is there any hope left?

Ronan's nose was trained to the reek of infection and seemingly overnight it was everywhere. He'd spent weeks checking every nook and cranny he thought the infected might retreat to, anything close to the underground metal tunnels he was familiar with and he'd found nothing. Not even a trace. But he couldn't even breathe without the scent near walloping him in the face, it was seemingly everywhere in wolves and other animals alike. He'd been killing those he could and avoiding those he deemed too risky to engage, but he knew it wouldn't be enough, there would always be more out of reach.

And the giant worms that had emerged- he'd never seen them before, he was just as shocked as everyone else. They hadn't been a thing where he came from, but he'd never had the whole picture from the start, maybe things were different here, maybe it was because they could borrow and grow till- he sucked in a breath. This wasn't helpful, he wasn't going to die chasing down the truth he just had to...cope. That was all anyone could do.

Thinking he was out to put another sod out of their misery, he didn't really pay much mind to the borders he stomped over. They really ought to thank him, that it was sheer naivety letting things get so far, but he understood feelings could get in the way. Many didn't have the heart for it; and it wasn't like Ronan enjoyed this. He didn't, truly.

"Do you know when you were infected?" He asked, keeping a wary distance of the girl as she trembled between the rocks. For a moment he thought it was just the flickering flames, but she seemed to have orange speckles on her coat, hidden amongst the blue and white.