Silent City - Part 1: A Long Way Down

Once again another wonderful piece of writing Rayen, kudos.

I liked the setting, apocolytophile that I am, and leaving a lot unsaid allows for the reader to fill in the blanks with their own perceptions and imagination.

Using a sibling for a companion leaves little doubt as to the reasoning for the two characters to remain together and cooperative in such an emotionally and physically straining environment.

Notes on content:
-The first journal gives the impression that this is both an auditory account, and one left to the boys' parents, however the following journals cast this in doubt. Not only are contractions not used (understandable in a written journal, but not a spoken account, especially one in a hostile and rushed environment), but also in the references to his brother as just that "my brother". While I can understand the wanting for abstractness in reference to characters for the aforementioned imaginational capacity, it is hard to believe someone would refer to their sibling by title to their parents, or at least not often. Clarification on that point could clear up some hiccups in suspension of disbelief there.
-1st journal, First paragraph: "it is here to stay", might be better as "might be here to stay", as it afixes an unknown to the situation.
-1st journal, Second paragraph: "always hunting and backpacking in the middle of nowhere"; instead perhaps "always going off hunting and backpacking to the middle of nowhere."
-2nd journal, Second paragraph: "Anyways, when we recovered our gear, we
immediately headed back to our place." It's previously referred to as 'his' cache, and then here referred to as 'ours', just feels off.
-3rd journal, Third paragraph: "...we only spoke several more times for the hush was too invasive ..."; might be better as: "...we spoke only a few more times, for the hush was too invasive..."
-4th journal, First paragraph: "I only fired on the Shades in our way"; might be better as "I fired only on the shades to our front."

I especially like the imagery at the end, not just the event but the main character's reaction to it.

Once again kudos. I would even be looking forward to additional stories in this setting from the same characters or not.