The river flowed smoothly as Alexis and Evan made their way across the rocks to the opposite bank. Her gun was secured in the holster on her right hip, while her knives were tucked into her old, beaten up boots. Her breath came out in even shallows as her feet made contact with the grass.
And that was when she heard them.
"Hide," she murmured to the 8 year old kid.
Low murmurs could be heard over the rustling of the trees. Cursing herself for not staying on the other side of the river, she sighed and waited for the figures who were approaching to come into sight.
"...already been this way, man, I'm telling you." The group came into sight, 3 men, 1 woman. The woman came to a halt when she noticed her standing there, causing the rest of the group to look around.
Guns came flying out of holsters and were pointed straight at Alexis, who hadn't made a move to take out any weapons to defend herself. She rolled her eyes, and lazily raised both her hands in resignation
"Who the fuck are you?" one of the men said. He looked familiar; his tightly shaved head was tilted slightly, his eyes squinting to keep the sunlight out of his eyes. She glanced at his companions.
The man to his right was slightly taller than him, a rugged look about him although she doubted that was by choice. He wore a beige shirt over black trousers. The woman that stood slightly behind him was a slim blonde, and she wore her hair back in a loose ponytail. The third man stood further to the left, a young Asian boy who looked a little nervous to be pointing a gun, let alone holding one.
"I said, who are you?" came the man's voice. She focused in on him again. Where did she know him from?
"Calm down, Shane," his friend said quietly to him, lowering his gun slightly. He looked Alexis up and down. "You're not gonna attack us, are you, kid?"
"I'm not a kid," she snapped. He held back a smile before returning his gun to his holster.
"Put your guns down," he told the others. The young Asian boy immediately lowered the gun, relieved. The blonde was a little more reluctant, but pursed her lips and let her arms fall. Her grip on the gun never loosened. The other man, Shane, however, kept his raised.
"Shane," said the blonde. He glanced behind him at her, keeping his aim on Alexis. "Do what Rick says." His jaw clenched as he looked at the man who had given the order, who was also looking at him. He tore his eyes back to Alexis before lowering the weapon, and muttering under his breath.
"What's your name?" her eyes flashed to the man who has asked. The man who was obviously in control. Rick.
"Alexis," she replied, lowering her own arms now that no weapons were pointed her way.
"And may I ask what you're doing out here all alone, Alexis?" he responded.
"Hunting," was all she said, looking around her. The forest was still brightened by the sun, but there was only a few hours left before she would have to find somewhere safe to stay the night. Never the same place twice, that was the rule.
"You won't find much out here except birds, and squirrels if you're lucky," the young Asian boy told her.
"That wasn't the kind of hunting I meant," she said pointedly, looking at him. Confusion crossed his face.
"What do you-?"
"She means she's hunting walkers," the pretty blonde said.
"Alex?" came a small voice from behind her. Evan. He made his way slowly to her, never taking his eyes away from the new group of people. He stood behind her, keeping himself from view of the company they found themselves in.
"It's alright kid," she said, smiling down at him. She looked back over at the others. Rick was looking at the boy, a strange look in his eyes that she recognised all too well. Pity. He got down on his honkers and smiled at Evan.
"Don't be scared, little man. We ain't gonna hurt you. What's your name?" his voice came out softly. Evan glanced at Alexis, who nodded encouragingly.
"Evan," he barely whispered.
"Evan? Well I'm Rick, and these here are my friends Shane, Andrea and Glenn." He pointed to each of them individually. Evan didn't reply, and simply avoided eye contact with the group.
"Y'all got a place to stay?" Rick asked, standing up straight again. Alexis hesitated.
"Yeah. We'll manage," she cleared her throat and looked away. Rick stayed looking at her, seeing right through her.
"We're staying on a farm about 2 miles from here. Just head straight through that clump of trees right there," he pointed, "and keep heading east. You can't miss it."
"Is that really a good idea?" came Shane's annoyed tone, "We just met these people and you're giving them an invitation to the place you don't even own?"
"They can stay with us, Hershel won't mind," Rick's tone was becoming more agitated.
"Right uh, thanks, but we're fine." Alexis interrupted. She nodded at the group before taking Evan's hand and heading the opposite direction, not looking back.
She shivered as the cold night air blew past them. If it hadn't been for Evan's begging, she never would have decided to make her way to the farm.
They moved swiftly and quietly through the woods. Not so much as a murmur could be heard. They had been walking for at least 2 hours now, and she was beginning to think that they would find a place to camp for the night when she saw the light from a fire ahead through an opening in the trees. She looked down at Evan, who was beaming up at her. They quietly made their way closer and closer, until eventually someone around the fire looked up at the sudden noise. His panicked eyes looked at his friends as he reached for a gun. For the second time that day, Alexis raised her arms as weapons were aimed at her and the kid.
"No, Dale, it's fine, it's fine," came a familiar voice. Rick stood quickly, jumping in front of the old man's gun, which was shaking slightly, either from cold or fear, Alexis couldn't tell.
"Well shit, look who decided she needed help after all," came an amused tone. She looked at the man who remained seated. Shane.
"Hungry?" Rick asked, looking more towards Evan than Alex. He nodded shyly.
"Rick... Rick, are you gonna tell us what's going on?" the old man asked, looking from Rick to Alex and then back again.
"Dale, this is Alexis-," Rick began before Alex cut him off.
"Alex. Call me Alex," she said firmly. He smiled.
"Alex. And Evan, her... brother?" he said, looking for reassurement. She shook her head.
"We're not related. I just... found him, I guess," she spoke quietly. Rick nodded his head slowly.
He then proceeded to introduce the rest of the group. His wife, Lori, a pretty red head who smiled, though the smile didn't completely reach her eyes. His son, Carl, a young boy who wore what looked like a sheriff's hat. Carol, an older woman who smiled warmly toward them; Dale, the old man who hadn't greeted them as kindly as they would have hoped; Theodore, who asked to be called T-Dog.
After introducing themselves, Alex and Evan took a seat opposite Shane and Andrea, close to the fire. Rick handed them both a bowl that was barely filled with food, and they took it graciously. The rest of the group continued eating their own small meals, weary of the newcomers.
"Kid, do I know you from somewhere?" Shane suddenly said to Alex. She looked up, and it hit her.
"Holy shit," she whispered. She shook her head slightly and looked down, laughing.
"What?" he asked. She tilted her head back up.
"The fuck is going on here?" came a new voice. Everyone looked around. A tall, handsome, rugged man stood with a crossbow hanging around him as he looked suspiciously at Alex and Evan.
"New arrivals," Dale replied, "I was just as surprised as you." The man looked to Rick for an explanation. Rick sighed.
"We met 'em in the woods today. This is Alex and Evan. Alex, Evan, this is Daryl," Rick told them. No one spoke for a moment, and then Daryl shook his head and took a bowl from Rick, taking a seat and shaking his head.
"Nobody tells me anything round here," his accent coated the sentence thickly and he began to wolf down the food.
Silence ensued before Shane looked at Alex again.
"Where do I know you from, anyway?" he asked, taking a mouthful of his food. She smiled.
"You arrested me a couple of years back. Breaking and entering or some shit like that, I can't remember," she licked her lips, waiting for a reply but Shane still had no recollection, so she continued, "You called me a good for nothing scumbag and so I punched you a little harder than I had intended." For a moment there was silence before the kid Carl began to laugh. Shane looked at her for a moment, no expression on his face.
"Yeah I remember now," was all he said.
She finished her food and looked at Evan. He smiled at her, before his eyes opened wide. She had heard it too.
"They're here," he whispered.