Title: Shadows in the Mountains

As the sun dipped below the jagged peaks, casting long shadows through the towering dark trees, Levi moved silently through the woods, his grey eyes scanning the underbrush. The air was thick with the scent of pine and decay, a reminder of the world that had crumbled into chaos. He gripped his machete tightly, the cold steel a comforting weight in his hand as he checked the last of his traps, mentally mapping the terrain he had come to know so well.

Suddenly, a rustle broke the eerie silence. Levi's instincts kicked in, and he turned just in time to see a girl sprinting through the trees, panic etched across her face. Behind her, two zombies lurched forward, their grotesque forms a chilling reminder of the horrors that lurked in the shadows. Without hesitation, Levi stepped into action, his movements fluid and precise as he dispatched the undead with ruthless efficiency.

As the last zombie fell, Levi's cold demeanor remained unchanged. He approached the girl, who was now gasping for breath, her wide eyes filled with fear. "What are you doing out here?" he questioned, his voice as icy as the mountain air.

"I... I got lost," she stammered, her voice trembling. "I was following a path to the town, but I wandered off... now I'm miles away."

Levi's expression softened for a fleeting moment, but he quickly masked it with indifference. The mountains were unforgiving, and he had no time for distractions. Yet, as he looked into her frightened eyes, he felt a flicker of something he hadn’t experienced in a long time—an urge to protect, to guide her back to safety. But trust was a luxury he could not afford in this dark new world.