𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐃𝐄𝐄𝐃𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐇𝐔𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐒

Chapter 5: The Call to Arm

Kabir pulled out his walkie-talkie, his mind racing with the possibilities. “I’ll call her now. She’s got the skills we need, and with her experience, we can navigate these empty lanes more safely.”

“Do you think she’ll be willing to help us?” Saya asked, concern flickering in her eyes.

“Absolutely. Tara is always ready to pitch in when it comes to the group’s survival,” Kabir reassured her. He switched on the walkie-talkie, his voice steady as he called out, “Tara, do you copy? It’s Kabir.”

Static crackled for a moment before Tara’s voice came through, clear and confident. “I’m here, Kabir. What’s going on?”

“We need you here at the compound. We’re looking for backup to scout some empty lanes, and I think your tracking skills would be invaluable,” he explained, glancing at Saya, who nodded encouragingly.

“On my way. Give me a few minutes,” Tara replied, and Kabir felt a sense of relief wash over him. She always had a way of boosting morale, and he knew her presence would bring a spark of hope to the group.

After the call ended, Kabir turned to Saya, a smile breaking through the tension. “She’s on her way. We’ll have a plan in no time.”

Saya smiled back, but her gaze turned serious. “I just hope we can find some resources. We can’t afford to lose anyone else.”

“Don’t worry. With Tara here, we’ll figure it out,” Kabir reassured her, determination in his eyes. They both turned to watch the horizon, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

Kabir and Saya stood side by side, their eyes fixed on the horizon as they waited for Tara’s arrival. The tension in the air was palpable, a constant reminder of the dangers lurking just beyond their makeshift shelter. Kabir could feel his heart racing, a mix of anxiety and hope coursing through him.

“What do you think she’ll say?” Saya broke the silence, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I think she’ll be ready to help. Tara has always been committed to keeping the group safe,” Kabir replied, trying to project confidence despite the unease swirling within him.

Moments later, they spotted a figure approaching from a distance. Tara was making her way toward them, her purposeful stride and focused expression a familiar sight that brought a sense of comfort. Kabir’s tension eased slightly as he recognized the determination in her eyes.

“Hey, Tara!” he called out as she drew closer.

“Hey, Kabir. Saya,” she acknowledged, her tone brightening as she reached them. “What’s the situation?”

Kabir quickly filled her in on the events that had transpired. “We lost contact with Samrat’s team for a while, and now we need to scout some of the empty lanes to find resources. We could use your tracking skills to make sure we don’t run into any trouble.”

Tara nodded, her expression turning serious. “I’m in. We’ll need to plan our route carefully and stay alert. The last thing we want is to stumble into another infected area.”

“Agreed,” Kabir said. “Do you have any specific routes in mind?”

“Yeah,” she replied, already pulling out a worn map from her backpack. “I’ve been studying the layout of the area since we first got here. There are a few paths we could take that should be relatively safe, as long as we keep an eye out for infected animals.”

Saya leaned over to look at the map, her brow furrowing as she studied the potential routes. “What if we set up a watch at the perimeter while we’re out? It might help alert us if something comes our way.”