Shayla and Athalie are unlikely survivors. Virtually alone when 'the end of the world' arrives, they must cope with collapse without the usual trappings of such stories- no guns, no bunkers, very limited funds and no combat knowledge. They not only manage, but manage with grace and dignity to survive not by luck, but by keeping their wits sharp and their hearts open. Sometimes it's prudent to be completely...unimpressive. "When they went to bed that first night after pulling the truck and trailer into the rudimentary lean-to Ray had hastily built after the big barn had blown away, they were acutely aware of how much today had been different from yesterday...and it was a strange and unsettling thought that for the next months, every single day would be different from the one before. Every day they'd plan to not use any outside energy or depend on any outside forces; they'd use what they still had sparingly and carefully, and be thankful for what they had while it still worked and right up until it didn't anymore. And then they'd go on without it. No looking back."