M.A.D.

Keep Moving.

Scout and I were on the move soon after waking. I simply made sure I had everything, and snuffed out the remaining embers as well. So, I guess this is it. More walking through the desolate and cold wasteland, passing by shells of what humanity once had. Back then, we didn't have to worry about anything. Nothing at all. I find that now I must worry about everything. Not only survival, but the radiation, nature taking back the land, and other people to name a few. Hospitality is extremely rare, but bandits are plenty. I've become used to seeing the ruined towns and lack of company relatively quickly, but I'm glad I found scout. She's a lovely dog to keep watch behind me while scavenging anything in the area. However, she'll only be good for warning me. She's relatively skinny and like I've said previously, she was starving when we met. Anyways, we're not on our way to any specific destination. We just have to keep moving to survive. I don't have too much on me, which is both a blessing and a curse. I don't have to carry much, but I do have to worry about resources almost regularly. Canned food and distilled water are my saving grace currently. It is extremely cold as well. I've essentially made a cloak out of old jackets and coats I've found over time, but don't worry, They were all passed on when I took the coats. I'm no bandit, and I'm not going to steal from others trying to survive. If anything, I'd give up a few layers for someone else. Especially a child. As the winds started to pick up, Scout started barking at something she found in what appeared to be a store, but all signs were most likely taken off from the aftershock of an explosion or two. I followed her inside, and to my surprise, she found a sight for sore eyes. On the floor was a can of meatballs that was broken open and half eaten by scavenging animals. However, there was a small box with two unopened cans next to the small amounts of sauce and meat on the floor. Both of these cans had the same label as the broken one. I gave Scout a nice pat on the head as I praised her before we got going on our way. Eventually, we got to the point where the town we were headed through met the cold and unforgiving pine forests. At this point I knew that our journey was going to be lengthy and difficult. And the sunlight was starting to dwindle with more and more time spent scavenging the last buildings on this edge of the town. Eventually, I found a building suitable to hold up in for the night, and started up a fire as usual. The cold air making my every breath sting. Coming back out in a puff of what looks like small clouds. I shared some meatballs with scout that evening, not wasting any of the sauce they were suspended in. And this day, I did not find very much of value. Hopefully tomorrow will bring me a town that hasn't been swept through by bandits already. At least I've got a dog by my side and we are not sleeping hungry. My eyelids became heavier and heavier as I quickly lost consciousness.

Note to self; Remember to look for more filters for the gas mask, it looks like another storm may be coming soon.