[ENG] Hello everybody! ^^ Usually I'm writing texts in my homeland, Polish language, but I've finally found strength and time to make something in English. In the veeeeery distant past I've wrote few short stories in that language, so I don't have much experience with it. So please, have mercy and don't smash my face with too harsh critique.

"Written at Night" is a large collection of fantasy/sci-fi/comedy/romance short stories, introducing mine and guests characters in various situations and timelines. Usually I'm writing them lately in the night cause of my lifestyle, so that's from where the title goes. :D

Reeden & Vaalandil -

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Written at Night
by ©Reeden Landshey
2018-03-02

“I don't know what's worth fighting for
Or why I have to scream
I don't know why I instigate
And say what I don't mean
I don't know how I got this way
I know it's not alright
So I'm breaking the habit…”

- Earth’s calling Reed! Please respond immediately! – shouted someone close to Anthren’s head. The brown cougar jumped lightly, tearing off partly damaged headphones from his ears.
- Jesus Christ on the bicycle, mate! – he screamed. – Do you want to give me a heart attack?! I was just checking this old stuff I’ve found in the lockers room.
- Ooooh? Anything interesting? – Grey wolf took a short look with his only orange eye on the device that Reeden was holding in his paw.
- Just an old music player – Cat replied, putting it back on the desk, along with the headphones. – The display is broken and the battery was empty, but I’ve revived it with my power bank. Seems like that few files survived on it, so I decided to test it. That old music sounds odd, but I really like it.
- Well, if you say so. – Vaalandil smiled lightly. Reeden knew that he’s not really interested with such small things. – I’ve found some parts that can be usable for Jinx, and the weapon stored in the basement. – He put shotgun, two M4 and four pistols on the table. - They’re pretty old, but I think I can find an ammo for them once we’ll be back into the Bastion.
- More weapon, eh? – Reed sighed, walking around damaged desks, PCs and displays that they were laying on the floor in completely mess. The room was covered in dimness, caused by large branches that were breaking in through windows. – Do we need it anyway? I thought that there’s enough of it stored in Dawn’s warehouse. We’re not going on the war with anyone in the near future, are we?
- Weapon is always needed, Reed. – Vaal looked on the brown Anthren with seriousness. – Not only against that deamn wildlife outside Bastion, and bloody thieves. Living here is a trial of the fittest. If you don’t have enough strength to oppose the enemy, he’ll take everything from you. And other Bastions around the country aren’t playing friendly and nice.
Reeden snorted.
- Not all Bastions are like that – he said. – In Great Britain…
- Great Britain’s Bastions are for island pussies that they’re drinking their bloody tea in the morning and eating biscuits for breakfast – Wolf interrupted him with anger. – And here, in the middle Europe… This is the deepest part of hell, comparing to them. Even those… “Pros” from Canada weren’t able to handle threat behind the eastern border of Poland. Not to mention that no Anthren returned alive from the southern part of Russia.
- But…
- There is no “but”! – Vaalandil growled. – We’re not living in the playground for puppies. And if you think that you can do it better, then go on! Let’s see how long you’ll survive, having sharpened stick as a weapon, and with that notebook and pen of yours in the bag. Maybe if you’ll read one of your stories for that wild animals or Outsiders, they’ll spare you.
- Chill mate, I’ve already got the point of your speech – Reed replied calmly, taking his bag from one of smaller branches and putting it on the shoulder. – No need to get tense. And I’m also not freshly born on this world, so you can cut your emotionally educational speeches.
Vaal muttered silently something about being soft pussy who plays in an adult, but brown Anthren ignored him, leaving the office’s floor and walking on the stairs next to the broken lift. Many steps were partly crumbled, or they were missing, so walking down was requiring a lot of caution. But for Reeden it was like a big playground – he spent most of his childhood climbing on the highest trees in the eastern part of Scotland.
After few minutes he went outside the ruined building, squirting cause of amount of daylight. When his eyes finally got used to the midday sun, he could take a look around the area.
The central part of Frankfurt was in advanced stadium of decay. Most of the buildings were demolished, or they were missing part of the walls or floors. The nature has already regained control on the city – big trees were growing from the crumbled street’s surface, resting their big trunks and branches over the buildings. Abandoned, partly destroyed cars, covered with grass or ivy, were serving as a hideout or nests for smaller animals and birds. There wasn’t any signs of living Anthrens around.
- Enjoying the calm breeze on your soft fur? – Vaal asked meanly, joining Reed few minutes later. – Move your fluffy ass to the car, we don’t have whole day.
Both Anthrens moved quickly down the street, walking as fast as their equipment allowed them. Few big, colorful birds flew up into the sky with a loud screeching when they were passing next to the wrecks. Grey wolf was nervously looking around, and Reeden knew why – they could be attacked in any moment by an evolved form of wildlife… Which was way deadlier than the Outsiders and their weapons.
After a stressful quarter of an hour Reeden and Vaalandil reached their car. Black, reinforced Jeep Grand Cherokee was covered with a big, dark canvas, and a few branches with leaves.
- Finally – Val said, taking off the camouflage from the Jeep. – ‘Kay, put all this stuff into the trunk and put your ass into the car! My bottle of whisky won’t wait forever for…
And then they saw it. Two felines, serval and lynx, both beyond four meters height were standing at the other end of the street, clearly observing both Anthrens. When Vaal noticed that, wild cats suddenly started to move quickly into wolf’s and cougar’s direction.
- Shit, shit, shit! – Vaal screamed, opening Jeep’s door with a flourish. – Into the car, now!
Distance between them and two predators were shorting drastically. Grey canine jumped on the driver’s seat, trying to start the engine, while Reeden throwed equipment on the backseat, hooping in next to the Val.
- C’mon you bloody, rusted piece of steel, start working! – Vaalandil growled, punching the wheel angrily, while engine was wailing painfully. Brown cougar stuck his claws in the seat, looking through the car’s window as lynx and serval were approaching closer and closer every second.
Finally, the engine roared loudly, announcing that it’s finally ready to go. The canine switched quickly on the reverse gear, pushing accelerator deeply into Jeep’s floor with his paw. The distance between predators increased slightly, but only for few second. Two wild animals didn’t want to give up so easily, still pursuing their meal’s promise.
- Turn the fucking car, mate! – Reeden screamed. He could see now how big lynx’s fangs are, which was the closest to the vehicle.
Vaal growled, suddenly turned Jeep’s rear into one of adjacent, smaller streets. Moving the wheel quickly he turned car around, accelerating as much as the surroundings was allowing him to move forward. Reed took a look through the car’s rear window – it seemed that they have lost the predator’s pursuit. With a loud sigh of relief, he sank heavily into his seat, closing his eyes. They were safe… At least for now.
- Double whiskey with ice… - Grey wolf muttered, taking the route back to the Bastion. – And I sincerely hope that Lizzy have the free evening, because alcohol may be insufficient for relax after all this.