Fort Haste: Winter

by Zencolour

Humanity has been swept clean by some unknown virus and the few survivors count themselves the unlucky ones. In a new world of mutant Pokémon, crippling winters, and a survivalist camp to run - Orion has plenty on his mind. But what if the true enemy are the deeds of his past? Rated T for violence and language.

4. Chapter 3

FH:WINTER

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"Fort Haste: WINTER" is a recount of a tale set within the Pokémon world - one in which everything has gone wrong. Here we meet the final survivors as they struggle to endure through hell and beyond. An unknown virus has wiped-out most of humanity, leaving behind children which seem to be less affected by the disease. In an attempt to preserve what remains of humanity, Fort Haste was bodged in the months following the pandemic. Even now, the settlement remains at the very heart of the ongoing apocalypse. For everything that has happened and all the trials humanity has faced - Fort Haste stands as a vision of hope.

Please note, this and following chapters will contain both narrative and speech in various dialects and languages. Anything said in Pokémon will be underlined as shown. Normal speech will remain unaffected, although italics and bold may be used for effect following standard rules. For whistle calls *…something like this…* will be used, and any random flashbacks are marked with {"}.

Fort Haste is a work of fiction written as a collaboration between ZenColour and Just-A-Reader0Love. Both are very thankful for the additional help from Oblivion Wave Productions as a beta reader.

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AUTHOR NOTES

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Zen: A big thanks Yoshimaste (you made my day) for your review, as well as everyone for stopping by and trying out our second take at this fic! Also a massive thanks to Oblivion Wave Productions for joining the team as a Beta reader. The next chapter may take a bit longer than we would like, but we're doing our best to turn FH into something really epic.

R'Love: This chapter, I had quite the bit of fun with this one. Imagining how a character would reasonably react to certain things is very fun on the mind. To learn what I am talking about, read the chapter below! Also thanks to Oblivion Wave Productions, he is gonna be the guy who is gonna notify us on any last second mistakes that are made so that they can be corrected as soon as possible. Hats off to him! (Also he gives very good reviews.)

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HAYS SNH Version 4 (0068 PA)

Forward written by I. K. Wyee [EXTRACT]

9000406224464 - Sinnoh Outreach Programme for Historical Preservation

To this day, the V-DPP Anomaly remains unexplained. Many doubt it's existence, but the contradictory nature of the event remains preserved in the writing of F. Hays. Little is preserved of the event, although a number of cassette tapes from before the epidemic suggest time gaps or paradoxical occurrences. Most famously, this includes material produced by a successful pop-group which by all accounts is impossible, given that the group had broken-up decades previously

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CHAPTER 3

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An excerpt from 'Hays' Journals' III

Instinct seeks a way to survive. But what are we without spirit?

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ORION's POV

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'FENN!'

I'd spent enough of my life moaning about the cold. To be fair I was usually the hardy type, able to withstand a range of extremes without too much discomfort. Maybe being part-Pokemon helped. But today it was different. Rolling out of bed, I was shivering within a few seconds of throwing off the covers. Feeling around on the floor for my customary pile of clothes from the night before - my frantic searching came up empty. Only my boots were left, and they lacked any socks typically stuffed in the top.

The sun was shining warmly through the windowpane - well, except with the 'warmth' bit. For some strange reason the window was ajar from the night before. Gusts of frigid air whistled around the panes. The glass rattled slightly as I slammed the aperture shut with a firm shove.

Wagging my tail and bouncing on my toes a little, it was all I could do to keep the heat from escaping my body. Grabbing a blanket to throw around my shoulders,I actually wished I had more fur over my body.

Hopping over to the door, I pushed it open and poked my head around slowly.

The landing was empty.

In fact, the whole house felt dead.

Usually Fenn would be up and in the meeting room this time of day. It was a typical thing she did early in the mornings to get any admin out of the way. Then again, I didn't even know what time of day it was. Without a watch, I had to squint out of the far bay window to guesstimate whether it was morning, afternoon, or I was stuck in one of those strange dreams again.

I didn't even remember going to bed.

Yet here I was, near naked and without anything to throw on.

'FENN!' I shouted again, only to descend into a coughing fit. A sore throat was the last thing I needed.

Downstairs I could hear the fire spit a little. Apart from that, nothing.

Sighing angrily to myself, I quickly thought through my options. Either I could go and find Fenn, or just go find something for clothes - unless maybe I could find Fenn with some clothes? Both would be good. Or I could just stay here and curl-up in the remaining warmth of my bed.

Even if the latter was very tempting, I resorted to shouting again.

'FEEENNNN!'

Pulling the blanket tightly over my shoulders like a cape , I wandered out onto the landing

and down the stairs. My bare feet were perched on the wooden steps as I tiptoed my way down into the hallway. With ears stood up on end, I listened out for any sound I could. In part this was with the hopes of finding Fenn, but also to avoid anybody else. I didn't particularly want to be seen wandering around in my pajamas.

With both bedrooms empty, I trotted down towards the library.

Putting my hand on the doorknob and I yelped in surprise when it opened without warning from the other side. Jumping back niftily, I rolled onto my toes and with it a loose fighting stance. Whoever was coming through the door, I was ready.

I was a little confused when a very tired Fenn stared at me through the doorway.

'I thought it was you.' She yawned, blinking sleep from her bloodshot eyes 'What do you want?'

In a hurried manner I gestured to my goosepimpled body.

'Clothes Fenn! Clothes? Where are they?'

She blinked a few more times before my words seemed to register,

'Uh…oh yeah. Sorry Orion.'

Fenn remained standing there and a shiver ran down my spine.

There was a long pause.

'So, where are they?' I asked in the calmest manner I could, gritting my teeth for good measure.

'Sorry. They're drying off next to the fireplace in our room.'

Fenn pushed past and I fell into step obediently. Following the girl back down the corridor, she unlocked her bedroom door and pushed it open gently. I almost tripped over her as she waited at the entrance. The living room had been converted into a accommodation by the addition of a few bunk-beds, although Insley had one to herself. The scent of the room washed over me and I sneezed, rubbing the smell away with the back of my hand.

Opposite a fiercely burning stove stood a clothes horse. The precarious wooden frame was doing it's best to hold up a small mountains of clothes. I identified what appeared to be my entire shirt collection, as well as my green rifles jacket strewn over the stand.

'What's the matter now?' Fenn asked tiredly, already poking at the clothes to see what was dry.

'There was stuff in that coat!'

'I know Orion.'

'And...Bre….' I stuttered for a few moments but Fenn gave me a solid glare. Without words, she rapidly conveyed that I was making a big fuss out of nothing. Shrinking under her gaze, I tiptoed across the room to start bundling up my garments as neatly as I could. This had to wait however, as I was quickly drawn to Fenn's neatly made bed. Spread across the white sheets were the emptied nicknacks from my jacket, all laid out in neat piles.

My tongue struggled to get the vowels out as my voice shimmied into a muted whimper.

'See.' Fenn folded her arms in triumph, 'Nothing to worry about! Anyways, you never told me you carried so much junk on your person. Nor that you had some poorly sewn hidden pockets in the sides of the thing...'

She lifted my coat off the horse and shook it gently, as if expecting loose change to fall from the garment.

I eyed her carefully, at little uneasy at her tone of voice.

Her hard expression softened slowly, before she sighed. Waving me over, she started pulling socks and shirts off the rack. Folding them haphazardly in the air, she handed my clothes over one by one. All I could do was juggle the steadily growing pile against my chest.

'Did you want to talk about this stuff or not?' The teenager said at last, watching me from the corner of her eyes.

Pulling on a shirt, I fumbled with the buttons even as I shivered from the cold. Even though the fire was roaring behind the glass of the log burner, it wasn't giving off much heat.

'What is there to talk about?' I queried, feigning ignorance.

Fenn raised an eyebrow. She was in the process of handing me a pair of socks only to find me struggling to balance a scarf over my shoulder. Not waiting for me to finish, she balanced the socks on the bundle I had stuck in the crook of my arm.

I didn't see her pace over to a bed and pick up an old cassette from the nearest pile. It was only a moment later when she was waving the coloured plastic in front of my face that I could react.

'For example, why you have a couple of these?'

Juggling my bundle from one hand to the other, I plucked the scratched blue C60 tape out of her grasp. It didn't seem to matter, as Fenn now had what appeared to be a spork, penknife, and a collection of random pens in her other hand. Still shivering, I decided to drop my garments with and tug on a shirt and trousers.

'Or...how about these?'

Gritting my teeth, I tried to ignore my growing annoyance at her going through personal items.

