(This takes place after the Traveler has been kicked out of the small farm they happened upon, and the Archivist, a member of that farm, goes looking for them. They find the Traveler wandering around the snowy woods alone. No need to record anything for the Archivist's lines -- just pause when they would speak.)

TRAVELER: (good to see you!) Hey!

(The Traveler is excited to be talking. They cut the Archivist off a little bit almost every time they speak.)

ARCHIVIST: Wha!

TRAVELER: Hi! Sorry! I didn't think you'd be -- I didn't think I'd see you again. Any of you. Good to see you!

ARCHIVIST: Uh, yeah. You too.

TRAVELER: Got cold fast, huh? I didn't expect the snow. I thought I had a few more weeks at least.

ARCHIVIST: Yeah, it seems like it comes a little earlier every year.

TRAVELER: Do you know anything about making a
fire?

ARCHIVIST: Sort of. It's been a while since I had to make one outside.

TRAVELER: I could use a hand.

ARCHIVIST: You already have the wood?

TRAVELER: Yep! Right over here.

ARCHIVIST: What do you need help with? Do you have, like, a starter, or tinder?

TRAVELER: I had a lighter, but I lost it.

ARCHIVIST: No kindling or anything?

TRAVELER: Nope!

ARCHIVIST: Cool. Some of this wood is good. Some of it's pretty waterlogged. We can't use that. I didn't bring much
with me...we can just use sticks. It's been a while. I think I've got some twine in one of these pockets...

TRAVELER: What should I do?

ARCHIVIST: We'll need dry leaves, or moss, or something along those lines. See if you can track some down.

TRAVELER: I'm on it!

(This takes place when they return to their home with someone from the settlement they discovered, the Soldier. That's who cooked the meal they're eating.)

SOLDIER: A blight?

TRAVELER: Yeah. We lost around a third of our crops. That’s actually why I was out and about near your farm, see? Because Atta’s hoping there are some winter plants to forage we just haven’t found yet.

SOLDIER: And what’s the verdict?

TRAVELER: Don’t tell her, but I think it’s a lost cause. I do know some safe mushrooms, okay, and there’s some decent yellowfoot chanterelles near your place, and some rose hips a couple days out, but it was barely enough to keep me going while I was out there, let alone make a difference in our stores.

SOLDIER: Mm.

(A pause while they eat.)

SOLDIER (CONT’D): I’m not trying to criticize again, I swear, but -- they sent you out alone?

TRAVELER: Yeah, why?

SOLDIER: I’m just ... surprised. You probably got this back at ours, but that’s just not something we’d ever do.

TRAVELER: Yeah. I ... yeah, I did get that. But that’s just how our farm is.
(beat. An unhappy laugh.)
I don’t know, maybe that’s just how our farm is to me. I get the sense people here don’t like me? I joined a little late, I guess, and …
(beat)
Never mind, I’m being stupid.

SOLDIER: Hey, no, it’s all right. You’re not being stupid.
(beat)
Listen, I’m sorry I was so hard on you at first. Keeping you out, and everything. That’s another part of how home is for us, you know? With just the five of us, we gotta keep everyone safe, and we’re responsible for that. So not having locks, or sending people out alone,that’s ... I don’t get that.

TRAVELER: Yeah, I know. I don’t hold it against you. I know why you did it.
(beat)
It’s nice to see that, you know? The way you five are. I guess I just haven’t had anything like that, since Before.