The forest looked different. It was very hard to know exactly what had changed, or what was changing, but it seemed that although death was spreading around the world, the trees were more alive, their green was brighter.

Maybe it was the decrease of the human race in those last years.

At least, that was how much time seemed to have passed since it all began. Years.

And Clementine, although she had long since lost track of time, knew that years had passed since it had all begun.

She didn't even notice when she began to grow, or when she began to develop physically, things just happened.

The surprise in her eyes when she saw that she was bigger, that her features were different.

The fear and confusion she felt as she woke up with her clothes stained with blood, along with the excruciating pain that followed her confusion.

A look in the mirror.

A conversation with Carley.

It was only then that she remembered how much had passed since that hell had started.

And during those years, things always seemed to be the same shit.

Always the same marked assholes they met along the way.

Always the same discussions they had about where to go.

Always the same roads they followed, that no matter how long they walked for hours, days, weeks, they never seemed to get anywhere.

It had become a cycle, and she didn't even know how to get out of it. In fact, she didn't believe she could get out of it.

Over time, the pain in her chest only increased, but she became so used to the pain that she could ignore it, at least a little.

The longing never left her, and loneliness always seemed to accompany her, even with so many people around.

It didn't matter if she was in a nostalgic, and rare, conversation with Kenny, or a friendly discussion with Duck, the loneliness never left her.

At most, it was softened in these moments, especially when she was with AJ in her arms. She didn't want to admit it, but she had become more attached to the boy than she wanted to be.

And like it or not, he helped her deal with her own feelings, even if only a little. It was enough to help.

- I don't know, man, we seem to be going in circles around here.

She heard Luke's voice further ahead, causing her to snap out of her thoughts and look at him.

Luke was standing next to Kenny, looking, with his hands on his waist, at a fallen sign on the ground.

He, too, had changed in that time. Well, everyone there had changed in some way.

Luke's hair was longer, his beard was a little fuller, although he always tried to keep it short. He had a more tired expression and a few scars scattered across his face, the results of some old confrontations with people who marked their own skin. Just like his appearance, Luke was tired, both physically and mentally.

- Well, if someone hadn't jumped into that river with the map still in his pocket, we would already be on the right track.

Kenny answered, crossing his arms and looking with an arched eyebrow at Luke, who was slightly embarrassed.

Kenny had a huge beard, most of it gray, just like his hair. The expression marks had advanced during those years they had been together. But, even with his age, he looked fine... even after Sarita's death, caused by the same people who had made those scars on Luke.

He had been colder for a while, with a short temper, but both she and Duck had helped him get over his wife's death, and now, he was "almost normal". As normal as it was possible to be in that world.

- It's just dawn, but it would be a good idea to check those buildings further on, wouldn't it?

Duck asked, interrupting the little discussion between the two men further on.

He had grown a lot in those years. At least, compared to Clementine, who was still short in stature.

A small beard was beginning to grow on Duck's face, and his features were hardening. He looked like Kenny, although she suspected that her friend's appearance would go a little more toward his mother's side.

- Considering we haven't had breakfast until now, that's fine with me.

Carley said, getting up from the rock she had sat on and walking toward the trio, looking at the buildings Duck had mentioned.

She kept her hair short, her expressions became a little more advanced, she had become as tired looking as Luke.

Clementine didn't know the reason for the woman's constant despondency, there were days when she just didn't seem willing to do anything, she just did it to help others survive.

There were few things that cheered her up now, or made her feel anything.

At least, that's what she told Clementine, when the girl asked why she had started to get involved with Luke.

She longed to feel something again, and the body contact she had with him was the only thing that made her feel, even if only briefly and not in the way that really pleased her, but she couldn't ask for much these days.

Clementine sighed and looked at Aj on her lap, swinging him slightly as she saw the boy's rather discouraged expression.

- What's the matter, goofball?

Clementine asked softly, running her hand gently over the boy's face, who just remained still.

- He doesn't like you, nobody does, when are you going to realize that?

Clementine closed her eyes and took a deep breath, controlling the sudden urge she had to take the machete from behind her and slit Sarah's throat.

- Go fuck yourself. You better be quiet or you're going to get another scar on your face.

She said with a certain hostility, knowing that Sarah just rolled her eyes, even though she hadn't looked at her.

During those years, the girl had perhaps changed the most in terms of personality.

She had become slightly colder, more rude, but in compensation, she was much more helpful to the group. And although she wasn't very good in a fight, the girl was a very good shot, Clementine had to admit, even though she didn't like her.

And of course, Sarah hated her. She didn't know if it was because she had put a bullet in Carlos' head, or for punching her in the face when she let Mike die, which resulted in a scar just below the girl's eye.

Whatever it was, it didn't help, and her patience was tested every day, every moment at her side.

