The sun began to rise, casting a golden hue across the treetops, as the group trudged through the forest, fatigue weighing heavily on their shoulders. They were desperate to find the community Sam had mentioned, hoping for a safe haven after the harrowing encounter with the mutated creature.
“Do you think we’ll make it before noon?” Kelly asked, her voice tinged with weariness. She had been walking in silence, contemplating how much longer they could go without a real break.
“We should be close,” Sam replied, glancing at the makeshift map again. “If we keep this pace, we’ll be there soon.”
“Let’s just hope it’s worth it,” Ryan muttered, running a hand through his disheveled hair. “I’m tired of running into danger at every turn.”
“Me too,” Eliza added, wiping the sweat from her brow. “A good meal and a warm bed sound like a dream right now.”
Just as she finished her sentence, a distant sound caught Kelly’s attention—a rhythmic thudding, like a heartbeat echoing through the trees. 
“Wait,” Kelly said, holding up her hand. “Do you guys hear that?”
The group paused, straining their ears. 
“What is that?” Liam asked, narrowing his eyes. 
“It sounds like… drums?” Sam said, her brow furrowed in confusion. “But it’s not coming from the direction of the community.”
“Maybe it’s a party or something?” Eliza suggested, raising an eyebrow. “Could be a good sign.”
“Or it could be a trap,” Ryan said warily. “We need to be cautious.”
“Let’s investigate,” Sam decided, her curiosity piqued. “But let’s do it quietly. We don’t want to draw any attention.”
The group stealthily moved toward the sound, weaving through the underbrush and trying to stay low. As they approached a clearing, the rhythm of the drums grew louder, accompanied by a cacophony of laughter and shouts. 
Peering through the trees, Kelly’s heart raced at what she saw: a group of people gathered around a large fire, their faces illuminated by the flames. They were celebrating, dancing, and what looked like food was cooking over the fire.
“Are they… a community?” Eliza whispered, her eyes wide with hope.
“Let’s find out,” Sam replied, a determined glint in her eye. 
As they stepped into the clearing, the music stopped, and all eyes turned toward them. The celebration fell silent, and the atmosphere shifted from joy to apprehension. 
“Who are you?” a tall man with a scruffy beard asked, stepping forward. His voice was deep and commanding, a look of suspicion etched across his face. 
“We’re survivors,” Sam said, raising her hands in a gesture of peace. “We’ve been traveling for days, and we’re just looking for a safe place.”
“Safe place?” he echoed, his eyes narrowing. “And how do we know you’re not infected or a threat?”
“We’re just like you,” Ryan chimed in, his tone earnest. “We’re trying to survive.”
Another woman stepped forward, her hair wild and unkempt, but her gaze was kind. “You look exhausted. How many of you are there?”
“There are five of us,” Kelly said, her voice shaking slightly. “We’ve faced a lot out there. We just need food and a moment to rest.”
The tall man looked around at his group, his expression softening slightly. “Alright. We’ll give you food, but you’ll have to prove you’re not a danger to us. We don’t take chances here.”
“Of course,” Sam replied, her tone steady. “What do you need us to do?”
The man gestured to the fire. “Join us for a meal first. Then, if you’re willing, we could use some extra hands around here. We’re a small community, and the more people we have, the safer we are.”
As they gathered around the fire, Kelly felt a sense of relief wash over her. The warmth of the flames was comforting, and the smell of cooking food was intoxicating. 
“Thank you,” Eliza said, her voice filled with gratitude. “We haven’t had a proper meal in days.”
The woman who had stepped forward earlier handed them bowls filled with a hearty stew. “Here, this should help you recover your strength.”
Kelly took a sip, and her eyes widened. “This is incredible! What’s in it?”
“Whatever we could scavenge,” the woman replied with a shrug. “A bit of this, a bit of that. We make do.”
As they ate, the initial tension faded, replaced by laughter and stories of survival. 
“So, what’s your story?” the tall man asked, leaning forward. “How did you end up out here?”
Sam took a deep breath. “We were holed up in an apartment building when the chaos started. We thought we could ride it out, but things got worse, and we had to leave.”
“Smart move,” the man nodded. “We learned the hard way that staying put isn’t always safe. I’m Jake, by the way.”
“Nice to meet you, Jake,” Ryan said, extending his hand. “I’m Ryan.”
“Kelly,” she added, smiling as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “Thanks for sharing your food with us.”
“Eliza,” she chimed in. “And this is Liam.”
“I’m glad you found us,” Jake said, looking at each of them. “We could always use more good people. But it won’t be easy. We have to remain vigilant.”
“What do you mean?” Kelly asked, intrigued.
“There are groups out there—raiders, thieves. They don’t care who they hurt. They only want what they can take,” Jake explained. “We’ve had our share of encounters, and we don’t take chances.”
“Have you lost anyone?” Eliza asked softly.
Jake’s expression hardened. “A few. We’ve managed to keep the community safe, but it’s getting tougher. Supplies are dwindling, and we need more resources if we want to survive.”
Kelly felt a pang of guilt, knowing how much they had taken for granted. “We can help,” she offered. “We have experience scavenging, and we know how to handle ourselves.”
“Really?” Jake asked, skepticism mingling with hope in his eyes.
“Yeah,” Sam chimed in. “We can be your eyes and ears. Just give us a chance.”
“Alright,” Jake said, considering their offer. “If you can hold your own, we’ll take you in. But remember—if you put the community at risk, we’ll have to reconsider.”
“Understood,” Ryan said firmly. “We won’t let you down.”
As the night wore on, the group shared stories, laughter echoing into the darkness. For the first time in a long while, Kelly felt a glimmer of hope.
“What do you think?” Sam asked quietly as they sat around the fire, glancing at the others.
“I think we finally found a place to belong,” Kelly replied, her heart swelling with warmth. “This could be it.”
Just then, the laughter around the fire faded as the sounds of the night grew more ominous. The distant growls and howls of the undead began to pierce the night air.
“Time to be on guard,” Jake said, his expression shifting back to seriousness. “Everyone, keep your weapons close.”
As they prepared to settle in for the night, Kelly felt the weight of the world lifting slightly off her shoulders. They had found a community—a chance at survival and, perhaps, something more than just existence.
“Let’s stick together,” Sam murmured, her eyes scanning the shadows. “We’ll get through this.”
“Together,” Kelly echoed, feeling the warmth of camaraderie envelop her as they faced the darkness ahead, united in their fight for survival.