Robin Hood (Sequel To Hiraeth- TWD)

Chapter 5

The two hunters, Daryl and Cailey, traveled off to what was left of the big city near them in search of weapons. They killed off oncoming walkers and hunted small animals for their food, but only managed to find a handful of hunting rifles and handguns before night fell. They cooped themselves up in a nearly-intact free clinic from a hospital.

Cailey barred the doors, holding her flashlight in her mouth as she scanned everywhere she looked in the dark building. Friar sniffed around where his owner wandered, stepping over junk on the floor. Old hospital cots and tables and equipment were thrown everywhere, empty drug bottles on the ground, and syringes. Cailey turned to Daryl, who was rummaging through the back shelves of the clinic's pharmacy. He picked up any orange or white bottle that had something in it, shoving it in his bag. 

Cailey scanned her flashlight over the entire floor, searching for anything moving. She still held her flashlight in her mouth as she cautiously held an arrow against its bowstring. Something small ran across her vision, and Cailey immediately shot out at it.

The possum screeched at Cailey, her arrow only stabbing it in the leg. Cailey quickly drew another arrow back, shooting the motionless possum in the head before it finally flopped over dead. "Got dinner," she called quietly.

"Got drinks," Daryl called back. "Looks like these rich-ass doctors ain't as good as they thought they was."

Cailey turned, shining her light on Daryl, who held up a bottle of red wine from a cooler against the wall. Friar picked up the possum in his mouth, gently placing it in Cailey's hand, who slid the arrows back into her quiver. Cailey scuffed her boot against the ground as she kicked away junk, then sat against an old shelf, knees bent loosely to the ceiling. Daryl joined in next to the girl, slapping the bottle on the ground. Cailey used her knife to begin cutting up her catch, and they ate in silence, each giving a small portion of it to the dog lying between them.

Daryl popped open the wine cork not too long later, just as the two could begin hearing walkers moaning and groaning outside. The hunters couldn't see the undead, but could just barely hear their cries and their swiping against the building outside as they passed. With a sigh, Daryl took a drink from the bottle, then passed it to Cailey. The teenager did the same, then left the bottle on the ground. 

There was more silence for several minutes as the two survivors drank from the wine bottle, but it was a different atmosphere. It wasn't awkward, it wasn't angry, but it still wasn't the same. Cailey still wasn't sure what to think, but she had most definitely started forgiving Daryl. The older man could only tell there was another layer of trust now, but he wasn't going to mention it. There was no point. He only rubbed his fingers over his knuckles slowly, leaning his elbows against his knees. There was no need for words. 

The older hunter felt a small nudge against his shoulder. Initially thinking it was Friar, he placed his right hand across his chest to touch what was on him. But Friar was still lying on the ground, and Cailey had gently placed her head against Daryl's shoulder. He turned his head more to see the girl, who still had her forehead pressed carefully against the top of the man's arm. Daryl couldn't tell if it was a sign of respect, one of submission, or anything else. But what he could tell was Cailey showing she wanted Daryl back. She wanted that old strange relationship they had formed before, watching out for each other and caring for each other like family, even though everybody else was convinced they abused each other. Daryl turned his head slightly more, pressing his forehead to the back of Cailey's head only inches away in response to her. He heard a small whine from Friar, who lifted his head off the ground enough to lay it in Daryl's lap. 

There were several minutes of complete silence, and the hunters didn't move until Cailey spoke up quietly. "Can I ask somethin'?"

"You jus' did."