What Lies Ahead • the walking dead ¹

23 • Squirrels

»Play: Saturn by Sleeping At Last«

Alexa and Chase had just started their hike through the woods when Alexa spotted it. Sitting perched on a log, a single eastern fox squirrel. Her brother spotted the squirrel too, pulling his sister behind a close tree. The siblings smiled at each other before Alexa notched an arrow, aiming her bow toward the small animal. She breathed, releasing the arrow.

Chase watched in awe as the weapon whizzed through the air, sinking right into the little squirrel. The little boy watched intently as his sister jogged to retrieve the kill.
"That's dinner, kiddo." She smiled, tying the squirrel on a rope that was over her shoulder.

Chase smiled as the two continued walking, the little boy occasionally stealing glances at his sister. He hoped one day he would get to her level of hunting experience. In a way, it was amazing to watch the girl work, the way her face became focused after she spotted her next target. The way she smiled after hitting the animal perfectly.

It was a skill their father made sure they knew. Where to strike an animal so it would die instantly or not get very far. Chase had never gone hunting with his father, only ever with his oldest sister. The boy's hand instinctively shot up to his face where his burns were.

Unlike Alexa, who wasn't bothered by her marks, Chase was. He never really got over the burns on his features. And it was just upsetting whenever someone stared too long, the little boy had always been given disgusted looks whenever a person saw him. He had noticed the way the adults watched him in the camp. He had seen the look on Sophia and Carl's faces when he met them. It seemed everyone gave Chase the same disgusted look.

Everybody but Alexa.

That's why Chase loved his sister. She was fearless and never backed away from someone who needed help. In Chase's mind, she was just doctor Mason. That's who his big sister was, and Chase loved her for it. Even if others didn't. Even if people looked at him with disgust, Alexa gave him the strength to get over the looks.

"You want the next one, kiddo?" Alexa asked as she spied their next target. Chase nodded, taking the bow and an arrow from his sister. His emerald eyes locked on the squirrel, copying his sister's movements Chase pulled back on the string, lining up his target, he exhaled before releasing the arrow.

The arrow flew, sinking into the squirrel's flesh, making it fall to the leave-covered ground. Alexa smiled, urging her brother to go pick up his kill. She watched as the boy smiled at her before running to retrieve his arrow and kill.

It was nice to watch her little brother enjoy something like hunting. And it was nice to hunt again. Alexa hadn't been hunting since the start of the zombie apocalypse, so it felt good to get out again.

"Look Alexa, I got it!" Chase grinned as he came running back.
"Good job, kiddo." Alexa smiled back as she took the squirrel, tying it onto the rope. "Com' on, next one's mine."

The siblings continued, Alexa, getting a few dozen squirrels and Chase only a handful. Alexa looked up, analyzing the sky that was just starting to go black.
"Ready to head back?" She quizzed, looking at her brother.

Chase nodded, and the duo set off back to Hershel's farm.
"Alexa?" Chase asked suddenly. Alexa hummed in reply. "What do you think of the group?"
"What do you mean?" Alexa asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Are we gonna," The boy hesitated, thinking about what to say. "Stay... with them?"

The girl looked down at her little brother. She knew the challenges of staying in a group, and she also knew the challenges of being alone. But either way, she would do what she thought was best for her brother. And right now, whether she liked it or not, Rick's group seemed safest.

But then again with the whole Shane situation, Carol's missing child, and Andrea's hatred for her, Alexa didn't know what was best anymore. It was all about taking risks. The chance Rick's group was better than going out alone.

"Do you wanna stay?" Alexa asked as they continued through the woods.
"I think so," Chase responded, looking out into the trees. "Alexa, can I ask you something?"
Alexa looked down at the boy, usually when he asked to ask her something it was personal.

"Umm... Okay, shoot."
Chase hesitated as he bit at his fingernail.
"Never mind." Alexa looked at her brother intently.
"What's wrong, Chase?"
She asked, stopping to get on her brother's level. "You can ask me anything." She assured.

Chase shook his head. "Nothing."
Alexa looked at the boy, she knew he was holding something back but she wasn't going to push. Instead, she nodded, standing up she motioned for her brother to continue walking.

The two neared the edge of the forest, walking out they saw Hershel's house illuminated in the darkness. The siblings walked closer to the main camp, Chase sitting down beside whatever remained of the fire. Alexa set down her squirrels before dipping into the camper. It was only Dale, Carol, and Andrea inside, talking around the small table.

"Alexa," Dale started, getting the girl's attention. "Where have you been?"
Alexa shrugged as she set down her bow and arrows and traded them for her backpack.
"Hunting." She said simply, tossing her pack over her shoulder but stopping when something didn't feel right.

Her pack felt lighter and maybe her confused facial expression said something because Carol spoke up.
"I took your clothes to be washed, you'll have 'em back by tomorrow, I hope you don't mind."
Alexa nodded.
"Thank you." She said simply, starting for the door when Dale spoke up.

"Rick was looking for you." Alexa nodded before she left the camper, letting the door swing shut behind her. The girl walked back over to the fire, sitting beside her brother while she pulled the bundle of squirrels toward her.

Chase sighed as he curled up into a ball.
"You can go inside, kiddo," Alexa said as she pulled out her knife.
"I'm okay," Chase assured as he closed his eyes. "Carol's been keeping me awake anyways."
The boy's sister nodded in understanding as she started skinning the squirrels they got.

The girl's mind was so in the clouds that she didn't even notice her brother drifting off to sleep or the man that came to sit on the ground next to her. She didn't even notice Daryl as he skinned squirrels next to her, tossing them into the pile she had already created. Alexa didn't notice the man till he grunted while trying to pull off a pelt.

She whipped her head to the side, watching as he finally removed the skin, flinging it onto the dirt before tossing his squirrel into the pile. Daryl turned to grab the last squirrel, but instead, his steel blue eyes locked with Alexa's emerald eyes. The two looked at each other for a long moment. Both trying to figure the other out. Alexa was the first to look away, snatching up the last squirrel from the ground she quickly began to skin it.

Daryl quietly watched as she did so. He had watched the siblings leave a few hours ago, and was honestly worried when they didn't get back till after the sun was down. He didn't know why he cared. Like it was any of his business where they went and why. But then seeing Alexa return with a few dozen squirrels over her shoulder made Daryl happy and less worried.

Daryl was impressed with her kill count too. Not even he had come back from a hunt with that many squirrels.
"Can't sleep?" Daryl asked as he watched the girl finish.
"Nope." She replied simply, standing and walking over to the camper.

The girl disappeared inside, coming out seconds later with a bucket. She came back, setting the bucket down and throwing the pelts inside it before getting to work on gutting the animals. Daryl watched for a second as Alexa cut open a squirrel, digging out its guts and tossing them into the bucket before setting the squirrel down into a new pile.

"Did you hear Ricks splitting the group up tomorrow?" Daryl asked, trying to make conversation with the girl.
"Nope." She answered bluntly, placing down her next squirrel. "I suppose you want me to go with you again," she asked casually, like whatever his answer was it wouldn't matter.

Daryl shrugged. "I was gonna head up to the ridge, see what I can see."
The girl nodded, gutting her next victim.
"You gonna help," Alexa asked, throwing a new squirrel at Daryl. "Or are we just chit chattin'?"