Imagine the lights go out, never to return. Bright aurora flare across the sky, and all humanity’s technological might is laid to waste, neutralized in a kind of quiet apocalypse. Everything that has shielded humanity from the disinterested power of Mother Nature is suddenly wrenched from us, dropping us a few links down the food chain. Food and water are scarce. The roads are no longer safe. And winter approaches…
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ALPHA OPENING That's right guys, after much work We Are Human is now in its Alpha Opening Stage. So what does this mean? It means that all the documentation is completed, however there may still be tweaks and changes as the site progresses. There may also be typing errors. So jump on! After all we have two big events happening - what will happen is all up to you!
SKILLS, PETS AND MORE New Skills have been released and things have been reorganised into a Knowledgebase. There's been a new way to gain skills and this has been finalised now - and pets have been released divided into two types
It is Year 1 after the incident. Currently it is Late Autumn and there are 25 days until Winter hits. Best stock up on supplies, as the weather will only get harsher from here.
Paige's eyes fluttered open slowly, the sounds of howling winds beating themselves against the cabin echoing within its walls.
She sat herself up in the bed, drawing its blanket to rest around her shoulders as she glanced around the dark, near lightless room, rubbing gently at her eyes before turning her head to peer through the window at the head of the bed. She blinked slowly as she watched the flurry of snow fall from the sky outside, the corners of her lips edging downward slightly.
Grabbing her backpack from beside her, she dragged it along with her as she moved to stand, a hand gripping at the blanket draped over her shoulders as she moved through the cramped little bedroom to make her way down the stairs.
She lifted her head as she turned the corner at the foot of the steps to enter into the cabin's tiny kitchen, glancing toward the front door as the gusts of wind outside seemed to gain strength for a moment. It was after only a brief pause that she continued forward, making her way to the opposite side of the kitchen and stopping just beside the pantry.
Dropping her backpack at her side she angled her arm to glance down at her watch, turning her wrist slightly to see if she could catch a glint of light on its face. The corners of her lips fell slightly as her gaze failed to pierce through the darkness, her focus drifting toward the tall cabinet door at her side. Turning in her place, she eased it open quietly, reaching down to unzip her backpack and taking a knee to kneel there on the ground.
Fully focused on the task at hand, she supposed it was time to get to work.
Last Edit: May 6, 2017 19:35:46 GMT by paige grant
C-cold. It was s-so cold. He didn't know what time it was, and other then the wind icing against his face driving snow against the pale skin, and freezing in his hair, he had no real clue as to the weather. He could only assume it was at least snowing heavily, if not a full blizzard. There was no fear of being lost though. How could you be lost if you could not see? A slight smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he first remembered reading a line from a book... couldn't remember the title. 'Not all those who wander are lost'.
His cane had been relatively useless, but out of habit, he kept testing the ground in front of him. While it didn't give him many indications as to snow drifts or small hollows, it was at least warning him of bigger drops (a total absence of anything to press against even snow), and trees (something hard but not too big) and bushes (they tended to tangle the cane until he'd worked it free). He still dragged Lassies harness and leash with him - that equally out of instinct. He was numb to the loss. They were a team. They had to be a team. He'd been walking through the nights and days until he'd been finding himself stumbling into some hollow out of pure luck that had afforded him enough shelter - or his body was just too tired to worry - to catch some sleep. Always the same sound had woken him - a frantic yelp the squeal of breaks, a howl sharply cut off.
He was questing with his cane for some place to sleep for whatever time it was, his eyes half closed when he met with a new piece of information. Something was obstructing his path. At first, he thought it was a tree, but no it was too big. It was too uniform to be a rock formation obstructing his way. Something..man made? He wasn't sure. Starting to work on sweeping the area for more information he found with his feet more the feeling of steps, and he started to climb. The snow wasn't snagging his cane, and he heard the different noise as he reached the porch externally.
Now his cane was tapping along the wood, tapping against the wooden walls as he quested for more information. There, a wall in front of him. Just trying to find any further information he leant fully against it, trying to use his body to find a door handle anything, still tapping with the cane as he hunted, unintentionally knocking at the door with it regardless.
