Cherokee Rose

The remainder of mine and Daryl's search ended up being fruitless. Not only did we not bring Sophia home, we hadn't found anything at all to suggest that she'd ever been in the areas we'd scoured.

There was an awkwardness in the air after our fight. Daryl and I bickered often, usually hurling insults at each other with the odd death threat thrown in - usually from my end I'll admit - but we always managed to laugh it off afterwards and return straight back to our unconventional friendship. This time felt different.

The taut atmosphere remained even as we returned to camp, disheartened. He headed straight for his tent without a word, failing to join the rest of us for dinner and leaving me to break the news to Carol that we were no closer to finding her daughter.

As I lay in the RV that night, trying and failing to fall asleep nestled amongst Dale's snores and Carol's own insomnia, I pictured the events of our altercation in my head over and over again. It wasn't the way he'd yelled or his cutting words that stuck in my brain. It was the other stuff, the fleeting moments after we'd stopped screaming that I couldn't stop thinking about. The way our eyes burned into each other, how close our bodies were, his scent, his body heat...

But then there was also the way he'd leaned away from me, trying to put distance between us. The man literally moved so that I couldn't touch him. If that wasn't a clear 'I'm not interested' - then I don't know what is.

This morning, I watched as the hunter made his way back into the woods, map in hand, ready to put in his sixth full day of searching for Sophia.

I had other plans. Hershel had asked me to accompany his eldest daughter to a pharmacy in the next town with the hope of topping up his medical supplies.

I liked Maggie as soon as I met her. There was a toughness to her, but with a quiet tenderness swirled in. I'd guessed she was in her early to mid twenties, but she seemed wiser than her age. She was also a Babe with a capital B, her short, brown hair framing her attractive face, something Glenn had obviously noticed too - he never stopped staring at her.

Maggie's younger sister Beth hadn't left the main farmhouse much. She was a pretty little thing with glossy blonde hair and a sweet smile. I made a mental note to see if she'd let me steal some conditioner for my hair, which was now turning itself into one giant dreadlock that I seriously needed to detangle.

As Maggie and I headed to the car, Glenn was loitering nearby, he'd been asked by Lori to pick up some things as well - I assumed for Carl, who was doing well but still recovering from his gunshot wound.

The three of us left the farm, Glenn driving, and Maggie in the passenger seat. I stretched out in the back, trying desperately to steal an extra few minutes of much-needed sleep.

As we arrived at the pharmacy, Maggie pulled out a list.

"I don't know what half of this stuff is." she laughed. "My dad's handwriting has always been terrible."

I squinted at the sheet of paper. "That could be an r, or maybe a c, or an o... Yeah, I don't know." I accepted defeat. "Let's just grab as much as we can. Your dad can look through it when we're back."

As a trio, we'd made our way into the derelict pharmacy. It made me think of the one Daryl and I had been ambushed in on that first trip to the city. Hopefully, today would be less eventful.

There wasn't much left inside, but the shelves hadn't been picked completely dry yet either. Result. Glenn and Maggie had it covered, so I took the opportunity to venture back down the road to a camping supply store we'd passed, crossing my fingers I could find a tent, or even a hammock. Anything that meant I could sleep in peace.

I swiped the car for my short journey. It would have only taken me twenty minutes to walk, but I felt drained today so had no guilt about wasting a tiny little smidgen of fuel. I'd keep an eye out of the way back to see if we could syphon some.

On arrival at the store, I did my 'bang and wait' trick to check for walkers before entering. I couldn't hear any movement inside, so I proceeded into the building.

As predicted, it had been thoroughly looted, but there were a few items left on the shelves. I wasn't fussy. Any tent would do. I just needed to get the hell out of that RV.

I perused what was left of the camping section, grinning to myself as I spotted a small purple number that had slipped down the back of a display. I pretty much had to climb inside of a shelving unit to get to it, but my shopping trip had been a success.