'More Tapes?' I queried, wondering why she was making a fuss about what I carried around in my coat. 'They have music on them.' I added after a pause, unsure if she knew about the technology. It was a struggle to button up my shirt with frigid fingers.

'I know what they are Orion. This one in particular looks like an old mixtape or something.' She had somehow gotten the C60 back in her hands and out of mine. She turned the clunky plastic over a few times, struggling to make out the faded sharpie. 'Azure? What's that even supposed to mean?' Fenn continued to prod questions in my direction, 'Where did you even get these?'

Bundling up my clothes once more, I turned my back to the teenager and pulled the remainder damp garments off the clothes horse. Being at least partly dressed, I ran a hand through my hair and tried to gather calm the butterflies in my stomach. Hadn't I made it clear that I didn't want to talk about it.

Turning round, Fenn had her arms crossed. Her blue eyes had narrowed, brows furrowing.

'Are you going to answer me or not Orion?'

'Seriously Fenn.' It was all I could do not to shout, 'Am I not allowed to have a few cassettes stuffed in my pocket.'

Fenn shook her head.

'I'm just curious Orion. '

'Look...I got them from a friend. Alright?' I pulled my green jacket on, feeling a swell of relief upon being back in the comfortably, well worn coat. Tugging the collar up, I quickly proceeded to return my belongs to the small pouches from which they came from. Sighing to myself, I wondered if Fenn knew she was being rude. Was this a human thing? You didn't see me going through her stuff did you?

'And you carry them on you all the time?' Fenn watched me put away my nicknacks with some intrigue, 'And you just happen to keep the cassettes in a secret zipped pocket at the back? And you carry them on you all the time? That's a little weird Orion.'

'Just drop it Fenn. They mean something to me ok?'

My tongue struggled with the words and I heaved out a sigh, squishing a ball of yarn and a couple of screws into my chest pocket. The trenchcoat doubled in weight with the bits and pieces stuffed haphazardly into every conceivable spot, but I completed the task with a smooth efficiency. I guess I was as bad as Mike in that respect. As least I didn't carry random tools on me too. Then again, his tools had a purpose.

'Are you sure those socks are dry? You do have…'

'Yes.' I snapped, anger finally flaring in my chest. 'Yes Fenn I do know. Just drop it. I'm not in the mood for this bullshit this morning.'

Snatching the last tape out of her hands, I slide the storage device back into my jacket and zipped the pocket shut stiffly. The jacket had lost it's homely smell and now stank of detergent. Not to mention it likely needed re-waxing or whatever you did to make it waterproof again. Trying to avoid the smell of strange chemicals, I turned to see Fenn looking a little pale.

I wasn't sure if Fenn had ever seen me angry before.

'I'm sorry Orion. I was only trying to help.'

'Thanks Fenn.' I replied in the least thankful tone I could. 'Just don't go prodding around with people's past.'

Perking up the collar a bit more, I tried to relax and let the energy seep out of my body. I'd become fidgety and short tempered over the past week following the Feral attack. The near-death experience had awoken a worrisome feeling inside which I'd rather have buried. Anxiety was one thing, but things were starting to get difficult in Fort Haste too. Everyone was on edge following the attack. Subsequently, they all wanted me to come up with an instant solution to seemingly every problem they had. There a bump in the night in the bathroom? Get Orion. People wanted easy fixes to complex problems - and I was fed up of asking the Hasties to just have a little faith. I'd been working myself to death in the hopes of being tired enough to fall asleep.

Maybe that's why I snapped at Fenn.

'You like the Beatles?' She asked, not the one to give an apology twice.

'What?'

'The Beatles? You had one of their cassettes, 'Everyday Chemistry'. I've never heard of it.'

'It's an old one.' I replied curtly, trying to shut down the conversation. Sticking my face into my coat, I tried to nuzzle out the homely scent which once saturated the fabric.

Fenn was giving me a stare. I'd known her long enough to understand that it meant I'd been doing something weird again. She had this strange, wide-eyes expression which seemed to pierce right through my soul and out the other side. I shrank before it, my ears naturally drooping.

'What is it Fenn?' I queried, uncertainty touching my previously angered tone.

She chewed on her lip.

'No it's nothing.' She changed her mind rather quickly,

'Actually, are you ok Orion? You've been...well...'

I didn't know know how to answer that. So to give myself some extra time, I bent down to tie my boots on. The leather laces were starting to wear thin, although the heavily-worn footwear had managed to stay in one piece.

Straightening, Fenn was making alarmingly direct eye contact.

'Orion? Everything's fine? Right?'

'What would make you think otherwise?'

A faint smile crept over her face.

'You're asking that. Honestly? Look at you Orion! You're part Pokemon and now...and now we know that somebody else is too. As if the world wasn't messed up enough as it was. You've been acting strangely ever since...well ever since the Feral attack.'

Looking at me with slight apprehension, she finished,

'I'm just checking in with you, alright? Nothing crazy going on up there? No more magical Pokemon powers you want to tell us about? You're not going to start shooting shadow balls at people that get on your nerves?'

The last thing I was expecting was for her to pull me into a hug.

'We'll all a little worried about you. That's all.' She explained over my shoulder.

Letting go quickly, we finished packing up my clothes together, tidying up what else I had in my bedroom. Fenn convinced me that I didn't need to carry everything I owned on my person, so now I had a little box of belongings to go next to my bed. With that all done and dusted, it wasn't long before my stomach started rumbling.

'What time is it?' I asked at last, dusting off my trousers.

'Uh…' Fenn checked her watch, 'Just past two. There wasn't lunch today so you didn't miss out - well apart from breakfast of course.'

Well, at least I hadn't slept through the whole day.

After a long moment to pull myself together, I dropped my shoulders and properly thanked my second in command.

'Look...I don't know the best way to say this. I'm sorry.'

Fenn seemed a little taken aback by the apology, looking up slowly. 'What for? This isn't you still feeling bad about the washing earlier?'

'No!' I snorted, 'For, well. You know. Looking after me...and washing my clothes. Organising my stuff and all. It's a great help.'

She smiled, before turning it into a rather cheeky grin.

'Don't lie to me Orion. I know you hated me cleaning your stuff. Just go and do what you need to do.'

I nodded,

'And next time,' Fenn added just as I was leaving, 'Next time, you get to wash your own stuff. Weekly would be good. You stank.'

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FENN's POV

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I turned the pages slowly, reviewing what laid before me with a sigh. The handwriting could have been much better, and the sentences somewhat clearer to read. Then I was like that - ever the realist. Nothing was ever perfect. Jane might have been more optimistic, Insley less so. Whether or not anybody in the future would ever pick up and read my scrawling handwriting was another matter. For now, the small book was just the start. A record of the history we were making.

I fought off a yawn.

The story of us Hasties didn't truly begin here in camp - but instead in the months before. Fort Haste arose because the last surviving quareteen zone was overrun. Humans were supposed to be clever and able to out-smart whatever challenge arose. But you only need one exception to the use. What came was the zombie apocalypse everyone imagined but nobody really wanted. People didn't get zombified, they just died. Maybe some turned into Ferals...

We didn't know what was happening with the little girl Megan yet. She was about twelve from what I had written on her record - so maybe she wasn't so little after all. Megan had been unlucky enough to get infected during the Ferals attack a few days earlier. Jane had even suggested that she may have been infected before then and we didn't know.

Nobody really knew what the virus did, nor whether it could actually turn people into Pokemon.

And then there was Orion - but he was his own mystery.

Nobody really knew how old he was, nor where he was from. The man (for he looked too old to be a child anymore) was the type of person that was utterly paradoxical. He had the hardened appearance of a soldier. If not from his dress, but by the stiff way he held himself. Yet Orion's personality was at odds with his appearance. The man was jumpy, sometime childish, other times deadly serious. You never could never predict his next emotion. Since the Ariados invasion he'd been reclusive, and pretty-much nocturnal.

Often I wondered just how much of an Umbreon he really was.

Yet another comment to add to a list of unknowns.

Setting down my diary, I massaged my scalp to relieve the small headache growing there. I once thought it was kinda cool to write by candlelight, but that was before a virus wiped out the known world. Now we had to make do. And I was running out of biros.

I sighed, pulling myself up into a better posture though this was difficult while sat on the stout wooden chair. The room was dark and I collected my plush down jacket with shaking hands, tempted to pull on my gloves for good measure. Although it was still way too early to be getting out of bed, I'd found myself unable to sleep. It was one of those mornings.

The library had come my own private recluse. Bass and Insley were both late risers, and I'd had enough listening to the latter snore. At one point her breathing sounded more like gurgling than anything human. You'd have thought by now I'd gotten used to it? Bass managed somehow, though she could sleep through anything if she got the chance. Hell, once I had to double check to make sure she wasn't dead.

