The Wolf's Daughter

2 - Build A Home

I couldn't sleep for the rest of that night knowing that the world outside was thriving. How long had it been that way? Tossing and turning, I kicked Athena in the shins a few times too many.

'Jake...' She sighed wearily, rubbing her eyes in annoyance.

'D'ya think the Veteran's Center is still out there?' I asked her immediately and she became very quiet.

'We aren't taking her there if that's what you're suggesting.'

'Why not? It's huge and it'd be a perfect home-'

'I don't want to go back there.' She cut me off, clutching onto herself. I slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her to my chest.

'What's wrong pup?' Using my fingers, I brushed the hair from her face. Concern was etched on her expression and I could see she was nibbling her lip. She always did that when something was on her mind.

'The stuff that happened there Jacob... I don't want Wren to be raised around that. Who knows what she could find?' Athena took a long inhale. 'Or what I might end up doing.' A knot formed in my stomach as my lover grew tense in my arms. 'What if I snap again Jacob? I only have to hear that song and-'

'Don't think about it pup.' I purred softly into her ear, trying to comfort her. 'You're strong, I made sure of that.' She slackened against me, pressing a hand to my chest.

'So we're really going out there tomorrow huh?' Athena fiddled with my chest hair and I nodded, allowing the idea to settle in my mind.

'Yeah. Guess so.'

***

'But I don't wanna go!' Wren clung to her mother's arm, digging her heels into the sandy ground. We stood outside the remains of Nick and Kim's home, preparing to go our separate way.

'Sweetheart we have to. There's not enough room down there anymore.' Athena tugged at her daughter to try and get her to move.

'I wanna stay with Uncle Nick, Auntie Kim and Carmina forever!' Wren whined, reaching for the Rye's desperately.

'Hey little red c'mon now.' Nick crouched in front of her and ruffled her hair. 'We'll see ya soon. But your mom and dad wanna start a new life and they need you to lead the way!' I shot him an approving glance as he got back up. Nick seemed to have a knack for talking Wren down when she got stubborn.

'Thank you both for... everything.' Athena became glassy eyed as she pulled her friends into a tight hug. They held their embrace for a few seconds before pulling away.

'Seed.' Nick addressed me and I blinked in surprise. 'Look I know we ain't always seen eye to eye but you've proved to us that you can be a good guy. So, uh, stay that way yeah? Be the good guy.'

'I'll do my best Rye.' I replied, offering him a hand. He took it and we shook succinctly. Maybe the pilot wasn't so bad after all. Hoisting an arm around Wren, I yanked her from the ground and plopped her onto my shoulders. 'Right, let's go.' I started to walk, Wren waving frantically behind her as the Rye's melted away into the distance.

'So do we know where we're headed?' Athena asked, squinting. 'I used to know this place like the back of my hand but it looks so different now.'

'Well this is North right?' I spun around, Wren's legs thudding against my chest. 'Or is that North? Oh fuckin' hell, I dunno.'

'Daddy said a bad word!' Wren hummed, tugging at my hair.

'He's just thinking darling.' Athena sighed, just as baffled as I was. The luscious green pastures of Hope County had been filled in with sand and dust, all the landmarks destroyed in the blast.

'I want to go that way!' Wren pointed towards a woods, the tall gnarled trees skyrocketing upward into the bright blue sky.

'I don't think so sweetie-' Athena started only to be interrupted.

'But Uncle Nick said I was the leader.' She argued, kicking her heels into my chest like I was a pony. 'Go daddy, to the woods!'

'Well s'not like we have anywhere else to go.' I started to trudge towards the forest, hands cradling my red sniper. It'd been a long time since I'd shot it. It felt almost surreal to have the cool metal against my fingers again. Wren clutched at my hair and held on tight as we walked, Athena sticking close by to ensure she didn't fall. A herd of white deer with crimson red antlers sprung across the our path, clearly startled by our presence.

'What are those?!' My daughter gasped excitedly, tugging hard on my hair.

'Ow!' I winced. 'They're deer Wren.'

'Deer...' Her sweet little voice lingered over the new word, testing it out a few times.

'Hey Jake, over there.' Athena caught my attention and pointed towards a dilapidated house. We marched over, pausing outside to study it. The wooden beams were gnarled and snapped, the roof partly caved in. 'Think we could do it up?'

'Probably.' I pulled Wren off of my shoulders and placed her on the ground. 'What d'ya think kiddo? Wanna build a house?' Her blue eyes lit up and she nodded enthusiastically.

'Yes! A castle! Let's build a castle!'

And so we did. We were surprised to find that other people had survived the Collapse and that they had been living above the ground longer than we had. Civilisation had adjusted drastically. Money no longer existed, instead we had to trade components for materials. Luckily Athena was a keen scavenger and regularly brought home wires, pipes and cogs that we could sell for more wood and new clothes. Wren would chop and change, some days helping out her mother and other days lingering back at the cabin with me. She'd sit on a stump and swing her legs as I chopped up wood into planks that could be fashioned into walls.

'That's a good job daddy!' She'd chime as I leant on the handle of the axe, huffing. I definitely wasn't as fit as I used to be. It took a few weeks but eventually we'd made ourselves a cosy little home. It wasn't much but in this world, it'd do.