Woodchucks

It's been 5 years... 5 whole years since the Woodchucks attacked. Since then, humanity has been pushed to the brink. From the Woodchucks devouring us, to different governments turning on each other for resources. Many places have been destroyed. Once bustling cities have been reduced to mere ashes.

After the infighting, the survivors of the old governments banded together. They gathered up as much resources and materials has possible. The survivors formed a single, unnamed, militia. People with military training taught others who have none, in case of the scenario of fighting a Woodchuck.

Which brings us here. In this small killhole that could fit two people. We were in a forest, with tall, looming trees that covered the ground in a dark shadow. Multiple people and multiple kill holes were scattered around. Some were even in the trees, waiting for the impending attack. All of us were facing South. Earlier, a group of scavengers frantically reported that a large group of Woodchucks were heading in the direction of our hidden camp in the woods. Of course they were.

The Woodchucks always found a way.

My friend, Sheena, was in the hole lying next with me. Her gray eyes scanned the trees, waiting for any signs of the enemy. After a few minutes, she sighed. She rummaged around her pouch and took out a candy bar. Sheena then opened it, and split it in half, handing me the other half.

"Here Charlie, eat this," She chuckled dryly, "Might be your last meal."

I snatched the bar and glared at her. "That's not funny, Sheena."

She genuinely laughed at my reaction, and booped me in the nose. "Ahhh man, I'm gonna miss this... Teasing you..."

I softened my glare, "W-what do you mean by that? You talk like this will be the last fight."

Sheena stared out, looking in the distance with an empty look. I got a bit frustrated and snapped my fingers.  "Hey, I'm talking to you!" I said.

She looked at me. "Sorry, sorry, I've just not had a positive outlook lately. I mean have you thought about it? How we are all barely clinging to our lives?"

I bonked her on the head, "Dumbass, of course I do! But that doesn't make me all bleh bleh sad. I'm going to survive this, and start a family ranch in the middle of nowhere!"

She smiled, "I see. Well, you're gonna have to start a family then if you wanna have a family ranch. How will you obtain that?"

My mind blanked out. 'Oh yeahhh' I thought. "Well, we cross that bridge when we get there, but for now, let's focus on killing these bastards!"

Sheena gave a little fist pump, and a half-assed "Yeah!" in response. We waited in silence again. Moments later, she broke it.

"I'm jealous of you... I really am... I mean, you have a positive outlook on this shit even though we've been dealt shit hands! Even I am starting to feel a loss, and you know me. At the beginning of the year, we had so many new and promising recruits! But, they're all gone now... And the beginning of the year was two weeks ago... GODDAMMIT! Us veterans on the field are getting tired of being overworked... Work, work, WORK! It's all we do at this point, nothing else. And you don't even seem bothered by it? Jeez, I envy you."

I stared at her with blank eyes, she caught this and started to apologize, but I stopped her.

"No, you're right, Sheena. You're totally right. We have been dealt shit hands, and we have been overworked. But who else'll do it? This is something only we can do. Moping around about it won't get us any farther, so that's why I have these stupid happy outlooks. Our jobs are to protect those who can't fight. Basically the rest of humanity. We can't protect them if we are too focused on the past... We can't."

Sheena stared at me with her mouth gaped slightly opened. I could tell she was about to say something but then we heard it. A low, rumbling noise. We positioned our rifles and aimed at the direction it was coming from. Then, they emerged from the darkness. Massive Woodchucks covered in blood-matted fur, slowly walking towards us. These were simple beasts, but way too deadly.

My breathing staggered, and I could not aim the rifle still. Even after years of fighting, I'm still not used to seeing something that probably ate my friends. Sheena saw my nervousness and placed a soothing hand on my shoulder. I looked at her, and she gave me a bittersweet smile.

"After this," she said, "When humanity wins against these monsters... I'll help you start that ranch... We can start our own family, yeah?"

She lied, of course. Sheena knew that we weren't going to make it. I knew that too. But that didn't stop me from hoping.

I looked at her, then to the beast. "I wouldn't mind that. Starting a family with you."

I pulled on the trigger and fired.

At least when I die here, Sheena will be by my side.