Rest And Reflection

Posted on Sun Nov 16th, 2025 @ 3:24pm by Cassandra Lennox & Bartholomew Addington & René Rouen & Dmitri Volodin & Albert 'Bert' Smith

1,818 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Safe Harbour
Location: Dunsbrough
Timeline: 2nd December, 2013

The flat had been been an easy option after deciding that the church bell tower would be too cold for the the night now that it had snowed. It slowed the undead down but it also slowed them down and made it impossible for them to get back to Thistledrift that night even after packing the boat. Cassandra held up the keys to the others and started up the stairs her arm raised with her crossbow ready as she unlocked the flat. Their was nothing inside but silence which was a welcome change but for the first time in a very long time Cassandra looked at a room that was untouched by the chaos of the undead.

“It’s clear.” She called back as she went into the bathroom and bedroom just to be sure but their was no dead smells and the only smells were coming from the fact the flat was locked up.

Bert glanced around the flat, making sure it was safe with his own eyes. Sure it was better than the bell tower he'd been staying in, but it wasn't secure for one person, the bell tower was. He coughed as his chest rattled. His body would thank him for some where warmer at least.

Juliet took a look around and nodded before turning to the others. "I call dibs on the bedroom for Cass and I. You gentlemen can sort out who gets the couch and comfy chair.

Dmitri nodded with the others’ choices. He glanced at Dobrya, who jumped onto the waiting couch and curled into a ball, and shrugged. Couch it was, then.

He slid his backpack off his shoulders and tucked it beside the couch, out of the way. He unzipped his jacket and then slipped it off, balling it up and placing it on the sofa.

“I am going to be taking night watch so I get the office cubbyhole to sleep in for a couple of hours.” Bartholomew commented already stripping off his coat and grabbing some of the pillows from the sofa to make a nest.

Rene was still on the landing. His eyes trained down the stairs as if thinking. He started to pull out the sleeping bag from his pack and laying it on the landing in front of the door to the flat. He glanced into the flat. "I have some string. I will rig a warning system at the bottom of the stairs for unannounced visitors."

“Use the rope in my pack,” Cassandra commented, pulling out some strong looking rope. “It’s strong if anything comes up traps them,” she advised, revealing this was not her first time using a setting like this to get some rest.

René looked at Cassandra and nodded before taking the rope. He stepped back into the stairwell and proceeded to erect an early warning system and makeshift trap a few steps up.

"What about breaking some light bulbs and scattering the glass on the floor. Audible crunch alarm?" Bert suggested.

Rene nodded. "That is an excellent idea." He stepped inside the flat and unscrewed a couple of light bulbs from the lamp on the end table next to the couch.

Dmitri jammed his fists into his hoodie's pocket and wandered over to one of the flat’s windows. The view wasn’t much - the building next door consumed most of the view - but it did look down onto the rear stairwell entry. That would be handy tonight, the paratrooper side of his brain noted.

Now, if I just had an RPK to cover that approach, Dmitri thought. I’d even be happy with just a kalashmat, that paratrooper voice argued a second later. The inner conversation brought a wistful smile to the Ukrainian’s haggard face. He shook his head, as if to clear the memories that threatened to surface, and turned to the others.

“Is good place to watch, no,” he offered to the others, jerking a thumb at the dirty window pane.

Cassandra smiled and started looking through the cupboards for anything handy. She pulled out some candles and grinned as she lit a few so they could stop using their torches. There was only so much power they could maintain to keep the torches lit.

Once the makeshift alarms and trap were set in the stairwell, René took a minute to survey the work. He stepped back into the flat, but remained near the door.

Juliet stepped out of bedroom, having taken hers and Cassandra’s bags in. She glanced around the room at the others before settling her gaze on Cassandra. "We should probably go over what to do for tonight and in the morning."

Cassandra nodded. “Well tonight we rest. Bartholomew has night watch as he volunteered and is alright asleep.” The man did not stir from the corner then he had curled up on and gone to sleep. She really wished she had that ability as there were many nights she struggled to sleep. “And then tomorrow we get back to the ship as it’s packed and ready for us.” The engines were disabled incase anyone had been watching them so it would be there when they got back.

