Mann alone in the world

Authors Note: I Highly recommend watching the small trailer I have created on YouTube for this specific story it explains somethings to an extent. 

The world was empty.

The cities that once were filled with the endless bustle of the species known as homo sapiens, are as silent as the grave.

In the land known once as North America the landscape had changed severely, forests had grown amongst the metal, brick and mortar of the capitals of both nation and states.
Humanity had been gone for countless years, only the ruins of their great constructions remained as a memory of their existence.

But this is not the end of the tale we are going to tell.

Chapter 1: The Family

There was still a human left in the world, a young man who went only by the name of Mann, he was the last of his kind as far as he was aware. A young man of around 18 winters, of those 18 he could only remember around 10, he had no memory before waking up in what was according to the sign outside the building a "Hospital". He had just woken up and was alone, wearing only a pair of shorts, needles within his arm which were connected to an empty plastic bag, he could remember nothing of before his waking, not even his very name, he only called himself Mann because that was what he was.

Now here he was living in an near empty world the only one of his kind. Living out of what was apparently according to what he was able to find from wandering around the many corridors, it was called a missile launch facility, which had been built into the earth, under a ruined farm.

He used the base itself as his home, one of the old barracks he had emptied, refitted and turned into his bedroom, the store rooms now held foods or books he had found even videos and DVDs, he had created a great collection of all three.

The silo itself despite the lack of the Missile, the different platforms at different levels were extended and now connected by wooden ramps and walk ways, Mann had spent many months and years working on. He used the silo like a grand stair case to get to the different levels of the facility that was his home.

Above all this though the ruins of the farm, Mann had used the many books he had gathered to learn how to live, he had learnt how to farm the land, he had rows of crops such as corn, wheat, melons, cabbages, carrots and potatoes with tomatoes interwoven among the mess of iron cages stuck in the ground or hanging from baskets.  And that was only the beginning, with plenty of building materials to choose from, all collected and salvaged from the empty towns and cities, he was able to make the simplest wind turbines as well as spending an entire week dragging some small solar panels to the farm and an extra week hooking up the wiring to his home, so he would have lights at night and be able to watch his films and videos. There was a slight draw back though, half of the barn was submerged by the neighbouring lake so it was now acting as a semi boat house, holding small row boats and canoes.

But he wasn't alone in the world, he did have a family, of a kind anyway, the only difference between your family and his was that they were ALL animals.

The first among them I will tell you of, is Chuck. A Chimpanzee from a local community of 30 that lived in the endless forest that bordered Mann's little home, Chuck was a strong adult male Chimp, who despite his size and power actually had a big heart, he and Mann had first met when Mann was very young still trying to find a home, many of the Chimps in Chucks community left Mann alone but Chuck would often share his food, whether it was fruits, plants, ants or even monkey meat. As the years went on Chuck and Mann remained close friends to the point where you could say that Mann became one of the commune. Mann had no problem in them staying at his farm or wandering his home, he didn't even care if a melon went missing before harvest time. After all they were family, and family sticks together, like when a lion is threatening the community, you stand together to fight it off.

There are many tale of this world, we chimps tell ours through our words, some are easily forgotten. But there is one that I shall always remember for I was a part of it. I was rather young back then, me and my closest friend and future leader Greybeard, but back then we just called him Beard were out on patrol in the forest when we heard a strange sound.

It was a sound that we had never heard before, it sounded like a scream or yell, being young an' inexperienced we decided to investigate. And that was how I first came to meet Mann, for we found him laying on the floor of the forest with a large tree branch trapping his left leg pinning him in place. If I had any knowledge of the annoyance he would be I would have followed Greybeards advice and walked away. But for some reason I just couldn't, I made a decision to help him and I haven't regretted it since. 

When He got to his feet he looked me straight in the eye, I half expected fear to be within his heart, my kind tell tales of tall skinny hairless apes that once kept us in what they called cages and used us for experiments.

Yet Mann just looked at me and through his eyes I saw not fear but gratitude, pulling a pack from his back he opened and offered me an apple as a way of saying thank you for the aid I had given him. After eating the apple I made my way home, but would often venture out to patrol the boundaries of our clans territory, yet my real reason was to check in on the young one, and as the rains came and went I found that Mann and I were becoming good friends, when he found his home beneath the soil and started his little farm by the lakeside, it was not uncommon for Greybeard to lead us down there to feed and look in on the friend we had.