The door to the library creaked open on its hinges, revealing the storage room inside.

You see, the so-called Library didn't hold books as such. It was more of a general storage space that just happened to have a few books. A couple of them were actually worth reading. Old steel shelving had been placed wherever there was room and the panels were covered with as much stuff that could physically fit. It was a mixture of everything. Whether that was old DVDs, packs of toothbrushes, china plates, plastic knives - the lot. Here were Items that had been scavenged from the ashes of the old world.

Without a flashlight most of it was cast in shadow, a sombre hue that exaggerated the wonders of a modern society that was now lost.

The library felt like a museum composed of artifacts only months old.

The library used to be the farmhouses kitchen, which had been stripped bare months prior. Only the cellar door remained to indicate the rooms original purpose - and that hadn't been opened since we first arrived. In fact, I was pretty certain we'd lost the key. For all I knew it was empty.

I guess we'd never know.

Add it to the list Fenn.

A stout desk and old office chair was the only comfort in the storage room. It was here that I spent a lot of my time - hidden amongst the comforts of my past. Slumping down in my seat, I rubbed at my eyes tiredly. Stifling a yawn took some effort. Pulling my diary towards me, I flicked open the pages to my last bookmark.

Where did I even begin?

Well...I have to admit that Orion had been on my thoughts a lot recently.

We all have stories, each one of us owns a narrative that defines us. For many in Fort Haste, this story was wiped clean during the pandemic. It was our future that united us all and the unceasing fight for survival. Fort Haste was our family and, even though some like it more than others, Orion was our leader. But he was different - his life started here with camp. Somehow I struggled to imagine the young man before it all, just doing normal things. How did he end up the way he was? Orion had always shrugged off his Pokemon features as being caused by the virus. But beyond a casual conversation he directed any questions away from the topic. Orion didn't talk of his past and thus by extension neither did anyone else. I couldn't imagine him not looking like an Umbreon.

It was Orion that had saved us from the ruins of the quarteen zone and in that respect we owed him our lives. Back then he'd been more confident, decisive, and more human. A leader perhaps. Ever since the attack (and even Berry Hill before then) he'd been acting differently. The man had slowly become quieter yet more obsessive in his work. His personality switched between anxious and buoyant without apparent cause. In a way, he'd been acting more like an Umbreon than a person. And not just because he was steadily becoming nocturnal.

Whatever had happened that day up on Berry Hill must have been just as bad. The boy refused to talk about it.

Just like with everything else.

I sighed heavily. Today was the day we were finally going to discuss the Ariados attack from only a few days prior. The dead Ferals had finally been dealt with - notably with extreme caution. The mutant pokemon were infected and had the potential to pass on the virus by bodily contact. The bodged bio-suits we tried to create might have seemed a little comical in hindsight. That being said, the giant beasts mysteriously disappeared one morning and their bodies were never found.

I have a feeling that a certain somebody was likely instrumental in the organization of that stunt. Once you're infected then that's it - you can't get more infected.

The farmhouse was quiet before sunrise. Its occupants, all members of The Chain, made the most of the lengthened winter nights. Walking down the hallway with caution, it was with great care that I climbed the old wooden stairs so as not to make a noise. The rooms upstairs were shared between the two boys, as well as a small office where we kept a lot of our written records. That, and a near-empty back room that we used as our private meeting hall. From what I can remember, those rooms used to have some pretty ancient furniture.

Orion was usually active this time of day, having transitioned into a fairly crepuscular lifestyle. I pushed his door open tentatively to check.

The hinges barely even whispered.

Inside it was much cooler than the warm farmhouse should have been. A chilly shiver ran up my spine and I shook the feeling off with a grimace. It was just the cold - but something didn't feel right somehow. The bed pushed against the far wall was only matched by a desk and stubby chest of draws. A quick scan over the meagre contents of room revealed one important fact.

Orion wasn't there! Instead, his bed was scruffled up with the covers apparently thrown onto the floor. It barely looked like the frame had even been slept in - the mattress as cold as the frigid air. Orion usually had some trouble sleeping, something which I assumed to be a result of his Umbreon instincts surfacing.

But one thing was certain. The window should not have been cast wide open.

'Ughhhh Orion…!' I mumbled to myself, already expecting the worst.

Going to shut the window revealed two things worthy of note.

Firstly, at some point it had rained in the night and the curtains had been swept out into the open air. The bottoms were soaked and near dripping with water. That in itself was beyond annoying, especially given how time consuming getting anything dry now was.

The second thing out of place (quite literally) was Orion curled up on the roof outside.

It would have been all too easy to miss the boy if it wasn't for his golden rings glowing in the dim pre-dawn night. A silhouette blending into the darkness, his outline was only marked by the dappling lights display which appeared to float over his sleeping form. Orion was curled up in a ball, his tail brought up and round in a way that didn't look physically possible.

The man's breath steamed faintly, indicating that he was breathing at the very least.

Upon looking closer, I could see the black fur that covering his arms was stood on end.

At this point I was a little thrown at what to do. But the man needed to get inside and get warm - and as quickly as possible.

A full moon offered the only other light in contrast to a faint yellow hue emitted by the Umbreon. My mind froze. Don't tell me he was drawn to it? False deductions floated through my awareness as I crept closer, not wanting to startle the man. I could only guess at a number of explanations for why Orion had decided to sleep out on the roof, yet I had difficulty in accepting my final conclusion.

'Oh...Ohh Orion…'

Tears formed swiftly in my eyes, and I felt more than a little afraid for my friend. Gently I called his name, hoping to wake him.

'Orion…?'

It was getting worse. Something needed to be done. Yes, Orion was fully entitled to be a little off-colour with what had happened recently. Nearly dying can do that to a person. But this was beyond worrying. He was being so...so Umbreon like! Jane and Insley had explained to me that Orion had used a Pokemon move when protecting Fort Haste. I still had my doubts. Until now that was. What didn't help was that Insley had completed a dare to see if Orion noticed the Poke-chow mixed in with his breakfast yesterday. Blink twice and that was an over-sized Pokémon curled up on the old kitchen roof. An Umbreon sleeping under the light of the moon.

Cautiously, I climbed out of the window.

My bare feet touched down on the gently-sloping felt. Tiptoeing both to stay silent and because my toes were frickin' freezing, I made my way across the kitchen roof. The building extension was loosely covered in moss and a thick grime that was slick after a night of rain. Cool air tickled at my nose.

Bending down besides the boy, I placed a hand down to steady myself.

Orion's hair was softer than it should have been, like thick black fur. I tickled an ear hoping for a response. I didn't have to wait long. The young man's eyes worked the way open slowly, struggling to focus. Another blink and his pupils had narrowed into tight slits, his irises a haunting blood-red in the low light. All pity quickly evaporated into fear as the man picked himself up, lips stiffening as he began to bear his teeth.

'Orion?' I backed off, my hands sinking into the damp spongy moss. 'It's me,Orion.' My voice quivered.

Fear gripped me as the man froze, studying me coldly.

The world hung in the balance and for a second I could see the reflection of a terrified teenager. At that very moment Orion shook, ruffling his green jacket like some kind of job. Jumping at the sudden motion, I wasn't prepared for the the disorientated wide-eyed gaze. Orion's previously sinister expression had evaporated to leave a startled frown. I caught my breath, hesitant to make a sound or even move encase the boy flipped again.

Filling my lungs in a deliberate manner, I tried to still my frantically beating heart.

'Are…Are you ok Orion?'

The Umbreon just stared back at me in confusion, his head tilting every so slightly as he fixed me with a sold gaze.

'Uh…Orion?'

I didn't know if he was ignoring me or was somehow sleepwalking. His ears perked up a little at my voice, his black-tipped nose twitching as if sniffing at the cold predawn air. Slowly uncurling himself, he pushing himself up into a more natural seated position. One side of his body was covered in thin coat of black muck and grime. I cursed softly to myself. Something wasn't right here.

'Fenn…?'

Orion rubbed at his eyes with the back of his hand. In a way, it looked more like he was cleaning himself with a paw. Blink twice and the image was gone.

'Fenn?' He whined again, as if uncertain who I was. His ears were pulled back, puppy dog eyes widening to form two black saucers in a sea of red.

'Yeah, it's me Orion.' I verified softly, 'Are you ok to get off the roof?'

For a long moment we simply sat watching each other. A gust of wind blew across the moonlit sky and it was then that I realized I was properly shivering. It was too cold to be outside on morning's like this - even if Orion seemed content in just a shirt and some thin pajama shorts. The boy was seemingly unaffected by the chill.

