Ian adjusted himself uncomfortably against the stony wall just inside the cave's mouth, shifting the sandstone peninsula from the center of his back to a shoulder blade. He couldn't help but feel uneasy about this evening, and he subconsciously wondered if that was why he felt so physically uncomfortable right then: His family needed him and the other raiders to succeed in this raid, as supplies were finally running low, but this raid would involve not only his Wanderer but also Jared's Melanie, and if something bad were to happen to either of the girls due to him, he'd never survive the aftermath. Not that he'd come anywhere close to letting that happen, of course... but still.

   And what was there to make of the new human that had joined them, Dea? Would she try to help, or would she stay behind? And if she came along, would she be a help or a hindrance? Granted, she'd survived so long alone, but she didn't have any experience that he knew of in working as a team. Would that bite them in the butt, or would it make what was, whether he wanted it to be on Wanda's account or not, probably going to be an easy task even easier?

   All this ran through his mind as he stood leaning against the wall, his arms crossed against the will of their soreness and gaze shifted downward in thought. Absentmindedly, he raised a hand to gently rub his forearm as if to massage away the burn from loading the SUV with their necessities. Today, they'd postponed the trip- usually started in the morning- in hopes that the fields would be looking up after the intense watering they'd given it the day before; but it had failed, and the crops grew (or, more specifically, wilted) even more towards providing just enough for about half the colony- not even close to enough.

   So Ian had prepared the vehicle while everyone prepared themselves for the trip, as the definition of 'work' for him today mainly involved putting bread into the oven. But he couldn't help but let his mind wander in anxiety as he waited now for everyone to show up as a light, dry Arizonan desert breeze drafted in their 'front door'.

Kyle was ready for a good raid he had wanted to get out of the caves for a while , though he knew the cave system offered safe protection. He had spent some time cleaning up in the facilities cleaning all for the violet colored dust out for his hair and off his face. Kyle had spend the previous hours working in the planting room picking the ground apart and turning it over for the woman could plant some seeds. He was so sweaty that the clouds of dusty caked on him almost as bad as a lavender layer of cement . Kyle was finally glad to be getting out again, he glad to have on a clean set of clothes and ready for some natural sunlight that was not captured by mirrors. Kyle loved the feeling of danger he got when he was out in the open. Grabbing his bag from Sunny and his room Kyle set out to meet up with he other, he was just in time to hear that Wanda was not coming on the Raid.

"Why did she have to back out at last minute? Now I am not going to get to have any mint chocolate chip ice cream." Kyle joked The fact was raid were always a whole lot more successful when Wanda went with then,She could always get the more difficult supplies that were hard for them to attain. Wanda being part of the raids always made thing easier, it made Kyle realize how hard the raids where without her before.

" Well I guess this is not going ot be a long raid like we been used to lately. What's up with Wanda that made her change her mind at the last second? You weren't to rough with her where you Ian?" Thought he was joking Kyle was also being serious. He knew this raid would be less successful without a soul coumpany.Kyle began to wonder if Sunny would come along if Wanda wasn't He usually preferred for her not to but he knew he could not force to say behind if he was going on the raid.

   Ian's thoughts were quickly interrupted as the clicking sound of nearing feet came within range, and he looked up quickly in timid surprise to see Laurie nearing him, smile on her face and a bag in her hand that she soon extended his way. He accepted it, of course, with a light, pleasant smile in spite of his anxiety, glancing inside as she offered her explanation, and his insides gave a joyful leap at her words. Not that he'd need to show his feelings to remind anyone with any sort of recollection of their last raid of how he felt about Wanda being used as a raiding tool, of course...

   "Thanks, Laurie," he replied kindly as he looked up to her face, unable to hid the wave of relief in his tone. "I apprecia--"

   His (double-meaning?) words of thanks were cut short as Kyle came into the picture, barking something about not getting some ice cream. Though he knew his brother was joking- probably- Ian couldn't shut down a light touch of irritation that fueled the melodramatic eye roll he let loose in Kyle's general direction. "Big baby..." he muttered very audibly- with a sneaky grin. Even if he was protective of Wanda like he was, he just couldn't pass up an opportunity now and again to pick on Kyle.

   "I dunno," he answered truthfully enough, ignoring the jab about being rough on her. "Probably heard your ugly face was going or something. Can't say I blame her for that- if I could get out of this now, I would."

   Ian was just about to continue his jabs when, subconsciously double-checking what he'd packed, he couldn't remember if he'd packed a tarp. Though it never had been their most useful raiding tool, who was to say they'd never end up needing one? His eyebrows pulled together as his mouth fell slightly slack- had he packed one?

   "Wait a sec. I think I forgot something," he announced quietly, raising a hand to pause his end of the conversation. "I think I forgot something. Let me check."

   Making a one-eighty to walk out their front door, the baking desert heat grazed his face for a moment- until he made another one-eighty to his right to walk in another cave opening, the one where they had hidden their SUV. It was an impractical location, to be sure- one that didn't hide much from above thanks to its tall entrance, for example- but it would do when they needed to load up their vehicles for a raid. The cool shade of the cave instantly wiped away the sweat-inducing warmth of the open desert, and Ian's eyes adjusted once more as he, never pausing, stepped carefully around the cave, trying not to run straight into the maroon car as the colors melted through the pulsing black the sun had left in his vision.

   He reached his way to the back and raised the trunk door with its typical squeak- yeah, he'd packed a tarp, as his eyes so told him when the neon blue covering met his eyes. But he knew himself well enough that he wouldn't have made such a mess of putting it in there, spreading it from left to right and bunching it all up against the back seat like that.

   Must've left a window down, he explained to himself simply, reaching for its edge to pull it out and refold it. His fingers clasped the crinkly corner, and he gave a pull--

   And his eyes widened as he realized they'd been carrying a load he certainly didn't remember loading, even looking at it. He couldn't help blankly staring at her for a moment- then he called out, eyes still trained on her, "Kyle, Laurie- I think you'd better see this."