Lobo the Wolf, the alpha of the local pack of 9 adult grey wolves, like Chuck, Lobo looked kindly on those around him. Lobo had a rule when it came to his pack, focused on what they could eat and what they couldn't, they couldn't eat Mann, Chimps, Raccoons, Beavers or Magpies. As will be explained.  But anyway Lobo like all the others in the family were a kind heart and lovable, Lobo and his pack never experienced any trouble with any of the family, you could say that Mann was the godfather to all of Lobos' pups. None of his pack were aggressive to him or any of the other member of their family, it was quite often to see the pack, the Chimp commune, Beaver colony, Raccoons and Magpies lazing around near each other by the side of the lake.

The First time I met Mann, he was wandering the forest barely a boy as you would say. Many of the pack wanted to just hunt, kill and eat him, with him barely able to run any faster than chicken never mind a deer. But I found myself pitying him, for he was sitting leaning up against a tree trunk just watching the world go by. High above him the Chimps feasted on apples and figs, something that they always did.

So we left him be, but then one day one of my young pups had gotten himself cornered by a great bear, without the strength of the pack I knew that I couldn't save the pup, when from out of nowhere Mann came dropping down from the trees above, waving a branch back and forth in the bears direction, very brave of him, until the bear decided to charge, but Mann stood his ground and fought off the bear, striking its face again and again with his branch until finally the bear gave up. With this He had earned my respect and that of the whole pack, as time went on we began to see him more and more as he made a home for himself beneath the soil, as well as making his own food with the farm he had built up. I still find it very pleasant, looking out across the lake waters as the sun sets.

As time went on our little pack grew with Mann aiding with every birth of my pups, we were soon a true pack not of a few scattered wolves but a pack of dozens able to fight off our great enemy from the Pridelands.

Speaking of Lake, it was not a natural one, it was constructed thanks to a great dam blocking the stream, built by the wise master. Joan was her name and being a beaver was her game, the patriarch of the local colony, who had spent years building up both the Dam and lodge. The entire lake was their making, by building the dam they had turned a simple stream into a great expansive lake, with an extension of some small water ways leading into the depths of the forest for the Beavers to use as highways through the land and float food back to their lodge.

The family made great use of the lake, the Chimp commune often waded into the shallows to collect some lovely water based plants that were high in vitamins and carbohydrates. The wolves would often catch fish and salmon in the autumn as well as hunt the deer and moose that would come to feed and drink, the Raccoons would come the crabs and shellfish that had flowed up the stream.

Mann often struggled with Joan, there were multiple times when Mann had to replace certain items such as tables, chairs and fences because Joan's colony would chew their way through them, yet they left the walkways and ramps within the silo alone?. But he didn't mind it kept his mind occupied, plus the beavers were helpful when it came for lumber, in the time it took Mann to cut down a single tree, the colony had gnawed down at least four, so they often shared, Joan would weaken the tree then Mann would finish it, then they would split the tree in half, one half each.

Mann has always lived by our lake, for as long as it has been a lake maybe even before it. When I arrived it was a little stream, barely a river, but with a little work we had ourselves a dam and with the water rushing our lake came to be. I first saw him spearing salmon in our lake, my curiosity was what sparked me to go in closer, he saw me clear as day on the surface, when ever he approached I scarpered back to safety but then one day one of my daughters got closer and she told me that he was pleasant, kind and offered food, in the form of roots and nuts.

Being curious of course I decided to give him a chance and since then I am happy to share the fruits of our combined labours. He had skill in building, when our dam became untenable, he "Hammered" in a series of wooden posts from which we could prop up a new reinforced dam. There are times when our relationship is strained mostly from my family gnawing away at his hard worked chairs and tables, but he always found it in his heart to forgive them.

For eyes in the sky there was Maggie, a Magpie among dozens that flew through the many branches yet she was easily recognised by a white tuft of feathers on her chest that resembled the Rook chess piece, she was the eyes of the family, it seemed that whenever there was a problem she saw it coming. She mostly spent her time around the wolf pack, among the other Magpies and "Clean up crew" that followed them, often cleaning up the scraps of their hunts.

Maggie was rather lazy, often having others do her work yet that didn't mean that she was unwilling to act to help her friends. Such as when the family got themselves in a scrap with a brown bear Maggie literally became a pain in the ass, pecking at the bears backside to try and distract it. Her courage was countered however when her wing was clipped during the fight, Chuck carried her away after the fight, Mann looked after her in the Silo home, Lobo often came to visit bringing some scraps from a hunt, Joan brought fresh bedding, they all often visited her when she was "Crippled". When she got better, she decided to stay closer to her mixed species family even going so far as to nest and raise her chicks in the partially flooded barn/boat house on Mann's farm.

