Last One Standing

[Sylvengard]

Ryan tried to think, but nothing was lining up. Sunset was a vague image thrown to the back of his mind, but he still knew what it meant.

"My truck," he started, and then said, "'ll be right back."

Stepping out to his truck, he opened the passenger door and pulled out the shotgun, and pulled the small box of ammo from the glovebox. Heading back, he took alook up at the sky, and saw that indeed, darkness was falling. There would be no time to get back, so his right side of mind decided that he should trust her. Afterall, to survive three years alone in this damnation was a feat in and of itself, and proved that she must know something.

And with a grimace, he closed the doors behind him. "Does the bare door stop them?" he asked her.

 

[Lessien]

Liesel watched Ryan go out to his car, come back with the shotgun, her mind reeling. Another human....how'd he survive this long? Why did he come here? Will he stay?

"Does the bare door stop them?" His question snapped her back to the present.

"Oh! Uh, no." She walked past him into the empty McDonalds next to the doors and began pushing out an old produce display rack. "We'll have to barricade it," she grunted.

 

[Sylvengard]

Ryan nodded. "It's a nice thing you got goin' here." he said looking around. "This place has like everything." He had to drive to the store to collect goods, but it seemed like she was in the store to begin with. Whoops, I need more crackers...I'll just go down to aisle seven...

Well, life was not perfect, most of the time. There was always the dark side to everything, like not being able to leave the store after dark. He wondered how she managed to live here without him ever running into her. He frequently drove his truck around the city...had she never heard him and come out wondering what the noise was?

Ryan didn't know if she needed help, but as she pushed the produce display he grabbed hold of the other side to help. He knew she had been there for three years and probably pushed hat same display in front of the door every night, but wasn't it the nice thing to do? Gah, he hated that little voice. He hated the litvoice that seemed to change him, seemed to change him from the brutal person he was into a man with a heart. Like being alone for three years brought the goodness out of him. Was it possible? The little voice said yes.

 

[Lessien]

"Yeah. Guess I got lucky....Oh, thanks," she added as he helped her push the produce display in front of the door. How did I never see him before? "So...where are you from?" She had disappeared into the McDonalds again, reappearing with another produce display which she wedged against the other one so they formed a sort of giant T against the door.

 

[jelly_bean]

New York. How long it had taken to reach this place... Three years. Three years and I'm nearly finished! Owen marveled amidst the empty streets. He was in the city, which one, he wasn't sure, but he no longer saw any trees anywhere. All I have left is to get through New York and then finally... I'll have reached Maine! He nearly let out a whoop of joy, but he knew better. It was still daytime, but night would soon be upon him.

"Three years," he murmured, just to hear the sound of his voice. "I've survived alone for three years." Of course, with almost completing his journey, he had to start thinking about the future again. Owen had never been to Maine, so he wasn't sure if that was a place he wanted to stay for the rest of his life. Besides, what to do about his bad case of wanderlust? He sat on the sidewalk, deposited his bedroll and pulled out his map.

A thought suddenly occured to Owen. I've been thinking too small. It was true, did he think all there was to the world was the United States? The world! I'll travel... the world! South America! Europe! Africa! Asia! He thought excitedly, getting out an old pencil and scrawling lines to and fro, plotting his course.

How will I get across the ocean? He suddenly wondered. He scratched his head for a bit before he came up with a solution. I'll craft a boat! The Europeans figured something out... so can I. Maybe I can even find an old boat to pilot. I can learn how, it'll be a snap. Or he could even go by air! He had seen abandoned helicopters and airplanes... even if he did incur a tragic accident, he didn't feel that was a big worry. I'll have died trying to explore the world!

The thought of dying such an exciting death was actually rather pleasing to him, for some strange reason. He supposed it was just a guy thing. Putting away his map and picking up his bedroll, he started back off down the street, heading northeast.

 

[Locket]

((Disclaimer: There are many museums bordering Central Park, but none have the exact mix of things I want, so I'm making one up))

Summertime. She hated summertime in New York. Wylie wiped the back of her hand against her forehead. Today was Tuesday, garden day. Cutting across Park Drive, Wylie stepped into her back yard-- Central Park. To the right was her swimming pool, the Park's vast lake, and to the left was her garden within water bucket distance. Wylie knelt and examined her potatoes and then moved onto the carrots. They would be large enough to pick soon. The though of fresh vegetables made her mouth water.

