Willow | The Walking Dead

Weeping Willow

"Speed up or we're leavin ya behind!" The baldish man snapped, glaring behind him and his brother, where a small child struggled under the weight of a backpack. She was around five or six with her hair choppily cut short, wearing an oversized flannel and frayed leggings. She was dirty and small, weaker than she needed to be.

"Go easy on her, Merle." The other man sighed, slowing down a bit. Merle grunted and hiked his gun up. The girl looked at the other man through her bangs, struggling more to reach his speed.

"She's my kid, Daryl, I can talk to her how I want!" The girl lowered her head and stared at the ground, audibly panting. Daryl rolled his eyes, but scooped the girl and her bag up. She sagged into his chest, tiny body shaking from exhaustion. He might not like the kid, but she didn't deserve to be pushed that hard.

"C'mon, don't coddle her! How's she gonna survive if she can't walk on her own?" Merle snapped, poking the girl's bony back, but she didn't move. Daryl was slightly concerned, but giving her water would annoy Merle further.

"She's just a kid, give her a minute! We've been walking all day!" He growled, adjusting his grip on the girl. He didn't want to carry her, but she would collapse if they went any further.

Merle had knocked up a chick years ago and had been a deadbeat dad, never visiting the kid and never paying child support. He seemed to forget he had a kid until the dead started to rise, then he decided he wanted his kid. Daryl didn't ask why her mother wasn't coming, he didn't want to know, but now they were stuck with a tiny child and no experience.

She had cried several times, fell constantly, and spoke in single words. It was starting to annoy Merle who seemed to think his child would magically be just like him. Daryl was surprised he hadn't abandoned her when he saw how weak she was.

"Th-thanks." A shaky noice breathed next to his ear, before she buried her head into his neck and seemed to pass out. Daryl huffed, but made sure to keep his grip so she didn't jostle too much. 

Merle had overheard a soldier telling some people about a camp of survivors and decided they would check it out. If it didn't work out, they'd take the people's shit and get out of dodge.

Merle made a hand motion when he noticed the camp, holding his gun in a way he could easily access it. Daryl shook the girl awake and set her down, grabbing his crossbow. She immediately latched on his leg and peered from behind it, fumbling to get her knife from its sheathe.

Another testament to Merle's ability as a father, he gave the kid a hunting knife and gun when she had no experience. Daryl would teach her later if he had the time, but for now he popped the latch and hoped she didn't stab herself.

They approached slowly, but the girl kept stepping on twigs until she learned to step on rocks instead. She was a fast learner.

Eventually someone in the group saw them and alerted the others, leading a few men to greet them. A Chinese man, a cop, and an old guy welcomed them and looked them over, but didn't cause a ruckus. The cop looked at the kid for too long, making Daryl stand in front of her. Wasn't the cops business.

"I don't trust these fags, we're setting up over there. Teach the kid to pitch a tent or somethin'" Merle waved his hand dismissively and bypassed greetings, probably heading off to snort his stash while Daryl watched the kid. Daryl wanted to yell Merle to watch his damn kid, but the girl didn't need to see her dad do drugs, which Merle would happily show her.

"C'mon Willow." He gruffed, placing a hand on her back to hurry her up. He didn't know her real name, but Merle had taken to calling her 'PussyWillow'. He doubted that was her real name, but she responded to it, so whatever. He wasn't terrible enough to use the full name though, he had some decency.