Various tents sprawled across the valley, surrounded by dozens of trucks and a few campers. On the edge of the camp, a man stood guard near a barrel fire. As the snow got worse, the fire barely helped. He shivered, trying to warm his gloved hands. Frustrated, he pulled his lapel up his black Carhartt jacket, trying to shield his bearded face from the wind. It helped but it wasn't enough. The whole idea of standing guard outside the camp was ridiculous. It was below freezing and the wind was picking up. No one in their right mind would be stupid enough to attack their camp under these conditions.
Until a silhouette broke through the wind, he picked up his bolt action rifle and yelled as he shouldered it, "Don't you step any closer, or I swear—-"
"Shut the fuck up and help me!" A voice shouted. The figure carried someone who appeared half-dead.
"Tommy! Jesus!" The guard exclaimed as he ran towards the figure. Others quickly joined him.
Inside a small RV, a little girl with brown hair, sat on a chair by the secured table and played with a ball of wax. She would warm it carefully with the flickering dying light of a candle, making it moldable enough to add to the little wax figuring she'd been working on.
"Baby, be careful with that, don't burn yourself, alright?" said a tall and slender woman with long black hair, she was wearing green winter pants and a black turtleneck sweater. Her eyes were brown, almost black and the exhaustion was evident in her eyes.
"Okay, mom!" The little girl replied and blew out the candle. The tent darkened significantly without its small light.
Her mother paced around the small space, her eyes filled with panic.
"Mommy, where's daddy?" The little girl asked, her voice filled with concern.
"He's out getting food, and fuel Baby, he'll be home soon," Her mother explained, with a reassuring smile that she hoped was enough to mask her real worry. The little girl's stomach grumbled but she didn't say anything, she didn't want her mother to worry. But her mother heard it, knelt down, and gently reassured her, "I know sweetie. We'll get some food soon. As soon as your daddy gets here."
She got up and paced again, doing her best to ignore the pit of hunger in her own stomach.
In one of the bigger tents in the center of the camp, lit by the flow of a wood-burning stove, a man lay dying surrounded by his friends. The man named Tommy knelt on the floor, holding his hand.
"Tommy…" The dying man stuttered, shivering uncontrollably, he was freezing to death.
"It's OK Jimmy, you keep quiet now, Doc's on his way," Tommy murmured, trying to reassure him.
A man burst through the tent, wearing a leather coat and a black beanie, holding a large medical bag. "Oh goddamn! What the hell happened here, Tommy?"
"Doc! My baby brother's hurt!"
The Doc knelt down to check on the dying man, his coat half-covered in frozen blood. He was shivering uncontrollably. "What happened, Tommy?"
"He was hit, and— the truck broke down. We've been on the road for hours."
"Jesus," the Doc examined the wound— a bullet had hit him in the neck but missed his artery, still he lost a lot of blood. But the more pressing issue was evident. He looked down at Jimmy's legs, grabbed a pair of trauma shears, and started cutting off his pants. Every man in the tent gasped at the sight of his legs—dark and blue, bloated and blistered with frozen blood.
"Jesus H. Christ," the Doc whispered, seeing the boots, his bloated skin starting to consume the leather. "Hold him down."
Tommy and some of the men held him down while the Doc carefully began to cut through the rough, frozen boots. Jimmy screamed as the shears cut through his bloated frozen skin.
"Get him the whiskey!" Tommy yelled at one of the men, who immediately produced a bottle.
"No!" the Doc protested.
"Why the fuck not? He's suffering!"
"It'll lower his blood pressure, you dumbass! Now hold him still."
"Fine! Then fucking get to work!" Tommy rejected the bottle being offered to him and looked at his friend, still shivering and in pain, starting to rock violently when the Doc cut off his boots. When he managed to peel off the boots, part of his skin went with them. His feet were frozen, pitch black with bright specks of blood. The Doc deflated, looking up at the men surrounding them. They all recognized the advanced frostbite.
"Get him comfortable." The Doc stood up. "Give him some whiskey." Without another word, he left the tent. They all stared in shock as the man walked away. Tommy shot to his feet and followed him.
"Hey, where the fuck you going, Doc? You get back there and help my boy!" Tommy demanded.
The Doc, without turning around, said, "I can't do shit for him, Tommy."
"You're the fucking Doc! What do you mean you can't do shit?" Tommy snarled as he grabbed the man's shoulder and turned him around.
"First of all, I told you I'm a goddamn nurse, not a fucking doctor, but you assholes wouldn't hear of it. I can't—"
Tommy enraged, grabbed the man's lapels and pulled him towards his face. "I don't give a shit, you're the only one with medical training. Now you get back there and help my boy!"
The Doc frowned and pushed Tommy's hands off his coat. "You dumb fucking redneck! You saw his legs, right? That's advanced frostbite. His skin is already necrotic, which means it's dead! And not only that, but he lost a shit ton of blood. Now, I don't know what the fuck you guys were doing out there, and I ain't asking, but that's a goddamn gunshot wound, and he's lucky it missed his artery, or you'd have been lugging around a corpse."
"You have to do something!"
"Even if I had the proper tools, the proper medicine, and the proper facility, he already lost so much blood, he wouldn't survive the amputation."
Tommy looked down and started shaking violently. Before the Doc could react, he punched the man across the face, knocking him down.
"Are you out of your goddamn mind, Tommy?"
Tommy pulled out a handgun from his waist and pointed it at the Doc.
"Whoa! Tommy, don't be stupid! Like you said, I'm the only one here with medical training."
"And you'll have to use it to pull the lead out of your belly if you don't get back in there and help my boy! You hear me?"
The Doc scrambled to his feet and with an indignant look on his face, he stepped up to Tommy. "You dumb son of a bitch, if I take that boy's legs, all he's gonna do is die screaming! Is that what you want? If you care about your brother, why don't you cut the shit and get your ass back in there and spend the few hours he has left with him, making sure he's comfortable?"
The Doc turned away from Tommy, not caring that the man was still holding a pistol to him. He started to walk away but stopped and shook his head, "And besides, you're all Missy, and April got left now."
Tommy's hand shook as his finger wrapped around the trigger. He scoffed, looked down, and lowered his gun. He knew the man was right. He walked back into the tent in a huff.
"Tommy!" The dying man said through clattering teeth.
"I'm here, Jimmy. I'm right here, buddy. Talk to me."
Jimmy using the last of his strength pulled his brother closer, he needed to say his last words. "April…"
"April?" Tommy asked, confused, and leaned closer.
Jimmy nodded slowly, his eyes full of fear, his breath shallow and quick.
Tommy watched as that fear left his eyes, and with it, his life.
The man they called Jimmy passed away with his brother holding his hand. Mary's final shot had gone through Jimmy's neck, and while it may not have nicked his artery, the combination of blood loss and hours of walking in the freezing cold had taken him.
Tommy got up and walked to the corner of the tent, his eyes full of tears, and his heart full of hatred. Johnny carefully stepped closer to Tommy extended the bottle of whiskey and said, "I'm sorry man."
