The Long Dark - A Story

Just my imagination giving a story to the game.

------ The Long Dark a Story -------

      --- by silent Tempest ---

 

-- Chapter I - Return from Voyage --

 

  I spent my last day at the Trapper's House just packing my stuff

and getting ready for the quite a long track home. I was still

disappointed that whoever had left the stove on, never made it back.

And I couldn't justify, why would someone leave it on, if they didn't

mean to get back to a warm home.

  I left the note, as I did in all the houses, saying:

  "Whoever reads this, I am alive! Come find me at a Homestead in the Pleasant Valley

area. Follow the main road and you'll meet a big red barn, bit further is the homestead

and across of it on a hill is a radio station of sort.

  It's been 62 days since the disaster.

  All are welcome, hope I'm not alone..."

 

  The night was windy, which I had began to think off as a sign, that the next day

would be clear. But who could really say in this frozen hell?

  My presumptions have been true - luckily - and the day was close to windless with

a clear blue sky. I've slept in a bit, but I still knew that I'd make it home

by nightfall. I've decided to take the route I've gotten to the Valley the first time.

Through the Hydro Dam and down the ravine. It actually seemed a lot quicker than last

time, even though I had to cross the whole Mystery lake rift. The cave gave me a bit

of a problem as I have completely forgotten which route I went before.

Luckily I had more than enough lamp oil with me and didn't encounter any wildlife.

 

  It began snowing while I was navigating the cavern and the visibility has gotten

a bit worse, but since I practically knew where I was, it didn't matter, I've found

my way home easy enough. Just as I made my way up the boulder of the what once might

have been a road I saw a two-legged creature slowly walking towards my house.

 

--Chapter II - A Stranger--

 

  All those long dark days, I have waited for this moment. To see a human being,

not frozen to the bone, not shot in the head by own hand, or starved to death.

And of course I got a little scared too, in it's way, it was a new danger.

  I let go of my hunting rifle with my right arm and pulled it up to wave. The person

didn't notice me at first, but soon after he did. He stood there hesitating for a brief

moment, but then waved at me too and corrected his course to meet me halfway.

He was wearing skiing or outdoor clothes. Vivid in colour, but probably warm.

  I've spent weeks sewing myself clothes of wolf skins and deer hides. To me it was the

most resilient of attire. I even hunted more for the hides than meat, but having the

possibility of freezing it and storing, I've made myself sure, that none of the

game would go unused. At first, I was hesitant to kill the prey, but the need

drove me to. And only rarely did I myself become hunted. Fire or flare usually

kept the wild wolves at bay, but once I had to hurt it, to remind it,

that it is still man, who is at the top of the food chain.

  One day, a bear dared to come close to the homestead. I had a full magazine.

I shot at it from the porch-way, hit it to the side. It just made the beast angry

and it came running at me. I quickly closed the door and watched it through the glass

panned wall. To my surprise, the bear stopped its attack, licking the wound.

I felt sorry for it, but realized, that I had an advantage now. Opening the door slightly

I protruded the muzzle out and fired at its head. The meat of the bear filled my whole

freezer and I had to make another one of a plastic box. Had to do it in a way, that

the smell wouldn't attract the wolves. Which I never saw around the house, so I guess

I did.

  There was one other encounter with a bear. Much more deadly. In the time since my

plane had crashed, I was never closer to death than that time. I could write about

how bad it was, but it could be said short. I've gotten cocky. By the time I had more

food than I needed. And enough equipment to keep me safe and warm - though I didn't

yet processed the furs for clothes. The bear came from the south-east, probably

interested in those bunnies running around the maple alleys. 200 meters, I thought I

couldn't miss. But I only scratched the bear’s fur. Shot didn't scare it, came running

at me full speed. I shot 4 more times, but the bear was in deadly rage. I blacked out

after the hit and thought I was done. The bear must have been more hurt than hungry,

because it only tore my clothes apart. I was bleeding and my left leg was probably

shattered in pieces, but I could still see with my right eye and I saw the black

behemoth leaving. My thought was "If I am to go, so do you!", and so I focused all

of my remaining strength into the one shot. I aimed for the mass, but hit somewhere

close to ear. The bear wailed so loud it made me fall. And then it went silent.

