Life After the Cataclysm - Chapter 1

Silhouetted against the orange embers of dusk sifting between the peaks of the western mountains loomed the tall remnants of an ancient city once known as Denver. In the shadow of these dilapidated relics the faint glow of lanterns, oil lamps and electric lights flickered denoting a town, constructed amidst the ruins of what was.

The giant man-beast approached the settlement cautiously. All he had ever known of surface dwellers was violence and greed but perhaps the townsfolk were humanoid not unlike the people of his own beloved town. Either way, he would not know, until he drew closer and could see with his own eyes what awaited him.

Stasinus, climbed atop a dale, crouched low for moment, closed his eyes and raised his cat-like nose into the air. He breathed in deeply and held the aromas on his palette deciphering the origins each fragrance. The cool night wind came from the west, and upon it he detected the scents of cooked food, garbage and vegetation, smells typically associated with humanoid settlements. There was also the stench of oil and gasoline, meaning that they utilized mechanical devices which also meant to him that they would have guns as the two often went hand in hand. The old phrase, 'Curiousity killed the cat', popped into his mind but it he was hungry and his food stores were growing low. He had not seen any game for days and so it he was tempted by the fragrance of roasted meat that blew from the town.

He scanned the steppe with his bright orange eyes then proceeded across the barren wasteland toward the unknown town.

Zack had reluctantly left the church about a month ago rumours of Satanists hunting down parts of the church he held a photo in front of him as he lay on the steel girder sticking out of the few remaining large buildings. He looked down at the dizzying height he had loved it as a child the sensation looking back up at the sky. Finally bored of his surroundings he gripped into the grooves of a vertical girder lining the remaining building he began his decent sliding down. It took some good time his hands felt raw he jumped off at the last few meters landing on a plateau of concrete his two-handed claymore clanking on his back standing straight. Looking every part the actor in Japanese plays his long flowing coat behind him his weapon resting upon his back his white face staring ahead.

“Bloody crusader weapon so loud!”

He turned on his heel exiting the ‘stage’ he left clambering nimbly over wreckage out of the once skyscraper. He walked outside the air a buzz with ‘life’ the scratching and slight growling of animals. He was moving along when he remembered a gas station his belly rumbling he decided on his location he began his hike the sound of his boots seeming dull and hollow to his own ears.

A one time military vehicle moved over the vast wasteland that used to be Denver, Colorado. Inside were two people. The man was sitting on the passenger side with his head resting up against the glass of the window. Laid across his lap was a G36K semi auto gun. His left right hand poised near the trigger and his left resting under the barrel of the gun. Snoring softly as he tried to get some much needed rest, he didn’t seem fazed by the bumps the driver took from time to time.

The driver, a woman with shoulder length brown hair, moved along in the waning light of day. It would be dark soon and they needed to find adequate shelter before it got completely dark on them. It wasn’t good to roam around at night. They were too much of a moving target for some of the bigger, more dangerous creatures that lived nocturnal lives.



Finally the dim lights of a settlement began to come into view as the light of day faded even more. Pulling the vehicle to a halt, she reached over and tapped the man on the arm.

“Clyde….wake up.”

Clyde jerked awake pulling the G36K up and ready to fire at what ever needed to be fired at. When he realized there wasn’t a threat nearby, he blinked then rubbed his eyes for a few moments as he tried to let his heart rate settle. Squinting out the windshield, he talked to the woman as he pulled up a pair of binoculars and scoped the place out.



“Your driving sucks, Bon. I’ve got more knots on my head from where you hit ruts in the road than that last fight I was in.”

Bonnie rolled her eyes and let out an exasperated sigh.

“Next time rest your head against the seat instead of the window.”

Clyde didn’t say anything as he kept looking through the binoculars. Finally after some more moments of silence, he spoke up again.

“Yeah, well, last time I did that, you got pissed because I drooled on your shoulder.”

Pulling the binoculars from his face, he looked over at Bonnie with a devious grin.

“It wasn’t like I meant to.”

Bonnie just stared daggers at Clyde as he tried to make light of the fact her shoulder was soaked rather bad from his drooling.

[i1[/i]“So? What did you see? Anything we need to be worried about?”

“Nah….just some yahoo’s preparing their evening meal. I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. Looks like we might be able to grab a bite to eat there before we hunker down. I saw a building that looked like we could pull the hummer into it without pinning ourselves in.”