In the hollow of a nearby large oak was her watering bucket. Wylie pulled it out and placed the bucket, actually a large yoke with buckets on either end, on her shoulders. A corn snake slithered by her feet, probably in search of a mouse for lunch. When she reached the lake, Wylie looked around carefully for water moccasins or alligators before pushing back her thin cotton sleeves and dipping the buckets in.

((El or Jelly, proceed))

 

[Ellesar]

There was one thing about summer that Sierra loved...the longer daylight hours. After the long winter cooped up for most of the day, she felt refreshed being able to spend as much time outdoors as she wanted...as long as she was back indoors by sunset. Since her jeep was empty, and she didn't feel like going to a gas station, she took one of the bikes from a nearby bike store and used that as her mode of transportation. Standing outside the store under the morning sun, she shielded her eyes and then looked around. Hmm...Central Park sounds good this morning... I should have plenty of time to get there, spend a few hours there, and then get back before dark. she thought as she buckled on her helmet and proceeded to ride down the road as fast as she could.

After a while, she finally made it to Central Park and took pleasure in riding down the paths, loving the feel of the wind in her face. Nearing the lake, she pedaled harder, thus going even faster. Seeing a woman kneeling down next to the lake, dipping buckets, she realized that 1) this was the first human she had seen in a long while, and 2) she was on a collision course with her. "Watch out!" Sierra yelled as she swerved the bike to avoid hitting her. Unfortunately, the quick swerving around the strange woman only succeeded in making her lose control and she fell/flew off the bike and onto a nearby patch of grass. Oww... Sierra thought as she just lay there staring up at the sky for a few minutes before slowly pushing herself up into a sitting position.

 

[Sylvengard]

((Oh dang I haven't been on in a couple days Sorry bout that.))

((El or Jelly, proceed))

((Uh, stupid question may be coming... What exactly do you mean? Should me and Less keep going or just Ellesar and Jelly? ))

 

[Ellesar]

((I think she meant that if either me or jelly wanted to bump into her character, we could do so. I would think that both you and Less could continue.

sorry for the ooc, Lock))

 

[Locket]

((El nailed it))

There was one thing about summer that Sierra loved...the longer daylight hours. After the long winter cooped up for most of the day, she felt refreshed being able to spend as much time outdoors as she wanted...as long as she was back indoors by sunset. Since her jeep was empty, and she didn't feel like going to a gas station, she took one of the bikes from a nearby bike store and used that as her mode of transportation. Standing outside the store under the morning sun, she shielded her eyes and then looked around. Hmm...Central Park sounds good this morning... I should have plenty of time to get there, spend a few hours there, and then get back before dark. she thought as she buckled on her helmet and proceeded to ride down the road as fast as she could.

After a while, she finally made it to Central Park and took pleasure in riding down the paths, loving the feel of the wind in her face. Nearing the lake, she pedaled harder, thus going even faster. Seeing a woman kneeling down next to the lake, dipping buckets, she realized that 1) this was the first human she had seen in a long while, and 2) she was on a collision course with her. "Watch out!" Sierra yelled as she swerved the bike to avoid hitting her. Unfortunately, the quick swerving around the strange woman only succeeded in making her lose control and she fell/flew off the bike and onto a nearby patch of grass. Oww... Sierra thought as she just lay there staring up at the sky for a few minutes before slowly pushing herself up into a sitting position.

Wylie stood and grunted as the heavy yoke pushed against her shoulders. What I wouldn't give for a garden hose. Thankfully, the first row wasn't too far away, but Wylie only took a few steps before she stopped. Something was rustling off to her left in the grass. It might only be a snake or a fleeing mouse, and yet...

"Watch out!"

Water splashed everywhere as Wylie leaped aside, hitting her shoulder hard as she rolled across the muddy ground. In one fluid motion she raised up on one knee, brought her crossbow to her eye and took aim. But instead of a mountain lion, night beast, or ravenous wolf, she saw a girl. A girl. Brown eyes blinked slowly once in an effort to clear away the hallucination, but there she stayed sprawled across the potatoes. Afraid this was some form of mutant suddenly resistant to the sun, Wylie took a hesitant step forward, crossbow still aimed at the intruder's heart.

The girl- or rather, woman- was wise enough to stay still as Wylie looked her over. She looked somewhere in her twenties with brown hair partially falling out of a ponytail from her fall, and dirt smeared across her arms and hands. Wylie's eyes narrowed, looking for any sign of mutation or change. Nothing. She licked her lips once, twice, and finally said hoarsely, "Who are you?"

