Chapter 10

"Morning Sunshine. Sleep well, did you?"

"Lay off will ya…. Ya really are a raven….. How?" Merle says while staring at Harry's wings.

"In a way I suppose. Though only you can see my wings for now. I don't really trust anyone else in that group back at the quarry. And no that doesn't include your brother since I haven't met him yet. And I just woke up with them one day." Harry responds while fluttering his wings some.

"Yea well, thanks fer comin' fer me. I really thought Daryl woulda' come wit'cha' though. No offense raven, but ya ain't exactly inspirin' fear here. Though them dere' wings sure are sumtin else." Merle says then pokes one of Harry's wings.

"People have always underestimated me, especially because of my size." Harry says while letting Merle poke his wing since it doesn't bother him much.

"Still can't believe Daryl didn't come with ya."

Harry just shrugged, "Didn't give him a chance to come, really. He would have slowed me down anyway. You ready to go, then?"

Merle shook his head slowly before he got up with a scowl. Harry watched passively while Merle stormed and stomped around the roof. Muttering and cursing to himself. If he had to guess, the man was psyching himself up to confront the group. Though he definitely wouldn't hold it against Merle if the man tried to get even. Harry turned his attention back to the man who was glaring over the edge of the mall. It was time to go, before Merle tried to throw himself off the roof.

"You ready?!"

Merle jumped slightly before making his way back over, "Yea, lets get outta here."

Picking up anything useful and the tool bag before heading down the stairwell, neither spoke. It was almost creepy how silent the large department store was. Yet that was the way of the world now, everything and everywhere was silent. Harry missed a lot of things that made noise: Music, people, animals. Everything would become a relic of the Old World, maybe they could be used as a teaching method to the New world. Those that survived anyway.

"Got a spare blade or sumtin'?"

Harry nearly jumped out of his skin, he'd almost forgotten Merle was there. The heavier man was as silent as he was. Still he reached into his bag and pulled out a machete then handed it to Merle.

Merle just looked at the machete then at Harry's bag then shook his head and kept following the kid with the raven wings that didn't seem to ever knock into anything despite how big they were.

Nothing else was said between them as they descended the escalators. If any inferi tried to get close to Merle Harry directed them to move away and leave Merle alone. This lead to Merle looking at Harry again in a very shocked and speechless way. Harry just snickered and kept walking. They made it to the main floor of the store in one piece and quickly too. Harry knew Merle probably had questions for him, but figured he'd wait until they were somewhere safer than a city full of the dead. There was no way he'd convince the bigger man to wear some tape, so he'd forgone unpacking it. Besides unlike Glenn, Merle didn't need the tape to stay quiet.

Merle tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention, before pointing towards a dirty blood stained green duffel bag a few yards from the front doors. His confusion must have been evident because Merle proceeded to mime a bag full of guns.

Harry flicked his hand in the duffel bags direction as he whispered, "Accio Duffel Bag."

The duffel full of guns smacked into Merle's face due to Harry ducking. Harry had to spell himself silent so that he could laugh as loud as he wanted. But the man was making it so easy especially since Merle's face was turning several shades of red. Merle puffed up in indignation as he glared at the laughing teen, not finding the situation as hilarious.