We had a backpack and a sports bag each. All we could carry. We didn’t need much out there. No makeup, no fancy beauty products. We barely washed anyway. Percy had long dreadlocks that didn’t need brushing. She braided my hair on the second day, and again whenever it was needed. Simple, efficient. Easy to care for. The things you get used to when you’ve no choice. Sleeping with a bandana on your head for one.

The bags made walking weird, but we managed. We didn’t talk much. Nothing to say, really. We didn’t get personal, Percy and I. Not in words anyway. It was all a matter of survival, and maybe later we’d get deep into the past. But first, find shelter and food day after day. 

Hell. This life was hell. But Perceneige looked like an angel. That made it more manageable. And she was smart. Is. Very bright, quick thinker, don’t take no shit kind of girl. I’d never been into women before I met her. But I became very much into Perceneige. She didn’t even know how hot she was.

“Tam? Tam! Back to earth, love, we gotta start looking for shelter.” Shit. She was right, it was already getting darker. Or was it clouds? In any case, we had to look for somewhere to sleep. 

Percy pointed. A cave. Another fucking cave. I sighed.

We were used to the routine by then. Put bags down in front of the cave opening, grab knives, go in to check for inhabitants. Empty. Put bags inside, gather wood for a fire, look for edibles. We really needed to figure out how to make food last longer, but couldn’t afford to waste any. Back in the days of Internet it would have been easy, but now we had to rely on the good ol’ trial and error method. Without room for error. Depressing.

We’d gathered some berries along the way, or whatever you call the things that grow on bushes and taste like nothing. We’d have to settle for that. It was raining, thunder and all. No going outside for a while.

We lit up a fire and put water to boil. We still had a bit of tea, having rationed it. We could put some berries in with it, pretend to be fancy. Why the hell not.

Funny how you can get used to almost anything when you need to. I used to drink tea, before The End, but sophisticated tea. With fancy names like “Dragon Kiss” or “Jade Journey”. With sugar or honey, milk and lemon. Now I just took whatever was available. And enjoyed it. So big a change, so short a time. Thanks, Percy. Again.

After that depressing beverage was done, Perceneige made our pretend bed and opened the blanket. She was offering comfort. I smiled and took it, all of it, until both of us were too tired to tell who was doing what. Hell, but not complete hell after all.

^^