Shadow (TWD Carl)

~Chapter 27~

Walking. It was all we did. I won't forget to mention how boring it was too. We had walked so far away from the dreadful Terminus that I couldn't feel the pain in my legs anymore, nor my body. That's a bad sign right? I assumed Rick could sense our tiredness because he told us to settle down in the middle of nowhere for a few minutes. Carl was feeding Judith, Glenn and Maggie were doing their little lovey dovey thing, Daryl was talking to Carol and the newcomers in the group were talking to each other.

One of the girls, Tara I think her name was, apparently believes she owes Glenn and she follows him around to no end. Rick hit up a conversation with her about God knows what. I couldn't care less about anyone else right now.

I feel like I'm not in control of my actions anymore. I've tried to become a better person but it seems like no matter how hard I try to revert back to....Tyrian... someone or something always blocks my path to getting there. But they don't just block it. No. They need to send me back a mile and continue doing so until I'm right where I started. Every time I look at Kira or Jack I can't help but be reminded of Ethan. I know he could be a dickhead but he was still my friend. I will find him, dead or alive.

"Hey Shadow. You thinking pretty hard 'bout something there. What is it?" Michonne interrupted my thoughts.

"Nothing important. Just in a daze. Might be dehydration?" I half-asked. I was still partially in my thoughts when I suddenly became wet from water being poured over my head. I squint my eyes so non of the water could get in and pursed my lips together. I opened my eyes and held a very pissed off stare at Carl.

"Maybe you should learn to drink water then. Might help you survive in the future." He suggested with sarcasm, closing the lid on his water bottle. I couldn't help but huff and shun his comment. I didn't even realize what I said before and that remark was not needed, with or without the sarcasm.

"Okay everyone. We'll be sleeping here tonight. We all need a rest. The question is who wants to go on first watch?" Rick spikes up. I sigh and put my hand up when I saw nobody else volunteering. "Thanks Shadow. Nice to know someone is willing to sacrifice for the group." Everyone put their heads down in guilt and embarrassment.

I try to decide where the best place to keep watch from would be while everyone else got their sleeping arrangements sorted. There were many tall trees surrounding us and I decided to climb one. I jumped to reach a branch that was just in reaching distance and swung myself on top of it. I continued leaping, climbing and swinging from branch to branch until I found a very thick and sturdy one that was high enough from the ground.

The evening quickly became dark and everyone was wishing each other a goodnight. We didn't have much food and I told Rick to give my share to those who needed it most. I watched everyone lie against a tree or on the ground and fall asleep, except for one. Daryl climbed the tree up to where I was and sat on a branch next to me.

"Thought it best if I sit up here with ya."

"I'm perfectly fine by myself."

"No ya not. Been spacin' out for quite a while. Every few days or somethin' ya just wander off into ya own world. If ya ask me, ya not in the safest state to look after everyone on ya own."

"You wouldn't know what I'm capable of." I bring my knees to my chest and start hugging them, starting to feel a cold breeze in the air.

"Maybe, but I sure as hell know that I won't be leavin' ya alone."

"Whatever." I turn my head away from him and look down where everyone was asleep and a dimly lit fire is taking its last few breaths. "I want to find Ethan. I've put the task off track for too long and it should have been my main priority from the start of his disappearance. I might be part of this group but I'm still in charge of Kira, Jack and Ethan. I should be looking after them but I haven't done a good job of it so far."