Author's Note: First and foremost thank you so much for clicking on my novel. A World Reborn is now ranked #149 in Sci-Fi on Wattpad! This wouldn't have been possible without you guys, the readers. If you enjoy, don't forget to vote and add it to your reading lists. Any criticism or feedback is appreciated in the comments, thanks!
"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change."-Charles Darwin
The slim arrow is gently placed upon the thick and wooden bow. The bow is decorated with engravings that are deep and etched in an almost symmetrical pattern. The tail end of the arrow consists of soft and plush fur from a hare. I slowly pull the arrow back and inhale deeply. I feel the frosty chill of the air enter my dry mouth and into my lungs. Once colorful trees, had now began to lose their leaves. Snow was bound to start falling anytime soon. As I exhale, I feel a surge of confidence shudder through my body and I release my hand. The arrow sharply soars through the sky and makes contact with it's designated target. It tumbles over and makes a small thud.
I lift the leather sack besides me and throw it over my right shoulder. I begin to jog towards the creature that my arrow came into contact with. A snow-colored rabbit is lying still on the ground with an arrow pierced through it's heart. I pick it up and pull the arrow out. I carefully place it into my sack alongside the rest of the food I have gathered from today's hunt. Dad'll be proud when he gets back, I think to myself as I stared at the contents within the sack. I turn west and begin the long uphill battle through the forest.
My dad calls this part of the Catskills the Hunting Grounds, and for good reason. Plenty of freshwater streams run downhill through the forest, which provides us with catfish and colorful bass. Tons of small game live here, although elk and dear live much farther east. After about 40 minutes of struggling to exit the forest I can see the old cabin in the horizon. It's surrounded by dozens of rows of dark-wood trees. The sun is shining directly down on the Mountain range this afternoon, even though the air is still frigid and dry.
As I walk, I sharpen my iron dagger, so skinning the game from today will be quick and efficient. My dad gave it to me as a present on my 12th birthday, when he decided I was old enough to learn to protect myself. Jonas often complains that I was allowed more freedoms then he was. He didn't fully grasp the concept that an 8 year-old can't hold a bow and hunt. As I approach the cabin, I take the leather sack off my shoulders and place it near the firewood and tanning rack. I twist the rusty door handle and push the squeaky door open. "Hey, I'm back," I call out. I receive no reply as Jonas sits on the rug, captivated by an old and weathered down comic book.
I walk down the corridor and pass by the usual picture frames on the wall. Pictures of me and my brother growing up. Pictures of our father growing up alongside our mother. Pictures of our grandfather growing up in a world untouched by war, plague, destruction, and radiation. He had a smug grin on his face and was standing near an old building with faded red bricks. His once jet black hair was sharply slicked back on his forehead, parting to the right. He was wearing a sky blue buttoned up shirt, and a pair of tinted sunglasses were smuggled tightly into his chest pocket. His once-smooth hand, rested on a glowing red sports car. Pops told me the story of how he got the car and many others as well. But I was young when he passed away and I could only remember bits and pieces of his stories. My father told me stories of grandpa's life almost everyday after he died. How he went to a "school" and learned, how he hung out with friends, and how different life was back then.
But today is now and the past is forgotten, something my father repeats after ending every story. But some nights I think to myself, Is the past really forgotten? Can we forget about The Great War? Can we forget about the hydrogen and radiation bombs that killed millions? Can we forget about the disease, plague, and destruction of governments? Can we simply leave the past behind? And every night I come to the same damn conclusion. We can't forget our past, because that's what led us to this very point in time. It led us to a world reborn.
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A World Reborn
Science Fiction(Rank #149 in Sci-Fi) In the year 2041, the first bombs were dropped. Countless nations engaged in total warfare and the end result was the destruction of everyday life. Riots and looting became common as people began to loose trust in one another...
