.𝟎𝟏𝟕; 𝐀.

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.017;  A.

They had been walking for days, Rowen barely spoke, the events of a few days ago weighing heavy on her mind. Daryl had called her his daughter when she asked why, the answer she got wasn't one she had expected.

"I said that so they'd leave ya alone, don' take it the wrong way."

subconsciously, Rowen hoped he meant it the way it sounded, subconsciously, Daryl did mean it that way, though neither one would ever admit that. As the group stopped for the night, Carl and Rowen were sent off to find wood for a fire. Daryl tried to find something for the group of five to eat that night. While Rick and Michonne began to set up camp in the small clearing.

The entire time the two teenagers walked through the forest, picking up the largest sticks they could find, it was silent. Not a single word was shared between the two, the only sound surrounding them was the continual crunching of leaves under their shoes. Rick said they're about a days walk away from Terminus. The thought of actually being there made Rowen sick, she didn't think it could be as good as it sounds, anything left standing now is bad.

The prison was good, now it's gone, destroyed by someone bad. Nothing good lasts anymore and judging by most of the Terminus signs, it's old. So either Terminus is gone, or it's bad. Rowen didn't want to go to Terminus, but every time she expressed her concerns, Daryl shut her notions down. When Carl tried to hand her a stick, and she didn't make an effort to move and reach for it, he spoke up.

"Okay, what the hell is going on with you." his words pulled Rowen out of her thoughts. As she stared at the boy in the cowboy hat that stood in front of her, she didn't know what to say. No words came to mind. Carl stood exasperated in front of her, but neither said a word.

"Nothin'." Rowen dismissed as she grabbed the stick from the boy and continued walking.

"Something, you've barely spoken in the last three days and-"

"Why do you care, Cowboy." She cut him off, she didn't want to talk about it. using a nickname that would without a doubt, change the topic of conversation. She turned to face the boy who was trailing behind her, trying to keep up with her quick footsteps.

"Don't call me that." And with those words, the boy pushed past her, this time he didn't speak again until they were back at camp, and the next words directed towards the girl wouldn't leave his lips for 24 hours.

When they woke up the next morning they began moving immediately, Rick said Terminus was just a few miles north of where they had stayed last night. When the tall fences that reminded them all of the fences at the prison came into view, Rick stopped the group.

"We'll all spread out. Watch for a while, see what we see, and get ready," he said lowly. "We all stay close."

As everyone began splitting up Rick and Carl shared a few words that Daryl couldn't quite make out, and as he began to walk away from everybody else, Daryl grabbed Rowen's arm gently and pulled her along with him. No matter how softly the older man grabbed the small redhead, his movements made her flinch.

He realized immediately, releasing her arm from his grip. He knew all too well what her father had put her through, after an entire life of movements made against you with only malice behind them, you begin to believe that every move will always hold malice.

As the two walked, Rowen's eyes stayed glued to the old purple Converse on her feet. Daryl's eyes continued to stray to the girl, nearing the end of the prison, she had started to open up more. No matter how hard she tried to hide it, he always saw the small smiles that lifted the corners of her lips. He heard the laughter shared between her and Aliyah, late at night in their cell.

𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 // 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐥 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬¹ (ON HOLD)Where stories live. Discover now