sort of weapon. Prodding it violently between the gaps in an effort to crush him.
He had never understood their hatred towards his kind. They had done nothing to deserve such persecution. It was as though they were out to eradicate his entire population and their desire to kill was insatiable.
A blood lust he could not comprehend.
The structure was becoming unsteady. He could feel fragments of concrete crumbling around him as it was struck and could hear the slab above him beginning to crack. The monster was making strange sounds and to the warriors dismay the creature had been joined by another.
Peering through gaps in the construction he spotted another possible sanctuary. It looked more substantial and capable of withstanding the onslaught. He had to flee soon but his timing would have to be perfect. The structure had started to collapse around him and the large slab above was baring down on his head from the savage pounding.
Taking a deep breath he sprang from cover and headed directly towards the other shelter. For a few seconds his escape attempt had gone unnoticed but soon they had seen him.
A large object landed ahead of him and somehow he managed to dodge it.
Another projectile then crashed along side him followed by yet another.
Each one sending waves of earth flying every which way and creating blinding clouds of dust. Unable to see clearly he ran on regardless.
The beasts hurtled towards him bashing the ground with their killing tools and making strange loud noises, excited and angry sounds.
Again, the warrior dived for cover amongst the pile of twisted metal and concrete and as before the monsters began to attack it with rage and venom.
Luckily, his assumption had been correct. This hiding place was strong enough to withstand their attempts to capture him and, for now at least, he was safe.
All he could do was hope that they would eventually give up on him and leave, sooner rather than later.
He looked around at his temporary prison. At least it gave shelter from the increasing wind and blinding dust. He squeezed himself through the mangled debris as he negotiated the twisted structure in an attempt to gain distance from his tormentors.
Although this place was stronger than the first there were still chunks of debris flying randomly around with every vicious blow from outside.
It was nightfall before the beasts finally move away.
He had managed to find a little more water below the ground but had already sucked it dry, never the less, it had helped to sustain him a little longer.
He did not dare venture out until he was sure they had left.
He knew they could have set traps for him and that he would have to move cautiously all night. He also knew that if he did not leave they would be back at first light with tools strong enough to break in. These evil monsters were a very determined race and adapted quickly to new challenges.
Warily, he stepped out from under his sanctuary and made his way back down to the open basin scanning intensely as he went. Sniffing the air for there foul stench.
The sky was filled with tiny stars and a full moon was rising above him.
The temperature had already dropped considerably and he knew that the cold was a good thing. The marauding beasts were seldom seen during the cold nights. After all, they knew that their traps were more successful at this time and had no need to be out hunting so much during the darkness. However, he had seen some at night and still had to be on his guard.
Treading carefully he made his way towards the dark horizon.
The wind had dropped taking with it the dust and he was able to maintain a steady pace. The night light was bright enough for him to spot ground anomalies ahead, tell tale signs of the soil being disturbed during the setting of the traps.
Travelling by night was proving easier than during the day. At least it was dark enough for him to be hidden, his dark brown coat helping to conceal him more effectively against the blackened ground.
He was far less likely to be spotted if a beast did happen to wonder by.
To his relief he reached the second pool well before sunrise. This was as far as he had ever ventured from the safety of the underground metropolis.
Beyond this point was unknown to him.
As before, the location of the water source was marked by a large boulder.
He huddled against it and began to dig.
Again, no scent of stagnant water could be detected and it added to his anxiety.
As he approached he had seen signs of others who had been there before him, their foot prints encompassed the large rock. The place was now deserted but he hoped that they had not taken the last of the water. He had checked several shallow holes before he had begun to dig himself. They were dry and empty. Not a good sign.
The ground was harder here, more compact, and the effort of digging through it sapped more energy. He was weak from hunger and knew his strength was beginning to falter.
Soon his excavation was as deep as the others were but he did not give up.
He gouged out more and more soil. There just had to be water below the rock, it was just much deeper than usual. He could not afford to give up.
Eventually, his effort was rewarded by a trick of life giving liquid. It seeped slowly into the hollow and he lapped at it eagerly, clawing his body deep into the pit and mouthing at the trickling, muddy aqua.
At last, with his thirst quenched he scrambled to a sitting position and looked back towards the horizon.
It would soon be light and from this point he had no idea where his journey would lead him. The other underground fortress had to be straight ahead but there was no way he could know that for sure.
Looking around he could see several routes that he could take form his current position. The boulder rested at a point where the landscape beyond it altered. The basin appeared to split into at least three separate plains that stretched into the distance before each being flanked by their own embankments.
It was then that the footprints that encompassed the rock caught his attention. There were many sets of prints all coming and going randomly but then he realised that a little further ahead they became more uniformed towards one particular path where they eventually converged into a trail.
It was not straight on as he would have expected but veered right instead.
This well trodden path would be the most likely to lead him to his destination. Encouraged by his ingenuity he began to follow them.
As he made his way towards the unknown, both sides of his chosen route quickly became flanked by large embankments with tall grasses and thick vegetation.
He began to feel wary and thoughts of a possible ambush sharpened his senses.
He was now able to see a hill or large mound on the horizon and wondered if it was the second city. He had also noticed that hidden traps were more numerous the closer he got. His keen eye had spotted the made ground that covered them. Slight hollows or small rises in ground level, too many neatly placed pebbles or areas too flat and void of any.
He had become an expert at detecting them.
However, as he passed each one he glanced back at it to be able to remember where it lay if ever he was forced to double back. He could probably use the traps in his favour if needed by leading any pursuers into them.
A short while later, rustling to his right made him stop dead in his tracks. He scanned the tall swaying grasses intensely and turned to face the sound. Before long he saw a dark shape nearing the grass line.
He watched silently as one of the second city dwellers emerged with his back towards him. He was dragging something heavy and was too preoccupied with it to have noticed the stranger in his territory.
Each clan that lived across the wasteland had evolved with subtle differences. Natural changes that set them apart from one and other and helped them indentify different clans from afar. Their builds, for instance, or their hair length and colour defined them.
This clan appeared smaller built than his and had sleek
black hair.
The warrior could smell that the enemy was dragging food.
Mercilessly, he attacked without a second thought. He ran and pounced onto his enemy, sinking his teeth into the back of his neck.
Having no weapons had made him an expert at hand to hand combat, using only what he was born to great effect. His killing weapon was predominantly his mouth.
Within a blink of an eye the rival was dead, his neck snapped like a twig.
Being bigger and stronger than this particular adversary the kill was easy.
Almost too easy.
He was now hoping that all the occupants of the new underground labyrinth were all of similar size. If they were he stood a good chance of fighting them for their food and water supplies.
The decision to journey to the second city may prove to be the right thing to have done after all.
For a second his mind dwelled on those he had left behind and the misery that they must be experiencing at this very moment.
Then his attention turned to the large bag the black haired foe had been dragging.
A long gash down it partly revealed its contents. There was food inside but it was far from fresh. He sniffed the air for signs of poison.
An apple core, a fish carcass and large pieces of rotting vegetable appeared to be the largest items amongst the contents. The rest was some sort of runny mush consisting of various sized lumps.
The smell was repellent but the warrior was used to such fetid morsels.
He tucked in eagerly. Food was food after all and he was ravenous. He had no idea when he would eat next and could not afford to let it