The Story So Far

[River]

August 14, 2015

The Yellowstone supervolcano has exploded, killing millions of people within 650 miles of the immediate area and spreading a massive cloud of ash across the entire United States and some of Europe. Reactions ranged from shock to an almost "I told you so" condescension from Doomsday preppers who had devoted their lives to surviving such a cataclysmic event, but most reactions involved terror.

Over the following year, the events would sicken survivors when they learned that their troubles were not yet over. The ash poisoned Mother Gaia, killing humans and animals long after it first settled over the world. Water supplies and vegetation were contaminated, leading to widespread famine, and the cloud stopped machinery, ended mechanical transportation, and collapsed buildings. Humanity was plunged into a second Dark Ages as temperatures fell twelve degrees before normal. Monsoon season failed, bringing mass famine to the Asian countries that relied on it.

Five years later

North America is a barren wasteland. Mass emigration has left the continent abandoned in favor of Europe, and the continent there is wrestling with overpopulation there. We do not care about them. Instead we focus in on the animals that have survived and were left behind to subside on the dead earth. Some vegetation has peeked through the remains and a reduced population maintains a delicate ecosystem.

We focus our story on one town in Wisconsin, a small southeastern village called Wolf Creek. Once a busy fishing community, it has been left to the canine denizens. They were disorganized and violent until one man came along, a wolf mix calling himself Icarus. He organized them and, under him, Wolf Creek turned into a formidable canine force. This did not last: Icarus died prematurely, poisoned by the ash in the water. He had not yet named a successor, and Wolf Creek once again fell into chaos as his pack broke into factions. Some dogs left the pack scene altogether, pledging allegiance to their families or themselves over everything else.

They will not compromise. They will not stop until one is left standing over all the others.