Chapter 27

I woke up the next morning to frantic voices. I sat up and listened.

"He's gone and I can't find him!"

I knew this to Maggie's voice. Daryl was awake then and we both got dressed and ran out. Maggie saw me and I ran to me.

"Prue my dad's gone and Beth just collapsed!" She said.

"Alright it will be alright Maggie! Do you have any idea where you father may have gone?" I asked.

She shook her head. Shane, Rick, Glenn, Maggie, Daryl and I went into the house and searched Hershel's room. Shane held up a flask.

"Looks like he found an old friend." He said.

"He doesn't drink anymore! He stopped the day I was born. He won't even allow alcohol in the house."

"Maggie I think that maybe the loss of your mother and brother have driven him back." I said.

She thought for a minute and then nodded. That bar in town. That's where he always went in his drinking days." She said.

We nodded and then I looked at Rick and Shane.

"I'll go into to town." Rick said.

"I'll go too." Glenn said.

I nodded and then I left the room with Daryl. On my way down the hall I saw Patricia in Beth's room. I knocked on the door lightly.

"How is she?" I asked.

"There isn't much I can do without Hershel. She is in a right state she is." Patricia said.

I walked over and knelt down beside Beth. I took her hand and closed my eyes. I tried everything I could. Every healing prayer I knew. Nothing worked. I sighed and then looked at Patricia.

"Rick and Glenn are going to town to find Hershel and bring him back. Beth will be alright. I know it." I said.

She smiled sadly and I took her hand and squeezed it. I then stood up and walked out into the hall. I left the house and Carl and Sophia ran up to me.

"Prue where did Hershel go?" Sophia asked.

"He went into town. I know not why but Rick and Glenn will find him." I said.

Carl didn't say anything and Sophia just nodded. I knew Carl didn't believe me.

"Carl your father will find him." I said.

He nodded and then he walked away. Sophia looked at me.

"Prue can you teach me how to use a sword?" She asked.

I had to smile at her eagerness. I nodded and she rewarded me with a smile. I led her closer to the camp and then looked around for a substitute sword. I found two strong sticks and stood opposite her.

"Alright. I shall come at you slowly. All I want you to do is block like so…"

I demonstrated a block and she nodded. I went forward and slowly brought my stick down. She blocked me and I smiled.

"Well done. Now I shall come a little faster. And then faster still. When you are comfortable with the block we shall move on. Defense is the first thing you must learn." I said.

She smiled and nodded.

We practiced for what seemed like hours. She was a fast learner. Her only flaw was her fear. Then again after being chased by walkers and lost in the woods for over 2 days would be enough to scare anyone for a lifetime.

"That will be enough practice for one day. You have done very well Sophia. You learned faster then I did." I said.

"Really? But you're so fast and strong. You're not afraid of anything!" She said.

I laughed lightly and knelt down so I was eye level with her.

"This is where you are wrong young Sophia. I may be fast and strong but I do feel fear." I said.

Her eyes widened.

"You do?"

I nodded.

"Indeed I do. I mask it while I fight, I do this because what I fear is losing the ones I care for."

"Like Daryl?" She asked.

I smiled and laughed. I nodded.

"Yes like Daryl. But also you and Carl. And your mother. And the people of this group. All of you are the family I lost be found again. I fear to lose any of you. Even the strongest warrior in the world has a weakness." I said.

She nodded. I gave her a hug and then I walked her back to her mother.

"Oh there you are Sophia." Carol said.

"I learned how to block with a sword today!" She said excitedly.

Carol looked at me and gave me a small smile.

"That's great. Why don't you in the RV and clean yourself up a little." She said.

Sophia nodded and ran inside. Carol looked at me.

"I don't know how I feel about my little girl using a weapon." She said.

I sighed.

"Carol she needs to…"

"Why would she need to? Why can't she just be a little girl? Live a normal childhood?" Carol asked.

I looked down at the ground. I wished the same thing. Children should never have to go through such a thing as this hell of a world.

"Believe me Carol I wish much the same. However this word has robbed us of the simple pleasures we once knew. Now more then ever we all need to be able to protect ourselves and the ones we love. What if, and goddess forbid this should happen, what if she were to get lost again? She would know how to protect herself and find her way back." I said.

Carol shook slightly at the thought of her daughter once more getting lost. I put my hand on her arm and she looked at me. I offered her a comforting smile and she nodded. She walked back inside the RV and then I went to my tent. However I found that Daryl had moved it. I frowned as I saw that it was quite a good distance from the others. As I walked forward I saw Lori walking away. She looked very upset.

"Lori is everything alright?" I asked.

"Rick and Glenn still haven't come back. I asked Daryl if he could go and get them. He said no." She said.

She walked off before I could respond. I watched her go for a few seconds before walking to Daryl. He was making arrows.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"Tired of dealing with them people." He said.

I frowned and grabbed his knife away.

"The hell?!"

"Those people?! If I am not mistaken those people went back to Atlanta voluntarily to look for your brother! They also saved my ass on more then one occasion! And they helped me find you when you were wounded in the woods!" I said.

I threw the knife into a tree and then walked off.