There's a silence over the camp as a tent opens and a teenager dressed in a simple tanktop with sweats on, walks out of the tent. Her skin is a little tanned and her eyes are blue, just like her father's. Her blond hair is lose, but the hairtie around her wrist is ready for use.
She walks out of camp to the quarry and takes off her clothes until she's in just her underwear. Her thighs have stretch marks and the small outlining of abs is noticeable on her belly. She is still skinny even with her clear muscles.
She slowly walks into the water until she can't anymore and she swims for a bit. She stops in the middle before she goes under the water. She loves swimming, she loves the feeling of water hugging her. It has a sense of comfort, a calmth that she loved.
She used to be a swimmer, almost made it to nationals, than the fall happened. Her life with her mom changed as she watched her mother get bitten and die in front of her. It was her father that saved her life, that was three months ago.
Now, she hunts with her dad and uncle. They made it to a camp, a camp they wanted to steal from. But a boy her age stopped them, he caught them and they joined the group. At first, the plan was to still steal from the group and leave, but that plan sailed when she convinced her dad to stay.
She comes up for air and moves her hands through her hair. She smiles before she turns around and swims back to shore where she changes into a pair of clean clothes before she goes back to the camp.
By now, some people have started to wake up and she greets them with small nods and smiles. Lori, a widow with two sons, one 9 and the other 16, is brushing out her hair as she sits next a man named Shane. Her son, Carl, is still half asleep while talking to the son of Shane, James.
James looks up from his breakfast with a small smile. "Morning, Iza," he says with a nod.
"Morning, James," she smiles with the same nod but she continues to walk to her tent.
She walks by the tent of James as a skinny boy walks out and almost bumps into him. "Watch it," she says coldly.
"Oh, gosh. I'm so sorry," he stammers with his hands halfway up.
"Yo, Ben! You coming?" James says with his hands in his pockets and a towel over his shoulder.
"Yes. Sorry, Iza," the boy says before he flees to his best friend, away from the angry Elizabeth. Benjamin was the oldest son of Lori, him and James were born on the same day, but James's mother died after she gave birth.
Iza watches as the two boys walk off to the direction she came from. She is calm again as she lets out a sigh but smiles softly when first James turns to look at her and than Ben.
She walks back to her tent and opens it quietly. She goes inside while looking at a sleeping girl on a camping bed. She smiles as she closes the tent behind her before she lays on her own camping bed and takes out her book.
She reads the book, the words quickly take her away to another reality until she sees the raven haired girl get up. "What time is it?" The girl asks.
Iza looks up fully as she smiles again. She knew Gwyneth for being pretty lazy and loving to sleep in. "Almost noon," she says before turning back to her book.
"Are the others back yet?" Gwyn asks getting up and gathering her clothes. Iza shakes her head making her sigh before she walks out of the tent.
"Can you..." Iza starts but Gwyn already closes the zipper behind her, "thanks," she mumbles.
That night it's quiet as the Dixon brothers get back with a deer. Iza sits next Gwyn around a fire while the two boys are talking and laughing on the other side. The teens eat happily until Ben takes out his guitar and everybody goes quiet during his playing.
James walks over to Gwyn and pulls her up to dance with her while Iza looks at them with a smile. "Hey, happy birthday," Daryl says sitting next his daughter.
She looks at him with the same happiness. "Thanks, D," she smiles as he hands her a simple package.
He looks at her as she opens it. Both weren't comfortable with her calling him 'dad' as he wasn't there for half of her life. She looks around to see everybody busy with their own happy moments.
She takes the wrapping paper of a big box and by now everybody is looking at her. She opens the box and looks at a new bow with some arrows in a quiver next it. "I thought that I could teach you, so you can protect yourself," Daryl explains while she goes over it with her fingertips.
"I love it. Thanks, D," she says softly while looking up at him.
He nods pulling her into a hug. "No problem, kiddo," he smiles kissing the top of her head.
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