Ever so slowly he picked himself up and stretched - but in a way that he pushed his hands across the roof. Arching his back, I was lost for words at the animalistic display. A long black tail wagged in the air briefly, trailing golden light.

Trying to ignore what I had just seen, I spoke in a soothing voice.

'Back inside then Orion?'

He nodded, picking himself up and standing on two feet. Given his current behaviour, it wouldn't have shocked me if he'd crawled back on all fours. However, Orion did bounce along on the tips of his toes making his feet look more like hocks than anything human. In a surprisingly agile maneuver, the man clambered back through the window with ease. I was nowhere near as elegant and trod carefully on the slippy roof. With a hand from Orion, I tumbled back through the window. It was only once we were both inside of the room that I could finally pull myself together.

With a huff, I pulled the curtains down off the rail and bundled them up ungracefully. Tugging the window shut firmly, it was only then that I let my frustration show.

'What the hell were you doing Orion!? What...what even was that?'

I pulled at my hair, frustrated by the lack of a response.

'What the hell is going on with you? Is this normal? Should I be worried?'

He stood a little sheepishly, his hands clasped together awkwardly and his ears drawn back against his scalp. For a brief moment it felt like I was scolding a child. Screwing my face up, I tried to decide whether I should be reprimanding that man or providing some sort of psychological help. Probably the latter. Orion himself barely seemed aware of what was going on.

He blinked, red eyes wider than they should have been.

'I'm sorry Fenn. It's…' He stopped, fumbling with his fingers as he stared at the floor. His long Umbreon tail hung limply as he scraped at the floorboards with grimy toes. 'Sometimes I get…'

Orion trailed off, standing there with his rings glowing faintly. They provided the only light within the small room.

Skinny, a little pale, and with a mop of black hair - Orion might have once been an average looking guy. He was shivering now, averting his gaze as if to ignore what was becoming an increasingly demoralizing situation. Words kept reaching the tip of my tongue but made it no further. Nothing I could think of was worth saying, least of all because I knew that somehow this wasn't his fault. Why should I rebuke the half-Umbreon for doing something he was obviously struggling to control himself? I was torn between holding onto the tirade or simply accepting my folly.

Is this what the virus did to people? Is this what would happen to Megan?

At last I crumbled, all prior anger extinguishing in a heartbeat.

'Let's just get you cleaned up shall we?' My voice came out as a whisper.

Orion nodded, already trying to avoid scratching off the dirt and moss from his arms. I'd never seen him behave this way before. I hadn't yet grasped just how much it scared me. The one man that seemed capable of providing an answer to any problem was now behaving like a cornered animal. How can you grasp that? Scratching at the floorboards with a toe, I took a deep breath.

'Did you want to talk about what's going on?

It was a question I'd asked many times, and not once had I ever got a response. The best answer I'd been gifted with was a scowl. In all fairness, I didn't expect anything this time. It just seemed the right thing to do - to allow him the opportunity to share some of his problems. But knowing how stubborn Orion could be, I knew forcing such a conversation on him wasn't the right thing to do. In fact, I'd nearly turned away towards the door when I realized he was staring at me.

His eyes softened, and it was like mask was being peeled from his face. Orion's body visibly relaxed, and once again the man I knew was standing there. It was the eyes that gave it away. The mindlessness from before was slowly fading.

'You know...Um…' He stuttered, either from his teeth chattering or the strain to at last reveal his inner turmoil.

'I'm reverting back into an Umbreon.' Orion spoke woodenly, pulling a grimace. 'Not physically, just mentally…at least bree hope so. I'm struggling to control it.' He added the latter quickly as if afraid of admitting the fact to himself. 'After what happened and...and protecting you. It's…'

I'd snorted at his first comment but was already feeling bad about the outburst.

Now the moment had arrived I just felt awkward.

'I...I understand.' I lied, 'Should I be worried?'

Orion didn't look at me.

'I don't know.' He whispered as if to himself, 'I don't know what's happening. I never know it just...it just happens.' He muttered bitterly. How long had this been going on with or without me aware of it?

'I'm sorry I made a mess Fenn but...well…'

He stuttered again, obviously struggling to put his emotions into words.

'Umbreon's like the moon and I guess... no, I mean ... bree, why can't eon explain it?' Orion grimaced and scratched at his forehead with his hands, his ears flat against his head.

For some reason I wanted to shout at him. Yes he'd been rolling in muck and nearly frozen to death but, now these feeling of malice was just that - malice. After all this time, all I wanted was the man to open up to me. But now I didn't know what to do! Should I comfort him? Should I just agree but give him his personal space? Blind frustration and hatred for something you don't understand just hurts everyone involved. Maybe Berry Hill was the original trigger?

It was at this point that I realised just how poorly I knew Orion.

I couldn't relate to the half-Umbreon stood in front of me. It was almost as if I couldn't communicate with him like I could with the others. Yes, we talked and laughed but with Orion it always felt different. He never joked the same way or seemed to enjoy the same small things in life. He'd always been a great friend and we were pretty much indebted to him one way or another. But casting those illusions beside, I understood that Orion had always kept his distance. There had always been a great pain behind those eyes - like he was at odds with himself. Who was this man. Why did he save our lives? Why was he putting himself through all of this?

Orion settled down into normality, tugging at the collar of his shirt which was dripping water on the floorboards.

'Let's get cleaned up.' I reiterated, 'And we can talk more later once you're feeling better?'

Orion nodded, his large ears flopping back and forth in a slightly comic fashion. He was still giving the puppy dog eyes.

'And next time, maybe stay in the warm and keep the curtains dry?'

Orion nodded slowly, his eyes downcast.

I'd like to say that the rest of the day went without a hitch - but it really didn't. Sneaking to the shower in the darkness wasn't nearly as exhilarating that I thought it would be, what with sentries and all. Neither of us wanted to explain why Orion looked like he'd had a mud bath. Using the showers this early in the morning meant that no warm water had been prepared. Instead, I resorted to getting a couple of buckets from the borehole. It was frigid to the touch but Orion didn't seem to mind. Just carrying the steel buckets made my hands shiver.

Closer to dawn and the ground froze over, causing a localised inversion in air temperature and with it a thin fog. Fort Haste was encompassed in the icy embrace. At least we were both warmly dressed by the time that the Hasties started to wake. With nothing else to do, both of us chipped in on getting the kitchens up to speed prior to breakfast. The Foodhall kicked into action lazily, fires prodded into an inferno, and the Rayburns turned up to full heat. The speckling of bunting within the steel barn hung limp without a light wind to ruffle the fabric.

Insley had managed to drag herself out of bed, dress, and was now sat alone at one of the squat tables. Bundled up in a large feather coat, it was apparent that she was drafting out a plan for today's meals - as well as a timetable for how everything would be organised. Along with most of the Chain, Insley had a natural talent for project management. She appeared deep in thought, chewing on the end of her pencil.

Casting a quick glance over my shoulder, I saw Insley was in fact formatting the sessions for the whole of Fort Haste. I'd been put down for fletching for most of the morning, whilst Orion had archery for two afternoon sessions.

He enjoyed that - maybe it would perk him up a little.

'Do you need any help with anything this morning?' I asked, pulling out a seat to land next to the girl. Beth and James had been on shift this morning and they had everything under control. As well as our fair share in cursing and other complaints that waking up before six does to a teenager.

Breakfast went smoothly, mostly consisting of the infamous 'hasty porridge' and other assorted fruits and things, most of which had been sourced from a tin and separated into portions a few times smaller than initially recommended. These were plated up with startling skill, carted out, and served to the children within a few minutes. Beat that for efficiency!

As far as In knew, both Bass and Insley had teamed up (with some other interested kids) to work out a way to preserve food. This time next year and (hopefully) we'd be living off what we could produce - or what we could harvest from the surrounding acres of untended farmland. The main issue was that everything seemed to fruit in late summer - meaning our supplies had to last not only through winter but spring as well.

Both Orion and I had our usual spots at the head table reserved for the Chain. Orion had got into his seat awkwardly, shifting his tail out of the way into a more comfortable position. I had to pretend I was studying the table cloth when he noticed me looking. A small flush crept up his face as I tried to comfort him with a small smile. Most likely he was embarrassed and probably still ashamed from this morning. I couldn't blame him, just thank God that it was this morning. If somebody had seen what happened!? Maybe Orion knew how to use confuse ray. I'd read (back when schools still existed) of how it could cause a memory-block if used correctly.

'How's it going?' Mike plonked himself down solidly, scratching at his thick hair. It took a moment to rearrange his oversized coat so he could fit in his seat, the jacket making him look like he was still wrapped up in a duvet. Mike had always been an oddly likable character in Fort Haste, even as he cast a critical eye across the round table.

