--Point of View: The Beast--

To my immense delight, the humans returned sooner than I expected. They were here the very next day in fact, arriving at sunrise with a trail of dust following in their wake. At first, I was not sure if these were the same individuals that arrived yesterday but once they started talking, it was more than obvious.

“Chris, did you forget to pack the extra batteries? My stuff is getting low.” Yelled one of the members as she rummaged through the back of the Humvee. “I swear…”

“Why does it always have to be me? Why couldn’t it have been Tom, or you Katie? Maybe you forgot to pack your own batteries.” Shouted Chris, looking up from his backpack momentarily, clearly annoyed.

“Both of you stop your bickering. The batteries are in front. I grabbed them on the way out.” Shouted their commander who I later learned was named Robert.

Robert, Tom, Katie, and Chris; these were the people that kept me entertained from this moment forward. Every day was a little different. One day they would bring an extra hand to help with tasks and the next day they would be short a person. Regardless, I enjoyed their company even if they knew not of my existence. I slowly got to know each one of them. What they liked, disliked, and sometimes what they fancied in their free time. The most important thing I was learning though was why they were here. All of them seemed to know far more than I did about this place even if they themselves knew very little. I would catch bits of useful information almost on the regular and after a while, I was able to piece together a few pieces of the puzzle.

What I learned was tragic. The land I walked upon was apparently still heavily contaminated from what they assumed was weapons used here during a war. It was the only explanation they had for state everything was in. This "radiation" as they called it, cast a horrible spell upon anybody that came within its reach. Its curse slowly spread over the body and destroyed you from the inside. A gruesome fate I would never wish upon even my worst of foes. Fortunately for me though, the body I inhabited seemed to be immune to its affects. The symptoms they described were new to me and honestly, I do not recall a time I was ever injured. If it was not for these four, decked from head to toe in specialized clothing to combat its effects, I would never have known of its existence. I guess I am lucky in that regard.

I learned other things too. They were after resources or really anything they could find that was of use in this run-down city. It was also a little hard to believe they came from the stars, or space as they called it. The iron streak I saw fly through the sky just a month ago was a scouting ship and was followed by the black tower which according to them, was like a small self-contained city they just dropped where needed. I did not believe them at first but after a while it all seemed to fall in line. It made sense and made me wonder just what year it was. Such things did not exist in my time, that much I knew. I may have been a country bumpkin, but I do not recall anybody traveling amongst the stars.

It was a little depressing admittedly. The fact that everything I knew was long gone sat like a stone in my stomach but at the same time, I guess deep down the truth was obvious to me. I got over it thankfully. What year it was made little difference to my current situation. I had dwelled on the past so long already that I reckoned it was time to let things rest, not only for my health but for the sake of my cherished memories. I did not want my loved ones tarnished any more by misplaced thoughts. At least I had these four to keep me company now even if they did not know I existed.

While I did not know how long they intended to stay and scavenge this wasteland, it was long enough for me to form a routine. I would awake, wobble around until I managed to get myself going, and then head out. I was never a morning person and after a few centuries I am still not a morning person. Old habits die hard or in this case, live forever. Once I returned to where they had left off the day before, I would make my way inside whatever building I was going to use as a lookout that day, hunker down and observe.

Most people would probably find watching these four do the same thing over and over again boring, but not I. Compared to what I endured over the past century or so, anything new was welcomed. Gossip, jokes, and even just normal conversations between one another was splendid to me. I would sometimes even answer them in my head like I was part of the team. I do wish I could be part of the team. I wanted to talk with someone so badly but that would require an introduction. An introduction I would have to make through a muzzle full of very pointy teeth. My chances were null. With that thought on my mind, I returned home for the night so I could sleep before continuing the routine all over again tomorrow.

After a few weeks, I decided to relocate my home, if you could call it that, closer to where the humans lurked. A few interesting pieces of junk, some colorful bits of cloth, and a few shiny stones were all I had so moving was never a hassle. After some searching, an old brick building stuck out. It had somehow managed to remain standing all these years so that is where I decided to settle down. It was not luxurious by any means, but what sort of comforts would a beast like myself even look forward to? The walls were sturdy and the roof mostly leak-free. It was suitable.