Tommy looked up at him, past the tears, his eyes were full of anger and violence, and Johnny took a step back. Tommy scoffed and looked at the bottle being offered to him. He could still see his brother's fingerprints in blood. He swapped the bottle from the man and took a long and deep swig.
For you baby brother.
Tommy spilled the rest of the bottle and smashed it on the floor.
"Want me to tell Missy?" Johnny asked he had no idea how much pain his friend was in, but he was willing to do whatever it took to lessen his burden.
"No, I'll do it." Tommy gave him the bottle and stomped his way out of the tent. Johnny looked after the man, even after all this, he was standing tall. He had carried his dying brother through the snow, and he was still standing. No wonder the rest of the men looked up to him.
"Missy?" Tommy asked, his eyes dark and low as he climbed onto the small RV.
"Uncle Tommy!" The little girl still holding the little wax doll ran to hug her uncle.
"Hey Baby girl," Tommy said with the soft tone he only reserved for her.
"Look! I made this for you! For good luck!" She said as she proudly showed him the little doll.
Tommy looked at it interested, trying his hardest not to cry. "Well isn't that nice, and it looks so cool too! Thank you, baby! I'm going to put it right here," He put it on his chest pocket, and patted it, "Close to my heart." He gave her a gentle smile which the little girl reciprocated with all her heart.
The tall woman with black wavy hair and green eyes came out of the bathroom and walked up to the tall man, "Tommy! Where's—"
But she paused, she knew. Missy could see it in his pale blue eyes, her husband was dead. And he was the messenger.
"No…" She said, shaking her head. "What happened?"
"I uh…" Tommy started to say but his eyes fell on the little girl.
Missy leaned in front of the girl and said, "Baby girl, go to the tent next over, find that silly bear, and tell him to find you some food, tell him that Tommy sent you. OK?"
The little girl's eyes lit up, "OK!" she grabbed her big parka and her big pink boots and made the dangerous trek a few feet to the tent next door.
Once the girl was out of earshot, Missy turned back to Tommy, "What the hell happened."
"It was… we were after these girls, they had fuel and one of them figured out how to siphon fuel out of the gas stations and—" Tommy paused, struggling to speak, he remembered how the windshield exploded, how the hundreds of shards of glass cut into his skin and how his brother screamed as the bullet grazed him. How his truck broke down and how he had to drag him through the blizzard as he died.
"And?"
"They ambushed us. He got hit… Missy."
"He's gone?
"Yeah, he's…" Tommy pointed in the direction of the tent where his brother's body lay.
Missy's expression went dark with hatred, "And you know where they are?"
"Missy?" Tommy asked, confused.
"Answer me, Tommy, you know where these murderers are?"
"Yes…" Tommy nodded, he knew what the woman was about to ask of him.
"Hi, Little Bear!" The little girl said as she entered a smaller tent where a young doughy short man lay on his sleeping bag.
"Now April! You know that's not my name! I'm the Bear Man" The man said as he sat up from his sleeping bag.
"No, you're the Little Bear! Mommy says!" The little girl giggled as she gave the man a hug and sat next to him.
"OK! Fine but only you get to call me Little Bear! Now shouldn't you be getting ready for bed,"
"Yes but Uncle Tommy is back, and he and Mommy are talking! And Mommy told me to come ask you if you had any food?"
"Tommy's back?" The man cursed silently, and the bully was back. He had been enjoying a hassle-free couple of days when they were out hunting. Now he'd get beaten again unless he'd get on his good side. "Food?"
The little girl nodded as her stomach growled. The man smiled at her with sympathy, he was hungry too, he reached for his backpack and after rummaging through it he found his very last can of food. It was a can of SpaghettiOs, his favorite and he had been saving it for a special occasion like the day he escaped from these men. He looked at the girl, her eyes twinkling eagerly at the sight of the can. He had an idea, and gave her the can, "Here, now you make sure and tell Tommy the Bear Man gave it to you OK?"
The little girl took the can and nodded. She struggled to open the can and the man helped her, "Want me to warm it up?"
The little girl shook her head and said eagerly. "I like it cold!"
"You are nuts," He teased her with a tilt of his head, "Now remember what I said, alright April?"
"Tell Uncle Tommy that Little Bear gave me food!" She said as she dug her spoon into the can. The man smiled, he knew that one of the reasons he had just sacrificed his last bit of food was to gain favor with Tommy but deep down he knew, he would have given her the can anyway.
Tommy went back into the tent, startling Johnny. He paced around the tent, deep in thought, and Johnny studied the man. Tommy was formidable, standing at 6'2" and built like a linebacker, with long blonde hair and a beard. Tommy was also a simple man, before the snow began, he worked as a fork lift operator, he loved football, his country and his family. He saw himself as a true patriot, and the woman in town lamented that he also saw himself as a confirmed bachelor.
Tommy stopped pacing and looked at the corpse of his brother on the floor. He knelt down and placed a hand over his face. Johnny knelt down next to him and said, "What really happened out there Tommy?"
Tommy told him everything, how they've been stalking the girls this whole time, how the brunette one named Beca had managed to siphon gas out of a gas station. How they had chased them and crashed against the guardrail on the road and how this had driven Jimmy angry and he'd urge him to chase her down. How they almost had them when a woman with a shotgun and a revolver started taking potshots at them and when they were driving away his rear window exploded and how Jimmy screamed as he applied pressure on his neck trying to pointlessly stop the blood. Then he told them the truck's radiator died halfway back and they had to walk the rest of the day in the snow.
Johnny sat there in silence, taking in the story, to him it sounded like the girls were defending themselves but they were desperate and needed the fuel and how it would have helped them to learn to siphon the rest of the fuel from the seemingly empty gas stations, then he asked, "What do you wanna do, Tommy?"
After a second Tommy through gritted teeth said, "Get the boys, we're going huntin',"
"You sure, man? Ain't we got enough to worry about?" Johnny was talking about the fact that they were running low on food, and the snow wasn't letting up.
In a second Tommy was on Johnny pinning him on the floor, just a few inches from the corpse of Jimmy, "Look at Jimmy, fucking look at him! That bitch killed him! We are gonna get our pound of flesh!"
"I get it! Tommy! I get it believe me… but"
"But what Johnny?"
"But what about the Mountain man? He's not going to like this!"
"He doesn't need to know, and if you tell him..." Tommy leaned in closer and whispered, "I'll kill you myself."
Johnny gulped, he knew his man, and what he was capable of, he nodded and in a shaky voice said, "OK, Tommy, OK, whatever you say, man."
Tommy got off the smaller man and got up. "Now get as many fucking men as we can, the snowmobile, and one of the plows. We leave in the morning." Without another word, he walked out of the tent.
Johnny looked down at the corpse of Jimmy, he heard his last words, he didn't call for vengeance or anything like that, and he knew Jimmy was an angry spiteful man. No. With his last words, the man uttered the name of his daughter. And he just knew he wanted to ask him to look after his family, but he also knew that Tommy was stubborn, he had no idea how he was going to talk him out of this, or even if he'd be able to. He placed a sheet over him and walked out of the tent. In the center of the camp, there was a big fire and he went over and sat with some of the men.
