The fading light of day cast long shadows through the trees as Aiden, Jax, and Callum's group moved away from the abandoned church. The air was thick with tension, every step crunching through the underbrush amplifying their unease. The sight of the empty church, combined with the knowledge of the incoming horde, left no room for doubt—Maya and the others had been forced to leave.

Aiden: "They wouldn't have gone far," Aiden said firmly, gripping the strap of his pack as his eyes scanned the ground for any sign of a trail. "Maya wouldn't risk Ruben for a long trek."

Jax: "They'd stick to cover," Jax agreed, walking beside him with his rifle at the ready. "Probably somewhere defensible until the walkers pass."

(Callum adjusted his axe over his shoulder, glancing at Aiden)

Callum: "Any idea which direction they'd go? Or are we just wandering until we stumble onto them?"

Aiden: "They'd head somewhere familiar," Aiden replied, his voice edged with determination. "There's a small barn not too far from here—we passed it on the way to the church. Maya might've taken them there."

Sophie: "You sure they'd stop at a barn?" Sophie asked skeptically, her machete glinting in the dim light. "Doesn't seem like the safest place."

Jax: "They wouldn't have much of a choice," Jax interjected. "With that horde, they couldn't risk moving too far out in the open."

(Emily clutched her brother Jamie's hand tightly, her small frame trembling slightly)

Emily: "Do you think they're okay?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

(Jamie gave her a reassuring squeeze, though his face betrayed his own worry)

Jamie: "They'll be fine. We just have to catch up to them."

(Lena brought up the rear, her sharp eyes darting around the treeline)

Lena: "We should pick up the pace," she urged. "That horde might still be lingering nearby, and we're making enough noise to draw every walker in London."

(Callum nodded in agreement)

Callum: "She's right. If we're going to find them before nightfall, we need to move faster."

(Aiden glanced back at the group, his resolve hardening)

Aiden: "Alright. Stay close, stay quiet, and keep your eyes peeled. If you see anything—tracks, broken branches, anything out of place—let me know."

Without another word, they pressed deeper into the forest, their footsteps quick and deliberate. Aiden's mind raced as he tried to imagine Maya's next move. He could picture her carrying Ruben if his little brother got too tired to keep up, her sharp orders keeping the group together as they navigated the woods. He just hoped they weren't too far behind.

(As they pushed forward, Jax paused, raising a hand to signal the group to stop)

Jax: "Hold up," he murmured, crouching down to inspect the ground. He pointed at a faint set of footprints leading away from the path. "Looks like they went this way."

(Aiden's heart lifted slightly at the sight)

Aiden: "Good. We're getting close." He turned to the others, his voice steady but firm. "Let's move."

The group followed the tracks deeper into the forest, the looming darkness pressing in around them. Aiden's grip tightened on his knife as his determination to find Ruben and the others grew stronger with every step. They were out there somewhere, and he wouldn't rest until he brought them back safely.

The forest thickened around them, shadows deepening as dusk gave way to the encroaching dark. The group moved cautiously, every rustle of leaves and crack of twigs underfoot setting their nerves on edge. The trail led them further from the abandoned church and deeper into the wilderness, their only guide a faint set of footprints and broken branches. Jax, walking ahead with his rifle at the ready, held up a hand to signal a halt.

Jax: "Hold up," he murmured, crouching low to inspect the ground. "The tracks turn here, toward those cabins up ahead."

Aiden squinted through the trees and spotted a cluster of small, weathered cabins nestled among the underbrush. The wood looked aged and Gray, some of the walls sagging inward. A few had boarded windows, while others were gaping holes where glass should have been. They looked long abandoned, but the sight of them sent a flicker of hope through Aiden's chest. If Maya and the others had been forced to stop somewhere, this might be it.

Callum: "Looks defensible," Callum said, hefting his axe over his shoulder as he scanned the surroundings. "But I don't like how quiet it is."

Sophie: "Quiet's better than walkers," Sophie muttered, though her grip on her machete tightened.

(Aiden turned to the group)

Aiden: "Stay sharp. Jax, you and Lena check the first cabin. Callum and Sophie, take the second. Jamie, stay with Emily and keep her close. I'll check the last one."

Jax nodded and led Lena toward the nearest structure, the two moving in practiced silence. Callum and Sophie branched off toward the middle cabin, their weapons at the ready. Aiden waited until everyone was in position before approaching the furthest cabin, his knife drawn.

The door hung crooked on its hinges, creaking softly as Aiden pushed it open. The inside smelled of damp wood and decay. Dust motes floated lazily in the faint light filtering through cracks in the walls. He stepped inside cautiously, his eyes sweeping the room for any signs of recent activity. A broken chair lay in the corner, its legs splintered. A crude sleeping mat made of old blankets was spread across the floor, but it looked undisturbed. No sign of Maya or the others. A sudden clatter from the second cabin sent Aiden spinning around, his heart racing.

Aiden: "Callum?" he called out in a harsh whisper.

(Callum's voice came back, tight and urgent)

Callum: "Walker. We've got it handled."

Aiden exhaled slowly, glancing back at the sleeping mat. If Maya and the others had been here, they hadn't stayed long. He stepped outside to regroup with the others.

(Jax and Lena emerged from their cabin, both shaking their heads)

Jax: "Nothing," Jax said grimly. "Just some old junk and a raccoon that almost took Lena's head off."

Lena: "Funny," Lena muttered dryly, brushing dirt from her jacket.

(Callum and Sophie exited their cabin, Sophie wiping her blade on her pant leg)

Sophie: "One walker inside. Doesn't look like anyone's been here recently."

