After that day, Alistair and his siblings were granted the freedom to venture outside whenever they wished, on the sole condition that Brandon accompanied them.
At first, the rule was enforced strictly.
During their earliest outings, their mothers followed closely behind, never letting the children stray too far from their sight, weapons always drawn and senses stretched taut.
Those first trips were tense.
Every distant groan, every shadow between ruined buildings, sent their hearts racing.
The undead roamed in numbers, and the world beyond their safe zone was unforgiving.
More than once, their mothers had to intervene, cutting down zombies before they could overwhelm the group.
But that phase did not last long.
With each excursion, Alistair and the others grew noticeably stronger.
Repeated battles tempered their bodies and sharpened their instincts.
