Robin Hood (Sequel To Hiraeth- TWD)

Chapter 14

"Fern was up at daylight, trying to rid the world of injustice. As a result, she now has a pig... A small one to be sure, but nevertheless a pig. It just shows what can happen if a person gets out of bed promptly."

Cailey's voice was slow and careful, and she messed up the pronunciations every once in a while. Daryl didn't care, he was barely even paying attention. His chest was to the perch ceiling, one arm draped over his face. Friar lied between the hunters with his head on his paws. Cailey had her back leaned against the wall, and her knees in an awkward manspread as she read from her sitting place on the floor. She was barely a foot from Daryl, with Friar between, and she could see his chest rising and falling as she slowly read through the book.

"The crickets felt it was their duty to warn everybody that summertime cannot last for ever. Even on the most beautiful days in the whole year - the days when summer is changing into autumn-"

The door creaked open, brushing shadows over the hunters on the floor. They looked up at the intruder, and Carol stood in the doorway. She gave a small smile to the two people on the floor, and the dog, then nodded.

"I just wanted to check in on you guys, and say thanks. You helped a lot of people today."

There were only a couple of nods from the hunters in reply. Carol chewed on the inside of her lip as she went silent, then continued speaking. "Would you two take Beth out for a run tomorrow? I know it's not ultimately my choice, but she really wants to get out there and help."

Cailey stared over at Daryl, who watched the younger girl. They exchanged blank glances before the older nodded back up at Carol. "If 'er ol' man says it's alrigh'."

The grey-haired woman have a small smile and a nod, and she began backing out of the perch. "Thank you."

As the door shut, Daryl re-positioned himself with his arm over his face again. "Keep goin'."

There was a long pause before Cailey's voice started reading quietly again. "Wilbur never forgot Charlotte. Although he loved her children and grandchildren dearly, none of the new spiders ever quite took her place in his heart. She was in a class by herself. It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer."

Morning came with an orange sun bleeding through the prison windows. Daryl and Cailey were up the minute that the sunlight crept through, with Friar whining to get up and outside. The hunters padded down the cell block together, the only sound being the dog's clicking nails.

"Are you still bringing Beth?" Carol was the first out to meet the hunters, a warm shawl over her shoulders. 

"Gonna have to take a car," Daryl decided, barely over a mumble. "We goin' huntin' and out to the city. Gonna need much as we can."

"Then talk to Rick," the woman nodded with a gentle smile. "See which car he'll want you to take."

The older man chewed on his lip as he nodded. He hoisted the strap of his crossbow up on his shoulder, then nodded at the teenager next to him. 

"Take the blue van," Rick stepped out from around the corner. He held his hands on his heavy belt, toes pointed out like a cowboy. "You can fit all three of you, and whatever you bring back. Try to find some place to fill up the gas wherever you can."

The hunters nodded at the sheriff, swinging side to side a little as they stood almost awkwardly. "Should be getting goin' soon as possible," Cailey declared. 

"Beth is already up, I think she's just getting ready. I really appreciate you guys taking her out." Rick wiped his sweaty face with one hand. "She's been telling Hershel how she wants to help out more, like going on runs."

"Yeah," a soft girl's voice echoed from behind Rick. "I'm ready."

Beth was several inches taller than Cailey, but somehow she always looked so much smaller than the young brunette. Beth had a thinner and more fragile build, where Cailey even had wider bones. 

"It's dangerous," Cailey finally spoke. "Walkers, animals, people."

"I know," Beth shook her head with a little smile. "I can take care of myself, I know how it works."

Rick and Daryl watched as Cailey's eyebrows twitched, and the brunette swung her heels across the ground a little. Daryl recognized the little bit of sarcastic amusement in the younger girl, and he clipped her upside the head. 

"Yeah, whatever," Cailey mumbled at the man. She ran her palm over the back of her skull where he had hit.

Beth's forehead creased as she stared up at Rick, her head tilted. The sheriff only gave the blonde a reassuring smile and a nod. Hershel was the next to come out of his cell, his crutches clicking on the cement floor. 

"You be careful out there, Beth," the old man nodded. "Stay with Daryl."

"I know, Daddy," her gentle Southern accent echoed through the cell block. 

Daryl whistled at Cailey, then nodded at the door. "They should be ready once we pack up the car."

"I'm ready," Beth nodded.

"Daryl, have Beth help you pack up the car," Rick instructed. "Cailey, stay here for a bit."

The blonde teenager followed Daryl out the cell block, and Cailey spun slowly on her heels in one place. Rick walked up closer to her, his voice becoming quieter. "You take care of her, but don't act like this to her," he pointed one finger to Cailey's chest.

"Like what?" Cailey almost scoffed, and Rick could hear it.

"Like you don't want her around, like she can't take care of herself. She wants to help," the sheriff emphasized each one of his words slowly.

"But she can't take care of herself," the teenager shrugged. "This is a babysittin' trip."

"It's your job and Daryl's job to teach her to take care of herself. If she learns, then she'll get better at goin' out," Rick shook his head. "If she doesn't, then she'll stop wanting to. But you reminding her that she can't hunt or track as well as you two will keep her from getting better. Am I clear?"

Cailey bit on the inside of her cheek in thought, then nodded. She added a mumbled "Yeah."

"Then get goin'. You all stay safe."