Faith In The Wild •CARL GRIMES•

A New Beginning

I held Judith tightly to me, fighting thinking of the worst, but that's how the world can train you.

The best gift, is being undone by Who God is. Everything the world has done, can be undone by a single touch from God. I needed that touch, everyone does.

--"Bella?"-- Carl panted as he came around the edge of the stall gate.

A sigh of relief crawled its way out of my throat, I was holding my breath and I didn't even realize.

My eyes searched him worryingly, though not a scratch more on him than ten minutes ago, moreover he was fine and my thoughts got the best of me.

"You're okay.." I whispered, bringing him into a suffocating embrace.

"Stop trying to be the hero all the time," I softly shoved his shoulder, "You don't know what it'd do to me if.."

--"Now who's worrying?"-- He smirked.

"Okay, okay, you got me there." I chuckled in response.

We both walked out of the back of the barn to see everything still intact, thankfully.

"Hey," Tara said, "It stopped, but Rick said he needs you.." She murmured hesitantly as she looked at me.

I gave Carl an unsure look, as if asking for permission to leave for some reason, inevitably only getting a reflection of my spiked nerves in his eyes.

Handing Judith to him in my hoodie, he took her in his arms and looked at Tara, then spoke up,

--"What does my dad need Bella for?"-- Carl said protectively.

"I'm assuming to talk to her," She shrugged.

I pushed past Carl and Tara's pondering, I wanted to get this over with because whatever Rick decides, has to do with whether or not I can stay.

"It's fine, I knew this was coming anyways, so I had time to prepare, I guess.."

"Where is Rick?" I said in a confused tone, because I couldn't see Rick, it was just his group in the barn.. sitting there and catching their breaths. Some were drinking water sparingly out of odd containers that didn't look like they used to hold water, but did. The short haired woman wasn't here, either, nor was the chocolate skinned woman I saw with them.

It was concerning that a few people weren't here, because if they weren't in here, where were they? Surely they were smart enough to stay inside, I mean, after what we just went through?

"He's outside," The Korean man said.

"Out.. side?" I stuttered.

"Yup." Daryl answered bluntly.

"Why would he- After what we just went through?" My eyebrows creased in surprise as I responded.

Carl realized at about the same time as I did, that Rick wasn't here.

--"Where's my dad?"--

"He's outside." I told him.

--"What?"-- His tone raised.

"Yeah," I laughed in shock, "And he's waiting for me."

--"There's no way that I'm letting you go out there. After what we just went through? Are you serious? You can barely stand, much less walk out there where the sun isn't even up yet, and where probably swarms of walkers are."-- Carl practically ordered.

I chuckled, "Good thing you aren't the boss of me then, huh? That's something that has changed in me over the last four years, I learned that I answer to no one, except God. And last time I checked," I paused, pretending to think really hard.