Down by the water • TWD

Missing Limbs.

"Not bad," Daryl said looking through all the gear they spent the morning gathering. Avery was standing next to him reloading all of the handguns to help out.

"Flashbangs, CS Triple-Chasers. Not sure how they'd work on walkers, but we'll take it." Rick spoke picking up all the artillery that may be useful.

"I ain't wearing this shit," Daryl said picking up one of the helmets covered in slime and mucus from the walker it belonged to. 

"Gross," Avery said watching the slime spill out.

"We could boil 'em." T-dog suggested optimistically. 

"Ain't enough firewood in the whole forest. No." Daryl decided for all of us. "Besides, we made it this far without 'em, right?" He picked up a black baton that he swung like a baseball bat mockingly. Avery chuckled at this movement and he only scoffed at her.

"Hershel." Carol entered the room asking for him.

"Everything all right?" Rick asked concerned. 

"Yeah," Carol reassured him. "Nothing to worry about."

Daryl continued to play with everything in front of him like a little boy. Avery thought it was the funniest thing in the world, it kept distracting her from what she was trying so hard to do. She cocked the last handgun making sure it worked correctly and placed it back down on the table.

"Thank you, Avery," Rick said lightly with a smile grateful for what she'd done. Avery nodded at him respectfully. 

"So, Can I help you guys? I know how to fight I can handle myself." She asked confidently hoping they'd finally let her. She watched Daryl and Rick look at each other momentarily before one speaking up.

"Hell nah," Daryl told her roughly while reloading his crossbow.

"What? How come Carl can but I can't?" She argued back frustrated.

"Carl's not coming neither," Rick told her while taking a glance into the cell block. Avery took a deep breath before scoffing and rushing back into the cell block.

"She'll understand at some point," Rick told Daryl. "Don't feel bad"

"I don't," Daryl said bluntly.

---

Avery flipped through her dog book in her cell avoiding everyone. She didn't want to talk. She hated not being able to help with the grown-up stuff, she knew she was a kid but it still annoyed her. She knew how to take care of herself and was a good shot, Rick said it himself. She'd never understand why they didn't trust her. She flipped to a certain page and smiled, remembering a time when life seemed simpler, softer, easier.

Then.

Avery lay in her sleeping bag in the living room of a house they stayed in for the night. She didn't know if anyone else was sleeping. Usually, none of them slept, just lay there acting like it. She slowly stood up unzipping her sleeping bag, she needed fresh air.  She crept her way through all the bodies lying there with their eyes closed. She made it to the door and slowly opened it trying not to make too much noise. She took a deep breath feeling the air go into her body. It was cold but felt so nice. She could feel the air filtering through her lungs, making her feel lighter.

"Can't sleep?" She jumped in surprise at the voice coming from behind her. She turned her head so fast she felt her neck crack. She sighed when she realized it was only Daryl. 

"Why do you always sneak up on me?" She asked seriously. He only shrugged and shut the door behind him quietly. "I can never sleep, don't feel right." She answered bluntly.

"Suprised you ain't readin' that book," He said to her as he sat down on the rocking chair on the porch when they found the house. Avery didn't answer and continued to breathe in and out. "What's ya favorite?" He asked looking at the back of her head.