Ana is so focused on the distance and the relative quiet that she doesn't notice the man walking toward her until he's practically beneath her. She stills after she draws her rifle back. Sometimes, they'll tell themselves it was a trick of the light or exhaustion and just carry on. This isn't one of those times.

She looks down at him through the leaves when he finally speaks. Intelligence and tact are two compelling reasons to be weary, more so than the guard uniform he wears or the unusual shield he carries, though those are concerns as well.

"The same thing everyone else is watching for," she says, equally calm. She lifts a branch out of the way with the muzzle of her rifle, keeping it pointed at the sky. While she wears a mask, it's cobbled together with scavenged parts, like most of her outfit. Her other hand rests on her notebook, blocking her sidearm from view.

"Can I help you with something, soldier?"