Pulling his axe from the runner's head, Lee turns to the side and punches an approaching zombie in the face, and then he grabs him by the shirt and throws him into the next runner, slowing him down.

In one precise move, Lee smashes his axe into the runner's head, and throws his body to the side.

Sighing, a little tired, Lee looks around while wiping the little sweat that had dripped from his face.

After making sure that the place was secure enough, he fixes the trap ahead, which the runners had destroyed, and reinforces it.

Now he would know in case something were to pass that way.

Looking at the forest once more, he turns and starts walking along the small, almost hidden, dirt path.

After a while of walking, he finally reaches the small lake. Checking his surroundings once more, he washes the blade of his axe, washing away all that blood. Soon after, he walked a little way along the shore and crouched down again, splashing some water on his face.

It had been a while since he had last looked in the mirror, so he couldn't help staring at his reflection in the surface of the water.

His beard was quite large, and Clementine insisted more and more on shaving it off. His expressions were a little more advanced, but all things considered, he was fine.

He just couldn't stop himself from staring at the few gray hairs scattered throughout his beard. He was getting old.

And this, while it made him somewhat happy that he was having the pleasure of aging in a world like this, also scared him for the same reason.

The older he got, the more tired, the slower, the weaker... and in that world, that was certain death.

He should take the opportunity to kill the runners without a firearm while he could.

Sighing, he stands up and starts walking toward another dirt path ahead, resting his axe on his shoulder.

That forest was relatively quiet, there were few runners and zombies that they encountered while they were there. So the way back was relatively calm.

After some more walking, he finally spotted the cabin up ahead. It wasn't very big, not like that cabin that Luke took Clementine to years ago. But for two people and a child, it was big enough.

His eyes focused almost immediately on Clementine ahead, and he stopped walking. Hiding behind a nearby tree, he tilts his body slightly to the side and watches the girl.

Lately, she has been a bit... irritated. Her patience was not exactly her strong suit at the moment.

At first Lee was confused, and even a little frightened by the girl's temperament. However, everything made sense after he saw blood on one of the sheets she had used some time ago.

This was a clear sign that the girl was growing up, maturing, and he felt completely lost, and at the same time proud.

She didn't know that he knew that yet... he didn't exactly have a good time to talk to her about it.

Running his hand through his hair, Lee looked up at the sky between the treetops. It was her birthday... if he was counting right. They had been in that cabin for a few days now, and in that time he had been looking forward to this day.

Walking to the side, he picks up a bag that he had left hidden in a hole hidden by some bushes for some time.

He opens the bag and admires the object inside for a few moments. He had to admit, that bow was really beautiful.

A black recurve bow, with a quiver for the back and five arrows in total.

He had found it in an abandoned farm not far from there, while doing his routine reconnaissance of the surroundings on the morning of two days ago.

She always said how useful a bow was, and Lee noticed the gleam in the girl's eyes when she talked about it. That find would certainly cheer her up.

Next to the bow was a bag with a box of pads. He was not the best person to talk about it, but he could tell her the basics. The rest she would find out on her own, since he himself didn't know much about the subject.

Putting the bag on his back, he walks back towards the cabin.

- You took a little longer than usual, old man.

The girl said in a playful tone as he approached, and Lee snorted.

He stared at her for a while, the girl was growing faster than he could keep up with. She certainly would become a beautiful woman.

- What can I do? I'm really getting old.

He said, putting the bag down, and arched an eyebrow at the rather serious and disgusted expression the girl sent his way.

- Stop it.

- What? Stop what?

- Don't say you're getting old... only I can say you're getting old. And you said you wouldn't admit you were getting old until you were eighty.

She said with a certain seriousness, and Lee looked at her confused.

Sometimes she acted that way, in a way that he couldn't understand her.

Why could she call him old, but get angry when he agreed?

- But I have to admit that-

- You're not old.

- What? Clem-

- Shut up, Lee.

She said and he was even more lost, but just sighed.

Women, always confusing a man's mind, no matter how old they are.

And Clementine was the type that would confuse him even more.

- Can you help me a little here, Alvin?

Lee asked, looking at the boy next to Clementine. He stared at Lee for a moment, then went back to concentrating on playing with his own foot.

- Oh, come on, Alvin.

Lee complained amused.

- Last time, you two joined forces against me. Now it's my turn.