She had barely had any time to start emptying the contents of her backpack into the pantry before she heard a peculiar tapping along the walls. Pausing in her motion, a can of pork and beans in hand, she strained her ears as she turned her head to peer out the window, scanning the sheets of falling snow outside for any signs of movement. The world outside seemed empty save for the blizzard, but the persistent tapping, in her mind, could mean only one thing. Someone outside needed help, and there was a chance they might be too weak to call out for it.
Her mind was made up in an instant. ❝ I'm coming! ❞she called out, aiming to make her voice loud enough to pierce the cabin walls and the storm both. Already she was getting to her feet, metal can gripped tightly in hand as some sort of defense should the stranger choose to present themselves as a thief. It took only a few steps to close the distance between herself and the door, her free hand reaching to undo the latch before reaching toward the knob. She pressed her body against its wooden surface as she gripped at the handle, bracing herself to slam it shut at the first sign of danger.
❝ I'm going to let you in! ❞she shouted through the door, brows drawing tight over her eyes as she drew a deep breath in through her nose. Quickly she twisted the knob and pulled the door open, keeping her body in close toward the door, brows knotted as she lifted her eyes to peer out into the blizzard.
She wasn't surprised to see a man outside, much bigger and probably stronger than herself, but what she wasn't expecting to see was a cane.
❝ Come inside quickly! ❞she pleaded.❝ It's dangerous! ❞Her shoulders drew themselves inward as the wind drove the cold snow in through the open door. She couldn't keep her body from shivering.
The loss of what he'd been leaning on sent him staggering into the direction of the inside of the house, his balance having been lost. He recovered quickly enough, the warmth of the inside drawing him forward. He had started to use the cane again to navigate by, more in self-reliance. To emphasize that while he was grateful for the shelter he did not need to be treated as totally helpless.
"I did not know this place was inhabited... you're the first person I've encountered," his voice was hoarse from the fact he'd not used it recently. Once he was satisfied he wasn't going to immediately walk into something and that he was truly over the threshold of the building he'd stood still, leaning on the cane faintly.
Snow was starting to melt from his hair, and he was certain the outer layers would be damp and creating a puddle. "Is there somewhere I may remove the outer layers of clothing to at least allow them to dry?" he added on before he frowned.
"Please, tell me, I'll ask if I need additional guidance," he was rather used to the camp he'd been at growing up. Where rather than letting him learn self-reliance they'd tried to show him everything. "But... where have my manners gone? I am known as Harper... thank you for allowing me in..." a yawn broke through part way through his speech, a second one following.
"Is there anything I may help with?" he was determined to still to be useful despite his tiredness.
She blinked in surprise as the stranger staggered in his place, glancing toward the foot of his cane as it was withdrawn to rest on the ground. Her lips pursed slightly as her focus drew back upward, her feet already moving to draw her aside a couple steps so the man could enter freely. Though she couldn't place it, she was getting the feeling something was wrong here.
The door was shut gently behind him once he'd made his way inside, her hand relinquishing itself from the knob to once again draw the bolt across the door, locking it in its place. A soft frown pulled at her lips as she listened to the hoarseness of his voice, equal parts guilt and relief washing over her as she assured herself there had been nothing to worry about. She'd taken a moment to listen before turning her head, staring thoughtfully at the stranger's back as he rest his weight on his cane. Her gaze drifted down toward his legs curiously, still trying to figure the cane's use. It was the 'please' that broke her from her thoughts, eyes widening slightly as they drew their focus toward the back of his snow-flecked head.
❝ Harper, ❞ she repeated, softly, testing the name in her own voice. Slowly her brows worried themselves together over her eyes as she stepped around him, watching carefully. ❝ My name is Paige. ❞
Easing the blanket from around her shoulders she cant her head slightly as she moved closer toward him, holding it out for him to take as she tried to peek at his expression in the dimly lit room. ❝ I don't think you need to worry about manners at a time like this, ❞ she assured him, managing some amount of cheer in her voice despite the seeming fragility of the smile pushing its way to her lips. ❝ You can take off your wet clothes here. ❞ ❝ I can leave the room if you need a little privacy, ❞ she clarified with a light chuckle, hoping to fend off the little dark cloud looming over her.
