The Desolate World: Dead Moon

Chapter 1: Onwards to Pali!

"Marci, get down from there!" Nathaniel yelled at his 3 year younger than him companion, hanging upside down from the broken tree.

"But why? The Freeze hasn't reached us, so we're fine," The 16 year old blind girl snapped.

"Because your going to fall and land on your head. Like this." Nathaniel reached up and snapped the branch she was on. She shrieked and hit the ground with a soft thud, he had caught her slightly by the arm.

"Pfft...Know it all," She mumbled, taking her arm free. She stands, dusting herself off. Nathaniel looked out to the distance, muttering to himself.

"We need to start moving."

"Again?" She whined. "But I just started to get used to my surroundings..."
"My main goal is to find a permanent setting for you to get used to. Now c'mon," He picked her up, starting down the hill. He stopped, looking back out for a moment, the sight that always horrified him, but yet mesmerized him.
The landscape divided between dying Sun and hungry darkness, inching its way to consume and kill. He didn't understand it; The Sun that once had given life, love, had created this plague that made people murderous and unforgiving.

Nathaniel gave one last glimpse with the shake of his head, helping Marci onto his shoulders, taking off down the hill onto a broken gravel road. Marci squirmed a bit, resting her chin on his head, "Where, exactly, are we headed?"

"..." Nathaniel usually never answered her question, for he either never knew himself or he was just to shy to speak to her. He's always had this petty little crush on Marci, and her parents knew it real well, thats why he was kept around. They liked him, and thought he would be great for her. But this time, he knew where they were headed, he had overheard stragglers and traveling merchants speak of it. A magnificent city, untouched by the cold and frost. He just wanted it to be a surprise this time.

"C'mon, don't do this to me again! Please tell me!" Marci whined, and it hurt him physically to hear her do so.  He then muttered it, almost inaudible to her. "Hm? What?" She tilted her head.

"...Pali. We're going to Pali."
"Pali? Whats that? Is that near the Hiat or something?"

Ah, yes, The Hiat, Nathaniel thought. The supposed 'Safe Haven' of the Northern Mal district, said to be impenetrable to the Freeze and its infection. The destination set into Nathaniel's brain as if by fire, as it concerns his dear Marci's safety. But he couldn't help but wonder what would happen once they arrived: Will it be too overcrowded that they won't be able to stay? Will it be nothing but a giant pit of starvation? He couldn't stand not knowing what possible outcome awaits, but he just had to keep going.

For himself. For the promise he intended to keep.

For Marci.