Sophie

"But why can't I?" Sophie pouted, arms akimbo, glaring at Georgie and Daryl. "I'm getting real good-"

"REALLY good Sophie." Georgie corrected without looking up.

"REALLY good at shooting. I could help. I won't be noisy and I'll do what I'm told I promise."

"One." Georgie sat up straight and turned from her bow to look Sophie in the face. "We're not going hunting today. We're checking rabbit snares and then scouting out the house that Glenn and Maggie found. Two. Even though there are no walkers roaming about, you could still tread on one. I can't take the stress of worrying about that happening. And three. You're not coming Sophie."

"Huntin's hard enough without a snot nosed brat taggin along anyways," Daryl spoke in agreement. "Can't ya jus go play with Carl or sommin?" Sophie looked at him. He wasn't looking at her, so she stuck her tongue out at him. She hated Daryl. For the past few days, he'd dragged Georgie off hunting and scoping with him through the snow. Most of the adults had been away from camp finding out more about the surrounding area, every since it had been discovered that the walkers were currently frozen. And when she wasn't hunting, she was skinning and cutting up the animals they brought back, like she had spent the WHOLE morning doing. Georgie had managed to give her a few shooting lessons, but she hadn't spent nearly as much time with her as she use to, because she spent it all with stupid dumb Daryl. Dumb Daryl. She liked calling him that, although she didn't say it to his face. Instead, her eyes welled up with babyish tears.

"I don't want to play with Carl, playing's for babies. I want to learn to do things like you. You promised you'd teach me things and you don't." Embarrassed, she walked off, wishing she knew the grown up thing to say.

She had barely walked ten paces, when she felt two hands around her waist, and her body was lifted off the floor.

"FINE, you win short stuff. T-Dog can go scoping and you and me can learn gigging from Miao. I'm fed up of walking through snow anyway. And once we catch enough fish, I'll teach you how to hit a moving target." Georgie grinned wickedly. "Maybe we can get Glenn to run around with a bunny tail." Sophie squealed with glee and wrapped her arms around Georgie's neck.

"Can Mom come watch too?"

"I think she's already down by the lake with Miao. You walking, or piggy backing?"

"Piggy back!" Sophie wiggled her body around until she was securely on Georgie's back. Turning her head slightly, she saw Dumb Daryl looking at them, no expression on his face. In her head, she imagined sticking her tongue out at him again, but she wasn't quite that brave. Not yet.

When they got down to the lake, Sophie's mom was indeed already there, with Miao. Both had spears in their hands, and were looking intently into a hole in the ice. Georgie placed Sophie on the ground, and placed her finger to her lips, so Sophie knew not to disturb the pair of them. Already, a few fish lay on the ice next to the two women. Sophie's mum made a quick stabbing movement into the water and groaned in frustration. Miao patted her arm encouragingly.

"That was close. Remember to make allowances for the refraction. You got one before, so just take your time." Sophie's mum nodded and was about to take her stance again, when she looked up. Seeing Sophie and Georgie, she smiled. Sophie ran to her, followed by Georgie.

"I thought you were going to check out that house with Daryl?" Sophie's mum cuddled her with one arm, and spoke over her head to Georgie. Georgie shrugged.

"I'm sick of walking. I thought I'd chill out with the little one." She came next to the hole, and squatted down. "How does this work then?"

The afternoon went quickly. Gigging was harder than shooting a bow and arrow. The water played tricks on Sophie, making her think fish were closer than they were and she kept missing them. She didn't even get one. But neither did Georgie, which made her feel better. Her mom was good though, catching a few here and there. No one was as good as Miao though. Eventually, Georgie gave up, sitting on the snow with Sophie, as they decided how best to create an igloo.

They were just deliberating over how best to construct the walls, when Miao stood up and pointed at something over by the trees.

"T-Dog and Daryl are back!" She made a movement to go towards them, and then stopped, looking behind for Carol. Georgie grinned at Sophie and stood up too. Sophie slumped. They hadn't even finished the igloo and now that Dumb Daryl was back, Georgie was done. It wasn't fair. As Georgie, Miao and her Mom walked over to the two men, Sophie sighed and then stood up. Just because Georgie wasn't going to help her, didn't mean she couldn't finish the igloo herself. She looked around. The snow seemed to lay thickest on the lake, so that was where she decided to go. The ice had been thick enough to support four people on the edge, so it was probably be ok in the middle. Glancing back at the five adults, she brushed the snow off her knees and walked out on the lake.

It was hard walking on the ice; her feet kept slipping and sliding everywhere. She giggled-she felt like Bambi must have when he went on ice for the first time. She decided to go to the middle, and push the snow out from there. She was vaguely aware of someone shouting her from the side of the lake, but she ignored them, intent on getting the best snow.

It wasn't until she heard the crack, that she stopped. Fear flooded through her and she was unable to move. Maybe she had imagined it. She slowly turned to face the shore, where all the adults had gathered at the edge of the lake. T-Dog was holding her mom from running out onto the ice. Miao had grabbed his arm in horror. Georgie and Daryl were both making wild waving movements with their arms, motioning towards the ground. Sophie was too scared to think what they could mean. She could now clearly hear the rumbling of the ice beneath her feet. She looked down and up at Georgie again. This time, Georgie made a motion with her hand.

Look at me.

She slowly got down onto her hands and knees. Sophie copied her, trembling. Georgie gave her a thumbs up. She got onto her belly. Sophie mirrored her. Georgie motioned to her to crawl. Sophie started to edge towards the lake edge, which seemed miles away. Georgie got up to her knees and moved onto the ice, where they had just been gigging, ready to pull Sophie off.

Without warning, another crack, louder this time ripped through the air. Sophie's sense deserted her, and she scrambled to her feet and ran towards Georgie.

She didn't even manage two steps, before the ice cracked, and she fell through.