Rewrite the Apocalypse dream (by Dee Cari) novel Chapter 292

Chapter 292 Dante’s New Mission

Finished

The brief moment of levity evaporated as Joanna turned her focus back to the ink-lined regional map spread across the wooden table, her eyes scanning the borders in deep concentration..

She tapped a finger against the marker for Westridge. “Strategy starts here,” Joanna spoke up, her voice commanding the room’s attention. “Fletcher is the type of leader who knows absolutely everyone in his camp. If there’s a mole in his group, they have to be a recent addition, and Fletcher will know the new guys right away. Glacier, on the other hand, is a complete wild card. We deal with Fletcher first and go to Glacie last.”.

She leaned back slightly, crossing her arms. “We leave in a few days. Will, what are our numbers looking like? How much of the base has awakened powers during the winter?”

Will cleared his throat from the edge of the briefing area, glancing down at his clipboard. “Boss, roughly sixty-five percent of our people have awakened powers now. Between the constant zombie pressure and the rigorous training schedule we’ve been running, our defense is incredibly solid.”

Joanna lifted her brows in genuine surprise, a rare look of shock crossing her face. Usually, only about ten percent of any given population developed powers. Even in her vivid premonitions of the future, Evercrest Base had been considered a powerhouse with just twenty percent ability users. Her own base was so far past that benchmark it was ridiculous.

RJ spoke up, a grin of pure pride breaking across her face. “Yeah, our perimeter is so locked down that most zombies are scared to even approach the walls anymore. Haha!”

Joanna nodded, a small, satisfied smile matching the pride in the room. “Good job, everyone. Our progress is unparalleled. Here is the plan: I will leave a few of you behind to maintain this defense, and I’ll take the rest with me. We have time to prepare, so we can leave in a few days from now. When we do move, I can teleport our strike team directly to Westridge in about five minutes.”

Dismissing the council, Joanna called an end to the briefing, releasing everyone to begin their preparations. With a few days before departure, she needed to check on their eye in the sky.

Joanna, Jolie, Raven, Titan, and Julian headed straight toward the caves to check in with Dante. Dante, the mutated president of the Pigeon Federation, had been an invaluable asset. His avian surveillance network had mapped out hidden dangers before the worst of the blizzard hit. Now that the snow had finally stopped, his feathered scouts would soon be able to gather fresh intel.

Joanna stood at the entrance of the excavated cave, watching the frost melt from her coat. Outside, subarctic winds howled. Inside, the subterranean sanctuary felt remarkably thick and warm. Geothermal heat and heavy stone walls trapped the livestock’s body heat, creating a cozy oasis.

Leo’s animals were thriving in the deep warmth. Ducks preened by a small pool, goats chewed contentedly on hay, and chickens clucked softly. The extra animals Joanna brought had integrated seamlessly, completely unbothered by the freezing wilderness outside.

In a quiet corner, a fresh brood of fuzzy, new baby chickens chirped beneath their mothers. This sudden burst of life brought a logistical challenge. At this rate of growth, they would need to excavate more pens before the end of spring.

As they stepped into the cavern, a loud, echoing, rumbling coo greeted them. Dante fluttered down from a high rocky ledge, landing on a stone pedestal with a heavy thud. He was the size of a basketball, a

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Chapter 292 Dante’s New Mission

**Finished

spectacularly bloated pigeon with iridescent neck feathers that puffed out as he caught sight of Joanna.

trutted in a tight circle, dragging his tail feathers on the ground and tilting his round head. He fixed Joanna with a wide, glassy, completely smitten stare, letting out a series of deep, rhythmic coos.

Raven, who possessed the unique power to speak with animals, stepped forward to translate. She cleared her throat, trying to keep a straight face. “He says, ‘Coo-0000, beautiful. The winter was cold, but the sun has finally returned to my cave. He’s calling you his queen again, Joanna

Beside Joanna, Julian’s jaw tightened. A low, irritated breath hissed through his teeth. He adjusted his collan his eyes narrowing to slits as he glared at the oversized bird. Every single time they spoke to this feathered menace, Julian’s patience was tested to its absolute limit. He loathed the bird’s shameless flirting.

Joanna, completely immune to the bird’s avian charms, stepped forward and shook her head with an amused sigh. “Cut the crap, Dante,” she said, looking the bloated pigeon dead in the eye. “Once the snow melts a little, I am going to need you and your federation to gather intel across the surrounding mountains

and towns.”

Dante tilted his head, listening intently as he let out a low, questioning click.

“The ice blizzards and this subarctic winter kept everyone from traveling, which means the cold probably killed off most survivors,” Joanna continued, her tone turning serious. “But it also means anyone left alive right now will not be ordinary. Survival under these conditions requires serious power or serious resources. I want our base to know exactly who our neighbors are.”

Dante puffed his chest out to its absolute limit, shifting a few inches closer to the edge of the pedestal. He let out another deep, vibrating sequence of coos, fanning his tail feathers.

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