"Run!" I shout to Cordell. I can hear the footsteps of the soldiers behind us. As they come closer, I drop into a bush nearby and drag Cordell with me.
I knew he would try to cry out, so I covered his mouth. The soldiers run by without notice. We slowly stand up, and Cordell rubs his neck. "Why did you have to be so rough Necole?" He always had to find something to complain about. How could a person not in the world??
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My mother has told stories of how society was when her grandmother was a child. She lived in what was once called Oregon, which was part of the United States. Children had sunny days, warm homes, and loving families. The people of the United States had a civilized government. People actually kept track of the year and how old they were.
My great-grandmother was a young child, just starting to go to learn at a place other than home. That's when Canada attacked. There were sounds of bombs going off toward the main part of her city, Portland. That's when the world plunged into an eternal winter.
I've never known the feeling of warmth from the sun. People have said, that if you go far enough from civilized territory, you can still find the seasons and the animals that once thrived. I hope to survive the trek and be the first in generations to experience that place. My best friend Cordell has reluctantly joined me.
"Maybe," I answer. "You shouldn't be such a wuss." He shoots me a disapproving look. "C'mon, we better get going if we want to find shelter before dark." We start our journey.