Bonnie put the vehicle in gear and headed for the lights once more.

“Good….I’m friggin starved and could use something to eat. Your fireside menu’s have a lot to be desired.”

Clyde looked genuinely offended.

“Hey! At least I try….can’t say that for you.”

Bonnie nodded.

“I told you, I’m not the cooking kind. That’s what I have you around for.”

Clyde huffed.

“Yeah…..don’t I know. Just be quiet and drive, will ya?”

“I’m trying but someone keeps bringing up the obvious.”

Clyde didn’t reply this time. He was on alert as they approached the settlement. They could never be too careful for they never knew if they were heading into a nest of cannibals or a den of critters. It was better to be prepared for the worst then hope for the best and realize they were way wrong.

The settlement had been built further into the ancient ruins and Stasinus decided to skirt around the town, skulking though the darkened remains of structures that had obviously bore the brunt of the blast that had destroyed the city. The sun was but a sliver on the horizon now, and the desolate landscape was painted blood red, but to his fiery orange eyes all was bright as day.

The distant sound of a vehicle echoed through the scattered concrete and steel remnants and instinctively, Stasinus bounded high into the toppled wreckage of an ancient building. He leapt back and forth, climbing higher and higher until he was several meters above ground and felt safe.

Perched at the edge of what was once the roof, the lion-man spied the dust kicked up by some kind of jeep, at least that's what he believed it to be. He had never actually seen one before, only saw a picture of one once in an old magazine. Drawing his dark cloak over his head, he remained motionless, appearing to be part of the building as the vehicle drove by and though it was actually to far away for anyone to take notice of him, Stasinus still changed positions after it had passed. He waited until the sound of the vehicle could not even be detected by his sensitive ears before considering to move. Stasinus then sniffed the air and reached out with his empathy to detect any hostility in the area, then satisfied that all was safe continued to circle around the town, maintaining a safe distance.

Zack had been walking for some distance his heavy boots hitting the floor but he had a bad feeling of something moving looking back he laughed at his fear but his self conviction wasn’t working. He had reached the gas station at sunset beginning to feel a slight spring in his foot steps as the sun slowly went further and further down. When suddenly his vision changed from colour to a deep yellow seeing in the darkness he strolled into the gas station and laughed to himself at the sight of vendors as he reached them they were……

“EMPTY!!!” screaming to the air he couldn’t believe his luck it had turned horrible.

“Might as well jump into the fire next!” He suddenly regretted saying these words turning slowly on his heel for he had heard the sound of scuttling feet his hand raising to his sword he saw the small scurrying creature. His hand on his sword loosened as did his jaw as the numbers of the creatures began to increase he looked left and right his only option was to run around them it was open ground behind him they would run him down. So around……..or over?

Zack took a step back then another the ‘rats’ stayed still he looked beyond them he saw a motel. Slowly scanning its surface seeing a way in on the second floor through a window he took a large breath unsheathing the claymore he began a slow tactful plan of his run up for freedom.

Zack began to run into the mass of the rats they began to encircle him the ranks thinning to surround him at its peek he suddenly stabbed the sword against the ruins of the road. Vaulting him over the pack of rats he began to run for the motel. Halfway to the motel he began to put some spring in each step ready to vault himself up quickly he put the claymore into its hanging loop sheath. He finally reached jumping pace and leaped reducing the climb he quickly found his handholds climbing briskly and calculated as he had figured his plan just moments ago with a final effort he heaved himself into a second story window landing on a corridor landing.

“Phew I made it.” That’s when he heard the sniffling what he hoped to be a person crying he slowly picked himself up beginning to head for the half ruined stairs.

Jerimiaha and Dog , his constant companion, made their way across what was once western Kansas, from the smal farming town of Ruleton, Kansas, towrads the foot hills of eastern Colorado. A land once green and lush with wheat and abundant wildlife. But that was before the "Great Fire War". Now it was a lonely desolate land. .



"I just want you to remeber this was your idea Jerimiaha. We were quite comfortable back on the farm. Had a well, plenty of fresh water, food stored, a roof over our heads and now look at us. Out in the wasteland, headed for who knows where.....and I don't see or smell any food around. So if we starve or die of thirst it is your fault.....just remember that." Dog said then gave a disgusted snuff, as he peared over Jerimiaha's shoulder.


