Tor dropped his bags and began rubbing his shoulders. His straps had started to dig into his skin. He wiped the sweat dripping down his forehead with the back of his hand. Tor stretched his stiff legs which ached with exhaustion. He carefully removed his boots off of his sore feet. He wiggled his toes which delighted in the freedom. There was still a few hours of light but lots to get done. The intense summer heat still lingered in the air.

Being on the constant move was so draining. It took so much energy trying to stay alive and trying to find the next meal, set up a shelter, make a fire and scrounging up any supplies they could get their hands on then rinse and repeat. It was so much easier before. There was no fear of getting mulled in the middle of the night by a bear that just wanted to fuck you up for no other reason. Calories were something to be counted and limited; now every single one could mean the difference from surviving or becoming worm food. The worms, coincidentally, would make a great snack for the surviving members of your group.

That was before the planet become overcrowded like a giant pimple ready to be exploded. The poor were shoved into tinier homes closer together. They received the scrapes that weren’t good enough for the rich. Earth got worse and worse. Forests were burnt down. Deserts expanded and stretched out their sandy fingers on more and more of the planet. Ocean rose and acidified engulfing entire coastal cities with only their skyscraper poking out of the top of the water.

Then one spring weekend the Earth went silent.

Tor stood on the edge of a lake. The sun glistened off of the calm dark blue water. The mountains across the lake were covered in bright young evergreen trees. Tall trees encircled the entire lake. Tor felt at home as he stood on the side of the lake at took a deep breath of fresh lake air into his lungs as memories flooded his brain. He spent many summers at this lake with his parents, his younger sister and he had even brought Kira up here a few times. He had caught his first fish on this lake but he was too timid to keep it for dinner and released it back into the dark blue water.

Tor striped down to his boxer briefs then tip toed through the twigs and rocks to the edge of the water. He stuck a foot into the water first and then quickly retracted it. A little colder than he desired. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He felt arms wrap around him then he was falling face first into the water. Tor lurched out of the water and brushed his hair back as he scowled. The first thing he heard was laughter all around, then he saw Dy was standing waist high in the water with a smirk across her face wearing only her bra and underwear. She stood with her hands on her hips and her long dirty blond hair dangling over her shoulders. Water dripped off of her hair then slowly down her pale skin which seemed to emit its own glow as if she was an angel. Even the most stunning midsummer sunset would cower in jealousy at her beauty.

Tor splashed at Dy, she quickly covered her face as Tor tackled her into the water returning the favour. He gave one last little splash when she emerged. They locked eyes as they stood there smiling at each other. Tor looked away and grimaced as he tried not to cry. He trudged towards the shore. Dy reached out and tried to pull him back towards her but he wasn’t going to turn around. Dy spun around and sat down in the water and stared off across the lake.

Tor sat down in a sunny spot on the edge of the lake to dry off. He felt less grimy and sweaty after his push into the lake. He sat in silence for a few minutes until he couldn’t bare it anymore and had to distract himself. He got up and grabbed a shirt out of his back pack and struggle to put it onto his still wet torso then slipped on his shorts over his still quite wet underwear. He cleaned off his feet with his old socks then put on his cleanest pair and his boots. He grabbed his rifle then headed out into the woods.

Wyn came up beside Dy in the water and sat down beside her.

“He is just an asshole, right?” Wyn said as she smiled widely a Dy. Dy continued to stare off into the distance.

“He recently lost someone very close to him,” Dy said.

“I am sorry to hear that,” Wyn said, “what was her name?”

“Kira,” Dy said as she sniffled a little bit.

“How did she… die?” Wyn asked

“She died 50 years ago, from the virus,” Dy said.

Wyn squinted and scratched her head.

“Tor was alive before the… how is that even possible?” Wyn asked.

Dy didn’t respond.

Tor trampled through the thick underbrush. He started to collect any big dry pieces of wood he could find. He had a big stack of wood in his arms when he collapsed to his knees. He dropped them all onto the ground in front of him. Tor started sobbing. He missed Kira so fucking much. He missed her bright green eyes and her cute little smile with those sharp pointy canine teeth. He missed the way she smelt. He missed all the moments they had spent together and the ones they would never get to share. Tor wept on his knees for a while then he picked up the largest piece of wood and tossed it as hard as he could at the nearest tree. It broke in half and sent out a large bang. He wiped the tears and snot from his face. He slowly stood up then brushed the leaves and dirt off of himself. Tor gathered all the wood back into his arms then headed back to the others.

