I finished applying the band-aid Dale gave me at dinner to my temple. I don't know if it's entirely in place, because what do you know I can't see my own head without some sort of reflection, but it feels like it's in place so I'm gonna call it my day's one and only win.

I flopped back on my sleeping bag, flinching when the bruises touched down and stared at the fabric roof.

I'm tired, I know I am, but my mind is too awake to sleep. And my back hurts.

I rolled onto my side, taking the pressure off one bruise field and seemingly onto another. It's gonna be a long night.

I shifted around for what felt like forever before giving in to the position that hurt the least and grabbed the small flashlight out of my backpack pocket.

Without my clothes clogging up space in my bag, it was easy to find the copy of one of my favorite books Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and flip to a random page.

Hitchhiker's Guide is one of the few books where random starting is actually fun. I've read it almost 30 times so I don't get lost anymore, but it's not like you really know what's going on anyway.

I let my eyelids drift shut, to let them eyes rest for a moment but when I opened them again, it was bright.

Shuffling, clinking, and rustling came from outside my tent while people moved about but I don't wanna get up so I closed my eyes again.

The warm sunlight streaming into my tent acting as the perfect space heater. The warm glowing feeling only sunlight is capable of providing.

Not too hot, not cold; goldilocks would be proud.

I don't know how my book managed to stay on my chest all night, but my legs tangled in the blanket and pulled my pants in all sorts of uncomfortable.

I could have gone back to sleep after some minor adjustments, except there's one problem. I don't have a blanket.

I looked down, and nope, that is not my sleeping bag like I thought it may have been but I recognize it. It's Dale's, and it was most definitely not here last night when I went to sleep.

Turning over, my book fell from my chest as I reached for my stuff; checking to see if it was all still here. My gear is still here, untouched, and as far as I can tell nothing's missing.

What I can't figure out is why someone would come into my tent and put a blanket on me. It was probably Dale, seeing as how this is one of his blankets.

What concerns me more is that I didn't wake up when someone opened my tent—...did I...close it last night?

I don't remember if I did. Did I turn off the flashlight?

I reached for the light and clicked it on. Well the batteries isn't dead so I must have. Or someone else did.

A sizzle from outside drew my eyes to the door flap, partially closed, and the smell of food wafted through.

All thoughts about who was in my tent last night dispelled at the smell of eggs and I groggily tossed aside my things and stretched my back out; twisting in ways that feel amazing but probably look like I broke my spine.

Several joints and bones popped and muscles stretched in bliss until I was satisfied.

I rolled onto my stomach, pushing up onto my knees and basked in the warmth before rolling up my sleeping bag and getting it out of the way.

My tent's not big, it ain't small but small enough that the bag feels in the way if I don't roll it up. Plus I'd like to be able to just grab it and go, should I need to.

I can live without a tent, but a sleeping bag is an enormous help; especially with winter on the horizon.

With the cozy blanket in hand, I pulled on my boots and stepped out of my tent into the bright rays, soaking up that vitamin D.

It's not as cold as I expected it to be. Usually sunlight itself feels colder in the morning, but it's actually quite nice today. I wonder what time it is. Does Dale still wind his watch?

I headed straight for the smell of food, dragging my feet a bit. It's not often I get to be lazy but I suspect it has something to do with the -frankly astonishing- amount of injuries I've sustained over the last few days.

My body's working overtime on trying to heal. Not to mention the amount of energy I've expended successively. It's like starting a new, tougher, workout routine.

Speaking of working out, I might wanna think about implementing something into my everyday schedule. Something for runners is probably a good idea, considering how much of that we do nowadays.

It's not likely it'll hurt me to run faster, or be stronger at this point.

"Mornin'. Did you sleep well?" Carol pulled my attention, hanging clothes on a clothesline of two strings strung between a pair of trees.

A content sleep-laced smile made it's way across my lips, just as my stomach growled.

"There's some breakfast over there." Carol smiled, looking like she could almost laugh. I can almost hear her comparing me to a teenager but the smile fell as she finished clipping a baseball t-shirt(no doubt Glenn's) to the line.

Her eyes downcast and I stepped forward, gripping her shoulder. She didn't look up, but I don't blame her. She doesn't have to for the tears pricking the corners of her eyes to be visible from this close.

I panicked, fumbling for a moment before hugging her(a bit awkwardly to be honest).

I'm not good with crying. I really only have one card to play.

I'm never sure about hugs either though. I don't know what's too long or too brief, and I find myself counting whenever I do. I count to 20, sometimes faster than normal but I've never had a complaint so I must be doing something right. Right?

Granted, I've never had many people to hug before. And without fail, I always feel awkward about it.

Being a good 3-4 inches taller than Carol, it's almost natural to rest my chin on her head but at the same time it's unavoidable.

Close physical contact makes me hyper aware for some reason, and as a result, I don't often miss much. Like when she sniffles, or breathes, and how she relaxed now that I've successfully prevented her from crying. I hope.

It could be my imagination though. I don't have a lot of experience in the 'social' field.

I pulled away and she looks a lot more 'okay' than before so I'm gonna go with, mission successful.

I turned to the ruffling of the tent behind me and watched Lori pull on her shoes, say a quick morning to T as he passed by.

I gave her a quick morning smile as she came over to us. I held up the blanket with a questioning look; hoping that maybe one of them know who the blanket

Lori shrugged, shaking her head and Carol mirrored her.

"Maybe it was Dale. I think that's his blanket and last night he said you'd get cold sleepin' like you were, without a blanket." Lori inferred.

"Which reminds me, you shouldn't leave your tent open if you're gonna sleep." she gave me a teasing shoulder nudge and the two cracked smiles.

Oh yes, definitely mothers. I smiled and rolled my eyes in good fun.

With a grateful nod, I went on a hunt for the owner of the magical 'On Golden Pond' but he wasn't in said vehicle when I knocked and peeked in the side door; nor was he on top, so I left it on the passenger seat.

I went back to my tent, looking for my day clothes but I stopped halfway back, seeing them on the clothes line.

I grabbed them to see if they were still damp, and smelled my shirt to make sure they don't stink. Finding nothing, I took them down, briefly wondering how I'd missed them in the first place and went back to my tent to change, and this time I'll be damn sure to close that flap.

A few moments later, I was out of my tent clothed and geared up to go back out today.

I was checking the sharpness of my blades, in case they've dulled, when the sensation of being watched crept up on me.

I looked up and sure enough, Andrea and T-Dog are staring at me, mouths catching flies.

"You just went in there, how can you be ready?" Andrea looked me over, incredulously.

I gave a wink and a wicked smile in place of a response as Rick and Shane came past us.

"Morning guys, let's get going"

I nodded, falling into step just behind Rick to Carol's Cherokee and stood between Daryl and T at the hood, around the map.