Fandom The Day The World Changed { The Last of Us 1x1 with icedthemoon }

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines and Soren Truelson
FEDRA Civilian, FEDRA Officer | 24, 35 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

The world grew dark.

Soren grinned so wide it was like he was a whole different person to the one he thought he was a week ago. He nodded firmly. “Got it.” He kissed him again, because how was he supposed to not do that when they were so close, and finally pulled himself away from the bed. As he crossed the threshold between the bedroom and the living room, his hand caught on the doorframe as he looked over his shoulder and pointed at Jacob. “You have only had to patch me up once. That is hardly called for.” He chuckled before letting go and stepping into the living room. He changed his mind and moved back to the doorframe as he leaned inside one last time. “I love you.” Then he trotted away and to the front door. “Don’t get yourself into too much trouble without me!” Then he moved into the hallway, closing the door behind him, and smiled at Josh. “I knew you’d be waiting on me. Why do I feel like this is going to be how we are all the time?”

And Hayden was alone.
​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua and Jacob Smith
FEDRA Officer, FEDRA Civilian | 24, 30 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Jacob smiled as he heard that and returned the kiss again. He watched as Soren made it to the threshold between the two rooms and snorted laugh as he looked at him. "One too many times." He replied with a wink and then he saw him leave. Before he came back in again. "I love you too." Jacob replied, and then heard his word. "Me?! I would never!" He called back, and then heard the door shut. He'd wait for them to head out before he'd go check on Hayden.

Josh looked at Soren as he came out into the hallway and chuckled, shaking his head. "Because you're obsessed with my brother. And it takes you forever to say good-bye." Josh replied, teasing Soren a little bit as he walked over to him. "Let's go see what's going on at Headquarters today." Josh said, heading towards the staircase. "How is Jacob doing by the way?"​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines and Soren Truelson
FEDRA Civilian, FEDRA Officer | 24, 35 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

“That is unfair and not true,” Soren denied as they walked down the hall. “Obsession has a level of creepy that I promise is not me.” He opened the stairwell door for them both. “I am definitely in love with your brother, which negates any potential creepiness that comes with being obsessed. Which I’m not. I just… find it difficult to think about anything else. Or be anywhere else. Or…” He sighed and shrugged. “But at least it’s not a creepy obsession. As for how he’s doing, I think he’s actually doing surprisingly well for having lost both of his parents in a couple of days.” Soren frowned. “He had a hard night. I didn’t ask him what he was dreaming, but I know it was bad. But he’s doing good. That man is the most remarkable person I have ever met.” Yeah, okay, obsessed. “How… Um. How’s Hayden holding up?”
​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua and Jacob Smith
FEDRA Officer, FEDRA Civilian | 24, 30 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Josh chuckled, listening to Soren as they walked down the hallway. "Mmhmm. Okay, so you can't think about anything other than him, or being anywhere else but its not obsession. Got it." He said with a snort of laughter as he nodded in thanks for the open door. He listened to how Jacob was and nodded. "I'm glad he has you. Sounds like you've been helpful for him." Josh said before he frowned and looked away. "Hayden.. is." He paused, not sure how to answer this. "He's not doing great, but I think he's doing better than before." Josh replied, because he didn't sense anything different from his partner.

Jacob slipped off the bed, threw on some jeans and a shirt before walking out into the hallway and knocking on Hayden's door. He had tried the door and realized Josh had locked the door again. "Hayden? Can I come in buddy?" He called.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines and Soren Truelson
FEDRA Civilian, FEDRA Officer | 24, 35 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Soren smiled just a little. “I’m glad he’s better too. That was rough yesterday. I’m sorry we couldn’t help you more. But I told you.” He placed a hand on Josh’s shoulder as they moved down the many flights of stairs. “If anyone can help him, it’s you. What you guys have is beautiful. I didn’t use to be such a sentimental softy, but um, I’m blaming your brother for the change of heart.” He shook his head at his own thoughts. “Love can conquer anything, right? That’s how I know we can survive. Because the two of you can survive anything.”

