Adult Content Warning
This work could have adult content. If you continue, you have agreed that you are willing to see such content.
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Summary
Over eighty years have passed since the Disaster that ended civilization and covered the world in a permanent layer of snow and ice. Humanity survived, if only barely, and have since then managed to recover a little of what it lost, building settlements and rediscovering technology to help them in their struggle. Every settlement relies on technology for their survival and the Engineers are the ones tasked with maintaining and building it, but despite their importance the Engineers are a dying breed.
Jake and his sister live under constant threat of being kidnapped or enslaved for the skills they possess, so he has learned to be wary of strangers — Raiders in particular, who murder and steal without remorse. But that changes when he meets a Raider he can't quite bring himself to hate. Cougar is different, and causes a myriad of conflicting emotions that Jake would rather not feel to being with.
But when it turns out that Cougar might be able to lead Jake to the key to humanity's continued survival he decides to embark on the biggest adventure of his life, trust issues be damned. It soon becomes obvious that it won't be an easy journey, for more than one reason.
EDIT: 2016/06/01 - Added second bonus chapter