Shadows and Ash

As months turned into years, nature's reclamation of Los Angeles intensified. Trees sprouted from the fractured asphalt, their roots forcing apart what remained of the city's streets. Wildflowers bloomed in profusion where parks had once been meticulously maintained, their vibrant colors defying the grim legacy of destruction. The remains of the city's towering skyline became habitats for birds and small mammals, their calls echoing in the eerie stillness.

Among the ruins, a small group of wanderers cautiously explored. These were scavengers, survivors of the collapse, who had grown adept at living off what was left behind. For them, the decayed government buildings held no promise of power or leadership, only shelter and forgotten supplies. Yet, even as they picked through the rubble, they could not escape the weight of the place, a once-mighty civilization, now reduced to shadows and ash.