The Story of the Wild Ones: A Story

-

Part 1: A Story

  "Don't let that water fool you. It's not safe to drink."

 

  I stay still. Water drips from your hand. You've given me that look before. That look that says, "Are you seriously trying to be my parent right now" look you always get whenever I direct you. You drip the rest of the water back into the stream and dry your hand on your pants. I motion with my head and we waddle forward.


  "What are we looking for again?" You yawn as we stumble over an overgrown tree log. I close my eyes a little and think of the last time I hit you. It has been a long time. "We are hunting some meat for the womenfolk. You know that." I say instead of lashing out at you. You mean and keep going ahead of me. We both know how important this is for the women. All of the niceness we had before is long gone. In my hazy mind, I can just make out memories of clean hallways and stores of food. Little flimsy rectangles we gave to hazy figures. Walking without something falling apart or causing pain along the way. Have a stable food-


  "Look! Over there! What is that?" You hiss. I follow your shaky hand to a figure on the pile of rock nearby. It looks like a hairy black mass hunching over some fresh deer. I hear it crunch and chew. You accidently step on a twig. The creature perks up and whips its head to us. I can see the fury of its eyes and hear its growl. "Wild One!" You groan and fire your weapon. I see our ammo ricochet off its fur. I spin around and shamble back the way we came. I hear more of your shots and snarling. "Andy! Andy! Get back here, you mound of rotting flesh! You sack of - Ow! Andy!" I glance back to see it drag you off toward a cave. I need to go back home and get our hunting party. 


  If we're lucky, we'll find one Wild One.


  If we're unlucky, we'll find two and pray for your forgiveness.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Book Review #3

-
Book Review Dreyer's English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style Written by Benjamin Dreyer   If you are looking for a newer, fresher guide to the English language, this might be something to read. Dreyer is the Copy Chief of Random House, which gives him ample credibility to the wisdom and advice he offers. This book becomes a first step into the mind of a copy editor for multiple forms of writing. A lot of the information in this book serves as great advice and a springboard into other resources that Dreyer heartily recommends.   There is a lot of information to take in with this book. Its two sections (and thirteen chapters) cover a lot of material. The first section, "The Stuff in the Front," goes into detail about various style suggestions that you may want to consider on a basic level. Things such as punctuation; the rules and nonrules; and how to write foreign words in your work are critical for everything from flash fiction to novellas, from biographies...
Read more

Extra Note

-
 This goes to every American who either voted or did not vote recently. If you did not get what you wanted/needed, celebrate with those who did. For the first time in four years, those people may feel seen and valued.  If you did get what you wanted/needed, comfort and/or pray for those who did not. For the first time in four years, those people may feel uncertain and scared of their future.  No matter who you are as an American, please prepare to make the next four years the best they can be for yourself and others. Not just the ones you agree with, but everyone.  If your first reaction to my request was to become angry, then please take a moment to ask yourself why you got angry. The fact that you may not be able to set aside your feelings/convictions to understand how others feel is not what we as a full country need right now. For those of you who aren't American but still have elections in your country, I would kindly ask that you adapt this practice for when yo...
Read more

Canlanma Street Level, Story 1

-
Story 1    The holy incense follows the disciples out of the gilded temple hall. The Shepherd continues to swing the burner as he repeats the old mantras of the faith. The last disciple leaves and the burner settles as the Shepherd contemplates the list of rituals he must perform before the sun sets. The ritual implements have to be cleaned, the sacrifices burned, the acolytes of the temple purified, the-   "Shepherd Thanatos, we have a situation that requires your attention." An acolyte of the temple calls from below the altar. The Shepherd sighs and recites his calming mantra: "What I am about to do has not been approved." The Shepherd walks slowly behind the altar and finds the symbol on the side as he recites "chao regnat" under his breath. The symbol glows and opens a trap door under the altar. Shepherd Thanatos checks for other unwelcomed entities then slips under the altar and down the exposed staircase.   The acolytes in the room part as Shephe...
Read more