The door stayed shut.
The door stayed locked.
The door stayed silent.
Because Hayden didn’t move.
He didn’t want to hear.
So he chose to languish there, rotting away like the flesh of his burdens.
​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua and Jacob Smith
FEDRA Officer, FEDRA Civilian | 24, 30 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Josh heard Soren and nodded as he thought about his partner. "I'm glad too, I was terrified he'd be worse. That this would be even worse for him." Josh admitted as he felt the hand on his shoulder. He looked at Soren and smiled, nodding again. "I'm trying, I really am. I just hope he knows that he can talk to me. And that sounds about right, Jacob is the romantic in the family even if he doesn't want to admit it." Josh said as they made it to the bottom of the staircase. "Love can conquer anything, that is for sure." Josh agreed.

"Hayden? Hayden!" Jacob called, knocking on the door. "Come on. Don't make me bust this door open." Jacob warned, before he sighed, knowing there was no way he could do that. He didn't have that kind of capability. So he pressed his back against the wall beside the door and slid down it, to sit on the hallway floor. "Whenever you're ready buddy." He called, pressing his head back against the wall.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines and Soren Truelson
FEDRA Civilian, FEDRA Officer | 24, 35 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Soren pushed open the door and moved through the front of the building. “He’s pretty strong. He knows that this is hard, but this is going to be okay. We are going to do everything we can to make it better.” He pushed open the front door of the building and moved out onto the streets with Josh. “Headquarters, yeah. See what’s changed if anything and what needs to be done. I know we want to look for Logan and Kyra. Not sure how. I also want to know the status of the area where Jacob used to live. I want to see if we can go back and get some of his things. Anything specific you want to get done today?”

He did not answer. He did not open the door. He did not make sound within the room. It was the kind of silence that came from rooms that lacked an occupant. It was like Hayden left too. Maybe he did. Maybe that was why his body refused to move from the curled position under what felt like mounds that weighed him down. Maybe he left his body. Or maybe his body left him. Or maybe he was trapped. Or maybe he was broken. No. No the answer was that there was no reason to move. There was no reason to be when the world was so dark. When it was so full of everyone who was broken. Breaking. He could see them falling apart. Falling to the ground. Breaking on the floor.
​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua and Jacob Smith
FEDRA Officer, FEDRA Civilian | 24, 30 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Josh looked at Soren, nodding though he did sigh softly. "I know, it's still tough though." He said as they walked outside of the building and towards the headquarters. "The only think I want to do is look for Logan and Kyra. I imagine Logan is still at our old home, but I don't know about Kyra. That's all I want done, but I'll come with you to Jacob's apartment if they allow us to." Josh replied as they walked.

That was it. Jacob got to his feet and looked around, there had to be a way in. He didn't know how to pick a lock and he wasn't strong enough to bust a door open. Jacob had one thing left, one idea that might get Hayden motivated to get up. The apartment was so quiet. Jacob walked across the hall and knocked on Emily's door. She opened it, a little less tired looking today. "Good morning Emily. I hope yesterday was a good rest." He said with a smile as he heard the yell of a little toddler. "I did, though this one is rather energetic this morning and asking about when he can see Hayden again." Emily said with a small laugh. "Well. That's kind of why I came over. I'd like to bring Kai over to see Hayden, we've got some new books for him." Jacob explained as Emily nodded with a smile.

"Kai!" She called and a moment later, he came running out. "Jay! Where 'Ayden?" He asked, cocking his head. "Take care of him, I'm going to get some cleaning done. For such little stuff we have, he makes a mess." Emily said as Jacob scooped Kai up and set him on his hip. "Of course Emily, thank you." He said as he turned away, the door shutting. "Okay buddy, we need to wake Hayden up, wanna try knocking on the door like yesterday?" Jacob asked and Kai giggled, nodding. Once in front of Hayden's door, Kai banged on it loudly. "Knock Knock! 'Ayden! Knock Knock!"​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines and Soren Truelson
FEDRA Civilian, FEDRA Officer | 24, 35 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Soren smiled. “Maybe we can swing that today? I’m not sure how since it’s pretty personal. But we managed to go check downtown while on duty.” They moved with other people who too were heading towards the temporary headquarters. “How do you think we can convince them?” He had a feeling that they were probably going to need to do real things with their jobs, but they could get away with their own ideas. They had so far.

