The Third Breed

Where?

Max was way more energetic and giddy when they began their trek. He would go back and fort, circling around them and climbing trees to look ahead. He even went as far as scaring wild animals away from them.

“Max is really lively today huh,” Ariel was quite entertained while watching their comrade.

Lance couldn’t help but smile remembering their conversation this morning. “Yeah, I think he’s just really excited to get to camp.”

“Well I am too, just thinking of that soft cozy bed, the warm showers, real cooked food and the high walls that’s going to keep zombies away.”

“I wonder if they already set up the television there,” Lance scratched his chin, remembering the previous plans that was set out for the camp.

“Ow, ow, we should watch a movie with Max, I bet he’d like that.” Ariel excitedly says as he started jumping and punching his hands in the air.

“Not before we stuff ourselves in the mess hall, I did promised him that after all.” He chuckles and was now imagining Max’s face while they’re eating.

“Yeah, he’d probably love that,” Ariel laughs.

Max suddenly leaps in front of them. “Where to?” he says with a straight face.

“We just need to follow this trail and we should get there in an hour or two,” he points to the summits grassy pathway.

He remembered passing that scenic route when he first came there, the land was still lush with grass and wild flowers. The trees were more vibrant than before and some had even started to bear some fruits.

Max looks at the meadows flat area. “Okay,” then like a wild squirrel, starts prancing ahead of them.

“How do you think they’ll react to Max?” Ariel says as they begin to slowly jog to keep up with their companion.

“Surprised I guess, the council might even decide to send us farther away to look for more survivors.”

Lance was really looking forward to show Max to everyone, proving that there are still survivors within the dead lands. Their discovery might even be the answer to the current problem the colony is facing and pave the way for more reconnaissance missions.

“I think I’ll pass on that one,” Ariel waves his hand on the thought.

“What do you have in mind then?” Lance was a bit sad to hear that, but didn’t hate the idea seeing as how his friend was having a hard time coping with things.

“Maybe I’ll join the farming unit or better yet, I could try my luck on the factories.” Ariel was in high spirits about the possibilities of a different line of work.

“I should probably register Max as my ward for the meantime, since we don’t know where they’ll put him.” He suddenly remembers the rigorous process they’ll be doing once they get back.

He wanted to make sure that their companion will manage to cope with society, specially since he lived at the outside world his whole life.

“I think the Haribon Scouts and the Crimson Purgers will be quite interested in him when they see what he’s capable of, he might even get an invitation from the Iron knights.” Ariel cheerfully says.

“I think it would be better if we let him decide on what he wants to do when we get back.” Lance didn’t want to push anything unto Max, he wants him to decide the thing on his own. Though they would definitely be there to give him advice basing on what he would want to do.

“You have a point, I mean he would probably hate to go back here once he gets a taste of the civilized life.” Ariel adds.

“True.” If he didn’t promise his parents that he would continue their work, he would also be thinking the same thing.

“We better hurry then, so that Max can finally get a taste of the good life,” Ariel says while looking at their companion.

“Race you then.” He speeds up and they both run to him.

They were both panting when they reached the end of the top, all of them had grin on their faces. They stop for a while to marvel at the sight of the structure a few kilometers away.

“There it is, the main watch tower.” he gestures both hands to the tall framework that was protruding from the trees. Though it was still a bit far a way, the whole thing was visible from where they were.

“That’ s a really tall watch tower,” Ariel say as the two were drinking water while sitting at a nearby shade of a tree.

“It was build in the middle of the camp, so that the scouts can see the whole area,” he says a matter of fact.

“If we continue running we should be able to get there by half an hour or so, right?” Ariel was telling it to their companion who was still in awe.

“If we can keep up with Max that is,” he jokes and then taps their friends shoulder.

Max nods when he turns to him, eyes full of hope, the man lets out a deep breath when he looks back at the said tower. They were finally safe from the dangers of the forest once they enter the camp.

“I hope you’re stomachs ready Max, because we are going to have a feast!” He was really eager to show Max around.

And after a few minutes of rest they begin their final trek to the next summit.

“What are those?” Ariel pointed to a few dark areas of grass and charred trees.

“Wildfire,” Max says while pushing aside some ashes on the ground.

They walk a few more meters and they all stop at the sight in front of them.

“That’s odd.” Lance frowns when they see the black colored supply crates neatly aligned on the road that was between the two summit.

They had to look for an opening to get pass it, since it was blocking the path to the next area. Max seemed uninterested after jumping on top, then walking on it while they surveyed the things.

“Why did they leave these here,” Ariel says as he inspects some of the crates.

