Chapter 3: As The River Flows

A/N: Sup readers, again thnxs for the reviews. Glad ya like my content and my crappy humor. Idk if you will notice in the recent chapters, I have been changing how I write things like the thoughts, and now adding in flashbacks. Lemme just remind ya, this is my first ever fanfic. So I am experimenting with some… things.. Well now that we got all that boring (and probably unnecessary) shit of the way, here is chapter 3!

*Italicized/bolded words are flashbacks, and with 'single quotations' are thoughts in flashback*

*Italicized words with 'single quotations' are thoughts (in the present time)*

*Italicized words are exaggerated words*

Heavy eyelids with thick black eyelashes flutter open revealing different colored eyes. riddled with sleep. Ross bringers her tattooed hands up to her eyes, rubbing the sleep out of them. She stretches and moves her ebony tresses out of her face, allowing her to take in her surrounding more. Ross realizes she's on the floor, her back to a closet/cupboard, a blanket pooling at her waist. A confused look contorts her face as she doesn't remember getting there or covering herself. She looks around from her seated position, wondering where Sophia is.

*Flashback*

After the heart-to-heart moment between Ross and Sophia, they both walked back into the other room, now that it is daylight they could easily tell it was a dining room with a single dining table, a few wooden chairs and a single rocking chair in the corner near the front door. The door to the other side of the room lead into the kitchen. Sophia continued to assist Ross into the kitchen, setting her down near the entrance. Ross slid down the wall onto her ass with her left leg propped up. Rubbing her right leg, only now the pain was evident to her.

"Is your leg okay?" Sophia ask quietly as she squat down in front of Ross. It made Ross's heart flutter a little at the worry and care in Sophia's eyes. 'Been awhile since someone ever cared about my sorry ass,' Ross thought bitter-sweetly.

"Just a 'lil bit. Only from all that running, nothing to worry about kiddo." Ross told her reassuring but very exhausted voice. Ross sighs deeply, eyes closing for a little bit. She then wipes her wet hair off of her face.

"I can keep watch while you sleep." Sophia suggested, with a little more confidence in her voice. Like what happened in the other room a couple of minutes, hours ago. 'Or maybe it is because of what happened.'

"Nah, I think we're good. Plus ya did a good job at securing the house." Sophia nods in agreement, a little smile playing at her lips from the praise and compliment. Ross then took off her now soaked navy green coat, along with her blue flannel. Revealing her skin clad with tattoos, all over her arms, chest and neck. Ross then looked into the cupboard next to her and found a small can of sardines.

"Better than nothing, plus too lazy to go get the bag." She said with a smirk. Sophia gaze fell to her skin in wonder, for she has never seen someone covered in so many tattoos. Ross's lips twitched into a smile, glad someone else liked her tattoos, for she is very proud of them.

"What's this one?" Sophia asks as she points to one of the many tattoos on her left arm. She traced the tip of her finger on the image of an angel statue, his arm raised above his head with a sword. Although the statue is chipped and broken. The one are without the sword is broken off and crack run along the angles face. Covered with vines and moss.

"That is the statue of the Archangel Michael, from castel sant'angelo in Parco Adriano, Rome" Ross explained between chewing a sardine. She then offered the can to Sophia. Sofia grabbed the offered can and ate a sardine.

"You went to Rome!?" Sophia asked as she looked up from the tattoo to Ross after finishing her sardine. She offered the can back to Ross. Ross smiled to herself as she reminisced.

"Ya, I was actually your age, maybe younger. I went with my uncle," Ross paused as she remembered the estranged chef and pâtissier. He too was covered in tattoos like Ross, although he had a little more face tattoos. Ross took the offered can and ate a sardine as well.

"We moved to Europe when I seven or eight. We traveled a lot then." Ross explains. Sophia then sits beside Ross, her knees under her chin and skinny arms around her shins. She then tilts her head in Ross's direction, cheek now on her knees.

