For jewlianna: "Chris/Lance, lost in the wilderness someplace, perhaps the American frontier in the 1800s?"

"I'd ask if you accidentally kicked the map into the creek, except the map hasn't been doing us much good." Lance uncorked his canteen and took a swig, gauging the level of water, doing some mental arithmetic, and coming up with a result that he didn't like all that much. "Are you sure we're heading in the right direction?"

"The sun rose over there," Chris said darkly, and pointed behind him. "Which means that if we keep going this way, we'll hit the river in a day or so. If the map is correct. Which it most likely isn't. At least, if past experience says anything."

"When we return to civilization, remind me to go and have a nice chat with the gentlemen who surveyed this territory," Lance said. "Perhaps I should bring him out here to impress upon him the importance of accurate measurements."

"We'll get there soon. It can't be all that far. I haven't seen any signs of civilization lately, but there were horse's hoofprints where we stopped for supper yesterday, so at least we aren't all that far from signs of human habitation. And if we're right, and this is a shorter route from Kansas City to Denver, we'll be famous."

"Or dead," Lance said, brightly. "Which may be why no one's ever tried this route before."

"Remind me again why I brought you with me?" Chris spat into the dust.

"For my charm and good looks. And the fact that I cook."

"Right."

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