Down by the water • TWD

Tread Lightly.

Avery has been following ear guy, which she has been referring to him by. She's not letting him out of her sight until she gets her stuffed dog back. She's surprised she hasn't been caught yet, he seems like he'd be the type to know how to hunt and be a tracker. Luke knew how to track, he'd find her in a heartbeat.

Stop thinking about him.

Deadweight. What does that mean?

Avery's been following him for about an hour now. He looks like he's having trouble staying conscious. Is his wound bad? A part of her wanted to show herself and help him. Maybe he'd bring her back to wherever he's staying. Keep her safe. Help her. Avery knew better than this though. You can't trust strangers, especially ones wearing ears around their necks. He also seemed mean, like he'd scream at you for looking at him for too long. 

I wonder if he likes dogs

Daryl couldn't wait to return to Hershel's, sleep in his tent. His arrow wound was still bleeding, just not as much. He had a pounding headache and was way too thirsty for his liking. He didn't know Avery was following him, but to be fair he didn't even know if he was going the right path to get back to camp. He didn't care enough, especially with the state he was in.

Avery kept walking and walking no matter how bad her feet hurt. She really needed a new pair of socks. Avery didn't know if she wanted to know where she was going to end up while following the man. She hoped wherever she was going there was food, and lots of it. It was only about ten more minutes when she saw a huge field through the trees. 

I think this is it.

Daryl slowly wobbled out from behind the trees. He was getting slower and slower as he moved forward. Avery was starting to get worried he would collapse. She didn't care that he would fall, she cared she wouldn't end up where civilization is.

"is that Daryl?" A guy in a baseball cape ran toward the ear guy.

Daryl? Is that his name?

"That's the third time you've pointed that thing at my head." There was another guy with curly-ish hair who was older than the baseball cap guy. He was also holding a gun to Daryls? head. "You gonna pull the trigger or what?" Daryl was taunting them. This was the first time she got to hear his voice. He sounded like he'd yell at you for looking at him. She knew it. He sounded mad though, madder than the average person. He sounded like him.

Luke.

She could feel her heartbeat speed up as these thoughts started pouring into her mind. She bit her lip to keep her from breathing too loudly.

You can't give up your hiding place yet.

Then a gunshot went off.

She jumped in fear hoping nothing would harm her. She opened her eyes to Daryl on the ground. Was he dead? Who shot him? Where is her stuffed dog? So many questions, and too few answers.

"No! No! Stop!" The curly-haired man ran to Daryl ready to help him. He seemed to be shouting at a woman running towards them.

"I was kidding" That was the last thing Daryl said before he fell unconscious. The curly-haired man continued to help him up with another guy in a hat. There were too many people who she didn't know. It was hard to keep track.

"Oh, my God, is he dead?" This must be the woman who shot him.

Avery was getting impatient. She didn't know when to reveal herself. She just wanted a place to stay. Maybe even for a night. She didn't want to scare them. They seemed like very good people, maybe too good for her.

"Unconscious. You just grazed him." They kept getting farther away.

"But look at him. What the hell happened?" Baseball cap again. "he's wearing ears" Avery let out a soft chuckle, they noticed too.

"Let's keep that to ourselves." The curly-haired man ripped the ears off of Daryl's neck and shoved it down his shirt. Right thing to do, they were gross to look at.

She saw her stuffed dog, it was lying in the grass where Daryl fell unconscious. What if she just snuck over and grabbed it? Oh no another new man sees it too. He's walking towards it.

I guess now or never.

"Guys, are these Sophia's?" Everyone's heads turned towards the man. They didn't see me yet. The man held two stuffed animals, a doll, and my dog. Daryl must have found the doll while looking for this Sophia. Which she's heard plenty of times. 

Whos Sophia?

"Hey big fella, ones mine actually" Everyone's eyes then averted to Avery who was behind "big fella" They were more surprised someone called T-dog "big fella" than that there was a random little girl right in front of them.

---

"Where are your parents, honey?" Avery learned that it was Lori who was questioning her. The curly-haired man's, who she now knew as Rick, wife. She didn't feel comfortable talking about this. She rarely talked at all actually, only to say her name and if she could have water. Which Lori did grant her. "Gone." was all Avery said, that's all she wanted to say. She didn't need to give her life story to these people she didn't even know.

"How'd you find us? Huh, girl?" This was the man who wore the regular hat with his shirt unbuttoned when she first saw the group. Shane, that was his name. She hated him already, the way he spoke to her struck a nerve. If she thought Daryl talked like Luke then Shane was on a whole other level. She was scared of Shane in a way, he looked like he'd hurt anyone no matter who or how old they were. She felt the goosebumps creep up on her skin.

"I followed the guy with the ears around his neck, and he took my favorite stuffed animal" She said this blankly as if it were the most normal thing said all day.

Shane's eyes twitched as he walked toward Avery. He crouched down so he was on her level. Avery swallowed harshly not ready for what was to come. He seemed to notice her tense up and sighed.

"Rick said to keep that to ourselves, so that means you lil' girl" He put his finger in her face as he said this. Avery had the urge to spit on his dirty finger. She held back to keep her good impression up, the thought never left her mind though.

Shane rolled his eyes as he got up and left the house. Avery smiled a little bit, she won. She heard the floorboard creek and looked up. It was two boys, one seemed younger than the other. The younger one had dirty blonde hair, he looked scared of her. Avery wondered if they were the same age. Ten. Avery was only ten. Luke left her at the age of ten. The older one had a cowboy hat on but she could see his dark brown hair seeping through. He had a mean face on like I was some kind of intruder that he hated with all his heart. 

Why does he seem like he already hates me?

"Carl! Jackson!" She heard Lori's voice from what she thinks is the kitchen. The dirty blonde boy immediately turned around and headed toward Lori. While the older one just kept staring at Avery like she was a puzzle to be solved. She heard footsteps that led to Lori coming into the room to grab the boy. "Carl-" That's her son. That's Rick and Loris's son.  

Lori saw that he was staring at Avery and nudged him and gave him a stern look. They're speaking through their eyes. Avery hated that. 

Just use your voice. I ain't gonna care.

"Avery you come to sweetheart, I made some food" I waited until the two started walking before I got up and headed over. I knew his name now. Carl. Which meant the other boy was Jackson.

Carl and Jackson.