Clank, clank, clank!
Logan wiped his brow as he heard the sound of railroad work. Seemed like everywhere they went there was railroad work. He was considering getting some, but currently looking at a dock occupation.
The man looked to his arms, "Hope that's not just for show. Grab some crates and follow me."
"No problem," he hauled one over on his shoulders, "What's the job consist of?"
"'Lot of shipment comes through here, we take the crates off the boat and put them in the wagon, then deliver them."
"Sounds fun," the twenty-two year old followed.
"You're young so I expect to have to get you experienced. But I also expect you to keep up."
"No problem."
"Good, then we'll get along just fine."
X
Victor sighed into his blanket. He was exceptionally tired and still had to make a tent for them. He just needed a rest. Pity there were no caves.
After awaking with a gasp Victor looked around, taking a moment to register where he was. Right, woods. And he forgot to make a tent, oh well.
"I wonder," he sat up and looked about the area. Maybe there was a cave or something around.
Just as he had stood to search he could smell his brother coming near.
"So this where, we're sleeping?" an exhausted Logan walked over, "Cozy," he flopped onto his brother.
"I got something for you."
"It better not be something more than fifty cents."
He pulled out a book, "Found this. It's in good condition."
"What is it about?" Logan looked to the dirty cover.
"What does it say?"
"The ta-ales of Ben..ben-ga?" Jimmy looked to his brother for assistance.
"Sound it out," the elder used his clawed finger to cover parts of the word for him.
"Ben...ga...men. Bengamen Bunny?"
"Benjamin."
"Benjamin bunny?"
"Yep," Victor covered a yawn, "Now you can practice reading again."
"What about you?"
"I read well, I have my cookbooks, but you claim they're boring and make you hungry."
"They do."
Vic simply handed him the book and stood to make a fire, "Read while I cook. Out loud."
James tsked, "Victor."
"Get to it."
"I just got off work, I'm tired."
"So am I, but I'm cooking aren't I? Now stop sass mouthing me and read," he scolded.
Logan mocked him quietly before opening to read, "One mm-or-ning a little ra-ab-bit sat on a bank."
"Good. Keep on going," Victor nodded.
Logan sighed and continued reading, hating his brother for forcing him to do this after work.
X
They slept that night on a pile of leaves, under the night sky. There was no way Victor nor Logan were making a tent that night. All they wanted was sleep.
But food was needed and that meant foraging the woods.
"Wake up," The elder shook his brother, "We have to gather some food."
"Of course," Jimmy stretched and stood, "Guess I'll get the produce and such."
"I'm on meat," Vic walked off in the opposite direction.
X
"What's in here?" Logan used his claws to break open some bark, "Yum, grubs," he scooped several large handfuls into a sack, "Onto berries and stuff." he sure hoped Victor had some real food, meat. Grubs weren't a filling lunch and barely breakfast.
X
"Got anything good?" Victor had caught a duck.
"Some insects, veggies, and berries," he showed him the sack.
"Yum," he got a skillet out and a started a fire, "You can take a nap while I cook if you want."
Didn't have to tell him twice. Logan slid back into the pallet and crashed.
X
Things went well about three weeks. They were getting a little money here and there from their jobs. On nights it rained they would sneak into the rail yard and sleep on the empty cars.
This particular day Victor was in town. Bread and other foods were needed, and he wanted milk! He was ready to make a real meal, so a real meal he was getting.
"Hello, can I help you?" the shopkeeper looked to him.
"Just getting some food," he gathered several items. she nodded and left him to it. As he gathered and checked his money his eyes fell on candy pieces.
"You finding everything alright, doll?" she asked.
"Yeah, just gonna grab me some canned goods," he handed her his current items before grabbing several canned foods and returning to pay, "Where is a candy shop?"
X
Victor strolled about the wooded area as his food cooked. Jimmy was still at work.
As he walked he could hear a noise. A quiet mewling. Vic looked to him and his brother's camp. It should be fine.
He walked into the forest, the noise getting louder with each step. It slowly turned to a growling and shouts. Now the mutant was really interested.
Gunshots rang through Victor's ears. He ran over and surveyed the area to figure out what just happened. Before walking too far he noticed a bloodied body of what once might have been a man.
Vic just looked to it with a lip lick and continued on to a lump of fur. A bear.
He slowly approached it, it's barely audible breathing was shaky.
Vic got down on his knees, "So that's what happened," the wounds on it were clearly gunshots and several knife wounds. He rubbed it's head.
It heaved deeply, breaths getting slower and slower.
"It's ok," he scratched gently at the nape of its neck before it gave it's last breath, "Poor thing," he sighed. Jimmy would have to help him drag it back to their spot. It was good for a few meals and would make a great bed when skinned.
As the man started to walk back to the camp he heard a whining. Curiosity was still surging and he walked to a small dug to inspect the noise.