I awoke to another day, rising to my feet and stumbling through my morning routines. A quick glance outside showed the sun had already cleared the horizon and had begun bathing the rest of my home in warmth. I stepped over the now fallen, iron door that once stood guard to this place and emerged into the outside world, the ruins surrounding me on all sides. I wondered what the four of them were up to today. They should be arriving in about an hour. A quick glance upward towards the sun would confirm my guess. It would take me about twenty minutes to make it there and get myself situated. Plenty of time I thought. After a quick stretch and yawn, I bounded off in their direction.

When I arrived, the four of them were already working. Either I overslept or they were early. More than likely, I overslept. Sleep was not needed, but greatly appreciated. They normally came at sunrise and stayed late into the evening. Since I was late, it took me a little longer to find a suitable hiding spot. I did not know where each of them was at first, but a few sniffs of the air gave me a general direction. It was all I needed. Much like when they first arrived, each would set up their equipment, pull out their awfully noisy devices, and then set off on their separate ways. I just picked one on a whim and carefully trailed behind them, doing my best to go unnoticed. The last thing I wanted was to garner attention. I could handle anything a few individuals sent my way, but humankind was not so innocent. I knew the consequences would be dire if I were discovered, more so if harm were brought to one of their own.

The hours would slowly pass as I crept along in the shadows unnoticed, trailing behind my target for the day. Katie, just like the others, seemed to follow the same repeating pattern. They would walk around, fiddle with their gadgets for a moment, and then adjust their course. I still could not understand any of it.

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“Hmm, that is a little different,” said Katie to herself as she waved around her Geiger counter, “Probably just a bug with these old scanners.”

This went on well into the early afternoon. Katie just kept on muttering to herself and while I expected a surprise with her increasing excitement, nothing happened. It was not until later into the day that things took a new turn. Over the past few months, I had come to learn, both from listening in and just observing, that Katie as well as the others seemed to have a set of rules they always followed. They stayed to the open, never entered buildings, and did not venture underground. Of all the times they had come to explore these ruins, I had never once seen a single soul violate these guidelines. I flashed back to what Robert had said the first day they arrived at the city. They feared a cave in and for good reason. This place was falling apart more with each passing day. It was for their safety. Today, however, curiosity seemed to trump the rules.

I watched Katie, clad in yellow, cautiously approach one of the many entrances to the underground. I had grown quite familiar with the underground by now, opting to make use of it when I needed to travel around the city quickly or if the sun was just unbearable on that particular day. This labyrinth hidden beneath the city streets stretched for what must have been the entire length of the city. Whatever their original purpose was mattered little to me, but to this curious explorer I had been following all day, it could hold the secrets they were searching for.

They paused at the top of the steps, glancing between their tools that were now ringing louder than ever and the dark void that laid before them, trying to decide if they should continue or turn back. Minutes passed until they took a step forward and descended, checking over their shoulder every so often.

“Robert is going to be pissed at me but if I’m right it won’t matter. Damn its dark though…” she said to herself before disappearing into the depths below.

I rose and followed suit, entering from one of the many other entrances scattered throughout the streets. It would not take long before I caught up, finding them only a few paces from the bottom of the entry way. They were not too hard to spot and gave their position away almost immediately when I rounded a corner. My eyes were met with the most obnoxiously bright light I had ever seen. I hastily took a step back and slunk down behind a pile of rubble.

They were lighting up even the darkest corners of the tunnels, shakily swiveling in place nervously. I would need to keep my distance and do my best to remain silent if I wanted to continue to go unseen. Even the faintest of noises would echo for miles down here. Soon though, after only a few mere minutes, it would become apparent that the need for stealth was not as important as I once imagined. This poor soul that had wandered down here appeared to be regretting their decision with each step. I could hear their breathing growing ragged as they somehow managed to stumble on even the smallest of pebbles. It was almost hard to watch as they made their slow trek towards whatever it was they were seeking.