"Oh quit your damned bitchin' will ya Dog, you been whinning since we crossed the Colorado line." Jerimiaha said as he looked towards the horizon and the foothills . "Besides, we were both getting bored and I ain't had a woman since Mildred O'Shawnasey in the back of that rust old Chevy van behind her pappy's barn., before the virus hit. I here there are woman beggin' for a man in Denver." Jeramiha said.

"Frankly I think this obsession of yours with mating with every female you see is down right disgustingly animalistic. ....... Yea I can still hear her laughing at you ....... and they will still be begging for one, after we get there." Dog said

Jerimiaha glared over his should, then suddenly went to his knee, bringing the old rifle up to his shoulder as a mutated jack rabbit the size of a small dog bounded out of a hole. Jeramiha squeezed the trigger and the bullet struck the rabbit in the head. "Dinner Dog" he said triumphantly, sprang to his feet and ran over to the jack rabbit, picked it up and tied it to his belt. Then they moved on.

"Nice shot Annie Oakley." Dog said "Just check the damned thing for radiation before you cook it, Chef Emeril Lagasse."

[Side note: Dog only speaks to Jerimiaha vocally when they are alone. The rest of the time he speaks telepathically to Jeramiha]

Bonnie drove the vehicle carefully through the ruins of the city. Decayed, fallen buildings and materials from them littered the one time streets making it more like a maze she had to drive through. Clyde had actually opened the hole in the roof so he could stand up and get a 360 look outside. So far things looked to be a quiet, but looks were always deceiving.

The lights of the camp they spotted were growing closer, but before they could reach it, something else caught their attention. There was some movement up ahead and Clyde banged on the roof of the vehicle indicating to Bonnie she needed to stop. Pulling the Humvee to a halt, Bonnie peered out the windshield into the near darkness to see what Clyde had spotted to make him call a halt. She could see movement, but they were too far away for her to make it out correctly.

“What is it?”

“Crats.” (mutated rats that have canines and claws like large cats)

“You sure?”

“Yep. And something has really pissed them off.”

”A missed meal, I’ll bet ya.”

Clyde slithered back into the Humvee and closed the roof opening.

“I’m sure it is. And there’s too many of them for us to try and face off against. Best we take an alternate route around them and come out on the other side. Know what I mean.”

“More than you know. Just make sure we don’t get them on our tail.”

“Bonnie, you hurt me with your lack of confidence in my abilities.”

Bonnie looked over at Clyde and she started moving again.

“It’s not your abilities I have the lack of confidence in. It’s your need for ‘fun I dislike.”

Clyde grinned.

“If you weren’t such a stick in the mud I’d not have to look for entertainment all the time.”

Bonnie scoffed.

“That’s because I don’t consider suicide missions entertainment, asshole. I like to live, thank you very much.”

Clyde actually laughed.

“One day, Bon. One day you’ll get that itch and when you do, you’ll have to scratch it.”

“I don’t think so.”

The Humvee turned down a side road slowly making sure they didn’t draw the attention of the Crats. Those things ran in large packs and could devour a man, or woman, in a matter of seconds. Unfortunately, the road they were taking was blocked and they had no choice but to back out and head towards the crats again. Fortunately, they were busy eating some of their own and wasn’t paying much attention to the vehicle approaching. That was the good thing about them. They had the attention span of a pea when they were eating. The key was to make sure they had plenty of things to eat to keep you from being one of them.

Bonnie stopped the Humvee about 100 yards away from the Crats. Clyde was already loading his G36K and opening the roof access panel. When he got out, he took careful aim. Four quick shots were fired and four more Crats fell. All too soon the others were on their fallen pack members and ripping their flesh off their bones. Clyde slid back into the Humvee and closed the roof access panel. Looking over at Bonnie, he grinned.

“Dinner is served…for them.”

Bonnie carefully maneuvered the Humvee dangerously close to the pack. Even as they were cannibalizing their fallen pack members, a few of them peered their red eyes at the slow moving vehicle. Bonnie saw the gas station and the motel on the other side of the road noting the Crats were between the two. Furrowing her brows, she made mental note of the location and when they passed by the Crats without incident, she picked up her speed and headed for the flickering lights of the settlement.

