We had been bouncing along some trodden trail for a long while. The small window of the outside world we could see through gave little information. The angle of our traversal had been at an incline for some time now. The sun beginning to fade off with night soon approaching.

I had been speaking with Robert for what felt like hours. Trying my best to gain more understanding of the world situation. A synopsis of his explanations was necessary as the man was in every form, a chatterbox. Delightfully so, I will add. With the spark of true passion in his gaze, he spoke about every little thing he could. All with the fervor of a man who enjoyed sharing knowledge and sharing views like no other.

My respect for him grew as he explained a small amount of his life story. Small was the wrong word, as it took about an hour. He was originally a history professor at a small college in what used to be Minnesota. Then the solar flare occurred. He had no family to speak of besides a granddaughter who wanted nothing to do with his rambling. Her words, not his, he said.

As soon as the flare hit the globe, the magnitude was something no one had anticipated. Unfortunately, there was no time to gain any concrete data on the phenomenon. The reason being that the next moment the world changed forever. The population of earth as a whole fell unconscious. Most estimated for as long as ten minutes before regaining consciousness. Only to wake to a world changed far beyond comprehension.

Electronics and most metalworking had melted like butter in a microwave. The largest skyscrapers mushed like clay and infrastructure crumbled to nothing. No vehicles, cellphones, light posts, generators, or firearms worked. The factories and parts to repair them suffered the same fate. Robert himself was chalked full of theories of why the flare affected the earth in such ways. Going on about organic material experiencing a wide variety of changes as well.

Adding with a somber tone, his estimated loss of life in that first ten minutes of change was in the hundreds of millions. I wasn't one to theorize myself, the absurdity of it made it all making it unbelievable to explain with logic. Still, that was nothing compared to what he spoke of next.

The plants and fauna of earth had experienced an even greater change. Second only to the actual celestial body itself as he spoke about earlier. Things grew and evolved in ways that shouldn't be possible. Deer grew fangs and a thirst for blood. Birds grew to proportions that rivaled ancient lizards, able to swoop down and carry a grown man away. Insects no longer stung your arm but were more likely to remove the limb in its entirety.

I was completely taken aback as he explained all this in a matter-of-fact tone. To him, this had been the reality for the last ten years. He made the uneasy comment about that only scratching the surface. The wide expanse of what humanity had likely observed was frightening. All this wonder comes from a singular old man's perspective.

Next, I guided the conversation to encompass the monster I had encountered. Along with the phrase New-earthers. While trying not to appear completely ignorant of the subject. Easier than I thought it would be as the man was more than happy to fill the air with his voice.

What he explained rearranged my definition of crazy. Over the first year or so people were doing their best to restabilize civilization. At least that is what Robert guessed based on what he had observed himself. With little success, it appeared. The lack of firepower that technology had provided. Alongside the chaos superseding a planetary change was too much. Even the strongest nations and governments crumbled under the pressure. The culmination of these factors leads to one very difficult pill to swallow. Humanity was no longer the apex predator of this new earth.

That was when they ran into the first real monsters. It was still unknown where they came from exactly. At first, most thought they were more of the mutated animals of earth. Some, including Robert himself, no longer accepted that conclusion. They appeared with vicious intent. Their thirst for human flesh and blood is completely alien to any normal species of animal. In addition to “Magical Qualities,” Robert spoke of them inhibiting cast an ominous shadow.

That was not the most surprising revelation though. New-earthers were discovered by the group Robert himself was a part of later into the third year.

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Their small community had been surviving off scavenging caned rations. Living inside fortified government buildings, hoping for help to come. They waited for as long as they could before realizing no such help existed. Robert didn't extrapolate further into those first few years. Based on the tone he spoke about them, I knew to leave it alone. He soon continued his tirade with renewed passion regarding the New-earthers.

