Ceder Hill - Scavenging

Posted on Tue Sep 23rd, 2025 @ 12:47am by New York Survivor George Brooks & New York Survivor Amythyst

3,150 words; about a 16 minute read

Mission: Safe Harbor
Location: Various
Timeline: September 19th 2010

Amy, gathered her three assistants. Andrew, Patrick and Austin. She had checked their clothing, sensible shoes, jeans and long sleeved shirts. Then she gave each of them a knife to be hooked into their belts and an empty backpack each and a filled canteen of water. “George is at the boat," she said to them. “Let's go.”

The three boys grinned and headed for the dock. Amy followed, dressed pretty much the same as them, her machete hooked into her belt. She carried two backpacks. One held food for their trip, the other was empty. George and she had placed several boxes from the storage area in the boat to hold anny supplies they found. She followed the boys to the dock where they were bouncing, waiting for George to let them on board.

Having gotten an early start, George had made sure that the cruiser they had escaped the city with, by far their best boat, in all aspects,had plenty of fuel and emergency gear. His goalie stick was in a mount he had jury-rigged against the bulkhead to his right, then standing at the helm. He had managed to clean most of the blood off of its hard plastic blade, and he silently hoped it ould be a long time before he'd have to use it on another normal person.

Seeing the team arrive, he smiledwhen his eyes locked with Amythyst's. "All aboard!" He called out to the team, offering a hand to each of them as they climbed aboard.

The boys chatted eagerly between themselves as they took seats.

Amy climbed aboard and put her bags down. "Ok.." she held out the map. "Our destination is a town. Hopefully abandoned."

George took the map and carried it over to the chart table. It took him a few beats, but he found a matching island on his charts. After doing some calculations, he nodded. "Okay, we should have more than enough fuel to get there and back. Sailing time would be about thirty minutes, each way." He looked up at her as he continued. "Of course, if we can't find more diesel soon, then we will need to find a sailboat. Once the fuel, oil and lubricants all needed to run these machines are gone, that's it. They would be nothing more than hunks of metal to be stripped for raw materials."

Amy nodded "Ceder Hill has a marina area. We might find stuff there." she suggested.

George nodded slowly as a thought occurred to him. Looking over at Amythyst, he said, "Amythyst, you do know that there is a good chance someone else had the same idea as we do. This boat is our current lifeline off the island. If, when we get close enough to see, there looks to be danger, I'm going to abort. We are kids, and don't have any way to protect ourselves right now, but running and hiding. Now, I'll protect you all as best I can, should things go sideways, but, all I've got is my hockey stick and some martial arts training. If they have guns...." he didn't finish the sentence.

Amythyst nodded. "I know and I am aware." She replied. "But I also know we need the supplies if we are to get through this."

George nodded again, then replied, as he exhaled. "Then let's get going, and keep our fingers crossed." He gave her a quick grin as he finished speaking.

After casting off the lines to the dock, George slowly moved the boat away from the boat house and out into open water. As he increased their cruising speed, George said aloud to the small group, "Okay, get comfortable, but keep an eye out for any sign of danger. Si far, it looks like we're going to be okay with weather and the water isn't too rough right now."

Amy got the boys into look out spots and moved to stand beside George. "We have got this" she said brightly, trying to stay positive.

George couldn't help but smile at Amythyst when she stood close to him. He felt a bit of a flutter in his stomach when their eyes met, causing him to blush noticeably as he turned his eyes back to the water ahead of them. "So long as we are together, we are strong."

Amy nodded. "Yes" She pointed towards the coast. "I looked at maps, and read the information. Cedar Hill is a small, semi-rural town nestled among gentle hills and scattered woodlands, its layout centred around the modest artery of Main Street. To the northwest sits HearthMart, a large, warehouse-style store likely used for general goods and survival supplies, just a short 300-foot walk from the heart of town. Northeast of that, roughly 150 feet away, stands the Cedar Hill Clinic—a sturdy, two-story structure providing the town’s medical care. Opposite the clinic, across a lightly wooded rise, lies Builder’s Depot, about 300 feet away, a durable supply depot stocked with tools and building materials. South of Main Street lies a cluster of residential homes, with two main areas spreading westward and southwest along Willow Street. These neighbourhoods, modest and spaced apart, provide shelter within 100 to 250 feet of the main shops. Further southeast, a narrow track leads to a sturdy wooden dock jutting into the water, around 250 to 300 feet from the nearest buildings. The entire town is walkable within minutes, its buildings set amid open clearings, groves of trees, and signs of nature slowly reclaiming the edges." She recited. "I drew a mud map" She pulled a piece of paper out of her jacket pocket. And placed it beside the wheel. "If we dock at the dock, hide among debris..."She paused. "We might be able to get to the main places. And there are more secure places along the coast so we might be in luck."

