**TITLE: Doomsday Rebirth 516**
**Chapter 516: Hunters in the Dark**
“Human, you won’t believe what I found today!” Jet exclaimed, his tiny wings fluttering with excitement as he perched on Caroline’s shoulder. “I stumbled upon a whole pile of mutant maggots wriggling around in the trash! Can you imagine? They were squirming and squiggling, but I didn’t dare peck at a single one. I thought for sure you and Raven would be grossed out!”
Caroline chuckled, shaking her head at the little bird’s animated storytelling. “And what else, Jet? Did you see anything else interesting?”
“Oh, oh! You won’t believe it! A whole swarm of mutant mosquitoes chased me! They were relentless! I could feel their tiny wings buzzing all around me. But I just flew fast and lost them, hehe!” Jet’s eyes sparkled with mischief, clearly relishing the thrill of his little adventure.
Caroline, amused by Jet’s endless chatter, reached into her bag and pulled out a full bag of bird feed, handing it to him. The moment she did, however, Jet’s excitement didn’t wane. He continued to prattle on, recounting every detail of his escapade.
Finally, Raven, sitting nearby, swatted at Jet with a gentle paw, prompting the little bird to fall silent, his eyes wide with mock indignation.
Caroline affectionately rubbed Jet’s tiny head, her fingers brushing against the soft feathers. She flicked the tuft on top playfully. “You did great today, Jet.”
Jet’s head snapped up, and his big round eyes shone with pride. “Human, I’m going to be a powerful scout bird! Just you wait and see!”
Raven, sensing Jet’s enthusiasm, pushed a chunk of meat from his own bowl toward him, a silent gesture of encouragement.
Jet’s heart swelled with gratitude, and he nearly burst into tears as he devoured the offering. Each bite fueled his determination. Eat more, fly faster, become a scout as strong as Silver!
Caroline, feeling her own appetite grow, rummaged through her supplies. She pulled out a steaming bowl of tomato and egg rice, a bottle of kvass, and a few hot skewers. Since awakening her abilities, her cravings had intensified, especially for meat after using her powers.
Tyler and the others were experiencing the same phenomenon. It was a shared struggle in their small group, one that made Jet and Raven acutely aware of their surroundings. To some ability users, they would appear as nothing more than moving meals, ripe for the taking.
After resting in their makeshift storage space for a few hours, Caroline opened her eyes to find it was already two-thirty in the morning. She stretched, feeling the weight of fatigue pressing down on her. Most scavengers would have returned home by now, she reasoned, making this a safer time to venture out. With a determined nod, she gathered Raven and Jet, preparing to head back into the night.
“Remember, Jet,” she cautioned, her voice firm yet gentle. “Be extremely careful this time. Shrink your scouting range—no more than eighty yards. You can take your time, but keep your eyes peeled for anything unusual.”
Jet puffed out his chest, brimming with confidence. “Human, my night vision is amazing now! You don’t have to worry about me!”
Yet, despite his bravado, a knot of unease twisted in Caroline’s stomach. In the eyes of many, Jet was not just a bird—he was a plump target, a walking roast.
But deep down, she understood that she couldn’t protect him forever. Jet needed to grow, to learn the ways of the world outside their fragile sanctuary. Besides, he had abilities of his own. As long as he stayed within that eighty-yard radius, any flare of his power would be loud enough for Raven to hear.
With Raven’s incredible speed, he could cover fifty yards in mere seconds, reaching Jet in time if needed.
However, what Caroline didn’t anticipate was the unsettling silence that followed Jet’s departure. Five minutes passed, and there was still no sign of him.


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