Edited: April 2nd, 2019, 00:30 hours.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the walking dead.

RPOV

Just keep runnin.' Don't stop. Ya just have to find a tree. Fast. The moans are getting closer- Run harder! Faster!

The thoughts flashed through my mind, faster than my legs could ever carry me. My mad dash through the forest left me pantin', my throat achingly dry. I just had to find a sturdy tree, and I would be alright. The ever approachin' moans caused me to panic, and I hefted myself up into the nearest tree. I leaned back against the trunk and tried to even out my breath. Lookin' down, I realized there would be no way out of the corner I had backed myself into.

Well, if ya can't go down, ya gotta go up.

Which really wasn't much help, neither.

In the distance between the thinning trees I could see a large buildin'. Maybe if I could just make it out of the trees...

A branch to my left caught my attenti'n. It reached out towards me, as if to say, 'Not up, across.'

Lookin' down at the moaners around the base of my tree, I thought,

"Why the hell not?"

Carefully reachin' out, I grasped the branch and shimmied over into the neighboring' tree. I ignored the stone in my gut as I passed between the two, praying to any who would listen that I didn't fall. It must of worked, considerin' I made it over safe enough. I moved quietly, hopin' they hadn't noticed me. If I could just get out of their sight, they might leave.

But who knows how long that'll take.

Not too long, apparently, 'cause they got pulled away by some loud noise comin' from the buildin' I had been eyeing. Perhaps it wouldn't be smart to head over there now. If it attracted moaners too much, it wasn't anywhere I wanted to be.

So I waited another hour and thought it over. If I went, I might find other people and food. Food.

My feet hit the forest floor silently. The grumble that came from my stomach, however, was not so silent.

I snuck through the trees, keeping an eye out for anymore gangs of moaners. I didn't wanna get stuck in another damn tree, cause I sure as hell wasn't gunna get that lucky twice in the same month.

When I finally came to the edge of the trees, my eyes widened at the expanse of land before me. Standing tall was a grey, concrete prison. A straight up prison. And the best part?

It was surrounded by fences which kept the moaners out.

Whoever was runnin' this place knew what they were doin', and I wanted in.

So, doin' my best not to draw attenti'n by slowly and gimpily walk-in' through the tall grass, I approached the fences. When I finally reached the gates- by no small miracle- I saw a boy about my age, walkin' right by me.

It's now or never, I thought as my hand shot through the wires of the first fence, grabbing a fistful of the boy's shirt. He turned quickly and raised his knife, only to bring it back down when he realized I wasn't dead.

"Dad…" he yelled cautiously, voice crackin'.

A man came walking into the yard, but once he saw me, he started running.

"Who is she? What does she want?" The tall man asked

"How would I know, I didn't ask." The boy replied.

The man gave me a look over. "We aren't accepting people. There ain't enough food to go around as it is."

"Dad!" The boy wearing the Sheriff's hat admonished. "We can't just turn her away!"

A moan to my left caught my attenti'n. I had to let go of the boy's shirt to grab my knife and kill the moaner. Crap I thought, as all the undead turned to me and started makin' their way over.

"This way!" The young boy yelled as he started running to the gates. I ran with him, not wantin' to die when I was so close to bein' safe, and took out the moaners in my way. When I got to the gate the boy opened them for me, and I ran in.

"Damn it, Carl! I said to send her away! Not let her in!" The boy's father yelled.

"We couldn't just let her get eaten, she's just a kid! And besides, we could use more help." The boy replied. I just stood there awkwardly, waitin' for them to get through their spat.

The boy turned to me and asked, "How many walkers have you killed?" I guessed 'walkers' meant moaners. I kinda like that.

"I ran outta fingers and toes to count 'em on by the end of the first week," I said.

"How many people have you killed?" He asked next.

"One," I answered simply.

"Why?"

Such a simple questi'n. "Sometimes karma just hits people harder than others. It's why you shouldn't try to feed kids to moaners." I said, lookin' to the older man who had told me to leave. No harsh feelings, though. I probably would have wanted to do the same thing.

"Okay, you're in, if you want anyway." The boy said, shrugging. His father watched him talk, not interferrin'. There was a proud glint in his eye, hidin' behind the irritation at being blatantly disobeyed.

"I'm in," I said stiffly. There is no way I'm going back out there.

"Okay, then. What's your name?" The man asked.

"Riley, Riley Dixon." I answered. The two shared a look at my name that I pretended not to notice.

"I am Rick Grimes, and this is my son, Carl," Rick supplied. "Let's go back inside, and you can meet the others." With that, Rick and Carl turned around and headed up to the prison. It's a quiet walk, the moaners gettin' quieter and quieter the farther we go from the fences. Rick holds a door open for me and I nod up at him in thanks.

The inside is dimly lit, and a little cold. But it's moaner free, and I'll take it.

"…Riley?" I turn to the source of the voice I hadn't heard in months.

"Daryl?" I squeak as take off towards him, practically throwing myself around his shoulders like a spider monk'y. He wrapped his arms around me, squeezing me tight, like he never intended on lettin' go, and I think I'm okay with that with a large smile.

"Daryl, who is that?" A girl asked, walking up.

"Daryl, who's that? I didn't know all I had to do was disappear for a couple years and ya finally get a lady's attention. But does it count if it's cause yer one of the only ones left?"

The girl looked at me funny, and I stared back.

"Riley, this is Carol," he said.

"… Yer girlfrien' ?" I added, which draws a couple laughs.

Daryl gave me his look, and said, "No, Riley."

I hiss,"Ooh, sorry Carol, he didn' put ya down very easy, did 'e?" I snorted.

"I like her, she'll add some life to this place." I turn to see an old guy walkin' over. "I'm Hershel."

I faked a gasp and turned to Daryl. "Daryl! I thought ya told me Santa don't exist!"

I happily listened to the group chuckle and admonish Daryl. I hadn't thought I'd ever see my brother again, and now look at us. Could the end of the world get any better?

"I'm Riley," I said, happy to finally have a safe place, and with my brother no less.

First revamped chapter done! Thoughts?

- MMJ