’She’s strong.’ That was what Giorno thought when he saw her. When their eyes met, he could tell right away she was trying to study him as much as he was her.

He could already tell there was no one else around when he had touched the tree he was stationed against earlier. It was just her. He gave Chilchuck a slight nod to progress and lead the way back. It was dangerous to linger too long.

“I’m Giorno,” he said, introducing himself and then the others. “For lack of a better word, we’re from a group of refugees.”