"Why were you at Castel Sant'angelo?" She then asked, unsure if she should ask about her uncle. So she settled on that question for now.

"Well for the same of one of many reasons as to why people went there. Sightseeing."

"What was it like there?" Sophia then asks, for she has never been to Rome, hell she hasn't ever left the states. For a while as they talked they passed the can of sardines back and forth, eating one at a time.

"It was like nothing I have ever experienced. Although it did smell like dust, rock and fish. It, it was beautiful." Ross said in wonder as she leaned her head against the wall, her head tilted upwards.

"We left for lunch and ice cream, then when the sun started to set we ran back. Down the bridge, the corridors, climbing the cobblestone stairs. Then we finally reached the top. We fell down onto our backs because we were so tired. My legs never hurt so much from running, but it was a good kind of pain because it was so worth it." Ross brings Sophia closer into her side.

"That's where we watched the sun set as the first stars and moon peaked out. The skys were an ombre of yellow, orange, then turning to pink and a dark purple." Ross pauses a moment to reposition her propped up leg and adjust Sophia so both of them were more comfortable. Both taking a bite of another sardine.

"Later that night, uncle took me up to the roof of our building, there he had set up a small table for two and uncles most famous Bolognese Stuffed Bell Pepper. It was like dining among the stars for he had small lights and candles all around us. With the stars and full moon bright above us." Ross sighed contently as she finished reminiscing to Sophia. Before they even realized it, they finished the whole can of sardines. 'Definitely better than those sardines.'

For a while they just sat there, listening to the sounds of the crickets and the occasional night bird. Rays of moonlight crept in from the kitchen window, illuminating the room. After a while Ross thought Sophia was asleep until she started to move and wrapped her arms around Ross' waist and buried her head more into Ross's bosom.

"Your uncle sounds nice." Sophia stated in a very quiet and tired voice. Without Sophia's notice, Ross smiled sadly for she hasn't seen her uncle in 11 years. 'Hell, I don't know if he's even alive. Probably not.' She told herself the cruel truth. For in this world, there are no second chances. If you make a mistake, you die.

"Yes, yes he was."

*End Flashback*

Ross then rubbed her head once again as she remembered how she got there. After a few seconds Ross went into a panic for she also remembers Sophia falling asleep beside her.

"Sophia!" She called in a loud whisper, for she didn't know if anything or one was near the house. Ross called once again but didn't get a response. Her heart started pounding harder, it being so loud her ears throbbed in sync with the beat. Ross was having a panic attack, afraid Sophia was taken away, screaming for her but she was to weak to help the fragile little girl. Or worse, Sophia left her there to die alone. 'Wouldn't blame her. I am weak, pathetic, waste of breath. Everything he said, all true.'

Then she heard a muffled sound, like someone was calling her. Her eyes blurry, she couldn't see clearly what was in front of her, but she did see someone. A blur of red, blue and pale skin. As Ross' hearing became more clear so did her eyesight, and there in front of her was Sophia with a worried look. Sophia had tears in her eyes as she held onto Ross's shoulders. It was only then Ross realized she was sitting on the floor once again with wide eyes and a stiff posture.

When Sophia knew Ross was with her once again she wrapped her arms around Ross' shoulders and buried her face into Ross's neck. Ross then immediately felt guilty for scaring Sophia and thinking Sophia would leave her. 'Damn, ain't I needy bitch.'

"Sorry kiddo. Didn't mean to scare ya." Ross apologized as she petted the little girl's head. Sophia just shook her head and looked up at Ross.

"No, I'm sorry I made you worry."

"It's okay, ain't your fault." She reassured the little girl. Ross then looked around, wondering where she came from.

"So where the hell did ya sleep, swear to god ya were right beside me?" Ross asked bewildered. Sophia then giggled as she stepped away and out of Ross's hold.

