Okay," he said, taking charge. "Let's be extra careful from here on out. We'll avoid any large towns or villages and try to stick to the wilderness as much as possible."
"Agreed," said Aurora, determination in her voice.
The group set off, moving quickly and quietly through the rugged landscape. They made camp each night in secluded spots, far from any signs of civilization.
As the days passed, they encountered few people and remained healthy. But as they neared the border of the next region, they saw a small group of travellers coming towards them on the road.
"Hello!" called out Marcus, hoping for a friendly encounter.
But as they drew closer, Marcus saw that the travellers looked sick. Their faces were pale, and they were coughing and wheezing.
"Stay back!" he shouted, his heart p
