"Hopefully we'll luck out with this place. It doesn't look like it's been touched." Rick said

I nodded, keeping a look out around us for any potential dangers. Rick went ahead of me into the pharmacy, and I followed shortly after keeping an eye on the area.

"Hey" I heard Rick say, and I turned seeing a short girl grabbing things off of the shelves. She didn't respond to Rick.

"Hey" He repeated, just a bit louder, trying to get her attention.

Again, no reaction. Jeez, is she deaf?

Rick walked up behind her and spun her around. Rick started to question her. She not only looked surprised, but confused.

What is wrong with this girl?

.::. Speak .::.

My hands were shaking as I grabbed some toiletries off the shelf of the abandoned pharmacy. Quickly, Ellie. You don't know how much time you have. I shook my head. I was just psyching myself out. This was like any other run. I just had to keep calm. Mentally going through supplies I needed, something grabbed my arm and spun me around. A rugged man, about a foot taller than me was speaking very quickly. I looked for an alternative exit, but another man was blocking it and he had a crossbow.

I gulped, and tried to clear my throat. I came to the realization that I would have to talk. Out loud.

"Could you repeat that? I can't read your lips when you're talking so fast." I said as steadily as I could.

The man's face showed a bit of surprise, like he wasn't expecting that. At all.

"Who are you?" He asked, slowly this time. "What are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here? Exactly what you're doing, I'm looking for supplies. I'm a survivor, just like yourselves." I took a calming breath, "I'm Ellie."

"Ellie?" He asked, and I nodded. "I'm Rick and that's my buddy Daryl." Rick said nodding his head toward the other man, who was still blocking the exit. Do they really think I'm going to make a run for it? I'm deaf, not dumb.

"It's nice to meet you." I said and pointed to both of them as I signed, momentarily forgetting. "You're the first people I've come across in months. I was getting worried." I stopped signing, but I continued to voice my concerns.

"You should come with us, Ellie. We have shelter, we're surviving. Together." Rick said.

I licked my lips, "Is it just the two of you?" I asked.

"No, we have a group. We're holed up in the old prison. It's safe. We look after each other. We're a family." Rick said. His eyes were full of emotion.

I looked up at Rick and then at Daryl, something behind him caught my attention.
"Look out!" I said, and pointed behind him.

Daryl quickly turned and shot the walker point blank with his crossbow. Then he walked over to the motionless walker, and pulled the arrow out of his head. He turned back to me, and signed, "Thank you."

I looked at Rick and nodded my head. "I'll come with you."

I had to go, someone else, in whatever was left of this world, knew sign language. I couldn't let that slip away.