'It's a bit early.' Orion rubbed his hands together to warm pale fingers, 'Cold too.'

The leaders were trying to keep their wary-eyed children out of trouble around the various tables. Some had decided they didn't want to be ordered in age groups, shuffling between the square tables in something which was quickly becoming a game. Nobody was particularly angry, but it was quickly becoming apparent the disruption was stopping food carts from being trollied out. Once the kids realised that fact, they were sat back down in their seats as quickly as you could shout first-cart! Many of the year-leaders were girls, though to be fair there were slightly more girls than boys at Fort Haste anyways.

I should probably explain myself a little more. Where you'd have year-groups in school, we basically acted in the same way. Anyone over the age of around 16, which constituted around a fifth of Hasties, took the roles of teachers. These teenagers were supposed to be older and more responsible - not to mention having the patience of saints.

With food on the way, noise levels increased exponentially.

'The leaves fell earlier this year though. We're in for a long winter.' Orion swiveled round in his chair slightly in order to face Mike. That was no mean feet, given the curvature of the table. Orion's usual seat was in the very back corner of the shed, meaning you could see just about everything that was going on in the barn. Some meals the young man simply sat in silence and stared across the room. It was as if he was standing sentinel.

'There is that…' Mike agreed, 'long and mild is fine. I just hope it doesn't get much colder.'

'We're getting harsh frosts here.' Orion pointed out.

Mike just nodded, turning to greet the other members of the table. Bass didn't even look like she was awake. Some mornings she seemed to sleepwalk to the table, sit in a half unconscious, and only wake when the scent of food was wafted before her nose. Jane came in slightly late again, but nobody really cared. All in all, it was a typical morning at Fort Haste. Almost as if this mishap this morning never happened at all.

Only after first-cart had been around, and the Foodhall reached a merry level of chatter, did I speak.

'What did we have planned to talk over in the meeting?' I asked over a spoonful of steaming porridge, 'I mean, is there much confidential stuff that needs mentioning? If not, it might be worth just running through the general gist of things here?'

It took the others a while to answer. Insley just shrugged, she'd nearly finished her porridge already and I struggled to work out how she ate so quickly. It was like the gruel never even touched her lips.

'I'd like to know what happened to those spiders…' Mike said, chewing at a hot mouthful of oats. He quickly downed a cup of water before wiping his mouth with the back of a hand.

'Agreed' Bass added, leaning back on her chair. I almost missed the cheeky glare that she gave Orion, 'Nor have we worked out why they attacked in the first place.'

Bass yawned loudly as if to emphasize her point.

Orion seemed unfazed by the underhanded comments. Placing down his spoon, he bent down to pick something out from underneath the table.

'I have something to show you all actually.' He spoke quietly, indicating that this was not something to be shared around the Foodhall. His whisper had the joint effect of stopping the Chain. Even Insley stopped scraping the remains from her bowl. All eyes were on Orion and I gave a quick glance around the foodhall to make sure that other tables weren't watching on in interest.

With a frown, I watched Orion place something down on the stained tablecloth.

An awkward silence quickly developed. All at once we all tried to work out what he was getting at. I saw Bass make eye contact with Jane with a frown, the doctor only offering a small shrug. Trying to ignore my own doubts at the boy's sanity, I returned my focus back to the animal.

'Uh…you do realise that's just a stick?' Jane commented.

Mike chuckled and I must admit, I did to. 'Does a game of fetch fit into your sessions today then. Maybe we should be shouting that when the archers collect their arrows?' He added.

Orion reddened slightly before attempting to explain the meaning behind the small stake.

'Let's just say that I'm not at risk from the virus like you guys are. So I had a good look over the Ferals. They all had something in common.' He waved at the mangled branch on the table, 'Each one had a stick skewered into their stomachs.'

Insley was sucking the residue of porridge off her spoon before clearing her throat,

'So you're saying someone stuck some sticks through some spiders to drive them crazy and attack us?'

Orion shrugged, itching at an ear. So much so that I carefully pulled his hand away to prevent him drawing any more unnecessary attention to his Umbreon features. He gave me a shallow glare for that but said nothing. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed he'd barely even touched his breakfast. A bubble of unease rose in my lung but just as I was about to speak, Mike interrupted.

'But if these creatures were in pain, why would they attack? Surely they'd want to try and help themselves and get the stakes out rather than running towards camp…? It ain't right.' The boy paused in thought, his finger fiddling with a screw plucked from a jacket pocket. 'Where abouts was this stake placed?' Mike asked.

Orion adjusted his shirt collar slightly,

'I think it was their stomachs, it seemed to be around that area…I'm not sure about spider anatomy.'

'Couldn't have been hunger then?'

Bass's small voice was outcompeted by the first bell. Most of the Chain jumped at the sudden noise. The bell marked the start of the day and the theoretical halftime for breakfast. More importantly, it marked a key sentry shift during which the dayguard replaced the nightgaurd. That meant a huge grumble-fest for the majority of kids which were now technically on duty. Many tried to gulp down as much food as possible before setting out into the cold.

'Has anybody else got much to discuss in the meeting then?' I asked during the lull. 'Apart from skewered Ferals?'

Jane and Insley shook their heads, though Mike hesitantly offered a topic,

'I wanted to talk over the sewage idea we had last time. I've got some designs of something to put in next spring if we wanted to go over them?'

I paused, considering the thought.

'I think you and Orion can look over those together if you want. I doubt that needs all of us. Whilst you're at it you can have a look at the cladding designs again. It might be worth starting to construct more gabions and scaffolding before it gets too icy. '

The two men's grins grew wider with each passing moment.. I rolled my eyes, thankful for Bass' interruption

'Isn't Kim supposed to be dropping by today? I remember her saying she'd be here whether or not she found a transformer.' The youngest member of the Chain adjusted her neck scarf, glancing in my direction. Insley had beaten her too it, offering a toothy grin as she leant back in her chair.

'I didn't know that was today.' The girl didn't break eye contact.

'Come on!' I huffed, 'Me and Kim are fine. We just...have our differences.'

'Well I'll keep an eye out for her.' Orion chirped up.

'Great.' I shot back quickly, trying to shuffle the conversation onwards. I had to raise my voice above the clatter of the Foodhall as the shift change meant kids were coming in and out of the barn en masse. 'So, any other topics?'

Bass was frowning, thinking over an idea,

'Well.' She rubbed at her nose, 'I wanted to go over the idea of having some kind of festival towards the end of the winter. I think it would give the kids something to look forward to and prepare for. It'll help to keep us all occupied stuck inside this time of year.'

Orion's ears perked up, but it was Mike that spoke up,

'I'm liking the sound of that. Have a winter-come-spring feast thingy.'

Insley couldn't resist breaking the bubble. Leant back in her chair, she pulled a spoon out of her mouth and waved it our direction.

'And what are supplies like for something like that? What scale will this thing be?' She dropped her spoon back in her bowl with frustration at the combination of lack of food on both timescales. 'It's a nice idea but not reasonable. A party? Yes. But not a feast.

'We have enough.'

Orion spoke flatly, but with such an air of confidence that the others let the subject drop. Apart from Insley that was.

'And who's in charge of managing our food stocks? It's going to be a struggle to pull through anyway. Let alone throwing a wasteful feast at the end of it all?' In truth. Insley was in charge of the kitchens and so it was her problem to worry about.

Orion sighed heavily, crossing his arms.

'We'll make it work. And if not, I'm sure we can trade some stuff off to Kim. We pretty much have limitless access to those warehouses she has waiting for us. Maybe she's stockpiled with food. If not, well those guys are Berry Hill have more than enough. We'll invite them along.'

Insley just snorted but didn't say much else.

'We'll I make a point of asking Kim.' Mike spoke solidly, though to my ears it sounded a little tentative. Although he could be a little loud-mouthed at times, Mike wasn't one for confrontations. Insley, however, loved the drama.

'You ok with that Fenn?' Orion asked.

At this point I was scanning the room again. The Foodhall was still in a tumult, through the nightguard were settling down with their breakfast slop. Noise covered our chatter on something which really should have been private. Those on kitchen duty had the next few carts ready for the new kids coming in. Beth and James hadn't bothered waiting however, and sat at their own table eating away. Sometimes I did worry about those two.

It was then that I noticed Orion's stare.

'Uh…Yes!'

Those shifting eyes again. He was starting to zone out again. A deeper red colouration was unquestionably working its way towards his pupils. Blink and it was gone.

'Cool.' The boy pushed himself up from the table. 'Well let's get to it.'

Second bell didn't come much later and we all set out to do our various jobs.

