The soldier stared out at the desolate horizon. He wasn't sure how long he had been at the outpost, but he knew he was the only one left. Supplies were all but gone, but he still managed to groom himself and care for his uniform. He still marked his time down, kept his schedule, and took pride in his daily tasks.

The cold bit hard today though. There was little light, the clouds covered the sun. He saw no animals, not even the snakes he had seen near the river when he was first stationed could be found. Did the cold drive them away? He wondered.