Harper again gave a slight smile. "It's nice to meet you, Paige," he stated calmly. He moved slowly, pausing as he sensed something in his space. He reached out with his hand hesitantly, not even trying to see in the right direction, his gaze remaining fixed ahead. He felt the pressure of the blanket against the back of his hand even through the layers of clothing, not even turning his head for that just adjusting his grip. The empty harness and lead with its collar still attached had fallen to the floor with a dull thud.
His focus though was more on retrieving the blanket. "Thank you," he stated his voice hoarse, a faint smile showing as he grasped the blanket, bringing it to his face to work out more what it was, holding it close before he used the cane to tap his way forward. He didn't want to drop his snow covered outer layers on the floor. As he found furniture he tapped his way along it using the cane as an extension to feel out the lay of the land, helping him build up a mental picture.
Equally slowly he relinquished his grip on the cane once he was sure he had it leant against the furniture that he could only assume was a couch of some kind. Slowly he moved to remove first the fleece mittens that covered the fabric bandages over his hands and up his arms. These he made no move to remove. Then he was carefully finding the knot of his outer kimonos belt, his fingers exposed, working gracefully to untie the belt. With equal care, he unfastened the buttons that held it closed slowly letting the heavy fabric fall from his slender shoulders, managing to just remember to grasp it before it hit the floor.
He shivered at how cold it was, partially melted snow and ice clinging to the fur. He was careful as he worked to try and place that on the furniture in front of him. A hiss of frustration escaped though as he missed, the kimono pooling onto the floor. He reached for the cane gritting his teeth as a flush of crimson color burst across his cheeks in humiliation as he knocked it over. He heard it clattering to the floor and it took his self-control to not try and futilely grab for it.
Instead, he took a slow steadying breath. "Can you pass me my cane please?" his voice was calmer then he felt.
Her eyes followed as his hand reached almost blindly for the blanket still in her grip, ears having caught sound of the leash in his hand falling to the ground. The smile at her lips faded away easily as her gaze turned toward his own, watching as he continued staring forward at nothing in particular. Her lips pulled tight for a moment as her brows pinched faintly over her eyes, fingers making no move to grasp at the blanket as it was swept out of her hold.
With each tap of his cane her vision followed, and slowly the realization of the situation settled heavy in her stomach. She didn't think to return his good manners with a simple "you're welcome," mind too busy working on the apparent fact that the man she'd welcomed in from the blizzard was blind.
Her gaze turned downward sharply at the realization of just how inconsiderate she was being, thoughts wiped away in an instant as she steeled her resolve. She couldn't have had better timing, as the hiss leaking from the man's lips may have startled her, otherwise. Turning her eyes back toward him, her gaze trailed downward to the heavy kimono settled on the ground just in front of the couch. She stepped forward, fully intending to pick it up and hang it to dry for him, only to be interrupted by the sound of his cane hitting the floor.
Pausing there in her steps she glanced toward it, frowning as she heard the man draw in a calming breath.
❝ Of course, ❞ she answered easily, moving instead to lift his cane from the ground and ease its handle against the palm of his hand. She watched his expression carefully, catching sight of the red rising to his cheeks even in the darkness. ❝ I don't mind, ❞ she assured gently.
It seemed like a good time to pick some sort of topic that didn't involve his need for the cane. ❝ I was just putting some things away here, ❞ she explained, loosing her hold on his cane once she was certain he had a grip on it. ❝ I was planning on heading to the gas station to see if I could find anyone, but... ❞ she paused for a moment, thinking on it. ❝ I guess the blizzard saw to that, ❞ she finished cheerfully.
❝ You're not from around here, are you? ❞ Her tone quirked upward in her curiosity, eyes studying her new guest thoughtfully.
