POV: Rick
The camp stirred awake as the first rays of sunlight filtered through the trees. Rick was already on his feet, scanning the perimeter. He'd slept lightly, if at all, his thoughts consumed by Kane and the mounting danger.
"Everyone up," Rick called, his voice steady but firm. "We're moving in ten."
The groans of protest were immediate. Jenna, sprawled out on a pile of supplies like a cat, waved him off lazily. "Five more minutes, Mom."
Rick glared at her. "You want Kane to find us here?"
Jenna sat up with an exaggerated sigh. "Fine, fine. But you owe me coffee."
"Coffee doesn't exist anymore," Rick replied, turning away.
"Exactly my point!" Jenna shot back.
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna shuffled around the camp, gathering her gang as the rest of the group packed up. Her zombies were slower in the morning—probably a side effect of being undead, she reasoned. Still, they followed her obediently, their groans a low chorus of discontent.
"Alright, team," Jenna said, clapping her hands. "Another day, another trek through the apocalypse. Try to keep up."
One of the zombies growled, holding up a half-crushed can of beans it had found during the night.
"Good find," Jenna said, patting its head. "See? This is why you're my favorite."
The zombie groaned happily, while the others looked on with what Jenna decided was jealousy. She grinned. "Don't worry, you're all my favorites. Sort of."
---
POV: Kane
Kane stood atop a hill, his sharp eyes following the group as they began their march. Their movements were slow, cautious. They were tired, on edge—and that made them vulnerable.
"They're moving again," Theo said, appearing beside him.
"Good," Kane replied, his tone calm. "Let them think they're gaining ground. It'll make the fall that much harder."
Theo frowned. "You're playing a long game here. Are you sure it's worth it?"
Kane's smile was cold. "Patience always pays off."
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna trudged along at the back of the group, her crowbar slung over her shoulder. Carl walked beside her, his expression as serious as ever.
"So," Jenna said, breaking the silence. "What's the plan today? More running, more fighting, or are we finally taking a spa day?"
Carl shot her a look. "We're heading to higher ground. Better visibility, fewer ambush points."
"Boring," Jenna muttered. "You know, we could always just stay here. Build a fort, start a commune."
"Because that worked so well last time," Carl said dryly.
Jenna grinned. "Hey, you never know. Maybe Kane's a big fan of forts."
Carl didn't respond, but Jenna caught the faintest twitch of his lips. Victory.
---
POV: Rick
Rick led the group through the dense forest, his knife in hand as he scanned the trees. The air was heavy, the silence unnerving. Even the usual sounds of wildlife seemed absent.
"Stay sharp," Rick said quietly. "Something doesn't feel right."
Sarah, walking just behind him, nodded. "You think Kane's still watching us?"
Rick's jaw tightened. "I'd bet on it."
The group pressed on, the tension palpable. Every crack of a branch, every rustle of leaves, set their nerves on edge.
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna's zombie gang was growling softly, their unease matching the mood of the group. Jenna frowned, glancing at the trees around them.
"You guys feeling this too?" she asked, her voice low.
One of the zombies groaned, tilting its head toward the shadows.
"Yeah, me neither," Jenna muttered, gripping her crowbar tightly.
Carl noticed her tension and stepped closer. "What's wrong?"
"Everything," Jenna replied. "But mostly the creepy vibes."
Carl's hand tightened on his sword. "Stay close."
"Don't have to tell me twice," Jenna said, her usual bravado slipping slightly.
---
POV: Kane
Kane watched as the group moved deeper into the forest, his smile widening. The shadows were his domain, the perfect place to test their resolve.
"Let them sweat," he murmured to Theo. "Fear is a powerful weapon."
Theo nodded but said nothing, his eyes fixed on the group below.
---
POV: Rick
The attack came suddenly, without warning. Mutants burst from the trees, their glowing veins casting an eerie light on the forest floor.
"Defensive positions!" Rick shouted, his knife already in hand.
The group moved quickly, forming a tight circle as the mutants closed in. Jenna's zombie gang surged forward, their growls turning into feral snarls as they engaged the attackers.
"Stay together!" Rick barked, his knife slashing through a mutant's neck. "Don't let them break the line!"
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna swung her crowbar with wild abandon, her usual humor replaced by raw determination. Her zombie gang fought alongside her, their clumsy but effective attacks keeping the mutants at bay.
"This is getting old," Jenna muttered, dodging a swipe from a particularly aggressive mutant. "Can't we get a break for once?"
Carl appeared beside her, his sword cutting through another mutant. "Focus, Jenna."
"I am focused," Jenna shot back, swinging her crowbar at another attacker. "Focused on not dying."
---
POV: Kane
Kane observed the battle from a safe distance, his expression calm. The mutants were doing their job, wearing the group down bit by bit.
"They're holding," Theo said, his tone grudgingly impressed.
"For now," Kane replied. "But they can't hold forever."
---
POV: Jenna
As the last mutant fell, Jenna leaned on her crowbar, panting heavily. Her zombie gang was battered but still standing, their growls softer now that the immediate threat had passed.
"Another day, another disaster averted," Jenna said, her voice breathless.
Carl gave her a flat look. "You call this averted?"
Jenna grinned. "We're alive, aren't we? I'd call that a win."
Rick approached, his expression grim. "We need to move. Kane won't stop, and these attacks are only going to get worse."
"Great," Jenna muttered. "More walking."
---
POV: Kane
Kane turned away from the scene, his smile faint but satisfied. The group was surviving, yes, but barely. And their endurance wouldn't last forever.
"Keep the pressure steady," he said quietly. "Their time will come."