I must disclose that this story contains themes / content some readers may find disturbing, or be uncomfortable with, including, but not limited to:

Body Horror / Mutation / Mutilation / Deformity.
Brutality.
Cannibalism.
Death. (indiscriminate, young and old will die.)
Description of injury / sickness.
Drug usage.
Intense emotional / psychological distress.
Intense scenes.
Production of drugs.
Torture.
Use of firearms.
Violence / Dismemberment / Blood.

If any of this content is a problem for you, reading is not advised.

Applicable Genres:
Drama, Survival, Slice of Life; Horror, Thriller; Psychological Horror, Survival Horror.

Writing started: 24/1/25
Writing ended:

Word count:

Glossary:

Ballista:
Ancient missile launcher designed to hurl javelins or heavy balls.
Typically resembles a giant crossbow.

Lowl Kara'sar (Plains Cut Short):
A large cow-like animal with an exoskeleton, feeds primarily on grains and grass.

Moored:
Mooring refers to lassoing, tethering, tying, or otherwise securing your boat to a fixed object.

Chum:
A type of bait used to attract fish; made from small pieces of fish or other meat.

The whole family is gathered in the dining room, with the exception of Vanessa; the tables all sat together, forming one large table.

A few seconds later, Vanessa enters the room; carefully closing the door behind her.
Her face more lively than before yet still noticeably exhausted.

Making her way to the table, she takes the nearest available seat and sits down.

Amelia, left hand still missing; with a sheet of paper in front of her and her notebook; along side a pencil, says:
"Okay, now that everyone is here, there are a few things I need to talk about.
Firstly; our current list of priorities, they are:

1. Establish livestock population for long term food source.
2. Find consistent source of materials outside of scavenge missions; examples:
Metals, chemicals for propellant in ammunition, wood, bricks, etc.
3. Set up better walls and more defences/traps and other stuff.
4. Find source of pain management for patients.
5. Set up communication networking system.
6. Find source of more wound attending bandages, or means to produce said bandages so they don’t run out long term.

Does anyone have any problems or things to add to this list?"

The family thinks for a moment.

Vanessa:
"Yeah, the parasite cure will be sent out soon, Dr Colermann should have given Dr Raay the exact formula by now; so I may have to go in and check in on the process."

Amelia:
"That's not really a problem, more something you may need to do, but I'll add that just in case."

Amelia notes it down.

Amelia:
"Anything else? Anyone?"

Rachel:
"Yeah, we've had those trackers in the larger monsters for a while now; going to gather the data and see what we can make of it; hopefully it leads us to where their coming from.

Those vehicles left behind after the attack are still being repaired, so that's something that were waiting on... and..."

Amelia:
"The combat training lessons?"

Rachel:
"Oh yeah, those."

Amelia:
"Speaking of which, have you considered doing combat training lessons at the new shooting range?"

Rachel:
"Actually yeah I have, but the issue would be having enough ammo long term; hence why its currently booking based at the moment."

Amelia:
"Alright, good point; but is that something you would like to do?"

Rachel:
Certainly.

Amelia:
"Noted."

Amelia writes it all down and asks: "Anyone else?"

Amber:
"Yeah, farming mushrooms over and over by hand with just the 3 of us; and a few volunteers every now and then; is extremely impractical; we need some form of automation."

Jade:
"I agree with Amber, would be really helpful if we had some form of specialist tools to cut and bag all the mushrooms quickly; and spread their spores faster."

Amelia:
"Okay; and how long does a shelf of mushrooms take to prepare? from start to finish?"

Jade:
"Spreading the spores after a harvest; a minute or 2; growing them, 2-4 days."

Amber:
"Harvesting them all and bagging them all by hand; 10-20 minutes per tray; depending on how many there are.

And with how many trays we have to manually empty out; bag up and replant; it means we can't expand the food production as we don't have time.

Which is something we will need to deal with soon."

Fiona:
"Sorry to interrupt but shes right; we can't rely on fishing forever."

Amelia:
"So; farming needs a massive efficiency boost to keep up."

Jade:
"Pretty much."

Amber:
"That's one way to put it, but sure."

Amelia notes it all down.

Amelia:
"Well... I've seen what the farming sheds for mushrooms look like already, so I'll try and design something to help; but does anyone else have complaints or issues?"

Everyone disagrees.

Amelia:
"Okay, now that's all covered and listed; I have a few concerns and ideas myself I want to bring up and ask you about."

Dad:
"Those being?"