Maybe this was exactly why Clementine felt so alone, even though she was surrounded by people.

Kenny was a great friend, and a good man, but he didn't talk much anymore, at least not like he used to. And the few conversations they did have were not the same.

Duck had matured a lot, and was not much for talking, at least not about trivial matters. Something that would make them forget about the zombies, at least for a while.

Luke was cold to everyone, sometimes even Carley, who simply didn't care how he treated her. He had been like that right after he found out that Jane had left him, without saying a word.

That had messed with his psyche a little more.

Carley seemed like an empty shell.

And Sarah hated her, even though she was the "liveliest" person in the group.

Clementine sighed and shook her head, walking towards the others and looking at the abandoned buildings ahead.

- Luke and I can go hunting, at least guarantee our meal. You can stay in those buildings, Clementine and Sarah can check the perimeter.

Duck said, kicking open the door of the abandoned gas station and checking inside, slipping the knife into his belt after making sure the place was empty.

Their eyes widened as they checked the back of the gas station. In one particular cabinet, there was some canned food, with some granola bars beside it. There weren't many, but they were surprised by their find.

Clementine arched her eyebrow slightly, it was rather strange that they found canned food in those days. It had become relatively rare. However, the place was too dirty and messy for anyone to be staying there, plus there were no belongings in the place, so she just ignored it.

Clementine heard Sarah complaining next to her about them having to leave together, and just rolled her eyes internally.

"I don't like you either, Sarah. Believe me" - The girl thought, handing AJ over to Kenny, who cracked a wide smile as he took the boy on his lap.

Kenny had said that AJ, right next to Duck and herself, were the things that got him through Sarita's death the "easiest". The three of them were the most important things he had, and Clementine was slightly embarrassed to hear him say those things, but happy that he felt that way.

Not many people had said that she was one of the most important people in their lives. In fact, she could count on her fingers the number of people who had ever liked her.

Clementine shook her head, pushing away the thoughts that invaded her mind as she looked at Kenny playing with AJ.

That jealousy she felt for the boy was still present in her chest, especially whenever she saw Kenny's smiles for him.

It was harder not to think about the past than she wanted it to be, and it seemed that everything reminded her of the beginning.

Maybe it was just longing speaking loudly inside her, but whenever she looked at AJ in Kenny's arms, she saw her in Lee's arms.

Even after all these years, she still thought about him, every single day.

She was too old to be in someone's lap. Too old to be anxious for a hug, too old to sleep clinging to someone's chest on stormy nights, but she couldn't stop her body from feeling this way.

Lee's voice always echoed in her mind, whenever she held the boy.

She wished she had looked for him, but she couldn't just go off to some random place in the hope that she would find him.

Even though that was exactly what they were doing at the moment, walking somewhere random in the hope that they would find somewhere safe.

It even seemed like a bad joke.

She always wondered how he was doing.

Who he would be with, or if he would be alone... just him against a world of death.

That was one of her nightmares, imagining him wandering through the end of the world, not knowing where he was going, where he was...

Completely alone.

She didn't know why, but that thought scared her and gave her a bad feeling in her chest, but she couldn't stop imagining that scene.

- Let's go, you slow fuck.

She heard Sarah's voice teasing her again, and she vowed that someday she would slit Sarah's throat while she was sleeping if the girl continued like that.

Sighing, she turned and left the gas station, walking side by side with Sarah into the forest.

She was used to doing that, it was pretty much all she did. Going out and around the place whenever they found a new place to stay, at least for a while.

Zombies were no longer the problem, not when they were alone, of course. And in a way, Lee was right.

They were getting slower and slower, the flesh on their bodies was almost non-existent, only that cold, rubbery skin seemed to cover their bones and what little muscle they had.

Although they were quite prickly and uncomfortable at times.

The only times Clementine saw them as dangerous was when they were in groups, or in a herd.

But she had gotten used to dealing with them too, even though it was dangerous.

- Why do I always have to stay with you?

"Please, if there is a God up there... give me patience"- she thought as she heard Sarah complain again.

- You know, that's a great question. It even sounds like Duck wants you to disappear.

She said, rolling her eyes at Sarah's confused and annoyed expression.

- Look, I am this close to killing you. If you keep this shit up, pretty soon you'll have my machete stuck in your neck.

She said in a "gentle" way, a slight daily threat. This was already becoming routine.

- Oh, sure. I forgot that you don't mind killing, it's easy for people like you.

Sarah retorted, causing Clementine to stop walking and look at the girl with an arched eyebrow.

-Is this still about your father?

she asked, crossing her arms and looking intensely at Sarah.

Incredibly, the girl opened her mouth to answer, but stopped and simply sighed, bowing her head slightly.

