How Zombies Survive in the Apocalypse

“You found human traces?”

Arian’s expression brightened upon hearing Aiden’s words.

She had thought they wouldn’t be able to replenish their blood supply until reaching Phoenix.

However, finding human traces didn’t necessarily mean they would encounter those people.

“But there’s no telling if they’re still alive. Beasts are roaming around in these woods.”

What Aiden had discovered along with the traces were some abandoned supplies.

At the campsite he found, not only food but also guns and ammunition had been left behind.

It meant those who had fled from there couldn’t even take their weapons with them.

Even if they had managed to shake off the Beast pack’s pursuit, their survival couldn’t be guaranteed.

At this, Arian’s brow furrowed slightly.

“By the way, more than 10 Beasts in a pack, that’s the first time I’ve seen so many. Is it common for them to form such large groups?”

“Not at all. It’s an extremely rare phenomenon.”

“Then… does that mean someone intentionally gathered them? For instance, that mutant they say is here could have done it. They say it’s quite intelligent.”

“Hard to say. It’s possible, but I can’t be certain.”

Wolves are one of the scavengers in the ecosystem that eat even rotten meat.

If they hunted the zombies roaming these woods as prey, it’s not impossible for the entire pack to have become infected.

However, it was still extremely rare for an entire animal group to become zombified.

After all, even scavengers only ate spoiled meat when prey became scarce.

Compared to that, the number of wild animals had actually increased considerably in the absence of humans.

So from the predators’ perspective, like the wolves, there was an abundance of prey without needing to hunt zombies.

“Hmm…”

Unable to definitively conclude either way, Arian let out an unsatisfied grunt.

But whichever was the case, what Aiden’s group had to do was clear.

“Let’s follow the trail instead. We might find the person who left it.”

“Understood.”

Shaking her head to dispel her earlier thoughts, Arian took the lead.

Her gaze was sharper than usual.

The Beasts in the forest, including the Beast pack, could detect enemies with senses as keen as Arian’s.

In other words, one of Arian’s advantages of being able to detect enemies first was nullified.

Therefore, Beasts were more formidable foes for her than regular zombies or mutants.

“This way.”

Passing by the campsite with the corpse, Aiden’s group walked in the direction of the footprints.

They made their way through the haphazardly grown trees without any proper paths.

The wind blew.

The remaining green leaves rustled, obstructing their view.

“It’s a downhill slope from here, be careful.”

Arian warned.

The flat ground ended, transitioning into a sloping descent.

The gradient was somewhat steep but not unmanageable.

“Will we be able to get down?”

“Yes, it should be fine.”

Aiden moved cautiously, keeping an eye on Sadie following behind.

Partway down the slope, for some reason, an enormous tree thicker than an adult’s torso had been uprooted and fallen over.

Atop it were what looked like eerie claw marks.

However, it had been too long, and with no other traces, there was no way to tell if it was the wolf pack’s doing.

After walking for about 10 minutes or so, Arian, who was leading the way, gestured that she had found something.

Aiden approached her.

Then, a sound reached his ears.

It was the unmistakable sound of water.

“…A stream.”

Aiden muttered as he stood beside Arian.

As he said, what Arian had discovered was a small stream.

Around it were moss-covered rocks.

And among those rocks, the flowing water formed a short waterfall not too far away, giving off an almost mystical ambiance.

“They must have come here for drinking water.”

Aiden quickly grasped the intention of whoever had been here.

In this area where water was scarce, such a stream was undoubtedly an excellent source of drinking water.

“But the trail ends here.”

Arian remarked in the meantime.

To Aiden’s eyes as well, there were no more footprints visible.

However, Aiden promptly determined which direction they should head next.

“Following the stream would be best.”

If these were indeed people who had come to fetch water only to have their campsite raided, they would have had no reason to leave the stream.

Aiden’s group descended further, following along the stream.

Soon, the terrain changed.

Dense trees still lined the left and right, but at some point, the path ahead opened up widely.

There was… a lake.

