Chapter 13.

The grass rustled to Beth's cautious steps. Echo's gaze failed to break from the stars. Echo didn't ignore Beth's presence, she kept quiet until Beth took a seat next to her. Echo's flannel covered her lap, revealing small, healed, scars upon her shoulders.

"Did my brother send you?" Echo began.

"I came on my behalf. I haven't exactly had the chance to get to know you as well as the others." Beth admitted, that she began to occupy herself by picking at the long strands of grass.

"Thoughtful." Echo commented.

Beth searched Echo's expression for sarcasm, but there wasn't a sign to go by. She began to understand that she was just socially awkward. Echo's ice-like eyes locked on Beth's. Beth froze, while her train of thought slowly erased from her mind. Echo's gaze collapsed onto the ground beneath her, having a sudden realization that eye contact may have made Beth's comfort levels drop.

That was hardly what Echo intended to do. Beth could easily perceive that she was trying, and in a way she pitied Echo.

"You know, they say stars are light to a loved one's soul. Their light resembles someone you think about every day, someone who watches over us now." Echo broke the silence.

Beth looked up to the dark sky and allowed her eyes to wander over the stars.

"Who are you searching for? I mean, up in the sky." Beth corrected herself.

"Good friends of mine. I miss them." A humble sigh escaped Echo's lips. Mentioning her friends, punctured a hole in Echo's heart. There was nothing she could do to bring them back, but keeping them in memory allowed them to live on.  

"Were they bit?" Beth questioned.

"Some shot, some bit, what does it matter they're gone because of me." Echo snapped with an agitated voice. Beth felt her stomach drop into a pit in her gut, knowing she hit a nerve within Echo. Beth was at a loss for words, unsure whether she should continue or leave her be. But that flame of determination ceased.

"I'm sorry I snapped..." Echo apologetically muttered beneath her breath.

"No, I should have carefully chosen my words. I didn't realize it was a sensitive topic to you, Echo." Beth disagreed. Even though Beth knew what happened to her and why she holds herself accountable for it, she refused to bring it up after Myles revealed her occupation.

"It was my fault, and I won't allow it to happen again." Echo replied, leaving out the details she was uncomfortable about discussing.

"Sometimes we don't get to choose. I've lost people I've cared for, I wanted to lay down and join them, but that's not a choice we can make when others care for us, Echo. And your family needs you, we all need you." Beth opened up.

Momentarily, Echo was unsure how she felt. She wanted to protect her family and her group, but she felt if she went near them then she might lose someone. But maybe that wasn't exactly true. Maybe if she kept a fair distance next to them, it would be easier for her to feel less alone.

And that's precisely what Beth intended to do: make her feel appreciated and not alone.

"Come on, why don't we join the rest of them at the fire," Beth suggested. She was pleased to know that Echo was somewhat comfortable around her and that she managed to open up briefly.

"Sure." Echo agreed. Echo folded her legs to the side and propped herself up with her elbows.

Beth smiled sweetly and grabbed Echo's wrist and led her over to the fire. She felt awkward about returning to the fire and having all the attention on her. She preferred to have slept in the same spot she sat for during the remaining time of the afternoon. But she didn't complain. She took a seat a fair distance away from the fire and next to Beth that accompanied her.

She kept her frozen gaze towards the flames, ignoring the uneasy feeling that rose from the pit of her stomach. She buried her thoughts into the back of her mind, searching for some form of peace. The only form of peace that she could conclude was her family was safe.

Maggie and Beth both began to sing, 'Good night and joy be with you.'

"If only we had a guitar," Myles whispered to Echo, reminding her of the days Echo would strum to old records they once owned as children. Echo privately as a child, would play along to the song while quietly singing, afraid to be criticized for the smallest thing by her Uncle.

Though she didn't give much of a damn if he was black-out drunk.

The corner of Echo's lip raised, as a response to Myles. Echo didn't want to interrupt Beth and Maggie's singing. Rick turned away from the fence and joined the group next to the fire. His mind began to wander toward a vision of safety. He could only conclude that the Prison was infested with the dead and it would only take time to achieve that vision.

Rick held a share of his food in a bowl. He hardly picked at the wing, instead of thinking of his hunger he passed it to his wife. Her glossy eyes stared at him in concern, but then he gave a nod. Insisting that she should take it.

Myles gave humble applause to Maggie and Beth after they were finished their song.

"Beautiful." Hershel complimented his daughters. Carol and Daryl stood quietly standing a fair distance behind Maggie and Glenn, after having a conversation away from the group.

"Better all turn in. I'll take watch over there. We've got a big day tomorrow." Rick changed the subject.

"You should rest, Rick. I'll take your shift." Echo volunteered.

Rick shook his head and raked his fingers through his soaked hair.

"I can't ask you to do that." Rick implied. He acknowledged that the group was exhausted from clearing out the yard of walkers, there wasn't a doubt that the prison would be physically demanding to secure.

"Here we go again," Hannah mumbled in disappointment.

A humble sigh escaped her nostrils, "I insist. You deserve time; both with your family, and to focus on your wellbeing. Just as much as everyone here."

Rick stared at her in silence, observing that she was serious about her decision. Arguing with her about an offer proved to be useless. His silence was enough of an answer for her. Echo untangled her legs from beneath her and stood up, Rick miming her actions. He approached her and handed her his rifle.

