More than a year into a bitter cold and dark volcanic winter, a small group of survivors decide to abandon a desolatenorthern megalopolis.
But, even before the volcanic eruptions, the World’s population is vastly diminished. Endless economic crises, perpetual civil wars, political unrest of global proportions, frequent pandemics and years of famine take their toll by millions.
The eruptions came after all of it, threatening to erase humankind from the face of the Earth. In the end, there is no government left of any kind, nor society, nor laws to obey or rules to follow. The Earth is dark, cold and barren as the sun is unable to penetrate through the dense ash clouds.
Fed up by the constant clashes with other survivors, fighting over access to food, water, fuel, shelter and, always in fear of yet another enemy, common to them all — residual units of government special forces, genetically engineered semi–human soldiers called Pongos — they decide to head South in hopes of finding safety and peace.
On their journey across the continent their faction of twenty-seven gradually grows to more than four hundred. Most of those that join are small children, teenagers, and occasionally young adults.
With this, their purpose gradually transforms from one of mere survival to one in which their existence becomes a pledge to preserve humanity and set the grounds for a new civilization.