JHarp

  Well that's everything packed I think.[Aures hauls her stuffed hiking bag up on the box she would normally sit on.]

  I got most of the stuff I need, some tools, a sleeping bag, one of the better condition ones at least, some food and the harvest. I'll put whatever of the harvest I can't use in the cold celr in this house, they had some sort pantry on the main house which I can shove a few things up against to hide the passageway.

  Now I suppose we wait till the night, it's been getting closer to a full moon so that should make it easy to see around while remaining hidden. Hopefully no one will approach me on my trip, I don't have anything to spare for any of them.

  ---------

  Stalking through the night, the moon overhead illuminating my path through the ruined city. I walk alone in the shadows through the destroyed streets keeping a close eye on each corner for any unwanted meetings. The buildings are all gone or blown apart by explosions, leaving only the foundations of what was once a bustling city. It makes my skin crawl as I walk by the wreckage, trying hard not to imagine what happened here. This wasn't the first time something like this has ever happened; that explosions like fireworks would light up an entire city for multiple nights as people tried to remove the threat of the beasts.

  There were different kinds of Unwanteds within the city, all seeming superhuman. Humans also became threats to anyone walking alone in the form of bandits and raiders. The bandits would ambush you from cover, and the raiders would be more aggressive in how they attacked you. They didn't always go for your head either, sometimes they'd just try to ssh at you before being beaten down with a well-pced blow.

  Walking past a ruined conveninence store, I poke my head inside to check for any remaining things I could scavenge. Not much inside that will help me but I might be able to get some bandages and salves to put on my wounds. After a quick search there are a few bottles still unbroken, and there is a single box of bandages sitting in a pile of dirt in the corner hidden by some light rubble. Enough to help my wounds heal and keep me moving.

  I set off towards my original goal outside town with my new haul fitting snugly inside my bag. There's nothing else for me here. I wonder how long this has been abandoned, maybe years, maybe decades if it really was the end of the world.

  Hopping down onto the damaged railway line, too much rubble and destroyed tracks to be useful to anyone now. This should lead me out of town as long as there isn't anything too rge in the way.

  The sun begins to rise over the horizon as I reach the edge of town, the clouds starting to clear up a bit so it's easier to see. The nd beyond is mostly ft and barren, there must've been farms out here but they're all gone, now repced with grass and shrubs struggling to grow in the scorched earth that is the surroundings of the old city.

  I start to follow the tracks, heading out into the open farmnd that surrounds the ruins nearby. The tracks run straight for a while and then head into a small valley before heading back into the hills to the northeast of the city. I wanted to avoid living outside the city because of the winds, having buildings everywhere with the smell of smoke can help mask your presence and will keep some buildings warmer. Due to the risks I now find myself at my backup pn.

  A dirty and overgrown farmers house, tucked away near the valley in a small group of trees that were originally used for pheasants or something else that would've been worth hunting. It's pretty beat up though, the roof caved in and its exterior is covered in dirt and rust, and even moss.

  [Aures seems pretty happy to live somewhere this far out as she leaps onto the porch and starts investigating a hole in the wall. Her ears perk up as she spots a mouse or rat or other small creature running along behind the building but it's too fast to catch for her.]

  Well on the bright side I now have most of a roof over my head, I set down my backpack in a corner before checking the building and its surroundings. The whole pce is quiet and empty, no signs of anyone living there for months at least.

  There's a trap door near the front of the house that leads to a basement with a dirt floor and walls of brick. The ceiling is made of wood and looks fairly sturdy so I should be fine, though I'm not sure if there's a water source inside. On the bright side it will make a great pantry if I can repair any parts that might be damaged.

  Unpacking my things I take stock of my supplies, the food I had rationed, the water I carried with me, the broken camera and small bell. I brought a metal bowl I use for a lot of my cooking. Praise to the almighty bowl.

  Now I've emptied my bag I feel tired however, I'm sure I can catch up my friend Wall pretty quickly next morning.

  JHarp