(Jamie and Emily stayed close to Aiden as he scanned the area again, frustration bubbling beneath his calm exterior)

Aiden: "They're not here, but the tracks lead this way," he said, more to himself than anyone else. "They must've kept moving."

(Emily tugged on Jamie's arm, her voice small)

Emily: "Do you think they're okay?"

(Jamie knelt slightly to meet her gaze, offering a reassuring smile)

Jamie: "They're okay, Em. We'll find them."

A faint noise broke through the quiet—a soft creak, like wood bending under weight. Everyone froze, weapons drawn as they turned toward the source. The sound came from the treeline behind the cabins, where the faint outline of a figure moved between the trees.

(Lena's voice was barely a whisper)

Lena: "That's not one of them, is it?"

The figure stumbled into view—a walker, its jaw hanging at an unnatural angle. It dragged one mangled leg behind it, heading straight for the group. Before it could reach them, Jax raised his rifle and fired a clean shot through its skull. The body crumpled to the ground, the echo of the gunshot hanging in the air.

Callum: "Great," Callum muttered, scanning the shadows. "That's going to bring more."

(Aiden gritted his teeth, his mind racing)

Aiden: "We move now. Follow the tracks and stay quiet. If we're lucky, we'll catch up before anything else finds them."

The group quickly gathered themselves and pressed on, leaving the cabins behind as the darkness thickened around them. Aiden's grip on his knife tightened. They were close—he could feel it. But so was the danger, creeping ever closer with every passing moment.

The forest finally broke, the dense canopy of trees giving way to a stretch of open space. The fading light of dusk painted the landscape in shades of orange and gray as the group stumbled onto a wide motorway. Abandoned cars were scattered across the lanes like forgotten toys, their rusted shells eerily silent. Weeds sprouted through cracks in the asphalt, reminding how long the world had been left to decay. Jax adjusted his rifle and scanned the road ahead.

Jax: "Looks like the end of the line for the forest. What now?"

Aiden squinted, his gaze locking onto a car a few yards away. Something about it stood out—deep, jagged markings etched into the vehicle's battered metal. He stepped closer, his heart racing as he read the crude engraving:
"M D was here. Go back to London."

(Aiden's breath caught in his throat. He ran his fingers over the rough letters, as though touching them would make them more real)

Aiden: "It's Maya," he said, his voice firm but edged with disbelief. "She left this for us."

(Jax moved up beside him, frowning as he studied the message)

Jax: "She's trying to tell us something. Looks like they went back to the city."

(Callum crossed his arms, his expression skeptical)

Callum: "You sure it's not a trap? It could be someone else using her initials. Hell, it could be someone luring us back into a death zone."

(Aiden turned to face him, his jaw tight)

Aiden: "It's Maya. I know her. She wouldn't leave something like this unless she needed us to find her."

(Sophie chimed in, her machete glinting in the fading light)

Sophie: "Even if it is her, going back to London is suicide. The city's crawling with walkers—and worse."

Aiden: "Doesn't matter," Aiden snapped, his eyes blazing with determination. "If Maya's trying to reach out, it means Ruben's with her. I'm not leaving my little brother out there. I'm going with or without you guys."

(Callum shook his head)

Callum: "You don't know what you're walking into. Out here, we've got space, and options. In London? We'll be sitting ducks."

(Jax glanced between Aiden and Callum before stepping forward)

Jax: "I'm with Aiden. Maya's got Ruben, and if she's heading back, there's got to be a damn good reason."

The group fell silent, tension thick in the air. Emily clung to Jamie's arm, her wide eyes darting between the adults as though searching for reassurance. Finally, Lena spoke up, her voice even.

Lena: "We can't split up. If we head back, we stick together."

(Callum sighed, running a hand through his hair)

Callum: "Fine. But if this goes south, it's on you, Aiden."

(Aiden nodded, his expression resolute)

Aiden: "Fair enough."

An uneasy silence settled over them as they began moving down the motorway. The distant caws of birds echoed faintly through the air. Jax glanced upward, his brow furrowing.

Jax: "Anyone else seeing that?"

They all stopped, their eyes drawn to the edges of the road. Vultures perched atop the rusted cars, their black forms silhouetted against the darkening sky. More appeared as they walked, lining the motorway like silent sentinels. The birds didn't move, their unblinking eyes fixed on the group.

Sophie: "What the hell…" Sophie muttered, tightening her grip on her weapon. "Why are they just sitting there?"

(Jamie looked around nervously, pulling Emily closer to him)

Jamie: "They're watching us."

(Aiden kept walking, his hand brushing the hilt of his knife)

Aiden: "Doesn't matter. We keep moving."

But the unease settled deep in his chest, gnawing at his resolve. The vultures seemed too deliberate, too unnatural. He forced the thought down, focusing on one step at a time. Whatever waited for them in London, he would face it. For Ruben. For Maya. For all of them. As the group pressed forward, the birds remained motionless, a silent omen of the danger yet to come.

End of Chapter 5

(Authors Note)

Hey everyone,
I want to take a moment to apologize for the delay in continuing The Walking Dead: New Dawn. The Christmas period was a busy time, and I've also been focusing on South Park: Bloodlines, which has taken a lot of my creative energy recently.

That said, I'm incredibly grateful for your patience and continued support. I'm excited to dive back into New Dawn and bring you the next half of Season 1. The story will only get more intense from here, and I can't wait to share what's coming next!

Thank you for sticking with me, and I hope you enjoy what's ahead.

Alfie Howard.