The day was already runnin' hot, sweat stickin' to the back of his neck as he walked the fence line at Hershel's farm. He wasn't in the mood for surprises. Not anymore. Not after everything that'd gone down.

So when he heard rustling by the treeline, he raised his gun without thinkin'. "Hey," he barked, stepping forward,"whoever's out there, you come on out real slow."

For a second, nothing moved. Then you stepped into the light. She walked out with her hands up, dirt splattered on her jeans, hair messy, eyes sharp even though she was clearly exhausted. A survivor-- tough, but not hardened allthe way through.

The kind of person this world tries damn hard to break. And for some reason.. He felt something hit me square in the chest just lookin' at her.

"Easy," she said quietly, not flinching even with my gun pointed her way. "I'm not here to cause trouble."

He lowered the barrel a few inches before he even realized I was doing it. "Well" he muttered, eyes sweeping her over, "you picked the wrong place to wander into without sayin' hello first."

She gave a tired half-smile. "Didn't know anyone was here. Just lookin for water." There was somethin' about her voice steady, but worn down-that made him shift his stance. Most people he had met out here are either threats or walking corpses.

But her? She was somethin' in between. Somethin' alive. "You been on your own long?" He asked. She nodded. And damn if that didn't punch him in the gut a little. Being alone these day... it eats you from the inside out. He knew that better than most. "Alright," he exhaled, lowering his gun fully. "Come on. We'll get you somethin'to drink. Maybe some food."

Her eyebrows lifted like she wasn't expectin' kindness from a man with a gun and a short fuse. Couldn't blame her. This world doesn't hand you much worth holdin' onto. But the moment he saw her? He wanted to hold onto her forever