Robin Hood (Sequel To Hiraeth- TWD)

Chapter 24

Daryl, Beth, and Cailey found a tiny clearing between the trees to hole up when it got dark. They made a fire and cooked up a snake and a fish that they caught, then sat in silence as they ate and shared water from their only flask. As the moon was rising over the dark forest, there was no noise. Not even the sound of bugs or small animals. 

"I'll take firs' watch," Cailey muttered as she stood. Daryl and Beth didn't argue after they had brushed away rocks and twigs to sleep on the ground. 

Beth rested her head on the inside of her arm, then watched as Cailey manspread on a fat tree trunk several feet away. Smoke was rising from a cigarette in the brunette's hand, her bow in the other. Her shoulders were rigid and her face blank as she stared out in every direction from their temporary camp. Daryl was already starting to softly snore from a few feet away, and Beth wanted nothing more than to get up and go talk to Cailey. She was afraid the girl wouldn't like that too much. 

Beth was used to being the one who was helpless. Who couldn't do much more than give people comfort and talk. But she was also used to being the youngest one. She felt a little awkward not knowing what to do around Cailey, especially considering she was at least a year or two older than the hunter. Beth was tired of feeling helpless, and wanted to help everyone. She just didn't know how to get them to let her. 

The blonde finally stood up and began stepping over to Cailey. The hunter could see Beth out of the corner of her eye, and kept facing the trees. The tree trunk was more than big enough to fit them both, so Beth took a deep breath before sitting right next to Cailey. 

"I'm sorry about Friar," she said quietly. 

"Yeh," Cailey mumbled. She went silent for a moment. "Sorry 'bout your old man."

Beth went quiet now, and stared at the dirt. "I'm kinda glad he went quickly so he didn't have to feel too much pain. He's in a better place now."

Cailey kept staring out at the trees. The moonlight was just barely illuminating the trees enough to see, and Cailey was watching each leaf that fell to the ground in the white light. Beth stared out with her for a few minutes before looking back at Cailey. Her jaw was still tense, her eyes still completely blank. She had put out her cigarette on the tree trunk's bark. 

Beth let off a silent sigh and turned back. She leaned her head over, and finally rested it on Cailey's shoulder. Cailey went entirely motionless, but relaxed after a few seconds. The younger girl let Beth lean against her, and her face eased up. She could feel Beth gently breathe in and out against her side, and Cailey loosened her grip on her bow. Beth could feel her relax at least the tiniest bit. 

Beth eventually fell asleep against her. Cailey couldn't move anywhere, and didn't know if she should try. The blonde girl spent hours silently snoring against Cailey's side. Cailey only kept staring out in each direction from their little camp.

The moon was high in the sky when Beth woke up again. It was because of a nightmare. Cailey could hear her breath shake when she first woke up, but the very brief staring told her the nightmare wasn't all that bad. Beth rubbed her face, then looked to the sky. "Imma go back to bed," she decided softly.

The blonde girl slowly stood, and she left Cailey alone on the stump. Cailey kept staring out, hand on her now with the other leaning against the bark. A few more minutes passed before near-silent crunching approached Cailey again.

"Go tah sleep. I'll watch."

Cailey's chest rose and fell with a deep and quiet sigh. She turned away from her nature-made seat, and passed by Daryl. The older hunter sat where Cailey had been, leaving his crossbow against the side of the stump.

Cailey lied on the ground where Daryl had been, her now leaned right up on her back. Her eyes were already beginning to close, but she kept staring from the sky to Daryl. The last thing she saw was Daryl slowly pulling out a cigarette before she fell asleep.