 

[Ellesar]

Once Sierra had managed to get up into a sitting position, she looked around...and immediately froze when she saw the stranger aiming a crossbow at her. Sierra remained silent for a while, and then very slowly stood up, making sure her hands were in plain sight. Stepping to the side and out of what seemed to be a garden of some sort, she finally stopped and just observed the stranger. She didn't appear to be a mutant... Sierra thought as she took in the wide-brimmed hat to block the sun, the thin cotton shirt and skirt, and the utility belt and boots.

Finally the stranger's question got through her muddled mind, and Sierra met her gaze calmly. "Sierra. Sierra Zeiler. And you are?" While waiting for the other girl to answer, Sierra brushed off her hands and arms, and then attempted to brush off her cut-offs while keeping her eyes on that crossbow.

 

[Sylvengard]

"Yeah. Guess I got lucky....Oh, thanks," she added as he helped her push the produce display in front of the door. How did I never see him before? "So...where are you from?" She had disappeared into the McDonalds again, reappearing with another produce display which she wedged against the other one so they formed a sort of giant T against the door.

Ryan observed the baracade with interrest. "Nice idea," he said. "Oh, me? I'm from the ghetto." Laughing, he continued. "Down this street seven miles or so and then down a couple more to the side. I don't know how to explain it." Since he was usually alone and had all the time he wanted, he never took an interest in learning the street names.

Motioning for the rest of the store with his shotgun, "Well, it's your house, so you can lead." He grinned at her as came away from the produce stands.

 

[Locket]

Once Sierra had managed to get up into a sitting position, she looked around...and immediately froze when she saw the stranger aiming a crossbow at her. Sierra remained silent for a while, and then very slowly stood up, making sure her hands were in plain sight. Stepping to the side and out of what seemed to be a garden of some sort, she finally stopped and just observed the stranger. She didn't appear to be a mutant... Sierra thought as she took in the wide-brimmed hat to block the sun, the thin cotton shirt and skirt, and the utility belt and boots.

Finally the stranger's question got through her muddled mind, and Sierra met her gaze calmly. "Sierra. Sierra Zeiler. And you are?" While waiting for the other girl to answer, Sierra brushed off her hands and arms, and then attempted to brush off her cut-offs while keeping her eyes on that crossbow.

((Downright shock is appropriate here. Remember, after three years every character is perfectly capable of assuming that out of 6 billion+ people, they are the last of the Mohicans.))

Words. Real, human words. Wylie's mouth twitched but the crossbow never faltered. After three years, she couldn't believe her eyes. This must be a dream. She had had this dream before, standing in the living room of her apartment, turning around at a soft whisper to see the quiet man down the hall knocking on her door. She had stared much as she was doing now and followed him into the hallway to see life as it was. Nothing had changed, everything was the way it should be. Yes, this had to be a dream. Or a trick by whoever had started this in the first place.

Wylie narrowed her eyes and jerked her crossbow upwards, motioning for the illusion to stand. Then she gestured her away from the bicycle into an open patch of now-muddy ground. Slowly, she walked around this new being, looking for some flaw, some sign of the trick or dream that must be unfolding. Small strands of hair tickled her cheek as the wind whistled through the tall grass.

((Does Sierra have a wristwatch or alarm or anything on her?))

 

[Ellesar]

((no watch or alarm on her. she didn't see the point after the Day. as for other stuff on her, she has a knife in her pocket for protection and she's wearing one of those colorful friendship bracelets that one of her sisters had given her years before))

Sierra slowly followed the stranger with her eyes, not willing to move since she still had a crossbow aimed at her. Her mind was still muddled from the shock of the fall and from the shock of actually seeing another person. She was under the impression that she was the last one alive! Blinking rapidly, she tried to figure out of she was awake, and even went as far as pinching herself. Wincing slightly at the small pain, she figured that she had to be awake...but this just didn't make sense! Slowly reaching up, she unhooked the helmet straps from under her chin and lifted the protective device off of her head. Letting it dangle at her side for a few moments, she tossed it over to where her bike was, immediately getting annoyed with her hair keeping on blowing into her face since about half of it fallen loose of its tie.

