Free Parish by Nicole Murphy

any medical personnel to make themselves known in situations like this, because their skills were going to be in very high demand.
                  “Excellent.  Great!  Alright, listen to me PFC Bandeaux.  We have a small area in here clear, pull in past the makeshift gate here, and pull to the right.  We don’t have all that much but we got some food and water as well as a place for you folks to take a rest.  I need you to bring the doc here to the medical tent, you won't miss it. It’s a white tent with a huge red cross on it.  Ok?” The soldier nodded. 
                  “Yes, sir.” Artemis expressed his understanding of the situation.  The soldier backed up a few paces and spun his hand in the air, signaling another soldier to open the gate.  Artemis carefully pulled forward and parked the vehicle.  Everyone moved to get out.  “Wait!” His voice was a forceful whisper.
                  “What?” Emily shook her head, confused.
                  “Listen, okay?  We need to make sure we all know where everyone is at, at all times.  If shit hits the fan here we’re gonna bug out right quick, you got it?  I don’t want to leave anyone behind.  Agreed?”
                  “Good plan.” Jack nodded as he opened his door, and began helping his wife and children out of the vehicle.  Artemis walked with Emily over to the medical tent leaving Jack and the kids with a few others who had sought refuge with the small outfit of soldiers.  One woman was stirring a cup of some kind of soup, curling her lip as if the nourishment was the most disgusting thing she had ever seen in her whole life.  Beside the woman sat what appeared to be her husband, dressed in a tattered collared shirt his coif less than perfect.  They looked like yuppies.   Their conversation was unmistakable.
                  “Brighton, this is not organic soup!  I would not permit this swill to be served to my precious beagles let alone to be served to me.  This is unfit for human consumption.  Disgusting!”  The woman turned her nose up.
                  “Aspen, dearest, I do understand, my love, it is dreadful. I believe it may be a bit challenging to locate organic food at the moment.” The man replied.  He looked equally disgusted, but appeared to have a better grasp on the situation compared to his wife.
                  “I refuse to consume this!  This cheap imitation of food is nothing more than poison drivel.  My body is a temple!” The woman flipped her hair over her shoulder.  Wade and Wren exchanged looks.  Jack had herded Jamie over to a seating area and was attempting to find something for him to eat.
                  “Excuse me, ma’am?” Wren walked over to the couple who had to look up at her to see her clearly from their position seated on the ground.
                  “Why are you speaking to me in such a manner?  It is uncivilized to speak to your betters as you are.  When addressing me come to my level.” Aspen snapped her fingers and quickly pointed her finger to the ground indicating where she wanted Wren to move.
                  “Listen up you snotty pompous bitch!” Wren put her hands on her hips.  “This is not your damn country club, we are in the middle of the city that just so happens to be clear of those people eating monsters.  How dare you sit there and complain about some bullshit organic food when people are dying!  There are literally people being eaten not two hundred feet away from where your ass is parked.  Now you may be crazy, I don’t know and I don’t care but you need to realize you ain’t queen of the survivor camp, you are not supreme dictator of the end of the world, and you are just another person who is trying not to be the main course.”
                  “Well, I never!” Aspens hand shot up to her chest to express