Harper gave a nod of thanks as he wrapped his hand around the cane again. He nodded again as he listened to the other explaining their intentions. It all made sense. Keep things tidy, and in a way it made him feel somewhat more comfortable. A tidy place, assuming he stayed for a while and a blizzard would certainly keep him stuck here would be less likely to cause him to trip up.
"The offer is still there, even if it's helping by folding clothes," he gave a slight smile.
He wouldn't necessarily be very good at putting them away but he could at least help by folding clothes. He frowned at the question before nodding.
"I am used to warmer climates, I was here on a holiday with a group of people, I'm an explorer, or I was. Me and Sasha could travel anywhere... but she's gone now," he bit his lip slightly before shaking his head.
"I don't quite know what happened fully, I was woken up to screams of panic, and there was a smell of burning. We were camping somewhere in some cabins deep in the wilderness. It had been Sasha who woke me up, she'd even brought my pack over. It didn't take long to get enough layers on to protect from the immediate danger of cold and then she was leading me out by just tugging on my trousers and nudging me along with her nose," he was gripping the cane more tightly.
"I can only assume a fire had started somehow, I could hear the crackling of flames as Sasha had led me into the wilderness," he paused "she'd seemed worried even being outside, I don't know why though... we had been on night time hikes before,"
The blizzard, alas remains active, however, it has blown down a large number of sticks, and even some larger limbs from trees. One of which has pinned a deer down, who soon expires.
The smile at Harper's lips brought strength to her own. With her spare clothes already neatly rolled in an effort to save space there wasn't much room for help folding them left, but that didn't mean she didn't appreciate the thought. The edges of her lips pulled a bit higher as she offered him a grateful smile.
The fact that the answer to her question seemed to steal his smile away weakened her own. Her lips eased themselves into a soft line as she listened quietly to his explanation, brown eyes too focused on watching the man's expression to catch sight of the way his grip tightened on his cane. Slowly her gaze drifted downward, coming to rest on the empty leash lying there on the cottage floor. Her brows drew softly over her eyes as she continued to listen, lips giving way to fall into a gentle frown. There was a brief moment of quiet thought after he'd finished speaking, her eyes lifting to level their gaze with Harper's. She wasn't sure what to say.
❝ I was here on holiday too, ❞ she ventured, her voice uncertain and soft. ❝ All the animals seem to be worried. I think they know something's different. ❞ Paige hesitated before continuing on, debating with herself over her next words.
❝ If you're all warmed up, I do have some work for you, ❞ she offered lightly. Though her voice was still soft, it had managed to regain some amount of strength. With that said she turned in her place, glancing toward the kitchen and taking the few steps necessary to cross the distance between herself and her previous spot by the pantry.
Once there she eased herself onto her knees, reaching to slide the can of beans still in her grip into a spot on one of the pantry's shelves. Satisfied, she tugged her heavy backpack close to her side, muscling it into place to lean against her thigh before burying her hands in its pockets in search of something else to put away.
❝ I didn't have much of a chance to search this place out last night. Maybe you could peek around and see if there's anything here that could help us? ❞
She did her best to ignore the sound of creaking branches and the snapping limbs of trees outside, choosing to focus on her work rather than let herself worry over consequences the storm.
Harper smiled giving a nod. He could try and explore at least. "You'll have to excuse me if I accidentally catch you with my cane," he stated calmly. Some people grew offended if he unintentionally did such. With that warning he slowly started to move using his cane to help him navigate about, primarily to find the larger obstacles.
It was a help to him as well if he was honest. He was able to start learning his way around the cabin, and the furniture. Each time though he found a large item of furniture - starting with what he could only assume was a coffee table in front of the couch he methodically worked his way over it, running his hands carefully over the surface.
By the time two hours had passed he'd amassed a small heap of containers that he'd found on the shelves, as well as a first aid box, and a jar of peanut butter on the coffee table. It may seem insignificant but he was a believer in using one location as his center point in a new environment.
He paused in his explorations, not sure how much of the lay of the land he'd covered as it were but he was aware of a change in the weather.
