The Bear of Severograd

Living in the apartment blocks here gives you a false sense of security. I usually look down from my window, map out my routes, and think I know this neighborhood inside and out.

Today's objective seemed straightforward enough: a quick medical supply run with my girlfriend to stock up our base before our reserves hit absolute zero. Our basic first aid kits were running dangerously low, so ignoring that nagging feeling in my gut wasn't an option.

I geared up, checked my chamber, and stepped out into the stairwell with her. Descending from the upper floors always keeps my adrenaline pumping, but stepping out onto the asphalt usually brings a predictable rhythm—sneaking past a few scattered infected and keeping my eyes peeled for trouble.

Except downtown Severograd had entirely different plans for me today.

Right down there, casually strolling past the local hospital like it owned the place, was a massive brown bear. Not a pixelated glitch, not a distant shadow—a full-blown, towering apex predator taking a peaceful afternoon walk through a zombie apocalypse, completely unbothered by the chaos around it.

Engaging in close-quarters combat with a bear was definitely nowhere on my medical checklist. In a fraction of a second, my mission parameters shifted entirely from “find medicine” to “survive the local wildlife”. I needed elevation, and I needed it yesterday.

Scrambling back and finding a staircase leading up to a higher vantage point was pure survival instinct. And there we were, standing safely on the roof, looking down at our uninvited guest.

Gazing down from our elevated position at the beast roaming the streets while a lone infected aimlessly shuffled around below, it finally hit me. I looked over at my girlfriend, smiled, and remembered the ultimate rule.

Forget medical supplies—we had the high ground.

The bear looked up, realized it couldn't reach us, and kept doing whatever it wanted. For the time being, the hospital was off-limits, my medical run was officially postponed, and nature had successfully reminded me who really runs Severograd.

The meds will have to wait for another day. Today, I'm just a spectator in a world that belongs to the wild.

— Artyom