I'm starting this to hopefully get back into writing more frequently and I guess to experiment with different characters and their interactions. I am willing to accept prompts, one word or otherwise. As for now, this is what I've come up with.


Restless

It was starting to get late. The others were outside trying to maintain the walkers that were piling up while Beth stayed inside with Judith. But Judith just kept crying—screaming at the top of her lungs. Beth did everything she'd usually do to soothe her. She sang, rocking her back and forth. She bounced her against her shoulder. And it was starting to wear on her. A frown tugging at her own lips with the cries reverberating through the empty cell block.

"What's the matter?"

Beth turned to see Carol just coming in, her ponytail swinging through the air at her abrupt turn on her heels. Wondering how terrible it must have looked to walk in on such a pathetic sight. It was like she had one job, taking care of Judith, and she couldn't even do that right.

"I don't know," Beth admitted. "She just won't stop cryin'. I've tried everything."

Carol's lips pursed. She closed the gap between them, arms outstretched to take Judith from her. And Beth reluctantly handed the frazzled infant over to the more mature woman.

"There, there…" Carol held Judith to her chest as she continued to wail. She slightly bounced her herself before cradling her in her arms. Nudged one of her own fingers into Judith's slobbery mouth and nodded.

"Just as I suspected." Carol smiled. "She's teething."

"That's it?" Beth stared, her blue eyes flickering from Judith to Carol. A faint smirk overcame her. "I thought that maybe she suddenly hated me or something."

"Oh, no. She's just grumpy over a few teeth." Carol paused for a moment, her smile faltering. "Sophia was just the same. Wasn't happy unless I physically allowed her to chew on my fingers. She didn't want anything to do with a washcloth or an actual teething toy."

Beth smiled a sad smile. "I guess that's a good thing. Considerin' we don't have anything to really give her."

"Probably easier too." Carol handed a more settled Judith back over to Beth, the young woman's face lighting up. She watched as Beth reciprocated her very actions and they shared in a smile.