Alone
The ground is uneven. Rocks strewn across our path at odd angles stopping us from pursuing quicker. What would normally only take an hour or two has taken us four. And again we have to stop. My frustration is suffocating as I contemplate leaving them to their own devices, perhaps just wait till they are all absorbed in their own worlds of fear and anticipation and swerved to the left into the thick canopy and disappear.
Its not out of the ordinary to happen, plenty have came and gone. We started as a large group of 15 and that number has been reduced to a mere 7. Whatever is hunting us, is good. Too good.
The difference between these people and I is that I have been trained to survive in the wilderness. Where your ordinary family would take you on an adventurous trip to Florida or Spain, mine took me into the wild. Relentlessly my father would throw me to the wolves - so to speak - with the parting words of 'Kill of be killed'. He had every right to do so, as bewildering as it is for ordinary people to contemplate, it prepared me for what was to come. So this wasn't unknown territory or terrain in my case, I've experienced enough to recognise the tell tale signs of being followed by a predator. And with the speed we are going the predator will be on us in no time.
As night falls the sky darkens, consuming all essential light, leaving only a slight trail across the water to the right of our make shift camp. The wavering surface of the water glistens and the nocturnal creatures come out to play. Unconscious of the life around them my group huddle around the fire to restore their heat that is being drawn out by the night air. The heat of the blistering sun fades to nothing, as though it were never present and all that was ever there was the sinking chill of the pressing Autumn.
We have been stationed here for approximately an hour now and my muscles have been tense and twitching to get moving. I function a lot on instinct and the hairs on the back of my neck are saluting to whatever creature or monster is lurking in the woods beside us. It is painfully unsettling that the others are oblivious to the awaiting danger. Instead of everyone wasting their energy staying awake a rota is made among the group so we each take turns taking watch over the camp. Although that is for their own comfort, I know it will do no good.
The blood in my veins begins to accelerate as my adrenaline increases. It wont be long now.
Before I know it I begin to remember what it was like before The Fall.
The Fall essentially started with the collapse of society. All around the world, governments ceased to function as the rebellion of the people took over. After the pressure of their demands the people snapped and turned against their rulers and everything turned to chaos. The first few years were just pure undiluted madness, people running through the streets using fire arms, robbing stores which no longer occupied much. Others fleeing their homes leaving them abandoned and emptied of everything but memories. But that is all they were worth at this stage.
Money, having been a necessity for years on end, wasn't worth anything. No one used it since the banks collapsed all that was left was trading of goods. Those who knew how to grow their own crops and hunt thrived, the others struggled. Some formed groups - strength in numbers and all that - and the animosity settled for a little while after that. This all happened when I was twelve years old, at lot to take in for such a young kid, but I wasn't your ordinary kid from the block. My Father must have known. He must have known everything would go to pot and I would need this extra knowledge to survive. How he knew, is still a vivid question in my mind.
And after all these years I still thank him for the experience and knowledge he blessed me with. The skill required for hunting does not befall on many. You must have the strength and speed to follow and take down an animal which instincts are either to fight or flight. The reflex to make split moment decisions on what to do in dangerous situations because every moment in the forest is dangerous; from either the impending danger of an attack or the future danger of starvation, if you don't react at a precise moment to catch and kill your next meal. The instinct to follow a trail which may lead you to nowhere or may lead you to your survival.
It took a few years to have majority of people settle down around here, we don't know how it is elsewhere, all communications are down. All that is left is letter writing, but even that takes weeks to deliver without proper transport. But it wasn't long before some sort of government was formed to keep the public in place. A Militia. They don't take kindly on those who resist so multitudes of murders have been committed by them, they place the fear in those who live in small towns. Comply with their rules and you survive, resist and you are as good as dead. But for me I just stay out of their prying eyes, I have only ever made contact once and they took my family from me. Since then I have been on my own until I stumbled upon this sad bunch.
Bringing myself back to the present I just have time to shift into a standing position when their on us. Through a flurry of fur and roars I hear the screams of my group as they are roused from their tired states and run for cover. The adrenaline rush cursing through my veins dulls the sound of tearing flesh and curdling screams as I rush forward to one of the attacking animals. Unsheathing my hunting blade from my boot I slice the thick ragged blade through the animals pelt above it's shoulder and pulled. I felt it cutting through ligaments in the shoulder, disabling the animal partially, so it couldn't pursue it's retreating pack.
The haired beast gave a strangled growl before turning towards me. It's snout was long like a wolves, with pricked ears however the shear size of it would imply it was either a mutated breed or was something altogether. Having never faced an animal quite as large I had my anticipations but I wasn't giving up. Taking a measured step back I braced my stance for its lunge. I noticed its tensed hind legs push up before it was suspended in the air flying towards me. I misjudged the weight of the beast as it landed on my shoulders pushing me to the water embankment, grounding me their with its suffocating mass. Yellowing teeth covered in foul smelling saliva hovered inches away from my throat threateningly. Before it could strike I struck out on its injured front leg causing to the plow to the ground towards me and in a swift movement I drove the blade through its chest cavity.
With a great effort I pushed the dead beast off of me and sat up, pulling myself backwards up the embankment, never taking my eyes off the beast. My blood flow returning to normal I noticed that all that could be heard were the retched cries from the group behind me but no snarling animals. The remaining group turn to me with pleading eyes. They now understand the danger, when it's too late.
Finding strength in my legs I pushed up into a protective stance. Turning I take note of the damage done.
Two more lie dead. Another is wounded beyond help. The others are starting to panic... And they're looking to me for a plan. I do have one, but it doesn't include them.
