Author's Note: I found my sisters' old BSC books. I can see why we have about 4 BSC books and a bunch of Goosebumps books.
The landscape was barren. A thick haze filled the land. Aside from a few dying trees and patches of brown grass, all of Stoneybrook's western front has completely dead.
Unfortunately, things weren't much better at the eastern front.
Kristy eyed the deer from far away, licking her lips and readying her bow.
A meal for eight, easy, she thought.
She heard a thump from behind her. Without hesitation she turned around and aimed her bow at...
Claudia.
"Sorry," Claudia said nervously. "How's it going?"
Kristy pointed at the deer, which was galloping away. "Our meal is galloping away, thanks to you."
"Why would you thank me for that?"
Kristy sighed.
Dawn was teaching some of the smaller children how to sharpen their blades. She had to stop quite a few times to push her long hair out of her face.
"Remember to cut your hair short," Dawn advised the children. "You could get stuck on a branch or something, and you know you can't get caught in the woods."
"What about to make a trap?" Charlotte Johanssen asked.
"Good point: let your hair grow long, then cut it to use as a noose to strangle anyone who takes our supplies."
"Except how would we tie it?" Haley Braddock muttered sullenly.
Claudia, Kristy and I entered the house. Claudia had some five rabbits and Kristy had a fox around her neck. I was holding a sack of other assorted foods.
"Dinner," Kristy said boisterously, which surprised me.
"Oh, Dawn," I said to Dawn (duh). "Dawn, I found some of those berries you like."
"Good, Stacey," Dawn said as she placed her combat knife on a shelf. "I absolutely hate eating all this meat. Can't you guys ever hunt for something other than animals?"
"Like what, a wild cucumber?" Mary-Anne said sarcastically. She was cradling a crying infant.
"Stop complaining, Dawn, and help us skin them," Kristy barked. "It's not like we have much of a choice, now, do we?"
The room fell silent, apart from the crying infant.
"I'll help you skin the animals," Dawn said at last.
"Me, too," Claudia said, attempting to make a smile.
Smiles. I can't remember the last time I saw someone smile and really mean it.