“The New Southern Outpost”

Author’s Note: This is a Take Ten to Write story and has not been proofread for errors. If I feel inspired or if there’s interest in the story, I’ll post a revised, edited, and extended version at a later date. Happy reading!

Do you see this picture? This is the only one I’ve got left of the magnificent deer. Did you know that they used to roam our land freely? They were once even seen as a pest!

It’s been many years since I last saw a deer. Of course, you wouldn’t have seen one, you’re much too young. Isn’t it strange to think that such a magnificent creature once existed?

I believe that I once took your father to go hunting for them. Yes, there were so many that we would hunt them for sport. People even used to hang their antlers on the wall as trophies. That seems so silly to you, doesn’t it? Hanging a precious food source on the wall? Well, times have changed.

We used to eat deer meat for food. Yes, the creatures that evolved from deer that you know are very different now. No, I wouldn’t recommend eating their meat unless you wished to grow antlers of your own! But you’re old enough to know that now. Can’t stop an old man from looking out for his grandchild, can you?

Speaking of dinner, I think I saw your mother with a beautiful plate of vegetables. Did you help pick those? Well, they look absolutely delicious. I’ll tell you, even if I do miss meat, I’d much rather be safe than sorry, don’t you think?

If only we had been as careful back then as we are now. I’m sure everything would’ve turned out much different. Then again, your father probably never would’ve met your mother.

Have I ever told you about how your parents met? No? Well, that’s quite a story.

We were just moving outposts, you see. Your father and your aunt were old enough to travel to the new Southern Outpost. Yes, that’s where we live now. Can you imagine that it was new back then? Yes, I’m old, thank you very much.

Anyway, your father wanted to travel ahead to help set up the new gardens at the Southern Outpost. I stayed with your aunt, who, as you know, is quite a bit younger and couldn’t travel by herself.

By the time we got to the Southern Outpost, your father had already set up shop. Everything was prepared for the new arrivals. I remember the first meal we had. Your father had picked all the vegetables and went to give them to the chefs. Yes, you guessed right; one of them was your mother. I distinctly remember your father running back to me, telling me that he was in love.

From that moment on, I barely saw your father; he much preferred spending time with your mother, you see. And you know what? They got married the very next year. Then the giant windstorm hit, and we reinforced the Southern Outpost to what you know today.

Three years after they got married, you came along. Everything has been incredible ever since—no windstorms, no monstrous creatures, no viruses—and I couldn’t be happier.

Final Comments: I had a hard time writing this one. It started off okay, but then I ran out of things to say. I guess I could’ve talked about how the landscape and nature have changed, but I couldn’t think of how to get it to flow nicely.

Overall Rating: 😥