She quickly ended the creature’s life. Emma's heart clenched as she approached the second zombie. Unlike the first, this one seemed to retain more of its former humanity. Its features, though twisted by the curse of undeath, still bore traces of the once beautiful woman it had been. Even in its zombified state, there was an eerie grace to its movements, a tragic reminder of the life it had lost.

The creature snarled menacingly as Emma drew near, its white, lifeless eyes fixing on her with a mixture of hunger and confusion. Emma couldn't help but feel a pang of pity as she looked upon the creature's face. It was as if she could glimpse the remains of the woman it had once been, trapped within the decaying shell of its undead form.

Brushing aside her sympathy, Emma tightened her grip on her sword and prepared to strike. With a swift, practiced motion, she swung the blade, the metal slicing effortlessly through the air before connecting with the zombie's neck. There was a sickening crunch as bone and sinew gave way, and the creature's head toppled to the ground, its snarls silenced forever.

After burying each of the bodies, Emma's gaze wandered to the wreckage of the cars scattered around the highway. Somewhere beyond repair, their twisted metal frames served as hints of the violence that had unfolded. But among the wreckage, Emma spotted a few vehicles that were still in usable shape.

Emma approached one of the cars, her eyes scanning it for any signs of damage. Surprisingly, it seemed relatively unscathed, with only minor dents and scratches marring its surface. Without hesitation, Emma decided to add the car to her collection, knowing that it could prove useful in the uncertain days ahead. She puts it into her inner storage, storing it away for safekeeping until the time comes when she might need it.

As Emma continued her patrol around the small forest, her senses on high alert for any signs of danger, she noticed a small heap on the ground up ahead. Confused, she crept forward, her footsteps silent against the forest floor as she approached the mysterious pile.

With her sword raised in attack mode, Emma moved cautiously towards the pile, her senses heightened as she scanned the area for any signs of movement. Each rustle of leaves or snap of twigs set her heart pounding, she prepared for a potential encounter with danger.

As she drew closer to the pile, Emma's eyes fell upon the lifeless form of a once majestic Rottweiler lying on the forest floor. Her heart sank at the sight of the beautiful creature, its once shiny fur now matted with dirt and stained with blood. Deep gashes marred its skin, evidence of a fierce struggle against the relentless onslaught of the undead.

According to her past life, the virus only affects humans, leaving animals unaffected by its terrifying effects. But the Rottweiler's wounds told a different story. With a heavy sigh, Emma knelt beside the fallen animal, her heart heavy with sorrow as she saw the scratches of zombies on its skin. She couldn't imagine the pain and fear it must have endured in its final moments, bravely fighting to probably protect an owner that ran away, then dying from loss of blood.

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Gently placing her sword on the ground, Emma set to work digging a grave for the fallen Rottweiler. With each scoop of dirt, she whispered a silent prayer for its soul. She didn’t like humans, but animals, yes.

As Emma worked fast, her ears attuned to the slightest of sounds, she heard a faint whimper nearby, causing her to grasp her sword tightly once again. With cautious steps, she approached the bush from which the noise was heard, her heart was beating fast with a feeling of both nervousness and excitement. With a swift motion, she pushed aside the leaves with her blade, revealing something that brought a glimmer to her eyes.

There, hidden in the bushes, were a bunch of small puppies. They were making soft sounds as they moved around in their little nest. Emma's eyes lit up with happiness and amazement as she gazed at the puppies. She felt a surge of compassion for the vulnerable little animals.

A pang of realization washed over her as she glanced back at the freshly dug grave where she had laid the mother Rottweiler to rest. These precious puppies were undoubtedly her offspring, now left without a mother to protect and care for them.

Without hesitation, Emma sprang into action, retrieving a basin and cardboard from her inner storage, carefully gathering up the fragile pups, she cradled them gently in her arms, mindful of their delicate frames as she transferred them to their new temporary home.

With deep respect, Emma walked over to the grave of the mother Rottweiler, her steps slow and thoughtful as she paid her respects. Bowing her head in a silent gesture of reverence, she whispered a solemn vow to the departed spirit.

"I will take care of them," she murmured, her voice filled with determination.

Emma hurried back to her home, relief flooding her as she stepped inside the safe confines of her fenced home. With a sigh, she carefully set her sword aside, reminding herself to clean it later. Right now, her focus was on her new pets.

Her heart melted as she gazed at the five tiny puppies before her, their small bodies trembling slightly. None of them had opened their eyes yet, their dark fur marred with traces of blood, likely remnants from their recent birth. Emma swiftly went to the bathroom, dampening a towel with warm water. In her mind, she adjusted the temperature in one room to ensure it was cozy for the puppies.

After tenderly wiping away the blood from each little one, Emma nestled them in individual cardboard boxes lined with clean towels. Carrying them to the designated room one by one, she carefully arranged their makeshift beds on the floor. Then, with a sense of urgency, she dashed to the kitchen, scouring through cupboards until she found a syringe.

With the syringe in hand, Emma turned to the internet for guidance on what to feed the puppies. After some searching, she found a suitable formula and hastily prepared it, hoping it would satiate their hunger. As she began feeding the first puppy, she could sense its eagerness, a sign that it was likely born just the night before.

Glancing at the four remaining hungry mouths, Emma felt a pang of helplessness. For the first time in forever, she wants to have ten hands so she can feed the puppy all at once.