It was easier to keep warm when you were busying yourself with work. I stayed behind in the Foodhall to help clean up for a while before heading back to the house slowly. Both Bass and Insley had morning sessions, leaving the farmhouse a void. Heading up the stairs, I paused for a long time at Orion's door before moving on. It was with a sigh that I pushed open the study door and plonked myself down inside. It seemed unlikely we were going to have a Chain meeting today, so I had more time to catch up on admin.

Paperwork used to be bad back in the day where I struggled to learn how to use computerized spreadsheets. Now everything was done on paper, the workload was unimaginable. Records were kept on everything and summary documents written up for each week on the expenditure of resources. We tried to keep a tab on everything from food eaten to crayons snapped. The place was the wet dream of some strange efficiency perfectionist, something I definitely wasn't. I admit, sometimes I enjoyed it. But today I wasn't feeling it one bit.

In the end I just sat down and got on with the chore. That's what being a Hastie was about. You just had to grit your teeth and roll up your sleeves. It was me versus a few hours of paperwork. How hard could it be? Music would have been a big help and so would electricity for that matter. We could only pray that Kim had sorted out a transformer to link solar panels onto our downscaled electric grid. The blue cells had been bolted onto the old poultry houses but were running at the wrong current to actually power anything.

Hopefully the solo tomboy had found what we needed. More likely, she'd been scavenging anything of value and filling the town's industrial estate with the goods. Kim was the only person we knew of, beyond Berry Hill, that was still alive. Then again, it would take a lot to kill of the teenager. She was a willful as they came.

Already I was dreaming of having a cd player again.

I went to grab some fresh air for a break. It had warmed up during the few hours I'd been locked away counting up tally tables. The sun had climbed it's ladder into the heavens and the air was only chilly instead of face-freezing. Clouds whistled across the sky to be torn apart by the wind. The world hung on the edge of the plummet into winter. There was no lunch today, so I busied myself with a short walk up onto the embankment to stare out at the world beyond the palisade.

I heard the low rumble just before the whistle called.

A few minutes later the fact was undeniable - Kim had arrived. She knew the best route to the main gate but parked out on the road to the east of camp anyways. The flatbed pickup truck looked cleaner than it usually did from this distance, the doors slamming as two people got out. I squinted, double checking. Definitely two people. Not one. Rubbing at me eyes didn't change the truth of the matter. Kim appeared to be walking towards Fort Haste with somebody else obscured in a pale brown hoodie.

Whoever was on duty on the gate blew out a short whistle call.

*…two…approaching…*

I chuckled. Yeah no shit. Zipping my coat up to fight the cold, I wiggled my toes in my shoes. Ignoring the stressful bubble of apprehension building in my chest, I headed down towards the main gate. There was a nervous energy to me stride as I tried to stop myself fidgeting. But two people?!

Max was on duty, hands stuck in his pockets.

'You can open the gates now.' I told him a little sternly.

The kid jumped, giving me a wild look a sudden reminder that I had in fact snuck up on the teenager. Working the weighted pulley system, yet another brainchild of the Mike-Orion team, the thick wooden boards swung open with a groan. The locking bar slid out of place and I helped catch one and lead it against the grassed embankment with a pant.

I brushed my fringe from out of my eyes.

Kim came through the door a little gingerly, her dark hazel eyes scanning intently before they finally fell on me. A taunting, cheeky grin appeared on her face as she gave me a small wave. Adjusting her backpack, she gestured for her companion to follow her through the gates.

'Well Fenn! It's good to see you eh?'

I fought the urge to disagree with that comment. No. It wasn't good to see you Kim. I wanted Orion or somebody to be out here to meet you. I just ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Although those thoughts went through my mind, I forced myself to smile. Kim's accent was clearly from the north and was much broader than the average Hastie.

'Hi Kim. It's good to see you made it here in once piece.' I spoke politely and in a manner that was a bit forced.

'And with a guest too as well.' Kim didn't seem bothered by my constrained greeting. 'Said he might be interested in joinin' ya.'

Kim, one of the older survivors who was nearly seventeen, waved a hand haphazardly at the boy by her side. He was relatively short, clad in a worn tan-brown hoodie which hung loosely from his frame. It didn't seem like enough clothing given the weather. Bright green eyes shone from his face and I caught my breath. There was something strange in that gaze, and his body posture made it look like he was hiding something.

Maybe I was just being paranoid.

'Ah…Nice to meet you.' I adjusted the raincoat around my shoulders, 'Did you both want to come on in and get a drink of something? Hot drinks maybe?

The giant gate closed behind them with a bang. Max tied off the pulley ropes and hauled the oak bar back into place. Not much entered Fort Haste - or left for that matter.

'Eh. I'll just head on up. If you're not minding me that is. I could do with a chat with Mike if he's about. No transformer sorry, but I've got enough copper to try and make one. Just hope I don't go blowing anything up right? Ha. I'm guessing Orion will be around to talk to as well? And that kid Haley for that matter. She was pretty good with Mike's old tools. If you know what I mean.' She added with a brazen grin.

To be honest, I wasn't entirely sure what she was implying. Kim didn't seem like the most sane of people. To be living on your own in this new world was enough to drive anyone insane. Hell, Fort Haste felt isolated and we had couple hundred of kids for company. Yet each time we'd offered her to become a Hastie, the teenager had flatly refused. Perhaps she was the lone wolf type. Either that or plain crazy. Orion once said she had a wild soul, so that summed her up pretty well too.

Kim wore her hair short, pulled back into a woolen hat although stray hairs still escaped. Oddly enough, some of them had a pinkish tint making me question if the girl had tried to die her hair. Kim seemed the type to spray her hair lavender. A leather jacket consisted of most of her clothing, with some ripped jeans keeping her legs warm above some shiny black, steel toe-capped work boots. A bright pink backpack looked heavy slung across a shoulder, the bottom oil stained and dirt trodden.

'I'm a'guessing that it's all left as it was before? My stuff?'

I nodded. Kim was the type of person that did things her own way. Compromise was something unknown to her. You could get away with it now, especially when you had only yourself for company. But it was her bullish attitude that grated on me. It would be a lie to say that I liked Kim. I'm sure she was a nice person an all, but not my type. Her and Mike, however, were like two peas in a pod when they got stuck in with something. Orion seemed to like her too.

Kim only got on well with people she respected. It was a feeling she used sparingly.

'Nobody's touched anything Kim. Mike should be up there now and…Orion's busy at the moment. I guess you can have a catch up this afternoon. He's teaching archery for a couple of periods.'

The girl nodded, 'Bows and arrows against the lightning eh?'

That was followed by a smug grin before, almost as an afterthought, she pretty much pushed the boy stood next to her into the conversation. Speaking in a horse which felt a little forced, I felt a bit sorry for the boy who was obviously very nervous.

'This 'ere is Matt. He stumbled upon me a few days ago and was interested in coming here. I said I'd bring him along with me.' Kim flashed the boy one of her toothy grins, 'Him and Orion are going to get on swell.'

'Welcome to Fort Haste Matt.' I offered a comforting smile, going to shake his hand. Matt didn't seem to want to take his hands out of his pockets. A little confused, Kim stepped in and yanked one of the boy's arms with surprising force.

'Come on Matt. They're going to find out anyway.'

Gingerly, Matt apologized under his breath and stuck his hand out. I shook it gently, holding his palm in mine for a brief moment. That was all it took to feel the fur and beginnings of soft pads under my fingers. Freezing, I lifted my eyes to find Matt averting his gaze. It was clear that the boy didn't want to make a big deal about the fact he had brown furred paw-like hands.

'Yeah. I know.' He muttered, 'I'm a freak.'

'Uh…' I struggled for words.

'I'll leave you two to it.' Kim said loudly, turning on her heel. 'See you around Fennie.'

She was already off, walking up to the workshop whilst mocking a salute behind her. Trying not to screw up my face, I forced out a deep breath and returned my attention to the newest member of Fort Haste. Kim knew how to annoy me and I reminded myself to rise above her petty games.

'Sorry about Kim.' I apologized to the boy. 'She's not everyone's cup of tea.'

'You can say that again.' Matt agreed softly, 'I hope I'm not intruding. Kim spoke a lot about this place and...well...I haven't really seen anyone around for a while. Apart from Kim that is.'

The teenager spoke quickly, behaving skittishly as he clearly surveyed the collection of barns behind us.

He had his hands stuck in the pocket on the front of his large hoodie. My eyes picked out faded white writing across the front. Bold letters announced that it was one of the league hoodies - like the "I love Indigo Plateau" shirts you used to see tourists wear. He must have been a battling enthusiast at some point, or maybe even a trainer.

