THE ONES WHO LIVED

The northbounders

Kai, Lila, and Rex followed the trail of smoke that rose from the horizon. They hoped to find some friendly survivors who could share some food and shelter with them. They had been walking for days, avoiding the spore zones and the bandits that roamed the wasteland. They were hungry, thirsty, and tired.

As they approached the source of the smoke, they saw a large campfire surrounded by a dozen tents. They also saw a truck, a motorcycle, and a few bicycles parked nearby. They heard laughter and music coming from the camp. They smelled roasted meat and fresh bread.

"Hello there!" a voice called out to them. "Who are you and what brings you here?"

They turned and saw a man walking towards them. He was tall and muscular, with a beard and a bandana. He wore a leather jacket and jeans. He had a shotgun slung over his shoulder and a knife on his belt. He smiled and waved at them.

"Hi, I'm Kai. This is Lila and this is Rex," Kai said, pointing at his companions. "We're just looking for a place to stay for the night. We don't mean any trouble."

The man nodded and gestured for them to follow him. "Well, you're in luck. We're a friendly bunch here. We call ourselves the Northbounders. We're heading to the north, where we heard there's a safe haven for survivors. You're welcome to join us, if you want. Come on, I'll introduce you to the others."

He led them to the campfire, where a group of people were sitting and chatting. They looked like a mix of ages and backgrounds. Some wore scavenged clothes, others wore military uniforms. Some had guns, others had bows and arrows. They all had backpacks and bags filled with supplies.

"Hey, everyone, we have some new guests," the man announced. "This is Kai, Lila, and Rex. They're looking for a place to crash for the night."

The group greeted them warmly and invited them to sit down. They offered them some food and water, which they gratefully accepted. They asked them where they came from and how they survived the apocalypse. They told them their stories and listened to theirs.

The man who welcomed them introduced himself as Jack. He said he was a former truck driver who had lost his wife and son in the first wave of the spores. He had found his daughter, Haley, and his son, Midas, in an orphanage. They had escaped together and joined the Northbounders, a group of survivors who had decided to head north in search of a better life.

Jack said he was the leader of the group, but he didn't act like a boss. He said he valued everyone's opinion and respected their choices. He said he wanted to create a community of people who could help each other and live in peace.

He asked Kai and Lila if they wanted to join them. He said they had room for more people and they could use their skills and talents. He said they had a map and a radio that could guide them to the north. He said they had heard rumors of a place called Eden, where there was clean water, fertile soil, and no spores. He said it was their best chance of survival.

Kai and Lila looked at each other and nodded. They agreed to join the Northbounders. They felt a sense of hope and belonging that they hadn't felt in a long time. They felt like they had found a new family.

They spent the night in one of the tents, sharing stories and jokes with the others. They felt safe and warm. They slept soundly, dreaming of a better tomorrow.