Ten years later…..
"Sissy when are we going to eat?"
A pair of big doe hazel eyes peered up to her sister.
" Rinoa you need to be quiet, those monsters will hear us."
Ferret watched her little sister's eyes start to water. The poor thing was only five. Silently she pulled a granola bar out of her pocket and handed it to the small child. She jumped happily in place, her black wavy hair bouncing.
The woman smiled, it had been far too long since she saw another human being. The reanimated dead terrified her, but she had no choice, she had to be strong to protect the one she loved. On her way back to see her old friend she saw the first of the zombies. With a quick jerk of her car she sped down to her old home. Flash backs kept haunting her. Her parents turned into vicious growling monsters clawing to reach her sister.
"Sis look!"
Her heart jumped out of her chest, a group of people were bashing in the monster's heads. The little girl's voice had caught the attention of a few of the demons. She swept the child up and started to run towards the group.
"Help, we're unarmed!"
A man in a sheriff's uniform gestured them to get behind him.
"Rick there's too many we need to go!"
A slim Asian man started to yell as he took another swing with his baseball bat.
"Get in!"
They all piled in a truck and took off for their lives.
"Are you alright?"
The sheriff looked to the girls. The little one was crying uncontrollably.
"Rinoa, Rinoa are you hurt at all? You need to calm down."
Ferret brushed the stray hairs out of her sister's face and held her close.
"They were scary; I don't want them to eat me!"
"It's ok sweetie, shhhhh."
"Thank you so much for taking us in, our weapons were stolen from us at gunpoint."
She raised her head and faced the two men.
"Well couldn't let a mother and her child out there to fend for themselves."
"This is my little sister. Haha I didn't think I looked that old."
The Asian stumbled over his words.
"N-no I mean I just assumed, I mean you look pretty young."
"Glenn, now is not the time to be flirting. I'm sorry my name is Rick and this is Glenn."
"I'm Ferret and this is little Rinoa."
"We have a group stuck in the city and another waiting for us in the woods. We were just on our way to pick up the folks in the city."
She nodded at them listening to every word. She was so happy, finally being able to talk to people, real people.
"I'm handy with knives, I'm quick enough for close range and there's no ammo you have to worry about."
Glenn and Rick looked puzzled, but handed her a bag full of assorted weapons. She pulled out two war knives and fastened them to her belt.
"Here Rinoa."
The older girl handed her younger counterpart a small hand gun.
"Are you crazy? Shes just a little girl."
Ferret shot Glenn an irritated look.
"Yes and she needs protection! These are dark times, no one can afford to be unarmed."
"Back off Glenn she's her family."
"We're here."
She was confused; they arrived at the outskirts of the city.
"Alright here's the plan, Rinoa will stay in the car with Glenn. You and me will sneak our way into that build over there and once we give the signal Glenn will drive in and take us all back to camp."
Rinoa tugged on her sister's shirt. Ferret gripped her sister's hands and kissed her forehead.
"It's safer if you stay here sweetie."
With parting words both her and Rick climbed out of the car. She made sure her messenger bag was safely by her side.
"We need to be silent from there point on, I'll give you signs."
She nodded and stayed close. They took back alleys and hid in the shadows until they happened upon a department store. Opening the back door they made their way up a few flight of stairs. Reaching the highest point, Rick opened the door leading to the roof.
"Well I'll be god damned."
The voice sent shivers down the girl's spine, she knew him.
"Merle?!"
"Hello there princess, aren't you looking as delicious as ever."
He was handcuffed to a pipe, why was she not surprised. His temper always was one of his vices.
"What do you people think you're doing, you don't plan on leaving him here do you?"
Ferret was upset, this was his brother. She whipped her head around and was let down when she didn't see Daryl in the group of people.
"He was going to fucking kill us. He deserves to be left here for walker food."
"He may have a temper, but he's a human being! Give me the key."
"Oh my god you knew him didn't you? Before all this?"
A blonde woman sneered at the protective woman.
"Rick please. You seem like a good man."
She ignored the remark from the woman and turned to her savior. After a long pause he handed her a ring of keys. Jingling through the keys she unlocked the cuffs, but not before whispering in his ear.
"…is Daryl…"
"He's back at the camp, you doing this for me or him?"
Satisfied with the answer she unhinged the cuffs and helped him up.