“They’re probably reusing it as a temporary wall for the camps expansion.” It was the only thing that Lance could think of as of the moment.

It was a cost effective way since the crates are quite durable, specially the ones that were placed on the road, besides that, he noticed how the it was set up like a barricade.

“That figures,” Ariel couldn’t help but hold his chin while nodding at the idea.

“These seem to be untouched,” Lance surveyed one of the crates and was surprise to see supplies in it.

“Why don’t we just ask later, I’m really craving for some fried chicken right now,” Ariel says as he pats his stomach like a little kid.

“What’s that?” Max asks now curios of what type of food it was.

Ariel just nudges him closer putting his arms around the mans shoulder.“Oh, you’ll love it, specially with a nice serving of gravy and rice.” He even made a tongue licking action while imagining it.

Lance knew that wondering was just a waste of time, since they were already there. He would just ask what was happening once they get to the camp.

After half an hour they finally reach their destination. They were greeted by a six feet tall wall, that also had some wired fence with a warning sign for electric shock. There were wooden towers on each side of the entrance, the gate was made of a thin sheet of metal sheets and tube, that was lock with a chain.

“Hello?” Lance calls out.

They could hear birds chirping and the rustling of the wind but there seems to be no sounds coming from the inside.

“I’m going to look around,” Max says before dashing to the side of the wall to check the area.

He and Ariel knock on the gates but still there was no answer. They try to peak inside from the crevices of the entrance but the place seems empty.

“Hey, I think the locks the basic coded ones, it’s probably the same code that we use for the supplies.” Ariel shakes the chain locking the gates.

It was one of those old models that only needed to turn the numbers to align the code to unlock it.

“Let’s wait for Max first,” He states feeling uncomfortable of what was happening.

“Did you find anything weird around?” Ariel shouts to Max when they see him running from the other side.

“Nope.” The man looked calm after getting back.

“Where is everyone?” Ariel crossed his arms thinking of what could have happened.

“Are they hiding?” Max turns to him looking a bit worried and disappointed.

He just smiles at him. “Maybe, let’s go in for now,” they try the code used for the crates and it unlocked the chains, clanking as they pulled it off the middle of the gate.

The whole place was much more better than Lance remembered, the building were cemented and some of it are up to three story's high, there was now a road on the middle of the camp leading all the way to the watch tower, which now had some attachments to it and a spiral ladder to reach the top.

“This is nice,” Ariel hands was on his hips while checking the surroundings.

“Well, welcome to the Southern Pearls camp,” Lance forces a cheerful greeting while he closed the gate behind them.

The place was deserted yet it didn’t seem to bother his two companions. They kept on walking around the place looking inside each of the buildings. It seems the people who were there left in a hurry, since they noticed some stuff lying around, and even food that were just left unfinished. All the animals were even let out of their pens, freely moving around the place.

“Hello! Moonlight scout Ariel Lee reporting,” Ariel called out when they reach the main hall.

It was a beautiful two story building that was meticulously designed for the commander of the place.

There were several papers still scattered around what seemed to be the reception area. They turned the lights on to see that there was still power. After surveying the whole place they went out to look around again.

“What’s that?” Max pointed at a large three story building that had large green colored glass windows and had several plants on the top.

“Ow, that’s the greenhouse, its a specialized building for growing herbs, vegetables and fruits.” Lance answer as they continue their tour.

“How about that one?” Max was now looking at three large gated structures that had air ducts on top.

“That’s the warehouse, its where we put our supplies and other stuff for the camp.”

“And what is that?” he points to the huge cone shaped structure, build mostly of shining dark glass, it had a drill like design that made it move when the wind blew.

“That’s a power plant, it uses sunlight and the wind to make electricity,” Lance informs him.

“What’s electricity?”

“It’s whats keeping this place running,” he answers though he knew the man did not fully understand it since he just receive a nod.

“There’s nobody here, except animals,” Ariel screams after going around the whole place.

All they saw were chickens and ducks roaming around, cows grazing and some pigs sleeping on the sidewalks.

“Did your people leave already?” Max voice was low and deep.

He could not help but feel bad, knowing how disappointed their companion must be right now, after all their stories of people and food, just to find an abandoned camp.

They decided to stop at the main hall, he was really sad and did not know what to say to Max right now.

Good thing Ariel came out from the kitchen holding a large frozen chicken. “Lance, look what I found,”

“Why don’t we eat first before investigating, I’m sure Ariel and I can whip something up,” he tries to sound happy.

“Okay.”

That seemed to have cheered Max or it may also be because Ariel was doing his funny victory dance again while raising the poultry above his head.