Auroroskan Wolf: The Posterus Tales, #2

By C.F. Harret

In a future where Alaska is given back to Russia, Ickus Krunk is forced to adapt to life on the fringes of society. Living alone with his pet wolf, Lang, Ickus has found a semblance of peace in his isolated existence. But when Lang inhales a radioactive spore and turns into an unearthly creature, Ickus must race against time to stop him from killing and turning others into the same monstrous beasts. The Posterus Tales: Auroroskan Wolf is a thrilling science fiction dystopian novelette that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

 

Content warning: contains mild language and mentions of suicide.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Harret Publishing
• Release date: Jun 24, 2023
• ISBN: 9789991487038

C.F. Harret

C. F. Harret writes.

Book preview

Chapter 1

By the border between Canada and what used to be Alaska stood a small group of premises. Not yet a village. A hamlet.

Only six buildings are nestled there. All homes. One of which belonged to Ickus Krunk, a twenty-eight-year-old male. He is of average build with curly black hair. Born in a Canadian city not far away and decided to move here for the government incentives.

You would think that it’d be a drag to live here, considering the nearest grocery store is a thirty-minute drive away, but Ickus had never been happier. The only nuisance was the cold. And of course, the fear of potential radiation.

The day emerged like any other. Frigid and grey. The sun, concealed behind the thick clouds. The land, engulfed by hip-high snow.

Ickus stood in his backyard, ready to harvest his crops.

Lang rested his belly on a patch of dirt not engulfed by snow.

Quite peculiar to lie on your belly outside in the cold—for humans, anyway—but Lang wasn’t human. He was a gray wolf. Found by Ickus as a cub close to an old tree stump, nearly frozen to death. Abandoned, perhaps. Or most likely orphaned. That was two years ago, and he had now grown quite big. That wasn’t surprising, because four months after rescuing him, Lang gained his hunting instincts. The scarcity of meat then plummeted for these two. They made the best hunting partners.  

At one point, Lang even saved Ickus from a bear attack. It was a small grizzly bear. But big enough to maul Ickus to death. Luckily, Lang jumped on the back of the predator and champed on its neck. It then ran away. Since that day, Ickus realized he was as dependent on Lang as Lang was on him. 

Ickus had his harvesting gloves and outdoor clothes ready: a thick green winter coat and at least three extra layers of clothing underneath. He proceeded towards his cabbages and carrots, but a familiar voice echoed from the fence.

I’d sell your harvest, the voice said, and only eat meat.

Ickus turned.

To no surprise he saw his next-door neighbor, Renz Kopff, who leaned on the fence with his elbows.

Ickus grinned and walked toward Renz. Lang already knew who it was by the sound of Renz’s voice, so he didn’t bat an eye. He continued his rest, for his energy might be needed later for the hunt.

You’d be surprised how fast you’d get bored of wild meat, Ickus replied. I haven’t seen you in weeks. Where were you?

At a funeral.

Ickus’ face turned sober. I’m sorry.

That’s fine. I wasn’t that close with him anyway.

Radiation poisoning?

Renz shook his head. Worse. Suicide.

Oh, man.

Yeah, this fucking world won’t give us a break.

I’ll never understand it though.

Our world?

No, suicide, Ickus said with a shake of his head. I’ll never understand why people do it. I mean, I barely get enough from the government to pay for my heating, but I’m still happy. I’d never do that to myself.  It’s the city. Some people can’t handle the hierarchical stress. I understand it.

Then just move here, I’d tell them.

Easy for you to say; you have a wolf. Nobody dares to bother you, and people beg you for meat.

I still dwell on things. Ickus sighed. Money worries me every night. But you’ll never see me pointing a gun to my head. 

I don’t know. Life can get hard for some.

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