  I've spent about an hour, just lying in the snow. Then I've got cold and limpidly

walked, or more likely crawled inside the house. I took some painkillers and used

the antiseptic on the flesh wounds. I then slept for a long long time. When I've

finally woken up, my whole body hurt as hell. I popped a pill and drank a lot,

spilling water on myself, then slept some more. I have recovered and even

managed to skin the bear. There was something about the house, which kept the

wolves away, never found out what it was.

  I've been through a lot, but always alone. And now, things have changed.

 

  We met and I offered my hand for a shake. The person did too and then pulled down the

thick scarf, revealing a face of a woman. Now it had been a long time, since I've seen

a woman, and even longer since I've been with one, but she, in that moment, was an angel

sent down from heaven. To guide me through this frozen nightmare.

  "Hi," I said, but my throat failed me. I haven't used it in 3 days.

  "Hey," she said and smiled, bringing a warm feeling to the back of my neck.

  "Let's go inside, I've come quite a long way."

  "Yeah, sure. That would be for the best."

  She began to lead me back, but I automatically took the lead, it was MY home after all.

We took the northern door in and I was welcomed to the smell of just burnt out fire

and cured hide. I put my rifle on the kitchen island and my backpack next to it, then

took of my top layer and gloves.

  "Hi again," I said and chuckled, "I'm Lucas," I said and offered the hand again, which

I almost pulled away, but she took it as if we haven't before and told me her name

- Jessica.

  "How long have you been here?" I asked.

  "About three days. Yeah, arrived on the evening three days ago. Been inside ever-since,

because it's just so cozy and, well not freezing. Also there was a huge food supply, the

person who left the notes must have prepared this for us, there still is a lot, though

I've ran out of most wood just now."

  "Really? I'm sure that I've had more wood than three days’ supply," I said and opened

the cupboards where I've stored wood for cooking, they were full.

  "Oh, I didn't look there," she said and laughed. "So you're the one, who was leaving

the notes all around the coast?"

  "Yeah, that was me, did so about 2 weeks ago. How did you not find the wood? I always

search the houses thoroughly."

  "I do too, but here I just opened the fridge and saw it popping full. There was a lot

of wood already next to the stove so I haven't even bothered. Also wanted to check

the surroundings and forage for wood while I was at it."

  "I guess that I was hoarding a bit, yeah," I said and scratched the back of my head

with a grin. "I have to unpack my stuff, so if you still want to go out you can."

  "No, don't need to and it's getting late. Can I help you somehow?"

  "Not really, I don't know if you went through my equipment, but I have a way of

sorting things out, maybe a bit OCD I guess, but there wasn't much else to do in the

past months."

  "You've been here for how long exactly?"

  "Hmm, my plane crashed on the day of the disaster, obviously, then I somehow walked

around the place, not really knowing what to do and where to go. I was the only one

out of around sixty people who survived. I was in the middle of the plane and it was the

least occupied area. People in the front hit the mountain, the aft went quickly under,

sank to the lake. One guy bled out on me. I have no idea how bad it must have been

elsewhere. We'll talk later. Jeez, I have to shut up. Sorry. Didn't speak in a long time

and feel like I have to tell every detail. So to sum it up. I think that I found this

place on the 5th day since the disaster. Nearly died, but this place saved me."

  "Yeah, you do talk a lot, but it's so nice to hear voice of someone. We'll talk later,

you do your things. Are you hungry? I can make something."

  "You’d be a darling, thank you," I smiled at her then began to unpack my stuff, which

I did at a sluggish tempo. I didn't want to be unpacking right now, I wanted to talk

and talk and talk. But I had some things that needed to be done. Saplings of birch, that

I had to place in a way, so that I could shape them for arrows. I had some furs and pieces

of hide which needed to be treated before they'd go bad. I realized how bad I must have

smelled, but then again, we both must have already gotten used to the stench. Survival

was the most important thing, cleanliness didn't really matter.

 

  We dined a rabbit-crackers stew, which was actually better than I have expected it

to be. I complimented the flavour and Jessica had told me, that hare was the only

thing she was able to hunt. Then I asked the question that haunted me at nights.

  "What about other people? Have you seen some? Did the whole civilization collapse?"