I walked the rest of the aisles to see if there was anything that we could use, either back at the farm or when we set off again toward Fort Benning, but didn't find anything beneficial. I noticed that one of the 'staff only' doors was open and had the bright idea of seeing if I could find any forgotten snacks stashed in the lockers. I hadn't had anything chocolately in over a week now, and it was starting to affect my mood greatly.

I swung open locker after locker, finding nothing, until hitting the jackpot - a very squashed, but still sealed, Reese's bar. I didn't hesitate, ripping the wrapper open and taking a huge bite. It tasted heavenly, and I moaned at the satisfaction.

This might be better than sex...

I was still cleaning bits of Reese's out of my teeth with my tongue, savouring every last morsel, as I made my way back toward the stairs. I'd just made it out of the door, new abode in hand, when I heard the familiar moaning and groaning that seemed to occupy every corner of the earth nowadays. Two walkers had noticed my presence and were making their way in my direction. I tossed my tent on the floor and pulled out my knife. I had my Glock in my waistband, but our bullet supply was running low at the minute, and I didn't want to waste them.

As the first walker approached, I swiftly drove my blade through its temple. Even now, It still surprised me how easy it was to pierce a walkers skull. The decomposition taking place within them making everything softer, squishier, grosser.

The second walker was on me now. Using my bent elbow to hold it back, I slipped my blade through it's left eye, incapacitating it instantly. I sheathed my knife and swooped to pick up my tent before hearing a snarling right beside my ear, as another two pairs of rancid arms grabbed for me from behind.

Travelling in twos today, huh?

I grabbed my knife once more and dispatched one of them quickly, but the second got a grip on me, its hand tightly grasped on the fabric at the back of my vest and it's putrid odor making the back of my throat close. I writhed to get it off me. This one was definitely stronger than it's predecessor. I managed to release myself from its clutches, but as I did, it lunged for me again, knocking me face-first into a metal railing.

Ouch.

I'd bashed my nose and right eye socket into the metal so hard it made my vision blur, a throbbing pain covering my features instantly. It took me a few seconds to pull myself out of my pained daze, and when I did, the walker was just inches away from me. I pulled out my gun, not having the space to use my knife, and sent one harsh bullet straight through its head.

Panting heavily and cradling my aching face, I ran back to the car, tent in hand. The sound of the gunshot will undoubtedly have alerted more of them, so I needed to get out of here stat.

As I pulled the car back in front of the pharmacy, Glenn and Maggie emerged, holding a few bags. It looked like they'd managed to grab plenty, so hopefully, at least some of what they'd gathered would be of use to Hershel. There was something about the look on Glenn's face that made me eye him suspiciously.

"Y'alright Glenn?" I probed.

"Mm-hmm." he mumbled as he climbed into the passenger seat with ridiculously large grin on his face. I looked to Maggie, who was now buckling herself in the seat behind me. Her cheeks were flushed, and her short hair was sticking up at odd angles.

I bet they've had sex.

"Woah! What happened to you!?" he grimaced as he noticed my rapidly-swelling face.

"Walkers." I dismissed. "I found chocolate, though!"

He and Maggie's eyes lit up, and I immediately regretted admitting I'd found the sugary snack.

"Is it all gone?" Maggie asked expectantly, face full of hope.

I thought about lying, telling them I'd finished it, but the longing in Maggie's eyes made me relent.

Taking one of my hands off the wheel, I pulled the flattened bar out of my pocket, taking one more bite before saying goodbye to it forever.

~

We returned to the farm early in the evening. Stopping once more on route to syphon some gas from a wrecked car we'd spotted. Glenn did the honours, using his mouth to suck through an old hose until the strong-smelling liquid began to flow. I could do the task if necessary, but I hated it. I was more than happy for him to be the one spitting disgusting gas dribbles out of his mouth on this occasion.

My eye had swollen quickly, becoming an angry blue and purple mound by the time we'd finished the journey. Maggie took our spoils to Hershel while I made my way into camp.

