In the plains of Wyoming, peace and prosperity were the norm of life. Raiders and tribals didn't bother the settlements, instead battling it out over the small parts of the grassland. Raiders fell, tribals bled, and the world continued on. This cycle continued for two hundred years, until a certain tribal started on a journey to end the fighting for all.

Even though the bombs had wiped out civilization, humanity continues. Because war, war never changes.

December 21st, 2283 2:30 PM.

Grasslands, Wyoming

A brown haired, blue eyed, Native American male, silently stalked a young deer that was grazing in the grasses of Wyoming. The youth was on his first hunting trip that he was able to go alone. Drawing the string of his hunting bow back, he reached for an arrow in his quiver. Snatching one, he placed the arrow on his string carefully, and aimed for the deer's head. He let the string go and the arrow flew, tearing into the deer's neck. Letting out a whoop, the young hunter, who they called Ice Wolf, sprinted towards the fallen beast.

"May the Great Spirits bless you brother." he prayed before reaching down and grabbing a small knife out of his vest pocket. Grasping the iron blade, he cut the skin off of the deer and rolled it. He then cut the meat out, leaving nothing to be wasted. Hours later, he was done, and started the short trip back to his village.

Living in the wasteland was not hard for Ice Wolf and his tribe, the White Wolves. The White Wolves had settled into the grasslands over a century ago, and were one of the most prosperous tribes. They ate well, hunted well, and slept well. But they never forgot to give praise to the Great Spirits and respected all life.

Breathing in the fresh scent of grass, Ice Wolf carried the carcass of the deer on his back, when a small clearing was seen. Smoke was rising and Ice Wolf breathed deeply, for his village was preparing for the Winter Festival. Smiling, he ran down a small hill overlooking the village, and saw the thatch roofs of the houses. The Chief's longhouse was right in the middle, and his warriors lived in three barracks that were scattered among the houses. Running and greeting several fellow tribesmen, and saw a small house. On the porch, was his grandmother, knitting a wool sweater, and was sitting on a rocking chair. His mother, was cooking fresh rabbit caught by him that morning, and his sister and brother were busy practicing their archery. He didn't know where his older sister was, though.

"Gamma!" Ice shouted and his grandmother turned. The wrinkled and weathered woman put down her sweater and got out of her chair and hugged the young hunter. Ice grinned before showing her the young deer carcass on his back.

"Oh Ice! You got your first deer! And at a such a young age!" she exclaimed. Hunters in the White Wolves usually waited for their sixteenth birthday for going out hunting alone. But Ice had grown was tall, standing five foot ten, was lean but extremely toned. His hair was pulled back into a ponytail. He was fifteen, and already one of the most experienced hunters for his age.

"Yes Gamma! Do you like it?" he asked. He and his grandmother were close, and she had taught him many things about life.

"Of course grandchild! Come inside, we must show your mother!" she said and pulled Ice into the house.

A delicious aroma filled the air, as spices, meat, and veggies, were mixed into a pot. A happy looking woman, wearing a long tribal dress, decorated with beads and knots, was stirring it, when Gamma and Ice entered the kitchen.

"Ice! How was your first hunting trip alone?" she asked excited. She was proud of her son, and hoped that he became a warrior just like his father.

"It was good. Caught a deer." and he showed her the deer.

"Thats great! My little boy, growing up so fast!" and she hugged Ice. Ice was stunned before returning the hug. Usually his mother would just scold him or praise him. Never had she hugged him or get so emotional.

"Thanks Ma." and he broke the hug. Two minutes later, a figure, wearing a vest with a white t-shirt underneath, and blue jeans opened the door and ran inside. She was crying and huffing, her eyes red. Her black hair was tangled and rustled, and tears were streaming down her cheek. Ice placed the deer in his mothers hands and went over to her.

"Maria? What's wrong?" he asked. Maria was his older sister, wild and free. She had picked her name out of an old magazine, and her clothes when a traveling caravan came around during the spring when the roads let up and the snow melted.

