"East Town" was not a place many survivors made the effort to visit.

The long abandoned area was an overgrown and desolate mess. All that was really left of a once bustling area were ruined buildings, overgrown vines, and dust. Thawed were known to go through the area in large, shambling hoards due to fact that it was a shady and warm area they could cultivate in, making it a high risk zone even for the most experienced of runners and scavengers.

However, despite the dangers, East Town held a grim allure for those brave—or desperate—enough to venture there. Unlike other regions that had been thoroughly looted or explored, East Town was known to harbor hidden caches of supplies, remnants of the old world that had yet to be discovered.

It was for this reason that Zara, a seasoned scavenger, had decided to make the trek to the forsaken place. She knew the risks—there were no known safe routes, no traded maps that detailed the treacherous terrain. But she needed supplies, both for herself and for bartering with other wanderers. So, here she was, carefully rummaging through an abandoned clinic, her senses on high alert.

Every nerve in her body was attuned to her surroundings, her sharp eyes scanning the dimly lit interior for anything of value. Her hands, calloused and scarred from years of survival, sifted through a box of what others might call junk, but to her, it was potential treasure. A single useful item could mean the difference between life and death.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed faintly through the clinic. Instinct took over. Zara's hand flew to her gun, and in one swift, practiced motion, she moved to the side of the door, pressing her back against the wall. She held her breath, listening intently, her heart pounding in her chest. The footsteps drew nearer, and as soon as the figure stepped through the doorway, she acted. With a quick sweep of her leg, she knocked the intruder off their feet, sending them sprawling to the floor, then Zara aimed her gun at them.

"What are you doing here?"