Part of him wished that he could sleep, but he knew that it was not kind. Hayden closed his eyes just to open them again. He stared at the fabric of this blanket given to him by someone he may never meet. He should be thankful. He should care. He didn’t. No, he did. That was why it hurt. Because he did, and he didn’t. He didn’t know what to think. So he laid there trying not to think even thought he was plagued by the knowledge of so much. So so much. His ears ignored the sounds of talking. Voices that didn’t matter. Voices that could not coax him. Voice. Likely voice. The silence left him alone in the dark of his own creation. Until the banging started, and he wanted to cry out for Jacob to leave him alone, though his voice did not work. The voice that followed was unexpected. Kai? Was Kai out there? Hayden stared at the empty wall, unsure what to do. That voice cut through the waking nightmares for just a moment. He should go. There were better places to be than with him. As much as he wished he could say hello. But the dead still held him captured where he stayed. How could he get up? Why? Hayden’s silence was not by choice. He wanted to open the door. No he wanted it just to open.
​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua and Jacob Smith
FEDRA Officer, FEDRA Civilian | 24, 30 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Josh looked at Soren for a moment and thought. “Well, we could call it searching the lesser infected areas for survivors? As for Jacob’s apartment, I think it’s on the edge of the zone so we could call that a patrol too.” Josh suggested, though he wasn’t sure if it would work or not. He just knew he needed to try something, anything.

Kai looked at Jacob when that didn’t work and Jacob sighed. “Good job buddy.” Jacob told him, but Kai didn’t understand. So he banged on the door again, the silence from the room confused the little one. He let out a loud whimper, then a cry and Jacob bounced him on his hip. “Hey, it’s okay. Hayden’s fine.” Jacob said trying to coax the toddler to relax. “‘Ayden!!” Kai cried before Jacob could even attempt to calm him down. A few heads popped out of doors and Jacob waved them off while still trying to get Kaiden to settle, hoping that his mom didn’t come out and wonder why her son was crying like this. So far so good on that front anyway.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines and Soren Truelson
FEDRA Civilian, FEDRA Officer | 24, 35 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Soren thought these were pretty good ideas overall. There were a lot of people. They were going to have to start doing some sort of patrolling and maintenance to make sure what they worked to build so quickly stayed together. “Yeah, that’s pretty good. I know Jacob said he’d like to come with us to his apartment, but I don’t know if we can swing that. I don’t even know if it would be safe.” He opened the door to the headquarters, holding it open for Josh.

The world was dark and w i d e. Hayden kept hands over his stomach as he laid on a bed of shackles that clamped him down. Holding him hostage. Stuck. Frozen. Trapped. All the sticky words that oozed from his mind and took form as monsters he knew were real. He knew it. He could feel it. And nothing could stop that. Nothing. And then came the cry from out of that door. His name screamed by a little boy who sounded like maybe he too was surrounded by monsters. Was he? How could he sound like he hurt too? He didn’t deserve that. He was too innocent. Just a kid. Just a baby. And Hayden wanted nothing more than to take him away from all of that. So he got up. He moved away from monsters. He pushed past the suffocating shadows, fighting to get through the living room. His trembling fingers grasped the doorknob, unlocking everything slowly to finally, slowly, finally pull open the door.
​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua and Jacob Smith
FEDRA Officer, FEDRA Civilian | 24, 30 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Josh looked at him when he heard him speak and nodded. "I don't know if I'd bring Jacob even if it was safe. Some of those apartment buildings might not look.. well great." He admitted, and while Jacob's should be fine since he wasn't in it then, he didn't know either. Josh nodded at the door held open for him and entered. He started making his way to the General's office.

