They passed their time with idle chatter, catching occasional rides on carts during the day before stopping for the night and hanging their hammock high up in a tree and rest together. Moth didn't actually need to sleep that much so he would lay with Lane and watch over him while he slept most nights. The two encountered a few walkers throughout the journey which Lane would quickly get rid of with a simple slash that would tear their heads off much to Moth's surprise. After taking care of a category 5 walker, Lane walked back over to Moth, his breathing slightly heavier and his face dirtied with blood. "Are you sure you are human?" Moth asked in a joking manner as Lane stood in front of him, getting out a water bottle. "I'm just strong." Moth lifted up one of the ends of his coat, wiping Lane's cheek to get rid of the blood. "Yeah, you are really strong. I couldn't ask for a better protector." Lane smiled proudly, leaning down so Moth could clean his face properly while taking a sip of water. "And I couldn't ask for a better caretaker. In case you forgot, you saved my life first."
"Caretaker?" Moth asked, tilting his head with a slight laugh. Lane nods, "You took care of my wounds, cooked me food and cleaned. Like a caretaker." He lets out a soft laugh. "Well if you keep me safe, I'll keep cooking for you and taking care of your wounds." Lane readily nods in agreement eliciting a long laugh from the other person. The two are interrupted by a cart coming up behind them, making Moth pull his hood down further and move to the side of the road. The cart coming was full of men brandishing weapons and with stern, worn looks on their faces. The cart rumbles by, seemingly without incident as the group of men in the back keeping their eyes on the road. Until, one of them flicks their eyes over to look at them and his expression seems to light up. "Lane?! Is that you?!" The cart came to a stop and all the men turned to look at him, murmuring in confusion. Lane tilts his head in confusion, looking up at them while grabbing onto Rin's wrist and moving him back. "Holy hell. It is you! We thought you were dead!"
Lane recognized them as the group from his settlement and he immediately frowns. "Hayden? What do you want?" The man who had first seen them jumped down from the cart and approached them. "How did you escape from that walker? We came back for you but couldn't find you." Liar. "Where did you go?" Lane turned his head away, looking disinterested. "That isn't really any of your business." He snapped, pulling Moth behind him as the Hayden came closer. "Come on man. You know how things are in this world. We had to leave you behind." Lane rolls his eyes. "Whatever, let us pass, I don't have any business with you." Hayden peers over his shoulder at Moth. "Who's this? You aren't the type to make friends, Lane. Did he save you from that walker?" Lane stepped in front again, obscuring Moth from view. "Leave us be."
"Hold on, why don't you two travel with us? You are headed to Esteban right? So are we, it'll be a lot quicker by cart." Lane is about to say no but hesitates when he realizes that he and Moth are running out of food. For him, this wasn't a problem but he didn't know if Moth would be able to cope with the hunger given that his injuries were still healing. Damn it might be easier to accept their offer. He glances back at Moth whose face is hidden by his cloak making it hard for him to read his expression. "Alright but we're getting out at Esteban that's it." They climb onto the cart, sitting a little bit away from everyone else in a corner with Lane sitting between Moth and the others.
"So Lane, what have you been doing since we got split up? Taking on bounties like usual?" Lane sighed in annoyance. "Not really. We've just been trying to get back on our feet right now." He mumbles, disinterested in the conversation. The man glanced over to Moth who had his head towards the ground, pulling his hood over himself and trying to shrink back into his seat and disappear. He leans over to talk to Moth, smiling at him. "I'm Hayden. Who are you?"
"His name is Moth." Lane replies. "He doesn't really like to talk so leave him alone." Hayden tilted his head, "Moth huh? That's an odd name." Lane leaned forward to put himself between the two. "Don't act so friendly." He snaps, shooting him a glare. "Lane." A grey haired older man from the front of the cart calls to him in a critical tone. "Don't snap at people." Lane rolls his eyes and turns his attention to Moth, ignoring all the people around them. "Are you going to rejoin the settlement?" Hayden asks. "I'm sure everyone would be happy to have you back." Lane shook his head. "No, I'm staying with Moth from here on out. I have no interest in human settlements."
"Human settlements? When did you start talking like that?" Hayden says with an empty laugh. Moth glances up at Lane from under his hood who returned his glance. "None of your business." Damien shrugged him off turning to make conversation with someone else. It would only be a few days journey in the cart, the group tried to convince them to sleep in the cart, but Moth and Lane still set up their hammock high up in a tree. Moth sat wide awake in the middle of the night, lying on top of Lane, feeling his chest rise and fall in a steady rhythm. He glanced down at the people below them, Hayden was sitting up and keeping guard as the others sleep, he looked up at Moth and waved to him with a smile on his face. Moth stared back at him in curiosity before turning away from him and lying back down.