The cold air bit at my nose while I watched the forest from the top of the RV. Only the closest trees are visible in the moonlight.

A chill ran down my spine as the breeze blew my hair away from my neck. I pulled my knees tighter into my chest, rubbing my legs through my black jeans.

If only the moon gave off heat like the sun. In the sunlight the black keeps me warm but in the dark it makes it easier to hide. At night, I'm near impossible to see if I don't wanna be seen.

Plus your brain is built to filter out black, and focus on white, shimmers, things that move, and red.

I wear black for more than just personal liking but it would be nice to have something else once in awhile. I miss wearing shorts. Skiing. Summer— swimming.

I'd kill a hundred walkers for a churro right now.

...Even more— however many it would take, to find Sophia.

Why did you run away?

You could have run towards the others, Rick— your mom...Why'd you run to the forest?

I rubbed my forehead against my knees before sitting up and taking a look around through my night vision goggles. I can't see as far as I'd like, barely ten feet into the treeline. What's the point of having up to 500 feet of viewing distance if you can't see past the vegetation?

I looked up the road, being able to see all the way to the end of the cars. It's hard to distinguish bodies from walkers in the dark so I've just been looking for movement.

Most of it's false alarms. Small animals, leaves, trash blown by the wind.

My eyes wandered to a plastic baby doll on the road for the hundredth time tonight.

I've been sitting up here for hours and every 20 minutes, like clockwork, I've ended up looking at that doll. It doesn't look like Sophia's but it's enough just being a doll to remind me of her.

I can see her carrying hers. Clinging to it when she's scared, crying and burying her face in it, talking to it, looking at it and hoping someone finds her— someone chases away the dark.

Where did you go, Kiddo?

Sighing, I got fed up with just sitting here. I stood up, and began to pace.

Why didn't she just keep going? Why'd she change direction? Why?

Alright, alright. Twelve year old girl, alone in the woods.

Rick's just left her alone and lead the walkers away. What's the first thing I would do?

Do like he said, head back to the highway.

Even if not right away, it doesn't matter if she left right after him or not, either way she didn't make it back before him and she was gone by the time we got there. So she had like a half hour head start on us. At least.

Everything was fine up until she changed course for no reason.

Why would she do that? What would make her deviate?

I chewed on my fingernail, spinning on my heel each time I reached near the edge of the RV's roof.

Come on, think. Think.

I ran my hands over my head, pulling my hair back, only to have it blow back over my shoulders.

I jumped at an abrupt rustling and whirled towards the trees. I looked through my goggles at the green landscape, searching for the source of the noise.

Something scurried out from behind a tree, then another following it. I didn't figure out what they were until I saw the tails.

I huffed, groaning out a sigh. I really hate squirrels.

I relaxed, shaking my head and looked around. Anymore squirrels wanna chose now to scare me? Make me jump like a timid cat—

I froze mid-turn. Realization dawning over me like fog clearing with warm sunlight.

Timid. Sophia's timid.

She shakes like a leaf being more than ten feet from someone she trusts.

Daryl said there were no footprints— no walkers— but she wouldn't think about that. She'd bolt at the slightest sound.

I touched my cold hand against my warm forehead.

God damn it! I'm such an idiot!

I flung my arms down so hard, my elbows and shoulder popped like breaking twigs.

A squirrel would be enough to scare her, send her running— she already had the life scared out of her, being chased away from her mom by flesh-eating monsters through the woods.

It could've been anything in that bush.

She wouldn't have thought twice about running. All she had for directions was the sun over the shoulder thing Rick told her but the sun moves.

The later it gets, the farther it would've pushed her off course. She'd keep it over her left shoulder, and it would just push her farther and farther away.

Cheesus, by mid-afternoon she'd be so off course there's no chance she could've made her own way back by then...

I rubbed my eyelids with my fingers. Attempting to massage the exhausted frustration away.

"Yer still up 'ere?"

I looked over and watched Daryl climb the last bit onto the RV roof.

"I thought Glenn was supposed to be on watch by now."

I shrugged, returning my eyes to the woods. I could feel Daryl watching me but I really don't feel like explaining myself right now.

I rubbed my eyelids with my fingers. Attempting to massage the exhausted frustration away.

"Yer still up 'ere?"

I looked over and watched Daryl climb the last bit onto the RV roof.

"I half expected ya to still be up lookin' at the sky or somethin' but I could'a sworn Glenn was supposed to be on watch by now."

Well, you're not wrong but I didn't wake him up, so technically it's still my watch.

I shrugged, returning my eyes to the woods. I could feel Daryl watching me but I really don't feel like trying to explain myself right now so I just sat down.

Daryl sat next to me, motioning for the goggles. I handed them over without a second thought, which startled me a little. Since when did I start sharing my stuff with him?

If I could, I'd be out there right now looking for her. I can't imagine how scared she is. I don't know if she's afraid of the dark or not, but it's a good bet she is, and is out there surrounded by it.

"'Ey, yer the one who told me she's gonna be fine." I jumped at his sudden agitation. "Don't go doubtin' that just a couple hours after ya said it."

I stared at him stunned, for a solid minute before I snorted. My lips giving way to an easy smile. I feel like I just got smacked upside the head.

I smiled as an apology but he's right. I shouldn't be doubting my own damn advice. Sophia's more resourceful than given credit for.

Hell, I was like her at one point in my life. Everyone was.

There aren't a lot of walkers in this area from what we know, there's every chance she's alright, and just hold up somewhere waiting for us to find her.

"You should try ta get some sleep-" I'm not so sure I can. "-I'll take watch." Daryl set the goggles down in front of us.

I didn't move and 30 seconds later, Daryl elbowed me.

Oh geez—

He's giving me that threatening look. I haven't been on the receiving end of this in a long time. Not gonna lie, it's still a little intimidating.

"Go. It won't do anyone any good if yer dead on yer feet tomorrow."

Wow Daryl, that was almost nice. But I could say the same for you.

I took a look up to the half-cloudy cold night sky before sighing, finally giving in to the tension in my shoulders. You think I could trick someone into giving me a shoulder massage? Glenn would probably be an easy target.

Finally giving into the burn of his gaze, I stood up using Daryl's shoulder to get to my feet. I did it without thinking but I'm surprised he didn't flinch like he usually does to unexpected contact.

I waved goodnight as he watched me go to the ladder and look around before I climbed down.

I didn't realize how truly tired I am until my feet hit the asphalt and my knees almost buckled absorbing the shock.

Hang in there, Sophia. We're comin' to get ya.