Life Goes On (The Walking Dead)

Chapter Four

The group. I was done changing, but I was trying to ready myself for the upcoming introductions. I was horrible at first impressions and I'd realized that if I didn't make a good one today they might not let me stay. Needless to say, I was panicking. A lot.

Steadying myself with a couple deep breathes, I exited the tent. My eyes immediately scanned the camp for Daryl. Finding him by the fire in the center of the camp, carving what looking to be new arrows, I quickly trotted to where he was.

When I sat down, he looked up almost startled, before looking around. He made eye contact with a man in a sheriffs uniform and nodded.

The man walked towards me and stuck out his hand.

"I'm Rick Grimes. Now who might you be?" I was shocked at how polite and friendly he was.

Shyly, I shook his hand before saying "Catherine. Its very nice to meet you Rick"

"Same to you. Now where are ya from Catherine?"

"Umm...well, I'm from Michigan, but my family had just finished movin' down here a couple days before well, ya know...." I trailed off awkwardly.

"Michigan?" He seemed extremely shocked. "How are you not melting? Theres got to be a huge difference weather wise between the two"

I laughed before answering. "Yeah, you're right there. I'm lucky that I haven't had to run much yet. Cause I think running in this heat just might be the death of me" I joked lightly.

Rick smiled before running a hand through his hair.

"You seem like a lovely gal, you're more than welcome to stay. Let's get you introduced to everybody"

"Thanks Rick. It means a lot" I said sincerely.

Rick nodded before heading in the direction of the lake. I inwardly groaned, I didn't want to be anywhere near Merle.

When we reached the lake there was a group of three girls sitting in the water and one man, who seemed to be keeping watch off to the side, Merle, thankfully, was nowhere in sight.

"Ladies, this is Catherine" Rick stated confidently once we reached the shore.

They all turned around and stood up, walking towards us.

The first to extend her hand was a woman with slight frame, edging towards delicate, with almost shaved hair and a motherly, kind face. "I'm Carol" She said softly.

"Catherine" I returned with a smile before shaking her hand.

The next woman who stepped up was tall and thin with long brown hair, bangs spilling in to her eyes.

"Lori" She stated, not unkindly, but cautiously.

The last woman, thin with blue eyes and perfectly styled blonde hair made no move forward. Humph. Of course not. She was obviously the whiny, 'Im so much better than everyone else' girl.

Rick tried glossing over her rudeness.

"This is Andrea. She just lost her sister last night. Walker attack. We're actually leaving for somewhere safer tomorrow, once we have our affairs in order"

Leaving? Where did they think was going to be safe? Nowhere was safe. Didn't they know that?

"Um any idea where y'all are gonna go?"

Rick hesitated before answering. "Well, thats part of what we have to sort out still. We don't know where to go."

I nodded, understanding the predicament. I had, however, noticed he had glanced towards the other man before answering.