  "Pretty much," she said frowning and looking blankly at the soup, "It was awful.

I was in Edmonton when s**t hit the fan - pardon my language. Everything that ran on

electricity broke. And only after that have we realized, how reliant on it we were.

  There was chaos and people died as hysteria broke out. I've decided to rather stay inside

the house for a couple of days, even though I knew that I would have been hungry.

  But I did the right thing, staying inside. Saved my life probably. I fortified one room

with everything that could keep the warmth in and it still wasn't enough. The temperatures

went as much as minus fifty degree Celsius at night and around minus twenty during the day.

When all of my food ran out, I've left the apartment and went outside. It was one of those

sunny days and yet I almost froze to death. I saw bodies on the street, some died because of

the cold, trying to get somewhere they thought would be warmer, but some were shot

or beaten to death. Catastrophe really shows the best of humanity.

  I went to the store, but there were some men in coats with blood stains.

I ran for my life, even though they didn't follow. Since then I have been very careful.

Turned out that those who survived made groups, but it was more like gangs. They took the

malls and made them their outposts. But the open space got cold quickly. So they had to move

elsewhere. Left some guards, but those weren't pleased with the job and so I could snatch

the clothes I'm still wearing. Proved to be most useful.

  After I've got some food and stuff, I've decided that I have to leave the city.

But I had no means of transport. And a few hours later, I have met Greta. She was in

her mid-fifties. Turned out that she was in love with camping in the real wilderness.

She was visiting her sister and the only person of their family who had survived.

Because the poor fellows went by car to an aqua-park on the outskirts of the city.

She never told me, but I think that she had to find them somehow. No matter what I said,

she was certain of their death.

  Anyway. Greta and I, we gathered supplies and went to a dog centre. She said that there

will sure be some huskies and that she'd be able to make a sleigh. And we actually did.

Then we had to decide where to go. Greta lived up north. Way too north to ever get there

with just a bunch of dogs. But neither of us really wanted to go south. Oh, forgot to tell

you. On the way to the centre we met a man. He somehow knew how to make a radio out of some wires. No battery needed. And we found out that there's a transmission going on in loops. It claimed that a solar flare had ridden Earth of magnetosphere and that's why the

temperatures dropped. And also that it was world-wide. And that no matter where you went,

the temperatures would be the same. So Greta and I, we both shared the idea, that people

went south and that we would just find dead people there, or worse, people who had survived

and gone rogue, feral. I've seen them, somehow, the madness got them. Not a disease, but

a state of mind that the world had turned to hell and nothing matters anymore.

  I guess that the unluckiest people were those, who have seen their family members die

and then met the gangs and either were killed or joined. Doesn't really matter, does it?"

  "So you're saying that the whole globe is frozen. That sucks."

  "I guess it's worse than just 'sucks'," she said.

  "Sorry, it's just. I've been alone all that time. And part of me hoped that it was better

someplace else. That at least my family would be safe. They're in Europe, Czech Republic.

That's my place of origin. I hoped that they'll be alive. That even though I'll never see

them again, that they'll somehow make it. Like I did."

  Jessica touched my arm and tried to give me a hopeful look.

  "Maybe they have. I sure hope mine did. They're in Washington, the state. So pretty

much the same s**t as here. But who knows, maybe they've gotten lucky, right?"

  "We can only hope for the best," I said and meant it. "So, how did it go with the dogs?

Was there anything else in the broadcast?"

  "Not really. Magnetic storm fucked the whole world up. Nothing that ran on electricity would work. And seek shelter. It’s cold.

The dogs, well it was fine for two weeks. We've decided to go north. The major reason was

that people up here were better prepared for such cold weather. Which was true. But as it

hit us in mid-summer, they weren't prepared enough. Greta got cold one day. So we stayed

at a motel in the middle of nowhere for a couple of days. We had a map. I wouldn't make

it back and forth in time to bring her some medicine, but I tried anyway. I found her

dead in the bed. She looked almost peaceful, tucked under the sheets."

  Jessica began to cry softly, so I held her shoulder and she leaned onto my arm, then

dried her eyes with fists and smiled saying: "Shouldn't cry, it's time to celebrate.

