Can you See me up here, in the Trees?

Chapter 10

The next few days were harder days, the clouds showed that you were right about a storm about to hit, motivating the group to get the huts finished faster. Daryl and Rick took charge of gathering more wood, making it go faster. Rick may glare at you but he never said anything, which also made building go faster, no room for arguing.

By the third day the group had enough huts built to survive the winter. The next task would be hunting enough animals, making sure you had enough protein for the group.

Daryl and you decided to do a day of hunting, bringing back whatever you could while the others foraged for warmer clothes and other items.

"Check the raiders camp." You said, shouldering your bow. You were thrilled to hunt with Daryl.

"Why? Thought you took everything of value?" Rick said, curious now.

"Well, my journal said that. However, when I last went there a group had tried to take a position in the same area. That was before migration happened."

"You mean... those people?"

"They could be alive, I hope that they are alive. But maybe they have something we could trade for. Take the water, always a good selling point."

"You're smart, I'll give you that." Rick said, smiling at you for once.

"Am i going deaf, or was that a compliment?"

"Hey, don't push it." He said, smiling.

"I won't, promise. Take a right from the water hut, that road will lead you to the closest exit near the camp. Good luck."

"Same to you, come back alive. Both of you. Or Carl will never let me hear the end of it."

You smirked before taking the rope and sliding down next to Daryl, already on high alert.

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By midday you each had half a dozen rabbits and other small animals. You had been tracking a boar, which would be good meat when Daryl finally spoke.

"So, you and Carl?"

"Oh no, don't tell me you're going to give me some sort of speech."

He huffed a laugh before speaking. "No, that's Rick's area. If you hadn't noticed." You hummed as you looked around a tree, trying to find the boar. "But I want to make sure you two are careful."

"I'll take a speech over the sex talk."

"Well your getting the sex talk. Carl is getting it from his father today. My job is to give you the talk."

"You've got to be kidding me."

"Ha, wish I was. Didn't think I would ever have to have this conversation with anyone, ever. But here we are."

"I know how to use condoms. To be safe."

"That's good, but do you know about Carl's mom?"

"Yeah... he told me."

"Good, that was the part I was dreading having to talk about."

"What happened to Judith? I've never seen her."

"She... she didn't make it. Carl had to..."

"Jesus.."

"Don't think he gives a damn about us anymore."

You nodded in understanding. The two of you paused talking, noticing the boar.

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