Daryl was exiting the woods as I approached. He clocked me looking at him as he dropped a handful of something outside his tent and started to make his way over. I felt strangely awkward as the redneck strode toward me, eyes fixed on my battered appearance.

"Ya okay?" he asked, taking in the area of my face where my eye had once been. The swelling had now forced it shut, and the whole area throbbed.

"Yeah." I answered him, "Bashed my face taking down a walker. I'm all good though."

"Glenn and Maggie alright? He continued, concern for the other members growing on his face as he stared at my new injury.

"Yeah. They weren't there. They were at the pharmacy."

"What?"

"Getting supplies for Hershel."

"What? Where were ya!?"

"At a camping store."

"Alone!?"

"Yes alone, Daryl. I'm a big girl."

"For fuck's sake Athena!" He shook his head.

The aching in my face meant my usually short temper was currently non-existent, I didn't have the patience to put up with his attitude right now.

"It was fine. I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself." I told him shortly, feeling my shoulders tense as my voice raise in volume. I had no chill whatsoever right now.

His already stiff shoulders lifted even more, he looked as if he was about to yell at me, but thought the better of it, shaking his head again and stalking back toward to his tent. I heard him mutter, "fuckin' stupid idiot." as he did so.

I didn't have the energy for his shit right now. I wasn't sounding off at him every time he got injured, so God knows why he thought he had the right to do it to me. At least it didn't escalate into a big fight again like yesterday though. Things already felt fraught between us, and that was bothering me enough as it was.

I got straight to work putting up my new tent, imagining the things I'd have thrown back at Daryl had he continued being a douche. When I was finished, I stepped back to admire my little canvas home. I was so relieved I'd have some space and privacy again.

On popping into the empty RV to grab my stuff, I'd decided to use its bathroom. I'd taken note of how clean the living space looked - It had been a bombsite when I'd left earlier today. Someone had been cleaning - Carol i'd imagine, trying to keep herself occupied. I was just finishing up my bathroom break as I heard her come through the main door, sobbing quietly to herself.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I didn't deal well with crying people. I couldn't remember the last time I'd done it myself - tears feeling null and void in a world as harsh as this - and I felt uncomfortable trying to comfort someone teeming with emotion. I never knew the right thing to say. But I couldn't exactly start a new life in this bathroom just to avoid awkwardness, so I grasped the door handle. Just as I was about to exit, I heard another voice entering the RV.

'For a second, I thought I was in the wrong place." I heard a thick southern accent drawl out.

A crying Carol and a pissed-at-me Daryl occupying the same small room? No thanks. Maybe I would start a new life in this bathroom after all... I was just wondering whether I could fit out of the window when their conversation continued.

"I just want it to be nice for Sophia when she gets back." Carol told him, sobs relaxing a little bit.

"Brought you something." I heard him reply.

"A flower?" she questioned, her crying halting altogether now.

"It's a Cherokee rose."

Big, gruff, grumpy-as-hell Daryl had brought flowers? Wow.

"Story is," he continued, "when American soldiers were movin' Indians off their land, the Cherokee mothers were grievin' and cryin' so much 'cos they were losin' their little ones along the way from exposure 'n disease, starvation." He paused, " A lot of 'em just... disappeared."

I let go of the handle and pressed my ear up to the door. Never had I heard Daryl talk this much in one sitting.

"So the elders, they, uh, said a prayer. Asked for a sign to uplift the mothers' spirits, give 'em strength. And hope."

Stop. Dying. Dead.

This might have been the most wholesome conversation I'd ever heard.

"The next day, this rose started to grow right where the mothers' tears fell." Daryl carried on as I noticed how strange my heart felt in my chest. All of the annoyance I'd had for the redneck disappearing as I took in the sweet words he was offering the heartbroken mother.

"I'm not fool enough to think there's any flowers bloomin' for my brother. But I believe this one... bloomed for your little girl."