Turnign the headlights off, she pulled the Humvee up and stopped to let Clyde open the roof access and get a better look at the settlement. It was a few moments later before he slid back into the vehicle and closed the access panel again.

“They look normal. We’ll go in and if they aren’t normal, we’ll get what we need before we cleanse the world of their kind.”

Bonnie smiled this time.

“Did I ever tell you I liked the way you think?”

Clyde nodded and grinned.

“Yeah. But you can never tell me that enough.”

Bonnie turned the headlights and started moving the Humvee again and when they pulled up close enough to the settlement, the sentry posts held up their hands – and guns – for her to stop. Pulling to a halt, she turned the headlights off and rolled down the window.

“Hello? We’re just looking for a place to rest for the night and trade some supplies for food and water.”

The sentry on the drivers side slowly, cautiously, approached, gun at the ready. When he got closer, Bonnie could see he looked human. At least no outwardly signs he was anything other than human. The guard peered into the truck at Bonnie then at Clyde, who waved.

“You’re permitted to enter, but your vehicle and weapons have to stay out here.”

Bonnie looked over at Clyde then looked back at the guard.

“Alright. Let me pull it over here and turn it off.”

The guard nodded and as she pulled the Humvee off to the side near the entrance, she spoke softly to Clyde.

“Good thing I never leave home without my boots.”

Clyde was frowning as he nodded.

“Yeah. Me too.”

The vehicle was turned off, the windows rolled up and as they exited the Humvee, the guards walked over and surrounded them, holding their weapons at the ready. Bonnie and Clyde raised their hands before them and eyed the guards warily.

The guards used their guns as pointers.

“All weapons are to be removed from your person and left in your vehicle.”

Bonnie nodded.

“OK….OK….just relax fella’s. We’ll disarm and let the guns stay here.”

Slowly, Bonnie and Clyde removed each weapon they had on their body, except for the hidden weapons they had in their boots. When the guards were satisfied they were disarmed, they were both subjected to pat downs. When they passed that clearance, the guards escorted them to the gates and opened them up.

“Welcome to Perdition.”

Bonnie and Clyde looked at each other then moved into the encampment. It was, at one time, some sort of office building that had suffered a great deal of damage. Most of the roof was gone but many of the individual offices were still, for the most part, in tact. The center of the building was where the largest fire was coming from and as they made their way through the inhabitants of the place, they saw the large fire was a spit and on it were several small animals being roasted as well as some other foods being cooked. As they looked around, it seemed as though everyone was indeed human. Shrugging to each other, they made their way among the people, quickly blending in with everyone.

Zack slowly moved down the stairs he swore he had heard something he slipped on the last step landing heavily on his sword.

“Argh that hurt!” Slowly standing up dusting himself off he looked down to inspect his ‘suspect’ of a step that’s when he saw the tell tale signs of blood he quickly reached back but finding he had not spitted himself on his own sword he gave a sigh of relief. Then it dawned on him someone else had indeed been about to investigate him. Through looking at the step he saw they had decided otherwise crouching low he began to listen that’s when he heard the opening of a candy bar his belly rumbling at the sound.

He slowly checked the floor seeing blood here and there then looking at the door realising that’s where they had entered he walked over to find a tuft of black hair with silver tips pulling the photo from his pocket which had now been fairly scrunched he gave a snort of disgust as he began to iron out the folds but turning round he followed the blood slowly which led him to…

Room 12 where else would you hide putting his ear to the door he could hear the fizz of a soda over the silence he put his most friendly smile about to knock when suddenly he felt dizzy. This dizziness turning to pain his skull ready to split when he glimpsed something a cage with golden eyes smiling back at him a pair of slack jaws drooling at just the thought of eating him.

He took a step back in this pictured world finding he pulled his whole mind out still in front of that motel door his hand ready to knock. Zack shrugged nothing like a bad dream while standing probably hallucinations from lack of sleep trying to recall when he had last slept he rapped his knuckles against the door clearing his throat.

“Excuse me would you mind sharing some food with a traveller?” Praying that what ever he had hailed was indeed human as he hoped hearing the open can of soda and rustling of something he hoped was food.

He had heard the gunshot but if you strained you heard gunshots all the time ao this did not bother him after all the ‘Crats’ were sitting outside maybe someone decided for a hit and run.

