TWD- Little Heart Of Iron

50. Dead Bunnies.

Elliot was the second person to come running at Blake the second Daryl was finished comforting her. He hugged her and didn't let go for a good ten seconds. Blake didn't exactly return the hug, but she didn't push him away either.

Apparently, he escaped the prison with Maggie and a couple of others and even ended up meeting new people along the way.

The one person who wasn't with them was Beth. Blake had asked Daryl about her and he told her that he'd escaped the prison with her but they'd gotten separated. No one knew if she was alive or not but Blake hoped she was. Beth's soul was too pure to die in an awful way.

Since the entire group had been on the road together for a day now, Blake took the time to at least learn their names. There was Rosita, Abraham, and Eugene. There was also Tara, who was apparently with the Governor before but she wasn't anymore.

Besides taking the liberty of learning some names, Blake hadn't spoken much at all since she reunited with everyone else. Tyreese had an idea as to why, so he talked to Daryl. Daryl had yet to talk to Blake about what happened in that cabin because he hadn't found the right time. He figured it was best if he talked to her alone with a bit of privacy. But even that was a privilege those days.

But truthfully, there was no right time for Blake. She didn't want to talk about it with anyone. That man was dead. He wouldn't hurt her again, so it wouldn't matter. That was her thought process.

Carl had tried talking to her, asking her if she was okay. But she just brushed him off. Respectfully, of course. Elliot had also tried talking to her but he didn't stop even after she showed signs of disinterest. Blake was more used to his rambling now, though.

Right now, it was midday, and the group was stopped on a small road that trailed off into the woods. They were resting up, and Carl was feeding Judith. But soon they'd keep on walking.

Blake was sitting on a rock alone, slightly separated from the general area the group was in. Her 'resting time' consisted of picking at her nails subconsciously until they bled.

She felt sort of...empty. It was a feeling she couldn’t quite explain. What happened in that cabin. The things she saw, experienced. It changed her in a way. She wasn't innocent anymore. Sure, she could laugh at jokes and read all the comics she wanted, but she'd never be the same little girl she used to be.

"Bee," she heard Daryl call out to her in a soft tone. She looked up from her fingers, a neutral expression on her face.

"Yeah?" She murmured.

He nodded towards the woods behind him. "C'mon, gonna go find somethin' ta cook up."

She sighed, standing up and grabbing her bow, which was leaning up against the rock she was sitting on. Her steps were lazy and unmotivated as she followed behind Daryl.

"Keep up," he said, slinging his crossbow over his shoulder.

The sunlight beamed through the trees as they walked. Of course, they weren't going too far from where the group was, so the chances of finding anything bigger than a squirrel or rabbit were slim.

"Huntin' game has been down for a while, huh? Prob'ly some...walkers findin' the deers before we do," Daryl huffed out a chuckle, trying to lighten to mood.

"I guess," Blake mumbled as she shrugged her shoulders. Her head was hung low, her gaze never leaving the ground.

Daryl looked down at the girl and sighed quietly. He didn't know how to get through to her. Usually, a dad joke or some stupid comment would make her crack a smile...but not this time.

"Hey," he said, his tone hushed as he held out a hand to stop Blake from walking any further. When she was stopped, he pointed to something a few feet ahead of them. A small, brown rabbit. It wasn't enough for the whole group, of course. But if they found one rabbit then there were probably more around.