Next chapter- I hope you guys like it. Please review! I really can't believe you guys love it to mich- almost as much as I oove writing it! :)
They tore through the woods like a bat out f hell, racing towards wherever their weren't walkers. When some cam up on their right, Jamie turned left, guiding him down a game trail until they were both staggering and could hardly run anymore. They came up on a low-branched maple and Jamie nodded to him. "Climb."
They sat together in it's branches, away from any walkers that might happen t stumble on them, panting.
They were both covered in mud, walker blood, and sweat, which made dirt and leaves stick to them like glue.
Jamie smiled slightly as she looked over at him. "Finally livin' up to your name, Grimes."
Carl gave her a breathless laugh, and they just sat in silence for a few minutes, catching their breath.
Carl spoke first. "Where are we?"
Jamie shrugged. "No idea. Daryl and I never went out this far. Figured anywhere was better than with the walkers."
Carl nodded, still looking concerned.
"You can find your way back, right?"
"Sure can. With the trail we made, leaves all over, footprints everywhere... I can backtrack us to the prison, s'long as it doesn't rain and wash the trail away. And even then, I have a general idea where we're headed..."
Carl nodded, looking around below them. They were near a small clearing, it would make a good campsite...
"Hey. I never thanked you for saving my ass out there." Jamie said.
Carl shrugged. "Figured I couldn't let you die. Not after what you did for Judy a few days ago..."
They were both silent for a beat, eyes meeting, They both knew that wasn't the only reason he'd saved her. There was still a spark there, somewhere...
"Yeah, well, that's the only reason I'm standin' here right now, so thanks."
Carl nodded. "You did drag me out of that drainage ditch, you know. I'd say we're even, now."
Jamie nodded, smiling at him slightly. "Sorry about not talking to you."
"Its fine." Carl said simply, looking around the clearing, making sure no walkers were coming.
"We should head back tomorrow. We head back today when that herd isn't broken up..."
Carl nodded absently, and they settled into silence. Finally, he spoke.
"Why do you think Mika was outside the fence?"
"No idea. Just knew I had to get her back in before the walkers got her."
Carl nodded. "We should look around, see if we can find anything useful."
Jamie nodded. "There's a game trail off to the left. I can try and kill something. You head right. I remember a creek ran up this way..."
Carl nodded. "What's the signal?"
"For when something goes wrong? Just start screaming like a bitch, I'll come running." Jamie assured him with a grin. Carl nodded, and they both scanned the area carefully, finding n danger, before they jumped down.
Carl nodded to Jamie. "Be back by sunset."
"I will." she assured him. Then, she turned and seemed to just vanish into the brush.
Carl turned and went left, leaving but knowing she was only a bit away. He had to admit he was relieved when he stumbled across the creek, just like she'd said. The water as actually surprisingly clear, and he bent down, taking a long drink. He noticed a frog to his left and felt a pang, remembering frog hunting with Shane. Still, there was no time for that...
He and Jamie would find a tree around here somewhere, he figured, make camp near the water and follow it back to the prison. He heard brush crunch behind him and turned to see Jamie standing there, a fresh smudge of blood across her cheek.
He was about to raise his gun and ask if she'd been bit when he noticed the freshly killed rabbit in her other hand, blood dripping from the carcass.
"You alright?" he asked.
She nodded. "'M fine, Found something, though. Figured I'd better get you.
Carl stood, hope and fear mingling within him. "What is it?"
"Campsite. Tent, some tarps, stuff."
"And you didn't check it out?" Carl asked, slightly surprised.
"I don't know if anyone's livin' in it. Couldn't find any tracks, but still, you never know... I need you to watch my back. I'm not stupid enough to think I could take on a herd by myself."
Carl smiled. "Getting smarter, are we?"
"Shut up and get your ass over here." Jamie said, punching his arm playfully. Carl couldn't help but smile as he fell into step beside her, It was like old times again.
"So- what do you think's in the camp?" he asked, eager to talk to her again. She shrugged, looking over at him with that mischievous glint in her eye. "Wouldn't mind some peanut butter. Hell, it's been so long since I've had some peanut butter..."
Carl nodded. "I'd kill for a Milky Way. You know, the good kind, the ones you'd eat on a hot summer day after you left them in the car. They were half melted, got chocolate all over the place... You know?"
Jamie nodded, smiling. "Yeah. I know the kind. Or maybe a pack of cigarettes. For Daryl. Or something for Judy..."
"Yeah. Yeah, like a pillow pet." Carl said, looking over at her. Jamie put her hand out and stopped him, crouching. "It's just above this ridge."
Carl nodded. "We go on three."
"Screw that- I'm going. Just cover me." Jamie ordered, and Carl couldn't help but smile. That was Jamie alright.
She pulled herself up by the exposed roots of the tree, crouching and moving quickly. Carl stood behind her, now, gun up, ready to shot anything threatening.
There were two tents, and Jamie nodded to Carl as she stepped towards the first one. The flap was partially open, and Carl nodded to her. In one swift motion she'd torn it open. There was a bloody blanket, some broken crayons...
She shook her head, letting Carl know there was nothing. He nodded, motioning with his head towards the other tent. She pulled it open, revealing some shreds of cloth and what looked to be a gun, lying in the center of the floor.
She bent down and picked it up, sliding it into her waste band. Dusk was coming, and she nodded to Carl. "Place looks clear. Let's see what we can find."
Carl nodded, heading to search a rotting picnic table to the left, while she knelt beside the fire pit. She dug around in the ashes for a bit, coming up with a small, rusted pot.
"Find anything?" she called over to Carl. He nodded, showing her a bottle of Jack Daniels. She grinned. Daryl would love that, if they managed to get it back. She stood, nodding to him.
"We start a fire, we can cook the rabbit in this."
Carl nodded, and they both headed back towards the clearing. dusk had been gathering on the horizon, and they'd made a make-shift fire pit with enough wood to last for cooking. Jamie looked around, finding a rock and grinning. Flint, She struck her knife on it, sparks flew, she struck it again, blowing on the sticks... Finally, it caught, and they had a small fire going.
Jamie nodded to him. "Mind filling this up at the creek?" she asked, nudging the pot with her foot. Someone had to stay and tend the fire, and while Carl wasn't experienced int he art of fire building, she'd done it quiet a bit before, when she'd been with Ryder...
Carl took up the pot and disappeared off towards the creek. The darkness seemed to swallow him up, and Jamie couldn't help but worry. Walkers came out at night. If they found him... No. He had a gun. They'd cook the damn rabbit and climb a tree for the night.
She poked the fire with a stick of green wood that wouldn't burn, re-arranging the logs. The fire crackled and hissed from where she crouched, but she was too busy trying to keep the small thing alive she didn't notice when he came.
He was a man in his mid thirties, covered in grime, and he smiled when he saw her.
"Been awhile since I've had any fun." he remarked. Her head snapped up and he took a step towards her. She saw the look on his face, that sick, twisted look. She'd seen it before. She scrambled for her bow, but he'd kicked it away.
"Hey!" he snapped. "That anyway to treat a friend?"
"Get away from me." she snarled, staring hatefully at him. There was the gun in the back of her waistband, but it was full of dirt and wasn't loaded. She stared hatefully at him, remembering her knife. She already knew what he wanted- and there was no way in hell this bastard was going to get it.