Zack lowered himself to the floor opposite the door giving a loud yawn as he wondered how the person would react to a new comer the person inside suddenly yelled at him he lifted his head only hearing it as a muffle. It was a woman’s voice he gave a slight cough at least he hoped it was human and with rational thinking.

“I only want to talk and even share it is rare to see a friendly face but if you see fit to decline my offer I will simply find a different room.” He stood up about ready to walk away but he wondered if the person would really admit a stranger so he leant against the far wall staring at the small view hole in the door used for ‘observing’ guests.

Zack walked in slowly with a yawn he loosened the straps of his sword throwing the blade against a wall looking at the women who had given him shelter. To find her half naked looking extremely ‘dirty’….. he shook his head with a slight smirk turning round mumbling to himself he took of his coat holding it out to her half naked form.

“Wear it I’ll need it back but we can search later for some clothes that would fit you.” Handing it to her He walked over to the food on the old bed giving a huge smile as he saw the food he knew it was the contents of the vending machines by the gas station. Not saying a word he took a can of soda and a candy bar sitting on the floor next to his sword Zack pulled a picture from his pocket holding it up against the ‘saviour’ trying to match her to it then lowering it he gave a sigh.

He slowly removed what was used for his ponytail holder a slim strip of black fabric with a metal cross emblazoned onto it. With it out Zack gives a shake of his head his hair spreading out over his back.

“I’m Zack I come from the church of Vaeltra a simple messenger boy, who are you if I may ask?” with a friendly grin with no hostility in his actions as he opened the can of soda he looked round the room then his eyes resting back on Sin.

Bonnie and Clyde seemed to blend into the gathered group of people like they’d been there all their lives. They were introduced to a man simply known as “The Mayor” and after some bartering agreed on what supplies they could spare enough to trade for some food and fresh water.

Escorted back to their Humvee, they retrieved the items from the vehicle and headed back into the encampment o make the proper exchanges. Once all the transactions were done, they settled down and ate some of the food that had been cooking over the fire. What ever it was tasted pretty good. They weren’t about to ask for fear of what it might have been. They learned a long time ago to ask because the answer might make them lose their appetites.

They never strayed away from each other. Another lesson they learned the hard way. Never get separated. They were too easy of a target as individuals. At least together it gave would be attackers pause. Finally settling down in an unoccupied corner of one of the centralized rooms, they observed the group closely. It was still undetermined if they were pure human or not but right now, neither hunter had reason to suspect the crowd wasn’t anything other than that.

Relaxing a little and savoring the taste of their meal, Clyde let his brown eyes skim over the crowd like a hawk looking for its next meal. Speaking in a low tone so his voice didn’t carry, he spoke to Bonnie about their surroundings.

“So, Bon. What cha think?”

Bonnie looked out over the crowd with hooded eyes.

“Hard to say. Nothing so far shows anything but what’s on the surface. We’ll just make sure we keep an eye on things.”

Clyde pulled the bone he was savoring from his lips and used it to point at Bonnie with.

“Now that, Bonnie, is exactly what we’re going to do.”

As Bonnie looked out over the crowd there was something that didn’t set well with her, but what, she couldn’t exactly put her finger on. Even as the others seemed accommodating enough, it was like there was something beneath the surface that poked at her side like a stick in your crawl.

Zack feels his coat hit him in the face his own anger almost boiling his hands clenching into fists anger almost eating him as images plagued him of blood and death but he calmed himself remembering the last time his fury had eaten him he was just hungry that was all. As he reclaimed himself he got the name Sin from her mouth then he was handed his plate full the asshole having a burning ring but he observes to his peeked interest as her canines grew into more like fangs.

Then she begins to limp from the room he gives a small grimace at seeing the wounds which he had not noticed due to typical mans interest of the opposite sex bloody curse as it was he got up. Zack’s hand pulling stuff from his coat scratching his nose he realised it had indeed hurt as a bottle of antibiotics and other medical stuff had hit him squarely in the face when she had thrown the coat probably the last of it as he recalled.

“Damn it always bad impressions.” He gets up with a small medical box when he sees her screaming hearing her plea for a end in the corridor approaching he carefully wraps his arms around her

“Its fine nothing is gonna hurt you its already ended you’re simply in a motel stuck with Rude Zack your neighbour nothing nasty in here. Now let’s have a fresh start and I’ll see to those wounds of yours they seem to have got infected.”