 

[mochagirl]

((Her background scenes are in journal format; I hope that’s okay. Normal scenes won’t be, obviously. ))
From the Personal Journal of Chasity Anne Schultz
Mom’s Birthday – 2 days to go…
Yikes, it seems like it came out of nowhere. But David and I are pulling together a quick party for her. Kind of late notice, but maybe Aunt Jess and all of them will be able to make it…
The weather’s been really nice, so we’ll probably hold it outside. The backyard’s nice and enclosed. We’re going to get everything set up tomorrow—tables, chairs, etc.
David wants to get a new watch at Walmart while we’re there looking for a cake. His apparently broke or he lost it or something. (His watch, not his cake…of course he doesn’t have a cake…) I told him who needs a watch? (‘Course that mentality could be why I’m always late for work.)

From the Personal Journal of Chasity Anne Schultz
It’s The End Of The World As We Knew It – Day 2
It’s hard to comprehend what’s happened. In fact I can’t rightly say I do comprehend it, or that I ever will. Everyone’s gone, everyone but David and me. I don’t know how, or why, or why we’ve been left behind. Have we been set apart for something? Or were we just not good enough to go with everyone else?
I’m thinking it was the latter, especially after last night.
We must be getting punished for something. David says it doesn’t matter why it happened, we just need to do something about it.
Do what? All I can do is sit here, huddled in terror, my stomach growling, and write this down on a notebook I stole from the local store. He knows I’m not the responsible sort. I don’t know anything about anything, except books.
I certainly don’t know anything about Them. The Creatures—I don’t think there’s a better word out there to describe Them. That could describe Them. They’re quite indescribable, really. I only caught a glimpse of Them, but it was one glimpse more than enough. If I had to describe Them, I’d say…ugly.
Ugly works quite well, actually. The Ugly Creatures.
Ugh. Gross works too. They looked like something you’d see in some SciFi Channel movie…Dad loves the SciFi Channel…
David’s working on getting this place all locked up tight so They won’t get in. For some reason we haven’t seen Them again today.

From the Personal Journal of Chasity A.Schultz
It’s The End Of The World As We Knew It – Day 30
We moved from the Van Hausen’s basement to some old warehouse over by the waterfront. David checked out the area and found it Creature-free. The new place has lots of barred windows, and best of all, one of the backrooms has a deadlock! That’ll make me sleep easier tonight—I hope…I can dream of bunnies instead of—well. You know.
Our shooting lessons are going well, though I’m not anywhere near as good as he is. But I’m getting to be a stronger swimmer. We’re still not sure whether the Creatures like water or not—it gives me the heeby-jeebies thinking about Them lurking below the surface, but I haven’t been attacked by Them yet. ‘Course I only swim in the heat of the day.
We ate canned asparagus today. GROSS! I am so finding a gardening book at the library and reading up on that, so I can plant some real vegetables that aren’t disgustingly preserved.
I’ll probably have a purple thumb.

From the Personal Journal of Chassy Schultz
It’s The End Of The World As We Knew It – Day 57
I caught myself last night pondering again. (David says my pondering will be the death of me. I’ll be too distracted by my own thoughts, I’ll be taken unawares. When I realized what he was saying, I yelled at him. How dare he joke about such a thing?! If he weren’t the only person I know—well, if he weren’t my brother—he’d be in danger of that crime of passion. It’s the crime of passion, right? Murder? Maybe it’s a crime of intent or something…) Well anyway. Back to my pondering.
What if David and I aren’t the only ones left? What if there are more people, somewhere out there, beyond our reach? Do they eat canned foods, too, or have they restarted electricity? If they have, I want to find them. No power was good for the pioneers and all, but it totally sucks for me.
I hate the dark.
Thomas Edison invented the light bulb way back in the nineteenth century. How stinking hard is it to have a working light bulb now??? David’s tried explaining it to me, but I don’t get it.
I used to think squirrels were cute, but now I think they’re minions from Below. They stole the chocolate I found at the convenience store.

From the Personal Journal of Chassy Schultz
It’s The End Of The World As We Knew It – Day 142
I almost broke my glasses today. Thank goodness for that almost. I was at the library looking at the books on fencing (David’s latest craze), and my glasses slid off my nose and fell onto the floor. Luckily, the fall didn’t harm them. I’d be in trouble if I broke them. I don’t think there are any good optometrists around.
I discovered a new hobby. Giving new names to—
Ooh, paper cut. Blah.
David doesn’t think I can take care of a simple paper cut. Harrumph. I know what blood does to the Creatures just as much as he knows. Got to run, Journ, and clean off my finger.

