After she ran from the man she could hear him try to follow her, but ultimately he gave up and continued his way to wherever he needed to be.
It was almost a thrill, it made adrenaline settle in her chest and gave her the feeling of 'I could do anything'. Though instead she decided to resume the search for a hide out, coming to the conclusion that a safe haven was more rewarding than following a cute guy like some middle school crush.
Nina passed the time by French braiding her hair and by the time she was done, her hair was prettily out of her face, and her arms were tired from being strained in such unusual positions.
Bored, she once again mentally noted the knives she could feel hidden throughout her outfit. One in her bra, in her waistline and her boot.
She's not doing so hot, okay? The thought of giving birth strikes an anxiety in her, one that has been deep routed into her soul. The borderline horror stories women told about their experience in the back of her mind. And they had doctors, medical care, their families, epidurals, ectetera. Nina does not.
Nina could do for a good cry right about now as she thinks about having to birth her baby in the open, not knowing what lurks around and feeds off her screams before doing the same to her and her child.
Maybe she should've stayed with that man, guilt consumed over her anxiety as she recalls how she left him there, injured and having to fight those things off.
It may have been the half asleep drowsy state she was in, but the guilt forges an image of the man she helped, making her scoff as she waved it away. Soon getting irritated when the image did not relent.
He crouches down, already having taken in her stomach with his eyes and now more worried about her. Though, he was almost certain he did not see that crucial detail when she was in front of him. It could've been the shirt she was wearing, black is very slimming they say.
This had to have been the woman that wrapped him up. He couldn't just leave a pregnant lady to sleep out in the open after she came to his aid.
So with the strength he had- most of which was adrenaline at the moment- he lifts her up, snaking his arm around her back and under her shoulders, her arm over his.
At this point she's awake and out of the sleep state, just tired now. Nina's realized he's not a figment of her imagination and hopes that if he notices, that he pins the blame on the sun for her blush.
Ignore the ears around his neck and the fact he's unhygienically dirty because of the events at the ravine, he's definitely attractive.
Noticing how much of a strain she puts on his injured body, she puts her arm under his, imitating the way he holds her.
His head snaps to her and she just about drops him completely at how sudden it was.
As he now knows she's capable of standing on her own he pulls back any help he gave, dropping his arms to his side.
Nina holds back a wince at the action. All she wanted to do was make sure he wasn't hurting himself any further, but maybe she was in the wrong? He probably just didn't enjoy physical contact. That's okay.
They walk side by side until the trees clear up and out in the distance a farm is visible. Tents huddled in front of the house, people bustling about. Nina and him don't get very far before a group of men are darting for them like bullets.
Bad analogy apparently.
Nina readies herself to bolt away but the unfortunate bang of a gunshot rings out and she drops to the ground, her hands instinctively covering her head and stomach to protect the two of them.
Nina releases a huff of air with widened eyes, taking in the new scene in front of her.
Now instead of a peaceful farmhouse, she sees the guy she helped being lifted by two men. They glance back at her, aiming their guns straight at her.
Nina slowly raises from the ground, her arms protectively around her hard belly.
Noticing this they lower their guns, all but one. The bald man. One of the men holding up the guy snaps at the man holding the gun that threatens herself and her unborn baby. "Shane!"
Shane reluctantly lowers the gun, scoffing and shaking his head before going back to help carry the man.
The man that bossed Shane around tells two other guys to make sure Nina doesn't get antsy and try anything. From him saying that she learns their names are Glenn and T-dog.
A doll and the ears get pointed out, and then they're on the way to the farm house.
They hauled ass inside the house where a sweet old man named Hershel took care of them, kindly offering Nina some tea or a sandwich, both offers made her smile widely. Not because she wanted a drink- she did, but the main reason was the air around him that was so welcoming and fatherly.
She accepted the tea, denying the sandwich and followed Hershel to a room where he checks Daryl's wounds.
"This one's wrapped up, you did this?" He asks the mystery woman. Nina nods with a smile, proud of her work. "Well you did a good job, saved me the time of cleaning it." He praises, a sinking feeling in her gut as he does so. The kind gesture was greatly appreciated, it strangely made her feel seen, and her heart swells with affection towards the considerate man. He reminds her of what her father could've been, maybe that's why she was taking so well the the elder man.
Rick- who's name she learned all on her own, it made her proud of herself- and Shane talk to the guy about the doll he had. Nina is disappointed the guys name hasn't come up yet, she'd like to know that much.
She steps out as he prepares to stitch the skin, taking a breather once she's out of the room. Roaming the living room, she admires the warmth and familial love that encloses the room like four walls and a roof.
At the mention of low antibiotics she drops her bag on the arm of the soft couch, roaming her hands blindly through the stuffed backpack until she reaches a bottle of Tylenol. Happy she could help, Nina skips back into the room, though she walked right into the conversation so she waits until she wouldn't be interrupting.
They converse about a horse named Nervous Nelly. Shortly after Rick and Shane leave the room, taking a sort of tension with them and out the door.
Nina rocks back and forth impatiently before Hershel turns to her, chuckling. "Yes?" He asks, her actions reminding him greatly of when his daughters were younger and they had something to say.
"Don't have antibiotics, but I have Tylenol." She let's him take the bottle from her hand.
He bows his head at her, "Thank you. At the rate these people are getting injured it'll be of great use."
She beams, glancing behind him and to the guy, he peeks an eye open at her and she flashes what will be described as a shy smile before turning back to Hershel and bidding a goodbye.