Jason's pov
I shakily set down the shovel, sweat soaking my shirt. A feeling of sadness washing over me. She's gonna be devastated when she finds out. I hate to see her cry. I find a stone to use as a place marker I etch into it long live the Dixon trio. Then I put his name of course. I sigh. "Fly high brother." I whisper, saluting him. "I'll keep your sister safe. You can count on it." I grab my gun and bow then head back to camp with a heavy heart.
Miranda's pov
Jason walks back to camp emty handed. "Ya didn't catch anything?" I ask. He sighs. "Nothin' but bad news darlin'." He says, resting a hand on my shoulder. He holds my hand. "I'm sorry honey but.... Merle is.... Dead." I try to hide the shock and force myself not to cry. You mustn't cry. You cry, you're weak. And I Miranda Dixon am not weak. I pull my hand free and back up. "How?" I whimper. "Got bit. I found him while hunting." He says. My big brother sworn protector of my group is dead.
Jason's pov
She takes off running into the woods. "No wait! Honey come back!" I call, running after her! I hear screaming. I know it's her. She runs at a tree baring her knife. I hear a slashing and she lands bent one knee on the ground, the tree sliced in half. I back up shocked. How'd she do that?! "H-Honey." I say. She turns around, her eyes fiercer than a raging tiger, striking fear into even the bravest of fighters. She screams and throws the knife, hitting a walker I didn't even know was there. But surprisingly she's not crying. "H-How did you do that?" I gape. She pulls the knife free wiping the blood off on her jeans. "Livin' in a cruel world pays to be a mean girl." She whispers, returning it to the sheath at her belt. "You ain't a mean girl, sweetheart." I say, hugging her. "He's really gone... Isn't he?" She whispers, her voice muffled since her head is buried in my neck. "Yeah hun, I-I just want you to know, he was thinkin' about you when he died." She hugs me tighter and sobs. I don't think I've ever heard anything so heartbreaking in my whole life. But the problem is she's being really loud. "I think we need to be quieter, sweetheart." I don't think she hears me. Too deep down in her grief. I hear the moaning of walkers. They're close. "Baby come on we should go back to camp, where it's safe." "I don't care anymore. Let the fuckers come at me. If I go down, I'm taking some of these bastards with me." She hisses, pulling the knife back out. I look around, the noise coming from all sides of us. Shit. What do we do now?! She turns around listening. "We're surrounded." She whispers, clasping my hand. Her parents' wedding rings clicking together. "Ready for this babe?" Her back is pressed against mine. "I was born ready." She whispers, her hand still shakily clasped tightly in my hand. "Let's smash some heads." I nod, confidently. Time to kill some walkers.