How I met Mann? That is a question that is hard to answer, for you could say I have known him for as long as he has been in the forest, after all the Magpies follow the wolves, we follow the chimps. And like me, we feed off the scraps they leave behind. But with Mann I didn't follow I stayed. I remember when he was spear fishing on the lakeside, he would hang his fish to dry in his smoke house, but then one day he saw me and left one behind by the lake. A nice big salmon one of the biggest. That is something We all love of Mann he always shows charity, kindness and love. And whenever I came around, he would always share something from his catch, whether it be fish, deer, rabbit or whatever he had been able to hunt.

I remember when Thuggee got into trouble, I pecked at that bears ass, I may have got a clipped wing but, I never knew that they would all look after me, used to be if a chimp found an injured bird they would kill and eat it, not Chuck, no he carried me away to safety, Lobo shared a bit of a meal he had caught, Joan kept offering some fresh reeds and wood shavings for me to make a bed, But Mann looked after me, when I could fly, I found that I didn't want to fly away.

I had gotten so used to them helping me that I couldn't just fly off and abandon them, so I made a decision that I have never looked back on, I built a nest of my own within his little boathouse, nice and easy, built up against a corner on the driest section of the whole structure. I have raised my little ones here and I haven't struggled to get them food like I have in the past, not with everyone helping, it used to be that the wolves would chase me off from a kill or the Chimps trying to catch me to eat for themselves but now they share and share alike.

Finally there was the black "Mask" of the family, Thuggee the Raccoon. He had always been troublesome more than most Raccoons, he even got the whole family into trouble when he tried to steal a fish from a sleeping bear, which got Maggie hurt, yet he learnt his lesson and stayed away from the bear hills as Mann called them. Instead he started raiding the eagles and lake, he would go after the eggs and crabs found among his territory, he maybe troublesome but the family love him just the same, every-time he gets into trouble they are happy to come and help and one could say that afterwards they joke about it. Plus he was helpful in picking apples at the fringes of the branches, the twigs that not even the Chimps would attempt to reach for and his nimble fingers often provided them all with fresh honey from the many beehives in the forest.

Ah good old Mann mi Amigo, always a helpful hand, the others might say that I'm a little bribón that always gets into trouble.... and their mostly right...... okay completely right. 
But before Mann it was a daily batala for survival, having to scrounge what you can from the world around you, even if you have to steal food from someone else you gotta do it. What can I say? A raccoon cannot change his mask.

But When it came to Mann, I found him relaxing by the lakeside just watching the water, before that day whenever an animal saw me or others of my kind they would see us off, but not Mann, he just sat there and he smiled at me and offered me a bit of smoked Pez. At first I grabbed it and corrió, but as the days went on I found myself getting closer and closer until finally I ended up snuggling up with him by the lakeside. For the first time in my life I felt happy to not be doing anything.

This was Mann's family, he cared for them greatly, whenever anyone was sick or hurt he was quick to come and help, Maggie's wing, Chuck breaking a finger in a fight, Lobo getting stabbed by an antler, Joan being cornered by a cougar and yes when Thuggee pissed of the bear. They were the only family he had ever known they looked after him even when others of their own kind wouldn't.

Mann often said both himself and the others that he would gladly die for his family if needs be to protect them, for they all had children, families that needed them.

Chapter 2: The night sky

He didn't know why but on one particular night Mann didn't want to sit in and relax watching films, movies and videos or reading the hundreds of books he had shelved. No tonight like some other nights he just felt a strange urge to sit outside in the cool night air and sit down, so it was he would sit for many an hour just either looking into the flames of the fire before him or up into the beauty of the stars, from his pocket he pulled something he enjoyed since he was young, it was a simple flute, or a Pan flute as it properly called, he had carved it by hand following instructions from one of... you guessed it books. With the night air neither to warm nor too cold he played the flute calmly and playfully as he played what he like to call the lullaby as the thought of it often helped him to sleep, he began to hear other noises, with a slight smile he knew who they were joining in, the low echoing howls of Lobo and his pack on a nighttime hunt, Chuck and the chimp commune howling along with them.

Like other times he often stayed out like this looking into the flames, Mann saw something, what looked like dust every-time he blew into the different tubes that made the flute recognisable, this wasn't like any dust though it was more like a white powder. And this was not the first time, whenever the urge to come out and sit in the open air for apparently no reason he would see this teeny tiny little powder like dust whenever he breathed outwards. It was something that he resembled like that which spits out whenever he sneezed or coughed, barely visible but just there to those who are looking for it.

But as far as Mann was concerned it didn't do any harm and it clearly wasn't a disease after all he was never sick. But the symbol of Bio-hazard popped into his head for a second, turning to look across the lake, he remembered what he had seen beyond it once. A high wall stretching out in both directions, solid concrete with plants and mould growing over it but no way over, he remember walking around it once then seeing the symbol of bio-hazard on a mould covered poster, so mouldy that he couldn't see any of the writing only the clear mark of the danger.

