Survival

Alaric

I woke up, still gripping my knife. Even though it was morning the small house I live in was dark, lit by a small shimming strip coming through the window. I lay there breathing, thanking god that I'm still alive, still alive after eighteen years, every day is a struggle. The sweat drips down my face, it's always hot, but you get used to it. My parents died a few years back. They went hunting and just never came back. That is the only time that I've ever cried properly. I have a little sister and a little brother that I look after, my priority is staying alive so that I can keep them alive. Caleb and Hanna are the only reasons I try and stay alive. I sit up and wipe the sweat from my forehead, I manage to get up from the floor where I sleep, Caleb and Hanna share the only bed we have. I pull on my trousers and pull on my leather vest, and put a loose grey shirt over the top, clothes I stole from someone thrown out of the dome, they'd never survive out here anyway. The leather vest was my own, I made it so if I ever was attacked, the creature wouldn't be able to puncture my flesh as easily. I move to the small fire that still crackles, the stew I started last night should be done by now. Meat from a deer I shot, water, some carrots and potatoes I grew from the garden, well Hanna grew and a few herbs I found. I've made this stew before, it's what we mainly live on, food is pretty scarce, but any food I find, I take, whether that's plant I find in the woods or food I find in old stores, whatever it is, I'll have it. I grab three bowls my mother kept safe in the top shelf of the rickety cabinet against the wall. I scoop the stew into the three bowls and grab the loaf of grainy bread, it's not nice but it fills you up for a while, which is much better than feeling empty. Luckily Hanna learned how to cook properly before my parents died, so she grows plants in a small garden outside, and she knows how to make grain bread, so we aren't as hungry as some of the other families out there. I cut three thick slices and place them on a plate I carved from wood. I then grab three small cups also made from wood and put some milk from our goat inside. I walk into the small part of the house where the table is and I place everything down, the room is just off of the main room. I then walk back and gently shake Caleb's shoulders.

"Cal, come on, wake up buddy, it's morning" I say softly. His little eyelashes flutter and his big brown eyes reveal themselves, he smiles and yawns.

" Morning Rick" he says sleepily. He is 6 years old, his voice still young and sweet.

" Breakfast is on the table bud" I say and crouch down as the hugs me.

" Stew?" He says rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand. I nod and he walks off to the dining table. I look at Hanna. She has dark brown hair and she's thin, just like everyone on the outside, her bony hands held up by her face. 

"Hans, stew is on the table, wake up" I say touching her arm. She's 14 years old now.

" Okay Rick, I'll be there in a minute, are you hunting today?" She asks brushing the hair from her face, revealing big grey eyes, a small nose and pink lips.

" I have to Han, you'll be okay with Caleb, right?" I ask, I hate having to leave them alone, but it's safer here, than it is hunting.

" Yeah we'll be okay, I'll milk Spense today, and I'll collect the chicken eggs, and make some more grain bread, tend to the garden, I'll let Cal help so he won't be so bored, we will be okay, I promise Rick" she says sitting up. I get up and get the knife that I sleep with it has a sharp silver blade and a handle made from bone, it's very powerful. 

"Here, take this, if anything does happen defend yourselves, I've been training you for a while now, you know how to fight, be careful when you go outside, promise me you won't become too involved in anything, you always have to be wary, promise me you'll always keep an eye out" I say handing the bone end of the knife to her.

" I promise Alaric, I promise" she says quietly. I can see the fear in her eyes. She knows more mutations have been exploring these parts recently, that's why we have to keep the animals locked in a shed on the side of the house, so they don't get killed, I don't know what we'd do if those animals died, they give us most the food we survive on, and that's not enough. I nod and silently walk to eat my food. After I'm done I put the bowls into a large wash basin. I go to the bed and retrieve my bow and my arrows from underneath, I get my backpack that's hung on the wall by an old nail. I put my water sheath inside, I put in what's left of the bread, some wire for snares and a few knives for skinning and gutting any animals I catch, I also throw in a few containers, they are a little melted but are good enough to carry meat and plants I find. 

"Caleb, Hanna, get in here" I shout. They both run in and stand next to each other.

" I'm going hunting now, I'll see you later, I promise" I say and kiss them both on the forehead and head outside, into the danger. Into the Death Plains.