into the wild.

As he changed, he began to think about a lot of different things. He missed Rick and had hopes that he made it out But soon enough that nagging feeling of doubt was in the pit of his stomach. Shane stepped back into view watched her for a little while longer and then called out, "Hey, Constance? You should get out, I can see your lips turnin' blue from here. I'm sure Daryl with be back with something for lunch soon, anyhow." He threw his town and dirty clothes over his shoulder, putting a hand on his hip.

---

Dakota bit her lip again, nodded her head in an effort to bring the conversation to an end. She sometimes wished that Daryl was different; that he would show her more affection or speak to her about his feelings more often. But then again, if Daryl was different, she probably wouldn't feel the way she felt about him now. "Good job on the dear, Dixon."

"Yeah, yeah," she said as she started towards the short and sighed as she walked up and grabbed her towel drying her hair first, "It felt good to be numb for a while," she said to him weakly as she looked at him then wrapped the towel around her.

Constance sighed then went behind the rock to change her clothes then when she walked out she dried her hair more thoroughly. "Come on kiddo - lets eat, I'm starving," she said smiling a little and grabbing Shane's hand as he walked beside her.

---

He nodded a little, "We all need it," he said to her as he lifted it to his shoulders with a grunt,"Come on," he said to her as he walked. The camp wasn't too far, but he was happy to have bagged the dear because everyone was hungry - when people were hungry they got pissed, he of all people knew this.

Shane smiled and laced his fingers with hers as they walked. He forgot how much he loved the feeling of her skin on his. He tried not to think about it too much; he had other things he needed to focus on like how to keep everyone safe and what the next step for everyone at the camp would be. He scanned the camp grounds, spotting Lori over by the R.V folding clothes. He patted Carl's head and set him over to her. He turned to Constance and smiled, "You feeling a little better?"

---

Dakota followed him staying silent as they made their way back to the camp. She went and got the knives out of the tent that he had asked for and brought then to him. She ran a hand over her face as she watched him get to work on the deer, "You wanna go wash up after we are done with this?"

"Yeah I feel alright, a bit tired still but I'll be alright - miss fourteen hours of sleep," she said to him as she fought back a yawn, "I'm real hungry though," she said as her stomach growled.

Constance hadn't eaten proper in a while cause she'd been feeding the kids some of her food - she hated seeing kids complain they were hungry - they were growing and burning calories faster than adults it wa only right they got to eat more.

---

He looked at her and nodded,"Yeah we'll wash up, be all bloody and shit," he said as he tossed the deer down by the tent, he opened a fabric case then pulled out a long sharp knife - he laid the deer out on a tarp that he used to cut up the meat.

He made sure to do this behind his tent cause he didn't want no one bitches bout kids seein him carve up their food like last time; deads walking and they're worried about kids seein blood.

Shane nodded, "I think tired and hungry has become more of a personality trait around here now." He sighed as he went a d sat down in a nearby chair. "Emotions aren't the same and everything has a different meanin' now. It's all bullshit really." He shook his head slightly, "My main priority is tryin' to keep y'all safe y'know?" He looked around and watched everyone going about there business. It was sad that this had become their everyday life. Fight walkers, try and eat a little, make sure everyone has decent enough clothing, and get a few hours of sleep. What he would do to be able to crank a cold one and watch college football...

---

Dakota nodded and helped him. She do certain things he asked--she knew he didn't ask her to do too much because she didn't know, but she wanted to learn all she could. She didn't want to become useless and not be able to help out. She gathered the intestines and other parts in a small bag to be able to give to Andrea and her sister for fishing like Daryl had asked.

Constance nodded a little,"I know, look breakfast is done, come on, my stomach is eating itself," she told him laughing a little as she dragged him over to where they were serving the food.

Constance grabbed her plate of fish and pinto beans with rice, "Oh good it's going to actually fill me up," she said happily as she sat down and began to eat.

---

He sighed as he skinned it then began to cut the meat out and placing the chunks in other buckets by what part of meat it was - he had cut out easily a hundred pounds of meat by the time he was done, "This'll last a week at best, but we gotta cook it all today, chop it up and cook it with some of those seasonings blondie has," he said to her.

Shane grinned as he saw what was being served. He had been starving. It was always nice when they were able to have a substantial amount of food. He made himself a plate and went over to where Constance was sitting and eating. He pulled apart his fish, putting a piece of it in his mouth. He sighed happily, "Can you remember the last time we had this much food?" He began to scarf his food down like it was about to run off his plate.

---

Dakota nodded and gave him a small smile, "Yeah, that's hay I had figured. I already planned on starting to do that after we got washed up, that way it can be done by sun down. Don't need that shit cooking after dark."

Constance smiled a little as she took a large bite and nodded,"I've been waiting for them to break out the rice, missed it," she said as she sighed a little as the food hit her stomach like a rock.

---

He nodded a little, "I'm sure I can get some of the ladies over there to cook it," he said to her and licked his lips, "Hey sheriff can you get someone to take this load of meat and start cookin it - midday already and this shit'll turn up biters if we wait too long," he said talking to Shane.

