"Well... I am back." Said Esther as she walked into her own house the next day.

Sven sighed. "I am sorry about yesterday night, I didn't mean to hurt you or anything."

She nodded and did did her best to smile. "It's okay Sven, don't worry about it."

"It's not really, isn't? We can talk about it later, though... I mean, it's Sunday, which means we won't have anything important to do. Anything that could cheer you up, Esther?"

She thought for a moment. "Let's go outside. We can make a nice walk around town. And I know it might be hard, but perhaps we should talk about what happened yesterday."

Sven nodded in agreement. "Perhaps it's best to smooth things over right away."

As they went outside, they talked about how beautiful nature was at first, before getting to the dramatic topic.

"You know Sven, I am sorry for being so dramatic yesterday, I didn't mean to hurt you." Esther said first.

Sven sighed. "It's okay Esther, perhaps I should have said it in a better way. Truth is, I like you. Maybe not as a lover, but still as a friend. I want you by my side. Do you still want me by your side?"

She smiled. "Of course Sven. You mean the world to me. I would love to keep living with you." Esther then sighed. "I have to tell you something else, though."

Sven seemed confused. "What is it, Esther?"

"I have been here for three full months now. Longer than I have ever been in the past 3 years... But I need to go to Bodø again, Sven. I should leave in a couple of days."

Sven sighed. "That's unfortunate... I would really love to stay here with you. But we can still be together when you return, right?"

Esther looked down. "I am afraid not. When I return, I can be here for a few days at most... Then I need to start scavenging again."

"Oh..." Said Sven disappointed. "Well, let's try to make the best out of our last days here then."

She agreed. "Let's try not to be sad. I say that we do the stuff we enjoy."

As they walked passed the old museum, they saw a large crowd with someone standing in the middle. Sunday was the day that important news was told and most of the times a large crowd assembled.

Esther recognized the man in the middle. It was the chairman of the Union of The Militia. She was responsible for the safety of the commune. Strange, normally it was either the chairman of the Herder- or Forestry Union who told the news.

Esther found it noteworthy and she went to investigate. Sven followed as well. "Good people of the Commune of Jokkmokk, I am happy to see so many of you here." She said. "We got an important task for two brave volunteers. Our radio communication team got a distress call from the south. There's a group of refugees that need our help. Their situation is dire and they need are in desperate need of supplies. We would be very grateful for the people that could help them out."

There was commotion in the crowd. Yet no one seemed to volunteer to help. "I know how many inhabitants here are uncomfortable with leaving the town, but please... Those people need help."

The commotion continued, but there were still no volunteers. Eventually, Esther put her hand up.

"I'll volunteer, chairman. Soon I'll leave the town and I still want to help out one last time. I also have another volunteer beside me." She pointed at Sven.

He looked confused and quickly shook his head. "I am sorry... But I am not going into the wilderness again."

The chairman sighed. "Please sir, those people will be grateful and you're still young. Your help will be greatly appreciated."

He sighed. "I am sorry... I am not doing it."

Esther looked at him. "Please, Sven. If you don't do it for these people, then at least do it for me. I want to have one last adventure with you before I need to leave you behind."

Sven thought for a moment and then sighed. "Alright Esther... If that's what will make you happy. I'll volunteer for the mission."

The chairman smiled. "Thank you both so much. Please follow me inside the old museum. I will brief you two for the mission."

There was some applause from the crowd as Esther and Sven went inside.

Esther had already been into the museum when the council needed her help. Sven looked amazed, however.

The museum had a large open space in which there were several tables. This was were the chairmen of the unions discussed the future of the commune.

The chairman guided them to a smaller room in the back of the room. It seemed to be an office of the old museum.

She asked Sven and Esther to take a seat. Once they were comfortable, she began the briefing.

"So, once again, I am grateful that you two decided to accept the mission. It might be after the apocalypse, but people out there still need help."

Sven sighed. "People in here need help as well, you know? Do you know that my friend needs to scavenge to survive, for example?"

The chairman looked down. "I know, I am familiar with her situation... If it were possible to help her, we would do so. But sadly it just isn't possible, our means are limited. We can't import insulin, it's simply too expensive."

Esther smiled assured to Sven. "It's fine, don't worry about it."

"I am sorry that you need to scavenge to survive, but there's really nothing we can do." The chairman said, disappointed.

"We have to get back to the situation at hand though, there's no time to lose after all. On the radio the group said that they mostly require food and first aid material. Their supplies will be waiting in the supermarket, so go there first. The group is about 25km south of here. I'll hand a map that shows the exact location."

Esther nodded and smiled. "We'll go there right away, sir. I am glad that I can be of service." Sven seemed less enthusiastic.

As they walked outside, he sighed. "What have I agreed to..."

Esther playfully touched him on the shoulder. "Don't worry. It's going to be okay. I just want one last adventure with you before I go to Bodø again. You get that, right?"

Sven smiled. "Well, if that helps you, I'll do it. But first, let's go to our home and I'll get my rifle."

Esther looked confused. "Why would you need a rifle though?"

He shrugged. "You never know what happens. Might come across another bear, huh?"

Esther laughed. "This time I leave the honour of shooting him is yours."

After getting their rifle, they went to the supermarket to get the supplies they needed to deliver.

Then, they were ready for their mission and left Jokkmokk. Esther felt excited. Another adventure with Sven at her side was all she wanted before she left for the far away city of Bodø again.