George blinked several times, as he tried to absorb everything that Amythyst had just told him. "We're lucky there was such a detailed map of the target area back at the house we found. I wonder why the original tenants both made it, then left it behind?"

"It was a tourist book to be honest. I like to think they had some place better to go."

"Well, here's hoping we can get in and out without any dangerous encounters.' George carefully piloted the boat towards their target, still nearly twenty minutes away at their current speed.

"I cleared out the cabins below so we can store as much as we can." Amy said. "And while you were on the other island, I managed to get several trees down to dry out for firewood." She looked towards the mainland. "Winter is going to be hard."

George grinned softly as he glanced at Amythyst. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you'd been training for this moment your whole life. You are definitely going to be the main reason that we all survive." Her strength and sheer will of steel was very attractive to him. He was starting to find it difficult to not think of her in a romantic light.

"My mother was never around. I had to make sure i survived well before this happened." Amy said.

-Cedar Hill-

Amy looked around the huge warehouse store she had just entered. It was empty of movement. She was glad she could wedge the doors open. The whole town was empty. It would be good to get everything they could. She had told the boys to get whatever they could from the boat shop and the animal feed shops then send one of them to the warehouse.

Amy had a mental list and it was long. And it started with clothing and bedding. Amy found the luggage area and dragged over to the clothing section every large suitcase she could find. Without are for coat hangers, she started with the adult clothing. All sizes in men’s and women’s, and then the underwear and socks. And then swimwear and wetsuits. Then she moved to the children’s sections and did the same. Pants, jeans, tee-shirts, long sleeved shirts, vests, jackets. All were shoved into the suitcases and zipped. Then Winter underwear. And snow suits from the sports section. Then the suitcases were loaded up on to large flatbed trolleys. When she finished the only things left were clothes for infants to 5yrs and anything that was not suitable for the current survival environment. The suitcases were piled high and stuffed. She pushed them to the doors of the warehouse. The boys would be able to push them down to the boat.

Shoes were pulled off the shelves from small to adults. Sneakers, boots, slides and sandals for warmer weather, and water shoes for being on the boats or fishing. She grabbed all sizes and multiple of each size and type. Men, women's children's. They needed to anticipate growth. Another flatbed filled.

Then Amy moved to the bedding area and there she found a large box, empty. It would fit a lot. So she placed it on another flatbed and began loading things into it, wool blankets, sheets, quilts, pillows, and several electric blankets. Then she added more. She didn’t count she just loaded all she could. Then she pushed it to join the other trolleys. Towels, and more are then added.

As she continued she found her way to the food aisles. More flatbeds, loaded up with long life milk, tinned soup, boxed pasta and noodles. She emptied everything she could. Bottled water, soft drinks, pasta, rice, flour, sugar and more. Boxes piled up and she ran the trolleys back to the main doors. She was not really paying attention as she did to the amounts, but she just knew she had to get what they could. The snack area, she emptied it of candy and such into boxes and onto flatbeds.

When Andrew joined her later, she gave him instructions. He began pushing the flatbeds down to the dock and their boat.

After culling as much as she could from the areas of survival, she found herself in the camping area. She loaded up on tents, gas bottles and sleeping bags and backpacks. Though they were safe for now, she also knew it might not last. She loaded the flatbed and rolled it to the doors where Patrick had joined Andrew in their running. They were lucky so far, no dead were walking. When Andrew came back she handed him a heavy bag. “Take this to George” she instructed him. “Its two bows and arrows. Hunting ones. And tell him to keep an eye out for deer before we go.” Andrew nodded and raced off.

Amy moved to the toiletry section of the building and using bags, she pulled every shampoo, conditioner, deodorant and body wash and soap from the shelves. She added razors and blades. Then she moved to the cleaning section and pulled every bottle of bleach, laundry liquid, and cleaning supplies she could find.

Then to the medical area, she just cleared the shelves of medications, band aides and bandages. She culled cough medicine, and more. With Winter coming she didn't want to risk colds and flus.

Next was the book area. The children all liked reading, something Dante had instilled in them. She brought up a few boxes and loaded books into them. 2 copies of each book. Then she pilled into boxes, pens, paper, crayons, textas and more craft stuff. Winter would be hard without distraction. She made sure every shelf was empty and pushed it to the doors. The boys had all but finished with the clothes trolleys and now onto the food ones.

The next lot of shelves she cleared out was the pet area. Dog food, wet and dry, tick prevention medications and several beds. She just kept stacking there was plenty of room on the boat so she was confident they would take it all.

Her next stop was the garden section. She pulled every seed pouch from the shelves. And all small tools she could get. Amy knew that spring would be important to their survival after winter and the seeds would be a big boon.