Since that day he has never ventured beyond the lake or the river, instead focusing his efforts of life here in the forest at least here he can count on his family, with Lobos pack there are very few other predators stalking the woods, the few coyotes, Lynxes and bobcats that do tend to avoid Mann. But is the odd occasion when Mann has an urge to go beyond the woods, to the open plains which his compass points North west. As he sits there playing his Flute, he remembered that one time he did and why he never has gone back, he saw many a great possibilities for hunting, pronghorns, deer and buffalo but with these great herds there were also other predators, like the Pride of lions that lived on the border of the forest, they never entered it for they know the wolves and chimps will fight to the bitter end.

Plus Mann made them run away with his use of fire, sometimes when collecting firewood along the border he would often catch a glimpse of the lions on the horizon, some might find this concerning, but not Mann for he and they knew not to mess with each other it was the truce they had, the Wolves Control the forest while the Lions rule the open plains.

Little did Mann know that soon his whole world was going to be turned upside down completely forever and ever. For looking up into the darkness and empty night sky, he was always amazed with the sheer vastness of the stars, the number of them and how bright they were, it made him feel small and yet ponderous, for as far he was aware he was the only one of his kind in the entire world, his most uncommon thought would be that of other humans, could there be others out there living in the ruins of the world.

Yet his eye was caught on one particular star that moved across the others, in quick succession it shot across the sky, some would make a wish but not Mann he didn't want anything, he had no need for anything else, he was happy where he was after all who would want to change the perfect life.

Chapter 3: Life on ye old farm

Every day was like almost systematic for Mann, first obviously he would wake up, wash, dress etc. His usual morning alarm clock would be one of many different variations, either a chimp child jumping on him, Thuggee licking his face, Wolf pup howling in his ear or even one time Joan chewing her way through the bed supports making it collapse completely with Mann still on it.

His first port of call was the simple toilet he had constructed where his waste would divide, urine would simple be soaked away, whilst his faeces would be collected for use as fertiliser. Then he would get to work, checking all the crops for any problems that may have come during the night, usually none came up that needed immediate action, but every now and again he would have to do some early morning work, ensuring that the Tomato cages were still properly supported or the wheat and corn were still healthy.

After that he would commit himself to the standard everyday chores of life, first he would check on the wooden ramps and supports in the missile silo. He always did this because of two specific problems that often occurred, first obviously was Joan and her colony who as experience had taught him often liked to snack on his carvings, even though they never went after the ramps and supports in the silo he did so any way as it helped keep an eye for any imperfection that might be spreading through the wood like rot or weakness.

His most common chore was just being helpful, during the spring he often helped the beavers repair any damage to their dam from the winter months of no proper maintenance. Other times he was helping the wolves with babysitting while Lobo and the pack go off hunting, this was very common in the months of March through to June when the love of Lobos life was glued to their den for the sake of the pups. Then of course there were the numerous hours he would spend with everyone, just relaxing and chilling by the side of the lake with his entire extended family around him, those closest resting next to him, Lobo to his right Chuck the to left, Joan and Thuggee by his knees and Maggie on his shoulder.

More often than not this is how he spent his days just looking out into the world, enjoying the pleasant life they live, the home they have managed to build, all of it was theirs, all of it was called their home. Yet Mann was always unsure of this calmness and peace, after all when it comes to peace and quiet and a pleasant life, all it takes is one occurrence and the whole tranquillity of the world in which you live will come tumbling down.

Now in most stories of a loner, he would often be talking to himself but believing he was having a conversation with the animals, but for the sake of it lets give the animals themselves voices of their own.

A few days after this pleasant peace, Mann decided to go and have a jolly (walkabout), in most cases he would just aimlessly wander the forest. But today he thought he would go and visit Lobo and Leena his mate, who apparently had just had another litter of pups. And with the pack having to provide food for her so she can properly care for the pups, Lobo would most likely be trying to keep her company.

So he went out into the world, looking upon the many trees, some of them had gnaw marks at the base of the trunks. This was a very clear signal that the Joan and her colony had every intention of chomping it down to the ground, it always made him smile when he saw these marks because he knew that the beavers were more focused on chewing the trees than his furniture. Pressing onward, he found his terrain changing, from plenty of space between the trees to tighter quarters, with the gaps becoming filled with thick bushes and large boulders. This was a clear sign that he was closing in on Lobo and Leena's den, for they always raised their pups in places where nothing could sneak up on them even if they tried to do so, even Thuggee had tried and failed to be sneaky among these bushes and boulders.

