It's early in the morning...too early. The bright sun peeks out occasionally from the pearl-gray storm clouds, casting an eerie and depressing shadow over the settlement and land farther out.

Joel paces outside the tall walls of Jackson, rifle and backpack slung over his broad shoulders. He's awaiting the arrival of a new recruit, someone he was supposed to take out on patrol. As much as Joel was...moderately okay with youngsters, he only prayed it wouldn't be some snot-nosed teenager.