Gray Hills - Chapter 2
AN - Time for some reviews before my note!
Guest Sorta - You will see what happened over time, I already have up to chapter 4 written and you should be able to infer over time what happened. However everything will be explained given time.
wwII - A trumpet becoming president would indeed be bad.
So I've decided to release twice a week. Saturday and Sunday. That is if I am not busy that weekend. We're moving next weekend so I may not have time to update but I do however already have until chapter 4 written so I'm sure I will figure out a way to update even if it is from school.
Also looking at the stats of where everyone is visiting from, it's interesting to see all of the different countries. I'm not going to name them all but there are a lot (Over 30). Anyways I hope you enjoy this chapter and this one is a bit more lighthearted before we move to the dark side of the Krusty Krab.
Disclaimer - I do not own Star vs The Forces of Evil
When they left the gas station, they thanked whatever they believed in that the wind was not harsh. As they progressed north, and the year went on it was starting to get colder. Without any clothes for the winter they knew that they wouldn't survive, and they made it their priority to get new clothes when they got to the next town.
They passed a sign reading "Penvir - 15 Miles.". "We should be there by dusk, and we will stay there for a few days." Marco said as they took a short break to rest their feet. At the side of the road they looked into scorched forest. Nothing moved among the charcoal pillars that once contained all manners of life. Star often asked about what used to live there and what will happen to the area now. When she asked that he would always tell her that "One day the trees will grow back, and all of the animals will come back." He knew that this wasn't true but he hoped that it would cheer Star up. Sometimes is did, others not so much.
Around noon they heard the unmistakable sound that echoed through the entire forest for miles around. An engine. "Quick get down." Marco threw himself and Star just past the tree line, under an ash filled bush. "Shouldn't we ask them for help?" Star asked. Marco had contemplated for a minute about that, but quickly remembered some of the things he had seen in the vehicles that they saw at the side of the road.
The better ones just had people shot. The bad ones had the remains of victims of cannibalism, which is why he had been avoiding towns. But they were running low on food and needed to take a risk. Marco never responded to Star, and they waited for the vehicle to pass. After a few minutes they saw a truck slowly roll past. There were two men in the back, both carrying assault rifles. It wasn't clear what was in the back but it was some sort of meat.
Blood was spilt all across the side of the truck and they noticed a lack of women or children. They didn't have to see the back to know what was there, and Star just closed her eyes leaning into Marco, crying silent tears. The two lay there for an hour before finally moving. "Cmon Star, we're not that far from the town and once we are there we can find a place to stay for a few days." Star just nodded and accepted Marco's hand as he helped her back onto the road.
An hour before sunset they reached the outskirts of the town. At this point they decided to take the side roads to avoid any unwanted attention. The streets were abandoned, but the town seemed mostly intact, and after half an hour they came upon a family run drug store, doors still locked. "This is good, we can stay here for a few days and they seem to have a lot of stuff."
"How are we going to get in?" Star asked.
Marco looked around for a few minutes before leading her up the neighbouring buildings fire escape. The metal frame groaned as they ascended and Marco kept expecting someone coming out to tell them to leave. At least that would be a human being who was sane. He brushed those thoughts out of his head, as they reached the roof, they saw that they could reach the other roof easily.
They hopped over to the other roof and found a roof door. "How are we going to get in?" asked Star.
"With this!" Marco pulled a bobby pin from his backpack, easing it into the lock opening. There was a click as the mechanism opened and they handle turned with ease. A musty smell emanated from the bottom of the stairs. "Well, let's' go." They descended the stairs together entering behind the counter. When they got to the storefront, Star cried with happiness as she saw the fully stocked shelves. Medicine, food, and cheap clothing lined every wall. Night was coming quickly, so the two covered the glass door, and started a fire using matches they found.
When Glossaryck finally came out of his book, he smelled cooked meat and coke. The teenagers were playing go fish using a deck of cards that they had found on the shelves. Beside them were almost a dozen cans of pop, and snacks. Glossaryck smiled before noticing a plate with a portion of meat on it for him, and to his pleasure a cup of chocolate pudding.
"Alright Marco, close your eyes. I have a surprise for you." Marco did as he was told, as he heard Star digging around in her bag. "You can open your eyes now." When he opened them he saw Star fiddling with her wand.
"Star you know what we agreed on. No magic unless it is necessary. We don't have a wand charger."
"Please Marco, you will see." She placed the wand on the ground near the bags as a familiar tune played from her wand.
He approached her, asking "May I have this dance?"
She simply nodded, placing her left hand in his, and her right on his left shoulder. They danced to the melody, and although they were in rags it was just as special as the first time they danced.
Uninterrupted, they waltzed around the room, illuminated by the fire, moving in perfect harmony with the music filling the air with energy for the first time in months. As the song came to a close, they looked into eachothers eyes, and embraced. "I see you still know how to dance." Star commented while they hugged.
"It's strange what you will remember during the end of the world."
They came apart and Star put her wand away, while Glossaryck applauded.
"It was much better without Tom to interrupt us." Star commented. Marco laughed at that and replied.
"I wish Tom would have interrupted us. I can't believe that I am saying this but I actually want to see Tom. At least he could get us out of this."
After the dance they continued to play cards, crack jokes, and try to embarrass each other.
Laughing into the night, Star and Marco fell asleep beside the small fire, a smile on their faces and comfortable for the first time since it all started. After they fell asleep, Glossaryck noted how magic was working better here, and retreated into his book for the rest of the night.
When morning came they slept in. It was around noon when they awoke, and readied a meal for themselves. "I think today we will just relax, maybe see what is around. And tomorrow start out again. We have to atleast get to Oregon before winter."
"When will winter set in?" Asked Star.
"I'm not sure but if I am correct it should be november right now. That means we should have a month or two before the heavy snow sets in. But once we get to Oregon we will find a place to stay for the winter and make the rest of the journey next spring."
They spent the rest of the day idly talking while they gathered what they would be taking with them. Due to Star's magic purse, they could store a large amount of food in it. They ended up gathering a two month supply of food and water, all of the medicine, along with enough pudding for Glossaryck to gorge himself on.
That night they slept early and woke up late. With the store effectively empty they exited through the roof, jumping over to the next roof, making the descent to the street. Within half an hour they were on the main road again heading north. They were just heading out of town then they heard the first gunshot. Soon it was followed by another, then a volley.
Soon it was an all out gunfight coming from the other side of town as they hurried away from the town. They didn't want to be around when whoever won came though. "Shouldn't we take a side road to try and avoid whoever was back there?" Star asked.
"No because they will take the side roads. Those are the clear roads whereas the main roads are all jammed in certain places."
The cold north wind was blowing straight into their faces, and by dinner time the sky was overcast. They came across a bridge and went under it. Marco gathered a large enough supply of firewood to last them the night. Only ten minutes later it started pouring rain. Marco constructed a makeshift wall of river sand and gravel to block the wind.
After cooking a meal for themselves, they curled up with each other covering themselves with the extra clothing. Glossaryck came out of his book to take the nightly watch, and with that the teenagers fell asleep in each other's arms.