POV: Jenna
Jenna sat cross-legged on the ground next to the fallen creature, a collection of shiny, green-glowing shards piling up beside her. She hummed quietly to herself as she sorted through the remains, her zombie gang lurking nearby, groaning softly as if cheering her on.
"You do realize we just risked our lives for survival, not so you could start a craft project," Rick said, his voice heavy with exasperation.
Jenna held up one of the glowing shards, her face lighting up. "You're just jealous you didn't find this first. Look at it—it's got potential!"
"Potential for what?" Rick asked, crossing his arms.
"I don't know yet," Jenna admitted, tucking the shard into her spatial space. "But I'm sure I'll think of something. Maybe a necklace? A paperweight? A weapon?"
Carl walked up, his sword resting on his shoulder. "She's hopeless," he said to Rick, though the faint smile on his face betrayed his words.
"Hopelessly resourceful," Jenna corrected, adding another shard to her collection.
---
POV: Rick
Rick surveyed the scene, his mind racing as he pieced together their next steps. The battle had been a victory, but it was clear they were up against something far more dangerous than they'd anticipated.
"This wasn't just some random mutation," Rick said, addressing the group. "That thing was… unnatural."
Carl nodded. "It felt like it was evolving, like it wasn't finished yet."
"Exactly," Rick agreed. "And that means there could be more out there. Bigger, stronger, and just as deadly."
Theo, standing off to the side, scoffed. "Great. So, what's your plan, Rick? Just keep charging in blindly until we all end up like that thing?"
Rick clenched his jaw, ignoring the jab. "We need to be smarter. More prepared. From now on, we scout every area thoroughly before moving in. And we don't take unnecessary risks."
Jenna raised her hand. "Define 'unnecessary.'"
Rick sighed. "Like running headfirst at a giant monster with a crowbar."
Jenna frowned. "Okay, but in my defense, it almost worked."
---
POV: Kane
Kane lingered at the edge of the group, his expression thoughtful as he listened to Rick's plan. The battle had revealed a lot—about the group's strengths, their weaknesses, and their growing reliance on Jenna and Carl.
"They're holding together," Kane muttered to himself. "For now."
Theo approached him, his face still twisted with frustration. "This is madness. Rick's going to get us all killed."
"Perhaps," Kane said with a shrug. "Or perhaps he'll surprise us."
Theo scowled. "You seem awfully neutral for someone who claims to want change."
Kane smiled faintly. "Patience, Theo. Change doesn't happen overnight. It requires… careful cultivation."
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna finished stashing her hoard of glowing shards and stood up, brushing the dirt off her pants. "Alright, team. What's next?"
Rick pinched the bridge of his nose. "Next, we regroup at camp and figure out where to go from here."
"Sounds boring," Jenna said, yawning dramatically. "But fine. Lead the way."
As the group began making their way back to camp, Jenna fell into step beside Carl. "So," she said, nudging him with her elbow. "What do you think those shards are? Magic? Alien tech? Zombie bling?"
"Probably something dangerous," Carl replied. "Which is why you should stop collecting them."
Jenna gasped, feigning offense. "Carl! How could you say that? My hoard is my pride and joy."
Carl smirked. "It's also probably going to get you killed."
"Details," Jenna said with a wave of her hand. "You're just mad because you didn't think of it first."
Carl chuckled, shaking his head. "You're impossible."
---
POV: Rick
By the time they reached camp, Rick's mind was already spinning with ideas. They needed better defenses, stronger weapons, and a more cohesive plan for dealing with whatever mutations were still out there.
"Alright," he said, addressing the group. "We've got work to do. First, we're fortifying the camp. I don't want anything getting in without us knowing about it."
"What about getting out?" Jenna asked, raising an eyebrow. "You know, in case we need to run for our lives."
Rick sighed. "We'll make sure there are escape routes."
"Perfect," Jenna said, clapping her hands. "I call dibs on the first escape route."
Rick ignored her, turning to Carl. "You're in charge of scouting. Take a few people and map out the surrounding area. I want to know exactly what we're dealing with."
Carl nodded. "Got it."
"And what about me?" Jenna asked, her tone teasing. "What's my job, oh fearless leader?"
Rick gave her a pointed look. "Try not to start any more chaos."
Jenna grinned. "No promises."
---
POV: Kane
Kane watched as the group dispersed, each member falling into their assigned roles. His gaze lingered on Jenna, who was already dragging her zombie gang off to some corner of the camp.
"She's the key," Kane murmured to himself. "The chaos she brings… it could tip the scales."
He smiled faintly, already planning his next move. The group was holding together, but cracks were beginning to form. And Kane intended to exploit every single one of them.