Turning past the largest boulder yet he found Lobo laying calmly and comfortably with his head high. His Dark grey fur dappled among the streaks of light coming through the branches of the trees, a small smile on his face at seeing his old friend, Mann returned the smile and gave a simple bow of his head out of respect. Lobo returned the bow with a nod of his head, to which Mann came forward and sat down next to him leaning back against the boulders, just to the left of Lobo whilst to the alphas right was a deep whole dug into the earth, that made up the den which lay beneath the boulder they now sat beside.

Lobo not losing his focus began to speak to his friend, with a calm but clear form of language that only experienced leaders have. "It has been many nights since I heard the outlanders howls" he said "Blackfang was always a troublemaker, but it isn't like him to remain silent".

Mann too just looked ahead "Maggie thought the same she went to have a look the other day" he replied "They were out on the plains as always"

"The Lions or the Hyenas?" Lobo asked

Mann looked down with a truthful look on his face, "Both..... The Lions got him"

Lobo too began to look down, he may have not like the outlanders but they were still wolves and two of his sons had joined them when they had to leave the pack. "Without Blackfang... the pack would have fell apart".

"Yep..... the lions killed him and some others, then the Hyenas picked off the rest..... Maggie doesn't know if any survived.....but she said she would speak to the vultures see if any of your boys are still alive" Mann spoke, trying to give some light to Lobo whom he could tell was afraid for his sons. But Lobo knew that the chances were very slim, he knew from experience that the Lions don't like competition in the territories, in other words they never leave survivors, and even if someone managed to escape them the Hyenas would easily catch them, he knew that his boys were likely either dead and laying in the sun or had been ripped apart by Hyena jaws.

But that was not that had Mann worried, what he was worried for was the location and Lobo knew it "Whats wrong Mann? I have known you since you were a little pup and I can tell when something is making you feel uncomfortable".

Mann looked over to him and their eyes met "Blackfang was killed at Crows Rock", this was closer than Lobo was comfortable with, the Pack and the Pride had always shared a border of their territories, yet the Pride have never really approached the border, not even the males patrol it, because the pride knows that lions are not welcome in the forest. Yet the Crows Rock was too close for comfort for anyone, Crows Rock was literally on the border, where the open plains met the limits of the trees that marked the entrance of the forest.

Lobo became very uncomfortable, with the pack hunting across the forest so the pups can have some food, he and Leena having to stick close to the den then there was no one patrolling the border keeping an eye out for the Pride. His fears turned to the last time Lions had entered the forest, where the Pack alongside Mann, the Chimp Commune had fought off three rogues but not before he had lost a daughter and a young son to the lions jaws alongside two of the male chimps being severely hurt.

"If the Lions are coming close then the Hyenas will follow close behind" Lobo exclaimed.
Mann agreed "We need to be careful... the Lions know they can't beat us in a fight..... But the Hyenas have the numbers to take us on".

Lobo looked out into the forest "We have to alert the others, Maggie should already know, But Joan, Thuggee and Chuck need to warned of what is coming our way"

Chapter 4: The War Council

That night the forest was ever quiet, for the first time in over a year a council had been called, with each member of the family being present alongside members of their respective species, all of them met in the open space of Mann's farm, at the single standing stone that stood at its very heart. Among them was the strong Chimps with Grey-beard their leader at their head, Chuck being the number 2, they had come with several other males and females of their Community, ensuring their words would be heard.

Next to them were the Gorillas, chief among them was Titan himself who had travelled around the lake to attend this meeting, they may not have been a member of Mann's family circle but that doesn't mean they did not want to ensure they were heard. Titan was a powerful silver back, who had commanded the gorillas for many years, he and the chimps had disputed over territories for decades, both sides wanted access to the lakes resources, nearly coming to war until a truce was made where each group would control access to one half of the lake only. Yet this didn't mean that the tension wasn't gone yet.

Then there were the Wolves with Leena at their head, nearly the entire pack was present, only a few were absent as they were working on babysitting duty, watching over and caring for the newest litter of pups hidden back at the den. Lobo the one who had called this meeting sat at the centre of the gathering, sitting by the standing stone, ready to speak.

By them were the smaller creatures, Joan and the Beavers colony, among them Thuggee and his merry band of Raccoon bandits and of course Maggie and her flock of eyes from the sky. Mann too was present at this gathering, he sat alongside Lobo waiting to speak.
The purpose of the meeting was one that could decide the forest very future, because the word had come and spread that the Great Pride of Lions from the North had come south, this time not seeking to patrol their territory but to expand it.

"Now we all know the purpose of this meeting" Lobo announced.

