Aftermath

Chapter 14

The morning sun paintedthe sky in hues of warm orange, and for a moment, it felt like theworld had forgotten its troubles. Birds chirped, and a gentle breezerustled through the leaves, creating a serene atmosphere around ournewly established base. However, the tranquility was abruptlyshattered by a distant rumble that grew louder with each passingmoment.

As the source of thenoise became visible, a wave of disbelief washed over us. A massivehorde of cows stampeded toward our camp, their thundering hoovesresonating like an impending storm. Panic surged through the group,but instinctively, I shouted, "Calm down! Grab a weapon and getinto position!" The civilians, still adjusting to their newfoundroles, scrambled to arm themselves as the ground beneath us trembledwith the approaching cattle.

In the chaos, Inoticed Derek sprinting toward the wall with a purposefuldetermination. He carried an RPG over his shoulder, the sunlightglinting off its metallic surface. "Hold your ground!" hebellowed, his voice cutting through the clamor. As the cows closedin, their eyes wild with panic, Derek aimed the RPG, unleashed adeafening explosion, and sent a searing shockwave through the air.

The brilliance of theexplosion momentarily blinded us as the shockwave rippled through thehorde of cows. Flames danced in the aftermath, casting eerie shadowson the ground. The sheer force of the blast propelled some of thecows into the air, creating a surreal scene against the backdrop ofour fortified wall.

The rest of the cows,now spooked and disoriented, scattered in all directions. Theimmediate threat was eliminated, leaving behind the lingering echoesof chaos. "Well, that's one way to clear the field," Derekremarked with a wry smile, his RPG still smoking. The group,initially caught off guard, slowly lowered their weapons, a mix ofrelief and disbelief etched across their faces.

As the smokedispersed, we surveyed the aftermath—a combination of scattereddebris and a few singed patches of grass. "I never thought I'dsee cows as a threat," Sam quipped, a nervous laugh escaping hislips. The tension eased, and a collective laughter echoed through thecamp as we processed the surreal encounter.

Derek approached, the RPGslung over his shoulder once more. "Sometimes, you've got toimprovise," he said, his eyes reflecting a mixture of amusementand satisfaction.

With the specter ofthe cow stampede behind us, a collective decision was made to ensurethe civilians were adequately trained for any future threats. Themorning after the bizarre encounter, I, Sam, Sara, my mom, and Derekgathered the group for an impromptu training session. Assembled in amakeshift training area within our camp, surrounded by the remnantsof the wall and the scarred grass from the explosion, the civilianslooked expectantly at us, a mix of curiosity and determination intheir eyes.

"Alright,everyone," Sam began, "the world out there is no joke, andwe need to make sure you can handle yourselves. We're going to teachyou the basics of self-defense and survival." With that, he ledthe group through a series of warm-up exercises, preparing them forthe more strenuous training ahead.

Sara, ever thestrategist, took charge of hand-to-hand combat training. "Youneed to know how to defend yourselves without relying solely onweapons. Sometimes, it's the only option." Demonstrating varioustechniques, she emphasized the importance of balance, agility, andquick thinking. The civilians paired up, practicing under herwatchful eye.

Derek, armed with hisextensive survival knowledge, imparted essential skills such asforaging, scavenging, and reading the environment. He explained howto identify edible plants, locate water sources, and move stealthilythrough the terrain. The group listened intently, absorbing theknowledge that could mean the difference between life and death.

Meanwhile, my momfocused on medical basics, teaching the civilians rudimentary firstaid. "You never know when someone might get hurt, and havingsome medical know-how can save a life." She demonstratedbandaging techniques, explained how to treat minor injuries, anddistributed basic medical supplies.