The Exit • TWD. [✓]

003. walkers in the barn!

CHAPTER THREE !

✧.*

       WHEN DARYL GOT BACK, it was completely dark out. he had spent hours on end trying to find sophia, and still, he had found nothing. he also went back to where he found estella, but her parents weren't there, either. everything was untouched, and the letter was still in the same place they left it, so they definitely hadn't been back, either. he had caught a couple squirrels, and that was the only plus side to the entire outing. he wouldn't admit it to anybody, but he was starting to lose hope that they'd find sophia. he couldn't find tracks now.

when he got close to camp, he saw carol sitting on a chair just outside of his tent, a book in her hand along with a torch. tommy laid at her feet. daryl walked along, making her head snap up, she smiled when she saw him.

"what ya doin' out 'ere?" daryl asked, sitting down in one of the chairs, too, grabbing his bottle of water.

"making sure estella's safe. i didn't want anything to happen to her in that tent alone." carol said, "did you find anything?"

daryl shook his head, looking at the ground. "not today."

"it's okay." she replied, rubbing his arm. "you've done a lot for my sophia, i don't even know how to thank you."

"you don't need to thank me. i'll find her." he said. she nodded, giving him a soft smile.

"you should get some sleep." she said, standing up off the chair, getting ready to go back to her tent.

"when did estella go to sleep?" he asked, curiously.

"around two hours ago, i'm pretty sure." carol said, "night, daryl."

"goodnight." he replied, unzipping the tent and climbing in, tommy following closely after him, laying back down. he zipped it back up, and turned to look at estella.

she was sleeping comfortably, sprawled out on the cot. her arms were above her head, her mouth was slightly agape, and her curls had fallen over her face. her cheeks were slightly rosy due to the heat of the sleeping bag and blanket she had on top of her. he laid his crossbow down, taking off his shoes and his vest, and sitting on his own cot, pulling his blanket to him. tommy sighed, resting his head on estella's stomach.

he watched her for a little while, noticing her start to stir. he was relieved though, when she didn't wake up, and just turned on her side, putting her little arm under her head for extra support, and her other arm around her dog.