Finally found someone after such a long time. And how nice it has to be to you, you haven't

met anyone since the day?"

  "It's OK to cry. You lost someone you cared for. And no, I haven't met anyone.

I've made myself at home here. Prepared myself. Made clothes and gear. Then I had enough, but couldn't battle the loneliness anymore. So I went to search for people.

  The first time I thought I found someone was a kick in the groin. I've entered a house and

it seemed occupied. Like, there were cans opened and stuff ready for winter. I went upstairs

and there was a guy, sitting with a shotgun in his hands, no head."

  "Yeah, I've been there too. Didn't you smell it?"

  "Not really. Maybe I was just hours late, who knows. But I don't get it. He had enough food

and water, why suicide?"

  "Perhaps his love died and he couldn't take it."

  "Could be. Also before I went on the trip. I've been to the radio station across, you seen

it?"

  "Yeah did, that's how I found this place. I hate when the fog gets thick. Got lost so

many times, continue please."

  "Yeah, the radio tower. I found a rifle there, clothes. Seemed like someone had been there.

Logs ready at the fire-bin. Left a note there. Nobody came in a month. That's how I got

the idea of leaving notes. But now that you've told me about the gangs, I'm a bit worried."

  "Oh don't be, I think that they won't go up north. Why would they?" They have enough

equipment from the shops, the only people who'd go here, would be those running away

from them."

  "The might run out of food and think north to be better hunting ground. But idk. Maybe

it's nothing to worry about. So, where was I? Right, well I went through a cave and got

to the coast. It was empty. One house on a lake seemed settled in, but maybe someone just

had venison in their freezer before the disaster. I went house to house, leaving notes.

But it seemed pretty abandoned. Then I went through a ravine, which was quite a dangerous

journey, to a place called Mystery lake, as it stated on a map near a camp office building.

  I've had a terrible weather there and couldn't find a place to sleep in. Stumbled upon

a fallout shelter, yeah, real underground bunker, but for one person only. There was food

and water, but nothing else much. Spent the night there. Next day, what do you know?

Frozen hell-land weather still. Somehow I found my way out of the woods and smelled coal

burning. I found a hut with light coming out the windows and smoke up the chimney.

I felt joyous. There was nobody inside, but it seemed as if someone had just left.

I've decided to stay there for a couple of days, well it was like, surely the person

will return any minute now, any day, a week? Nobody came. I found a dead body not too far

away from the building, but it might not have been the guy. Who knows?"

  "That's quite sad."

  "Yeah. So except for dying or dead, you're the first human I've met since the day.

We should name the day somehow. The Day. No, that could get misunderstood. You called it

somehow? How did you end up here if you've started in Edmonton?"

  "We called it Fuckday with Greta, but that's not a proper name, is it?"

  "No. We'll figure something out later."

  "Edmonton is about two hundred kilo-meters away. With the dogs, we must have travelled one-fifty up north. Then I went forty for the meds. Took me two days, I'm bad with the dogs. After I've lost Greta, I continued north, but during the night, the dogs somehow got free. I don't know what I did wrong. I thought that it would be the end. But I kept on walking. And I spent almost a week on the feet. I've pushed the sleigh, because it was full of food and gear and also had a tent with myself, which I could use in case there was no building to be found.

  The sleigh broke and I didn't even try to fix it. I just went on, thinking I'd just die on

the road. I didn't really care anymore. Then, I don't know how many days passed, I found your

note. And I didn't even believe it. Like, I thought that whoever wrote it was dead already,

like the rest of people. But I found more and some had the date on them. I looked at the map

and found a farm and a radio station next to it. And so I headed out. I also have to thank

you, that you didn't take all the food there was in the houses on the way. Because otherwise

I wouldn't have made it."

  "You're welcome," I nodded.

  "I didn't go through a cave, but I found another way on the map and that's about it."

  "So it wasn't easy for either of us. I don't really think that it was easy for anyone."

  "Sure wasn't."

  "Thanks for the meal again. I'll take a bath and probably go to sleep, do you need

anything?"

  "Nothing that I could think of right now. Maybe, well. I guess that I have slept in your

bed."

  "You did?" I laughed.

  "Yeah, sorry about that. When I came here, I thought that you're gone, dead gone. And it

seemed the best option, to sleep in the double-bed. Sorry," she smiled tilting her head.