René nodded as he took a seat on the floor and started taking off his boots. He adjusted his sleeping bag in front of the door and crawled in, his weapons belt within easy arms reach. He sat up and rested his back against the door. He was all set for the first watch at the door.

Albert decided against removing any of his clothing. It had been a while since he'd last washed so the smell wouldn't be pleasant. He removed his bow from his back and along with his arrow holder, before taking up a spot on the floor.

Dmitri pulled himself away from the grimy window and turned his attention to the group. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth at the sight of everyone gathering around the candles. He was instantly transported back to his childhood—to his parents' farm in the shadows of the Carpathians. The Volodins had never had much in the way of…well…anything. But they never wanted for anything either: fresh eggs, pork, homegrown vegetables, and plenty to barter for what they did need. Dmitri and his siblings would supplement with fish and small game from the forest or the mountain stream, both within walking distance of the farm. He mumbled an old folk song his father taught him under his breath as he took a seat on the couch.

“But we eat and rest now. Sunset comes early this time of year.” Cassandra commented as she moved a few of the candles on plates to a more focal point of the room. They had an hour or so of light left her watch was anything to go by. She had to admit that her watch looked fancy but it was an eco drive and was powered by sunlight so it worked without the need for batteries.

Juliet pulled a few tins of food from her bag and searched the kitchen drawers for a can opener. She also found plates and silverware. She started opening tins and putting food on plates. "Come eat."

“Mmm rice pudding.” Cassandra said happily as she was passed a bowl. “Though we could have cooked this.” She teased a little knowing that whoever had lived here would have had some baking trays that they could have warmed stuff up.

René looked at the tin and rummaged in his pack for a moment to pull out a collapsible sterno stove and a can of sterno that was about a third full. He handed it to Juliet. "This should be able to heat it up if you want to."

“Save your fuel. We have ways.” Cassandra said smiling a little as she pulled out a muffin tray from one of the cupboards and popped some of the candles on it and lit them before grabbing up her water bottle pouring it into the saucepan to heat. “Might as well use the fuel we have here.”

René chuckled as he gave Cassandra a nod of his head. He took his camp stove and fuel can and placed it on the middle deck of the stove. "Very well, but we use my camp stove in the morning for coffee or breakfast tea. Fair?"

“Fair.” Cassandra’s said as she picked up several cans before they were opened and put a hole in them and put them on the sauce pan. “Better make sure sleeping beaut has something nice for his watch.” She added with a tease looking at the options leaving a can to the side for Bartholomew after his nap when he started watch.

"Dyakuyu, druzhe," he said enthusiastically when he was handed a bowl. Dmitri carefully balanced it on his lap, freeing his hands to dig out his spice containers from his rucksack. He offered the stainless steel canisters to the others after doctoring his portion. After scarfing down his meal, Dmitri wordlessly collected the bowls and took them into the kitchen. It took several moments of digging, but he eventually found a mostly clean dish towel. He wiped the bowls clean, then went back to his ruck and extracted another tin—this one containing baking soda—which he sprinkled into each dish. He scoured each one and, once convinced they were relatively clean, returned them to the cabinets. Back at the couch, he took his boots off, situated his jacket as a pillow, and stretched out.

Smith didn't engage in conversation, just listened to the chatter. It was nice and reassuring to hear voices again. He checked to make sure his knife was accessible at a moments notice, before folding his arms and propping his head against the side of the sofa.

Rene yawned as the food warmed up. He was extremely tired. The journey from Oxford to Thirstledrift had taken several days and joining this group for a resources gathering expedition had not left him with much time to rest. There was the matter of where to stay once they returned to Thistledrift. Winter was settling in and his motorcycle was not going to get him very far without a lot of work being done. He was mulling all these things over when the food finished heating up.

Cassandra smiled a little as the fact the gossip was silent but relaxed. It was a sign of a good day in her opinion as she sat down with the her rice pudding. She whispered a thanks as she glanced over at the man sound asleep on the floor in his nest, it was typical of the former police officer. She shook her head and focused on thehere and now. She just hoped the fog lifted in the morning.

 

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