@ Holden Caulfield.

Shane laughed as he saw the elation on her face from the food. Shane finished his food right as Daryl called to him. He nodded back in response. He looked over at Cobstance who seemed to be just about done eating, "if I remember correctly, you're a decent cook. Wanna go get Carol and you two get some if that meat cooked up before it gets dark?"

---

Dakota helped take the majority of the meat over to where it needed to be cooked at. She went back to her tent and grabbed some clothes and her towel. She held them up to Daryl, "you ready to go get washed up or do you want me to go with out you?"

She nodded,"Mhm, yes sir I will cook all the deer he can hunt," she said nodding as she ate her food, "Just put the lids on the buckets and I'll cook them shortly, thank you so much, Daryl!" she said to him - she was so happy, so much food it would last a while they'd be okay. Which was one less thing to worry about.

Constance smiled a little to herself as she set her plate in the basket so they could be washed.

---

He nodded,"Yeah yeah," he said shaking his head as the girl thanked him, "Yeah I stink lets get washed," he said to her as he grabbed his shit then waited for her to be ready.

@ Holden Caulfield.

Shane stood up when he was done eating, stretching his limbs slightly. He looked over to Constance, "You finished?" He smiled when she nodded and he collected her plate as well to dispose of them. He made a quick round over to Andrea and her sister to say a quick thank you for catching the fish. He then made he rounds to everyone else, making sure that things were getting done for the day.

---

Dakota finished getting her stuff and followed Daryl down to the water. She peeled her clothes off, leaving her in her bra and underwear. She sighed slightlt, wishing she did have a bathing suit so she didn't have to be in a wet bra the rest of the day. She walked slowly into the water, inhaling a sharp breath at tge coldness.

Constance smiled and modses,"Yeah," she said as she licked her lips. She got up and went to wash her hands them grabbed the buckets of meat then a clean pot to put over the fire. 'What seasonings do you figure? " She asked Carol.

He walked down to the water and stripped to his Boxers and got into the water to clean the hunt off of him. "Comin?" He askedasked

@ Holden Caulfield.

As Shane went over to discuss some thing with Dale, Carol made her way over to Constance. She gave her a smile, "I want thinking maybe salt, pepper, and garlic. Keep it simple since deer meat has a lot of flavor on her own."

---

"Yeah, I'm coming." she said as she tip toed further into the water. "Shit," she mumbled under her breath as she made her way over to Daryl.

She nodded a little as she smiled,"Sounds good to me," Constance said as she began to cut the meat up in to bite size pieces then put it into the put. She added some seasonings, "Save the grease we need all the fat we can get,"

He smiled a little,"come on ain't that cold, " he said to her as he dove under the water.

@ Holden Caulfield.

After Shane finished discussing a few things with the others he made his roubds, eventually stopping to check on Carol and Constance. "How is everything goin' over here ladies?" He smiled over at them, setting his hands on his hips.

---

Eventually Dakota dipped herself under the water, gasping when she emerged. "You're a damn liar, Dixon! It's freezing." She began to wash her hair out the best she could.

She smiled a little,"It's goin' alright, smell good yet?" she asked as she added the dried garlic and a bit of olive oil they'd found on the last run. "This'll be good with some rice and potatos," she said to him smiling a little.

He laughed as he looked at her,"Feels good after bein' out there chasin' that damn deer," he said as he looked at her smiling.

@ Holden Caulfield.

Shane nodded, "it does smell good, yall are doing a fine job." He smiled at them as he watched the meat turn brown. "How much potatoes do we have left, any how?"

---

Dakota shivered and reached out to touch his arm, "It feels alright, I'd feel better if I had a nap tho."

She nodded a bit,"yeah it's coming together,"she said as she used the wooden spoon to stir the meat. She smiled at him"Were pretty low on canned potatos, I only had seven cans when I took for my apartment," she said to him lighty.

"I was thinking of going on the next run,"she said to him,"there is a small residential area about five miles from here, could go raid a couple houses,"

He smiled,"after this we can lay down we got foon they have no right to complain,"he said to her as he rinsed his hair the best he could.

@ Holden Caulfield.

Shane furrowed his eyebrows. He didn't like the sound of that. He wanted to keep her safe at all times; her going out on a run would put her right in the line of danger. He shook his head and bit his lip. He knew she wouldn't stand for him to say no to her. "Are you sure you wanna do that? I really don't want you gettin' hurt or anything, Con."

---

Dakota smiled as she began to rinse her body off; the water was starting to become refreshing to her. She waded over closer to him, she leaned up, pressing her lips to his briefly before moving away. "I think I'm as clean as I'm goin' to get."

"I have to pitch in round here Shane, people startin to notice I ain't been on anybrinsbyet, it's not fair to anyone," she said to him as she sighed and stirred the food. She didn't know what else to say to him because she understood why he didn't want her to go.

He smiled a litrle,"Yeah forgot the soap, " he said to her sighing a littlw as he looked at her,"what do you see in me?" Daryl asked her confused, he wasn't nothing special on the books of most.

@ Holden Caulfield.