"Charles, he, he struck me." she whimpered before sobbing into Ice's hands. Charles was Maria's off and on boyfriend as she called it and Ice disproved of him. He drank to much fire water, and wasn't very liked by Maria's family.

"Why?" he asked. Ice was getting angrier by the second, but refused to show it. Charles though, would see it very soon.

"We were in an argument. I just found out that, I'm pregnant." she said. Ice recoiled in disbelief. His older sister, no older than eighteen, was pregnant, most likely with Charles child.

"When did this happen." Ice asked. He was the younger one, but was mature beyond his years. He had to be, for his father was often out in hunting parties during the year. He rarely came home, but he was much loved by his kids and wife.

"Last week. Charles and I were drinking fire water and got drunk." she said, hoping she didn't have to go into much detail. Her sobbing had stopped, but her heart still throbbed.

"I'm going to have a chat with Charles." Ice said. Maria immediately grabbed his arm, and pulled him back.

"Please Ice. Don't get hurt." she pleaded and Ice nodded. Ice was one of the best trained hunters in the village, but Charles was tall, mean, and when drunk, used a shattered beer bottle as a weapon.

"I won't. But he will." he said and opened the wooden door. Exiting he slammed it in frustration and sat on the porches steps. Thinking on how to confront Charles, he whistled. A moment later, a small grey wolf came sprinting, and leaped right into Ice's lap.

"Hey Grotto." he greeted and the wolf nuzzled him.

"Seems like you found Grotto." a feminine voice said in front of him.

"Oh hey, Ashika." and a young Native American girl stepped into his line of sight. She was fifteen as well, had long flowing black hair as dark as night. Her stormy green eyes were in contrast of Ice's calm blue eyes, and her delicate features only augmented her beauty.

"Hi." she said nervous. The two had been best friends since they were children, ever since Ice had saved her from some bullies. She was the chieftain's oldest daughter and Ice was like her bodyguard of some sorts. The duo's friends were always teasing them about liking each other and they always denied it, though deep down, they both knew it was true.

"What are you doing on your porch?" she asked bewildered. Usually her energetic friend was hunting or sharpening his beloved tomahawk.

"Thinking." and he slipped into a deep thinking pose, earning a small chuckle from Ashika.

"Thinking about what?" she asked.

"Thinking about the weather. Thinking about my family." he said.

"And thinking about you." he muttered under his breath.

"What was that last part?" she said, swearing she heard him say thinking about you.

"I said thinking about my sister." he covered and Ashika frowned, disappointed. She quickly then turned that frown upside down when Ice looked up at her, his blue eyes, full of calmness and understanding, met her wild and stormy eyes.

"What about your sister." she said breaking the stare.

"She got into some trouble with her good for nothing boyfriend." he said, anger evident in his voice. He hated Charles with all of his heart, and had confided Ashika with this information.

"What kind of trouble?" she asked curious. It was known throughout the village of his love for firewater, or whiskey as the traders called it. The firewater drinkers were always shunned in the village, and most of them were beggars, trying to earn a few caps for their beloved drink of champions.

"First of all, she's pregnant with the monster's kid. Second, he beat her. And I'm going to get back at him." Ice snarled.

"What are you waiting for? Go beat him up!" Ashika said trying to encourage him. Truth was, Ashika had been hit on by Charles and that disgusted her to no ends.

"He has friends. I don't why, but he does and they would defend him." he countered, trying to get out of fighting. He didn't want to fight seven to one odds, but he was a capable fighter.

"Who cares? If you beat him up nice enough, he wouldn't try it again!" she retorted. She saw the gears running in his head before his head snapped up, he planted a small kiss on her cheek and smiled widely.

"Thanks Ashika! You're the best!" he shouted before running off into the opposite direction of where she came from. She stood there, stunned, before moving her hand to her cheek, lightly touching it.

"I'm the best," she whispered.

"I'm the best."

Hello! First fanfic! Please review. First story as well!