The day started as normally as it could for a bunch of zombies trying to survive. Jenna, of course, was in the middle of a thorough examination of a pile of old shoes she'd found in the back of a convenience store. "These are… stylish," she muttered, turning a pair of neon pink sneakers over in her hands. "I could totally wear these... if I was human."
Carl gritted his teeth, watching her. "Jenna, we've got bigger problems."
"Oh, right," she said, tossing the sneakers into her space. "What's the problem again?"
Carl pointed toward the horizon, where the unmistakable shape of a mutated bear lumbered closer. Its fur had a sickly green tint, and its claws were large enough to swipe through steel. It was the first real sign that the mutation was affecting the entire ecosystem, not just zombies.
Jenna's eyes widened. "Oh, cool! Is that, like, a new friend?"
Carl exhaled sharply, but even he couldn't help but feel the weight of the situation. The mutation wasn't just about them anymore. Plants, animals, and even the very ground they stood on had been altered.
Just as Carl prepared to tell Jenna how dangerous the situation was, a loud crashing noise echoed through the trees. A whole herd of mutated deer sprinted past, their eyes glowing red. "We need to move," Carl growled.
Jenna blinked, still admiring her collection of shoes. "Uh… should I take the shoes?"
Carl sighed deeply. "Jenna, seriously."