A small lake about 300 meters wide, surrounded by forests on all sides.

Its gently rippling surface beautifully reflected the autumn sunlight, glistening.

“Ah! There they are.”

Arian pointed towards the far side of the lake.

Amidst the spiky evergreens, there were undoubtedly people present.

Their faces were too far to make out, but even their movements alone were clearly distinct from zombies.

“Shall we approach them?”

Arian suggested.

It was only natural.

Aiden immediately nodded in agreement.

But then, the people across the lake reacted to their presence.

Someone standing by the lakeshore gestured and pointed towards Aiden’s group.

They too had spotted Aiden’s group emerging at the lake.

“Oh ho…”

Aiden furrowed his brow slightly.

He had a bad feeling about this.

While the distance across the lake wasn’t that far, considering the time it would take to circle around, it was far from close.

So if they were wary, those people could easily flee that distance.

Of course, Arian could give chase, but Aiden didn’t want to engage in a pursuit across this dangerous forest potentially harboring Beasts.

However, the reaction from the people across the lake was contrary to Aiden’s expectations.

They shouted something towards Aiden’s group and seemed to be intentionally approaching them instead.

“What are they saying?”

So Aiden asked.

Arian shrugged her shoulders as she answered.

“They’re asking for help?”

An unexpected call, but it didn’t bode ill for Aiden.

He headed towards the people’s direction along with his companions.

* * *

A short while later.

“Huff… haah…!”

The ones who had encountered Aiden’s group were an elderly black couple, likely in their 60s.

They came running towards Aiden’s group as if in a rush.

Just in case, Aiden remained cautious of them, but there were no weapons in their hands.

Rather, their light clothing seemed out of place in these mountains.

The only weapon they had was a pistol hanging from the man’s waist.

In contrast, Aiden was heavily armed, carrying a rifle.

But the couple didn’t seem to pay any heed to that as the man cheered upon seeing Aiden.

“Real people! Real people, I tell you!”

The man finally spoke as he faced Aiden’s group by the lakeshore.

Inwardly, Aiden suppressed a wry smile.

In reality, there was only one person among them who could be called human.

However, they didn’t seem to have any intention of being hostile towards Aiden’s group.

Aiden slung his rifle over his back and opened his mouth.

“Why did you call us over?”

His low, somewhat coldly detached voice.

It was only after hearing Aiden’s tone that the man’s excitement finally settled down.

He caught his breath, cleared his throat a few times, and then stood directly before Aiden.

“Ah, well… My apologies. Got a bit carried away there.”

Aiden nodded as if in understanding.

Then, the woman beside him let out a deep sigh and continued speaking.

“I’m Madeline Miller. And this is…”

“Her husband, Logan Miller. Pleasure to meet you.”

The Millers introduced themselves.

Logan even extended his hand for a handshake.

Perhaps because they had little to lose, or for some other reason, they lacked the caution typical of wanderers to an almost excessive degree.

However, there was nothing overtly suspicious about them, so Aiden reciprocated the handshake and revealed his and his companions’ names.

He then followed up on his earlier question.

“So, what was the reason you called us over?”

“Ah, well… Could you lend me a hand?”

At the sudden request, Aiden stared intently at Logan.

Realizing his blunder, Logan quickly corrected himself.

“I don’t mean to ask for something one-sidedly. We need to help each other out. There are dangerous creatures roaming these woods!”

“You mean the wolves?”

“You knew about them?”

Aiden recounted the story of the campsite he had discovered.

And he asked them if they were the ones who had fled from there.

To this, Logan vigorously nodded as if his neck might break.

“Yes, yes! Those damn wolves. We really came so close to death because of them. I was so worried they might follow us.”

Logan contorted his expression as he spoke.

It was then that Aiden seemed to understand why they had approached Aiden’s group so casually without any caution.

They had likely gone to the stream to fetch drinking water.

But while they were away, their campsite had been raided.

In the end, this couple had to flee the campsite without even properly gathering their belongings.

