As the sun reached its highest point, the midday heat became unbearable. Small beads of sweat began to crawl over her alabaster skin, her dress, despite the torn off sleeves was still clinging to her petite frame. Her hands clammy in the fingerless gloves started to tremble under the strain of the bow. It wasn't a heavy weapon, which is why she chose it, that and its long range. The heat was just impossible to work with, for days now she had been victim to the tormenting heatwave, it was futile to move on, when every mile would take her further away from her life line, the blessed cool embrace of the river. Staying where she was on the other hand, was slowly killing her. Day after day she returned back to her cradle in the trees empty handed, her hunt unsuccessful, as the blistering heat kept any creature with a beating heart hidden in the shadows of the forest.
As the night began to dominate the heat, the girl got to work descending from her hammock in the sky. She fastened her cloak around her shoulders, the heavy wool settling against her familiar frame. The dark material covered her from head to toe and she at once became apart of the forest. Not only was it a decent camouflage but it kept her warm when her cotton dress wasn't up for the job. She wasn't the type to wear a dress, always finding something wrong with her appearance, but she had to admit that in the past few months it was much more efficient. Slipping her boots on she blindly went about searching for the hollowed trunk where she'd hid her backpack and arrows. Her bow being her greatest possession had the honour of accompanying her in her most vulnerable moments. Checking her water supply had become pretty high up on her list of priorities and when she was truly satisfied that she had thought of every possibility, she set off on her final hunt at this location.
It wasn't long before she realised that hunting in the coolness of the night was a much better option. Not only had she gone as far as revelling in the warmth of her cloak and gloves, but the forest was alive with possible meals, as other animals ventured from the confines of their barracks. After living in the wild since the outbreak began, with the occasional trip to small towns, her body had started to adapt to her new habitat. She no longer felt an irritating need to eat, as long as her supply of water was plentiful; her eyes were much better adjusted to the darkness; her stamina and strength had improved and she'd gained the ability to move through the rough terrain of the forest stealthily. As this thought passed her mind she grinned at the possible ninja jokes her friends would undoubtably make. Memories of life before no longer occupied the deep hole of her existence, but rather, that hole was plugged with the belief that this life in the forest is where she belongs. Happy to be alone, the heroine of her own story. Her only responsibility was her own survival.
The decision to travel through the night appears to be a good one, as by the time the first slivers of sunlight begin to break through she had already travelled 6 miles from her last resting place. Sweat glistens against her forehead, capturing tendrils of auburn hair that had escaped her braid. The heat refreshingly came from the fire as the air already felt different, cooler, like there could be rain. The sound of twigs breaking in the distance has her moving immediately. Slipping her boots on, she stomps out the surviving embers of the fire. Something stops her from leaving the scene completely, from the sounds echoeing through the trees the group approaching is large and seeing as though she had already passed a large group of walkers and it was uncharacteristic for two groups to be in such close proximity to each other, there was a reasonable possibility that the approaching group was of survivors. Her curiosity had her ascend a large oak tree, crouching in the nook of a sturdy branch she prepared an arrow.
Three people enter the clearing but the shock of seeing other people that aren't just empty shells doesn't last long as she can tell that they are in danger. She's seen the look on their faces in the eyes of the animals that she hunts. As they crash into the clearing they instantly adopt combat stances. With the clear leader of the group a male in his mid thirties pointing a gun towards the foliage they had just exploded through, she begins to wonder what it would be like to be part of a group, to have back up in situations like these. Of course it would leave her vulnerable, she would have to trust other people with her life. As a large group of the undead burst into view she considers her options. If she were to help them she would be putting everything at risk, she could just slip away, their equipped with sumarai sword's and a crossbow so they stand a decent chance.
In the end her instincts decide for her. When the leader of the group is tackled by a walker and its clear that he doesn't have the strength to fight it for much longer, and the others in the group are far too busy trying to save their own lives; she adjusts her position and with the arrow already in place, she takes out the walker. The man gazes up suspiciously, it wasnt the thankful expression she was expecting, but none the less she stepped forward and took ownership for her actions, after shuffling to the edge of the branch, for the first time in two years she exposes her position to other survivers. She imagines how she must look to him. Her auburn hair falling loosely from beneath her hood and her blue eyes wide with shock. Already life was so much more complicated. In the next few moments she helps the group, releasing arrow after arrow into the dead, she sees the appreciation among them yet can't help notice that they dont trust her presence. When the last of the dead are actually dead she begins to descend the tree. Taking her time to gather her backpack and to collect the arrows that she'd used, she heads over to the group her hands trembling with nerves, stopping about three feet away.
"What's your name" he asks. The whole group look on edge, the other man points his crossbow at her, as the leader asks again.
"What is your name". I really want to answer his question, especially as my silence is making them even more edgy, but I just don't know what to say. It's not as though I don't have a name, I mean of course I do; but my name no longer seems fitting.
"I..er, Pheonix" that'll work right? With my hair and preference for the tree tops. Sure, i'll just name myself after a mythical red bird, because that will earn their trust. The man is quiet for awhile, probably considering my hesitation. After a couple of minutes his eyes soften and he relax's his stance.
"Okay. Well Pheonix, you can come with us if you want, we have somewhere safe to stay, secure. We have food and water". The man seems to notice my unease perhaps aware that I have been living in the forest alone, for a long time. He calculates my every move, he clearly has trust issues, but then again, I guess every one does now. I see him mentally stock taking my bow, the knife at my waist and the hand gun i've never fired.
"This is Daryl, Michonne" He nods in the direction of the girl leaning against a tree mildly interested. "and I'm Rick".