Amelia:
"Their exactly what I'm going to tell you now; anyway.
They are:

1. I feel like we need to prepare for the inevitable coming winter; primarily we need to stock up on firewood supplies for the town just in case we get the worst case scenario.

2. I feel like you two; Helga and Michella are not in the best positions job wise and want to make things better for you two if possible."

Helga:
"I appreciate your concern; but why do you feel a need to ask?"

Michella:
"Same feeling; but why point us out?"

Amelia:
"I just want to know; are you two okay? Are you happy with what your doing?"

Helga:
"I truly appreciate the concern; but that is not an ideal topic for discussion right now; i'm sure you have bigger priorities to focus on."

Michella:
"Yeah, its not the best thing to focus on right now; we can talk about that later."

Amelia:
"Got it, moving on.

3. There has been a noticeable drop in monster attacks and sightings since the wall was finished with the exception of the death squad attack; which makes me suspicious that something is wrong; as they don't seem to be the kind of creatures that would be intimidated by a mere wall."

Rachel:
"That is a good point; all the more reason to keep building our defences up."

Amelia:
"Speaking of which.

4. I'm worried about that giant eel; the one that was attacking Hemar recently; estimated to be around 800-1200 feet long or greater at the time.

And more accurately how we could even fight back if something like that found us."

Dad:
"Those are valid concerns; but... I don't really know... Any ideas Rachel?"

Rachel:
"Yeah, we just need better countermeasures; maybe- oh maybe we can build like... some giant ballistas and set them up on towers or something; aim for its eyes."

Amelia:
"That's a great idea; but its HUGE; most you would likely do is blind it and likely piss it off; plus we have no idea what its capable of; so.... I'll just have to figure that one out later.

But anyway.

5. Concerning our roles as leaders I think it would be better for everyone if I acted as the towns figurehead.

I take the public pressure where I can; keeping most of it off all of you; and if we find other groups or towns of survivors I can make deals with them if necessary."

Dad:
"I appreciate you wanting to take the pressure off us; but I don't think putting that much pressure on yourself directly is a good idea."

Vanessa:
"Yeah, remember what we said? How you need to slow down?"

Amelia:
"That's true... But still it would be better for everyone; and as a leader it would let me lead by example even more so; by giving me the opportunities to do more."

Rachel:
"While that's true; sometimes the best thing you can do; is to do nothing and leave things alone; or do very little.

Like; remember during the attack; you told me how you were scared; you hid; but hesitated to when you saw others too scared to run but they eventually did?

And how you shot that one rope and used a trap to kill a good chunk of the death squad?"

Amelia:
"Yes?"

Rachel:
"Yeah, like that, sometimes its best to just get away from a situation or do less... I've had to do that myself when putting trackers on those monsters; most of the bigger ones I had to hide from.

Like; a big sword arm one punched a hole in the truck; and we got chased by another with 3 black points on its head.

Anyway; what I'm saying is, sometimes you need to take a less hands on approach; or do less.

Like, sometimes... less is more."

Amelia:
Oh... OH, I see. yeah... but is my idea still a good one?"

Amber:
"I'd say so but... Just remember to step back sometimes and think about things; and take care of yourself."

Rachel:
"Yeah, it would help us a lot pressure wise; but just go easy on yourself if that is what you want to do."

Vanessa:
"I don't exactly encourage the idea myself; but at least take it easy if you do."

Amelia:
"Alright; noted."

Amelia notes it down.

Amelia:
"And lastly.

6. I feel like some of us either need to learn how to use a gun, or start practising with them more; it would do us all good to practice."

Jarease:
"That's actually a good point; considering I have no firearms experience."

Jade:
"Same here; I really need to do that."

Dad:
"Yeah... would be a good idea."

Vanessa:
"Would be good to have firearm skills."

Amber:
"Would be good to do that."

Amelia:
"Agreed; need to practice more myself.
But anyway; anyone have any suggestions? complaints?"

Everyone disagrees.
"Nope; I'm good."
"No."
"Not really."
etc.

Amelia:
"Okay, so that means the current list of priorities and stuff happening is as follows:

1. Establish livestock population for long term food source.

2. Find consistent source of materials outside of scavenge missions; examples:
Metals, chemicals for propellant in ammunition, wood, bricks, etc.

3. Set up better walls and more defences/traps and other stuff.

4. Find source of pain management for patients.

5. Set up communication networking system.

6. Find source of more wound attending bandages, or means to produce said bandages so they don’t run out long term.

7. Parasite cure is made; now being sent to Dr Raay by Dr Colermann for making and distribution; Vanessa may need to oversee this.