Evidence of this was their light attire.

No wanderer, no matter how careless, would set out on a journey across the vast desert and mountains carrying only a pistol.

Was that why…?

“But the wolves aren’t there anymore, right?”

Logan asked Aiden.

From his demeanor, it seemed he wanted to return to that campsite.

“Why do you ask?”

“Well, um… There were a few other people there besides us. They might still be alive.”

It sounded plausible, but Aiden didn’t believe his words.

After all, if they had witnessed the attack by the wolves firsthand, they should have realized it was unlikely for the others to have survived.

So Logan’s reason for wanting to go there was not that.

The real reason must have been the few supplies Aiden had found.

“I’ve already collected the supplies that were there.”

“Oh… I see…”

At Aiden’s follow-up words, Logan seemed flustered, as if caught off guard.

However, Aiden had no intention of simply handing over those supplies either.

This was a perfect opportunity to obtain some blood, after all.

As Aiden was thinking this, Logan spoke up first.

“Return those supplies to us.”

Logan said with a tense expression.

Aiden waited for his next words.

“My wife and I are both doctors. We used to work at the largest hospital in Texas. So we could be of great help to you too.”

Aiden raised an eyebrow inside his helmet at the following words.

These people were doctors?

An unexpected fact.

Of course, they could be lying, but it wasn’t difficult for Aiden to discern the truth.

“What a coincidence. I’m the same.”

Aiden said so and flashed his ID badge.

It was the one that had been tucked away amidst the straps of the bag he was carrying.

It was only upon seeing it that Logan’s expression froze.

He seemed to have just realized that the yellowed coat Aiden was wearing was a doctor’s white coat.

“You too…?”

Logan fell silent for a moment.

But soon, the briefly quieted man tried to persuade Aiden even more fervently.

Citing the contents of the Hippocratic Oath, which had little relevance to the current situation, he insisted that Aiden return the supplies.

To Logan’s demands, Aiden gave a light nod.

“Of course I’ll return them. If you pay the price.”

“The price?”

“A blood donation.”

Aiden dug out a blood collection set from his belongings.

Upon seeing this, Logan’s expression turned perplexed.

“You want my blood? Why?”

Perhaps because he was a doctor himself, Logan asked back as if he couldn’t understand the reason for the blood donation at all.

However, Aiden had no intention of explaining that part.

“You don’t need to know that.”

At Aiden’s curt attitude, Logan’s brow furrowed.

But before he could say anything else, Aiden forced him to make a choice.

“So… Will you do it, or not?”

Logan looked at the syringe thrust before him with a complicated gaze.

However, it was Logan’s wife, Madeline, who soon took it from him.

“What are you agonizing over?”

“But… they’re taking our blood. What do they need it for?”

“It’s none of our business, is it? Getting our guns and supplies back is what’s important.”

At his wife’s words, Logan became a tongue-tied fool and sealed his lips.

Madeline turned to Aiden.

“How much blood do you need?”

After a few more queries, Aiden provided the answers.

The Millers then skillfully drew their own blood and handed it over to Aiden.

Afterwards, Aiden returned to them the items he had collected from the campsite.

Two rifles and some ammunition. As well as food supplies.

The Millers’ faces brightened as they received them.

“By the way… I assume you’re all headed to Phoenix too?”

Logan, done organizing his belongings, asked Aiden.

Aiden nodded.

“Then why don’t you come with us? This is a place where Beasts roam in packs, isn’t it? It would be dangerous for you alone, especially with children in your group.”

Logan then made such a proposal.

Aiden contemplated it briefly but saw no reason to refuse.

As he said, there was a wolf pack present in these woods.

In a battle against a numerically superior pack of Beasts, having more allies capable of firing guns wasn’t a bad thing.

Aiden looked towards his companions, and they too nodded in agreement.

“…Very well.”

In the end, Aiden gave that response to Logan.

And so, Aiden’s group and the Millers, who would temporarily travel together, began making their way through the forest, heading south towards Phoenix.