Chapter 8 Survivors

Dragging himself forward Humphrey kept pace with Lilly and Garth following the road ahead through the burned landscape that surrounded him. Looking up he saw the sun was still high in the sky only partially visible through the thick haze of grey that surrounded the small group of survivors. Humphrey looked back down at Kate's unconscious form and muttered, "Just hold on PLEASE, we'll get you somewhere safe." As an after thought he closed his eyes and finished, "I SWEAR it."

Garth dropped back next to him and murmured, "Up ahead, I have a feeling we're close to something." Humphrey looked at him dryly and muttered, "Please tell me that you're not just saying that to cheer me up because it's not working."

Garth pointed ahead of Humphrey and said, "Look through the haze, there's something big ahead of us." Humphrey squinted seeing nothing and was about to say so when he caught a glimpse of a massive shape but then it was gone. Wondering if his eyes were playing tricks on him Humphrey continued staring into the distance when he suddenly noticed shapes in the fog.

Tall shapes that reached into the heavens, Humphrey took a step back and muttered, "It's a city." Garth peered ahead and whispered, "It is…" Humphrey excitedly looked at him and stammered, "We can get help or." Garth abruptly cut him off and said, "Humphrey a city means thousands or even millions of those things. Especially since humans are the main species effected by this catastrophe."

As that sank in Humphrey felt fear stab his heart as helping Kate seemed less and less achievable. Lilly put a comforting paw on his shoulder and said, "She'll be fine Humphrey, she's strong enough to pull through anything." Humphrey nodded as a great weight seemed to push him down with the fear of losing the wolf he loved, despite Lilly's offer at comfort.

Garth nudged Humphrey insistently and said, "Lets go, it'll be fine just as long as we stay out of the buildings. Humphrey gave a weary smile only half believing Garth's words as they trudged forwards dread slowing the group down.

As the city came closer with every step, the three wolves and unconscious alpha forged ahead onto the road past stalled and broken cars intensifying the fear to the point where it could be cut with a knife. Lilly hesitantly spoke up wincing at the echo of her voice, "Its so… Dead." Garth sucked in a deep breath and responded, "I can't wait to leave it behind." Lilly nodded silently the groups paws seeming to be the only sound that could be heard for miles.

Without warning a groan of pain and nausea slipped out of Kate's muzzle drawing a concerned gasp from Humphrey. Before he could speak she shook her head confused not seeming to understand the situation as she asked, "What's going on, where am I?"

Lilly quickly lowered her off of Humphrey's back and answered, "We left the gas station to find somewhere that has food and where you can heal." Kate cocked her head and asked slowly, "Heal?" Lilly nodded and explained, "You have a fever Kate, in this world even the simplest things can kill. A broken leg and you get eaten; a sickness and you get trapped or stuck."

Kate shook her head and coughed saying, "I'm fine, honestly…" As she tried to stand her legs collapsed beneath her cutting off the rest of her sentence. Humphrey insistently put a paw on her shoulder and soothingly said, "Kate you're going to be fine but you need to let me carry you."

Kate silently nodded warily accepting the inevitable. Humphrey gently helped her onto his back and announced for Kate's benefit, "We need to be out of the city before dark." Garth tossed a glance at the receding sun and said, " I don't want to be stuck in this place for another minute light or not." Garth shuddered involuntarily as they made their way deeper into the cities almost every building shrouded in darkness with the occasional flicker of light in one of the many windows of each structure.

Humphrey casted a worried glance at one of the buildings, a tall metal skyscraper that creaked and groaned in the breeze. Speaking up he murmured, "I wonder how many of those things are in that building?" Lilly followed Humphrey's gaze and muttered, "I don't want to find out."

Kate's head slumped as she slipped back into unconsciousness drawing a concerned look from Humphrey. Lilly wishing to distract him walked by Humphrey and asked, "Do you think there's food in any of these buildings?" Humphrey nodded and sighed saying, "Yea but we can't risk our lives just to satisfy a little hunger." Garth grumbled something incomprehensible as Lilly nodded in agreement.

Humphrey pushed a paw into the dirt and ash wiping away a portion of the soot to reveal the ground. Staring at it he softly said, "Will we ever find peace?" Hearing no answer from his companions Humphrey stood up and took a step forward when Garth put a paw on his shoulder. Humphrey tried to shrug him off saying, "Lets go."

Garth shook his head eyes wide in terror as he pointed his paw behind the group. Humphrey stopped and turned to look at the monsters that had begun to appear in the fog. Vaguely humanoid the light reflected off the creature's skin as they shambled forward some attempting to run with their mangled limbs.

Lilly covered a scream as Garth pushed her forward yelling, "RUN NOW!" Lilly stumbled forward and stammered, "It's not night yet! How are they here!?" Garth ran with her and yelled, "TELL THEM THAT!" Humphrey broke from his trance and ran after them making sure to be careful with Kate on his back.

Fighting down tears Humphrey ran alongside them tossing glances back at the creatures blood and gore that came spewing from their mouths, teeth gnashing together wanting to taste blood and bone.

"OVER HERE!" A voice yelled. Humphrey skidded to a stop with Lilly and Garth searching for the source of the sound. "LETS GO!" Quickly looking to the left Humphrey saw a tail disappear into one of the skyscrapers lost to the impregnable dark.

Running after it the group dove into the doorway hearing the angry screech of the monsters seeing their prey slip away. Scrambling upright Humphrey made sure Kate was still secure on his back before searching around him for whoever had just saved there lives. Seeing nothing he turned to look out of the doorway crouching to the cold metallic earth as the creatures shambled by screaming into the cool night air searching for their lost prey.

CRACK The sound rang in Humphrey's head as the ground rushed up to meet him a dull throbbing probing his consciousness. His vision blurred and faded as forms shambled over him. As his mind went dark he heard them say, "Take them."

UPDATE Sorry for this chapter being low quality but now that I know where I'm going again I'm sure things will get up and running once more!

CHAPTER OVERVIEW Once again I apologize for the wait but I've had so many things to keep me busy as of late (Some of you know exactly why that is) But anyway thank you for reading and I hope to have another chapter out MUCH sooner then before. (Hopefully within the next week or so) A