These sentient species were mainly human. The word ‘mainly’, caused me to gasp in shock and Robert took that as a joke, laughing it off in his signature style. The most prevalent in this area were the Northmen. Robert spoke about the belief that they were native humans that had been changed. A similar situation to the animals of the earth. Suspecting the locality of the mountains and the altitude allowed more of the flare's energy to infuse into their bodies.

Robert laughed after that explanation. He explained that the language they spoke was almost old English sounding. Causing confusion and a rough explanation for the reasoning behind people's beliefs. Yet he thoroughly disagreed. He had met for a brief time, a living breathing elf. Yes, the fantasy, long-eared, fair complexion-having sons of bitches.

His words again

He was coincidentally shot in the shoulder by one with an arrow that almost killed him. Without the help of his allies dragging him away. This all formatted the conclusion he made that these people were not from earth. Achieving communication with these new groups had not been successful. No matter how diplomatic the approach, Robert reiterated multiple times.

His lecture was cut short as he pulled up his potato sack. Having been showing me the scar where the ‘shrivel-balled coward’ had aimed. I smiled at the old man's vivid description of the elf assailant.

Listening to his stories had the bonus effect of removing a decent amount of mystery. Along with lightening the somber atmosphere. Being caged and transported like cattle would dampen most anyone's spirits. I was grateful to Robert, far more than he could know.

The wagon for the first time, had slowed to a full stop. The sound of those outside along with the off word I caught made it seem like they were setting up camp for the night. I was grateful for the reprieve from the bumping wood on my ass.

Moments later, a shuffle of feet approached towards the rear of the wagon. A woman's visage appeared much to my surprise. She had a similar rough exterior as the man who had clubbed me. The bones and beads braided through her hair were placed with strategic neatness. The look in her eyes spoke of keen intelligence.

She was silhouetted by the setting sun and I won't lie, she was far more beautiful than I expected. High cheekbones smudged with the dust of travel and captivating deep blue eyes. The furs she wore hid most of her shape but the womanly curves were not completely hidden.

Jesus get a hold of yourself!

Shaking myself out of ogling the beautiful Northwoman. I finally noticed the bowls she held in her hands. Three of them in number and the smell wafting out spoke of something edible.

My stomach growled so audibly that Robert gave me a side eye and a half smile. I noticed then that the woman had been staring straight back at me. Her piercing gaze almost made me flinch and the grumbling of my stomach prodded a blush to rise in my cheeks from embarrassment. It only lasted a moment longer before the latch was undone. The door swung open as the woman set the bowls on the tail end of the wagon before speaking.

“Eat. Before dark sets in.” Her voice was deeper than I expected though not in a bad way. Like waves of dark chocolate with each syllable. It was all she said before once again shutting the door. Replacing the lock with quick practiced movements.

That sent a wave of anger through my body.

How many people has she captured and stolen away to be so efficient and casual?

Robert was less preoccupied with the woman. He was instead shuffling over to the bowls and grabbing them and first bringing one to the woman prisoner who still hadn't spoken a word in my presence.

“Here you are Melisa, please eat, you will need your strength.” His voice was soft and gentle as he placed what looked like a mealy porridge next to her foot. Deftly she reached down without looking and grabbed the bowl. Only to raise it into her lap without eating.

Robert smiling weakly then shuffled back over while handing another bowl to me. I noticed that he had given the largest portion to Melisa. Then me, and finally took the least filled bowl for himself. The sort of selfless kindness this man had shown was truly remarkable. Especially given the situation we found ourselves in. Human kindness was extraordinary in such situations.

I smiled at him and nodded my head in gratitude before motioning him to lower his bowl. Pouring some of my own into his. He almost pulled his bowl away before I grabbed his arm.

“We will all need our strength Robert, yourself included.” He opened his mouth for a moment then let out a small huff.

“Fair enough, using my words against me, youth these days.” He sat down with a huff. Doing his best to hide the small smile I spotted on his face. We slurped our porridge in companionable silence as the sun dipped below the horizon.