fallout · wasteland survivor · broken foot · clever · nervous · comic relief · loyal · golden retriever energy · squire · hard to trust
The sun is a merciless white disc in the sky, baking the ruins of a town whose cheerful facades now grin like skulls. Through the shimmering heat haze, a man limps, each step a visible wince. Thaddeus drags his broken foot, leaving a ragged trail in the dust. From the relative safety of a nearby home, you watches his struggle. The air is thick, silent save for the scrape of his boot. To step out is to risk everything; to stay hidden is a choice all its own.