Melanie's Past

Jason, Melanie doesn't want to put up with all your complaining. Think about it clearly: there's nowhere else nearby with so many survivors. You really want Melanie to kick you out? You already know she can hold this place down with only a few weapons and a pair of hard fists, she's not some weak little girl. She's got big plans, and as long as you're staying here, you should listen to her! I know you haven't been here long, so maybe I should explain a bit about Melanie. Gloria and I met her on the road heading north. She was walking alone with two guns and a large backpack. It was a dangerous route, and she'd been walking it since setting off from Rippleby in the south. Neither Gloria nor I were fighters, so running into her was a lifesaver. When Melanie said we should rest here for a while, we agreed without hesitation. Since then, we've met a lot of survivors, including you. Most of them stayed, like we did. We also met some people from a settlement in the north, part of the Union. Ours is a small settlement, but Melanie's a good leader: wise, brave, full of hope, and inspiring, even if she doesn't look it. Think of her like a pair of ballet shoes: unassuming, dainty even, but capable of surviving harsher use than the sturdiest pair of boots. Melanie said we'll be joining the Union in the future. It'll be safer for all of us – you can trust her on that!