Clementine said, looking at Lee with a small victorious smile.

- So, what's in the bag? I didn't see it with our stuff.

The girl said, looking at the bag with a certain curiosity.

Lee crouched down and pushed the bag toward the girl, who arched an eyebrow and stared at him.

- Do you know what today is?

He asked puzzled, and laughed slightly when he saw that the girl had no idea what he was talking about.

- Would you mind explaining?

She asked, pulling the bag towards her.

- Today is your birthday. At least, according to my count.

He said as the girl opened the bag and looked at the bow in amazement and surprise.

Lee smiled with satisfaction as he saw the gleam in the girl's eyes as she lifted the bow in her hands, and admired the object.

- It is beautiful...

she said in a whisper, pulling the string to her chest and aiming it toward a tree ahead. An excited smile broke out on her lips.

- You always said how useful a bow is... and you always seemed to enjoy making a wooden one.

He said, standing up.

- So, I kept this bow after I found it, and wanted to surprise you and-

Lee was interrupted by a tight hug from the girl, who hid her face in his chest.

He smiled warmly and returned the hug, patting her gently on the back.

- Thank you.

She thanked him, genuinely happy for the gift, and looking up at him with a warm smile as she broke the embrace.

- You're welcome.

He said, sitting down beside Aj and placing a hand on the boy's head, who tried to grab Lee's hand.

- Where did you find it?

She asked, sitting down next to him with the bow in hand, staring silly at the object.

- On that abandoned farm.

He said, and she stared at him.

- That's why you took so long that day.

- Maybe.

He said, looking at the small fire in front of him. That place was relatively peaceful, too bad it wasn't safe enough to stay there. Not with Aj, anyway.

The place was beautiful.

- I know... I've been acting a little strange these days. I'm sorry.

Clementine said after a while, and Lee looked at her kindly.

- You don't have to apologize.

- Yes, I do. I haven't exactly treated you well at times, and I just wanted you to know that I didn't mean it.

She said, and Lee smiled slightly, giving the girl a slight nudge on the nose.

- Really. You don't have to apologize. If there's something bothering you, you can talk to me.

He said, and the girl stared at him for a moment.

Thoughtful, even a little hesitant.

- I... I started bleeding... and it hurts... I know it's a thing... I mean, I read something like that in a book, but... what is it? I mean, why is it...?

She tried to ask, having trouble finding the right words.

- Well, this is normal. Every woman goes through something like this. In short, it means that you are growing up... I mean, your body is changing due to your hormones and... in a rough way, it means that you can already become a mother.

He said.

- Hm, funny... I already felt like a mom.

- I mean, a mother of your own child, by blood. I guess you were so excited about the bow that you didn't see the other thing in the bag.

Lee said, leaning his body to the side and picking up the box with the pads.

- I'm not the best person to explain this to you. So, I'm sorry, but on this issue, I think you're just going to have to face it alone.

Lee said, handing her the box.

- I know it's a little embarrassing, but... I don't mind you telling me.

- That's not it. I don't know how this thing works. Ideally, a woman should tell you.

- Oh... well, thank you.

She said, looking enigmatically at the box in her hands, and then put it aside, returning to staring at her newest bow.

Lee looked at the girl's cheerful manner, which was rather rare to see, and smiled slightly.

- What about you, Jr? Oh, I think you'll follow in my footsteps and use an axe... or follow Clem and use something lighter... between you and me, it's not that impactful.

Lee said softly, looking at Aj with an amused smile, even though the boy was not smiling.

- Ow!

He groaned slightly in pain as his arm was pinched, and looked at Clementine with an arched eyebrow.

- I hear you. And I still think you have to stop using that axe.

- No way. I won't trade something as powerful as my axe for a bread knife. Not a chance.

- Why are you so stubborn? You are getting old, you need something lighter!

- I'll use that axe until I'm a hundred years old! And look who's talking, you're just as stubborn as I am, smartass!

- I wonder who I got it from! And that axe will kill you one day!

- So I'll die wielding something respectable!

- Are you saying that me using a knife is disrespectful?

- What? No! But lighter, more agile weapons suit you! Heavier, cruder weapons suit me!

-... You are forbidden to pick up that shotgun!

- What?! Why?!

- Because it's too noisy, too heavy, shotgun ammo is hard to find, and because I said you won't use it.

- But, Clem-

- No. Don't even try.

- Argh...