Snippet #2169265

Dust and ash; remnants of a world, now a distant dream. The dry dead remnants of a few trees laid spaced out in every direction, although only a dozen or so would be visible at once due to the low fog of ash. Salus readjusted the thin cloth he had adopted as a mask. He had been walking for the last week making decent time towards the colony of New York from Milwaukee; the last two days however he had found himself pushing through the northern foothills of the Appalachian mountains. 

"This used to be beautiful." he silently said, mumbling to himself as he occasionally did. He imagined the numerous pine and fir trees, and the mighty oaks that used to stand proud where now only a blanket of their remains covered the land. "To think we ever took your creations for granite Lord," Salus said giving a quick look towards the sky "perhaps now at the end of our existence we find our appreciation for what we no longer have in abundance." Saul thought of the few spots in the country that still carried life. His mind drifted from thoughts of an Oasis in Florida he had visited, a pine forest untouched by demons in the Minnesota territory, and a mountain path in the Rockies. "thank you God, for the blessing we still have." a feeling of joy washed through Salus and for a moment he forgot how tired his old joints were.

Salus jumped over an ash-blackened creek, pushing off the bank with his walking stick. He landed on the other side, throwing up a small cloud of ash up into the air as he landed. He inspected his feet. The cloth wrappings he employed as socks were turned black over the last few days of travel, and his leather sandals were beginning to adopt the color as well. No matter. He would arrive at his location within the next three of four days, he would pick up a new pair then if possible.

The silence of the day was broken by a long distressful call. Salus pulled back the large pointed hood of his cloak. The cry came again, louder, but shorter. "Elk" Salus guessed. It came from over a hill just in front of him. Salus crouched down as he ran up the hill, his steps muffled by the soft ground. At the crest of the hill he ducked behind a dry fallen tree trunk. Taking off his backpack to reduce his profile he peered over the trunk.

"Imps" Salus said quietly. Surrounding a large Elk were perhaps 5 or 6 imps. Salus inspected the creatures. Short in stature they were only about 3 feet tall, as tall as they came. Their red skin appeared a grey pink, made that way from the ash no doubt. They reminded Salus of winged baboons, if baboons had giant heads, no fur, horns, and a barbed tail.

The creatures, as odd as they were did not shock Salus as much as their prey. This forest had been dead a long time, he was nearly a day from any suitable habitat for the beast. "You've come a long way" Salus said as he pulled his rifle around to his front.

An imp lunged at the neck of the elk with fatal intent. His leap was met with an antler to the side of his head, and the creature was nocked to the side, red blood washing away ash from its temple. Salus shouldered his weapon and peered down the sights. The action wass less than 20 yards from him; an easy shot. He lined up the head of his target with the iron pin at the end of the barrel and squeezed the trigger.

The head of the imp snapped to the right, it was dead before it hit the ground. The others looked towards where the shot came from, and began running towards the shooter with hellish laughter. Salus slapped the bolt of his weapon upwards and drew it back, releasing the spent round into the air. The imps, half running, half hopping with their useless wings, made it another 6 yards before Salus had another bullet in the chamber. He lined up his shot, and another imp fell backwards, dead.

Salus reloaded quicker than before as he worked up a rhythm. Another imp fell prey to his marksmanship before they were close enough for Salus to put down his rifle. Leaning the weapon against the tree Salus abandoned the shoulder strap of the weapon, and reached for his walking stick. With his left hand he held the stick in place as he grabbed the top 8 inches with his right hand and pulled. Salus drew the straight blade from the staff and stood up. With his left thumb he drew an X across his face. "Alright God, guide my blade." he said, and calmly walked towards the remaining imps.