Luka drove the car as fast as he could, dodging the zombies that roamed the streets of Ljubljana. He had just picked up Maja from the hospital, where she had been working overtime to treat the infected patients. They had barely escaped the horde of undead that had overrun the building.
"Are you OK, babe?" he asked her, glancing at her pale and tired face.
"I'm fine, just a bit shaken," she said, clutching his hand. "Thank you for coming for me."
"Of course, I love you," he said, squeezing her hand. "Don't worry, we'll make it out of here."
They were heading to the outskirts of the city, where they had agreed to meet with their friends Ivan, Ana, and Zoran. They had formed a group of survivors after the zombie outbreak had started, and they had been looking for a safe place to stay ever since.
They reached the rendezvous point, a gas station near the highway. They saw Ivan's truck parked outside, with Ana and Zoran waiting for them.
"Hey, guys, we're here!" Luka shouted, parking the car next to the truck.
"Thank God, you're alive!" Ana exclaimed, running to hug them.
"We were worried sick about you," Zoran added, following her.
"Sorry, we got delayed," Luka said, getting out of the car. "The hospital was a nightmare."
"I can imagine," Ivan said, walking out of the gas station. He was holding a shotgun and a bag of supplies. "Did you get everything you need?"
"Yeah, we did," Maja said, nodding. She had managed to grab some medicine and bandages from the hospital.
"Good, then let's get going," Ivan said, tossing the bag into the truck. "We don't have much time."
"Where are we going?" Luka asked.
"I found a map in the gas station," Ivan said, showing them a paper map. "It shows a place where we might be safe."
He pointed to a spot on the map, near the border with Austria. It was marked as "Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps".
"What's that?" Maja asked.
"It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site," Ivan explained. "It's a series of ancient settlements built on wooden platforms over lakes and rivers. They date back to the Neolithic and Bronze Age, and they were used by the people who lived in this region before the Romans came."
"Why do you think it's safe there?" Ana asked.
"Because it's isolated and hidden," Ivan said. "The zombies won't be able to reach it, and the people who live there might be friendly and helpful."
"People who live there?" Zoran asked. "You mean there are still people living in those pile dwellings?"
"Maybe, I don't know," Ivan said. "But it's worth a try. It's better than staying here, where the zombies are everywhere."
"I agree," Luka said. "Let's go check it out."
They all agreed, and got into their vehicles. Ivan drove the truck, with Ana and Zoran in the back. Luka drove the car, with Maja in the passenger seat. They followed the highway, heading towards the pile dwellings.
They drove for about an hour, until they reached the exit that led to the site. They turned off the highway, and followed a narrow road that wound through the countryside. They saw fields and forests, but no signs of civilization.
They reached the end of the road, where a sign said "Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps". They parked their vehicles, and got out. They saw a wooden bridge that crossed a river, leading to a cluster of wooden houses on stilts.
"Wow, this is amazing," Luka said, taking out his camera. He was always looking for a good story, even if it meant putting himself in danger. He wanted to document their journey, and maybe share it with the world someday.
"It's beautiful," Maja said, admiring the scenery. She was always looking for a bit of hope, even if it meant ignoring the reality. She wanted to believe that there was still some good in the world, and maybe find it with the people they met.
"Let's go see if anyone's home," Ivan said, grabbing his shotgun. He was always looking for a bit of security, even if it meant being prepared for the worst. He wanted to make sure that they were safe, and maybe protect them from any threats they faced.
"Be careful, guys," Ana said, holding her backpack. She was always looking for a bit of kindness, even if it meant being vulnerable. She wanted to help others, and maybe learn from them.
"Let's go make some friends," Zoran said, holding his accordion. He was always looking for a bit of fun, even if it meant being reckless. He wanted to entertain others, and maybe profit from them.
They crossed the bridge, and approached the pile dwellings. They saw smoke coming out of some of the chimneys, and heard voices and music. They realized that there were indeed people living there, and they seemed to be having a good time.
They knocked on the door of the nearest house, and waited for a response. They heard footsteps, and the door opened. They saw a man standing in front of them, wearing a leather jacket and a woolen hat. He had a beard and a smile, and he looked friendly.
"Hello, strangers," he said, in a thick accent. "Welcome to our community. We are the pile dwellers, and we are happy to see you."
He invited them in, and introduced them to his family and friends. They learned that the pile dwellers were a group of people who had chosen to live in the ancient settlements, following a simple and traditional lifestyle. They had been living there for generations, and they had managed to avoid the zombie outbreak, thanks to their isolation and self-sufficiency.
They offered them food and drink, and asked them about their story. They listened with interest and sympathy, and shared their own experiences and wisdom. They told them that they had a secret weapon against the zombies, a plant that grew in the water, and that they used to make a potion that repelled the undead.
They showed them around their houses, and explained how they built and maintained them. They showed them their crafts and skills, and taught them how to make and use them. They showed them their culture and traditions, and invited them to join and celebrate them.
They treated them with hospitality and generosity, and asked them to stay with them. They said that they had plenty of room and resources, and that they would be happy to have them as part of their community. They said that they had found a way to live in harmony with nature and each other, and that they had found a way to be happy.
They were the pile dwellers, and they had just met their new friends.