Kai was squirming in Jacob's arms, another bang on the door as Jacob gently took his hand. "Hey. That's enough." Jacob said sternly which drew tears to Kai's eyes as he looked at the door. Large brown eyes, he'd perfected the puppy dog look after all, looked at the door then at Jacob. Wet streaks trailed down his face as he cried. He didn't understand why Hayden wasn't answering. Then the door opened and Kai squirmed and wiggled in Jacob's hold, bound and determined to get to Hayden. "'Ayden!" He cried, arms waving in the air towards him. Jacob was struggling to keep a grip on the wiggle worm of a toddler.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines and Soren Truelson
FEDRA Civilian, FEDRA Officer | 24, 35 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Soren headed towards the General’s office with Josh. “I don’t blame you for not wanting to take him. It’s bad out there in some places.” The door was open. Soren popped his head in to find the room empty. “Shoot. I don’t know where he is. Maybe someone else knows something?" There weren’t other people in the room like before. He swiveled around and started walking back down the hall. Someone was bound to know what was going on. There really needed to be a better communication system in place.

Despite having looked relatively okay for Josh earlier that morning, Hayden now had dark circles around his eyes. His eyes themselves did not have the shine of his life. His cheeks felt sallow as he stood there. All of his skin felt like it might just flop off if he looked at it wrong. Or perhaps if he didn’t. He still wore the same pajamas that Josh helped him put on. He smiled at Kai, because he couldn’t let that little boy see him hurting like he was. the sight of tears on his face made Hayden break in a whole different way. That was unacceptable. They couldn’t let him hurt. Without another thought, Hayden put his arms out and took Kai for Jacob. “Are you playing the knock knock game without me?” He twirled them around, bouncing him and eventually stopping to rest him on his hip. He tapped his nose with a laugh. “Did you come to wake me up? You’re the best alarm clock! Way better than the ones I had before.” That smile decided to stay. For a while. “Now you put those tears away. We have far too much to do for us to be crying.” His own tears were dried on his cheeks as well.
​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua and Jacob Smith
FEDRA Officer, FEDRA Civilian | 24, 30 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

"Yeah, I know he was at the hospital during the outbreak, but the less he sees of these.. less great places the better." Josh said as they got to his office. Oh. Well. That's not great. "Maybe someone else." He agreed, following Soren down the hallway. "We should work on creating a communication system here. Maybe some kind of coms or something?" Josh suggested as they searched. "Should we try that room yesterday?" He asked as they walked.

Jacob saw how Hayden looked, and swallowed hard. That wasn't good. He sighed softly as Kai was taken from his arms. Kaiden saw the smile and giggled when he was back in Hayden's eyes. "Yes!" He said, as he was twirled around and bounced. Kai laughed at the tap on his nose. "Yes! Wake up!" He said with a laugh before he tilted his head. Kai's little brown eyes narrowed as he tried to figure something out. A hand came up and wiped gently at Hayden's face, as if trying to clear the tears that were dried on his face. "What we doing?" He asked, his sentences still not quite formed yet.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines and Soren Truelson
FEDRA Civilian, FEDRA Officer | 24, 35 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

“I know we’ve got radios and walkies, because I used them as part of FEDRA before this mess.” Soren frowned as he headed back down that hall. “Maybe they just don’t have a lot yet. Yeah, let’s head back to that room from yesterday?” He moved down the halls, not seeing too many people around. Maybe they were off doing more things now that the bombing wasn’t their number one action. He stepped into the room with Josh.

Hayden wasn’t sure if it brought him joy or sadness that Kai noticed the tears on his own face. So Hayden kept smiling and wiped away the drying one on the little boy’s face. “You know what we’re doing?” He flew Kai up and around, making the sound effects and everything before landing him down in the middle of the living room. “We are going to take a look at those books in that box. Our real life superheroes Josh and Soren brought those home for us. Go take a look!”
​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua and Jacob Smith
FEDRA Officer, FEDRA Civilian | 24, 30 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Josh nodded as he listened to Soren though he figured that might be the problem. "Perhaps that's the problem." Josh agreed as they walked through the halls. "It's crazy how few people there are around right now." Josh commented as they made it to the room and looked around. There were a few soldiers around but not the General. "Hmm. Perhaps he's busy somewhere else?"

