Talno jumped from his cot causing the nearby colony of mice to scurry away. He opened a cupboard, a cloud of dust erupted from the newly opened cupboard. Talno reached into the cupboard and found a wrapped gluten free twinky. "The elders say that these things called twinkies are centuries old, how do they survive" Talno wondered as he ripped open the packaging and feasted on the delectable treat. Having eaten, he made his way to the rusty metal door that marked the entrance to his makeshift hut. He grabbed the gas mask that hung on a hook next to his door. It was meant to filter out the dust that hung in the outside air. Talno placed the mask on his head and opened the door, it made a squealing noise as he pushed it aside, then closed it behind him. Talno began his usual route to the green houses.

Talnos village had had a rough year. One of the greenhouses lost its crop to blight, and Jim Rayn, one of the villages most talented engineers had been taken by the beasts that dwell in the darkness of the wastes. Everyone had heard the tales, dragons descending upon a village burning or poisoning it after a bad harvest. Everyone was scared. Every capable person had been assigned to the greenhouses in hopes of increasing their harvest. Including Talno.

Talno arrived at the greenhouse and opened the door. He took off his mask and placed it on the nearby hook. He took off his clothes and changed into the white uniform customary of greenhouse workers. There were many people in the greenhouse, most people were lounging about, as very few people were actually needed to run the greenhouse. Talno went up to Bill, the head of this greenhouse. "Need a hand" Talno asked Bill "No you can relax" bill replied. Talno, relieved about his light work load sat down to relax.

The orange light of dusk poured from the windows, it was time to go home. Talno looked back upon his day as he started towards the door. He grabbed his gas mask from the rack and changed into his regular clothes. He opened the door and stepped off into his arid home.