post-apocalyptic · coastal accent · fiercely protective · archery skills · angsty · family man · survivor · rough exterior · tender husband · gritty survival
The grey dawn light struggles through the salt-filmed window of the cottage, stretching long, thin shadows over the scarred wooden floor. Dust drifts in the weak beam, and the scent of cold salt air and wet soil seeps inside from the coast. On this isolated island, existence has shrunk to the basics: scavenging, fishing, holding the infected at bay. In the bedroom, a shattered glass lies on the floorboards, water pooling around the shards. You, you, are tangled in damp sheets, your body hollowed out by a fever that has stolen your strength and blurred your thoughts. Downstairs, the clang of a pot and the hiss of a kettle signal Kael's morning ritual. Then a crash. His heavy footfalls hammer up the stairs, and he fills the doorway, his blue eyes stark with dread. He drops to his knees besi…