"What happened out there, Johnny?" one of the men asked.
Johnny, trying to get warm by the fire, said, "Some bitches, they killed Jimmy."
"Damn, they killed him? Who were they?"
"I don't know. Tommy said something about a redhead and a short brunette, the mid-20s maybe."
"Cute?" One of the men asked.
"Fucked if I know, I think Tommy said he heard the redhead call the other one Beca."
A smaller man sitting furthest from the fire, looked up interested, "Beca?"
Another man asked, "So what are we gonna do?"
Johnny sighed, he felt defeated, "We leave in the morning. We're goin' huntin'."
"Man, is that what we should be doing right now?"
"Yeah, I get Jimmy's dead and all, but man, we gotta keep moving. Food's running low."
"What about the Mountain Man? What's he gonna think about us wasting resources like this?"
"Don't you think I know that!" Jonny barked, "But do you wanna go and tell Tommy that? Do you want to go talk him out of this?"
"Nah, man, I'm good." The first man who protested shook his head, he knew how Tommy could get when he was enraged.
"Yeah, no me neither. It's cool, whatever Tommy says goes."
"Yeah, I'm in too. If it wasn't for Tommy and Jimmy, I woulda been dead by now."
The man sitting further from the fire looked away, deep in thought. He needed more information, so he spoke up, "So when are we leaving?"
The man turned at the same time to look at the smaller, frail-looking man, "We? Fuck you mean, 'we,' Benji? Little bitches like you stay behind with the women."
Benji nodded nervously, "Oh, I'm sorry, guys. I guess I thought you could use all the help you could get."
"Man, shut the fuck up! You know why we keep you around. Now fucking earn your meal and sing little bird."
"Oh, ok, umm." Benji stood up, paced around the fire, then cleared his throat. He did what he did best; he wowed them with his beautiful bari-tenor voice.
As a child, you would wait and watch from far away But you always knew that you'd be the one Who work while they all play
One of the men pulled out a fiddle and started to pluck along and play, joining in while the others harmonized.
In youth, you'd lay awake at night and scheme Of all the things that you would change But it was just a dream
Benji paused, and they all began to stomp to the beat. The men started to sing the chorus, while Benji followed much higher with his beautiful voice.
Here we are, don't turn away now (don't turn away) We are the warriors that built this town Here we are, don't turn away now (don't turn away) We are the warriors that built this town From dust
The fiddle player stood up and got into the song, giving it everything he got. Then another pause. At that precise moment, Tommy appeared from the darkness walked towards the men, and joined in for this verse. He was a bass, his tone deep, sultry, and wonderful. And it always amazed Benji.
The time will come When you will have to rise Above the best and prove yourself Your spirit never dies
As Tommy sang, he touched the shoulders of the men next to him. The message was loud and clear. Whatever doubt the men had shared was gone. They would fight alongside Tommy and they would help him get his revenge. Benji stared both in awe and fear. He had a natural charisma about him, and men would follow him into hell if they had to. Ever since he'd been captured, he'd seen them do horrible, unspeakable things, all in the name of survival. The only reason he was still alive was to sing for their amusement, like some post-apocalyptic bard or jester. He would sing, and they would feed him enough to keep him alive. But he knew how cruel these men could be. This is really bad.
Benji opened the flap to the small tent where the young doughy-looking man tried to sleep through the cold. As Benji sat down next to him.
"Bumper did you hear? Beca and Chloe are out there!" Benji said with a small flint of hope in his light brown eyes.
Bumper sat up quickly, and asked in disbelief, "What?"
Benji filled Bumper in on what he heard happened to Tommy and his brother and how they were plotting to go after them in the morning. "We have to do something Bumper!"
Bumper scowled and narrowed his eyes at his fellow Treblemaker, "First of all Benji, I told you I'm no longer Bumper, I'm the Bear Man, and second of all a redhead and a small brunette named Beca? Are you nuts? Do you know how many women would fit that description?"
Benji nodded but he wasn't convinced, "But what are the odds? He said he heard her name was Beca!"
"I don't know! I'm not a number- um math- scientist, ok? I'm a singer, now could you please just go away." Bumper laid back down and turned away from Benji.
"But Bumper er- I mean Bear Man…" Benji said with a roll of his eyes.
Pleased by this, Bumper turned and gestured for him to continue.
"Tommy and his men are talking about going after them, we have to do something!"
"Are you out of your freaking mind? You want to go out there into the freaking cold to save two women who may— and this is the more likely scenario here, may not be two girls we knew in college? Seriously, are you stupid? Did the cold freeze your brain or something?"
"So what do you want to do? You want to stay here and keep being their little jester?"
"You really don't get it, do you? Out there, we freeze to death, here all we have to do is keep our heads down and sure sing and dance every once in a while but they'll keep us safe and more importantly fed! Can you hunt, or like icefish? Cuz I sure as hell can't!"
"You know Bears can fish right?"
"Just- can you just go away Benji, go away."
"Fine, I'll go but just so you know the Treblemakers would be very disappointed in you right now."
"Psh you think I care about what those losers think?"
"That's right, I forgot you don't care about anyone but yourself," With that Benji left the tent, while a haggard Bumper looked away, trying his hardest not to let how scared he felt show. Once he was sure Benji was gone, he physically deflated, what could he do? He knew he was a coward, and though he hated it, he knew he had to keep his head down and do as he was told. The image of a blonde woman appeared in his head. And he pressed his hands against his head trying to erase but it wasn't working, "I'm sorry, you must be so disappointed in your Bumpy Boo."
Benji stood outside one of the larger RVs in the camp and took a deep breath, and after a moment of hesitation, he walked in.
"That you little bird?" Tommy asked as he loaded a shotgun on his table. He turned to the smaller man, and for the first time tonight his face relaxed and he smiled. Benji couldn't look into his eyes, his gaze fixed on the floor.
Tommy, enjoying his effect on Benji, walked over to him and Benji immediately took a step back. He grabbed Benji's face and turned it to face him, but Benji's eyes refused to make eye contact, and he was trembling.
"What are you doing here little bird?"
"I heard about your brother… I just wanted to say I'm sorry."
"Oh," Tommy's eyes softened, touched by the sentiment. He turned his back to Benji and stared at the shotgun on the table, "Thanks…"
In that moment the imposing fearsome man seemed so small to Benji, almost human. If only he also didn't see him as a bully well versed in the language of violence he'd almost feel sorry for him. After a moment of silence, Benji continued, "I overheard you guys talking, something about going after them?"
"What the fuck you doing hearing in on people's conversations huh?" Tommy barked without turning, startling Benji.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I was just-"
"Doesn't matter, as soon as the blizzard eases up, we're going."
"But- um is that such a good idea? I think-" Benji stammered.
"Who the fuck told you to think? No, who the fuck told you to get ideas?" Tommy turned around and got in Benji's face, whatever mourning had been there had been replaced by anger.