I continued to observe them fumble around in the dark for almost an hour before disappearing down a narrow hallway, a triumphant skip in their step. To say I was annoyed would be an understatement. I had attempted many times to wiggle my way down those halls in the past but would always back out before getting too far along. This beast was not a fan of cramped spaces. Instead, I simply took up guard near the entrance, a slight draft wafting the human's all too familiar scent my direction. It would be enough to know if they were still present. I sat still and waited. I waited for far longer than I thought I would have to. Before I knew it, my eyes had grown heavy with boredom, and sleep had overtaken me.

My slumber would not last long. A rumble would reverberate through the ground, jarring me awake before the entirety of the underground would burst into white. Overhead, what must have been lights flashed into existence, casting all but the faintest of shadows aside. It was unnerving to be exposed so suddenly, but that feeling would only be fleeting before being overtaken by another. It was fear. The rumbling would grow louder and louder before I caught a glimpse of movement in my peripheral. A monstrosity of steel came barreling down the tunnels, awakened but whatever had just transpired. I did not hesitate to put some distance between us, although I did not have to go far before this new arrival came to an abrupt end. Its path, blocked by rubble, caused it to stray off course. The impact was devastating. The world itself seemed to quake as bits of stone and steel started to rain from above. I danced around to avoid the debris as I sprinted for an exit, my mind in a blur. Perhaps this is why the humans seldom traveled down here.

It took only a moment for me to reach an exit, having done so many times before. Safety was only a few steps away, the light from above splashing across my face, but I hesitated. An act that would cause my life to cascade into more and more trouble. I turned back with a flick of my tail. While most of the damage had already run its course with the initial blow, there were still bits of rubble falling from the ceiling. Hard to imagine a ruined city becoming even more of an eye sore, but it somehow managed. I ran to the hallway where I last saw the human, bounding over the newly placed heaps of rock and earth, to discover it was now blocked. I knelt low and listened, swearing I heard breathing. It was hard to make out with the now constant rumbling and sprinkling of pebbles from above.

I had to make a choice, even though the choice was already made. I dug. My claws ripped through the stone and steel like it was paper. It did not take me long at all to clear the path, but once the final bit of rubble was clear, nobody was in sight. They must still be further inside. Alas, there I went, into the cramped corridor, my head hung low, and body hunched down. I would traverse the hallway, snaking around several turns as I listened to the harsh breaths that lingered in the air. The breathing would grow my prominent before I reached its source. At the end of the hallway was a hefty door that looked as if it was forcibly cut open. The human's doing, I am sure. Upon slowly leaning my head into the room, I was met with good news. Curled up under an old office desk with debris scattered all around, lay the one I was looking for. They were honestly lucky to be alive given the destruction that had transpired. I waited and watched for a moment to see if they would make the first move, but I quickly realized their back was turned to me. I took one step, then two, but the third would be my downfall. A loud crunch brought them back to reality. Their head jerked around, and our eyes met. I could tell they instantly regretted their choices that day. No words escaped them. Terror was all that showed on their face.

Our eyes were locked for what seemed like an eternity. I would make the first move, taking another step forward, closing the gap between us. The reaction is precisely what you would expect. They panicked and tried to scurry out from under the desk in fear, rising to their feet to only to stumble and fall once again. Their legs had betrayed them. I did not blame them. I would have done the same thing in their situation. I'm not really the friendliest looking creature around. As I took another step, they would begin screaming at me.

“Stay back! Get Away!” she cried, tears streaming down their face as they reached for their belt, looking for a tool that was unfortunately lost in the chaos.

I do not know why I was so curious, but I could not help but keep my approach. As I drew only a few feet from them, their screams would subside and their eyes would clench shut, their will to live having been extinguished. I examined them up close for the first time, noting they were no different than the humans of my time. I wanted to know more, but my streak of curiosity would abruptly come to an end when a familiar rumbling echoed through the hall. Another beast was approaching, much like the first I assumed. We needed to leave now. I looked around hurriedly as I nudged the human with my muzzle. They needed to move and fast if they wanted to survive a second time. The rumbling grew louder until it was nearly on top of us. I looked once more to the being in front of me, but not for more than an instant before everything went dark and the world came crashing down upon us.