Morgan - the man who had found her. He had been searching for someone else and had stopped by the church for shelter. She didn't want to ask who, but he had helped her after pointing a weapon at her; thinking she was one of the undead. Beth understood and didn't fault him for it. There she was, standing caked in dirt with bloodied scrapes on her hands where the stones had gnawed at her fingers. If she were anyone else, she would have done the same thing. It's not every day a person crawls out of their own grave, alive.
Beth wiped off as much dirt as possible while Morgan gathers clothes from the building they were in and shoved it her way. It was heavier material probably to be used as an armor. She didn't share what she had found, the fact the walkers clearly didn't see her as a source of food. It may have been a fluke, but she didn't want to get a head of herself like at Grady and get shot in the head. She shook her head ridding the memory from the forefront of her mind. It wasn't good thinking about the failings of the past.
"Put them on. The weather may be warming up but you're such a small thing..."
Morgan was still rightfully skeptical. Biting a retort, Beth slipped into one of the rooms to put the clothes on. The dirt and blood caked her old clothes and the thin material didn't provide any sort of protection. Perhaps, sometime in the near future she could grace her skin with water. The scent of blood and decay fell away as the articles of clothing fell to the floor.
The undergarments she had were the only thing protecting her from being completely bare to the world. She didn't think the older man would invade her privacy. He didn't have that air about him, much like her past companions at Grady. Beth smothered the thoughts and went about putting on the heavy clothing. It was similar to winter clothing, one piece made with weather resistant material. She pulled her belt from her discarded pants to pull around her hips. Her knife was long gone, probably went to the original owner.
"Get it together, stop thinking about it." She scolds herself with bitterness. Her heart hurt. She missed her family. It had been months, she was sure, since she last saw any of them. When the small group that had come to retrieve her and Carol from Grady, she was thrilled to see them all alright. Then she had to go and mess it all up by trying to be a hero. It was all her fault. She didn't deserve to wallow in the misery.
The shirt slid on with ease. It wasn't impressive by any means, but it provided decent coverage. Beth untied the sleeves of the work clothes and pulled it over her shoulders. Zipping it, she looked around the room for something she could use as a weapon. She was done being useless and wanted to help her new partner. Something popped out at her from the corner of her eyes. Slowly, with calculated steps, she slowly bent down to see an arrow jutting from the skull of a corpse. The colorful feather material instantly reminded her of the hunter she had spent most of her time with after the prison fell. She pulls the object from the body and shoves it in the thigh pocket of her coveralls. It wasn't necessarily a weapon but a token of a warm memory.
There was a knock at the wall and she turns her head to see the man waiting for her. She had found a band to use and restricted her hair so she could see better without a curtain of blond locks obstructing her view. He made a noise of approval but didn't say anything to her. Morgan tossed goggles her way and Beth caught them deftly. Her brow rose in question. She had spent enough time with someone else who didn't speak much to know how to use body language. He pulls his goggles down on his face and walked from the room. It was time to go.
Beth face the door with apprehension but also hope. She was more protection now than before. The blonde woman pulled her pack on her shoulders and followed the dark skinned man.
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The days passed slowly. Beth kept to herself most of all, only speaking when Morgan asked a question or vice versa. Morgan kept all his questions and answers short and straight to the point, so Beth decided to do the same. It suited her anyway since it's been a while she had human contact. She helped hunt, scavenge and make shelter, but above all did her best to hide her secret to make sure no suspicion was arouse from Morgan.
The walk was silent as both of them made their way to the tree line. Previous lessons in tracking helped her in watching her step to lessen attention to themselves. It seemed as though Morgan appreciated his new companion. Beth had an inkling that if she were rambunctious, he would have left her to her own devices. It had been a long time since a non threatening human being was near her. She felt somewhat safe in spite of the state of the world.
Before she knew it, they were on their way to what seemed like a safe zone. There were signs all down the line of railroad tracks. The signs read sanctuary for a place known as Terminus. A map with all the railways leading to one center. He turns to her then, but she couldn't see his expression behind the goggles and bandana. Morgan shook his head as he pulled it down to his chin. He uses his staff and points at it before speaking. "We could find more people. Maybe even some from the group you came from."