'She's not everyone's cup of tea. Talking of tea...you want to sit down with a drink of something? We can have a chat and I'll show you round and introduce you to Orion.'

'He's the Umbreon right?' His eyes glowed with a hint of intrigue.

I nodded, 'Yeah. Don't worry. We don't really care much about...well…' I struggled to find the right word before giving up. 'You know what I mean. You're welcome here. The more the merrier. Nice hoodie by the way.'

Matt just smiled, naturally resorting to a awkward silence that I put down to nerves. I myself wasn't any good as starting small talk so I didn't try, inviting him over towards the Foodhall where undoubtedly there would be a kettle on the boil. The teenager's emerald eyes were wide as he looked around the small farmstead. Everybody was in lessons so it was eerily quiet as we crossed the yard.

Entering the Foodhall quickly, I almost flattened Bass who was just as hastily making her way out.

'Sorry Bass! Didn't know you were there.'

'It's fine. I…'

It was then that she spotted Matt stood in the doorway behind me.

'You have a visitor. I guess Kim has just arrived then?'

'Yes. This is Matt.' I ushered the boy in after me, stripping off my coat and throwing it over the back of a chair. 'Kim's just got here and it straight over to see Mike. Me and Matt were going to sit down for a chat if you wanted to join in with the grand tour after?'

Bass fiddled with the zipper on her coat before running a hand through her dark hair.

'I was just heading over to help out with the under-seven's art class. Can't do the tour but I can grab a couple mugs of tea if you want?'

'You're a star Bass.' I thanked her, turning back to Matt.

'Uh…yeah this is Bass. You'll be seeing a lot of her round.'

'Hi.'

The boy had a quiet voice and I offered him a quick smile to try and make the situation a little less intimidating. Bass slipped out silently and I plonked myself down onto a chair. Matt followed suit, tugging his hoodie around him and pulling at the fabric.

'You warm enough? We've got more coats if you want one.'

'It's not that its...uh. Well I've got a few Pokemon features you know. I didn't want to...like scare anyone or anything.' Matt dropped his bag to the floor.

'Honestly Matt. It's fine. It's up to you but we don't mind at all.'

In fact, I was a little intrigued to find out his appearance.

Matt sat with his back peculiarly straight, unsure what to do with his hands. Leaning back in my chair, I folded my arms and watched the boy out of the corner of my eye. In part, I was dreaming up Matt's reaction when he saw Orion - what with his glowing tail and ears. Our leader's appearance could be a little unusual at the best of times.

Matt sat down awkwardly, shifting in his seat for a long while in a way that was unusual yet somehow familiar. He still had his hood up and I took a moment to scan my eyes over him. The teenager perched on the edge of his seat, back oddly straight.

'I…I'm…' He stumbled over words and I wondered if he truly was this shy. 'Uh…Well. Sooner or later right?'

It was with a slow but measured movement that he pulled his hood down slowly, revealing his face. At first I was confused at what was going on. But it was when his ears popped out from his short-cut hair that I pieced the clues together.

Matt had two fluffy tan coloured ears that stuck out cutely from the top of his head. These faded to a olivine green colour, perking up as he itched at his neck awkwardly. A bit of tan fur could be seen as he adjusted his shirt collar, which explained how just a thin hoodie had kept him warm. The tips of his ears were disturbingly leaf-like, matching the flecks of green in his otherwise golden-brown hair. Following the reveal, Matt locked eyes with me as if expecting some kind of reaction.

It was that I was unimpressed, more that I was trying to feign the opposite.

'You're not grossed out?'

I chuckled, 'It's nothing to be embarrassed about Matt. It's not like you look scary or anything. The opposite actually.' I added with a smile.

He choked,'You're not even surprised? This is supposed to be some freaky shite.'

'No, Ferals are freaky shite' emphasizing the feral part.

'You mean those behemoths?' The boy recoiled upon saying the last part. 'But having...having these-' he grabbed both of his ears and pulled them down slightly before releasing them '- are completely normal?'

'Uh…well'

I trailed off. How was I going to explain this? When I first met Orion all that time ago, he seemed to have come to terms with his changes. Or at least, he didn't give a damn about what other people thought about them. The boy sat in front of me seemed different though. Matt's eyes held a weariness to them. Pain came from hiding his identity.

'We understand what the virus can do.' I explained slowly, seeing Bass return from the kitchens with two mugs. 'It's not your fault. Hell, you should see Orion. It's nothing to be worried about. In fact our doctor is quite experienced dealing with morphs, you'll meet Jane later. And after that there's Orion of course.'

I avoided bringing up Megan. Given her age and difficulties fitting in already as a nerdy child, I didn't want to turn her whole life completely upside down. Not was it clear if there had been any appearance of more pokemon features besides a small patch of fur.

Bass came over quietly, put the two mugs down, and waved a quick farewell. It was clear that she didn't want to interrupt the conversation, through her eyes remained fixed on Matt's ears for sometime. I could only hope my claims were true. Hastie's didn't mind Orion but just how far did that distinterst go?

It was only then that I identified what Matt was hinting at.

'Just because you've got some Pokemon features doesn't mean you can't stay here. Kim hinted that you were interested…? I don't think Bass even noticed then…And feel free to adjust your tail or anything. I've heard that it can be uncomfortable at times.'

Matt thanked me, doing just that. nodded. A quick glance and for a moment I gawked as the giant leaf poking out from the side of the chair. It was a while before either of us spoke. It was nice to simply hear the hustle and bustle of Fort Haste in the background.

'So…This is Fort Haste?' Matt asked softly following the silence.

I chuckled inwardly, wishing I could see the farmstead with fresh eyes. I could still remember the elation when we finally finished turning the fort into something habitable. We'd built ourselves a true home after the end of the world - a home that was a ramshackle as they came.

'Sure is. I can show you round if you'd like?'

Matt nodded and lent forward to grab his drink. I couldn't help but stare at his hands and the fine coat of fur that covered them. Deep chocolate coloured hair gave them a fuzzy appearance that coated everything but his palms. These seemed oddly toughed, almost like a dark leather. Without being rude, I would have pretty much called them paws. I wondered if his feet told the same story.

I never once claimed to be a social butterfly. The newcomer had to start the conversation as he hugged the warmth of the beverage to his stomach.

'Where are you all from?' Matt asked quietly, 'I haven't seen anyone around except for Kim, and I met her just a few days ago. And now here as well. How many people are there here?'

Matt's pale emerald eyes seemed to jitter around the room.

'We're all local. Most of us were from the town you stayed in last night. They set up a quarantine zone soon after the outbreak. That failed and everybody that survived ended up here. So we're all from Kanto pretty much. There's about a hundred and seventy three in total. Four with you now.'

Matt nodded, his ears bouncing slightly. Green flecks spotted his short fringe.

'And you?' I asked gently. Generally our own histories was a soft topic, but I could see Matt wanted to talk about it. Or maybe he didn't - but felt like he should.

At first I didn't think Matt would answer that. He seemed a little unsure of the fact himself.

'I used to be a trainer.'

He spoke shortly, eyes darting down to stare into his drink. I wasn't sure whether to push the topic any further. Matt squirmed a little, reminding me very much of Orion when I tried to get information out of him. So instead I switched our conversation onto little things. Choosing safe topics anyone can talk about without worry, we discussed the weather and Beedrill honey of all things. Drinking our hot drinks slowly (I was trying to savour it as much as possible) it was only when Matt had finished his tea that I stood up.

'Did you want to have a look around camp then?' I asked.

He nodded and it was then that I truly saw just how shy he was. It was one thing revealing your appearance to one person. Something else entirely parading yourself around you future home. I wondered if the stutter in his words was something he always had. Perhaps nerves were kicking in again.

'That would be great.'

Matt went to down his drink, forgetting it was still rather hot. Spluttering out a find mist of warm tea, he wiped at his mouth before grinning sheepishly. I laughed before I could stop myself. This only made the teenager blush further. Whoever he was, Matt seemed like a nice guy.

A few minutes later and I kicked off the tour of Fort Haste. With my wellies squelching through the red iron-rich Kanto mud, I was thankful that Matt wore equally sturdy walking boots. The worn-out shoes were more than a little battered, giving the impression that they were well lived in. It's surprising what you can tell about a person from small things like that. If anything, it meant he'd been travelling for a long time.

Partially to my request, Matt accepted the coat I offered from our pile of spares.

With great difficulty I drew my attention and my eyes away from the boy as he shouldered on the jacket and adjusted his tail out from underneath it. Unlike Orion who could almost get away with his appearance - let's just say that Matt had a leaf poking out of his butt. That wasn't something easily missed. It was clear that the Pokemon features were shared with a grass-type, though I racked my brains to think which one. The name was on the top of my tongue. Earth brown paws and a green leafy tail?

