These Days

                    The days are getting short. The air is becoming chilled, the trees and the bushes are tensing where they stand. Everything merges together now, every being relying on another for survival more than ever. Fear fills the air, anxieties shining in eyes and ears stand high, poised for every little noise the world creates.

                    Harvey speaks of regrets when the sun sets. It starts with distant whispers, so quiet the others have to wonder if he's speaking to himself at first. He whispers about the days gone by, a lost scavenging experience or a moment of hesitation that cost them. The fire is reflected in his eyes as he looks around the group, keeping his chin lowered and brow furrowed. He reminds them of settlements they found destroyed, of fires ravaging otherwise perfect cities. Toss in a sad chuckle here and there, and the man is little more than a depressed ball under a blanket.

                    Eli hates him for it. He wants nothing more than to shut the wolf up, to cry out for silence or cover his mouth with a muffler. Anything for the quiet to return, for the only sound to be the crackling of the fire they sit around. God, he misses the warm weather, when they would work their hardest for days so they could lounge in the sun with still-fresh soda they find and joke and mock one another openly. Chris, their holy, steady lion, would sit back with this little smile on him as the wolves tugged at each other's tails. Eli would bask in the sunlight, stretched out and soaking in every bit of vitamin D he could.

                   Isaac listens with pained, ironic smiles. For the most part he is quiet, but sometimes he will nod along, adding in little details he noticed during his time. He watches the others as the stories are told, looking at the small twitches in Eli's eyebrows, watching for Chris' glancing, or how Harvey will talk with his hands during the larger stories. If they have alcohol, he'll begin to drink. He doesn't notice how much sooner the stories end when he does.

                    Chris listens to every word. Every story he remembers as though they were just yesterday, and he won't let himself forget a single detail. He memorises the stories to compare to his own memories later, when the omegas have fallen asleep and he watches the stars.

                     The days begin to get more frigid, and soon the group is deep into winter. They are lucky when mother nature is kind to them in that little snow falls, although it does stick around for a while longer than usual. Harvey makes use of the snow, collecting piles of the top layers to boil for extra water. Eli gets bored one day and decides to use it for a science experiment, tossing still bubbling water into the air. Everyone in camp panicked when they saw a large amount of steam coming from near the fire, assuming some dry grass got caught in the wind and set aflame.

                  Chris scolds him for the waste, taking him by the ear and manhandling him to the pile of snow while handing him a cooking pot. He tells him he is now in charge of ensuring they have clean water when the water bottles all run empty. Eli huffs and pouts at him but obeys, knowing better than to rebel against the lion.

                    Eli piles the snow into a pot and brings it back to the fire. A grill top was placed over the flame and he removes one of the pots that has finished boiling to set on a small patch of snow, flattened by previous use, and replaces it with the new one. Sitting on a rough, scratchy blanket used for anything but human coverage, he grabs a nearby funnel and pulls the basket of empty water bottles closer.

                  Watching him from nearby, Isaac hesitates over a book on winter plants. Chris, sitting next to him, huffs and plucks the book from him. Without making eye contact he tells Isaac simply to go. Isaac gives him an acknowledging huff before he stands and goes over to Eli. Chris rolls his eyes, going back to his garden work.

                   Isaac sits next to Eli and takes the bottle and funnel from him. He wags his finger at the feline and sets the bottle away, instead picking up a two litre bottle. Eli scoffs and tips his chin up, pouting his lips as he watches Isaac set the funnel up once more. He waits for everything to be in place before pouring clean water into the container. Isaac gives him an approving hum he relishes in.

                  Two hours pass before the bottles have all been filled and the snow pile depleted. Harvey returns to scrutinize the water, looking at a bottle for periods of time others would deem too long. He checks for any specks or signs of uncleanliness. When everything has passed he claps Isaac and Eli on the shoulders, thanks them, and gathers the bottles in baskets to return to the pantry.

                   When Isaac looks back at Eli with a wide grin, Eli can't help but to mirror it. He puffs out his chest with pride and braces his hands on his hips, earning a playful scoff and push from the other omega. He asks about dinner, and Isaac groans and mocks him only for a second before gesturing him to follow and wandering off to find the others. They eat rabbit that night.

                   Harvey is sitting at the corner of the barricade when Chris approaches him from behind. The beta watches the few leaves left on the trees sway with the light wind, stares longingly at the pink sunset. Chris waits a few moments before he sits next to the wolf, a hand going to his shoulder. Harvey looks up at him, and they maintain a mutual understanding in the end of the world. For a moment they accept their fate. Only for a moment.

                  Swallowing his pride, Harvey leans over to rest against his alpha. His eyes blink shut as Chris accepts the new position, settling into his seat and glancing down when Harvey moves his blanket, a small offering he doesn't want to accept. He's never been a demanding alpha, but he must admit the warmth is a welcome change. As he tightens the blanket over them he notices Harvey has turned into dead weight, asleep on his shoulder within minutes. He doesn't mind, and lets Harvey sleep while he can. He'll wake when the sun is gone.