The fire roared into life. Sparks flew up into the cold air then vanished just as quickly as they appeared. The sun was just setting behind the mountains across the lake. The few fluffy clouds in the sky were bright pink and they reflected perfectly off of the calm lake as if the underworld was also enjoying a beautiful sunset. A family of ducks were swimming in a v-shape a few feet from the shore. Tor pulled his hoodie on then warmed his hands in the heat of the fire. The tent had been set up. It was a little tattered and was mostly duck tape now but it had held up good so far. Ok, it was a piece of shit that barely kept them dry and only a little warm at night but it was their piece of shit.

Tor’s stomach growled. He remembered the jerky he had confiscated. He ran to the tent and opened his bag and grabbed the jerky. He started jamming it in his face. He had nearly inhaled it all when he thought maybe he should have inspected it and maybe he should have shared some of it. He resealed the rest of the jerky in the bag and put it in his pocket. He noticed the bottle of scotch in his backpack. They gained a new member and everyone was safe and sound that is reason enough to celebrate. He opened the bottle and took a swig. He winced and stuck out his tongue and moved it back and forth. He capped the bottle and headed back to the fire.

As Tor reunited with the group he hid his surprise behind his back then offered the group the small remaining bit of jerky. Dy and Alex both grabbed onto a side of the last remaining piece of jerky and ripped it apart. Dy got the bigger half. She hastily ate it with a slight grin and it truly tasted better at least that is what Alex’s face declared. The delicious smell of the two large rainbow trout cooking over the fire permeated through the forest. Dy had come through again. Tor was starting to like not always having to be the responsible one.

After everyone had finished their fish and their Douglas Fir tips tea Tor brought out his gift.

“Um, so, I am not sure…but here is to us,” Tor said

“Wow, amazing speech, we have a real President Kennedy in our presence,” Alex said.

“How does a dip shit like you know what a President is, let alone can name one,” Tor said back.

“Did you little bum already take a sip?” Dy said as she tilted her head, raised her eyebrows and smirked. Tor scratched the back of his head as he gave a big fake smile showing lots of teeth.

“You bitch!” Dy said as she snatch the bottle and took two big gulps before tossing it over to Alex. The bottle hit him in his belly. Alex hesitantly opened the bottle, smelt it, It smelt like poor choices, then he took a mouth full. He started to panic. He didn’t want to swallow and he didn’t want to look like a baby. Eventually Alex’s ego won out and he forced it down. He made a face like he just licked the asshole of a guy who diet consists only of lemons. He quickly passed the bottle around the fire. Wyn was up next.

“To new friends,” Wyn said as she toasted with the bottle then took a sip. She passed it over Maizy’s head back to Tor.

They drank the rest of the bottle and danced around the fire as they laughed and sang until they couldn’t anymore. The fire died down and only the embers were left pulsating with a red heart beat of light and heat. Dy and Tor lied on the cold moist forest floor looking up through the canopy at the starry night sky. The milky way was more vivid and brighter than Tor had ever seen. He looked over at Dy and they stared into each other’s eyes. Tor started to feel a weird sensation, deep in his belly. At first he thought it was a strange romantic feeling but it started to grow deep in his belly. Nausea.

Tor quickly got up which only made it worse. Time was ticking. He didn’t think he just briskly walked in a random direction with his hand covering his mouth. He got as far as he could before he no longer could then he hid behind a tree and puked. Tor just hoped that he had gotten far enough away so the others couldn’t hear him, but there was no way the silent forest dulled any of the noise. He puked again and then again. Ok he is good, wait once more, and a few spits.

— — —

Tor woke up disoriented and groggy. He blinked each of his eyes a few times trying to kick start his brain’s boot up process. His head was pounding and his stomach was sore. He slowly raised his head off of the ground but it brought with it a large twig that was stuck to his cheek. He brushed it off with his hand which was wet… wet. Tor had slept literally in the lake. He sat up and rubbed his jaw and he moved it from side to side. He wrapped the blanket, which someone had put over him at some point during the night, tighter around him into a cocoon of warmth. He brushed a slug off of the blanket on his left shoulder. He sat there for a while never wanting to move again.

