Annihilation

Prologue

"Sand...

That's all there is. We used to have oceans, forests and mountains but that's all history now. The year 2095 was the year of the Great Annihilation or as the people of 2095 called it world war 4.

Once upon a time it was said that world war 3 would be the end of humanity and they were wrong.

But it wasn't just the nuclear bombs used in world war 4 that caused the Great Annihilation, factories that polluted the air didn't help the thinning of the ozone layer.

The radiation from the bombs and sun combined destroyed the planet.

The oceans dried up, forests died and great mountains crumbled... and all that was left was sand.

But humanity still survived... barely -" "TIERRA! Why haven't you done the dishes yet?"

My mother's voice interrupted my monolog. "MOM! You're ruining my story telling" I whined.

"Get over here, you have chores to do" she yelled. "Today please" I groaned as I got up from my spot on the floor.

I turned to the group of kids who were sitting around me and apologized "sorry kiddos I've gotta go" they groaned and whined before getting up and leaving.

One of the kids Thea was grumbling angrily "but you were just getting to the good part".

"I'll finish the story another time" I promised.

Once they were all gone I made my way to my mother taking my time as I was not in a rush to get home.

When I got to the kitchen I found my mother who had already started the dishes. She turned hearing my footsteps "about time, come on you can finish the dishes I have to do the laundry" she said already walking out, leaving me alone in the kitchen.

Sighing I did as she said.

After doing the dishes I walked outside to see my mother doing the laundry.

"Tierra dear can you go into the city and buy some fabric for me please" my mother asked handing me a small pouch of coins.

I took the pouch and started walking to the stables.

The stable has two stalls, one for each of our capybara's. The capybara is the only animal that didn't change much from the radiation they just got bigger.

Once in the stable I see only one capybara, the other is with my father in the city.

He works in construction, one of the only jobs my kind can get.

What I mean by my kind is those of us who have been mutated by radiation. We are called Impure, humans that were not mutated are known as Purebred.

The radiation made the Impure faster and stronger, as well as highten our senses. Our skin is also thicker to protect us from the sun's harmful ray's.

Another thing the radiation gave us is fangs, two sets at the top and two at the bottom. They're not very long but they are sharp.

The Purebred control the cities, because of this they can control where the Impure can live within the city and what jobs they can have.

Many Impure don't live in the cities, they live in small communities or villages near an oasis and become farmers.

I myself live in one of those villages but we still have to buy certain things that are found in the city.

The only jobs the Impure can have is in manual labor or in the army. But it's almost impossible to climb through the ranks in the army when you're an Impure, the Purebred don't like to share their power with those they consider lesser than them.

I saddle my capybara and mount it,  making sure the coin pouch is secure.

I guide the capybara out of the stables and wave goodbye to my mother.

The city is quite far, to get there would take at least two-three hours.

Normally I wouldn't go to the city alone because of all the dangers that I could encounter such as dune worms that burrow under the sand waiting for someone or something to step on them or sand snakes that are relentless in their chase.

There are also runners, beasts that look as if they came out of the jurassic era. They are pack hunters that are incredibly fast and have sharp teeth and even sharper talons.

All these things that want to kill you, all in one place. In the very dessert I'm venturing in alone.