Time passed quietly, each day blending into the next as Lili continued her stubborn struggle against the harshness of winter. Despite her determination, the rabbits remained frustratingly elusive. Katniss Everdeen's methods, while brilliant in movies, proved far more difficult in practice, especially for someone so small and clumsy. Her stick traps either broke under snow or were completely avoided by wary creatures. Eventually, she abandoned the rabbits entirely, turning instead back to her small stone fish trap by the lake.
At first, the trap remained frustratingly empty, fish swimming confidently around her careful stones. But soon she realized the trap itself wasn't enough—she needed something extra: bait. Remembering vaguely from her old world how fish were attracted to food, she experimented by placing bits of old berries, worms, and even insects she'd found crawling beneath frozen leaves into the trap. Her patience and persistence slowly paid off.
One cold morning, she squealed in delight as she found two brave fish trapped inside, lazily swimming around, unaware of the danger they were in.
"Ha! G-got you!" Lili shouted excitedly, quickly blocking their escape with a large stone. Terminator and the hens gathered around, clucking enthusiastically, sensing the promise of food. Together they feasted, sharing the precious meal carefully between them.
Days passed, and slowly the trap improved. Fish became a more regular treat, giving them strength and a renewed hope.
Yet, the winter was relentless. The foxes were growing bolder as their own hunger intensified. Lili learned through painful observation that there were two foxes in her small forest: one larger fox she named Scar, because Terminator had bravely left a permanent mark across its muzzle during a fierce encounter, and a smaller, slender one she called Sleemo, because it was slimy and sneaky, sliding silently between shadows to snatch her chickens.
Despite Terminator's heroic efforts, the foxes were cunning hunters. Soon, only Terminator and two hens remained. Every loss was heartbreaking, but Lili refused to give up. Determined to protect her remaining companions, she knew something had to change.
One night, huddled by her small fire, her mind wandered through memories of her past life. She vividly remembered a movie she'd once watched—Rambo: First Blood. It had frightened her, the violence and sadness lingering heavily in her thoughts. But now, recalling it carefully, she remembered something important: camouflage. Rambo had hidden himself, blending seamlessly with mud, leaves, and branches. His traps were nearly invisible, cunningly concealed.
"Yes… camoufl-flage," Lili whispered softly, determination sparkling in her wide blue eyes.
Early the next morning, she began carefully covering her stick traps with leaves, dirt, and snow, trying to blend them into the forest floor. She smeared mud across her face, small hands trembling from cold, whispering softly like Rambo had, telling herself she was brave and strong. Terminator watched curiously, head tilted, as Lili diligently crafted her traps with newfound hope.
Her efforts paid off one cold morning just before the arrival of spring. Checking the traps, she discovered a small, fluffy bunny, caught and peacefully gone—no painful action needed from her.
Guilt briefly stung her heart, but she swallowed it down firmly. "Thank you, little b-bunny," she whispered gently. "I w-will honor you."
Thinking of another movie—Predator, with its intimidating alien hunter—Lili carefully tried to skin the rabbit, mimicking the alien's movements she'd vaguely remembered from the screen. She made mistakes, hands trembling, but managed to gather the precious meat, fur, and bones. She wasn't quite sure yet how to use it all, but she sensed it would prove valuable.
The rabbit's meat was cooked carefully, shared gratefully with her remaining chickens. The fur she dried and placed inside her shelter, a small victory against the cold.
And so, as winter's grip loosened, Lili and her little flock survived, digging carefully beneath snow and dirt for hidden bugs and larvae, filling their bellies just enough to keep going.
Then, slowly but surely, summer finally began to creep in. Warmth returned to the forest, melting away the snow and ice, breathing new life into their small world. For the first time in months, Lili felt genuine hope blossoming within her heart.
Sitting quietly beside the gentle lake, watching sunlight glitter on the water, she smiled softly, thinking of Frank. Her friend would surely be proud if he saw her now—surviving alone, becoming stronger each day.
Yet, suddenly, a cold dread filled her chest, erasing the smile from her lips. What if Frank hadn't survived? She shook her head violently, dismissing the terrible thought. Frank couldn't die so easily. He was too strong, too smart—he had a wife and children, for whatever mysterious significance that carried.
"No," she whispered stubbornly to herself. "Frank w-would never… he's too c-cool, too strong. He has people w-who need him. He has to b-be okay."
She took a deep breath, steadying herself, determined to believe Frank was alive and well. Carefully gathering her strength, she stood up, turning toward her small, humble shelter and smiling again, determination firmly back in place.
Terminator stood close beside her, feathers glistening proudly in the sun. Lili reached down, gently stroking his feathers.
"We'll m-make it, Terminator," she promised quietly. "We'll survive, like R-Rambo, like Rocky. Father will come s-someday… and Frank is alive. He has to be."
She walked slowly back to her little home, confident, stubborn, and hopeful once more—just as she had always been.
