Relentless Search

It has been years since I last saw the sun without the constant dust clouds covering it. If it were not for my own reflection of my eyes, I think I would have forgotten what the color green looked like. I remember these hills of Texas when I was a kid with my mom, rolling green pastures are now bare and dust, burned by the sun and no one keeping them going. I remember my former life as I drink and splash water on my face. They used to be beautiful before the world went to hell. I am glad my mom was gone before we came back here, she would be heartbroken to see the world her beloved hill country has become. “Kady, come on!” Lark’s voice intrudes on my memories. I look up at my best friend. Lark is not very tall, but her dirty blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail with her bright blue eyes shining with mischief, but she is fast, and her size will mislead anyone who comes against us. She keeps me going.

“Relax, I’m coming,” I respond and touch the locket around my neck for the final time before tucking it back inside my shirt. The locket is the only token I keep from my former life, it was given to me by my love, Nathaniel, our initials engraved on it. We became split up in a raid of our compound in Oklahoma. Lark and I escaped through a little-known tunnel, and we have been searching for what is left of our family for the last 2 years. “You still haven’t lost hope, don’t quit on me now Kadence,” Lark gave a sad glance at the shirt hiding the love token. “NEVER! We don’t quit,” I retort with a laugh. I stand from my squat next to the little creek redoing my black hair into its braid as I do so. We must keep moving, we heard rumors a new group had come to Texas and the leader, a woman named River is welcoming newcomers and rumors of a dark hair general with dimples and a serious temper, but kind eyes was helping her. The descriptions sound just like Nathaniel, the first solid lead we had in months I tell myself to keep my hope alive.

After another 6 miles of travel, we decide to camp for the night in the center of an abandoned town, I used to come to this town right on the Red River when I was little. “Do you think it will really be him?” Lark asks me in a quiet tone. Nathaniel was her best friend too, so I know I am not the only one missing him. “I honestly don’t know; I hope it is but even if not maybe it’s a sign to stop wandering and just settle with a new crew. At least that way we will have some safety.” “Hmph, let’s practice instead of wondering about what-ifs!” I give a giggle and get up and grab my spear from the tree I leaned it on, always eager to spar with her.

It did not take long for the world to realize ammunition and guns only last so long thankfully my mom was a HEMA kid (Historical European Martial Arts) and taught us to fight with other weapons as well as shoot bows, so we never go long without food now. While we keep daggers hidden on us, we also know how to fight with swords, spears, and basically, anything we can get our hands on can be a weapon, but the spear will always be my favorite. I won 2 out of 3 rounds before we called it a night.

I woke to the moon still in the sky and the sun barely peeking over the horizon, I cannot remember the last time I felt safe enough to sleep longer than a few hours. I start the fire back up and get to work on some breakfast, so we have the energy to reach River’s compound today.

We had been walking all day and were in a dense forest with his bare limbs when the hair on my neck stood up and I felt eyes on me. I dropped my pack and assumed a defensive position with my spear, Lark followed my lead and we positioned back-to-back scanning the area around us. Blending into the surroundings moving towards us was 10 soldiers, you could tell by their movement as a unit. They did not appear armed but better safe than sorry. “What are you doing here?” a man at the front with gray eyes asked us in a deep concerned voice. I felt Lark tense, but she stayed silent, so I answered, “We are headed to meet River, we heard she is welcoming newcomers, we have been alone since our compound was raiding two years ago in Oklahoma.” The man looked us over assessing us and said, “Name is Shane, follow me.” I relaxed my stance and picked up our gear but did not let down my guard as we walked aways behind him, and his group split in two and walked on either side of us. We soon came to a large compound that looked like a former hospital that has been surrounded by a makeshift barbed wire fence. The group escorted us inside the fence and to the doors of the largest building inside the doors was a large staircase at the foot of the staircase was a stunning, strong redhead who I assumed to be River as she had the presence of authority but what stopped me cold was the man she was kissing. His jaw line, and the lopsided dimpled smirk when he stopped kissing her. They turned to greet Shane and our eyes locked.

“Nathaniel…….”