8. Rachel will use data from monster tracking to attempt finding where they have come from.

9. Vehicles left behind after the attack are still being repaired.

10. Need enough ammo long term for gun training by Rachel; for now its booking based at the range.

11. Farming needs a serious efficiency boost.

12. Stock up on winter firewood for the town in case of worst case scenario.

13. I feel like Helga and Michella may not be in the best positions job wise and I want to make things better for them if possible.

14. Noticeable drop in monster attacks since the wall was done; Rachel says to build more defences anyway.

15. Worried about the giant eel; Rachel says to build countermeasures like ballistas.

16. I could be town figurehead to take pressure off the others; but I need to take it slow and care about myself too; sometimes less is more.

17. Some of us need to practice with guns more.

...So these good?"

Everyone agrees.

Amelia looks at the list of priorities and thinks about them for a moment.

Amelia:
"Okay good, now with our priorities listed and organised; I'm going to start working on designs for tools to assist with the mushroom farming, since that's the most important issue currently...

And... Oh that reminds me Jade; I got you that keeping livestock book, how is it?"

Jade:
"It's good; and has been quite helpful actually.

After some consideration I think were better off keeping smaller livestock like Guillotine Birds in the future; both for their meat and eggs.

Their pretty easy to care for too; especially when compared to the Lowl Kara'sar, they eat basically anything and are fine in most conditions."

Amber:
"But we best do that after we get the farm actually running better."

Amelia:
"Okay, noted; glad the book helped you out."

Jarease:
"Yeah; just don't forget to return it to the library when times up."

Jade:
"Got it; sure thing Jarease."

Amelia:
"Okay, so, as I was saying I'll design the tools; try and get those made as soon as possible; job 11.

I can work with Dad and Rachel on increasing security later; mainly discussing the new walls and trap ideas I designed, job 3; if you two aren't busy?"

Rachel:
"I'm clear for now."

Dad:
"I'm free today."

Amelia:
"Okay good; that takes up the rest of today.
And I can sort out and plan the others another time.

Hows that sound?"

Dad:
"Sounds good to me."

Rachel:
"Good."

Jade:
"Sounds fine to me."

Amber:
"Good sense of direction, I like it."

Amelia:
"Great; and that concludes today's meeting.
Anyone else have anything to say?"

Everyone disagrees.
"Nope; I'm good."
"Nah."
"All fine here."
etc.

Amelia:
"Alright; see you all around."

Most of the family; except Dad and Rachel stand up and exit the room; saying their goodbyes.
"See ya."
"Alright; off to work, see you around."
"Catch you later."
Etc.

Vanessa is the last to leave; gently closing the door behind her.
Leaving just Amelia; Dad and Rachel in the dining room.

Amelia stands up; carefully picks up her stuff with her one remaining hand; makes her way over to Dad and sits down next to him.

Amelia:
"Since we are here; might as well start designing the tools now, right?"

She flicks open the notepad to an empty page and picks up the pencil.

Dad:
"Might as well."

He and Rachel both move closer; getting a better view of the notepad; while Amelia says:
"So... for reference; the sheds are like this."

As she puts pencil to paper and begins drawing...

[end of chapter 1]

Walking down the re-cobbled path; wearing her rubber waders, Fiona reaches the beach; the mid afternoon sun illuminating the sands and gentle waves with a soft, warm, yellow glow.

The distinctly fresh, yet salty and slightly fishy smell of the ocean carrying on a gentle breeze.

Stepping out on to the sand; the Dock is just ahead; its design having changed.

It stands a few bricks taller than before; extends further back into the sands; and is a bit longer.
Has more wooden supports around its edges holding it together.
A few short, simple street lights running down the middle.
And noticeable growths of miscellaneous, hard shelled sea life forming just under where the water line sits against the supports.

But on its left; a brief walk further down the beach; sits a newer looking dock of similar design; only slightly longer and lacking most of the biological clutter rooting to it below the waves.

Meanwhile; at the first dock on the right side is the wide, long, pointed hulled ship; painted dark green with spots of rust and barnacles; the clusters more developed and jagged.

The sleek, lime green, mechanical crane arms with large nets and smaller blue arm folded up; the cage boxes fully retracted against the T shaped mechanism on the blue arms end.

New, italic stylised text is painted on the side in white, it says: "Wave Walker."

