7) Starvation

Abby has decided to stop chasing around the country looking  for Peter. The group of survivors are touring around in the school  minibus looking for somewhere to settle and start a community.

As they pass a cottage, they spot an old woman outside, who  is being attacked by some dogs. Abby goes to her aid while the  bus lures the dogs away by trailing a rabbit out of the window.

The old woman is called Emma Cohen. She is living in the cottage  with a young woman called Wendy. They have scavenged all the  surrounding area, but being ignorant in the ways of survival  have no food and are very hungry.

Wendy has gone out to try and find food. In her search, she  comes across Tom Price. He has left Wormley's gang and is now  'working' as a scavenger - finding things for people which he  can trade. He fancies Wendy and offers her a meal - she realises  he'll want something in return, and scarpers with the food.

She had told Price where she lived, so he goes in search of  the cottage. When he arrives, Abby is still there looking after  the old woman. They recognise each other from their previous  encounter. As they are hungry, Price offers them food, in return  for certain 'favours' from Abby. Abby plays along, and while  Price is in the back of his van, Wendy returns, and they lock  Price in the van.

Meanwhile, Greg, Jen and the kids, instead of going back to  collect Abby, have made for a large house, standing in its own  grounds, which they'd spotted on their map. Unfortunately, they  run out of petrol just outside the gate, and a dog pack keeps  them pinned in the bus until after dark.

Eventually they manage to enter the house, and spend the night  there. There is no food in the house, but they find some in the  large gardens. The kids find a man sheltering in the house, called  Barney. He's a bit simple, and had been chased there by the dog  pack. He was bitten, but doesn't appear to be sick. They light  the stove to tend his wounds.

Abby, Wendy and Emma take Price's van (with him still locked  in the back) to go in search of the others. They spot the smoke  rising from the chimney of the house and join them there.

They let Price out - he has many guns in the back of his van,  stolen from Wormley's gang when he left.

The group decide that this is the place to attempt a settlement.  There are ample grounds and fields, a flock of sheep on the  land, a clean river for fish, and the house is easily defended.