Robin Hood (Sequel To Hiraeth- TWD)

Chapter 3

After helping Cailey stomp out her fire and pack up her quick makeshift tent, the three survivors hiked through the dark forest back home. Cailey had her bag slung over one shoulder as she gripped her bow tightly next to Daryl, walking between the two men with Friar to her left. 

"We've still got the canned supplied to last us another few weeks or so," Rick nodded to Cailey as he spoke quietly. "The first thing you'll probably wanna do when we get there is eat something."

"Save your food," Cailey mumbled. "Y'already said you're scarce and havin' a hard time. I can find somethin' right outside."

"Ya've lost too much weight, girl," Daryl chimed in, almost scolding her. "Can see it. When's the last time ya ate?"

"Friar ate this mornin'."

"Wasn't askin' 'bout the dog," Daryl clipped her upside the head, but it was more gentle than he used to. He couldn't hurt her, not right now. "Yer' comin' back, then ya gotta be part o' the group, meanin' ya gotta eat. Winter hurtin' us all, ya need it, 'specially as a kid."

"I ain't a kid," Cailey decided out loud.

"Like hell y'ain't," Daryl scoffed. "Ya gotta be younger than Beth, an' maybe what? Couple years bigger than Rick's boy?"

"I dunno," Cailey retorted sarcastically. "Pro'lly, but what do it matter?"

"Shh," Rick hushed them quietly. "You're both gonna attract every walker here for miles."

"Don't matter much, anyway," Cailey shrugged. "Sun's gonna be up in half hour or so."

"I don't care," Rick reminded. "I'd like to get back to the prison with all three of us in one piece."

"We're almost there anyway, it's fine," the teen shrugged, and Rick could really see now how much of a teenager she really was. If she was a stereotypical regular teenager who lived in a normal house with normal parents, she'd have the same attitude.

Once the small team reached the prison, Cailey froze in front of the gate. Daryl and Rick slid it open, and Cailey's heavy feet followed them slowly from several feet behind. The sun was already beginning to rise as they hiked up the field, lighting the path with warm orange rays.

"Everybody's a little on edge," Rick drawled out as he opened the door to the hallways, "Governor's got everyone all messed up, and Merle's here stayin', too, so everyone's kinda freaked out."

Cailey didn't respond, but only continued following the two men inside. The hallways were just as dark and musty as before, leading down into all the cell blocks. Once they grew nearer to the cell block Rick's group resided in, she could hear talking. 

Rick held open the door for Cailey, nodding for her to step inside the block. She could see the backs of Hershel and Beth and Glenn, Maggie facing them from the cell dining door. The brunette woman was the first to see them, and her face fell into surprise. 

"Cailey," the woman exclaimed, taking large steps to meet the small group. She kneeled in front of Cailey like the hunter was a small child. "How you doin'? You all right?"

The teen felt awkward with the spotlight on her, Hershel and Glenn watching as Maggie sat in front of her. She felt like she was being treated like a child who had run away, and she knew that's what they thought of her. "Yeh," she mumbled, stepping slowly around Maggie.

Carol was next to come into the cell block from the noise. Her face fell, and tears formed in her eyes. "Oh, sweetie, you're back." Carol tried to hug Cailey, who only stiffly returned the gesture, still feeling awkward. It wasn't like when she was with Daryl, not even like with Rick. Everybody else still saw her as a small child.