As the sun climbed higher each day, breathing life into the land, Lili felt the warmth of summer thawing not just the frozen earth but her weary heart as well. Yet one important promise still weighed heavily on her small shoulders—the borrowed clothes. She'd sworn to return them to Mama once summer arrived, and now the day had come.
Carrying the worn dress and cloak carefully, she approached the cottage slowly, her heart pounding anxiously. The doorway loomed ahead, dark and silent, the air within heavy and still. She hadn't set foot inside for months, afraid of facing the silent figure she'd once called Mama.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped inside—and froze immediately.
Mama's body lay still on the bed, unrecognizable now, a fragile silhouette beneath blankets. Bugs and worms crawled slowly across her remains, an unsettling, heartbreaking sight.
Lili felt tears sting her eyes, her small hands trembling violently as she dropped the clothes onto the floor. Suddenly, from behind her, Terminator and the two hens—driven purely by instinct—rushed forward, eagerly pecking at the insects squirming across her mother's corpse.
"No!" she screamed in horror, backing away rapidly, tears streaming down her face. "No, no, no! Don't!"
But chickens, like nature itself, followed hunger and instinct, ignoring her desperate cries. Overcome by horror, Lili turned and fled, stumbling clumsily outside into the sunlight, collapsing into the grass near her shelter, sobbing uncontrollably.
She stayed there for hours, grieving, confused, until finally quiet settled in her heart. From that day forward, she refused ever to return inside the cottage again. Instead, she named it solemnly:
"Mother's Tomb."
It became sacred ground, holy and untouchable, a place she vowed never to disturb again. To honor her mother's memory, she decided to plant flowers—beautiful, vibrant blooms—to surround the tomb. Perhaps, she hoped desperately, the bugs might prefer the flowers over Mama's quiet remains.
With newfound purpose, she began her careful work. Each morning she dug small holes, planting seeds and bulbs she'd carefully gathered from nearby meadows. She watered them faithfully, whispering softly to each fragile shoot, urging them to grow strong and beautiful.
But flowers weren't enough. Her precious garden, the one she'd promised to keep safe, needed protection from foxes and hungry creatures. Determinedly, she gathered sticks and stones, building a small fence around the garden's perimeter. It was clumsy, uneven, but it was hers—a line of defense against the wilderness.
Lili armed herself carefully now, inspired once more by her beloved action heroes. Holding a sharpened rabbit bone in her small hand, mud streaked fiercely across her cheeks, she patrolled proudly beside Terminator, ready to protect what little remained of her flock.
"No m-more chickens," she announced bravely, looking Terminator directly in the eye. "No more c-casualties allowed. This is w-war now. Those f-foxes can't have you."
The rooster clucked confidently, feathers ruffled, standing proudly by her side.
Only two hens remained now. She solemnly named them, officially inducting them into Terminator's brave company:
"You are Xena," she told one hen seriously, "because you're brave like a w-warrior princess."
The hen tilted her head thoughtfully.
"And you," she said, looking at the smaller, gentler hen, "you'll be Leia. Because you're small and kind but strong too, like a p-princess."
Terminator, Xena, and Leia now formed what Lili proudly named:
The Sacred Band of The Holy Land of The Holy Lake of Lili.
It was a big name, maybe even a silly one, but it felt important—worthy of her tiny kingdom.
And indeed, she decided firmly, this land was hers now. This place would become a new kind of United States. Although for now, there was only her and three chickens—maybe someday there'd be more. For now, though, she proudly called her tiny kingdom:
The United State of Lili's Lake.
The lake and the small stretch of forest surrounding it became her first official state. Lili stood proudly at the water's edge, heart swelling with determination.
"I declare t-this land free," she announced solemnly to her chickens, who listened respectfully. "This is our s-state, and we'll keep it safe."
As summer blossomed fully, Lili felt her small body slowly growing stronger. She learned to swim—awkwardly, but successfully—paddling bravely in the cool lake, catching fish and gathering water plants. Her muscles strengthened, her movements becoming more confident each day.
Yet, despite her growing strength and courage, one thing remained stubbornly absent: her balls and dick. Each day she checked nervously, hopeful they might finally make their brave appearance, yet they remained frustratingly hidden. She comforted herself with quiet determination—surely, they were just taking their time.
"They'll come s-soon," she whispered encouragingly to herself. "Or maybe… s-some day further away. But they'll come. I b-believe."
Even without them, she would survive. She would grow strong, fierce, and capable—just like Frank had always been.
But even as hope filled her heart, she wondered anxiously again if Frank was truly alright. Was he out there, somewhere, proud of her survival? Or had he too fallen, victim to that terrible explosion?
"No," she whispered firmly, shaking her head. "Frank is t-too strong. He's okay. He h-has to be."
Quietly, confidently, she turned back to her small home, ready once more to face whatever awaited her next.