Grey-beard growled "There's no hiding it wolf" he scoffed

Lobo sighed heavily "Now is not the time for aggression Grey-beard... the time has come for a choice" he replied, Grey-beard began to return to his relative peace "Information has come that the Pride is wanting to expand their territories south into our forests".

"What proof is there of this" Titan grunted

Maggie hoped forward "The pride killed Blackfang and scattered his pack.... is that not proof enough"

Titan growled at the tiny bird, "That proves nothing if anything the Pride have done us a favour by killing that annoyance"

Mann stepped forward "The pride and the Blackfangs have always been in conflict but never have the pride come this far south in force.... Maggie has seen the entire pride coming closer and closer..... for crying out loud that openly attacked and killed Blackfang at Crows Rock"

Everyone began to chatter among themselves, this was a first, they had never heard lions coming that close. "We all need to make a choice..... we can either wait and hope that the Lions leave us be..... Or we come together and head to the border in a show of strength" Lobo declared.

Mann stepped up and put the vote to the council "Those in favour of waiting" there was complete silence, not a single move, none of the chimps raised their hands, neither did the Gorillas, the Wolves did not nod their heads. No movement from any of those present. "Those in favour of a show of strength"

Then a wave of sound "AYE" "AYE" "AYE" "AYE"

Mann had no choice "The Ayes have it", the whole council had mixed feelings, Lobo, Chuck, Joan and Thuggee seemed scared, Titan the gorilla was set on war against the Lions. But they understood that it won't just be the Lions coming, they knew if the Lions are coming then the Hyenas would be close behind and they will have the numbers, so many that the numbers of deaths they will suffer could be unbearable.

Mann spoke out again "But we should make preparations..." they all just looked at him, "I'll go to the far side of the lake, to where the stone wall is" they were becoming curious now as to what he was suggesting, "And see if there is a safe haven to be found their.... that way if needs be.... we can move our loved ones to safety.... or if the worst comes to pass.... We can find a new place to establish ourselves"

Chuck nodded his head "Aye... we need to be ready for the worst" Maggie nodded in agreement as did Joan and Thuggee.

But One did not agree "We will need everyone here to fight.... besides we've fought the lions before and won" shouted Titan.

"Aye WE'VE fought the Lions before.... yet I didn't see any Gorillas fighting those rogues" Maggie pecked back this infuriated Titan, yet all present knew she was right the last time the lions came no gorilla lives were lost, despite the promise Titan made before hand. Yet Maggie wasn't done "And none of us here present tonight have ever had to face the Hyena Clans, I've spoken to the Vultures and they have packs larger than any we've ever seen"

"Meaning?" Thuggee questioned, nestling back behind Mann's legs.

"If they come.... we will be outnumbered" Old Greybeard interrupted "The Commune agrees with Mann's plan to scout beyond the great wall for a safe haven"

Lobo stepped down and stood by Grey Beard "The Pack agrees to Mann's Plan"


Chapter 5: Departure

Within a day or two Mann had readied himself, he had himself sorted for at the most 4 days of travel, he had packed into his long canoe, long enough to hold everything he would need along side himself and spare space for anything he might find useful along his travels.

The Air was cold, as he crammed in item after item into the tight space of the canoe space, he could feel in his skin that bad weather was coming. So he stepped up his efforts, with the clouds building up in the greying sky, the winds picking up with greater strength, his window for safe travel up the river was getting smaller and smaller with each passing moment. He needed to go and go now unless the weather could topple the canoe and without that he would be forced to travel on fought in territory he was not used too.

Yet as he pushed the canoe into the calm waters of the lake, he felt the wooden boat suddenly feel a lot much heavier, looking up he saw three familiar faces lounging around within. Sat comfortably within was Maggie hitched along the rim, Thuggee peeking over the top and most of all Chuck leaning back into the bow. "Not this time guys.... your needed here in case the pride comes" he stated

Thuggee answered first "And whose gonna watch your back, we care for ya mate.... we can't in good faith just let ya walk off"

"He's right...you need someone up above to look out for trouble" Maggie interrupted

"Your gonna need some muscle" Chuck garbled munching on an apple he had "Found" in the canoe.

Mann just smiled he knew not to argue, it wouldn't matter "Alright.... just try not to eat all the supplies before we get there" he return to pushing "I'm talking to you Thuggee"

The Raccoon shot his head up in disgust "Oh yeah blame the Raccoon"

"Weren't you the suspect of eating all of the Crayfish last year" Maggie joked

"That was never proved" Thuggee jabbed back at the three.

Finally with a thud, the canoe entered the calm waters and Mann jumped into the back seat, pulling his trusty paddle he started the Journey "A helping hand would help" he muttered heaving with each long stroke.
Maggie jumped up into the air wings open towards the river, obviously "Scouting ahead" not ditching the hard labour. Thuggee just showed his small hands indicating there was no way he could help, with an immense sigh, Chuck swivelled around at the bow and preceded to lean left and right to paddle with his arms.

