**Chapter 500: Housewarming Gift**
Caroline dashed forward, her heart racing as she pressed her hand against the forehead of the dying man. In that fleeting moment, she felt a surge of energy as she copied his ability just as his breath slipped away, leaving him lifeless in her grasp.
Nearby, Raven unleashed a final, brutal shake, twisting the man’s neck with a sickening crack. This time, there was no coming back for him. He was gone, truly and irrevocably dead.
Tyler had already dispatched the last of the mutant mantises, his movements precise and efficient. The air was thick with tension, and the ground beneath them continued to tremble ominously. Each rumble grew louder, reverberating through the earth like a warning bell, and Caroline felt a shiver run down her spine. Something was approaching, and it was getting closer.
She turned her gaze to Raven, who was in a sorry state, his body battered and bruised. Without hesitation, she uncapped two canisters of spring water and poured them over him, the cool liquid soaking into his fur as she then urged him to drink from a couple of cups. Raven panted heavily, the effort of her ministrations evident in his labored breaths, yet his eyes remained locked on Snow.
Snow, who had been whimpering in pain moments before, now struggled to her feet, her condition visibly improved thanks to Caroline’s quick thinking. She stumbled over to Raven, collapsing beside him and resting her head against his side, her tongue gently licking his muzzle.
Raven’s ears drooped, and he shot her a mock glare, feigning annoyance. But there was a flicker of warmth in his eyes that betrayed his true feelings. He was possessive of Snow; no one else had the right to tease or play with her.
Caroline exchanged a knowing glance with Tyler, their mutual concern evident. They needed to get the dogs safely inside before heading out to locate Denton and the others. But before they could make a move, the rumbling intensified, a relentless crescendo that suggested whatever was coming was in a rush.
Suddenly, a voice pierced through the chaos, echoing across the landscape. “Tyler! Caroline! You’re back? Nelson and I brought a gift! A housewarming gift for Caroline!” It was Denton, his voice filled with excitement and mischief.
As Caroline and Tyler turned to see what was causing the earth to shake, their eyes widened in disbelief. A massive herd of mutant roe deer was barreling toward them, their mutated forms appearing chubby and dopey as they charged forward.
Mixed in with the deer were a few elk and some rabbits, creatures that had once been harmless in the pre-apocalyptic world but had now become part of this chaotic stampede. The sight was both comical and alarming.
Caroline’s mind raced as she realized how long it must have taken for this motley crew to arrive. These animals, with their low intelligence, likely spent the entire journey zigzagging, some veering off course while others lagged behind, necessitating constant herding from Denton and Nelson.


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