The Light in my Storm

Dreaming=Hope(23)

Katie was 11 her hair was grown longer. Everyone's was. She had her own gun now, and knows how to use it well. We basically jumped from place to place if there were more than 3-4 walkers near by. I was tired of it, but what could we do?

We ran into a house. T-dog stabbed one walker and Tanner got the other. Then we all scurried around the house checking for walkers, supplies, etc. Katie stayed with me, although her, Carl, and Mason had all gotten very close. Daryl and I had gotten closer now too. We had more conversations. If the space was cramped we typically slept very close to each other.

Katie and I walked into the kitchen.

"I got the pantry," I told her, "You check that room."

I opened the pantry, there were some pillows, but no walkers.

"Anything?" I asked Katie quietly.

"Clear," She replied.

I had a gun again, I saw a door and walked closer. Raising my flashlight and gun. Tension took over my shoulders as I yanked the door open, my heart jumped into my stomach when I saw another figure, it took me a second to realize it was Daryl. He had his crossbow up, finger on the trigger. I dropped my weapon to my side.

"You scared me," I said breathlessly.

"You scared me, too," He chuckled.

"Let's check upstairs," He added, Katie had just walked into the pantry as we all headed for the stairs. Daryl went first with his crossbow raised, I was behind him, Katie behind me.

Daryl went into the first room, I went into the third, and Katie took the middle room. It looked like a small bedroom, I opened some drawers and found a clean bra.

"Oh my god," I said excitedly to myself, it looked about my size too! I took it out and took my bra off underneath my shirt and put the new one on. Never taking my shirt off, I tossed the old one off to the side. The new one was red with lace. It was also surprisingly comfortable,

"Clear! The house is Clear!" Someone yelled from downstairs. I walked out of the room I was in, Katie caught up to me. Daryl came out with an arrow tucked in his lips and he was yanking feathers out of an owl.

"Found us somethin' to eat," He said.

We went back downstairs, Carol, Hershel, Beth, and Lori brought some of our stuff inside. Lori had a huge baby bump. Katie went into the kitchen just as Carl was walking out.

"There's nothing in there," Carl said to her.

"Oh well, I'll check again," She sighed. Daryl sat down on the ground plucking more feathers off the bird. Lori sat down on a worn couch, putting her hand on her stomach. People started settling down in the living room. Katie sat beside Carl. He handed her a can of dog food and I felt a pang of guilt hit me.

My daughter was so hungry that she was going to eat canned dog food. What kind of mother lets a child go hungry? Lori looked at her son in sadness and I think she felt the same way. Mason sat beside Carl and they were going to split the dog food. Everyone looked at the 3 kids in sadness as Carl pulled out a can opener and began opening the one for Katie first.

Maggie and Glenn were splitting 2 or 3 ketchup packets. Then Carl opened his own dog food and Mason took a small piece, shoving it into his mouth. Katie was about to eat some as Rick stalked over picking up both the cans and taking it away from them. He chucked them against the wall causing dog food to splatter on the wall. Some of us jumped at the sound. Me, Daryl, Beth, the kids, and Hershel did anyways.

The kids looked down as if they were ashamed, the window right behind them showed a group of walkers heading our way.

"Walkers!" I pointed out. People sighed and grabbed their stuff quickly. Shoving it into cars. I grabbed Katie and I's bag. All our stuff fit into 2 back packs. I ran to the green car and tossed our stuff in, then went back in to help others.