Upon advancing farther into the primeval terrain of a deadland, safety was not guaranteed when stepping foot outside those resilient walls of refuge. No adventurer could rely on watchtower guards out here fully, and wits along with weapons were two important factors for survival. Hence the two aggressive tomahawks gripped securely within both her hands, which sliced stocky vegetation covering a secretive route. Relentlessly hacking and slashing her way through these vines that grew at such an alarming rate. Sometimes enduring further travel along this dense landscape in order to find thinned out or sick vines. Each cleave that separated these vines from their roots resulted in altering them somehow to which they grew stronger occasionally, and additionally destructive. The dying ones sometimes fought back but their actions were nothing her duel tomahawks couldn’t take care of.

Glistening moisture that had once settled atop her skin and dripped down her slim neck began to evaporate. Temperatures dropped slightly at night and she welcomed the change in degree but felt a slight chill adjusting to the switch. Sleeves were soon rolled down while cautiously keeping a close eye on a few non-aggressive animals. Unique specimens strolled along the grimy area of overgrown flora but the predators of unusual size always loomed deeper in the darkness. This was about the same hour it had once arrived to destroy everything she deeply cherished. Only confronting one since that heartbreaking event years earlier and coming to the conclusion that they were either extremely rare or highly adapted hiders. How could a giant praying mantis/spider at least nine feet tall and the length of a polar bear hide? Good question. She sought the answer but has since had no luck in discovering this monster.

With no reason for it to appear by buildings the next best spot would be near outskirts of flooded areas for advantage of camouflage. Tonight would be irresponsible to continue heading there as she noticed a group of starving darklings was already stalking her frame. As soon as Vera readied her tomahawks once more a familiar ear shattering screech echoed and ricocheted off crumbling city walls. Causing the mange infested wolf like beasts to cower with tails tucked between their legs and yelp as if injured. They bolted to the opposite side of where the warning cry sounded and she felt relived yet flustered. Within a single turn of event so much meat had scurried away and vanished into obscurity. Undoubtedly interested she sought the need to investigate what made that noise. A view from above would prove resourceful as she could also take a shot if the unknown brute was within her Dragunov killing sight.

Instinctively she wandered to the first nearby building closest and through a maze of pitch black passageways. Slipping on night vision goggles made this pursuit much easier while trekking about numerous empty doors or holes in the moldy walls until she stumbled upon a roadblock. A ginormous plant remained stationed in the middle of this room as attached tendrils curled casually around a staircase railing. Carefully reaching behind to retrieve her gun blade Vera stood like a stature as it simply swayed carelessly in it’s own element. One lengthy vine began inching toward her but stopped before changing direction to latch onto something in her bag. Retrieving a piece of jerky only to then pat her on the shoulder in thanks? Vera would have dropped her jaw in bewilderment if she could display such emotions but tilted her head to the side curiously before moving. She cast a backward glance at the plant once more before it opened the door for her so she could pass...she would not be trying to walk up these stairs regardless of how cordial this king plant was.

Mixtures of squealing howls were enough to know exactly what lay ahead down a few blocks; more darklings, hideous canine creatures with mange. These things were everywhere so there must be a burrow of them someplace nearby. They also must have found something they wanted desperately but could not reach it. This would be a perfect opportunity to retrieve some game to take back. Returning home empty handed was not an option, and she followed the sounds. Entrance into the front door of the building was impossible but pieces of shattered glass lay strewn next to a broken window. Her blade scraped away all standing shards so she could hop over. Agitated snarling grew while ascending up two flights of weathered steps. Ahead, pawing and gnashing conspired at a tightly concealed door was a couple of hairless canines jumping over each other, and using serrated talons to unsuccessfully claw entry.

Vera took this moment to aim before chucking a tomahawk with full force at one’s neck as it attempted to leap up at the door frame. Shooting them would certainly bring about more no doubt and that would not be wise. After steel collided with flesh her free shot from their distraction ended and she snatched the tungsten hunting knife from a holder wrapped around her thigh. Startled the abnormalities recoiled to the side a bit before their cloudy eyes witnessed the third mutated mutt suspended and pinned against the door. It’s emaciated body trying to wiggle free in vain from the sharp stake end of her weapon only worsening the impalement. In rage they sprinted forward with one leaping for her torso.

