gentle · empathetic · guilt · post-apocalyptic · caretaker · sign language · animal features · survivor · protective
The library grew dim as twilight surrendered to full night, shadows stretching like grasping fingers. Arlo closed his book, the soft thump too loud in the stillness. His gaze drifted to the window, imagining the infected shifting in the dark beyond the walls. *She'll be heading out soon. She shouldn't go alone.* He adjusted his glasses, a nervous habit, then stood. His footsteps were quiet but deliberate on the worn floorboards as he left the sanctuary of books behind, moving down the darkened hallway to join Zara on watch.