The Walshs

Season 2: Chapter 2

KAT’S POV

I stood at the barricade, hugging my chest tightly as I watched the woods for any sign of my husband and son. Cody was stood beside me, I could feel him staring at me with worry but I just kept my gaze focused on the woods. “Kate, you should sit down,” Cody stated quietly but I never answered. I couldn’t find the words to answer him, I was just frozen to the spot waiting and praying that I would see my family. Cody realised he wasn’t getting any response, so he just decided to be moral support placing a gentle hand on my shoulder and squeezing tenderly in reassurance. I sighed and turned to look at him, tears stinging my eyes again at the thought of never seeing my son again.

Cody opened his mouth to speak but then he paused, his eyes drifting to the woods and his lips forming a smile. Then I heard the familiar bark of Dixon from behind me and I spun round, tears starting to fall as my eyes landed on Shane and Jason. Dixon leapt over the barricade, his tail wagging excitedly as he jumped up on Cody who quickly praised him for what he had done. Shane stepped over on to the highway, Jason still held tightly in his arms before I threw myself at both of them. I had never held my son so tight in his whole life, adrenaline making my hands shake as I cupped his flushed face. "Are you okay baby? Are you?" My voice was so shaky, full of fear but so much relief that he was safe.

"Dixon saved me Momma," Jason's terrified voice said, his face still buried deep in the crook of his father's neck. I turned to look at the joyous German Shepherd with grateful eyes, kneeling down and letting him come to me. He sat down on his haunches in front of me with his long pink tongue hung out as he panted. I ran my hand across the top of his head and smiled at him, "thank you Dixon. You're a good boy."

Once Jason had calmed down, Shane went with Rick, Daryl and Glenn to get Sophia who had also run off during the herd. I sat with my sons, happy that all three of them were safe. Hunter was keeping Ryder and Jason's attention by showing them the wood carvings he would make in his spare time. I leaned against the hood of one of the abandoned cars, watching them with a faint smile ghosting my lips. My eyes would occasionally wander to Carol standing anxiously by the barricade with Lori, waiting for the men to return with her daughter. I knew how she felt, even if it was for a brief second, and knew how scary it was to think you'd lost a child. My gaze returned to Jason, he was smiling now and touching the wood carving of a bear that Hunter had made recently.

"Isn't it cool Momma?", Jason asked craning his neck to look at me from where he was sat in Hunter's lap.

"Yeah baby. Hunter is very talented," I replied directing a smile to my oldest son who returned it. However, then Shane and Glenn reappeared from the woods with no Sophia, Rick or Daryl. Shane explained that Sophia had wandered off and that the other two were gonna track her down to bring her back. Carol was now even more panicked than before but Shane came up with some chores to keep everyone busy including fixing up one of the cars. "Hey Jason, baby, why don't you go help your Daddy?" I suggested and Jason practically leapt up with excitement, running over to join his father at the car Shane had chosen to fix.

I sighed softly which caught Ryder's attention, making him stand up and take my hand in his much smaller one. "We're all okay Momma," he whispered so no one heard him which made a pang of guilt hit my heart but I managed to crack a smile. "I know honey. I just worry that's all," I explained before ruffling his shaggy brown mop. Ryder had a similar hairstyle to Daryl whereas Hunter liked something short and neat, he'd been like that since he was little which meant taking him to the barber's was always easy.

Carol watched the woods for a little while longer before looking at everyone moving cars and gathering supplies for the road. Glenn moved a car down the grassy slope at the side of the highway whilst Dale worked on replacing the hose of the RV. "Why aren't we all out there looking? Why are we moving cars?" She asked snappily but her voice was shaking with worry.