Overlooking their departure though was a concerned soul of theirs, Lobo high upon the hills could only watch as some of those he cared deeply for left to try and find a place of safety for them all. When another wolf came up and whispered a small message "Sir the scouts came back, the Pride is on the border".


Chapter 6: The Night Above and the Horizon Beyond

Days of travel and nights of rest, Mann watched out looking over the stars, he loved it yet wondered it. Was he really the only one left of his kind, but of course he didn't really care after all he had all the loved ones he would ever need, the Pack, the Commune, the Flock and the Nursery.

Even now with the small fire raging, the Canoe tipped over to create a shelter, with long sheets of leather stretched out from wooden polls that kept the Canoe propped up on its side, and the leather stretched atop the polls. The Simplest but comfortable shelter, Yet Mann just chuckled to himself, as already it had occupants, before he even set up Thuggee was calling dibs on the best sleeping spot. Now everyone but him was within sleeping peacefully with Mann outside with his Pan flute. He tried a different tone tonight, a long and calming song, meant to help the forest find itself back into a peaceful slumber.

He peeked over and saw Thuggee twitch awake and look out half dazed, but Mann's music seemed to calm him and send him back into the bliss of his dream. Even for Mann it calmed him, the soothing sound coming from the flute, even though he was the one making the sounds, he helped him feel something, one could say a sense of something more, the only connection he really had to the "Humans" that were his species was from the musical discs and DVDs he would watch or listen too in his spare time at home. Music was the one thing that helped him remember that he was a human being and not something that no longer mattered.

As he looked up into the night sky, following the fire sparks as they shot, spat and flowed into the open air, he began to look past them and into the darkness of the cloudless horizon. His favourite past time during the night, he just loved to watch the stars, yet one caught his eye, a shooting star flying across the sky, one that he had seen many of them in the past, nearly every other night he would spot one.
He rather enjoyed watching this particular star shine through the night sky, but tonight he noticed something he had never seen on this unusual night, he spotted a smaller star light up next to it and then dart down to the horizon. A first for him, usually they would just dart across the sky and then disappear beyond the horizon, he had never seen them go vertically to the horizon.

He pondered for a moment but he remembered that he had other business to attend to, in this moment he needed sleep for the next day of rowing the canoe. To this he returned his pan flute to one of the packs he had brought with him, fixed a reasonable amount of twigs and kindling to the fire so that it might continue burning until first light. Then made his way past the covers and into the simple shelter. Before he had even gotten comfortable, he found Thuggee snuggling up to him. With a smile on his face Mann aloud his eyes to droop and into the sanctuary of sleep.


Chapter 7 The Great Wall and Beyond

Two full days of constant rowing along rivers and streams, alongside often having to pull the canoe and all within, across the mud and soil to avoid rapids and extreme shallows. The "Expedition" came to a sight that non had ever truly seen before, Mann had but only from a distance, and even then he had never risked coming to close.

This was a wall Mann had only ever seen in the films and DVDs he had collected back home, this wall was well over 4,000 metres high. It would a great task to get past, for Maggie it would be easy, a couple of flaps and over she goes, Thuggee might be able to slip through one of the small holes that dot the bottom of the concrete. But for Mann and Chuck their only hope would be to find a spot where the concrete has broken completely and is widen enough for them to squeeze through.

For most of the day they circled around, Maggie in the sky watching out for anything that might be a possible danger to the group. Whilst Thuggee scurries through the various roots and rubble seeking a way for him to catch a peak of what lies ahead, but to no avail.

Chuck on the other hand clambers up whatever he can to find a vantage point in an effort to try and get a better look at his surroundings. But he was also concerned as all Chimps are when out of their territory, not many knew this but Chucks community, the Kasakela were once caught in a brutal war when a large number of their commune left to form their own group, Mann was a witness to the conflict. And had hoped that peace could exist between the two, but the Kasakela brutally fought to reunify their community and reclaim the territory that the Kahama as they called themselves had claimed.

So even now Chuck is ever cautious, whenever he is not in home territory with others that he trusts, he is ever cautious, constantly on the look out for any possible danger that might come from any direction. But most of all he is terrified of encountering other chimps, to which he and Mann both knew would lead to only violence, another reason to find their way beyond the wall so that can get into a location where they can build a proper camp where they might be safe, instead of being here in the open with their backs literally to the wall.

When suddenly, a miracle came into view, the tightest crack, but one that was passable, a way for them to get through.