I squeezed my eyes shut at that last offering. With all the chaos surrounding Sophia's disappearance, people had all but forgotten that he was missing his brother too. I made a mental note to acknowledge it when we next spoke, even though I knew he'd probably just grunt in response.

I waited until I heard him leave, then escaped the claustrophobic bathroom I'd now been in for way too long. I startled Carol as I did so, seeing her throw her hand to her chest before letting out a small laugh of relief that I had emerged instead of a walker that really needed to pee.

I took in the beautiful, white flower resting in a beer bottle on the cabinet. It's huge petals dwarfing its neat, yellow center.

"Daryl brought me it." she offered, watching me as I admired the rose.

"So I heard." I told her, "from inside of the bathroom."

We both laughed. Our eyes still firmly fixed on Daryl's offering.

"Why were you hiding in the bathroom?" Carol asked.

"I wasn't hiding!" I protested. "I was peeing and then I didn't want to interrupt."

She seemed unsatisfied with my answer.

"Daryl seen your face?" she continued, taking in the bruising.

"Yup." I told her, rolling my one good eye and wondering why she'd asked...

She offered a sympathetic expression, "He just cares."

"Well he doesn't need to be a dick about it." I dodged. "Did he find anything today?"

"An old farmhouse. He said it looked like someone had taken shelter there. He's going back tomorrow to look more."

"That's great" I replied apprehensively.

I wanted her to have hope, of course I did, but it could have been anybody who'd been in the farmhouse. Sophia had been in the woods alone for six days now. It was blisteringly hot and she didn't know how to defend herself. I couldn't imagine she'd able to find herself food either - I certainly didn't know how to hunt at twelve years old. My faith that we'd find her alive was waning with each passing day.

With a final smile to Carol, I left the RV, grabbing my belongings and taking them over to my new home. I felt eyes on me and peered over to Daryl's tent to see him sitting outside, watching me.

He looked confused to see me leaving the Winnebago so soon after he'd left. Realisation dawning on his face that I'd been in there too. I offered him a grateful smile for his kind gesture, but he dropped his head back down to the bolts he was fiddling with, acting like he hadn't seen me.

~

Dinner that was evening was awash with chatter about the farmhouse Daryl had found. Shane was unconvinced it was worth heading back out to, the redneck angrily rebutting his dismissal, telling him he was going back in the morning, with or without him.

He hadn't spoken to me or even looked in my direction as we ate. My annoyance at him had evaporated when I heard how gorgeously sweet he was with Carol, but I was clearly still not his favourite person.

As we cleared away, Dale reminded the group about a time before I'd joined them, when Daryl told them he'd come across a chupacabra when he was younger. T-Dog and Glenn chuckled heartily at the memory, but Daryl looked annoyed.

"You believe in a bloodsucking dog?" Rick, who had joined us for his first dinner since we'd arrived, had asked.

"Do you believe in dead people walking around?" Daryl had shot back. He had a point.

I resigned to my tent early, thrilled to have my own space to sleep in for once. I wrapped myself up cosily in my blanket, passing out almost instantly.

I awoke some time later, my bladder threatening to explode if I didn't relieve myself soon. I unzipped my tent. It was dark out, but the embers of the main campfire we cooked on were still settling, so I knew it was probably somewhere around midnight.

I lazily stumbled out of the opening, feeling for my boots in the blackness. Pulling one on, then going to do the same with other, I flinched. Something was in my boot... I wasn't afraid of any of the creatures that also called the farm home, but I sure as hell didn't appreciate them ambushing me in the middle of the night. I tipped my boot upside down, giving it a shake. Something fell, but I didn't hear the scuttering of a creature making its escape. Wanting to make sure it hadn't ended up in my still unzipped tent, I grabbed my small torch, flicking it on to search the floor.

In the light of my torch, I saw that the mysterious object wasn't an animal at all. Something had been left in my boot that made my heart sing...

...another Cherokee Rose.

I went back and forth with whether to have Daryl give Athena the other rose...

Did I make the right decision?

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