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[∴₼_Caden Ortiz_₼∴] The world had gone gray by the time Caden Ortiz spotted the old hunting cabin through the trees. The building sagged beneath a layer of snow, tucked between two pines like it was trying to hide. Its roof was patched with rusted tin and dark shingles, some missing. Smoke hadn’t touched the chimney in a long while. Maybe years. Maybe decades. Still, it was shelter. Caden dismounted, boots crunching through the crusted snow. Cutter stood patiently behind him, steaming in the cold, his saddle creaking as he shifted weight. Caden stepped onto the creaking porch, shotgun now in hand. He tested the door with a gloved hand—locked, of course. He gave it a solid shoulder, and the brittle wood cracked open, protesting with every inch. Inside, dust floated in the stale air like ghosts. A table sat overturned in the corner, one leg missing. Shelves lined the walls, mostly empty, save for a broken lantern and a few cans long past expiration. The fireplace sat cold and lifeless. Caden’s eyes moved across the room with practiced caution. He didn’t speak. Didn’t call out. There was no one to answer anyway. He shut the door behind him and gave it a quick once-over with some wire from his pack—enough to buy him a few minutes if anything tried to get in. He lit a match, found a few twigs in the fireplace, and coaxed a tiny flame to life, feeding it with careful hands until it took. Outside, Cutter snorted softly, pawing at the snow. Caden opened the small back door of the cabin and led the horse into the lean-to attached to the side. It wasn’t much—just a few old boards and a partial roof—but it was out of the wind. Caden unsaddled him, rubbing Cutter down with rough strokes. The horse leaned into it, his dark eyes half-lidded, calm in the way only animals could be when they knew their person was nearby. "You and me, Cut," Caden murmured. "Still breathing." He hung the hare from a nail outside and returned to the fire, shrugging off his jacket and setting his weapons carefully by the wall. He sat down hard on the floor, legs stretched toward the warmth. The silence returned. Not the peaceful kind—more like the absence of something that should’ve been there. Humanity had choked itself out, leaving behind bones, broken machines, and the echo of voices that once filled cities. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the small lapis pendant. It gleamed faintly in the firelight. His mother’s. He didn’t wear it for hope. He wore it so he wouldn’t forget. Night began to fall, and with it, the temperature. He leaned back against the log wall, fingers resting near the trigger of his shotgun, eyes never quite closing. The world was still out there. Dangerous. Cold. Empty. But Caden wasn’t dead yet. And tomorrow, he’d ride again. |
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☆willow wonder☆ the woods were unforgiving that night as willow darted through the treetops her horse had gotten untied and now there was no sign of the grey mare. _____________________ With a thud willow jumped to the ground tree jumping was going to kill her in the heavy snow. Whistling she heard a familiar nicker. "Bullet here gall!" She Coaxed. But the mare took off into the woods leaving willow to sprint through knee deep snow behind her. After running for a bit she spotted the mare again next to an old hunting cabin. Bullet looked at willow with her ears perked before reaching down and opening the door with her nose. Willows eyes grew wide her horse was going to get her killed "BULLET NO STAY, BULLET STOP" She half yelled at the mare running forwards and grabbing ahold of her halter. Scanning the now open cabin she saw a man around her age and she knew he was armed. |
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Caden heard the commation and immediately stood, grabbing his shotgun and loading it. When the mare nudged the door open he raised it, taking aim as he wrapped his finger around the trigger. "Don't even bring another idiot," He muttered, scowling as a woman made way in. "Go on and get, unless you plan on staying for the night or fighting me for this dump, I suggest you leave." Caden announced, voice a low snarl as he spoke. Meanwhile, Cutter nickered at the mare, watching the interactoin go on. |
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"I'm jut getting my horse idiot, unless you want to keep her" willow snapped glaring at caden. Bullet lifter her head and nickered back at cutter happy to see another horse. As willow pulled on her halter the snow and wind howled outside "cmon Bullet" willow grumbled backing her mare up and swinging onto her back. The mare only had a bareback pad on with stirrups and multiple leather bags filled with stuff connected to it. "Get on" willow clicked at her mare the grey beauty disappearing into the storm without a trace. |
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Caden glared at the exchange, kicking the door closed as a storm started. He went back to the fire and sat, eventually drifting off. He awoke the next morning at a early time, saddling Cutter before swinging on and bringing his rifle to go grab some food. Caden made his way into the forest before eventually seeing numerous shadows run around him, he scowled, and, as he predicted, a few wolves popped out, growling at the two. The man just chuckled, effortlessly pulling his rifle off his back and putting it in one hand, his reins in the other as he spurred Cutter into the trees, shooting like a madman behind him until all the wolves had been shot. He circled around the three and reached down off his saddle, pulling all three over top Cutter's back before making his way back to the cabin, collecting ammo along the way. |
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(Help its putting me off- my younger brothers name is caden spelt exactly the same) Willow stalked through the woods her bow as she heard a rustle she drew back. Letting the arrow loose it struck a small spock right in the heart the little buck took off and willow had to swing on bullet and chase after it. After bushwhaking throught the woods she found the buck tucked away in some bushes. Tossing her reins over a tree and tying the spunky mare up she grabbed her dagger and field dressed the deer before putting him in a leather bag ad tying it to the rings on the bare back pad. |
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(lol) Caden loped through the woods, hearing a few rustles just to his side as he silently stopped Cutter and slid off, dagger in hand. He slowly stalked to a fox sniffing around, and in one quick motion, his blade was in its neck. The man drew the blade out and waited until the animal stopped moving, tossing it up onto Cutter's back to join the wolves. "C'mon Cutt, not like you can handle too much anyways." Caden said, voice slightly iced as he hopped back on and kicked the gelding into a lope, following his path once more until they made way back to the cabin. He put a nail through each animal to hang on the cabin, yanking the rabbit down to cook as he tossed it inside and kept Cutter tacked up. |
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>!< Isadora Mangrove >!< _________________________________________________________________________________________________ I truged up the mountains with my horse "River", my body ached and we both were tired. We continued up the mountain but I was hoping it wouldn't be to much of a hasle for River. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ It was raining by the time I reached my destination. A small cabin hidden behind pine trees and covered with melted snow due to the rain. I slightly raised an eyebrow at the cabin, it was broken down, shingles missing, everything seemed wrong with it. Two horses already stood outside the cabin, hitched to the post. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ I dismounted from River, my riding boots sinking into the snow. I looked back at River who was grazing alongside a horse that I didn't regonize. I huffed before walking up the stairs and kicking the snow off my boots. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ I didn't bother to knock, instead I just walked directly through the door. My eyes scanning the cabin, it was small but roomy at the same time. I scoffed at the dust covering the floors, shelves and everything else in between. I closed the door behind me and crossed my arms. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ My eyes imediently landed on two riders already inside the cabin, my brow shifted upward as if judging them. "So, what did I miss?. Seems I missed something here", I said and tossed my hat onto the coat rack that hid in the corner. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ I walked towards the kitchen and grabbed a chair before flipping it around and sitting on it, my arms resting on the back end of the chair as I stared at the other riders. |
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"You missed nothing besides arguments," Caden informed, eating the pot of soup he'd made. He'd no idea who this new person was, just a stranger in his mind. Nothing else then another idiot trying to rob him. Again. |
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Willow looked up hearing bullets very dramatic squeal. Seeing a person walk into the cabin she raised and eyebrow. Before flipping down on the ground with hair and dust flying everywhere "the green grass" willow replied sarcastically wit a roll of her eyes |
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Evening Thunderstorms, Hail Possible
