I'm having some trouble here: I've pretty much have the layout for my newest story coming out but I can't seem to decide as to whether or not I want to have the story written in present tense or past tense. Both tenses have their pros and cons. It's easier to describe things when writing in present tense, but it's easier to conjugate verbs and it allows more word flexibility in past tense.

He slowed his breathing, allowing himself to accurately detect whether or not someone was in the same room as him. Low voices could be distinguished as being outside his front door and it was obvious that there were more than two people circling his house; the several lingering shadows placed at each window was also a good indicator of the fact.

vs.

He slows his breathing, allowing himself to accurately detect whether or not someone is in the same room as him. Low voices can be distinguished as being outside his front door and it's obvious that there are more than two people circling his house; the several lingering shadows at each window is also a good indicator of the fact.

I think both versions sound perfectly fine but I guess I'm more focused on which tense has the better ability in describing things, actions, people, etc. Would it help if I said the story I'm planning on writing deals with zombies? I'm trying to choose the best thing here especially since zombie stories take a lot of description to truly have the piece of literature come to life; even the type(?) of tense can affect that.

It's also a problem since it's going to be an extended version of a one-shot I wrote which, as guessed, was written in present tense. I do intend to work some bits and pieces of that one-shot into the actual story which means I'll most likely have to change the tenses (if I do have it changed to the past). As said before, I'm just trying to figure out what works the best here.

What do you suggest I do? Do you prefer reading stories written in present tense or past?