𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 // 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐥 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬¹ (ON HOLD)

.𝟎𝟐𝟑; 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐃?.

.023; FRIEND?.
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The two teenagers walked side by side, their shoulders colliding as they went, the last two days had been filled entirely with walking. The group stopped right before the sun set, and began again as soon as the sun rose; they didn't take breaks to eat or catch their breath, rationally it wasn't a smart idea, but Rick told them all that they would continue to walk until they found a place that promised true sanctuary.

Rowen hadn't eaten in at least a week, she may not have been hungry before, but after days of walking with little to no water, she was starving. She wished now, more than ever, that she would have taken Daryl up on at least one of his many offers of food. But once again her own stubbornness got in the way of rationality.

Since the group left Richmond four days ago, Rowen and Carl hadn't left each other's side, it wasn't a conscious decision for either of the teenagers, but the two felt more comfortable walking in time with one another.

Everyone around them noticed how close the two were becoming, it was a fast change from the prison to now, but not one anybody thought twice about. Rowen and Carl were the same age, and apart from Aliyah, the only young teenagers within the group. Carl had changed since the prison fell, but nobody could seem to figure out the cause of this change.

☆

Rick decided to stop earlier than usual, a choice that everyone in the group was thankful for. The two teenagers that were now sitting beside each other on their respective sleeping bags, were too tired to speak, and when Rowen spotted the familiar redneck heading towards them, she only hoped he was bringing food. "Eat." Daryl dropped a water bottle on the girl's lap, she grabbed it shaking the contents around inside.

Her eyes landed on the man, an incredulous look on her face. "Are those bugs?" She asked disgusted.

"It's protein." He responded as he turned to walk away.

"I'm not eating this shit, so you can take it back." She shook the bottle at the man. She heard Carl laugh quietly from beside her. Her head turned, as she looked at the boy whose head was dropped, the majority of his face shielded by his hat. "What? Are you gonna tell me to eat because everybody else would miss me if I died?" Her eyebrows raised.

"Nah, I can't even blame you, I wouldn't eat it either" He looked up then, smiling at the girl beside him, trying to not laugh at the expression on her face. Now it was Rowen's turn to drop her head, the only problem being that Rowen didn't have a hat to hide the smile caused by the boy, so when she hid her face in her hands, the boy bumped his shoulder against hers, and the two began to laugh.

While the girl beside him laughed for the first time since he had met her, he couldn't help but smile at the sight, and just then his subconscious made a decision for him, a decision that would greatly affect how he'd view the girl for the rest of his life.

☆

The morale of the group had become significantly lower the more they walked. Summer was approaching, and with the rise in temperature came the decrease of a readily available water supply. The last of their water supply went to Judith the night before, and because of that, Daryl left every couple of miles in search of anything that promised water, but when he rejoined the group the water bottles were still empty.

Everyone had begun to lose hope of finding a safe haven, a place that Judith could grow up in, a place where everyone could be safe, but after days of walking with no food, or water, or rest, that safe haven was looking more and more unrealistic.

They had just dealt with the growing horde of walkers that had been trailing behind them for the better part of the day by pushing them off of a bridge, Rowen and Carl weren't allowed to help, so the two stood off to the side, while Carl held Judith.