"I-I I'm sorry Tommy, I didn't mean to upset you, I just worry," Benji lifted his hands in front of him helplessly.
"You worry? Fuck you worried about?"
"What if the Mountain Man finds out? You know how stingy he is with the fuel,"
"And who's going to tell him huh? You gonna tell him little bird?" Tommy kept stepping forward and Benji backed away until his back hit the wall of the RV, there wasn't anywhere else to go.
"No Tommy I would never, I promise I'd never say anything!" Benji blubbered, scared for his life.
"You better keep your mouth shut little bird, if you know what's good for you," Tommy threatened.
"Of course, my lips are sealed, completely sealed,"
At the mention of his lips, Tommy's eyes found Benji's. His clear blue eyes fixated on them, Benji's lips were chapped but full and a little red, and Tommy whispered, "My little bird," and Tommy kissed him. Tommy's kiss wasn't gentle, or soft, it was forceful and hard. They always hurt Benji. He tasted like whiskey, blood and tears. Benji scrounged his face and like always, he clenched his fist.
After a few seconds, he released him and breathlessly ordered him, "Come on, I need a distraction," Tommy gestured toward his bed.
Benji didn't move and shook his head, and begged, "Not tonight, please?"
Tommy looked dissappointed for a second and then shook it off, and commanded, "Boy don't make me tell you again."
Benji lowered his head and trembled as he walked towards the expecting towering man and his bed. That night his fists never unclenched.
That night, Benji learned what true bravery meant. He learned that fear is natural, and bravery was acknowledging it and doing it anyway. He knew it was dangerous, and he might die out there. But this was a risk he'd willingly take, in order to save his friends.
Benji slipped out of Tommy's strong arms and quietly left his tent. Because of the storm, the guard abandoned his post giving him a chance to steal their only snowmobile and an extra can of fuel, and sabotaged their vehicles. During the course of the night, he'd learned enough to guess where Beca and Chloe were last seen. He drove as silently as he could, sneaking away without drawing any attention. Then he drove hard, and as the snow fell harder around him, clouding his vision, he found strength in song.
Here we are, don't turn away now (don't turn away) We are the warriors that built this town Here we are, don't turn away now (don't turn away) We are the warriors that built this town From dust
Benji drove hard into the night, and nothing would stop him. He would warn his friends.
Early the next morning, Tommy gathered the men. They bundled up against the storm and prepared to set out. As they checked their equipment, they quickly realized something was wrong.
"Where the fuck is the snowmobile?" Tommy demanded, eyes blazing with anger.
Johnny, looking around frantically, said, "It's gone, Tommy. Someone must've taken it."
"Benji," one of the men growled, piecing it together.
"Goddamn it!" Tommy shouted. "He couldn't have gotten far. This storm is too strong. But that's not all. The fuel lines on half our trucks are cut, and some of the tires are slashed."
Tommy's rage was palpable. "Fix what you can, and get ready to move. This isn't stopping us. We leave as soon as possible."
Despite their determination, the repairs would take hours. The storm would only get worse.
Bumper who was hiding behind one of the tents listened, he couldn't believe it, Benji had actually done it. He'd gone out there and played the hero. Bumper stared towards the woodline with admiration but that admiration was quickly overcome by shame. Benji, the smaller of the two, arguably weaker and less handsome had the balls to go out into the snow to help their old friends while he cowered in his sleeping bag, waiting to die. His girl would really be disappointed in him. He looked up towards the Cabin on top of the hill. He wasn't as brave as Benji to go out into the snow, but he could try something else. He could talk to the Mountain Man, because that terrible man for some unknown reason had a soft spot for him.
In the morning, Chloe slipped carefully out of bed, mindful not to disturb the brunette sleeping peacefully beside her. As her bare foot met the cold hardwood floor, a shiver ran through her; the house was freezing. She quickly layered herself in whatever clothes she could find, feeling the chill bite at her skin.
She quietly tip-toed her way out of the bedroom, her steps soft on the wooden floor. The hallway was dimly lit by the morning light filtering through the curtains. As she walked, Chloe's eyes wandered to the framed photographs adorning the walls. One picture, in particular, caught her attention—a young, handsome man in a military uniform, beaming with a bright smile with both his moms next to him smiling proudly. In her eyes these three looked like a happy family and Chloe couldn't help but wonder what had happened there.
She was so engrossed in the photo that she didn't notice Mary approaching from behind.
"That was the day he graduated from Basic Training, he looks happy doesn't he?"
Chloe's surprise was short-lived and she turned back to the picture on the wall, and said, "So did you two."
"Sleep well?" Mary said changing the subject.
Chloe, recognizing that the subject of their son was a sensitive one, gave her an understanding smile and said, "Better than we have in a long time. Thank you so much, for everything."
Mary gave Chloe a small sincere smile, "We're happy to help. Are you still up for helping me with the cattle?"
"Oh! Yay! Of course!" Chloe's eyes lit up with enthusiasm, she had almost forgotten about the animals.
As she slipped on her leather boots, Chloe frowned. They were clearly not suited for the cold and rough conditions. Mary, noticing the poor construction of the boots, scoffed.
"Those won't do, girl. Come on, I have a pair that might suit you better," Mary said, leading Chloe to another room in the big house.
The door creaked open, revealing a bedroom with a distinct military aura. It was neat and tidy and it was covered in military flags and artifacts. Chloe instantly understood this must have been their son's room. Mary went into the closet and handed her a pair of Army winter boots, a winter coat, and a set of thick brown double-layer thermal underwear.
"Try this, I think you're close to his size."
After a few minutes, Chloe had donned the camouflaged military coat. Chloe glanced at herself in the mirror. She had never worn a military coat, the Universal Camouflage Pattern composed of tan, sage green, and gray wasn't the most becoming for her. It was a little loose but overall fit her fine. it was certainly more practical than her non-winter clothes. She noticed the velcro label on her left chest that read "McKinney."
"You sure he won't mind?" she asked, a hint of concern in her voice.
"Nah! We ain't seen him in a while. Doubt he'll be coming home anytime soon. How are the boots fitting? Boy always had small feet." Mary said with a sad chuckle.
"They are actually a perfect fit, this is so much better than my other set!" Chloe said surprised as she examined the tan boots. She could tell they were made from sturdy construction and she hoped that with them she couldn't fall on her face in the snow.
Chloe looked at herself, she was wearing the military coat and her purple snow pants with tan military winter boots. It was eclectic, to say the least. This felt very different from her usual style but it was exactly what she wanted, something more practical, more suited to this new world. Her eyes landed on the name patch over her chest, and she hesitated before softly asking, "May I ask what happened?"
Mary's face tightened for a moment. "Not sure. A few years ago, he just broke all contact with us, no calls, no letters, no social media. Don't bring it up to Paulie. She gets all riled up, you know."
"Yes, ma'am," Chloe nodded, understanding the delicate nature of the subject.
"Alrighty, you're all geared up for the weather. Let's go check in on the livestock before the girls wake up."
