Dystopian Paradise

Year of the Bear

"Damn," Clari hushed. "Find anything?" a familiar voice called much too loudly. "Does it sound like I found anything? And could you BE any louder Detris?" Detris was Clari's best friend from before the red times. The red times are how they live now, in camps. It had been a long time since anyone had seen an airplane or a car in action. Things in the world were at peace, as they had been for over 500 years. Until one day when Clari was five. That day the sky turned a deep red, and every government started a war with each other. After the bombs stopped going off and the dust had settled, almost everyone was dead. "Ha, I guess not. Time we head back, don't you think?" He had a good point it was getting dark and the slithers came out at night. "Yeah alright."

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Their camp was one of the more modest camps around the great mountains. Its symbol was that of the fox. Simple, small, quiet, but with a will to live greater than most humans. Its a symbol of her people. Clari enjoyed the tight-knit people with which she shared space. in fact, they all shared pretty much anything. Food, clothing, responsibilities. Clari was known for being light-footed and fast, that's why she was on the scavenger crew. Walking back into camp Clari greeted everyone on her way to the captain. Captain was like a father to everyone. Clari remembers him being the one who set up the fox camp. After the red times first began, he was the only one in the area who stayed calm enough to help others. He made them a family. "Hey CC! How did the trip go? Find anything good?" He eagerly asked as a greeting. "Not this time cap. Actually, I've been thinking. And - " He interrupted her abruptly. "Well, that's dangerous. Clari, I hope you haven't had your head in the clouds." he chuckled in addition "You're too smart for that." Clari noticed something off. He had a faraway look in his eye as if something was bothering him. "Um.. captain? Are you okay?"She tentatively asked. "Mmm." he mused, not entirely giving an answer. 

"Actually Clari I think its time you go. I am quite busy." 

"But captain really i -"

He gave her an icy look and she knew she had worn out her welcome.

Walking out of captains quarters trying to hide her frustration, Clari went to find her dad. Her dad was closer to captain than anyone. She knew if something was up he would know about it. Her greetings shrunk down to a head nod or a slight wave of the hand. 

When she walked into her makeshift house made up of fallen branches and metal scraps given from the city scavenger crew before Clari had been on it. Instantly her blood ran cold. Something was wrong, very wrong. She walked as if the floor was about to give out beneath her. Light, slow, and quietly making her way around. She noticed a dark wet patch on the dirt floor. Bending over to confirm her suspicions, she touched the soaked patch of now mud. When she lifted her hand again it was a deep red color. Abandoning hope of being quiet she began to search for any sign of her father. Beginning to panic, she was interrupted by a scream. It was one of the few children of fox camp. Clari ran outside as another scream was heard. This one was older sounding. She guessed it was one of the caretakers. Following the screams, she stopped dead in her tracks. 

She had found her father. Hanging from the welcome gate. The traditional fox carving was painted in her fathers' blood. The fox now resembled a bear, and over the friendly "welcome in" was a deep red phrase.

The phrase "Year of the Bear."

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"What do you MEAN you cant DO anything?!" Clari exclaimed with tears in her eyes. "Clearly it was the bear camp! Why would they do this? Why him? Why our camp? Why HIM?" She turned and sobbed into Detris shoulder. His arms wrapped around her while he gave the captain a harsh look. "What are we doing about this?" "Look Detris, we have no proof that this wasn't just another camp trying to frame the bears. So until another incident happens where we can gather proof, there is nothing any of us can do." Clari whipped around and slammed her fists on his table, "That is BULLSHIT and you know it! What is wrong with you?!" At this point, a sudden defeat came over captain and his head fell into his hands.

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Clari stomped around the dirt floor of her house looking for a spade. "I'm not doing nothing" 

"I know Clari. You need to stay safe though." Detris calmly explained. 

"I am going to get rid of that damned blood smelling dirt and then I'm packing. Ah! There it is! Now a bucket..."

Detris curious yet cautious asks "Pack for what..?"

"I am going to the bear camp and finding out why they murdered MY father."

"Clari, You cant do that and you know it" Before Clari could protest Detris adds "Not alone."

Clari stops in her crouched position spade and bucket now in hand. Straightening and turning towards her best friend, Clari Drops the spade and newly found bucket to the ground. She runs into his arms as he envelopes her in a hug.

"Now to get rid of this dirt, eh?" Detris smiles.

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