The morning sunlight filtered through the trees, casting long shadows across the campsite. The group gathered around the fire pit, stretching sore muscles and rubbing sleep from their eyes. Jean was the first to speak up, his voice still a little rough from the night's watch."Alright," he began, glancing around the circle, "we need to figure out where we're going next. This forest is a decent place to rest, but we're not staying here long term. We have to keep moving."Lucas nodded, pulling out a crumpled map he'd salvaged from the bus. He spread it out on a rock, pointing to their location just outside of the city. "We're here, like, barely outside the city limits. We could head north toward those old farmlands or try south to hit the smaller suburbs. Less population means fewer zombies.""But it also means fewer resources," Jordan pointed out, scratching the back of his head. "We can't survive on canned soup forever. Eventually, we're gonna need real supplies, stuff we can't find in some backwoods town."Blake adjusted his glasses, leaning over to study the map with intense focus. "What about east? There's a small research facility out that way; it's not too far past Griffith Park. It's isolated, and the place might be abandoned—could be a safe place to hunker down for a while."Chloe rolled her eyes, flipping her ponytail over her shoulder. "Great idea, professor, but that doesn't solve our actual problem—like, we still need supplies. Who's gonna risk setting up shop in the middle of nowhere?"Brittney, looking as unimpressed as always, shrugged. "Honestly, why not just head west? At least that way we'd eventually hit the coast. It's not like zombies can swim, right? Plus, we could probably scavenge some coastal towns for food and fuel."Tyler, who'd been leaning back against a tree, crossed his arms and let out a dry laugh. "Yeah, that'd be great and all if we had the gas to get anywhere near the coast. In case everyone forgot, we didn't get any fuel cans last time. We're running on fumes here."The group fell silent for a moment, the reality of their situation sinking in. The bus had been their lifeline, their only way to stay mobile. Without fuel, they'd be as vulnerable as any of the poor souls left behind in the city.Ms. Heather glanced around the circle, a gentle but determined look on her face. "Then let's start with the basics," she said, her voice calm and steady. "The nearest gas station. We're not going anywhere without fuel, and there's no use debating long-term plans until we have enough to get there."Jean nodded in agreement. "She's right. We don't have a lot of options until we're back to full on gas. Once we're fueled up, we can talk about directions. North, south, east, west—it won't matter if we're stranded halfway there."Evan spoke up, his voice a little shaky. "Yeah, but what if we can't find any gas? Or if someone's already drained the pumps dry?"Tyler rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath. "Real confidence there, Evan."Jean shot Tyler a look. "No, he's got a point. If the pumps are empty, we're screwed." He looked around at the group. "Anyone else got ideas?"Blake cleared his throat, hesitating for a moment. "Well, in that case... maybe we should think about taking what we can and abandoning the bus altogether."The suggestion hung heavy in the air, and everyone stared at Blake as if he'd just suggested cutting off a limb."Are you serious?" Lucas blurted out, his voice laced with disbelief. "The bus is literally the only thing keeping us safe right now. You want to just ditch it?"Blake shrugged, clearly uncomfortable with the suggestion but undeterred. "I'm just saying, it's an option if we run out of alternatives. A lot of survival is about adapting. The longer we stay attached to a single strategy, the harder it will be to change if things go south."Chloe crossed her arms, looking unimpressed. "Yeah, except not all of us are built for a life of hiking through the wilderness, professor. We're sticking with the bus until it's our last option."Jean looked around, considering everything that had been said. "Alright, so we're heading to the gas station. We'll check it out quietly and see if it's worth the risk. If there's fuel, we fill up. If not..." He glanced at the group, nodding firmly. "Then we cross that bridge when we get there."Tyler smirked, his arms still crossed. "There you go. Problem solved—for now, anyway. We'll get the damn gas and figure out what's next."Ms. Heather gave Jean a reassuring smile. "I think that's a good plan. And, well... if worse comes to worst, we'll improvise."Brittney sighed, looking bored but resigned. "Whatever. As long as we don't end up wandering around, like, aimlessly. I have limits."Jordan, attempting to lighten the mood, grinned. "Hey, think of it as the ultimate road trip. Except with, you know, zombies and no Wi-Fi."Jean chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright, we're moving out soon. Everyone, gather your stuff. We're heading to the gas station and hoping we hit the jackpot."The group dispersed to get ready, a mix of apprehension and determination on their faces as they prepared for the next step in their journey. The plan wasn't perfect, but it was a start, and with the gas station in their sights, they knew it was their best shot at keeping hope alive.Q: What would be your dream vehicle in a zombie apocalypse?