They spent the morning in the barn, tending to the cattle. Mary and Paula had three cows left, two horses, and five sheep. Everyone was in excellent health considering. Chloe knew that these animals were hardy and resistant to this weather but as soon as the feed dried up Mary and Paula would have to make some hard decisions, and she didn't have the heart to tell them that just yet.
Chloe found joy in being around the animals again, even if it meant getting her hands dirty with tasks like palpating a cow. She relished the simple, grounding work. She could see how relieved Mary was that they were taking care of the cattle.
Paula leaned over the open hood of the Subaru, peered at the engine bay, and yelled, "OK! Try it again!"
Beca who was sitting in the driver's seat nodded and tried turning the key in the ignition, the engine cranked but didn't start. Beca cursed silently and tried again, but the result was the same.
Paula frowned and leaned over, checked the battery connections, and gave them a wiggle. "Alright give it another go!"
Beca tried it again, and just like last time the engine cranked but failed to catch. She peered her head out the window and yelled, concerned, "It's not working!"
Paula sighed and pulled out a small diagnostic toolkit from her tool bag. She connected and said, "Let's see if we get a code on this thing."
Beca watched amazed at how apt Paula was at this stuff, "Dude how do you know how to do all this stuff?"
Paula hesitated and said, "Boy's a mechanic in the Army, I picked this stuff up so I could understand what the hell he was talking about most of the time."
"Oh," Beca felt like she just said the wrong thing and was about to apologize when Paula interrupted her.
Paula read the display on the small diagnostic tool, "No Communication with ECU? Shit."
"Is that bad?" Beca asked.
"It ain't good, I think the ECU got busted when y'all hit the snowbank, or maybe it was from the airbag."
"ECU?"
"The car's computer, without it y'all ain't going anywhere."
"Can we fix it?" Beca asked, her voice hopeful.
Paula shook her head, "I'm sorry kid, but no, we need specialized tools, plus with the bags deployed I'm guessing the whole system is in lockdown mode."
"Shit, so we're stuck?"
"For now. We need a professional, we can't do much more until then."
"Damn it, I wanted to stop at a car parts store and stock up on replacement parts,"
"Don't beat yourself up about it, this isn't the kinda thing you just pick up at Pep-Boys,"
Beca leaned her head against the car headrest. It was starting to feel hopeless, without a car they were stuck on the farm for the time being. It wasn't all bad, the couple was great but she promised to get Chloe to her mom's and now she had no idea how she was going to do that. She could feel herself getting angry, and she remembered why she was stuck here in the first place, the assholes in the white truck. Beca frowned and made a decision.
"Paula," Beca said with a dangerous tone in her voice.
"Yeah?"
"Teach me to shoot," Beca said determined. Guns still made her uneasy, but this situation was all their fault, and like everyone kept telling her, her plan would have worked if she had used a real gun instead of a flare pistol. She wouldn't let this happen ever again.
Paula grinned and gave her a nod, and they noticed Chloe and Mary leaving the barn and heading towards the house.
"Why is Chloe dressed like a soldier," Beca asked confused at the sight of her girl wearing camo.
Paula didn't answer, she just frowned softly at the sight.
The two women in the distance waved them over. Beca and Paula got out of the car and Mary yelled, "I'm going to make a big mess of breakfast, come eat!"
Chloe insisted on helping Mary cook them all a big breakfast, consisting of eggs and sausages. Thankfully Mary and Paula still had plentiful supplies on their farm, but without chickens, it would only be a matter of time until they ran out of eggs.
When Chloe walked into the dining room she caught the tail end of the conversation Beca and Paula were having, "…remember, it's all about staying calm and steady. You can't let the recoil scare you off."
As Chloe walked into the dining room, she caught Paula's last words, she noticed Beca's determined expression as she listened intently.
Paula continued, "Don't overthink it. Just focus on your breathing and trust your instincts. You're stronger than you think, and out here, that strength matters more than ever."
Chloe tilted her head and asked, "What are you two talking about?"
Paula explained, "Just giving your girl here a little pep talk about shooting. We're going to go out and shoot some cans after breakfast."
"Beca?" Chloe asked surprised, she knew how Beca felt about guns and she shared some of her concerns.
"Yeah," Beca admitted guiltily, "We couldn't get Bertha running, I just thought…"
Chloe interrupted her, annoyed, "That you'd learn to shoot and not tell me about it?"
"I uh—" Beca stammered, it hadn't occurred to her that Chloe might be upset about it.
"It's fine," Chloe said as she sat down next to her, "but if you're doing it, I'm doing it too,"
"You want to learn how to shoot Chlo?" Beca asked, surprised.
"Yeah, is that alright Paula?" Chloe asked the woman across the kitchen table.
Paula and Mary exchanged glances and she nodded. "Yeah, of course, the more the merrier, that way you got each other's back."
Chloe grinned and dug into her breakfast, ignoring Beca's eyes.
Beca looked at Chloe curiously, she wasn't sure what was going on, but she could see Chloe was starting to change with this world. She wasn't sure how she felt about that. For a long time, Chloe had been the light to her darkness. When they were friends she was always the cheery upbeat one of the two. And when this all happened she was always the one to pick her up and keep her going. Would using a firearm to do what one does with firearms change her? Would she lose that beautiful light in her eyes that she loved so much?
This was why she didn't tell her about Paula's proposal because she wanted to protect her, she wanted to carry that burden by herself. She wanted to protect Chloe, physically, and psychologically. But she knew how stubborn Chloe could be, there'd be no deterring her now that she made up her mind.
Beca and Chloe met Paula outside, behind the house, for their very first shooting lesson. And the very first thing she taught them, was to treat each weapon as if it's loaded and always keep it aimed downwards and away.
Paula started them off with .22 rifles. She loaned Beca a Ruger 10/22 rifle and for Chloe she had a Savage Mark II, bolt action rifle. First, she explained the mechanics of each rifle carefully, then loading and unloading, positioning, stance and breathing, then dry firing, and once she deemed them ready. She had them squeeze off rounds towards the assorted cans in the prone position and then standing position.
They were amazed by Paula's skillset as an instructor and her expertise in the subject. Her knowledge of firearms was at par with Beca's knowledge of music studio equipment. But she was also kind, and patient with them. Her instructions were thorough and experienced. Beca and Chloe were lucky to have her as an instructor.
Chloe, surprising everyone, turned out to be a natural with the small bolt action rifle, hitting her targets with ease, she was careful with her breathing and her muscle memory was impeccable, Beca wondered if this was related to the fact that Chloe had always been a good dancer. Her stance was always steady and graceful and she didn't flinch. The firing process to her was a matter of careful repetition like choreography and as she did each step, she counted in her head.
Beca, on the other hand, struggled. She flinched at every shot, her discomfort evident. She struggled to remember her exact cheek and arm positioning and her breathing.
Out of both of them, Chloe scored 9 out of 10 cans, while Beca barely managed 4 out of 10. To call Beca's shooting adequate would be a generous assessment. Beca's frustration was palpable, she was used to picking up new skills easily.