  "No problem. But the bed must have smelled awful. I only finished with the plumbing about three or four days before I left."

  "The plumbing?"

  "Yeah, for hot, well at least warm water."

  "You've got hot water, are you f*****g serious?" she looked at me in disbelief.

  "Well yeah, in a way, come, I'll show you." And so I did. I showed her that I have created

a very badly done water heater. You could say that I've basically put a fire bellow the

bathtub, but that wasn't really true. I've made a mechanism, that boiled water and put the

steam dripping into the tub, but also heated the tub itself a bit. The bad part, was that

you had to bring all the water to the upper floor. The plus was, that you could use the water

later to flush the downstairs toilet. I've made hole in the wall which was unnoticeable and

I wondered how depressed must have Jessica been, if she hadn't noticed and what she was up

to, while I was gone.

  "If you want to, you can take a bath before me. I'm sure that I'm dirtier than you."

  "Is that so?" she pierced me with her eyes.

  "I meant as in, you know. Real dirt," I chuckled.

  "I will be totally selfish, but yeah, I really do want the bath."

  "No problem, help me carry the water upstairs and when you're finished, just leave the

water in, I'll use it just after you."

  "If you want to."

  "Yeah, I don't mind."

  When the water had been hauled up, she closed the door and I remembered that I had found

a female shower-gel in the house. So I knocked on the door and told her loudly that there is

a soap in the drawer, on which she responded that she already knows, yet thanked me.

  The bathroom smelled lovely after her bath and from the quick glimpse of her when we were exchanging the positions, she looked absolutely gorgeous. Her hair got from dusty black to a playful shade of brown, her face looked ten years younger and her eyes - even in the

twilight of the oil lamp - shone grey-blue, kind and merry.

 

-- Chapter III - A Warm Night ---

  The bath was quite cold, but still better than washing myself with snow. Jessica spent

almost an hour in the tub, but I didn't blame her. If she hadn't had a warm bath since

the Fuckday, or The Day or what, she deserved it to be long. I even shaved myself and put

on one of the perfumes I've found in one of the houses. When you have enough food and

firewood, you find time to hoard even stuff like this. Though you won't use it.

  I put on fresh clothes, not meant for cold, but we've been keeping the house warm enough

anyway. Jessica had found a dress with flowers somewhere and looked lovely. I surprised her

with two cups and a bottle of wine.

  "I hope you drink."

  "Sure do, would be bad if I didn't huh?"

  "Well, people say that I'm a good drunk, but they're drunk when they say that." I poured

us both half a cup and we clinked the cups with 'cheers'. We spoke about the things we

had in our heads, but only could share with ourselves before and I felt sorry for

Jess - that's how I began to call her - that she had to listen to all my mumbling.

It has just been so long since I've spoken to anyone and even though my jaw hurt,

I couldn't stop.

  Jessica smelled lovely and looked pure beautiful. There was the sort of attraction

between us, that had been caused by prolonged solitude. We laughed and when we did,

we touched each other and before we knew it, we were kissing passionately on the couch

in front of the hearth.

 !--- Scene removed, register and view the 18+ version if you’d like ---!

 We went to the double-bed and huddled under the thick sheets. After 2 months of

being alone, I have finally fallen asleep without worry.

 

-- Chapter IV - Ice and Love --

 

  We spent half the next day in bed, because the morning sex took all our strength -

yes it was that furious and good. But we have gotten hungry and found out that we've

burnt quite a lot of logs the previous night. So Jess took care of the food and I went for

wood. Somehow the outside chill didn't have the gruesome effect. There was a kindle in my

heart, knowing that I have someone to go back to. I found myself thinking about her all the

time and got sloppy. A lone wolf was stalking me. But I guess it knew who it was dealing

with. I had my loaded rifle and hatchet and half full pack of fir wood. I took two pieces

of the wood and banged them shouting at the wolf. It took it a while to flee, so it

wasn't starving. But I have realized, that I've lost my focus and spent the rest of the

forage looking behind my back. Which I've normally done, just this time I was aware of it.

  On my third trip for wood snow began to fall. At first the wind was just a breeze,

but it gained on strength and by the time I was returning it was nearing a storm.