"I didn't want to bother you, and you looked to comfortable to move so I found some blankets to use. Then I slept at the bottom of the cupboard." She explained in one breath. Ross raised one eyebrow with a nod of approval. She then opened the cupboard, and true to Sophia's word, there was a small pillow and blanket piled at the floor. Sophia beamed at Ross's appreciation, but then her face fell from happiness to worry as Ross's face contorted into confusion.

"Where's your doll?" Ross asked as she turned her attention back to Sophia, who wrung her hands in a nervous tic, waiting to be scolded of the sort. But she raised her head quickly with a surprised look on her innocent face by the question. Sophia's face fell once again to a solemn look. She slept that fitfully that night for she missed her doll, but she didn't dare complain about it. She thought Ross would tell her she was being a big baby for crying over a dirty old doll. And that Ross would leave her.

"I lost it last night. In the river." She confessed, her head down waiting for the inevitable blow. She flinched when she felt Ross's hand on her bowed head, but once again she was left speechless and surprised as Ross continued to rub and pet her head in a loving manner.

"Well we better start moving if we wanna find that doll before night fall." Ross stated as she took her hand away and started walking back into the diner, where they left her bag and their supplies. Ross tied her coat around her waist and stuffed her flannel into the bag for she knew it was going to be brutally hot today. After everything was packed and the can of sardines tossed into the overflowing trashcan, Ross opened the front door, she then turned towards Sophia and reached her hand out.

"Come on Sophia, we ain't got all day." She said with a smirk. Sophia put her little hand into Ross's slightly bigger. With a big smile on Sophia's face they left the old cabin, into the woods and back towards the river.

It was noon for the sun was high in the sky, the heat bearing down on the exposed skin of Ross and Sophia when they reached the river. It was calmer than the night before, and more serien. The two walked along the bank, seeing if the doll had snagged on a branch or rock. Just waiting for them to retrieve the sad little doll. But luck or god was not on there side for the bank had no sign of the doll.

Ross guessed the doll was a connection to her mother in someway. And she didn't want Sophia to feel like she lost that single connection, and with that connection gone so could her hope follow. But Ross had to be realistic, they couldn't spend all their time just looking for a doll, maybe for a little while. Each minute to Ross was a minute gone in the effort for searching for Sophia's group. More importantly Sophia's mother. So Ross decided to be real with Sophia and give her a choice.

"Sophia come here." She waved Sophia over, for Sophia was further ahead down the bank than Ross. Sophia came running back, hoping Ross had found her doll. Though when Sophia reached Ross all she found was Ross with a solemn look and dolless.

"Okay Sophia, I don't really know how to say this in a positive way, but," Ross paused wringing her hands, twitching and fidgeting, "but we can't keep looking for your doll, not in the long run. We gotta still find your Mama." She finally said, hoping she didn't upset the child in front of her to much. 'Oh come one girly, who ya kiddin? Ya just told the kid it's either find the doll, which is the only kind of connection she has to her mother. Or find her mother, which you and I know is a snow balls chance. With how many days we've been out here, they probably think she's dead. You know you would.' Ross automatically felt guilty as those thoughts surfaced.

Ross hoped to god no one had thought Sophia was dead, because if they did, they'll be long gone. 'No, I'm going to do everything in my power to get her back to her Mama. And if they are long gone; I'll never abandon her.' Ross thought, her resolve changing and becoming a new. 'Your funeral.' 'So be it.' Sophia looked down at her feet in defeat. She wanted to look for her doll, but she knew Ross was right. She still gotta find her Mama, and maybe, maybe when they find her mama, Ross could join her group. Sophia smiled inwardly at the thought of Ross living with them, for she viewed Ross like an older sister, an older sister she never had.

"Can we look for her a little bit longer? Please?" She begged. Sophia wanted to make sure they couldn't find the doll, and if they didn't, so be it. Ross sighed deeply, now rubbing her head. She then nodded her head, approving the search for Sophia's little rag doll.

