The Awakening

Chapter 2

Abe squatted on the edge of the forest looking at the cabin, unsure of what his next decision should be. He knew he had little time until the forest fell under the shroud of darkness and the predators of the night began to hunt. They would not stand a chance against any beasts that may lurk about, and the scent of fresh blood from his wounded arm would soon fill their noses. Abe would have to take his chances. He walked towards the cabin, hoping that whoever was inside would be kind enough to take them in.

After halving the distance between the forest and the cabin he paused, something did not feel right. Everything grew still, and an uncomfortable chill ran down his spine. He clutched Hobbes close to his chest. "Please be quiet boy, something doesn't feel right." No sooner had he spoken than a sharp hissing sound flew past his ear.

"The next time will not miss, son!" a voice yelled from afar.

The old man had been walking along the wall with his bow and arrow, looking for small game, when he noticed movement in the distance. Age had not diminished his keen vision.

Abe did not know where the voice came from, but knew he was exposed and caught by surprise. "Please, please stop!" he cried. "I'm not a scavenger and I'm not with a herd! I was only hoping for a meal and a roof for the night!" Abe hoped beyond all hope that whoever his attacker was would be sympathetic enough to believe him.

"Not another step! Not one, or I fire again!" The old man had another arrow nocked and ready to release. He did not have the steadiest hand anymore, but his aim was still true enough from this distance. The young man did not pose a threat, but scavengers were not above using decoys for surprise attacks.

Just when he was about to release another arrow the old man heard the unmistakable whimper and howl that only a puppy could make. He had not seen the pup in the boy's arms. His hand trembled while a wave of nostalgia overcame him. It was the first time he had heard that sound in a long time, so he lowered his bow to take a closer look. The young man wore dusty and tattered leather pants, clutching a small pup in his arms.

"Ok son, step towards me carefully, but one sudden move and I will have a quick change of heart, we can discuss your next step inside my wall!" The old man lifted his bow back as Abe stepped forward, pointing it at the gate.

Abe walked towards the gate, careful not to make any sudden movements. He pushed it open and stood inside, still carrying Hobbes, awaiting his next instructions.

The old man saw a pitiful excuse for a man standing before him. His new guest was thin and malnourished, as though he had not eaten anything of real substance in weeks. Living alone and foraging for food in this world was no way to survive, and it had taken its toll on Abe's body.

"Why do you have that pup?" the old man barked. "I mean...what on earth made you decide to take care of a wild beast like that??" He remembered the days of domestic animals, he even had a dog of his own once, but those days were far in the past.

"I saved it from an attack," Abe said. "A big cat killed his mother and four brothers and sisters, I... I felt it was my duty to protect him if I could." The pup looked at Abe, then at the old man and let out another pitiful whimper.

"Ok, first things first," the old man said. "Hold out your hands, I need to know if you have any weapons on you. Though I have no idea where you'd keep them." The old man thought for a moment and laughed. "You look about as pitiful as that pup in your arms."

Abe sat Hobbes on the ground and held out his hands. Truly no threat.

The old man saw the leather bandage around the Abe's arm, and the dried blood caked on his hand. "What happened to your arm?" he asked.

"The cat... the cat scratched me when I fought it off." For a moment Abe had forgotten about the pain, but now, acknowledging the injury, the pain crept back into his arm. "I don't even know where I am," Abe pleaded. "I don't have any weapons, not even any food, only what I'm wearing and my new friend here, Hobbes." He was trying to speak clear and concise, hoping to earn the old man's trust. His stomach growled loud enough to wake the dead.

"Well son, that wound will get infected and you'll be dead in a week. I can tell that you and your friend would also like some food, but how do I know I can trust you enough to let you into my home while I bandage you up and let you eat my food?" The old man tested Abe. He needed to hear the right answer before considering to let them into his home.

"My...my name is Abe." His voice trembled. "I was walking along the rocky path when I met a stranger on the road. Everything happened so fast. I... I don't know what really brought me here."

The old man considered for a moment. It was likely the young man was attacked by scavengers, which would explain the stranger, and left him for dead. "Your name's Abe, huh? Any idea where you got it?" the old man asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No idea, just what I've always been called," Abe replied. He could recall little, if any, of his childhood. Blank spots blurred his mind, as if there was a wall he could not break through.

"Well son, you can just call me old man for now. I have no need for the name I used before The Fall." The old man looked at Abe with no expression, pushing away painful memories of the old world. He had no use for them here.

Abe's eyes lit up at the mention of The Fall. "You remember it? You were there?? How old are you!?" He demanded, his curiosity getting the best of him. The old man now held Abe's attention in the palm of his hand. Survivors of The Fall were thought to all be long dead. Abe never believed he would meet someone from before.

The old man looked at his feet with the faintest hint of a smile. "I don't remember how old I am, why bother anymore?" he shrugged. "Time doesn't move the way it used back when it actually existed."

Another loud rumble escaped Abe's stomach. He supposed that after living so long as a hermit, maybe a bit of company couldn't hurt. As a younger man he never trusted anyone, but he had reached an age where he could no longer take care of himself the way he used to. This was a risk he was willing to take. With good training, Abe could be useful enough to hunt for him, help tend his garden, maybe even learn some of the useful knowledge he still had and why not... the only alternative was to die alone and sad. He was already sad, so why die alone?

"Come on in son, I'll take care of that wound. We can talk over dinner, even get some food in Hobbes too. Would you like that boy?" The old man's knees popped when he crouched down to snap his fingers at the pup.

Hobbes wagged his tail and bounced over to the old man. He was still a clumsy pup, trying hard to reach up and lick his new friends face. It brought back a wave of memories for the old man. Memories he had not dug up in many, many years.