During the short tour, we worked our way around the farmstead and up onto the embankment. I'd pointed out where everything was and all he needed to know, from the toilet block to the accommodation area. At the back of my mind I noted it would be worth having Matt stay in the farmhouse for now. The teenager followed behind me quietly, gazing around the small farm with what appeared to be muted interest. He was fascinated by the Lee slopes and the defences in place there - during which I emphasized how safe we should all be here. After that I pointed out the lower dormitories (old cattle sheds) and our storage right up in the rows of poultry sheds.

We didn't meet many kids hanging around. Those we did were on errands and kept moving, as shy of the newcomer as he was of them. Most of the Hasties were concentrated in the K'field practicing field skills. The rest were in the central complex. This consisted of the Foodhall and two neighbouring barns which had been partitioned off to form a rough hospital, and a couple of down-rooms. When designing Fort Haste, Orion had been keen to keep as many of the buildings open. Straw bales had been stacked round the walls for insulation this time of year.

Matt seemed to take this all in with a nod, asking a couple of questions about the communal facilities.

After a few seconds considering whether it was the right things to do, I finally led the boy towards the K'field. Crossing under the shadow of the Keep, Matt stopped to stare up at the seventy-foot structure. It was beautiful in it's own eccentric way - a hodgepodge of stacked bales, long wooden beams, and tarp. Beyond the gabion wall was the K'field.

My feet caught at the clods and the short grass.

'Fire!'

That must have been Jeff. Only his voice could carry like that.

The teenager was stood with Orion, his rainbow scarf wrapped tightly around his neck. To the side was a long row of kids. Each had a bow in their hands with an equally long row of targets around sixty feet away. All of them were feathered with shafts. A few arrows littered the ground around coloured circles from near misses.

'Collect!' It was Orion's turn to shout, though Jeff yelled 'FETCH!' much to the amusement of the kids.

In fact, I was laughing too. Matt caught my eye but all I could offer was a shrug.

As one mass the kids walked slowly over the targets to collect their individual arrows. It was during this time that Orion turned around at the sound of our footsteps. His ears perked up at seeing the two of us walking across the field. Jeff turned round soon after, Orion following suit. Orion's eyes had widened, stupor painted across his features as his eyes flicked between me and Matt approaching. Jeff seemed to notice the expression before Orion could hide it, his smug grin widening.

The Umbreon adjusted his rain jacket collar as he made his way towards us. The man's tail was wagging in a comical manner and I could see that he was scrutinising the two of us. Surprisingly relaxed, I held my breath for a couple of moment before saving myself with a shallow sigh.

'Uh. This is Matt.'

But Orion had already stuck out a hand and Matt shook it roughly. This time he didn't really care about his paw-like appendages, equally as absorbed in the appearance of the Umbreon. I could tell the visitor was unsure about the contact, though a warm smile from Orion seemed to ease any nerves.

'Orion. I guess Kim dropped you off? It's nice to meet you.'

It was almost like Orion knew the boy was coming.

'Matthew Greyson. Yeah. Same.'

I stuck my hands in my pockets, interested at watching the body language of the two. Orion seemed completely engaged in the situation, a world away from the soul he was this morning. Though that begged another question. Was this a common problem that those mutated by the virus would experience? Did they lose themselves to the Pokemon that they looked so much akin to?

'It's nice to see another around…' Orion mentioned offhandedly, '…a Leafeon I'm guessing? Maybe Fenn's already said this. But you're welcome to stay for as long as you'd like.'

The boy nodded. Ah, so that's what Pokemon he was! I didn't know if it was coincidence that they were both evolutions of Eevees …or if I should be referring to them by their species anyway. It's not like you called each other humans on a daily basis. I knew the Eevee genome was supposed to be highly flexible, unstable even, so maybe it had something to do with that. Supposedly some could evolve just by being near certain rocks! Turns out I did learn something at school.

'I'm guessing you've already had the welcome tour of Fort Haste then?' Orion buried his own hands into the pockets of his trousers.

'LINE UP GUYS!'

The three of us jumped at Jeff's loud voice and there was a small giggle from the kids. Turning round to give the Squadron leader a stern glare, I became aware of the set up. The row of children chuckled, Jeff even more so, before waving them back into formation. Meanwhile, Matt was massaging his ears. If Jeff was loud to my ears, his yelling must have been painful to Pokemon hearing.

There was a clatter of arrows on strings as the line of children lifted their bows into position.

'Yes.' I rubbed at my eyes 'We've done the tour.'

Orion turned to the Leafeon who was now scratching at his nearly blonde hair.

'You'll learn to appreciate Jeff's voice. Anyway…like what you see?'

Matt nodded again, casually hiding his furred hands in his Plateau hoodie. The brown seemed to match the colouration of his fur and the grass green colour of his tail. The latter was curled round in such a way that the flat leaf was angled perpendicular to the early afternoon sunlight. It was like some kind of living solar panel.

'So. You interested in staying? Fort Haste welcomes anybody…and we could really do with all the help we can get. You look like you used to be a trainer right?'

Matt nodded, 'Yeah. Yes. I'd love to stay if that's alright.'

'Not a problem.' I replied, offering the teenager a warm smile. It would be nice to have a fresh face around. Only now did I realize the irony behind the situation. The trainer has now become the Pokemon.

Orion was doing the same, beaming at the newcomer. With tails wagging, the two of them already looked like partners in crime. For some reason I felt a pang of jealousy. Pushing that feeling away forcefully, I tugged at my coat in an attempt to right off a shiver.

'We'll have to go through the induction later. To make you a proper Hastie of course.'

It wasn't clear if Orion was joking or not.

'FIRE!'

For a few seconds we all turned our attention back to the line of kids. In a fluid motion they all released their projectiles with a collective pinging sound. For a couple of seconds there was only the sound of wind in the trees before the arrows hit their targets. A dull thud sounded as the shafts imbedded within the straw bales across the sodden grass.

Matt shot a questioning glance towards the two of us, 'A Hastie?' He asked.

I could have laughed at the innocent worry on the kids face. From what he'd seen so far, I could only hope he wasn't imagining Fort Haste as some type of mad cult or something equally absurd.

'The people that live in Fort Haste are called Hasties. The initiation is just introducing you to everybody so there's nothing to worry...I mean. About your Pokémon features. It's more of a safety thing to get you on our lists in case of an emergency.'

Orion frowned slightly.

'Uh about that Fenn. I might have Kim stop by for the night. I've got a few things to do which might overrun into tomorrow.'

I froze. Simply having Kim here was a pain. Two days in a row? That was a little too much to ask. Orion was staring out in the distance and obviously doing his best to avoid my glare.

'Why?' I queried, trying not to act standoffish.

'I was going to have her look over the electrics we disconnected. See if we can set up some internal audio system or something.'

The young adult worded the sentence carefully. His ears twitched nervously and I could feel that Matt was watching the two of us with some interest. He was likely as confused as I was. In fact, I was still in the process of thinking things over when Jeff shouted out for the kids to collect their arrows once more.

'Sounds fine by me.'

Orion's attention snapped back to me as if in shock.

'What!? You don't mind?'

I shrugged, feigning nonchalance. Perhaps something good would come from it. And if it only meant Kim stayed an extra day.

'If it needs doing then do it. Maybe help out? You need a break and getting out will do you some good.'

'Along those lines.' Orion added, 'Roan will be popping by again in a few days.'

I waved off his requests.

'Really Orion. It's fine.'

He seemed to relax upon hearing that, his shoulder sagging a little. Running a hand through his dark hair, he sighed under his breath before turning to Matt.

'Welcome to Fort Haste, Matthew. Have a couple of days to try and settle in before Bass starts assigning you chores. Or Insley tries to drag you into helping….'

I stopped the man with a piercing stare.

'In fact. We were just heading off to help prepare dinner.'

'Great.' Orion gave would could only be called an apologetic look. 'I'll be seeing you round then Matt.'

The newest Hastie smiled for the first time.

'You too, sir.'

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XXX

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[2.52] The Animals - Please Don´t Let Me Be Misunderstood (1965)

Baby, sometimes I'm so carefree
With a joy that's hard to hide
And sometimes it seems that, all I have to do is worry
And then you're bound to see my other side

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Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon. This story is a work of fiction, and any resemblance to any events, location, and/or persons, living or dead, is coincidental. The views expressed by the characters and/or the narratives do not necessarily reflect the author's views. This fiction is rated T and may be unsuitable for young audiences. 'Fort Haste' is a fictional concept that is owned and regulated by ZenColour.