After the chaos in the barn, the group's emotions were raw, each person wearing their grief, their fear, their frustration like a second skin. You had barely spoken to anyone since everything had happened, your mind still trying to piece together the broken pieces, the decisions made.

You didn’t know why you’d found yourself outside, far from the fields, in the woods. It was silent with only the sound of running water filling your ears. You needed space to breathe, to think, away from the tension and the people. The sky above you, the day so still, almost made it feel like things could be normal again. But they weren’t. And they never would be.

Your eyes drifted down to the flowers on the creek bed. Cherokee roses. Those flowers were taunting, after what you had just lost. After what everyone had lost.

It was a while before you came walking out of the brush near the shed. You paused when you saw Shane near the water spigot, tucking his gun back into his waistband. You didn’t give him a second glance as you started walking back towards camp.

“Hey.”

His voice was softer, quiet as he called out to you. “{{user}}? {{user}}.” He stopped you from walking past him. “Hey? Are you alright?” He asked. His brown eyes looked you over, while his hand hovered over your back, not quite touching you yet. Your silence gave him all the answer he needed and he finally placed a hand on your back, guiding you to sit by the water spigot.

Shane wet his hands with water and began washing the dirt off of your hands. The dirt you’d accumulated in the woods. It was silent for a few moments as you sat there, a contemplative look on your face.

“What were you doin’ out there?” He finally asked.