Kai giggled at the hand wiping his tears off his face and then he laughed harder when he was flown up and around. His arms waved as he heard the sound effects and then his feet hit the floor. Kai looked up at Hayden when he heard those words and his eyes lit up. "Books!" He cried out, turning and running towards the box. His eyes widened as he saw several books he'd never seen and then he grabbed one. "'Ayden! Read?" He asked, holding out the shark kids book.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines and Soren Truelson
FEDRA Civilian, FEDRA Officer | 24, 35 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Soren scanned the room and found the same thing. No General. “It really is. Where is everyone? Maybe they’re all out and doing something important? That seems likely.” He turned to Josh. “Alright. Where is this guy? Or maybe there’s someone else we can talk to? I am sure he’s a very busy man running this entire Zone.” He looked back at the people at the tables, but they weren’t really working as fervently as they were before.

Hayden joined Kai as he looked at the books in the box. When those little hands grabbed the shark one first, he could not help but not only be excited but also so full of pride. “That is a great choice, little man.” Hayden plopped down on the ground and patted the spot beside him as he took the book from Kai. “Come sit with me?” He pointed to the cover. “You know what this is?” He looked up to see if he could find Jacob.
​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua and Jacob Smith
FEDRA Officer, FEDRA Civilian | 24, 30 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Josh looked around the rather empty room and walked up to someone at the table. “Alright, who do I talk to about searching apartments just outside the zone?” He asked, and the man looked up and shook his head. “Commander Frye might know. He was put in charge of setting the perimeter up for the zone.” The soldier said as Josh nodded. “Thank you.” He replied and walked over to Soren. “Shall we find this man?”

Kai looked up at Hayden and smiled, hearing him. The moment he saw that pat on the ground beside Hayden, he crawled over. Kai leaned against Hayden’s side as he looked at the cover. “Shark!” Kai said excitedly as he pointed to the shark on the cover. Jacob chuckled and sat down beside Kai on his other side. He found the interaction between the two heart warming and adorable.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines and Soren Truelson
FEDRA Civilian, FEDRA Officer | 24, 35 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Soren listened to the man and nodded. “Sounds like who we need to talk to.” As he began to leave with Josh, he caught the attention of someone he recognized from yesterday. “Do we have people on the warehouse project still?” The man nodded. “Got a handful working on the system they implemented yesterday.” Soren laughed. “That better be ours. Thanks.” Then he kept moving out. “Alright, Josh. Now to find this Commander. I can start yelling if you want. Not everyone likes that though. I wonder where the General is. And everyone else. They were talking about this headquarters not working for them. Maybe they really are looking for a new one.”

Hayden shook his head. “No. That’s not just a shark. That is a great white shark or at least the artist’s representation.” He wrapped his arm around Kai as he spoke so that they were really one for a moment. “You see that nose? Those eyes? Look at this dorsal fin. That’s the one on top. And the pattern with gray on top and white on the bottom? These are easy ways to tell that is a great white. Of course, most sharks in books and movies are great whites even though they aren’t the most common. That would probably be the dogfish, but I don’t think there’s one in this book.” He opened up to the title page with another fun shark. “Are you ready to read about the best creatures in the whole entire world?”
​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua and Jacob Smith
FEDRA Officer, FEDRA Civilian | 24, 30 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Josh nodded as he went to walk before pausing and listening to the two men talk for a moment. He looked around and then turned to Soren when he started walking again. “Well save the yelling for when we need it okay? Let’s ask around first. And it would make sense for him to be finding a new headquarters.” Josh said as they walked. He stopped a few soldiers and asked about the Commander but so far no leads. Hm.

Kai tilted his head confused as he heard the word ‘no’ and frowned. He knew that word all too well. His mom said it to him a lot. He felt the arm wrap around him and listened to the words. “Great white?” He asked curiously as he looked at the shark. And then the page turned and he clapped his hands. “Yes!” He giggled. Jacob watched the two and he knew that his brother was, at the moment, happy. And that was all that mattered to Jacob right now.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines and Soren Truelson
FEDRA Civilian, FEDRA Officer | 24, 35 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Soren laughed as they moved. “Yeah, okay, I’ll save it.” He moved around and started asking for the Commander as well. They ran into a different Commander which did not help them at all. He frowned after a while but eventually found someone who was mildly helpful. “Oh, the Commander is out there directing some of the teams for patrols I think. Or at least he was?” She shrugged after pointing outside the building. “Do you know where ‘out there’ is?” Soren prompted but she shook her head and went about her business. Soren sighed and gestured out. “Well, alright.”