"Okay, we'll continue to look. The rest of today and in the morning, but when noon hits, the search is over. Okay?" Sophia then nods her head sporadically in anxiousness. Ross chuckles at Sophia's antics. For an hour or two they continued to search the bank. It was around 3 o'clock when they stopped for a little break. They stopped by an area where the bank shifted into rocks and pebbles. 'I think it's called a meander.' Ross then shook her head at the weird little fact. There they sat on a blanket and ate the last of their can goods for lunch. While eating Ross smiled to herself for she had come up with a good idea. An idea for both of them to relax and get clean.

"Hey Sophia. Wanna go swimming?" Sophia then looked to Ross in surprise. She then looked back towards the water in wonder. A smile spread itself onto her small and delicate face. She then looked back at Ross and nodded her head.

"Leave your clothes on so they can get rinsed. You can borrow my flannel when your done. Except your pants; I don't got anything for you to use." Ross smiled back as she explained to Sophia. Sophia then took off her pants and went into the water; only reaching her mid-waist. Ross watched as Sophia continued to play and splash in the water, smiling at her innocence.

"Ross why don't you go swimming!?" Sophia called out to Ross; now rainbow t-shirt soaked, wet mop of hair clinging to her face.

"Nah, you can relax. someone gotta keep watch, just in case something doesn't sneak up on us." 'Can't be caught with our pants down. Literally.'

"Come on, we can both have fun and keep watch." Sophia negotiated, while skipping a pebble across the water's surface. Ross didn't know what made her agree, whether she just wanted a break from all of life's shit, or if she wanted some way of being apart of Sophia's good nature. Ross then stood up and stripped down to her underwear. She walked slowly to the river, her gaze following her footsteps, the tip of her toes barely in the water. Ross then looked up at Sophia with a devious smile. Sophia saw this look and braced herself, ready to run with a smile of her own. Ross took a step closer, that when Sophia ran squealing, but she wasn't fast enough. For Ross had grabbed Sophia around the waist and lifted her out of the water. When Ross had put Sophia down, Sophia ran out of her grasp and started splashing water at her.

They spent a couple of hours just splashing at each other, giggling and squealing like little school girls. The two haven't been so happy like this in such a long time. Even before the world had ended. After having their fun they started to actually enjoy the cool water from the Georgia heat and cleaned themselves.

"Here, lemme wash your hair." Ross called as she brought Sophia closer to her. Sophia then dipped her head back to let Ross get a better angle to wash her hair. Ross then grabbed a bottle of shampoo that sat on a rock nearby, for Ross had brought the shampoo to the river earlier during their splash fight. She then massaged her fingers through Sophia's hair and scalp, making sure she thoroughly washed the little girls hair.

"Hold ya breath." Ross told Sophia, gripping the sides of her head. Sophia took a big, deep breath then held her nose and closed her eyes tightly. Ross the dunked Sophia's head underwater; all the suds from Sophia's head floating to the surface and going along the river's current. After Ross quickly washed out the soap she brought Sophia up. Sophia then thanked Ross, wiping away a wet hair that clung to her face.

"Mama haven't washed my hair like that in a long time." It was evident that Sophia missed her Mama, which made Ross feel a little guilty, sad and a little jealous. Guilty for bringing Sophia's mood down, and that they haven't found her Mama already. Sad because, when they do find Sophia's mother she would be alone. Once again. And the same reason why she was jealous. Not of Sophia, but Sophia's mother. I know it'd be wrong of me. So….. as long as she's safe. Whether with me or her group, that's fine with me.

"I'll wash your back?" Sophia's suggestion snapped Ross out of her thoughts. Deciding to enjoy every moment she got left with Sophia, she smiled and turned her back to Sophia. Sophia then grabbed the shampoo bottle and squirted a mountain of it onto Ross's ebony locks. She then massaged her fingers into Ross's hair, just like how Ross did . After a while Sophia just started to play with Ross's hair. She then piled the long tresses on top of Ross's head. Distracted, Sophia's gaze followed the trail of shampoo that went down from Ross's head towards the skin between her shoulder blades, then dispersing into the water.

