The Silence [Unfinished]

Lost and Bound

Having lost track of time, Zular almost seems hopeless at this point.

February, however, has stayed in her place on her farm just as Zular had hoped. As the days of him not coming back drew on, she became more and more worried since the noises of the Monsters of Silence got louder during the night. Long restless nights of hearing the monsters growl and grunt, she imagined them coming to her front doorway with the blood of her horse on their mouths and blood coming out of every orifice that blood can possibly come out of. It frightened her.

Frightened her so much that she had to get up to go and check on her horse. Worried that she had imagined the possible had happened right under her nose.

During the months of Zular's missing absence, though, she found a dog. A purebred German Shepherd, it was in an office building not far into the city. The building itself had tumbled over and failed to keep it's purpose in the world. Unloved and uncared for, it gave up with the shining of the sun and little rain. Trying the concrete to dust to only have it be washed for a few minutes every month. It strained it too much, and it crumbled.

The dog himself, was among puppies, and only one of them was barely alive, it's mother on the floor and walls. Splattered old brain, only from a few days ago. The poor puppy must have been traumatized, and hidden among it's fellow kin brothers and sisters.

February pat the father dog's head gently, smiling gracefully with her mask off. "It's okay... erm..." she looked at the dog to discover the gender, "boy. I won't hurt you." She said in her most gentle of tones. The dog let her pet him then looked over at the tiny whining puppy. Nervously, February went over and picked up the puppy she named "Whisper" and the father approved of her. As the father watched, she fed the puppy the small bits of meat she supposed the little dog could eat, and gave it some water. Then afterwards, gave the father the rest from her bottle.

The father, whom she named "Steel," had followed her back home as she carried the pup. Holding Whisper carefully and cooing it once they made it to the sewers. Steel had kept watch over them as she led them to her home. Soon to be a sanctuary for animals that would stay and not eat her.

Steel was helpful in every way possible. He stayed by February's side as she played with his pup, and he learned his own name fast. Whisper, on the other hand, was more invested into February's hand rather than the name the human girl called him. Steel would gracefully watch February as she slept over the few months since she got him, and Whisper grew warmed to the idea of sleeping in February's bed at night. Gladly accepting the night and dreading the morning.

Steel helped around the farm. He made sure February was up every morning and brought her to where she left off the previous day, then went to Whisper to sleep with him. Making sure his only pup wasn't alone when he wakes up. Much like he did the day the mother died.

February, though, waited every sunset with Whisper and Steel for Zular to come back. She could talk to one thing in this world, and she thought she was going crazy for it. A creature made of shadows coming from where these... monsters did it was a lot of information to take in all at once with the hope of not being crazy.

Nonetheless Zular taught her to speak properly, and how to survive without the risks of being killed. He taught her how to speak, search effectively and be alert.

But she hasn't learned enough yet.

Sure she has brought a lot more animals to her farm and Steel in in charge of looking after them with his kin, Whisper, but there is always a large part missing;

Zular's company.

Maybe she loves him in a difficult way, or she needs him around so she doesn't go cutting wood again. But whatever it is, it's from him.

So she waits with her two dogs and sometimes a kitten will come join her, or her horse will come and lay next to her. She waits for the return of Zular because he can answer her questions, and he can see things she can't. He knows the world and she doesn't. He is a extraordinary being that has helped her stay alive without being there.

February dismisses Zular from her mind and continued collecting the corn from the stalks as Steel did the carrots. Only enough to get into a meal though, the rest of the animals have free rein on their behalf. Cats can hunt to their heart's content and so can the dogs. The herbivores eat the plants that grow around in the 89 acre radius.

"Come on Steel, Whisper is waiting for his papa to come back to him." She informs Steel, pointing to the screen door. There is a eager Whisper pushing his head against the door to see them with the tiniest of views. Steel looks at February as if to ask Can't you take care of him? and she laughs, taking her basket of corn and Steel's basket of carrots to the house.

As soon as she opens the door, Whisper runs out and onto Steel. The large dog whimpers slightly before playfully biting at his son. The two dogs play around as February leaves the door open and goes inside to drop the baskets onto the kitchen's worn counter then goes back to the door to see Whisper on top of steel chewing on the father's ear.

"Come on puppies, who wants to go scare the chickens?" She asks them playfully. The two dogs look at her for confirmation that they had heard right and she giggles. Then they all race to the chicken coop to gather eggs. They gather a few eggs before Whisper chases the chickens and Steel, sitting beside February, watched Whisper carefully. The puppy barks and runs around happily while the chickens run around making as much noise as they can.

February laughs a little as she watches the puppy. A bit of sad laughter hidden in there also. She misses the living shadow. It's getting brighter and she has a lot of things to do on her farm until the afternoon hits.

February watches for a few minutes as does Steel. Whisper comes back at the end of the few minutes and February pets the little dog. "Good boy," She praises him. The dog barks and she smiles sadly before leading them to the horse den.

At the end of the day near sunset, she goes on a ride on her horse, the dogs left back to take care of the farm.

February leads the horse through the fields of her vegetation and relaxes. Thinking about her friend. Again, she does miss him terribly. Sometimes she wonders if he's still alive.

But to find out she has to wait.

and wait...

and wait...