Then she moved to a section of the warehouse shop she had kept out of her mind. The one thing they had found was the fact that the cabin did have a TV. 2 actually. One was a large one in the main living area but with nothing broadcasting, it was just a pretty decoration, and the other was in the basement. Amy considered the Technology section. It was dusty. No one had raided here, why would they? No one had power unless they had solar like they did. So she made a choice. She loaded up on every DVD she could find. And two CD players and music CD’s. She packed them onto a flatbed, glad she didn’t need to get a TV. But she did get a DVD player. And two game systems, games, She made sure she grabbed all accessories. Then around it all she tucked a blanket. She was going to surprise everyone with them.

That’s when she saw it. The Christmas Display area. Due to the time of year, it was minimal and barely set up but it was enough. She loaded up two 10f Christmas trees, all the ornaments she could get, and tree lights. Then she pushed the trolley back to the gift area and grabbed rolls of gift paper. She tucked them under the blankets.

Then she headed to the exit. She joined the boys in pushing the trolleys down to the boat. As she did so, she spotted something by the wall of a nearby building. It was a small cat. Amy dropped the Trolley at the boat and headed back up the hill to the warehouse. She didn't speak.

As George directed the proper loading of their boat, he caught sight of Amythyst heading back towards the interior of the area. He hoped she wouldn't be long, as it was starting to get late and he wanted to get them them heading home before the sun set.

Amy came out of the warehouse with a newly loaded flat bed. She left it near the building where she saw the cat. She went into the alley slowly. No undead. It was still clear to see. She sat on the ground and watched.

The cat she spotted, slowly came out. Behind it she could see a few things moving. She placed a small bowl of cat food down beside her.

It took a few minutes, but the smell drew the cat closer, and then several kittens rushed out drawn by the scent. She counted 6 kittens and another adult cat who slowly followed the kittens. She placed another bowl down and then shifted the bag she had grabbed from the warehouse closer. It was a cat carrier that could be attached to a backpack for taking pets camping. It would be cramped. But slowly she scooped up the kittens and placed them in the carrier and then put the second bowl in there and then the adults. She got a few scratches but she ignored them and placed the second bowl in and closed it up. She placed the bag on the flatbed and took it down to the docks.

When she got to the boat she found the flatbed with the cover still there. Andrew looked at her and said. "We thought you left it like that for a reason. "

Amy nodded and when the three headed back up with the empty flatbeds she began unloading it and the cats into the main cabin. The cats she placed in one of the bathrooms with food and paper down. Then she hid the items on the special trolley in the master suite and locked the door.

Once everything was loaded, George started to untie the lines on the bow and stern. He then moved back into the cockpit and fired up the engines.

Austin came back and said, "There is a Fuel and Feed place near the builders depot. Might have things for the cows and chickens."

George looked around the deck, then back at Austin. "I'm not sure we can take on much more. Our fuel is low, and we are going to need all of it to get us back home, now that we're so heavily laden."

"Could we tow it?" Austin asked. He pointed to a flat raft like boat floating at another berth. "Fill the tanks from it and tow?"

George looked over at the oher boat. It did have a few fuel drums sitting on deck. Perhaps, if they could fill them, then they could be used to augment their fuel reserves, enabling them to get back, even with the added weight of the tow. "Maybe. But we need to hurry. If the water gets too rough, we might lose both boats."

Austin nodded and called the other two boys up and they set about following George's instructions.

Ami came out and stepped up beside George and picked up one of the Hunting Bows she had found. "That flat boat would be great if we find more cattle on other islands."

George nodded, then spoke quietly. "We need to get back. Once the other boat is secured, that's enough for now. While yes, we need everything we can get our hands-on to survive, we also need to be able to work with what we have, and be able to propstore what needs to be stored. The island doesn't have the necessary construction to bring too much more in." He trusted her, but knew that they were pushing their luck.

"I know."

Austin meanwhile had taken a flatbed to the Fuel and Feed with Andrew, while Patrick checked the lines. The two returned within 10 minutes with bags of medications for the animals and bales of hay for the winter and chicken feed. They loaded the Flatbed with these and barrels of fuel.

"Lets go" Ami said when they were done. "George? Get us under way. I will go onto that boat. Boys, on the yacht with George!"

The three nodded and as they released the lines, joined George.

Once everyone was ready, George had the lines cast off and he slowly throttled the engines up, carefully steering them away from the pier, and back out into open water. As he did so, he kept looking back at the tow line, ensuring it was secure and kept taut. As they didn’t have a winch, like a tug did, the tension on the line couldn't be played out or pulled in easily. They would have to sail through the waves slowly, to ensure the line didn't snap and kill anyone on its recoil.

Ami gripped the tiller and let him lead them home.

~OFF~

 

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