The first week of living at the quarry was full of work and preparations to fix the place up to make it enough to live within.

But, it was clear that the few supplies people were able to bring weren't going to be enough to last longer than a month. That was when Shane implemented to run system for people willing to leave camp and find supplies- food, clothes, batteries for the most part.

Glenn was the main runner, proving to be more than capable as he'd leave out and return before dark with supplies galore on his own.

But, one man could only do so much no matter how hard he tried. And that's when Shane put together the hunting plans. He'd told a story about when he was younger and his dad brought him here- all the deer, squirrel, and birds they'd seen while hiking through theses very woods.

That's how Daryl became the camp's main runner with Shane and Merle occasionally helping out as well.

Jobs all around were put together- Dale and Jim as mechanics, many of the women in laundry and cooking.. Things slowly but surely fell into place for the group under Shane's lead.

Jobs for everyone over the age of twenty it seemed, anyway.

The kids became antsy, having nothing to do to pass the time. Being told they were too young to help with this or that, but needed to do something or else they would begin chasing one another around with sticks.

The return of schooling was Lori's idea that was quickly backed by Miranda and Carol as they began schooling their kids. This quickly left the twins and Ryan to themselves.

"If I saw the middle aged housewives are racist for not including us, would they kick me out?" Sakiko questions.

Nanami and Ryan let out sounds of stress or agreement on either side of her as the three sat on the log watching the class go on.

"You had to pull that card?" Nanami asks, cringing.

"Someone had to say it," Sakiko sighs, picking up a rock from the ground.

"I'm sure they'd let you join if that's what you want," Ryan offers.

"I dropped out before all this. I refuse to go back when it's definitely not needed," Sakiko denies.

"Well, then, tell your dad that you're bored," Ryan shrugs.

"I'm only bored because you're boring," Sakiko sighs, looking between the boys, "Both of you."

"What did I do?" Nanami cries, offended.

Sakiko groans, standing up from her spot on the log and walking away.

The boys that were left behind look to each other and Ryan wonders, "She always like that?"

"She used to be.. But, we went through some things. Looks like all this is making her go back to herself again," Nanami figures before he shrugs, "When does your brother get back from his run?"

Ryan hums, a sneaky smile on his face, "He should be back in a couple hours."

"What are you smiling about? Shouldn't you be worried if he's out there?"

"Glenn is strong, he can take care of himself. He's good at stuff like this by now. I'm just smiling cause.. I guess it's just funny."

"Funny? Your brother going out there is funny to you?" Nanami questions, wondering if the boy was a psychopath.

"No, not that," Ryan sighs, leaning back on his hands.

"Then..?" