Outside ~ Pt 2

Chapter 2

It was cold. So cold. I shivered. They had heating in the City. And warm food. And warm beds...
I was so tired, I was falling asleep on my feet. But I had to keep walking. Walking keeps you warm. Walking means you might find something. Food, water, shelter, something.
I wasn't equipped for this. They don't teach you about Outside in City schools. Apart from that you should never go out there. And now I have. But I don't know how.
I got up, having sat on a log without realising. I stumble over something. Something soft. And furry.
I hold it up to the City lights, and I see the outline of a toy bear. Just like the ones they had in the museum. What were they called again? Teddy bears? Yes, that was it, teddy bears. We are not encouraged to play, since the children of the City rebelled around 30 years ago. They didn't want to go to school and learn about maths, politics, writing. They wanted to play.
So now they have no toys. My first presents were an abacus, then a book (no pictures) then a calculator. We were brought up as adults.
I was not really surprised to see a toy out here, though it shocked me to see one at all. Most of the toys were burnt, though some where thrown out, to the Wilds.
I hugged the teddy, it's kindly face soothing my nerves. I sighed, almost contentedly.
THUMP, THUMP, THUMP.
I heard the sound of something large coming towards me.
THUMP, THUMP, THUMP.
I could hear its feet hitting the ground and it trampling all the trees and shrubs.
I ducked behind a fallen log. I hoped it had a bad sense of smell, else I was dead meat.
My heart was thudding so fast, I could hear the blood in my ears. The thing had entered the clearing I was in. I heard it roar, close by, but dared not look. I hugged my new-found teddy to my chest, hoping it would muffle the sounds of my hard beating heart.
The beast roared in my direction. Too late.