"The wind sounds like it's dying down," he stated calmly giving another smile. "Maybe you'll get to the gas station today," he added on with another smile.
"But I put everything I found here, I didn't want to go through the containers though, I wasn't sure if they were containers you'd already placed things in,"
It didn't take long for Paige to finish loading food, tools, and spare medical supplies into the kitchen pantry. With her first order of business complete and the storm still howling outside, she too got to work in searching the cottage interior in the meager morning light. Drawing her backpack to rest over her shoulder she did a cursory scan of the kitchen, peeking in the wall mounted cabinets and scanning the counter top for anything of use. Managing a bit of scrap metal, a hatchet, and a few wooden matches from her search, she swiped the rags draped from the rim of the metal sink and wrapped up her haul before heading upstairs to continue her quest.
Despite her near two hours of searching, she wasn't able to find much. Dragging little more than dust bunnies from under the bed, her search was rewarded with a single newspaper and a can of sardines. Those too found themselves neatly wrapped in the stained rags from the kitchen sink below, and with her treasure hunt complete she made her way down the stairs, wooden steps creaking softly under the weight of her boots.
Hand resting on the rails, her gaze drew up sharply at the sound of Harper's voice. He had been so quiet she'd nearly forgotten he was there. She blinked her eyes slowly as her eyes turned toward the window, a smile working its way to her lips as she spied the clear weather outside.
❝ Maybe so! ❞ she replied cheerfully. There was still plenty of light left in the day, and with the storm gone the number of possible ways to spend the day had gone up.
As she stepped around the stairs to see the collection of items on the coffee table her eyes widened, brows arching lightly over her eyes. ❝ You found this much? ❞ By the sound of her voice, she was almost in disbelief.
❝ I've only used the kitchen pantry so far... ❞ Her voice trailed off as she approached the table, leaning over it slightly as she picked through its contents, taking a mental inventory. ❝ A first aid kit? ❞ Popping the red and white marked kit open with her hand she checked inside. ❝ And it's well stocked! ❞ Lips spreading into a warm grin she lifted her eyes toward Harper, her heightened spirits ringing in her voice. ❝ This is perfect! Thank you so much, Harper. ❞
She glanced back toward the kit, snapping it shut as she glanced over the items collected on the table ❝ These should make our lives much easier. ❞
Taking a step back she set her own findings on the table's surface, picking through them again to confirm their resources. ❝ I got... matches. Cloth. A newspaper. A little bit of scrap metal. A... full tin of sardines. It seems the most useful thing left behind was the hatchet. ❞ Her brows furrowed thoughtfully over her eyes. ❝ I guess they left in a hurry. ❞
Slowly her focus drew itself back toward the window, staring outside contemplatively.
Harper smiled at the disbelief. He hadn't thought that he was that good at finding things, but still, he was pleased. He tilted his head at the mention of the hatchet. "I found something by the base of a tree when I was wandering, you can look through my backpack if you want," he gave a slight smile. "I'm not quite sure what it was, but it had a certain weight to it, and had a blade,"
He had been very careful in examining that. He was moving to carefully explore the other items. "I'm quite happy to explore our surroundings though, I'll likely replace the outer layer of my clothing. It's very good at keeping me warm," he shifted his weight.
"There are wolves about though, I heard them howling... thankfully none got too close," which he considered exceptionally lucky. He'd have had no chance against them, not once he'd lost Sasha. "Apparently I must not have looked edible enough for them or didn't get close enough,"
"I wonder what caused them to leave so quickly though... it doesn't make sense. Winters coming in surely it would be better for them to stay where they were, try and tough out the winter and then leave in better weather?" he frowned.
"I don't think everyone got away... I kept finding vehicles half-burrowed in the snow... didn't dare go in them in case I got trapped," he shook his head again with a slight sigh.
He hadn't explored the vehicles for items intently either, just acknowledged they were there and worked his way around them carefully.
"I think I may have encountered frozen corpses in the snow as well...but again I didn't stay to check, I thought they were animal corpses but now I'm starting to question with how quiet it is,"
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