"Just a few hours and I'll take over," Rick explained to her with appreciation in his voice.

Myles shook his head, he knew that this was a frustrating experiment for Echo. Months they've been together and she still hasn't broken her reserved shell.

"This was a great win. We've gotta push just a little bit more. Most of the guards are dressed as prisoners. Looks like this place fell pretty early. It could mean, supplies are still in tack. They have an infirmary, an armoury-"

"An armoury?" Daryl questioned.

Rick nodded, "It's gotta be outside the prisoner's block, but not too far away. Warden's office would have info on the location. Weapons, food, and medicine. This place could be a gold mine." Rick inspired the group with things that are hard to find ever since survival has changed drastically.

"Rick, we're dangerously low on ammo. Even a soldier cannot provide us with enough." Hershel reminded Rick about the decreasing amount of ammo and weapons Echo has provided.

And in case of a heard of walkers subconsciously showing up nearby was a dangerous gamble if they wasted it on the prison. Taking that gamble might provide them with the weapons that could remain in the prison. But choosing not to take the gamble would prove to be a much more strategic task to clear out of the prison.

It wasn't just the ammo Hershel was worried about it was the sound.

"We might run out before we even make it in." Hershel included.

Myles nodded, "I guess this is why we'll have to go hand to hand." Myles stabbed the soil with his machete.

Most of the group had a weary and drained expression. Echo continued to listen, keeping her mind away from the acidic feeling in her muscles.

"After all we've been through; we can handle it, I know it. These assholes don't stand a chance..." Rick reminded the group. And as stubborn as he was, it seemed as if he couldn't sit close to his wife anymore without wanting to protect the group.

Rick took off in the opposite direction as Echo, abruptly. As if something set him off. Echo paced along the fence until she noticed Lori chased after him. She stared at the cloudy eyes of the dead that clawed at the fence and pretended not to eavesdrop on Rick and Lori's conversation.

As rude as it may be and an old habit of hers, she began to listen. 

Lori's hand cradled the bottom of her swollen stomach. Rick twisted around after realizing he was being followed.

"I appreciate what you have been doing, we all have. But it's been a death march in there and we're exhausted. Can we just enjoy this for a few days?" Lori begged Rick.

"Maybe in a few days, but there's no time for a picnic," Rick replied sarcastically, but with reason.

"What do you think I've been doing?" Rick questioned.

"Your absolute best," Lori answered.

"Don't patronize me." Rick rolled his eyes and began to walk away from her. Echo knew that Lori was just as stubborn as her husband, and walking away from her wouldn't disclose the conversation.

"I'm not. I am just saying the baby is about to be here. A-and we need to talk about this." Lori defended herself.

Rick halted in his tracks and saw no point in running away, "About what?"

Lori was at a loss for words, "Things." she concluded.

"Things we've been avoiding for months," Lori added to her sentence. Rick read her apprehensive state within her voice.

A crease formed upon Echo's brows. What did Lori mean by that?

"If you want to talk, talk to Hershel. I'm doing stuff, 'things.' Isn't that enough?"

"I'm still here." Rick reminded Lori.

Lori closed her eyes in disappointment and lowered her guard, "You're right."

Echo turned her focus back to the borders of the fence as the fence rattled.

Soon, three walkers became four against the fence. Echo slung the strap of the rifle around her torso and took out her blade. As much as she wanted to admit it, she never got used to the smell of rotting flesh. It was a foul cloud that hung in the air.

"Sadly, you didn't receive an appeal before this," Echo mumbled. She aligned the tip of the blade with the walker's head. The walker collapsed against the fence and folded onto the concrete. The rest began to pile over the lifeless walker. Their eyes plague coloured and pale, their groans remained raspy and hungry. Stealthily, she took out the three newer walkers.

Beads of sweat coated the back of her neck, and uncomfortably she felt the sweat pool in her bra. Echo's eyes traced over her shoulder, her ears snapped to the unfamiliar sound. Her eyes narrowed to Rick. He stood quietly next to the raven-haired woman. 

During training, she picked up the habit of reading by sound. Identifying the steps of the person nearby. Sometimes, it became difficult to identify the presence, because someone could easily mimic one of the group member's steps.

"I'll take over from here, get some rest, you're going to need it." Rick insisted, his voice evidently carrying the sound of exhaustion.

"Alright, if you pass out, I ain't carrying you back." she complied, handing Rick the rifle she borrowed. Her joke made Rick chuckle in pure amusement.

Echo turned her back and began to part paths with him. She gave a quick glance over to her family. Myles was still awake, his back faced her while he chatted quietly with Hershel. She folded her thin, flanneled shirt tightly against her chest. 

Echo's eyes inward towards her brother, an odd feeling began to swirl around within her chest. Hesitation abrupted her thought process, but she knew it would have made him smile if she joined them at the fire. She was quiet and didn't give much attention to the stares she earned.

She took a seat a few feet away from Myles and sat in a crisscrossed position. Her mind couldn't comprehend why she wanted to stay up so late. Although she was sure if she didn't get a couple of hours of sleep she would be digging her own grave.

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A/note: Hey everyone! Thanks for getting me over 1k! It was a big surprise to see, I am glad you're enjoying Renegade so far for the ones who've been reading since the begging. This chapter was a little bit on the shorter side, but I feel as if I have covered a lot so far. Thanks for reading, votes and comments are always appreciated.