- Not because of him, not really. He was going to die, and even though I hate to admit it, you did the right thing, and quickly enough so that he wouldn't suffer anymore.

She said in a low tone, something in which Clementine was even wondering if it was possible. She had never really had a face-to-face conversation with the girl, not one that wasn't filled with threats and cursing.

And Clementine never mentioned Carlos to her, because she knew it was a delicate matter. Just as Lee was a sensitive subject for her.

- So, I guess I deserve a thank you, huh?

- Well then, fucking thank you!

Sarah replied, returning to her typical angry tone.

- I hate you because you didn't feel anything when you killed him... you never felt anything, with anyone. Whether it was with Pete, with those two men at the lodge, my father, Crista. You didn't care, you only cared about yourself and that's what pisses me off!

Clementine arched an eyebrow at the girl, surprised to finally know the reason for such hatred.

She opened her mouth to answer, but stopped when she saw something coming up behind her.

- I wouldn't move if I were you.

A voice came from behind her, and Clementine felt something cold touch her neck. She sighed in irritation as she felt her pistol pulled from her waist and her machete pulled from her back.

- Two young girls. There are more people at the gas station, and two others have left through the forest. That's a lot of people. But, apparently, they don't have much, but they certainly took some of our food. Two of you, go to the ones at the gas station.

One of the men said as he checked the backpack Sarah was carrying, dropping it on the ground soon after as two men ran off in the direction they came.

Clementine took a good look at this man, he was not so tall, with dark skin, eyes and hair of the same color.

- We don't want any trouble. We didn't know the things were yours, and we haven't eaten anything... not yet.

Sarah said, raising her arms and groaning slightly in pain as she felt a slap hit her cheek, forcing her to shut up.

- Be quiet! Nobody cares if you eat our food or not, not now. You've crossed our territory.

- What do we do with them, Lonnie? Clint will be satisfied that "we're doing the right thing," and Joan won't mind if we take her somewhere else.

She heard a woman say, just behind her, and her mind worked quickly to think of some way out of that situation.

The good news was that there were only two of them, counting the man and the woman. The bad news is that they were unarmed.

- Shit, you know very well that I don't get involved in this "arena" shit anymore, after Badger... let's take the two of them and the others as prisoners, Clint will give the order.

She heard "Lonnie" say, and suddenly, Clementine felt a blow on her legs, causing her to fall forward.

Her arms were grabbed tightly and put behind her, as someone knelt on her back. She groaned slightly in pain, and arched an eyebrow at the sight of the machete right in front of her face.

- You are a bunch of idiots. What do you think the rest of my group will do when they see me like this?

she said, focusing her eyes on some random point as she hoped her luck was good at that moment.

- I don't think they will be in a very different situation from you.

The woman said, holding Clementine's arms in one hand while reaching for something around her waist.

- Really? Well, it was nice to meet you.

Clementine said after a few seconds of silence, and just as she finished speaking, they heard some footsteps approaching from the side.

Both the woman and the man looked away from the girls in surprise and haste, only to look at a lone zombie slowly approaching.

That little lack of attention, however, was enough to weaken the woman's grip.

With some effort, Clementine turns her body to the side, causing the woman to unbalance slightly, and kicks her in the leg.

The woman fell over, giving Clementine just enough time to take the machete beside her and stab her in the neck.

Lonnie's eyes widened and he tried to grab the pistol from his waist, but Sarah took advantage of his weakened grip and kicked him as hard as she could in the groin.

The man let out a muffled groan of pain as he widened his eyes even more.

Clementine pulled the woman's body off of her and stood up, running toward the man.

However, Lonnie recovered quickly, punched Sarah in the face, spun around and tripped Clementine, causing the girl to fall forward.

He quickly stood up, tried to reach for his gun, but was interrupted by some shots that echoed in the distance, on the opposite side from which they came.

He mentally cursed and ran towards the gunshots.

The two girls stood up and grabbed their guns, firing in the direction of Lonnie, who was saved by some trees in his path.

- Damn it!

Sarah cursed loudly, putting her hand on her hot face from the blow.

Clementine looked in the direction in which the man ran, she even thought about going after him, but her priority at the moment was something else.

- We have to go to the others!

Clementine said restlessly, putting the machete in its sheath on her back and running back to the gas station. She knew that the shots she had heard before were from Duck and Luke, who were probably fighting those people at that moment.

They could take care of themselves, she was more worried about Kenny and AJ.

She couldn't count on Carley to help them, as she herself had thought earlier, Carley was just an empty shell.

Besides they are exposed in that place.

The sound of a truck engine caught the attention of the two girls, who hurried to their feet.

After a few seconds, they finally saw the gas station, where further ahead, a truck was speeding down the deserted road.

- Ah fuck!

The two girls cursed at the same time, watching the truck drive away with their friends inside.