Just Like Old Times

Morning

"But father," Brian began. "Must we leave our home?"

The man looked much like an older Brian, except the man had blue eyes, a tall, lean frame, and short, auburn hair. He sighed in mild irritation. "Yes, my son," he replied. "We must leave. Our home, our country, is dying. We must go to America."

Brian, with black hair and green eyes like his mother, took a moment before nodding in understanding. Just then, two little girls, ages five and three, ran into the kitchen. The eldest girl, also with blue eyes and long auburn hair, ran to her brother and clung to his leg with glee. "Brian! Please play wit' me!"

Brian smiled with an awe struck shake of his head. The other girl, Janet, with green eyes and long black hair, like her mother, ran and held on tightly to Brian's other leg. "Play wit' me too!"

The first girl pouted with jealousy. "Hey, that's not fair! I asked him first!"

Brian laughed and started walking around like a slow giant. Both girls kept their legs and arms wrapped around his legs. "Lillian, Janet. I can play with ya both."

The children's father, Jack, huffed out a deep chuckle just before he took a sip from his coffee cup, watching his son drag the two little girls around. The wife of Jack and mother of Brian, Lillian, and Janet, walked in with a basket of newly cleaned and dried clothes. She groaned in alarm and pressed a hand into her lower back, her swollen abdomen helping her balance the basket. Jack strolled over to her and grabbed the basket. He kissed her cheek with deep affection.

"Are you not faring well, Abby?" he asked.

Abby, long black hair and green eyes, gazed at her husband with love shining in her eyes. "Yes, dear. Just the wee bairn kicking around my insides like an angry mule."

Jack gave her another kiss. "You should rest, mo chuisle. Let the chiselers and I do the work for today, aye?"

Abby beamed with gratitide. "Alright, but you'll be needing a hearty breakfast first. Lord knows you canna work on an empty stomach."

"We'll help you, Mummy!" Lillian shouted with the enthusiasm of a rooster at dawn. When Janet didn't say anything, Lillian nudged her with an elbow. "Won't we?"

Janet rubbed her side and stole an angry glance at her big sister. "Yes, Mummy."

Three rather large wolves smashed their way through the front door with a bang and a crack. They ran to the kitchen, intent on devouring the entire family. Lillian screamed.

Lilly woke up with a start, immediately remembering where she was. Her dark eyes focused on where her fire once was. It'd burned itself out. The pair of wolves she'd met hours ago were asleep, huddled together for warmth and comfort. When the hell did she fall asleep? Lilly sat up slowly, yawning and stretching, once again being careful to not alert the young predators. As she averted her gaze to the cave entrance, Lilly was relieved to see the windy blizzard died down to a slow, gentle array of clumpy snowflakes. Rays of sunshine beamed down at the opening.

Lilly packed up all her items that were left scattered on the cave floor. She grabbed her bow, her quiver of arrows, and her repeater. She had to travel light with only the necessities. After double checking what she needed, Lilly was satisfied with her decision. The auburn haired woman took one more glance at her dead horse, mortified at the amount of blood and bone and flesh. The loss of her friend was still raw, but she had to move. She had to find Dutch and the rest of the gang. As she was leaving, one of the wolves opened its eyes and lifted its head to watch her. Lilly stopped in her tracks and gave a small wave to it.