50 Hollow Horizons

Zoe unlocked the door to her apartment, Snacks still perched on her shoulder. 

The little dragon let out a soft chirp as they stepped inside, his tail flicking lazily against her shoulder. 

The quiet of her space felt unnerving after the chaos of Quinn's cats and the energy of their new setup. 

She glanced toward her gaming setup, the faint hum of the computer the only sound in the room aside from Snacks's soft breaths.

"Alright, let's get this over with," she muttered, brushing past the memories of better days. 

Snacks hopped onto the desk, curling up like a smug paperweight as she slid into her chair. 

The familiar glow of the screen lit her face as she booted up CCO. 

Her guild icon flashed in the corner, bright with unread messages. 

Zoe sighed, already bracing herself.

The moment she logged in, the chat exploded:

[Dark_Lord_42]: "ZOESHON! You're alive!"