Cascade

Oh, so you sew?

I stayed in the muddy ditch for a long time. I waited until the rain was gone and the creatures had settled back into their dens before climbing my way out. I was covered in mud and there were leaves clinging to my skin. I slowly walked around trying to retrace my steps and find the way I'd came. I wasn't sure if I was going in the right direction though.

I stumbled around in the woods looking for my parents. Where could they've gone? Had they been caught? I didn't dare call out though; too afraid I would awaken the creatures lurking out of sight. I didn't hear my parents calling either. Probably for the same reason.

I stumbled my way through the woods, but I was lost and getting nowhere. There was also no sign of my parents. In the end I decided I would try to head in the direction of the city we'd been headed too. I might be off course, but maybe I'd run into a town eventually.

So I headed to the southwest and when twilight approached I hunkered down in a hole beneath some tree roots. I wasn't sure if I'd live through the night, but it was still better than out in the open.

I couldn't sleep though. Once night fell the forest around me erupted with the shrieks, barks, and howls of the various creatures. I lay there listening as my heart pounded in my ears and my body shook.

Nothing came for me though. I was up once the creatures settled down for the day and continued on. I spent three days wandering through the endless woods. Each night was spent listening to the unearthly cries around me and praying I wouldn't be eaten. What little sleep I managed to get was filled with images of teeth, blood, and rain.

I was nearly out of supplies by the fourth day, but I carried on despite my growling stomach. My muscles ached as I continued on, but I rarely stopped to rest. After several hours wandering through the woods I was startled as I suddenly stepped out into the light of day.

I blinked out of my daze and immediately shuffled back from the ledge of the cliff I found myself at. I waited for my eyes to adjust to the brightness. That forest must have been darker than I'd realized.

Once I no longer had to squint I took in my surroundings. I was standing on a high cliff overlooking a sprawling city. I paled as I looked over its damaged state. A lot of the buildings had collapsed, others looked as it they'd been through an air raid. Some of the buildings even looked partially melted.

Every scrap of paint seemed to have been leached out and dried onto the crater filled pavement of the city's streets. Somehow the lake and river off to the city's left side seemed to have escaped the pollution.

What really caught my attention, however, was the start of a towering wall on the right side of the city. It looked to be made from concrete and scraps of various metals. There was scaffolding on both sides of it and I could barely see people running about on it. Wait...people?

I felt my eyes widen and my heart leap to my throat. I'd found people. Maybe my parents had made it here too?

I looked around again. I didn't know how I was going to get down there, but if I managed I would certainly be able to find help now. I caught sight of the way the land slanted downward to my right until it was level with the city. I guess I was going back into the forest then.

So I did and after about three hours of stumbling through the woods I had made it out. I found myself on the planes that led up to the destroyed city and the beginnings of a patchwork wall.

                                                                                 ~ ~ ~

I felt warm for once, but my warmth was soon disturbed by the cool wind. I shivered and snuggled closer to the warmth beside me. I let out a contented sigh as I pressed my cheek to the warm skin. Wait. Skin?