Down by the water • TWD

Disease.

Daryl walked into the girls' cell. He had just broken the news to Beth about Zach. He wanted to see Avery so she'd know he's back, even after a very hard run today. He only saw her asleep, sitting against the wall where her mattress was. The string was laced messily on her bed, scattered over her legs. She must have fallen asleep making bracelets, like Daryl had told her to. He sighed, wishing she was awake, just so he could reassure her.

To reassure him. 

Daryl quietly grabbed all of her bracelet supplies from her lap, placing them on her small desk in the corner of her cell. He maneuvered her from sitting up to lying down, trying his best not to wake her in the slightest. He grabbed her blanket, lightly draping it over the girl. She moved slightly, getting more comfortable under the blanket. Daryl couldn't help the smile creep onto his face, watching her so peacefully, so relaxed. It's not something he would see often; she was off guard. Not long after, he decided to stand up straight and start to head to his own cell.

Somehow seeing her asleep, safe, was the reassurance he needed.

—-

"Hey," Rick whispered into the girl's cell, trying to wake her. "Avery."

Avery turned her head at the sound of her name being whispered in the doorway. With her eyes squinting from the light mixed with the hair that was stuck to her lips from moving in her sleep, she could feel the annoyance bubbling within her. She was definitely not a morning person, but she pushed it down.

"I'll be out in a sec." She groaned, slamming her head back into her pillow. She loved helping with the crops until it led to waking up early in the morning. 

-

Rick, Carl, and Avery walked down the gravel driveway towards the farm area. Jax wasn't joining them this morning; apparently, he wasn't feeling too well. Avery knew he had allergies; they must have been kicking in extra this morning. Michonne was walking towards them with one of the horses in hand. Avery weighed when she realized what Michonne was getting ready to do: leave.

"Careful out there." Rick reminded her, analyzing the scene in front of him.

"Always am." Michonne made a snarky remark, smiling at the group of three. "Any requests?" She asked, aiming the question for the two kids. "Books? Comics? Some stale M&Ms? Maybe a puppy?" She smiled at Avery, knowing how much the girl wants a dog.

"You're the one that likes stale M&Ms." Carl replied, giggling as he approached the woman.

"Then I'll definitely be looking for some." Michonne said, her smile bleeding into her tone. "I'll look for some stuff you like, too." She added, telling Rick. The man only looked back in response. "Why don't you wear your hat anymore?"

"It's not a farming hat." Carl responded, looking back at the woman.

"Hey, I'll take the hat." Avery said with a shrug and a smile, lightly shoving the boy. 

"See you soon?" Carl asked Michonne, keeping the lighthearted mood.

"Pretty soon." Michonne reassured as Rick walked to the farmstead with a smile at the interaction behind him.

Avery and Carl both held a tin bucket as Rick dug through soil to find scraps that the pigs could eat. This is what they typically did most mornings to start off. They had to make sure the livestock was fed so they could eat later. Avery zoned out quickly, as she often did. She kept her eyes on the walkers piling up against the fence. It scared her how much of the dead are attracted to their walls, knowing they couldn't get in yet. 

"They only took out one cluster yesterday. Probably gonna need more people today." Carl broke the silence, causing Rick to slow up on his digging, thinking. "Maybe we could help."