"Yeah..." He shakes his head to dispel the dark thoughts always threatening to encroach on his space. He did have a good childhood, by his own standards at least. He loved the freedom of it, growing up, never being confined to the four walls of your room. He could go anywhere he wanted, once he got old enough and skilled enough at finding his way. He vaguely remembers camping out for days on end, all on his own, confident in himself and knowing that his parents trusted him to get back home safe.

But back in those days, all you had to look out for in the woods were bears and the odd tiger or lion. His childhood days were idyllic only because the Zone still was.

"You know, come summertime, I might just drag you on over to the nearest body of water. Teach you how not to sink like a stone."