From the Personal Journal of Chassy
It’s The End Of The World As We Knew It – Day 146?
The worst has happened. Other than the other worst thing that happened.
He’s gone. They took him.
They almost got me, too, but I managed to lock Them out.
I wish I hadn’t.
Better to be dead with David and everyone else than to be all alone.

It’s all my fault.

From the Personal Journal of Chassy
It’s The End Of The World As We Knew It – a day I wish hadn’t come
It’s so cold…I don’t know how cold. I don’t know where any thermometers are. But I bet it feels colder than it is. Why, you ask, Journal? I’ll tell you:
Cold is a feeling that extends beyond the physical realm.
For example: my heart—the metaphysical one, not the muscle—is frozen.
But as Janey (Jane Eyre) told me, just ‘cause you hurt, doesn’t mean you can stop living. And David wouldn’t want me to give up. Not after all his hard work in getting us ready.
But not ready enough.
I have to go eat now. Mushrooms and green beans and chicken. All canned, of course.
I hate canned food.

From the Personal Journal of Me
It’s The End Of The World As We Knew It – Time no longer matters. Just day and night, night and day….
Got chased by a wild dog today. Luckily there was only one. You’d think there’d be more. Don’t dogs live in packs? Or maybe that’s wolves. But aren’t wolves dogs?
I’ll have to look it up at the library.

From the Personal Journal of Me
It’s The End Of The World As We Knew It – Einstein had it right. Time is relative. And to me, it no longer exists.
Oh my goodness!!! Freak out here!!!
I killed one of Them!!!
I was late coming home from the library—I got lost in a conversation with Rosie about the pros and cons of her cousins—but thank goodness I remembered to take Dav—take the gun.
I was almost home, when I heard that horrible sound They make. I rushed to the door and heard It behind me…it all happened so fast, but I grabbed the gun and spun around and shot like a crazy person. But I guess all that target practice paid off, ‘cause I nailed the sucker right through the heart and it toppled over with a horrible scream that haunted my sleep last night.
I guess I might not have actually killed It—I don’t really know for sure. I didn’t check to make sure. But Its body wasn’t there this morning. Either It’s still alive, or the Others took off with It. Who knows, maybe They eat Each Other.
Either way, I think it’s time to move again. They’ll be back for sure, and probably in bigger numbers.

 

[Locket]

((no watch or alarm on her. she didn't see the point after the Day. as for other stuff on her, she has a knife in her pocket for protection and she's wearing one of those colorful friendship bracelets that one of her sisters had given her years before))

Sierra slowly followed the stranger with her eyes, not willing to move since she still had a crossbow aimed at her. Her mind was still muddled from the shock of the fall and from the shock of actually seeing another person. She was under the impression that she was the last one alive! Blinking rapidly, she tried to figure out of she was awake, and even went as far as pinching herself. Wincing slightly at the small pain, she figured that she had to be awake...but this just didn't make sense! Slowly reaching up, she unhooked the helmet straps from under her chin and lifted the protective device off of her head. Letting it dangle at her side for a few moments, she tossed it over to where her bike was, immediately getting annoyed with her hair keeping on blowing into her face since about half of it fallen loose of its tie.

((Just wondering. For example, in the movie he uses a watch to warn him when he has about an hour left before sundown))

Wylie eyed her cautiously, almost impassively, like a farmer staring down the fox about to sneak towards his henhouse. Then, as those familiar eyes blinked back at her, she could see herself in them. Strange, frightening, a wary mess carrying a deadly weapon. Dear, what a mess you are. Her mouth twitched as her mother's gentle scolding echoed in her mind. One hand still holding the crossbow steady, Wylie used the other to carefully remove her broad-brimmed hat. Her arm aching from the weight of the weapon, she began to smile tentatively at the stranger.

Everything happened at once. Nearly ready to lower her guard, Wylie suddenly took aim and fired. Not at Sierra, but at the emaciated cougar springing from the grass a few dozen yards away just behind Sierra's shoulder. Its feral scream turned into a screech as the bolt pierced its chest just below the shoulder blade and the cat collapsed next to the stranger.

