May Dawney - Survival Instincts

“Have fun!” Ren shook her head, but the smile that appeared on her features was genuine.

Lynn took the stairs down with equal speed only a few minutes later. This time when Dani appeared in her field of vision, she wrapped her up for a genuine kiss, clean hands traversing her back. She was still careful with Dani’s slowly healing wounds, but Ren had taken the stitches out a week ago and Dani had already regained most of the weight she’d lost during her recovery.

Just to have Dani up and about again—although slowly—was a relief Lynn was grateful for every single day she woke up next to her. She didn’t have a doubt that before long, Dani would be out with her to trap, hunt, and explore.

The subject of trading and scavenging farther away from the Homestead was often broached but never decided upon. Dani had to be stronger first, and Lynn wasn’t at the peak of her abilities yet either. Years of malnutrition and adverse conditions were manifesting now that Lynn had the opportunity to rest, eat regularly, and sometimes even relax and do absolutely nothing. She needed more time to recover, and as long as she provided in her own way, people were patient. Because of their recovery, their trial period was officially still in effect, but so far, Lynn hadn’t found a single reason not to extend it indefinitely.

“We’re going to miss them,” Dani said against her lips. She slid her fingers into Lynn’s hair and pulled her closer. Despite Dani’s still frail condition, there had been plenty of time to explore and discover, and Dani knew damn well what running her fingers through Lynn’s hair did to her.

Lynn shivered and pulled back with great reluctance as a now very familiar need settled low in her gut. She shook her head and took Dani’s hand. “It’s a block away. We’re not going to miss them, unless, of course, you keep teasing me.”

Dani shrugged, eyes full of mischief. “I wasn’t doing anything of the sort.”

Lynn snorted and tugged at Dani’s arm so they could start the short walk to their destination. “You are a damn liar, Dani Wilson.”

“Am not.” Dani laughed and bumped against her as she gripped her hand.

“You are, and I’m okay with it.” Lynn glanced aside and took in Dani’s sharp features, slowly filling in now that she was eating again and the fever was long gone. Dani’s walking speed was still slow, but Lynn didn’t feel the need to rush her. They had made the trek at least a dozen times now, and they knew every shadow and obstacle to watch. Lynn wouldn’t say she felt safe, but she certainly felt prepared. Her tomahawk lay as comfortably in her hand as Dani’s hand did in the other.

They made it up the ladder to the lookout point with only seconds to spare. Dani hurried across the gravel-covered roof as fast as her sore abdomen allowed and eagerly looked out over the street below.

Lynn caught up and wrapped her arms around Dani’s waist from behind, laying her chin on her shoulder.

Already the sound of distant thunder filled the air.

She pressed her lips against Dani’s shoulder. “I told you we’d make it.”

Dani wrapped her arms around Lynn’s and stroked the back of her hand with her fingertip. “You were right.” She leaned her head back, but her gaze remained glued to the left side of the street.

“I usually am.” Lynn took the slap to her arm as well-deserved punishment.

“Here they come.” Dani craned her neck.

The herd appeared around the corner like clockwork. They filled the width of the street with ease and bleated warnings about obstacles in their path for the rows of peers behind them. They were heading out of the city for the night after drinking from the park’s pond. Lynn had tracked their progress one day, just to see where they were going and where they came from, and once she realized they always came through here, she had taken Dani along as a kind of recovery walk. The black and white stripes still made for a jarring image, and Lynn’s eyes failed to settle on any one of the zebras specifically.

Dani’s head moved from side to side lightly as she had the same dizzying reaction. “They always make me think of Richard.”

“Why?”

“Because they thundered past when we got to the car dealership like a… sign.” She swallowed. “I miss him.”

Lynn kissed her shoulder softly. “I’m sorry I never met him.”

Dani turned her head to brush their lips together. “You two would have gotten along.” She returned her gaze to the spectacle in the street. “Very well.”

“Do you know what I think of when I see them?” Lynn watched the stragglers trying to catch up with the herd. Once Dani shook her head, she continued. “Of the way my life has changed since I first saw one of them. I think of you and Skeever and the Homestead and that I was so wrong about life.”

Dani turned around in her arms and wrapped hers around Lynn’s neck. “A lot has changed.”

Lynn laughed. She ran her hands up the leather of Dani’s vest. “Yeah, you can say that again.”

“It was worth everything that happened.” Dani leaned in and brushed her lips over hers. “It got me you.”

A familiar heat settled on her cheeks. When she slowly broke away and rested her forehead against Dani’s, words she’d been dying to say for weeks now bubbled up in her throat. Maybe it was finally time to say them. She lifted her head and captured Dani’s gaze. “You know I love you, right?”

For a second, Dani just stared, then a radiant smile spread across her lips, and she nodded. “Yeah, I know. And you know I love you, right?”

Lynn’s insides fluttered in a mixture of joy and nervousness. “I do.”

Dani exhaled in mock relief. “Good, because if I have to nearly die again to get you to notice me, I—”

Lynn cut her off with a forceful, reaffirming kiss. “Don’t you dare, Settler. Trust me, you have claimed my undivided attention.”

In the streets below a last straggling zebra bleated as it galloped past, slowing only when it caught up with the waiting herd.

When May was a child, her father read Asimov and Zelazny to her. As a teenager, she gravitated toward science fiction, (future) fantasy, dystopian, and occult stories, even though there was never a character she, as a queer woman, could fully identify with. May’s motivation to write comes from the desire to create stories where women turn to women once they stop the apocalypse—be it a global or a personal one. She wants to write the stories she wishes her father could have read to her as a child: riveting tales with a heroine who kicks ass and just so happens to be gay.

Website: www.maydawney.com

Twitter: @MayDawney

E-Mail: contact@maydawney.com

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