The Stories of America

Alone Together

1852-Australia

He doesn't know why he continues.

He has been walking this land for years and he has seen no one else.

He feels hunger gnaw at him. He's skinny and weak from all this walking and not having enough food for his body.

He takes a small sip of water and a small bite of food from the canteens at his hip. He has to ration his food and water immensely to survive until he can find more and he hates it.

His stomach grumbles for more, but he doesn't give in. He can't waste any more food and water. He's spared enough for today.

Clipping the canteens back on his hip, he continues forward.

He doesn't know which direction he is going and honestly, he doesn't care. He just wants to find some place where he can find more food, water and shelter.

As the sun begins to set, he feels something dragging in his chest.

A sensation that alerts him to head south.

Swallowing his better judgement, he follows the feeling.

As he walks south, the sensation gets stronger as the sun gets lower.

Finally, as the sun fades beneath the horizon, he sees a soft glow and hears the soft splashes of a river up ahead. He can also smell someone roasting food nearby.

The sensation he feels pulls him towards the glow.

He doesn't try to resist.

This might be his chance to get more food and water. Though he has to be careful. He doesn't know who's on the other side of the river.

He lowers himself onto his stomach and starts to crawl towards the glow.

Breaking out the treeline, there is a river, treading southeast. On the other side of the river, there is a girl sitting near a fire, cooking some meat.

The girl is small, younger than him, with long, silky black hair that cascades down her back. She has big and bushy eyebrows like him. Her amber eyes glow bright by the firelight and her skin seems to have a light tan, though that could just be the fire's doing.

He pauses.

He isn't sure how to approach her.

He hasn't even seen another person before.

He reaches out with his hand and he takes another step into the firelight. The girl snaps her head up, looking directly at him.

He flinches at the sudden movement, pulling his hand away.

After a few moments of silent staring, the girl reaches behind her and pulls out two long rods with smaller rods attaching the two longer rods together. She walks towards him with the object and he shrinks back into the treeline. She places the object on her side of the river and tilts it so it lays flat, connecting the two sides.

She then crawls back to the fire and holds up a piece of meat. It isn't much, but it's more than what he has.

Sucking up his fear, he crawls across the river on the object she laid down and stops once he's on the other side.

He narrows his eyes at the piece of meat, figuring out the best way to snatch it from her without her being unable to react.

Instead, the girl approaches him and holds out the piece of meat. Once it's within arm's reach, he snatches it away from her and slowly backs up, hugging the bank.

She watches him with her head cocked as he eats.

"Who are you?" The girl inquires, causing him to look up at her. He narrows his eyes and curls into himself more as he takes another bite.

The girl looks him up and down before smiling, "I'm the colony of Victoria. Are you a colony too?"

He pauses and swallows before responding, "Colony of New South Wales."

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Honestly, the Australian states rarely get fics made of them so I decided to make one. Don't worry, I'll make more. I hope you enjoyed this! :>

Words: 627

-Rose