What Sophia saw shocked her to the core. Most of them faded and covered by ink, but at this distance there was no way denying it. Raised skin indicating scars littered the soft skin of Ross's back. She thought, 'How could anyone hurt someone as nice as Ross,' but then she remembered there were people like her father in the world back then, and she could imagine being more of them now.

Ross knew she would see the scars. She cared little for them, for they were things of the past. Things that didn't matter or bothered her anymore. Or so she would convince herself. Her back didn't stiffen in embarrassment, shame, or being uncomfortable. Her back stiffened out of fear, fear that Sophia would view her broken, pity her, or would simply run away. For whatever reason, she didn't know. Her mind jumbled from the vulnerable emotions that filled her tightening chest. But like what has been happening constantly since Ross saved Sophia, Sophia surprised her. She continued to wash Ross's hair and back, like nothing had quietly transpired between them, and for that Ross was grateful.

Ross relaxed into Sophia's touch, remembering what Sophia said about how her mother hasn't washed her hair in a long time. She agreed, it had been very long since her uncle had washed her hair when she was a little girl. Ross could only compare when her uncle would massage her scalp to when he would knead bread. She smiled to herself.

After washing up they spent the rest of their time sitting in the sun getting dry. Both gazing into the flowing water, slapping away the occasional bug.

"Here." Ross said as she tossed Sophia her flannel to wear as they laid their wet clothes to dry. Ross was looking through her pack when she came across an old torn up, and frayed baseball cap. 'Crazy old man.' She smiled fondly at the hat, remembering the day it was given to her.

"Hey." Sophia turned to Ross as she called her, she saw her for a second before something covered her eyes. She giggles as she flicks the lid of the cap out of her eyes, looking up at Ross. She notices Ross has a small smile, but in this smile it more feeling and meaning in it. A true smile. Sophia looked up Ross with an expectant and questioning look.

"Keep it, don't need you looking like a tomato when get ya to your mom."

The Sky turned a dark blueish red when they and their clothes were finally dry. It was decided they would camp there for the night. It was a good place for they had a water and food source right next to them, plus the small area around them had a few boulders around them. Enough so no prying eyes of anything or one could see their camp fire from a distance. Night fell quickly, and Ross was glad they had stopped to relax and make camp. They laid side by side each other, staring into the night sky.

Ross woke in the night in a panic, a sheet of cold sweat covered her body. She didn't know what woke her in a panic until she looked to the left. Sophia was whimpering and squirming in her sleep. It broke Ross's heart seeing Sophia suffering like this, for the horrors of her reality is now affecting her unconsciousness.

"Sophia!" She whispered loudly, shaking her awake. Or at least trying. Sophia only started to whimper louder and squirmed more. Ross was getting more worried for at some point Sophia's whimpering would attract unwanted attention.

"Sophia!" She whispered louder than before, causing Sophia to shoot up awake, fear prominent in her eyes. She looked around in fear and confusion, looking for something that what she thought was there.

"Hey,hey,hey Sophia, you're alright. Look at me. Ya going to be alright." Ross said as she grabbed Sophia's face, bringing her attention to Ross's own face.

"It's okay. Ain't nothing getting to you, ya hear?" Sophia only nodded in response.

"Now take a couple deep breaths. Okay?" Ross then took a couple deep breaths along with Sophia. After a good couple of minutes Sophia was fine, and they both laid down. Sophia moved more closer, curled into Ross's side. Both girls didn't fall asleep, for they both found no point. They just laid there until the sun rose once again.

Like a well oiled machine, the two packed up and continued their search for a rag doll that could be long gone by now. But out of the pathetic notion of sentiment they treaded on. As they continued on, Ross noticed how along the bank the ground got steeper and steeper.