And beyond was that which Mann could never had imagined, he thought that places that his species once lived within would be great, yet for all he could see, there was only what the whole world looked like, on the other side of the wall, the side they knew.
The group found themselves at a junction of three different roads, left, right and forward, the route to the left was flooded and resembled a swamp than a road,  the tops of cars peaked out above the waterline, and were covered in moss and other plants that stretched to the water, mangrove trees dotted the edges of the waterline where they met the plant covered walls and metal fences of the buildings.

The route to their right was just as worse, with the rusted wrecks of various vehicles, from the smallest bikes to the largest buses and even bigger lorries. But to the front was the least frustrating route of passage. But one that raised Mann's eyebrows. For in front of them on the road leading away from the wall, instead of along it, was a what Mann could only call a checkpoint from the movies he had watched, on either side of the road, meeting the pavement was a rusted tank, with a series of concrete road blocks in front of them and alongside of them, behind them on either side were rusted towers with strange cubicles atop them, instead of being proper stereotypical towers, these were more like lifts, with a control system below that would lift and lower the actual station where the person within would keep watch.

Yet like everything else they were covered in plant life, a great tree had grown atop one of the tanks, and from its branches vines stretched across the street to the buildings on either side to the towers behind and down to the broken and cracked concrete floor.

It was here that they would begin their journey to find the answer for their quest, the search for a safe haven for their loved ones to find shelter should the Lion Prides or the Hyena Clans come for a fight. And if needs be, a safe place for them to begin a new life.
As the four made their way past the rusted tanks and towers, they found something truly terrifying beyond.

For Mann, a person who had sought answers as to what had happened to others of his kind, he had begun to question everything, but now here in the remains of the city in which he stood, beyond the wall he had feared, he finally found a clue.
For stretched out along the street on either side of the road, in proper lines as far as the eye could see were the skeletons of other human beings, of varying sizes and ages. Mann was struck, for beyond the bodies he could see, there were trucks filled with even more, countless trucks, stretching further and further.
Maggie swooped back down, landing on Mann's shoulder and cuddled up to him, trying to support him, it was no secret in their family that Mann questioned what had happened to others of his kind. And now he had an answer, they all knew he would need some support. Thuggee climbed up Mann's back and took the other shoulder and like Maggie cuddled up to him to give some affection.

Only Chuck tried to pull Mann away, Chuck still walking on all fours, reached and grabbed Mann's right hand and began to walk him past the endless skeletal remains. Step by step, past one body at a time, Mann looking at each one with shock and affection, if he had come alone, he wouldn't have been able to get past the first bone, never mind the first skeleton.

Slowly but surely they past the bodies to find even worse, what Mann would call a Mass grave.

They found open spaces, the only places that were open and wide in the whole area as far as they knew, with dug outs still clear as day, filled with the same skeletal remains, but these were different than the ones they had already passed, for these showed charring and burning, nearby Mann saw why, numerous cans that would once have contains fuel and other flammable elements.

As they looked out they could only see more and more, the open space they though might be the only one wasn't alone, Step by step as they moved through the ruins they found more and more, small collections of bodies tossed into ditches.

Fearing what lay ahead, Mann paused, barely able to stand anymore, to him it felt like every living thing that was once human was long dead. But step by step the streets became ever more empty, until there was nothing, not even the rusted remains of the abandoned vehicles. Mann hoped that the worse had finally passed, enough so that Chuck finally released his hand and Thuggee went scurrying off ahead. But those Hopes were dashed.

Chapter 8 Those that Aren't Killed

Again they came to an open space far larger than any other, with the greatest depression in the earth, whereas the other mass graves had only a few dozen skeletons, this was the greatest of all. With thousands if not tens of thousands judging from the number of skulls they could see, Mann finally broke, collapsing to his knees, tears building in his eyes.

Maggie and Chuck tried desperately to support their friend, Chuck hugged him close, holding Mann's head into his shoulder, whilst Maggie, pressed her head into Mann's face. When from nowhere Thuggee came running up with something to say. "I've Found something Hermano"

Slowly as one they moved, into one of the several buildings surrounding the Greatest Grave, inside was a single skeleton, but unlike the others, this one was leaned up against the constructs wall, they could all see the skeletal remains of the hands, each hand was gripping something, in the right was the rusted, wretched remains of a pistol, but in the other, was a crumbled piece of paper, that despite its age was still clean and construable. Carefully Mann reached and pulled the paper from the solid grip of the bones, opening the paper, he finally learnt the truth.

For the paper, a piece of paper covered in dried crusted blood held this persons last message, "Those that the Virus doesn't kill.... Will probably die in the fighting....... this is it.... this is how it ends....... soon...... they will be no one left"