Plotline

[Coldfire]

The year is 2013. The rumours of the end of the world flew through the air like wildfire last year. We remember them well, though they seem so long ago. You may think these the ramblings of a crazy old fool, but do not let your pride get the best of you. This apocalypse, it did happen. If you do not believe me, look around you at the shambles of the buildings that remain and tell me how they got there, if not for the many dead that have been blown away like dust on the wind.

There were once many other creatures, small and large. Many of them died with the plague. It was vicious and fast acting, spread through the water, the air, the food, everything. Everyone not affected became a carrier as it latched onto fur, skin and bone. It hit the humans first. You young pups, you may not remember the humans. Many of them were our friends, our companions. We trusted them; however, they caused this downfall. They tampered too much with the natural order of things, and our mother, the earth herself, rebelled. That was the start. The plague spread quickly, diversifying and spreading to other creatures. Horses, pigs, cows, and many other domesticated animals were taken out. Within a week, the population of most had been cut down to half. Some species, they say, had already been wiped out.

Naturally, many didn’t take this well. Fear got the best of many of our human friends. In retaliation, they blamed the government and health officials, for the most part. There were other targeted groups in various cities, of course, and mistakes were made. Many houses were destroyed by fire, rocks and whatever else people could get their hands on. Riots were plenty, and killed a great many before the plague could. The ruins around us are what remain of their great dynasty. Few of us are surprised. They were always more susceptible to their animal nature than they liked to believe, and what they did when they were faced with death only confirms this.

Us dogs, we got lucky. Somehow, by a blessed miracle, we survived. Some consider it a curse, of course. Then others, the pessimists, they claim that the contagion is still in the air, that it is only a matter of time until it is capable of spreading and infecting us or our prey. It has been months, however, since the breakout, and it took only one month to complete the mass extinction. If it were to happen, it would likely have already occurred. But now, we are left behind to fend for ourselves. Many were too tame; they could not make it in the harsh world outside of a loving home. Others thrived and took over cities in massive packs. There is conflict, as there always will be, but now, more than ever, we are brought together. We must stay together, in order to survive. So take this history with you now, share it and spread it among your kin. Do not let it die out, for this is our legacy. This is all we have left of what we used to be. However, try not to let it hold you back. Instead, expand your horizons and learn to live in this new, dangerous world. We must, if we are to survive where some of our fellow creatures have not.