Paula noticed Beca's frustration. "Now, Beca—"
"I know! I know! I suck! I keep closing my eyes, and the thing in the front is all blurry." Beca said exasperated she lowered the rifle.
"It's OK, darlin'. You'll get the hang of it, it takes time and practice, but I think I have something more your speed anyway. C'mere," Paula quickly turned to Chloe and said, "Chloe darlin why don't you burn off the rest of the ammo, and when you're done set them up again,"
"You got it!" Chloe said excitedly, she was smiling widely and her face was a little red. Then she started loading the small rifle again.
Paula led Beca towards a small table set up to the side where she had all their gear and ammo, "You see, I don't think distance is your thing. The way you stood your ground against that truck, I think you're more of an upfront and personal kinda gal, like me." Paula pulled out a pistol from her pack and placed it on the table. It was all black and seemed simple, and sturdy. But Beca instinctively stepped back. Paula chuckled and quickly removed the empty magazine and locked the slide in the rear, effectively clearing the weapon, she showed it to Beca.
"It's OK, it's clear. You can see it's unloaded, right?"
"Yes, I don't see any bullet thingies in the other things," Beca said a little sheepishly as she pointed at it.
"Chamber. And you can just say bullets, darlin."
"Right!" Beca nodded quickly.
"This here's a Glock 19, it's a compact, semi-automatic handgun, smaller, lighter, easy to conceal, and easy to fire. It has a good comfortable grip so it's perfect for folks just getting into shooting."
Beca listened intently, as she stared at the handgun.
"It's 9mm and carries 15 bullets in the magazine and 1 in the chamber…"
Paula patiently taught Beca every facet of the firearm how to load and unload the Glock 19 pistol, the signature safety action mechanism of the Glock. Beca struggled with the stiff slide at first but eventually managed. Then she showed her proper grip and stance. Then she had her perform loading and unloading, standing, and dry firing drills. Once she thought Beca was ready she brought her back to the line next to Chloe.
Chloe gave her a warm smile, and said, "How are you feeling?"
"I'm a little anxious but I'm OK? And you?"
"I'm actually fine, this is a lot more fun than I thought it would be."
Beca eyed her carefully, slightly concerned.
Paula walked up to Beca and said "OK, now remember what I told you, align the back sight with the front sights and gently squeeze the trigger. Don't expect the recoil and don't overthink it."
"OK," Beca sighed and replied, her voice tinged with apprehension. She assumed a good firing stance and pulled the trigger, and the round went just slightly right of the can.
"Damn it!" she muttered.
"Stay on target, girl. Don't lower the gun and lose that sight. Try again," Paula encouraged and gestured to her to resume her shooting position.
Beca fired again, this time grazing the can's right side. Paula leaned close and whispered, "Picture the white truck."
Beca's eyes narrowed. She fired without hesitation, hitting the can dead center. "I—I hit it!" she exclaimed, her face lighting up with pride.
"Whoo, good job, babe!" Chloe cheered, her voice full of admiration.
"Good job, now let's do some real work," Paula said, a satisfied grin on her face.
Paula had them practice for another hour. She had them side by side as they fired the rounds. Paula wanted each of them to get used to the feeling of shooting close to someone.
Chloe continued to impress with her accuracy and natural instincts with the rifle, while Beca gradually improved with the pistol.
Mary stepped out the door and waved at Paula. Paula grinned, lunch was ready, and right on time, she turned to the women and said, "Alright, ladies, let's break for lunch! Make sure your weapons are clear and let's get some grub!"
Back inside the house, they once again sat at the kitchen table and warmed up with bowls of Mary's famous wolf meat stew.
"How'd the lesson go?" Mary asked them as she sat down at the table.
"It went well, actually—" Paula looked at Mary, an idea forming in her mind. "Mary, you think you could show Red here some rifle tricks? She's a natural."
Mary's eyes gleamed with interest. "Sure, that sounds fun! Oh! I was actually planning to go hunting in a bit. Why don't you come with me?"
"Hunting?" Chloe asked, a bit unsure. The idea of hunting was foreign to her.
"Yeah, the other day, I saw a deer east of here. We could use some fresh meat, wolf isn't exactly the most nutritious game around."
Chloe thought about it for a second, the idea of hunting had never even crossed her mind. After a second of hesitation she nodded, "You're right about that. Okay, I'll go with you."
"Wait, Chlo, You sure about this?" Beca asked, concerned. Hunting seemed out of character for Chloe, and it made her uneasy.
"Yeah, I mean, I might as well learn, right? It could be useful. You wanna come?"
"Oh, I think Beca and I have some other stuff to do," Paula interjected, a sly smile on her face.
Beca turned to Paula and asked, "We do?"
"Oh yeah, you're getting the hang of the pistol, but you need a hell of a lot of practice."
Chloe leaned over and kissed Beca on the cheek. "I'm sure you'll do great babe!" And they resumed eating their leftover stew. Beca still couldn't shake feeling uneasy about this. She looked at her delicious bowl of wolf meat stew and wished she was back in Barden. In the bedroom, she shared with Fat Amy in the Bella house. And she wished she was working on a mix while Chloe laid on her bed reading a magazine, eagerly waiting for Beca to show her her new mix. Life used to be simple.
Chloe lay prone in the snow, the crosshair of the scope trained on a beautiful deer. Her hands trembled, causing the rifle to sway. Beside her, Mary whispered, "Now focus on your breathing like Paulie taught you. Take a slow breath in."
Chloe did as instructed, inhaling the crisp, cold air deeply.
"Now hold it for a second, and slowly exhale."
Chloe's breath visible in the cold air. As her lungs emptied, her hands steadied, the crosshair locking onto the deer's vital area.
"Now, hold it right there. Notice how your hands are steady. You have seconds to take the shot."
Chloe narrowed her gaze and focused on the cross-hair where she knew the deer's heart would be. She hesitated but then she thought about the wolf, how it wanted to eat her, how it wanted to eat Beca, and how she brought down the axe on its head. And she remembered the conversation she had last night with Beca.
I still want to be a badass like you…
The rifle shook as she started to squeeze the trigger. She couldn't help feeling uneasy about this. Her eyes started to water and she sniffed. Whenever she had to euthanize an animal as a Vet Tech there were legitimate medical reasons for it. And it was never easy, it always broke her heart. She understood the importance of hunting, especially now, and how their bodies would need more nutrient-rich meat but still. This didn't feel right to her. That deer had done nothing to her, it posed no threat, it was just living as best as it could under these conditions. Just as she was.
I want to be a badass like Beca but… not like this. She exhaled and lowered the rifle, feeling relieved, and said in a whisper, "I'm sorry Mary, I just… I can't do it."
Mary turned and looked at her, she was trying to be compassionate, and she placed her hand on Chleo's shoulder reassuringly and she took the rifle back.
"It's alright red," Mary looked disappointed at the deer, they sure could benefit from the fresh meat. "But… world's changing,"
"I—I understand, but I don't want it to change me."
Mary didn't know what to say. How could she get her to understand that a deer was 400 pounds of life-saving, hunger-staving nutritious mineral-rich meat.