And soon peace settled over Lili's small kingdom—The United State of Lili's Lake—and for a while, life felt good. The foxes, perhaps respecting the determination of her brave chicken army, had mysteriously vanished. Lili had not glimpsed Scar or Sleemo in weeks, and her heart felt lighter because of it.
But peace brought new challenges. Soon, the deer—bold, graceful, and hungry—began creeping silently from the trees to nibble shamelessly at the plants she'd so carefully grown. She tried waving her little rabbit-bone weapon at them, shouting in her best tough-guy voice, but some deer simply stared back at her with indifferent eyes, not the slightest bit intimidated. A few even chased her away from her own garden, forcing her to hide behind Terminator for protection.
Frustrated and desperate, Lili realized she needed more than just her little stones and stick fences. She remembered the medieval castles from her favorite strategy game, Medieval Total War 2, where large wooden stakes could stop even charging cavalry. It was always best to play as the English, she'd learned, because their brave longbowmen placed those powerful stakes into the ground.
Determined, she set out each day, painstakingly gathering larger sticks, sharpening them clumsily against stones until they became pointed and dangerous. She dug a shallow ditch around her garden, like a castle moat, and planted her wooden stakes firmly around its edge.
"There!" she declared proudly, standing back with hands on her small hips, mud smeared fiercely on her cheeks. "Now the deer won't dare invade our land. This is United State territory!"
Terminator clucked approvingly, and Xena and Leia bobbed their heads enthusiastically. Encouraged by their support, Lili bravely raised her chin, a spark of inspiration filling her heart.
She cleared her throat dramatically, addressing her chicken army with serious dignity:
"I hereby declare m-myself President Lili!" she proclaimed proudly. "And I assign Terminator as my Vice President, Xena as the Secretary of Defense, and Leia as the Secretary of Food and Bugs."
Terminator puffed his feathers proudly, standing tall and vigilant. Xena and Leia clucked softly, honored by their promotions.
Peace indeed returned after the new fortifications were completed. The deer came, but they hesitated at the new stakes and eventually wandered away, defeated. Lili's strawberries soon blossomed into ripe, delicious berries, and she carefully saved every tiny seed, planting them diligently to expand her garden even further.
The chickens resumed patrolling, pecking enthusiastically for worms and insects. Life, finally, felt secure.
And with security came time for reflection. As Lili enjoyed the sweet berries, she began thinking quietly about her past life.
She wondered about Amber—her so-called girlfriend. Was she okay now? Did she miss him—Lili quickly corrected herself—her? Had Amber finally found happiness?
Her thoughts drifted further, settling again on Frank. Surely, after their brave but tragic mission, Frank had received medals, maybe even a promotion. He was probably hailed as a hero, honored by all who knew him. Frank deserved it, she thought fondly.
Thinking of Frank led her thoughts elsewhere—to her favorite films, and particularly to Star Wars. When was the next Star Wars movie supposed to come out again? She'd been so excited to see it, always faithfully attending the premieres with Frank. Would she ever know what happened next?
But even more pressing was her other long-held dream: the gnome warrior she'd played in World of Warcraft. Twelve long years she'd spent leveling that brave little warrior, yet always, cruelly, new expansions arrived just as she neared max level. She'd never once reached that coveted goal. It was difficult, she admitted, when you tried to play as a true hero—never harming fluffy, innocent creatures, only bravely defeating evil foes. She'd also spent far too much time reading every quest thoroughly, chatting with friendly people who asked for gold, eagerly giving away her money, only to find herself again without enough gold to buy a mount.
Everyone in the game had mounts—even the new players—yet she'd always remained mountless, forever dreaming, forever running on tiny gnome feet. But suddenly, inspired, she glanced toward Terminator. Could he become her mount? Maybe even a flying mount?
Determinedly, she approached him, gently trying to climb onto his back.
"Stay still, Terminator," she instructed nervously, balancing awkwardly.
The brave rooster clucked uncertainly, shifting beneath her slight weight, clearly confused and somewhat annoyed.
Just as she attempted to settle comfortably, Terminator squawked loudly, flapping fiercely, sending Lili tumbling awkwardly onto the grass.
She laughed softly, embarrassed but amused. "Alright, m-maybe not today. But s-someday, Terminator, you'll be my flying mount. And I w-won't even need gold for it."
Terminator tilted his head thoughtfully, feathers ruffled indignantly, perhaps not entirely convinced.
Lying in the soft grass, staring upward at the bright blue sky, Lili sighed deeply, feeling hopeful despite everything. Her garden was protected, her chickens safe, and her small nation proudly founded.
Yet somewhere deep inside, a quiet sadness lingered. Would Frank ever find her? Was he truly safe? Had Amber forgotten her? And would she ever finally see another Star Wars movie?
"Maybe someday," she whispered softly to herself. "Maybe someday soon."
But for now, she rose slowly to her feet, brushing dirt from her cloak, glancing fondly at her chicken government officials. There was still plenty to do, plenty to build and plant.
After all, President Lili and her Sacred Band had a United State to protect—and grow.