The food supply was dwindling once again. Which meant it was time for the hunters to head out. Winter was creeping in which meant there would be less game. Winter was always hard because we had no way to preserve the meat. Obviously there was no power for any freezers and we didn't have the luxury of salt. So we had to eat what we could get or risk it going to waste.

         I checked the ammo in the 22. sniper we had, which was also dwindling. Ammo was a commodity in this world. One summer we completely ran out and went 4 months with just knifes and makeshift spears.

        Eric walked into the tent, sliding his hunting knife into the sheath that was attached to his thigh. "I don't know of any where we haven't hunted yet, Donny," he said, looking down at the map that we hand drew over the years of scouring this land. It had detailed routes and places that were unsafe to explore and places that we already searched.

        "We may have to risk going to 'Bear's Creek'," I said, reluctantly. There was a reason it's called Bear Creek. It's a creek that runs through the forest that is hunting grounds for black bears. Many hunters have gone in and none have come out to tell the story.

        "Really?" Eric asked, grimacing at the thought.

        "If the bears are still there that must mean there is still wild game out there. It's high risk, high reward situation, and right now we don't have any other choice."

        There were plenty of other places that we deemed unsafe that were questionably more safe than Bear Creek; however, they were more than two days hike and the camp didn't have enough food to last the four to five day trip.

        Micheal and Terry enter the tent and throw on their back packs. They both look tired and I don't blame them, it's hard for any of us to get any sleep with the constant fear of death looming over our heads.

        "Sierra didn't keep you up too late, did she, Mike?" I ask, to break the tension. His faced becomes flushed. After a moment of silence he smiles.

        "She's a wild one to say the least." He says, and we all laugh. Laughter was a rarity in this world, hell, any emotion besides fear, anger, and sadness was little to none. This world really made you appreciate the little things even more.

        "We're going to Bear Creek, gentleman." I said, after everyone had gotten through their bit of happiness for the day. It was like someone flipped a switch. The room immediately was full of dread. None of us wanted to go. We had no idea if we were even going to make it back. No one else did, so who were we to think that we'd be any different.

        "Are you sure about this, boss?" Terry asked, his voice shaking. "We don't have the firepower to take down a bear and there is no out running one. Playing dead is our only option and even then you're lucky if they don't maul you for the hell of it."

        "I've considered all our other options. Trust me, I don't want to go there either, but right now it's the only place to can go." He doesn't say anything, he just nods and looks towards the ground.

        I throw the strap of the rifle over my shoulder and walk out of the tent. Blake, the other national guard officer, is waiting outside.

        "Donavan, I overheard the plan, and I have to strongly advise you against it. The last thing this camp needs is to lose their leader."

        I smile, "well, it's a good thing I don't plan on dying anytime soon, isn't it?"

        "This isn't a joke Dona..."

        I put my hand on his shoulder, "we're all coming back Blake, and if we don't I trust you to take over. You've been my right hand man for a long time and right now I need you to back me on this decision. It wasn't the easiest to make and I know these guys aren't ready to die either. It's on me to bring us back in one piece. I swear if it's too dangerous we'll turn back."

        He nods and goes back to his post. He serves as the gate guard and my 'advisor' I guess you could say. I turn around to Eric and the guys.

       "I know none of us are ready for this, but we've got the camp depending on us. We're coming back here tomorrow with enough food for at least three to four days."

        They all give a half assed smile but I can't blame them, after all this could be our deaths that we're walking into.

        We walked to the gate in silence, and it gave me time to really appreciate the time and effort we put into this camp. When we arrived in this patch of woods there was literally nothing here except tree's. Over the years we've erected a wall made of logs that goes all the way around the camp with a guard tower placed to the right of the gate which housed Blake. In the center of the camp we had a 55 gallon barrel that we made into a rain catcher. To the left of that we had a small farm that mainly grew potatoes and sometimes carrots. Interspersed around the camp were tents in various shapes and sizes that housed other survivors. In total we had a population of 16 people. As we walked through the camp we eventually pass Yoshi's tent.

        She walks out and see's the looks on our faces. "Geez, are y'all planning on not coming back or something? That's not the way a leader's face should look." She said, nodding towards me.

        "She's right, you need to be strong, if not for yourself then at least for all of us." said Ariana, walking out of the tent behind her.

        "Thanks, guys," I said, putting on that fake smile I worked so hard to perfect over these years. "We'll be back with enough food for three days, so you guys better be ready for a feast."

     They both smiled and seen us off. As soon as that gate closed behind us we were vulnerable. It was like death was following us at all times, waiting for the time to strike. One mistake and your doom is all but assured in world like this.

        We set out on the 4 and half hour hike to Bear Creek, not knowing if we'd even be taking this trip back.