Chloe saw right through her, and quickly added, "I know what you're thinking, I'm being naive, and stupid but…" Chloe stood up and dusted the snow off her clothes. She looked at the deer in the distance and she could feel her heart lighter. She sighed with relief and said, "Right now, even if it's just for today, I'm OK with it."
Chloe extended her hand to help Mary up.
Mary took her hand, staring into those big blue naive eyes of hers, it was hard to argue with her, "Alright red, alright."
Chloe turned to the deer in the distance and thought, Guess you get to live another day little fella, make the best of it.
But then in the distance, something else caught her eye. Her heart sank. Not again.
"Mary?" Chloe whispered as she pointed towards the black and gray figures of multiple wolves in the distance.
"Shit!" Mary said as she grabbed the rifle from the horse saddle.
"What do we do?"
"Don't worry, last time I took one out and the rest scurried off, hopefully, it'll work again, if not we gotta hightail it outta here."
Mary shoved a pair of binoculars at Chloe and said, "Keep an eye on em and call em out,"
Chloe nodded and grabbed the binoculars and raised them to her eyes. She could see the wolves in the distance as they darted in her direction.
"Mary they're coming!" Chloe warned but then she heard a thud next to her. When she turned she saw Mary collapsed on the snow, her body twitching and her arms tight at odd angles. Chloe gasped as she recognized this immediately. Mary was having a seizure. Chloe knew she didn't have enough time to load her onto the horse, not while she was still convulsing.
"Oh God!" Chloe looked at the wolves in the distance, they were heading towards them at full speed. "What do I do?" Chloe grabbed her hair and spun in place, her heart was racing and a familiar sensation was starting to creep up, she could feel herself getting close to having another panic attack.
Not now! Not now! She begged and her eyes caught a glimpse of the rifle next to Mary. It turned into an ax, and she knew exactly what she had to do.
If she can do it! So can I.
Just as she did back then she found strength in the picture of Beca being strong and brave. She staved off the oncoming panic attack grabbed the rifle and shouldered it, trying to aim it at the leader of the pack. Her brain went through her catalog of animal pack behavior, and she figured that if by some miracle she took out the alpha she might be able to buy them some time.
She pulled the trigger but it didn't do anything. She remembered Paula drilling into them how the bolt action rifle mechanism works. She scoffed annoyed at herself pulled back the bolt and fired quickly but the shot went wild. It stuck near one of the wolves and it panicked and circled back.
She understood what had happened, panic made her hasty, and she needed to calm down.
"OK OK Chloe, come on, you got this, just stay calm, focus on your breath," She closed her eyes, and took a deep breath, there wasn't much time left. She aimed right at its head and exhaled, and squeezed the trigger just as her lungs were empty. The bullet flew true and stuck the alpha wolf on its neck knocking him down. Pack stopped for a second confused, Chloe didn't want to take her chances. So she pulled back the bolt once more, loading another round. And repeating the same motion she aimed for the second biggest one. This one was struck on its side and the bullet went through its stomach knocking it down instantly.
"Come on!" Chloe yelled, and remembering what Beca had called them last time added, "You over-sized chihuahuas!" Chloe howled, the ferocity and the adrenaline made her blood boil. She loaded another round and fired, this time barely aiming. But the bullet struck near enough for the rest of the wolves to scatter.
Chloe pulled the bolt again and aiming in their general direction squeezed the trigger but it clicked empty. She had fired all five rounds. She panted as the adrenaline coursed through her and she finally lowered the rifle.
"Yes! Oh my god! Yes!" Chloe yelled triumphantly and jumped up. She looked back towards Mary. She was still twitching. Chloe ran over to her and placed her in the recovery position. She examined her vitals but there wasn't much she could do right now, she just hoped it would pass soon. Chloe stood up and aimed the long scope of her barrel toward where the wolves had been, but they had scattered. She fell to her knees and exhaled, the adrenaline starting to come down.
Mary slowly opened her eyes, blinking against the bright light. She tried to sit up, but Chloe gently pushed her back down.
"Easy, you had a seizure. The wolves... they're gone now. Just rest for a minute"
"A seizure?"
"Yeah, just rest for a moment. It'll take a few minutes for your body to feel normal."
"Help me get on the horse, we should get back," Mary said, her voice soft and a little confused.
"You sure you can?"
"Yeah… I'm fine," Mary tried to get on her feet but her legs were still weak, "I just need help getting up,"
Chloe nodded and moved quickly to help Mary onto her feet. She helped her up on the horse, climbed in front, and they started the gallop back to the farm.
Mary wrapped her arms around Chloe's waist, her head was leaning against her back.
"I have Parkinsons…" Mary confessed softly. "Meds help keep the seizures at bay,"
Chloe didn't say anything, she knew Mary just wanted to be heard, and she placed her hand over Mary's and gave her a gentle squeeze.
"Don't tell Paulie I had a seizure, OK? I don't want her to worry. Let's just keep this between us."
"Are you sure? What if it happens again and you're out here all alone?" Chloe asked concerned.
Mary exhaled and said, "I'll tell her. Later tonight. I just don't want her to make a fuss in front of y'all."
"OK Mary," Chloe trying to lighten the mood added, "Just for the record, I'm cooking dinner and I don't want to hear a word about it, alright? And you are spending the rest of the evening resting. Deal?"
Mary laughed softly, "Deal, You're a good kid," Mary said softly, as she tightened her embrace.
The cold wind howled around them, a brutal reminder of the harsh world they now lived in. But Chloe realized something, she may not have the heart to take down a defenseless deer, but she had no problem fighting off the wolves, and she kept her cool and cared for Mary when she collapsed. Beca had been right, she was a badass, in her own way. Chloe smiled, she felt lighter, and she could feel the confidence coming back to her.
Beca stood behind the house, the cold air biting at her cheeks as she practiced with the Glock 19. This time Paula had outfitted her with a belt holster, and she felt the weight of the firearm on her hip. It was foreign but somehow it gave her a sense of confidence she didn't quite understand. Paula had her walking forward towards the cans, drawing her pistol, and firing at them. Through constant repetition and patience, Beca was getting the hang of it. Her stance had improved, she was now leaning into her shots with determination, and each shot found its mark more consistently.
"Reload!" Paula called out, her voice firm and encouraging. Beca quickly ejected the spent magazine and reached for a fresh one. At first, her movements were clumsy, the adrenaline making her fingers fumble. She struggled with the concept of "slow is smooth, smooth is fast," but Paula's steady guidance helped her refine her technique.
"That's good. Let's try it again!" Paula instructed, her eyes never leaving Beca. There was a note of approval in her voice.
Beca nodded, taking a deep breath. She returned to the starting position, her mind focused on the task at hand. This felt like being on stage in the dark. Her heart was pounding as she found her center before the spotlight fell on her.
"This time I want three consecutive shots at different targets! Remember, slow is smooth, smooth is fast," Paula commanded, her tone authoritative and supportive.
Beca scanned the row of cans, mentally marking her targets. She took another deep breath.