We ate and talked and cuddled on the couch. Kissed each other and told stories from the old

world. Spoke about films and music and pitied that we'll probably never have a chance to

see or hear them again. It made us talk about the future and we have both agreed, that we

would just enjoy the present and talk about it in a week.

  I haven't burned all the books in the house - on my first few days, I just wanted to be

warm - and even collected some in the houses, but not much as it was an unnecessary load.

So we took turns reading a book about an orphan magician who strived through poverty

and got into a university because of his smarts. It was nice to read something romantic

like that. Made us forget our own struggles.

  When the darkness came, so did the blizzard. I've lived through one like it and spent

the whole night worrying that the house would collapse. I guess that we were both scared even then, as the wooden structure creaked under the weight of the storm, but I had the feeling of protector and held her in my arms. I've fallen in love with her and didn't even notice.

 

  The storm lasted three more days and it was snowing heavily until the end of the week.

We ate all the perishables and I had to go outside and down to the cellar for more meat.

But even with the two of us, the food would last another week. A whole month if we would

have rationed it. We stopped burning wood so much and only used it for cooking or when

the temperature indoors was below zero. The problem was, that we had a limited supply of

matches and overall, all things that couldn't be found in the nature. We found a book about

indigenes and read through the part of fire making. It took us a lot to make it work and we

still had trouble finding the right tinder. We had discussions about how to survive.

Made lists of things we would need to do in order to make our survival easier and

sustainable. We had a rough plan for the next month with trips planned, of course not by

date, but by weather. We have decided, that we will be staying in the homestead and began

to write down daily temperatures, because we wanted to know, if it is getting colder or not.

  Turned out that it was actually getting warmer. But since there were no more blizzards

after the long one, the data might have been wrong. We've made trips together and also on

our own based on the need for a lot of material or scouting and covering more ground.

We've also written down the resources in each of the accessible buildings, because we

couldn't just take them all at once and frankly, didn't need all of it at once. We usually

ended up putting all the stuff to one place and hiding it from the curious wolves and

freeze.

 

  On the 82nd day since the disaster - in the end we didn't find a better name - I've been

hunting quite far from the homestead. The wildlife had learnt, that it would be unwise to

go there and we've only had few hares to trigger the snares. I've left the rifle at home,

since we've found a Colt piston in one of the houses and I've used the self-made bow for

hunting. I've had just three arrows, because I knew that I'd only have one try to take a

stag or deer down.

  And so I've been waiting in a bush, breathing slowly and watching a deer come close to

my bait. I've had the arrow at the ready. My feet hurt from the long duck, but now I was

ready to strike. The deer scanned the surroundings, then began to eat the stalks.

I've slowly drawn the bowstring and aimed for the head the best I could. I've spent few

hours everyday by practicing on a snowman and had quite a belief in myself, but knew that

neither the bow, nor the arrows were made perfect. I let go and saw the arrow as it went

straight through its head. I felt remorse for the creature and even the thought that at

least I didn't have to chase another one, didn't ease my mind. It was something I've been

struggling with since I've met Jess. I felt so much love towards her that I didn't want

violence in my life. But the world is cruel and if one wants to survive, the other

has to perish. I've skinned the poor thing on site as it would have taken me too much

and effort to bring it back home.

  When I was nearly finished cutting out the meat a wolf appeared on the top of a nearby

hill. And it was the same one I've met before, the one which I've scared by the logs.

I was sure of it and pulled out my gun. The wolf stared at me for a while. And I felt

some natural connection with the beast. It began to walk from side to side and crept closer

to me. I stood up and looked around. There were no other, but I couldn't be sure.

  The wolf let out a quiet whimper and sat 10 meters away from me. I guess it was waiting for me to finish with the deer, hoping it could chew the bones. I threw a bone with chunks of

meat near it and the wolf took it in his teeth and hopped a bit further to eat.

I've thrown another one and finished my work. Some wolves were scared easily. When there

was a pack of them, it was me who ran away. Once I didn't notice them and had to kill two

of them spending a full magazine. We still had enough bullets. But that was relative.

Enough for now. Not enough for a year.

