Better Days

2. Them

“The date’s june 3, 2019. I’ve killed more infected than I can remember by now. All I can think about is survival. I’m running low on food and supplies, but now that i’m getting into the city area of Colorado springs, I think I can find some shelter and resupply. Now that i’m on my feet I should probably try to find another vehicle, then I can get situated and create a goal for myself. If anyone find this…”

Nathan and Alpha struggled, pacing along the road. The morning sun was now rising, lighting up the trees along either side of the road. The city was still a good 20 miles down the road, and there were no buildings in sight. The two of them were growing in hunger, and they had nothing to eat. Nathan decided to try and hunt something.

They turned off the right side of the road and walked into the trees. He kept his eye out for squirrels or anything. He'd glance down at the ground. The occasional breeze of wind pushed the pine needles over the dirt. Alpha paced ahead sniffing around and searching for suspicious activity. Nathan slowed to a stop and closed his eyes. He felt the wind and listened to the pure silence. A sound that was once a rarity.

Suddenly the sound was broken by the crashing sound of a gunshot slicing his ear.

His eyes shot open and he dropped to the floor. He was unsure if the shots were directed at him. “It could be a bandit” he thought. “then again there was no bullet collision with any trees around him.

Alpha wasn't within Nathan's sight. He'd whistle really quick. Quiet enough to not draw attention but loud enough to alert Alpha. Alpha ran to him and laid prone beside him. There was faint yelling then more gunshots. This assured Nathan that they weren't the target for those shots.

He got up and began to quickly pace towards the gunfire. Alpha stood close ready for orders.

They came to a slow walk as they came up to a chain link fence. About 50 meters away was a house like building and the source of the screaming and gunfire. He dropped his backpack and searched through it. He grabbed a pair of wire cutters and began to slice through the chain link ince ge was almost through a large grey wolf leapt onto the fence at him growling and biting. “ Oh shit!” he panicked falling to his back.

He pressed his feet up against the fence barely keeping it closed. “Woh Woh!” he yelled kicking the fence to keep it closed. Alpha barked rapidly at the wolf. Nathan's rifle lay but 3 feet away on the floor. He stretched his arm out to try and grab it. “Aaahh” he struggled as his fingers rubbed the stock of the rifle.

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He scooted a tiny bit and slightly dragged it towards him. He finally got his hand on the pistol grip when his right foot slipped. The wolf pushed the fence out on him and he ripped the rifle from the dirt.

The wolf dove onto him and he quickly pushed his rifle up and into its mouth. The wolf clinched its teeth it’s teeth onto the hand guard of his rifle and growled fiercely. Alpha bit the wolf's neck and the wolf snapped at her pushing her back. Nathan saw his chance and he quickly smashed the rifle butt stick into the wolfs face then kicked both legs throwing it over him.

Nathan jumped to his feet with his rifle and Alpha stood in between his legs. The Wolf turned and snarled at them. “Kekoa!” a woman yelled. Nathan turned to see a woman running over to them. “Calm down Kekoa” she commanded as the wolf slowly stopped snarling. “Who are you?” she asked holding a rifle. “My name is Nathan, we heard gunfire and screaming so we came ti check it out.” he quickly explained. “And you?” he said. “Im Cathryn. That’s Kekoa.” She said.

The wolf walked to her and stood by her. “You have a wolf!?” Nathan exclaimed. “No, i do not own his as he does not own me, we are a pack. I'm the alpha. Welcome to the Colorado Wolf sanctuary. Now hurry there’s infected at the front. “Alpha” Nathan stated as they moved in through the fence. When they got to the front there were two others fighting off the infected with a machete and an axe.

Nathan quickly took aim. With a few quick squeezes he let three rounds fly landing into the chest and head of an infected man. “One down!” he called out. More infected began to close in. “We need to leave!” Nathan yelled. “No we can’t leave the wolves!” Cathryn replied as she fired at the infected. “Chester hurry seal the gate!” Cathryn called out. Chester, the man with the axe ran for the gate to block the infected. “Cover him the other woman with the machete yelled. Nathan took aim and released rounds into the crowd of infected storming in. One after another dropped but not fast enough.

Chester got to the gate and grabbed it to try and swing it closed. Suddenly an infected grabbed him and bit his arm. “Aaahh!” he screamed in pain, as another grabbed him. He held the gate and backed up hard into the crowd. They pulled him as he held onto the gate, holding it shut. Nathan fired more round taking the last few that were inside out before the woman with the machete ran and locked the gate. “Everyone inside!” Cathryn yelled.

Fifty six minutes had passed. Chester’s screams had fell silent after about three. But everyone could still hear them. Nathan had known what this was like. He’d watched people get torn apart one after another at the border. He was less affected. The others sat in complete awe. They didn’t know what to think or do with themselves having witnessed such horror. A few hours passed and night fell over the house. Nathan had started a fire in the fireplace the house had. There he sat all night. He felt as if he’d owed them something even though Chester’s death had nothing to do with him. He just sat in calefaction with Alpha laying at his feet. He just sat.