"Walk!" Paula commanded.
Beca began walking along the line, her steps measured and deliberate. When Paula yelled, "Draw!" Beca's movements became fluid, almost instinctual. She drew the Glock in one smooth motion, locked onto the first target, and squeezed the trigger. The can exploded off the perch, the echo of the shot resonating in the cold stillness. Without hesitation, she shifted to the next target, repeating the process. Another can toppled to the snow, followed quickly by the third.
As the last can fell, Beca instinctively dropped the empty magazine and loaded a new one, the motions coming more naturally than ever before. She exhaled, her breath visible in the frigid air, her heart racing from the rush of adrenaline. For a moment, everything had clicked into place, her body and mind working in perfect sync. She performed her part excellently and she could almost hear the crowd cheering in the back of her mind.
But it wasn't the crowd, it was Paula clapping her hands together, her eyes sparkling with approval. "Damn good job!"
Beca shook her head, a little embarrassed but she couldn't hide her smile. She felt a mix of pride and disbelief as if she had just emerged from a trance. The weight of the Glock in her hand felt more familiar, the act of shooting less foreign. She looked at Paula, who nodded in approval, her expression a mix of pride that in a matter of hours, Beca had come such a long way.
"Thanks," Beca breathed out, her voice slightly shaky. She holstered the Glock, feeling a sense of accomplishment. Despite the cold, her blood was pumping, and she felt a little more prepared for the world they were navigating.
Paula clapped her on the shoulder. "You're getting better every time. Just keep practicing, and it'll become second nature."
Beca nodded, and grinned, her confidence bolstered. She holstered the Glock in one smooth motion. Then she noticed movement coming from the treeline and saw it was their girls coming out of the woodline on horseback. She felt relieved and glad to see them return and exclaimed, "They're back!"
Paula turned towards the approaching figures, and immediately realized something was wrong, she started to make her way towards them, "What happened?"
Chloe hesitated for a moment, her face pale and drawn. She glanced at Mary who still looked exhausted. "Wolves," Chloe finally said.
"Wolves?" Paula repeated, her voice rising with concern. She reached the horse, Beca was right next to her, "Are you guys alright? Anyone bit?"
"Chloe?" Beca asked.
"We're fine! Stop fussing!" Mary interrupted them, her voice a little weak but as stubborn as always. Paula and Mary made eye contact and in that brief second of eye contact their affection for each other was noticeable. Paula helped her down from the horse.
"You sure?" Paula asked concerned.
"Yeah I'm just a little light-headed, help me inside Paulie, I'm beat," Mary admitted, her voice still low.
Paula's face softened, "Of course darlin let's get you nice and warm." She said with a tender tone as she gently wrapped an arm around her wife and led her back into their home. Paula gave them a quick glance and wordlessly pleaded with them to take care of the horse. Chloe and Beca nodded that they'd take care of it.
Finally, alone, Beca turned to Chloe. She looked her over for any sign of injury. "Are you sure you're alright Chlo? You're not hurt are you?"
Chloe offered her a small but tired smile. "No, I'm fine. Help me get the horse back in the barn."
As they led the horse back to the barn, the only sounds were the crunch of the snow and the soft snorts of the animal. Chloe broke the silence, her voice trembled from the adrenaline as she told her everything that happened. How she didn't have the heart to shoot the deer. Beca's eyes softened and she relaxed. She'd been worried about how that might affect Chloe. The last thing Beca wanted was for Chloe's heart to harden.
Then Chloe told her about Mary collapsing and having a seizure, and how she had to pick up the rifle to fight off the wolves. Beca was in awe, the woman couldn't shoot a deer but she didn't hesitate to shoot a wolf that was threatening her and her friend. Her admiration for Chloe grew with each word. She remembered what she told her last night, You are the baddest bitch I know.
This is exactly what she was talking about. She felt so proud of her, she wanted to kiss her.
Then Chloe told her about Mary's condition and her voice dropped to a whisper.
"Wow, damn, I feel for Mary… and Paula, she has Parkinson's?"
"Yeah, I noticed the slight trembling a while back but it could have been a million different things, so I didn't jump to any conclusions."
"Well, can I just say that you did amazing?" Beca said softly, her voice filled with pride and affection. "Like I'm so proud of you right now.
"Really?" Chloe asked. Beca's words filled her with confidence.
"Yeah, I told you, you're one of the strongest women I've ever met."
Chloe shook her head and playfully said, "No, you said I'm the baddest bitch you know."
Beca laughed. "I did, didn't I?"
Chloe turned to the horse leaning her forehead against his said softly, "Can you… say it again?"
Beca smiled softly and understood that her girl had a long afternoon and needed reassurance. "You're the baddest bitch I know Chlo."
Chloe turned back to Beca and looked at her with those big eyes full of gratitude and relief. "Thank you."
Beca couldn't contain herself anymore and hugged her tightly. Chloe's eyes widened with surprise but then relaxed. Beca tightened her embrace. She had been worried about Chloe learning to shoot and going hunting for a million reasons. One of them was because she couldn't be there to protect her. But she'd been worried for nothing because Chloe could not only protect herself, and others but she could do it without compromising her values, and without hardening her beautiful gentle heart. Beca had been right, her Chloe was changing and growing and she liked it.
After a few more seconds they broke apart, Chloe whispered, "It's been a long day, do you think we can take a nap or something?"
"Of course, want me to draw you a bath?" Beca asked.
"No, thanks. I just need to lie down and cuddle for a bit." Chloe started to walk out of the barn and headed towards the house with Beca following close behind her. A nap sounded like a fantastic idea right now. Just as she was about to close the door behind her she heard someone shouting loud enough to cut through the wind and the snow and reach her ears.
"Beca!"
Beca gasped and her eyes went wide. Chloe froze too and turned to Beca. Beca turned around and saw a figure stumbling down the hill towards the house.
"That was my name?" Beca said in shock. Chloe walked up next to her.
"There's someone out there!" Chloe yelled in surprise.
The exhausted figure collapsed in the snow, still a ways away from the house. Beca and Chloe looked at each other and then quickly ran towards the figure.
To be continued.
Author's note: For the folks reading this on , I'm sorry I didn't post this sooner on this platform, truthfully I get next to no engagement on here so I forgot, if you'd like I'm much more active on my AO3 account: /users/ThisWolfLikes2Write. I respond to all comments on there. Truthfully I've been thinking about closing out this account and just focusing on AO3, but I can see there I still have readers on here so I'll leave it up for awhile longer. Please let me know if you like the chapter, or the story. What did you think about our two new characters showing up?
So on to my regular Author's Note: Hi folks! It's easy to create a faceless big bad, even a bunch of them. But with this chapter I wanted to show their humanity.
One of the most important scenes from this chapter is the deer scene. I wrote two versions, one where she does pull the trigger and the one you just read. But there was a major fatal flaw with the one where she does pull the trigger. It wasn't earned, not yet. For Chloe to get to that point, she must be driven to a place of absolute desperation, and I know that we've already seen them going through a lot but... it's not enough, not yet at least.