XL

—/<3/—

Rory was right, the department store was practically devoid of the dead and the shelves still had plenty of stock, including baby formula for the unnamed baby.

"I'm gonna grab some candles and stuff for the cell block, grab the rest of the baby stuff and then meet me in the food isle, we'll see if there's anything left to grab." Rory took off to the homeware section aiming for the larger ones that would take longer to burn out. They needed some source of light in the prison, they couldn't keep using their flashlights to get around, nor could they sit in the dark when they never knew when danger was near.

There weren't many to choose from so she grabbed what she could, taking a few smaller ones and a couple packets of tea lights too. Then she went to the pillow cases, deciding that everyone would probably appreciate clean ones that hadn't gone 11 months without being washed. She took them out of the bulky packaging to conserve space and then shoved them into her pack.

"Rory?" Glenn called softly, just in case there was something lurking nearby.

"Over here," she called back, walking towards the voice.

"What we're you doing? We've been waiting in the food aisle for like 5 minutes," Glenn asked.

"I was getting pillowcases so we wouldn't have to sleep on dirty ones anymore." Rory and Glenn turned down the aisle where Maggie was already collecting canned goods and adding them to the basket of baby formula.

Rory gasped. "Look, there's flour and yeast, we can make bread."

"We don't have gas to power the oven," Glenn said dumbly.

"Glenn how do you think people made bread before ovens were invented?" Maggie snickered. "Grab it, I found some jam too. Rory hurriedly checked the expiration dates on the packages and slid them into her back, putting the rest in the basket.

"Are we done? Looks like we got everything we need." Glenn dusted off his hands once they'd emptied the shelves of what remaining canned food there was left.

"Yeah, you guys go ahead to the car, I just want to see if they have anything Niamh would like, it's her birthday around this time of year," Rory said. Glenn and Maggie nodded and left for the front of the store with the basket in hand.

Rory quickly ran over to the clothing and makeup department. The thing about the apocalypse was that everyone went for the necessities, which left everything else untouched. The makeup stands were dusty and full of products, Rory smiled to herself as she picked up a few little things that she knew Niamh used to enjoy before things went to shit, she even managed to pick up some sunscreen for the kids.

She walked happily to the front doors of the store, not wanting to keep Maggie and Glenn waiting any longer, but as she was halfway there, she heard a gunshot and then the tires squeal as they rolled swiftly away from the building. Rory ran out of the doors and scoffed when she saw the car driving off in the distance. She figured that they just forgot she was there because she was taking too long, but then she spotted the basket of food and formula on the ground and her frown deepened. Why would they shoot the gun?

"Merde," she yelled, kicking the basket harshly. "For fucks sake."

Maggie and Glenn would never have left without it, or her for that matter, Rory knew something was up. She flinched when she spotted movement behind one of the cars out of the corner of her eye and drew her weapon, assuming it was a walker.

The woman sheathed her sword and put her hands up as she limped towards Rory, but the latter didn't put away her knife.

"Are you hurt?" Rory asked, her eyes drifting to the woman's let that was dripping blood.

"I was shot by the same guy that took your friends," she panted, confining her advance until she was a few steps away from Rory.

Rory frowned and tucked her knife back into her pocket. "I knew they wouldn't forget the formula," she whispered. Rory pulled her bag off her back and dug around inside for a bottle of water and her first aid kit. He held the water out to the woman, who was clearly reluctant to take it. "It's just water I promise, I got a first aid kit too if you want me to take a look at your leg."

"You're from the prison group?" The woman asked. She slowly reached out and took the water, thanking Rory quietly.

"How'd you know that?"

"Your friends mentioned it before that guy turned up. He told them to get in the car or he'd kill the girl, then they drove away, probably back to Woodbury." The woman gulped down half the bottle and then handed it back. She waved Rory off when the younger girl raised the first aid kit towards her.

"Woodbury?"

"It's a settlement a few miles away. Guy who runs it ain't right in the head so I left. He sent guys after me to kill me."

Rory hummed. "What's your name?"

The woman hesitated for a second. "Michonne," she said.

"I'm Rory." Rory bit her lip and then threw her backpack on. "You wanna come back to the prison? We'll patch you up and you can get some rest."

"I'm not one for groups."

"You don't have to stay, but you won't survive out here very long with that leg. You're covered in walker guts. Any of that gets in the wound and you're gonna get an infection. Come rest up, let us treat you and then you can leave if that's what you want."

Michonne was silent for a beat, but then she slowly agreed. "Okay, lead the way."

"We'll have to go on foot since the car was stolen."

"I thought as much."

"You want me to support you?"

"I'll be fine, thank you. Let's go."

Rory picked up the abandoned basket of formula and started down the roads. Michonne kept up surprisingly well despite her injuries.

—/<3/—