WIP Work in Progress

Jackson Ward August 1st, 2340

Life on the run has been hard. We spend our nights resting in abandoned shacks and barns. During the day I search for food in the forests. Food is scarce. Wilson and I survive on berries, leaves and the occasional fish. The nights here are chilly. We got lucky one day and found a barn with a blanket inside. It wasn't much but it keeps Wilson warm and happy. I guess it reminds him of his own back home.

Home...I miss home. It feels like such a distant memory after everything we have been through. I hope to make it home again. Me, Wilson, and Sam sitting in the living room watching TV or in the kitchen eating dinner together. And then there's Sam. I hope she is alright. I know the soldiers I spoke with said she was fine but I just wish I could see her myself, with my own eyes and I know Wilson misses his mommy. If I just keep pushing, if I can just get us back home to Eastover, maybe we can just wait for Sam.

I hate walking through these forests especially with Wilson on my back. Thank goodness for this blanket. So far we haven't come across any really dangerous situations. We hear the occasional grunt of a big cat and sometimes hear gunfire in the distance but nothing too close. I have done my best to avoid any noticeable war zones. I know our good luck won't last very long but each day brings us closer to Riviera.

Today I was able to gather some new berries. I had only been able to find blue ones. They weren't blueberries because they had a green center and they were very tart. These are red and sweet. They are too small to be cherries but taste just as good. Up ahead, I see a lake in the clearing. Maybe I can catch a fish or two and we can have a proper dinner tonight. I found a stick earlier today. On one of our first dates, Sam taught me how to fish using only my hands and a stick. Her father was a military man as well and taught her some survival tips in case she ever needed them. I never thought I would actually use any of that training.

I got a rock and sharpened it one end until I felt it was sharp enough. I saw a couple of fish swimming in the lake. I have tried and succeeded a couple of times and actually caught a fish. I think I might be getting good at this. I laid Wilson on the ground next to me as I knelt down on the shoreline and waited. One fish came closer and closer. I pulled back my arm waiting for just the right moment and flung the spear down into the water. I missed. Maybe I am not as good as I thought. But it was still early and I was not ready to give up just yet. After a couple of hours and dozens of failed attempts, I managed to catch two fish. It wasn't a lot but it will do. Now to find shelter for the night. It was almost dark and I had no idea where we were going to stay. I guess I shouldn't have spent so much time on the fish.

I picked up Wilson. He was such a happy baby. He had a big bright smile on his face as always. Not a care in the world.

"Looking at you makes this seem not so horrible," I said to him. He reached for my nose with a small giggle. "Come on. Let's find somewhere to get comfy for the night."

I put the fish I had caught on the stick I used early. I put Wilson on my back and started walking back into the forest. This isn't the first time I had been out late searching for shelter. Fortunately, there were a lot of barns and homes out there. I wasn't sure why so many of them were vacant. Maybe they struck it rich and moved closer into the cities. We were almost out of the forest and back on the road when I heard a low growl not far from me. I turned around and there was a jaguar. It's piercing yellow eyes staring at me through the leaves.

I froze. I didn't know what to do. I backed away slowly never taking my eyes off the big cat. I had to think fast. I looked down at the fish I had just caught. I guess we won't have a proper meal tonight. I threw the fish toward the cat hoping that would appease it but it only seems to anger the animal. He lunged towards us and I took off. Wilson started waling. I pulled him to my front. There was no way I was letting it get my boy. We made it to the road and I thought the animal would lose interest but it kept charging toward us. I kept running until we came to this little old farmhouse. It looks like someone is home.

I rush up to it and bang on the doors.

"Help! My son and I are being chased by a jaguar," I scream.

A woman comes and opens the door and I barrel inside just as the cat catches up to us. I look out the window and see it pacing on the road before it turns back toward the forest.

"Thank you," I said out of breath. "I was sure we were done for."

"It's no problem. I wanted to make sure your boy was safe," she said as she walked over to a chair by the fire.

"What's your name? I would like to properly thank you."

"Amelia...Amelia Bertravksi."

"Thank you Ms. Bertravksi."

She offered to let us stay the night and let us have dinner with her. For once I was glad to see an Ordinian.