 

[Ellesar]

Sierra stared down at the cougar, her hunting knife in her hand, and she was crouched slightly. Straightening up, she looked at the girl with the crossbow and said grimly, "I suppose thanks are in order." Reaching behind her, she slipped the hunting knife back into the sheath she had in her pocket. I really should start carrying something other than just a knife... she thought, her gaze on the stranger's crossbow. Ignoring the protests of her aching limbs and muscles, Sierra quickly fixed her ponytail and then returned her wary gaze at the stranger, waiting for her to speak, to do something.

 

[mochagirl]

Chassy piled all her most beloved possessions into her backpack. It was one of the few things she still had of her old life--but that was neither here nor there.

Notebook, check. Pens, check. Books, check--heh, that reminds me of the library. Food, check, though I really wish I didn't have to take it. Can I stand another meal of refried beans? Maybe I should stop by the food mart on my way...Too bad I don't live in the jungle. Fresh bananas sound good. But then, I don't think there are too many secure buildings in the rain forest--how would I keep safe from jungle animals? Not to mention the Creatures. Do They live in the jungle too, I wonder? I guess I am better off in New York than in South America...even if it means eating old preserved food.

"Speaking of old," she mused aloud, "I wonder just how old the food is?" She'd long stopped keeping track of the days. What was the point? Better to focus on other things instead. Like enjoying the sun when it was out, and keeping herself locked up tight when it wasn't.

She finished her packing, and looked around the little hidey-hole she'd been living in for a while. It wasn't the tidiest, but who was there to care? With a final shrug, she hoisted the backpack on her shoulder and slipped outside.

The sunlight made her wince, and she quickly repositioned her floppy hat to block the rays, but beyond that she basked in the warmth it brought. Summer at last. "Good thing, too, 'cause anymore cool weather and I think I'd have gone crazy."

She walked at a brisk pace, keeping a look out for movement. She didn't want a repeat of the dog chase. The houses she passed all had the same distinct dilapidated air, as though at any moment the strongest breeze might tip them all over like a row of dominoes. The continual darkness in them both saddened her and made her wary--she knew what might be living in the shadows. Even now, They could be watching her, anticipating the moment the sun disappeared--

"Stop it!" She reared her shoulders back. "You're safe right now, Chassy, so don't you think about getting all panic-struck." The command didn't eradicate her fear, by any means, but it did spur her on. It was essential her search for new living quarters was completed before dusk. Judging from the position of the sun in the sky, that gave her about four or five hours--not long when she had to walk everywhere. But walking was good. She'd tried driving a few times in the cars left behind, but they were much too noisy after the long silences she was used to, and they smelled funny after going without inhaling car fumes for so long.... It was better to just walk, she decided.

 

[Locket]

Sierra stared down at the cougar, her hunting knife in her hand, and she was crouched slightly. Straightening up, she looked at the girl with the crossbow and said grimly, "I suppose thanks are in order." Reaching behind her, she slipped the hunting knife back into the sheath she had in her pocket. I really should start carrying something other than just a knife... she thought, her gaze on the stranger's crossbow. Ignoring the protests of her aching limbs and muscles, Sierra quickly fixed her ponytail and then returned her wary gaze at the stranger, waiting for her to speak, to do something.

((Uh, it's summer, mocha Sorry for not mentioning that. And you, El, and I need to convene in the OOC to decide exactly how we're going to meet up))

((Awwww, I was hoping to scare her))


Finally deciding she could relax for a moment, Wylie lowered her crossbow and slung it back over her shoulder. The yoke sunk into the mud she ignored and instead took the backpack from her back, opened it, and pulled out a bottle of clear liquid. The smell of bleach wafted over the breeze as she emptied the bottle over the body of the cougar. Kneeling next to it, Wylie reached out and yanked the crossbow bolt from its flesh, grimacing as blood seeped out and mingled with the bleach. What do I say? Never entirely extroverted, she was struggling after three years of no interaction. This is impossible. She had resigned herself to living alone, dying alone, always hoping for someone around the corner but never believing it.

When she finally looked up, her eyes were watery. "I'm Wylie." She whispered. "Wylie Parker. Nice to..." She gulped convulsively and looked down. "... meet you."

 

[Ellesar]

((how do you know you didn't? she just doesn't show her fear sometimes ))

Sierra still stared down at the cougar, shuddering slightly as she realized just how close to death she had come. Hearing the stranger speak, she lifted her gaze to meet Wylie's and just barely smiled. She still didn't know what to think about NOT being the last person alive. "How..." her voice broke and she cleared her throat before continuing. "How long?" Her mind still wouldn't work properly and she inwardly winced at the broken sentence.