Before Liv Granger found sanctuary, before Redwater became a beacon of hope in the wasteland, there was a desperate band of survivors and a little girl who dared to explore the darkness.

Ten years before the events of "Revenant of the Wastes," twenty-three refugees flee across the desert, their water running out, their hope fading with each step. Among them, former civil engineer Jonah Carter leads with dwindling confidence, while his friend Sarah Chen searches the cruel landscape for signs of salvation. And with them is young Ana, a child of the wasteland who will change their fate forever.

When Ana discovers a hidden spring deep within the red cliffs, it seems like salvation. But keeping such a precious resource secret in a world dying of thirst requires more than just hiding—it requires becoming something new. As the small group works to build a hidden sanctuary, they face threats from ruthless raiders, desperate wanderers, and their own fears of what they must become to survive.

This gripping 13,000-word novelette reveals the origin of the settlement that will one day shelter humanity's best hope. Discover how a desperate group of survivors forged the hidden fortress that Liv Granger would later defend, and meet the remarkable people who built something precious in a world of ashes.

Perfect for fans of "The Road" and "Station Eleven," "Before the Fall" explores how hope can take root in the harshest desert, and how the choices we make in desperate times define who we become.

A Redwater Origins Story.