With swift movements she dodged while swinging her second tomahawk so it would create a fatal laceration along the hound’s neck. Immediately it collapsed to the first floor level gracelessly after missing its target and overshooting the railing. The other managed to find an opening and landed a heavy lunge knocking the Russian to the ground with a thud, and sending her axe across the air away from her weary body. She had no choice but to lie on her back holding its mangy head upward as it continued to snap at the air combatively. Vera shifted her head slightly on one side to avoid thick drool seeping from the corners of this creature’s gaping jowls. Using energy reserves she thrust a quick stab to the darkling’s jugular vein with her knife, it began to bleed out rapidly and die within seconds. This was a favored method and did not ruin what she needed to do with the corpse’s hide.

A gloved hand latched onto its scruff while standing and she also took a few minutes to retrieve each weapon. After lowering the second darkling body she was able to burst straight into the door after a few tries and kick weak furniture away with her foot. Halting, she stared at the discovery before her; a human, imagine that. She did not expect this in the least and arched a brow. “Huh.” She simply said before casually dropping two freshly killed darkling carcasses’ to the ground and moving to the window this mysterious man was near. She did not seem to care that he was there or why, figuring it was not her place to ask. Binoculars replaced night vision goggles as she intensely focused gazing into them.

“Der’mo.” She cursed under a heavy breath and narrowed intense eyes in ire after placing the item in a compartment on the side of her SRF military backpack.

Anyone would assume the fierce blonde belonged to that particular federation by that bag though her family passed that down to her, making the decision that she had no other choice but join their cause eventually. That was not what she ended up doing obviously and partly she just wanted to rebel. She was not one to live in regret but perhaps if she had made that choice to just follow her families footsteps she could have saved Mti from an unfair demise…Savin would not have been born then, and she began to rethink that situation again. Her fingers would never have run along his growing curly locks or gazed into those large cinnamon colored eyes. He looked just like his father but was a beautiful mix of the two who differed physically.

Splotches of deep garnet had managed to splatter a bit across her over-sized moss colored combat jacket and just below her jaw. This substance did not faze the harsh woman as she let the remnants of it linger without bothering to wipe it away. As long as none of their putrid blood not slip into her eyes causing irritation the essence caused no issue--it added a bit of color to her pale complexion is all. She removed a trove of tools and items a hunter would use to stow away their prize such as a compact bin and dehydration salt.

Within a brief matter of seconds she had put together an agenda of the man only briefly looking him over. In her mind she already had many exit strategies in case a monster would show itself or if this man turned out to be a psycho. He did not look like a cannibal but who truly knew these days? In order to survive she had learned the hard way and failed many times and expected to continue to fail. She knew better than to refuse help but rarely asked for it. She also knew to take all information with a grain of salt. In this world one must look out for number one and cut all ties with empathy. She was not a completely soulless bitch and would lend those in need a hand but trusted no one and held no loyalty to anyone either. Not exactly a mercenary for hire but she did expect things in return. This man owed her even though she had not spoken of debt—yet. She was sure their paths would cross again for him to pay up and it would most likely not be for money.

“Leaving would be wise. More darklings will arrive and I doubt I’ll be around to save you this time.” She said straight faced while slicing into her first darkling kill. Vera’s humor was deadpan as no one could read her emotions, or know if she was serious or joking.

Nimble fingers dissected the creature with quick ease and exact precision. By the way she confidently separated skin from muscle like a pianist composing a masterpiece one could tell she made a living doing just this.

“Here.” She tossed him a can of scent-killing spray without looking. “Use before you go to refuge, I only assume that is your destination but that can helps, sometimes.”

Within a matter of moments the first hide was successfully separated from the bizarre animal and she started on the second. Every moment remaining in one spot lessened her chance to escape without detection.