"It ain't safe if we keep following the bank, we gotta stay on higher ground." Ross said more to herself, but Sophia knew what that meant. So they continued to follow along the river, just not as close. After a good long while, Ross looked over the river cliff, down at the river and saw the most peculiar thing. Down at the bottom where the river pooled into a shallow pond, on the shore were two dead Walkers. Sophia also looked down and knew what the next move was. It took half an hour to get down safely.

As soon Ross as knew Sophia was safely on the shore she unsheathed her large hunting knife and crept to the Walkers. When she got closer she noticed that one Walker had it's face bashed in until it wasn't recognizable, with shards of skull poking out of the mush called brain matter. The other she crouched by it, and had to carefully flip it over, noticing it had an arrow through the skull to the top of its cranium. She then stood up, put her foot on it's chest and pulled out the arrow. Ross twirled the arrow between her fingers, looking at in wonder. Then she caught something more weird in her peripheral. A gut up squirrel, body spread eagle with some of its insides missing. 'Where the fuck did you come from?' Ross then looked around, noticing some of the dirt had been kicked up and a small pool of dried blood. Sophia took the arrow out of Ross's hand, wanting to examine the arrow herself.

"Looks like someone got injured, probably fell from the cliff. Walkers came by, wanna have a bite. There's struggle. He/she kills 'em. Has a midday snack," she explains as she points to the squirrel carcass, "Only question is where did they go?" Ross spoke to herself, as she leans on her good leg, for her bad leg started to hurt from all the walking, plus the climb down. Sophia inspects the arrow closer, the arrow being quiet familiar to her, but she doesn't remember where from.

"This is arrow!" Sophia called out to Ross as she remembered the first time the redneck had brought a string of squirrels to camp, and how it had scared and grossed her out. Although at the same time piqued her interest.

" ?" Ross asked as she turned around to look at the excited little girl with a raised brow.

"Yes. He's the hunter of the group. Always bringing in squirrels and rabbits, and other animals with his crossbow." Sophia said in more excitement if that was even possible. She was hopeful that this sign meant that the group was close by. She jumped and down like a puppy that knew it was gonna get what it wanted. Ross just shook her head at Sophia's antics. She looked back to the pool of dried blood. It wasn't a lot but it was enough that it was obvious it was a pretty bad wound. And she only hoped that this Dixon guy was okay and made back to the group.

"A crossbow huh?" Ross mumbled to herself. 'Shit man, always wanted a crossbow. Fucking cool man. Just hope he ain't some redneck-junkie-asshole.'

"Do you think he found my doll?" Sophia asked, ignoring the fact Ross was talking to herself. For the few days they traveled together, she got use to it and Ross' strange antics. Ross scratched the back of her head. A nervous tick of hers, one Sophia learned by observing her.

"Now we don't know that it was him here, could've been anyone." Ross said as she pointed to the ground. "But, but we can assume it was him." She finished reassuringly, though she was sure Sophia could care less. Only that this was a possible sign that her group, her mama was near by.

"But who ever was here probably does have your doll. Can't see it floating down any further, current ain't that strong down here." Ross lead Sophia back up the cliff, helping her and catching the little girl whenever she slips. Once at the top they would continue their search for the doll, and now added to the list, the 'Doll-Snatcher,' Mr. Dixon.

A/N: Hello readers! see what I did there with the title and shit. Yea i'm a stupp. Well I do hope ya like this chapter. Please do review if you want more content, and do voice your opinions. It helps me know what I'm doing wrong and the like. If you haven't notice the chapters are getting longer. Which mean more content, and (I hope) better grammar and less mistakes. I don't have a schedule, not a frequent poster. I work on the story when I can. Oh I almost forgot, I want to thank the ones that reviewed: loveorpain, Anon (guest), Guest, and RubyDearsBae for your input and reviews. They do help even though they are simple opinions. Story followers: Emrald Monkey, Sunkist 22, speedy964, cazblackall, golden-priestess,loveorpain, BloodBlackAlchemist, and XLady-Zo-Zo-The-Pict-PrincessX for your support of this story.