RIDE OR DIE | DARYL DIXON

little pig

WILLOW LAID on her side, staring at the empty spot beside her in the bed. She traced the slight indent in the mattress and sheets from where he used to lay beside her.

It's been four days since they met Negan face to face.

Rick insisted that they don't waste another second to collect supplies. Four or five groups are sent out each day to scavenge and bring back whatever they can find, but Willow's made it clear to him she'd rather be on her own when she's out there. He was against it at first, but there was no changing her mind.

She didn't look away from the empty spot in her bed until she heard a light knock and the door slowly opening.

She sat up slightly, watching Carl slowly enter the room.

"Morning." He said quietly, looking at Sienna still asleep.

Willow remained silent, only giving him a simple nod before laying back down.

Carl took a seat next to her in the bed, looking out the window across from them both. "You going out there today?"

"Yeah." She responded.

He turned to her slightly, lifting his legs up to the bed and crossing them beneath him. "Alone?"

She nodded, earning a slight scowl from Carl in return.

"I don't like you going out there alone." His tone was stern yet caring. "At least let me come with you."

She shook her head. "No. You don't need to be out there. It's safer here."

"Is it though?" He asked. "Really, is it? I mean, they know everything about us... who we are, where we live... and what do we know about them? Nothing." He sighed, turning his attention back to the window. "Are we really safe anywhere anymore?"

Willow sat up and crossed her own legs. "You're not wrong. But I'd still feel better if you didn't try to come with me. I appreciate it, I really do, but..."

He fully turned to her now. "But what?"

She shrugged, biting her lip. "I just need to be alone right now."

His face turned into a frown. "Alone gets you killed."

"Alone let's me feel like I'm in control again." She drew in a sharp breath. "It's gonna let me grieve."

Carl debated on a counter argument, but held back. He nodded, and offered her a hug.

She smiled and accepted it, playfully flicking his hat in the process.

"Mommy?"

Willow glanced over Carl's shoulder and saw Sienna sitting up in her bed, rubbing her tired eyes.

Carl let go and let her stand up.

"Hi, baby." She crouched down next to her small bed. "How'd you sleep?"

Sienna nodded, as if that was her answer, and immediately grabbed Willow's hand and began to walk her to the door.

Willow stopped her in the hallway, crouching down again to level herself with her. "Hey, are you hungry? We've got a new cereal that you can try out."

Sienna shook her head. "Outside."

Willow watched her point down the hall towards the front door of their house. She nodded. "Sure. All right. Just for a bit. Mommy's got a busy day."

-

Willow helped Sienna fix her shoe on their porch before they started their short walk. Sienna was automatically drawn to the front gates where Eugene sat on gate watch while Rosita and Spencer pulled up a car. Sienna took off into a run until she got to Spencer's side, crashing into his leg and hugging it like he was a giant tree.