Hiraeth (The Walking Dead)

Chapter 11

Rick's group banded with the farmers entirely for the next few days. Rick still made sure to keep Cailey on lockdown, and told Daryl to keep watch over her. The hunter was less than happy to be forced into babysitting again, but he was at least a little grateful that Cailey was not noisy and obnoxious like the other teenagers and children. She just padded along next to Daryl whenever they traveled and helped protect the group from their numerous threats. Not many words were exchanged between Cailey and Daryl. Or Cailey and anyone, really. Many of the previously-suburban-style parents spoke to each other, staying together to try and keep what parts of their original lifestyle they could hold onto.

A few months of this passed. Nothing changed. Carl was given a new gun by his father with a silencer to keep him safer. Rick was slowly starting to loosen the reins on Cailey, but he still didn't trust her entirely. Especially not around his son or Beth. But even he had to admit she was a useful member of the team.

Nothing changed until the group was traveling down Route 319. It was hot, and everyone was sweaty, and most were starving for food. The cars were slowly running low on gas, and Daryl's motorbike was in desperate need of a cooldown. The group of people still persisted to find shelter, only stopping to take a quick break in the middle of the road.

Rick set a large paper map on the hood of his car as the rest of the group went off to get their own air. "We should keep heading south," he declared, pointing to the state map. "Maybe there's something by the coast."

"Yeah, a shit-ton of water," snorted T-Dog. "Maybe the walkers'll drown themselves."

Hershel sighed, petting his fluffy white facial hair. "It's worth a try. We've already come up through most of the north."

"Rick," Carol approached the men around the bright blue car. "There's a river just down this hill. Lori and I would like to wash some laundry while we're waiting here."

The unofficial leader nodded. "You go do that, we can all take a quick rest before we start heading south again."

"While the others wash their panties," Daryl cocked his head to Cailey from where they stood next to the car, "Let's go hunt somethin' to eat."

The young girl nodded, and she raised her hand over her shoulder to pull out a long black arrow from her ripped quiver. She rested it against the string of her bow as she followed Daryl into the forest.

The hunters followed an old set of bronze train tracks through the trees, hoping to find some small critter walking through. It was only a few minutes of walking before the treeline opened up to another small river. Cailey turned her head to the older man, gesturing to the water with her head. Daryl nodded, following through the end of the treeline.

The hunters turned to the right, staring out over the still river. They could see an enormous building out past the water. It was built of cement and surrounded by barbed fences. It looked like a prison from before the apocalypse. Cailey stared over at Daryl, who simply nodded. They both knew what a prison would mean. Shelter and supplies.

"Le's go tell Rick."