  As I was leaving, I still kept an eye on the wolf. It went to the carcass and searched for

piece of meat. But there was none left. At least not enough for a full stomach. And

so the wolf had decided to follow me. It wasn't growling and it didn't look threatening.

I was cautious, holding the pistol the whole time, but I wanted to tame it. I took out a

hunk of meat and held it outstretched, offering it to the wolf. It licked its nose and

looked at me hesitantly. It wasn't like the rest of the wolves. It was a different kind and

part of me had it for a dog. But it was still a wolfhound. I waited for it to move and it

did, slowly and with head held down. It bit to the meat and I let go. As it ate, I tried to

fondle its head, but the beast gnarled at me. I had it for an instinct and continued, while

aiming the weapon at its face. The wolf stopped paying attention to my hand and just ate.

  "Hello there wolfie, I hope you won't eat me next. Because if you'll try to, I have seven

bullets at the ready. And you wouldn't like those, would you?" I spoke with the creature.

  "I wonder if you really are a wolf or if you're a dog. Did you have a master, huh? And

what's your name, ha? I would call you a 'Wolfie' wolf. That's a nice name, isn't it?

Do you like that name Wolfie, do you?" The wolfhound looked at me tilting its head. I stroke

and patted its back and the wolf barked without sounding threatening.

  "Would you like to follow me home? I would give you food and you would keep the monsters away, what do you say?" The wolf stood silent. "Well I'm gonna go now. And if you want to, you can come with me." I said and began to leave, the wolfhound stood there and shortly wailed. I turned around and patted my leg for it to follow, it understood and we got on the journey back home.

 

  "Now Wolfie, you have to know, that I don't live alone. Your master has a lady, she's

the most beautiful thing in the world. Yes she is, don't look at me that way. You may

be cute, even though you look quite ferocious. But you're a good Wolfie, aren't you boy?"

  Jessica was working on a tree we have chopped down and saw me coming with the wolf

at my side. She looked terrified at first, then just curious.

  "Meet Wolfie, I guess we have a dog now," I said.

  "Wolfie huh?" they both stared at each other "Doesn't look like a dog, but it's not a wolf either, is it?"

  "I don't know. At least not really like the ones I've killed." I petted Wolfie

and he lay in the snow, with his belly up. Jessica laughed and I played with the dog for

a little while, then handed a piece of meat to Jess and told her to feed Wolfie, that it was

the way I tamed him - yes, it was a he - and then I went to store the meat, guts and hide.

  At first I had a lot of trouble skinning an animal. Even cutting the meet of the bone was

difficult. But with practice comes perfection. When I came back it was Jess rubbing Wolfie's

belly. I interrupted them and led Wolfie to the dog house that was in front of the farmstead.

He liked it and made himself at home, chewing a bone. I still thought that it would be better

to let him sleep inside during the night, but not now, since we still didn't know him all

that well. Then I've got an idea. Using the nearby haystacks and improving his house with

them. They also turned out to be a good tinder and I felt stupid for not figuring that

out sooner.

  We made a good team the three of us. Even though we had another mouth to feed, it wasn't a problem since Wolfie turned out to be quite useful during the hunting. Jess and I were happy. We didn't really have stuff to fight over. We both knew that we had to work together to survive and we were united by this common goal and the love that blossomed between us.

  The hard and hostile conditions didn't leave room for weak people. You had to be fit, you

had to be smart and you had to know how to use it and adapt to the frozen world. Jessica

had all of those attributes. She used to work in management for a huge logging company and

was into art a lot. So we had almost endless supply of topics to talk about. And when

we didn't talk, we worked or made love. Or simply fucked, because we could and didn't

have anything better to do. Things would have been a bit different if we were able to

grow some vegetables. But it was too cold outdoors and there wasn't enough light indoors.

  We tried nonetheless. We had made the glass-walled entry porch into a greenhouse and

before we put a plant there, we would water the seed inside the house. Digging up dirt was

hard, because it was completely frozen and finding seeds was even harder. But we tried our

best and the life wasn't just a routine. We had a simple goal of surviving and an

additional one of making the life better. The temperatures were going up, but very slowly.

It had seemed as if the Earth was healing itself and on the 117th day AD (after disaster)

the snow around the house began to melt.

 

-- Chapter V - Autumn --