Tor heard a panicked voice call out “Maizy” then he heard it again louder. He shot up out of the blanket and started to move towards the voice when he realized he was standing in a shirt and underwear. He quickly slipped on his shorts. He found Dy frantically running around calling for Maizy. She ran up to Tor. She was out of breath, she rubbed her forehead then ran her hand through her messy hair.

“Tor tell me you have seen Maizy,” Dy said.

“I just woke up. She isn’t in the tent?” Tor asked. Dy squinted.

“Where do you think I looked first,” Dy said.

“Sorry, just trying to help,” Tor said. His head was pounding worse.

Tor and Dy ran back to the tent. Alex was sitting nonchalantly on a log, his legs crossed a blanket wrapped around him as he stared at the small fire. Tor slapped him on the back of the head.

“What was that for?” Alex said as he rubbed the back of his head and snarled.

“Did you see where she went?” Tor said glaring intensely at Alex.

“Who?” Alex said. Tor slapped him on the back of the head again this time nearly knocking out his eyes.

“That direction,” Alex said pointing north along the shore of the lake. Tor tapped him on the back of the head.

Tor and Dy ran through the forest periodically calling out Maizy. Tor’s heart was pounding he was hyperventilating. The forest was endless she could be anywhere. He started to think through the worst scenarios; finding her floating in the lake or in the jaws of a fierce predator. He shook it off. He was going to find her safe and sound and she was going to be fine. He stopped running and paused. Dy looked back quizzically at him then did the same.

Tor fought with his body to calm down. He took long deep breaths as he closed his eyes. His chest raised and lowered in giant swells. He felt dizzy and nauseated but pushed through it. His hearing started to sharpen and he heard far off in the distance the raging of water. He changed corse in that direction. They reached a large stream that flowed into the lake. Tor crouched down into the mud there he saw two sets of foot prints, one was much smaller than the other, they were fresh. They followed the foot prints as they headed away from the lake towards the sound of rushing water.

Tor realized in the scramble he had completely forgotten to pick up a gun or even a knife. He made a mental note to reprimand himself later for being a complete idiot. He reached down and picked up a large rock from the stream. It was better than nothing. They heard voices ahead of them. Tor rushed forward with his rock cocked and loaded above his head. They moved out from the forest into a clearing as two high pitched screams were let unleashed.

There kneeling in the mud with their entire body and faces covered in mud were Wyn and Maizy scared worse than a cat finding out a cucumber had been placed behind it. Tor dropped the rock. Tor and Dy looked at each other as their cheeks became flush. They started giggling as they realized they had more than over reacted.

“What?” Wyn asked.

“We thought Maizy had gone off alone in the woods,” Tor said, “you scared the shit out of us.”

“Why didn’t you tell anyone where you were going?” Dy asked.

“We told Alex,” Maizy said.

“Ya we told him we were going to find some more worms for fishing at the stream I found yesterday exploring,” Wyn said. Maizy raised her pinched fingers to show them the big juicy earthworm she had caught but her fingers were empty. She hunted around in front of her like a spot light on the side of prison but the captive had made off. She lifted her knee off of the ground then reached down and pulled the worm out and threw it into a container.

“We were going to tell you but you were snoring in the lake and Dy looked so peaceful in the tent we didn’t want to disturb her,” Wyn said as Maizy nodded.

Tor raised his index finger

“First, telling Alex was your biggest mistake, you might as well have told a tree,” Tor said then added his middle finger to the soiree, “second don’t trust Alex, thirdly…” Tor put up three fingers then let them fall a little as he paused for an idea to present itself then he intensely brought the three fingers back up.

“Thirdly…” Tor said then paused again.

“Thanks for digging up some worms,” Dy said as she smiled. Tor glared at her then softened up a little.

“Ya thanks, but you still have to tell us when you go off,” Tor said.

They had found the source of the loud rushing water, behind Wyn and Maizy was a large rock cliff in the middle was a small stream of water cascaded down slowly etching out the solid rock as it splashed into a small pond below. The gash in the rock was much bigger than the tiny stream; during the rainy time of the year this must become a formidable waterfall, the envy of all the others. Check out this beautiful arch of water. You’ve never seen such an arch. Arc de Triomphe can kiss my wet ass. Look at how the large cloud of mist forms the perfect double rainbows. This has been thoughts by a waterfall.

Once Dy had helped Maizy get all cleaned up by forcing her underneath the waterfall they all headed back to camp with their bucket of worms.

Next Chapter: Chapter 5