Beth had mentioned previously about her family, but a vague passing. She didn't offer names to protect them and herself; in case this man could be considered a threat. That was a week ago and hadn't been brought up since. For which, she had been grateful. Thinking about them and what happened tortured her soul. Coming back from the dead as a non-walker was hard enough as it was. Being alive and watching all her memories flooding back to her as she crawled to the surface of the earth was terrifying. She was defying whatever odds her God threw her way.
"Let's follow it." She looks around to the nothingness around them. "What else do we have to loose?" Morgan pauses as he turns, his expression once again hidden behind cloth. He shook his head and began walking between the rails. Readjusting the pack on her shoulders, she follows him once more. She couldn't think of more to say and he didn't seem to mind. The man seemed to be in his own thoughts. Beth's blue eyes scan the area for walkers knowing she wouldn't bother them. Seeing them and thinking about what happened at the grave only justified what she started to know as affirmation. They didn't see her as sustenance. It was disconcerting and a blessing in this day and age.
Thinking back at Grady, the two IV drips that had been connected one before the other had been confusing. The look on Edward's face as she sustained injuries. Something about the entire ordeal was strange. He may have been a doctor but he was not in the right state of mind. It only further infuriated her when she couldn't even stay dead. Rising like a monster from her own grave. Fingers rub her temples as she forces the thoughts out of her brain. He must of done something to her to change so drastically.
It was dusk before she knew it and Moran pulled off the tracks to the dense forest below. It was time to make camp for a few hours. He didn't speak much as she strung up the small defense she had learned long ago. Cans and bottles with string was the small alert system for the evening. She would love to be surrounded by four walls and a roof; but for now it would suffice.
Beth cleared her throat, "I'll take first watch. You should rest. I can defend us from walkers."
"I don't doubt that, thank you for the offer." They pull out the cans of food they scavenged for hours earlier. Cold beans and fruit. They shared the small bounty between themselves before Morgan bid her a goodnight and shuffled on the ground to find small comfort. The watch was uneventful as the hours dragged on. Beth wanted nothing but a distraction from her torturous thoughts. The past couldn't help her in the present. It was just aggravating.
Dawn hadn't shot her. That was the only thing that confused her. She knew the gun was there but it just didn't add up.
Beth was pulled from her reverie by the sound of shuffling. Her body tenses as she could see the movement beyond the small camp they had for themselves. There was a small herd of walkers yards away that were traveling slower than she would have liked. They didn't sense her or her companion. As they amble on their path, Beth slowly slouches her shoulders and slides to the ground. Her eyes looked up at the starry sky above the branches. The moon was full and bright, alighting the dark forest in a shroud of would be mystery. The shadows danced with the light breeze.
Releasing a deep sigh, she pulled the bolt from her pack. She fingers the bristles, wondering about her friend. That's what he was to her. Friend, family, those words still resonated with her. The hunter was her protector until she learned how to fend for herself. A small smile splays across her face. Even though the bear trap had injured her, she grew closer to him. The smile suddenly disappears and tears threaten to spill. Taking a deep breath, she looks up to see Morgan stir. It must be her turn to sleep, and she would relish the rest. They exchange a few words and updates. With nothing else of importance to share, Beth laid in the small patch of ground Morgan occupied. It was still warm, enough to have her drift to a dreamless state.
The next morning they pack up their camp and trek to the railroad. The morning light was just now peaking above the trees. The forest was quiet, but soon crickets and birds began their songs. The danger of the walking dead was nonexistent for now.
About two hours into their journey, Morgan stops abruptly and motions to a sign written in blood. Beth pulls down her goggles and read it. It seems their journey was cut short thanks to her old leader, Rick Grimes. Morgan made a noise akin to humor and turns to her. "Seems my old friend is looking out for people, even still."
Beth's brows jump up in surprise. Her hand went out and placed on his arm.
"Wait, you know Rick?" There was hope in her voice and she became much happier.
The man tenses only to release. "He was the leader of my group. I was separated from him months ago. If you know him, we should continue together. Maybe we can find him."
In the back of her mind, she thought of her sister and her husband. She thought of Judith and Carl, Carol and Sasha, and of course, Daryl. The survivors of the prison. She was elated.
"If I had known you had known them, I would have mentioned it sooner." Morgan chuckes and pats her shoulder. "This is good. I'm glad to have met you, Beth." She grins and pulls her goggles back on. With new motivation, the pair looked at the map again. It shows where they were and approximately which direction her family went. Nodding to themselves, the started again.
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beta is Spitfire47