This book was one of those beautiful hybrid books that was riddled with facts while still being full of fun pictures and story elements. He always thought that those were the best way to learn for both children and adults. Textbooks hard great information but struggled to keep people’s attentions. As he read to Kai, he frequently inserted his own knowledge. They weren’t necessarily facts that a two year old would understand or care about, but Hayden said them with such extreme love and excitement, that it was probably fine. Like “you know, these sharks love warmer water. That’s why we see them closer to places in warmer areas of the world. I know I like to be warm better than I like to be cold.”
​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua and Jacob Smith
FEDRA Officer, FEDRA Civilian | 24, 30 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Josh shook his head and chuckled as they kept walking and asking around. Another Commander was no help but then they got a lead, sort of, from another soldier. "Alright, let's head out the main doors and walk around till we find him I guess." Josh said, shrugging his shoulders. He headed towards the main doors and pulled one open, letting Soren through first and then following him.

Kai was fascinated at the pictures, and although some of what Hayden said he didn't quite understand, the tone of voice and excitement made him understand that he liked this book too. Kai was listening though, and occasionally he'd tap Jacob's leg and point, prompting the older man to look at the book. He would of course, and he shifted slightly as well. "I like being warm." Kai said as he listened. "They like the warm too?" He asked, pointing to the shark that Hayden was talking about.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines and Soren Truelson
FEDRA Civilian, FEDRA Officer | 24, 35 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Soren walked out the door, nodding to Josh in thanks. “It really is very difficult to find anyone around here. It probably doesn’t help that we don’t know everyone. This is far more people than we ever had before this disaster. Kind of wish I had brought you on before this. That way we’d be more familiar with the area.” He searched for this Commander Frye. If only he knew what he looked like.

Hayden placed the book on the ground and scooped Kai up into a large embrace. “Of course they like to be warm!” he chuckled as he rocked them. “Doesn’t everyone like to be warm and cozy? Even sharks want to be warm, because being too cold is absolutely no fun. They’re just like people. They’re just like all sorts of animals and creatures.”
​

 

[EquineGurl23]

Joshua and Jacob Smith
FEDRA Officer, FEDRA Civilian | 24, 30 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

Josh nodded as they walked outside and looked around. "But we didn't even know this was going to happen so that's kind of.. a hard thing to wish. Though I had considered joining the army when they first approached me when I turned eighteen." Josh admitted as they walked around the base. Up ahead was an older man, bald and kind of short giving orders. "Looks like he might know where the Commander is, or might be him." Josh said, heading towards him.

Kai giggled as he was scooped up and rocked. He looked up at Hayden with those large brown eyes. He listened to him with a curious expression. "Sharks like us?" He asked, a smile on his face. "Warm and cozy, like this." Kai added, laughing and smiling at the rocking motion. It was so weird to him that animals that he liked were so much like them.​

 

[icedthemoon]

Hayden Gaines and Soren Truelson
FEDRA Civilian, FEDRA Officer | 24, 35 | Current location ;; Seattle Quarantine Zone

This was true. It would be difficult to have prepared for this when they did not see it coming. They could prepare for a lot but not this. “Huh. That’s interesting. I am curious why you didn’t join then.” He followed Josh as they headed towards the older man. Even if he was not the Commander, he had to be someone important. Only important people ordered others around. “Hello, sir,” he greeted as they got closer. “Would you happen to be Commander Frye or know where we could find him?”

Hayden nodded. “Oh yes. Sharks are just like us. They may be big and scary looking, but that’s just because they look different.” He released Kai from the hug and pointed to the shark on the page. “This little guy has a mommy just like you!” He pointed to the bigger shark on the page. “And just like you, these little babies are so grown up that they can swim on their own super super fast.” He gently poked Kai’s chest. “I mean look at you. You’re already super super fast. Just like a shark!”
​