1. I Found

-a shared cigarette-

Night had fallen, and the camp was still nowhere in sight.

 Despite her legs feeling on fire, Theo's determination to reach her camp, where everyone she cared about was waiting for her, was unwavering. 

Every step she took felt like fire running through her veins. 

They kept going but came to a halt when they heard gunfire and screaming coming in the direction of the camp. 

Theo couldn't speak, but her body reacted quicker than her mind, sprinting toward the screams and ignoring the lactic acid in her body. 

What if she was too late?

What if she was out saving some jackass who turned up missing all the while her brother was being eaten alive?

"CARL!" Rick yelled as she followed him into the camp; there was blood everywhere and walkers everywhere they looked.

A walker came towards Theo, its rotten jaws snapping at her. It held its arms out as if it wanted to be hugged.

Theo stabbed it in the face before continuing to run, like it was second nature; she barely batted an eyelid as she took her knife to another walker.

Daryl was fighting off other walkers when he spotted one from the corner of his eye, heading towards the blonde, who was oblivious. He had no time to reload his crossbow, so he had no choice but to run. 

He sprinted towards Theo, taking her to the ground before turning and shooting the walker that was inches from her. 

"You alright?" He asked as she had a tight grip on his shirt. 

"Yeah, thank you" She sighed, startled by what had just happened. 

"It's okay" He gave her a small smile before exiting the floor. 

Theo followed her dad to Carl, who hugged her before hugging her.

She looked around to see that almost everyone was okay. But unfortunately, not everyone survived. 

Many lives were lost that night. One included Amy, Andreas' younger sister, who was the same age as Theo. 

Theo couldn't help but feel so much guilt. 

She should have been there to help them. 

Theo knew not everyone in the camp could defend themselves, not to mention they took most of their best fighters to find Merle. 

The morning was tough; the camp was practically silent, and no one knew what to say to one another.

Theo spent most of the morning staring into the fire that burned within the camp, covered in walker remains.

"Sweetheart, go clean up. You've covered." Dale smiled gently down at her. 

"No, I'm okay" Theo stood rubbing her hands off on her jeans. 

"Almost everyone has been down to the quarry to get freshened up. You might not think it, but it will make you feel better, " Dale explained. 

She stopped to think.

He was right. 

She nodded, letting out a slow breath before heading out.

Theo walked down to the quarry to get some water and to wash herself up.

"You shouldn't be on your own" The southern accent made her jump from behind.

Daryl saw her leaving the camp and didn't want her to get caught alone or in another group of walkers. She was tired, and no one could see it.