Down by the water • TWD

Open Up.

The day started fast, everyone was gearing up for war. They all had different ideas to ensure the group's victory. Avery had been spending the majority of her day with Michonne, she mostly helped with any idea that popped into the woman's mind. It wasn't just Avery following Michonne around, Carl and Jackson stood by the girl's side the whole time. The trio tried not to be annoying, but they would occasionally notice Michonne roll her eyes at them.

"I have to go to the bathroom so I'm gonna have to cut you guys loose," Michonne told them turning around and looking at the trio with pleading eyes. She turned around, breaking away from the kids. Carl shoved Jackson and Avery lightly as they stood in front of him.

Jackson turned around to face the other boy with a smirk. "What was that for?" Avery looked at the both of them with a confused face.

"For fun?" Carl said questioning if that was really why he did it. Avery bit her lip to keep her smile from showing when she saw Jackson's face. She raised her eyebrows intrigued to see how this would play out. She knew Carl was an instigator, she loved it, but only when it wasn't towards her.

"Mmmm, is that so?" Jackson asked tilting his head to the side in a mocking way. Avery watched the boy with a tight-lipped smile on her face. He could never not make her smile. Avery backed out of the way as Jackson charged at Carl. She laughed lightly as she felt the wind from Carl sprinting away, Jackson running after him.

Michonne watched the three of them with a small smile plastered on her face. Even in all of this, even when they were getting ready for a fight, they could still be kids. She envied how they could be kids one day and then go to war the next. That's what people needed in the new world, she saw how the trio anchored off each other, how they relied on each other.

She could get used to being around these people.

Avery made her way to the prison, glancing at the two boys chasing each other every so often. She shut the door to the prison feeling the clouded air filter through her lungs. She lightly smiled at everyone she saw as she walked through the cellblock heading towards her cell.

She took her handgun out of her holster placing it on Jackson's bunk. She took off her weapon belt and placed it on her backpack. It was the one Rick had gifted her along with the holster back when they were on the road.

The girl scrambled to change into a new pair of clothes, she put on a plain black T-shirt that Daryl had found for her. It was too big but Avery didn't mind, though she did hate how much she would sweat. She rummaged through her bag for a different pair of jeans.

Once Avery was dressed she slid her belt around her waist holstering her gun. She tightened her ponytail before leaving her cell on the mission to find a certain man who yielded a crossbow. She hadn't seen him all day, she would hear his voice from a distance, but she hadn't had time to bother him. That's why she was following Michonne, it would've been Daryl in her position.

As Avery walked through the cellblock she realized it was silent, no one was in there. That was until she heard absurd noises coming from upstairs. She quietly tiptoed up the stairs trying not to be noticed. She peered her head into each cell she came across until she found the right one.

That's when she did.

Merle Dixon.

He wasn't the Dixon she was looking for but she was willing to ask where the other was. She walked into the doorway of the cell not caring if she was interrupting anything. Merle didn't look up from his activity, he was ripping up mattresses with his blade hand. Avery was growing annoyed that he wasn't acknowledging her. So she cleared her throat loudly in an attempt to get his attention.