And the anchor chain hangs down into the waters below; while the boarding ramp reaches down from the top of the hull to the dock.

While at the other dock, on the left side of it; another boat is moored to them by a set of thick ropes.
The boat is noticeably larger; its hull a more square shape with rounded corners.

The hull itself painted yellow albeit the paint fades and chips away increasingly towards the bottom where larger patches of rust and barnacles sit.

Atop it near the front is a cube shaped captains control room, painted white with a few simple square windows and it has 2 pairs of hydraulic arms with nets evenly spaced out behind it; both pairs folded up.

The arms themselves having an industrial square shape to them and are painted red; except for a few patches towards the ends; which have chipped off exposing the now rusted metal.

Turning her attention towards the first dock and boat; Fiona walks down on to the dock, approaching the boarding ramp.

Reaching it; she strides up and on to the deck, where she sees 4 other crew members; 2 men and 2 women.

First is in the captains control room visible through the window; a slightly overweight man wearing a leather captains hat and rubber waders, with very short grey hair, a bushy grey beard, and has blue wings.

Second is a muscular man wearing a pair of rubber waders and gloves, with long black hair and a clean shaven face; his wings a bright yellow.

He stands next to the green mechanical arms, in front of the central mechanical system; using a cordless power drill to mix up a bucket of chum; several other buckets sitting beside him.

Third is a woman wearing the same gloves and waders; she has green wings, black hair tied back in a pony tail; and is just as muscular as the second man.

She stands beside the second man; picks up 2 buckets of chum at a time with both hands and makes her way over to a set of stairs a short distance behind the lime green mechanical arms; before descending down them into the ship.

A minute or so later; she comes back up empty handed, walks back over to him, takes 2 more; descends back down the stairs and later returns to do the same again.

Fourth is another woman; same waders and gloves; she has short black hair down to her shoulders; is slightly thin in shape and has white wings.

Shes standing between the stairs and blue mechanical arm; inspecting a set of various storage crates and cages of different sizes, some of them placed on carts with wheels; exactly how many wheels depending on the crates size.

All of the crates having small grates built into them in descending rows.
While the cages are all made of metal mesh.

The general area of the crates and cages between the stairs and arm being marked on the floor with a square of red and white hazard tape; standing out noticeably against the wooden deck floor.

The whole area taking up a quarter of the ships total deck space.

Albeit; the interior of this square is white painted metal with a diamond shaped rubber grip pattern set into it.

And off to the side of it, behind the second woman; stands a short metal pillar with a set of controls on top, the pillar wrapped with the same red and white striped warning tape.

Fiona; turning her attention towards the captains control room approaches the back of it, reaching a metal door; the mechanical arms a short distance behind her.

She knocks on it a few times; says:
"Hey, Captain Douglass; its me, Fiona."

A few seconds later; the door opens inwards, creaking gently.

The captain standing at the doorway, says:
"Ah, there you are Fiona, come inside I need to talk to you real quick."

Fiona:
"Can do."

He steps backwards and off to the right a bit, allowing Fiona to step into the control room.
The control room interior has a decent bit of space; enough to hold around 7 people comfortably.

A single light sits mounted in the middle of the ceiling; wired to a switch beside the door with an emergency light near it.

A stomach height desk is mounted along the interior under the window; the middle of which has the boats controls and steering wheel on top and a metal cabinet below.

A few miscellaneous items like papers, cups, pencils, tools, etc; taking up some space on the desks surface.

The floor inside is wooden like the deck but painted a light, faded green; and has a diamond shaped rubber grip pattern like the crate area outside set into it.

Except for a moderately sized metal hatch in the middle of the floor with a small in-set handle and ventilation slits down the sides in rows; set in a faded yellow wooden frame distinct from the floor boards.

Fiona closes the door behind her and stands off to the left.

She looks at the captain and says:
"Okay, what do you need to talk to me about?"

Captain Douglass:
"Well, we have a new fella joining the crew today and I need someone to show him around the ship and show him how things go around here.

Could you do that for me?"

Fiona:
"Yeah, sure.
But when does he get here?"

Captain Douglass:
"Very soon, probably in the next few minutes, best you go outside and wait for him.
Once he gets here; I'll introduce him to all of you, then you can show him around.

Got all that?"

Fiona:
"Yep, I'll go wait for him."

Captain Douglass:
"Good; see you in a minute or two."

Fiona turns, heads back to the door and leaves the room; closing it behind her.
Outside; she makes her way to the boarding ramp and stops nearby.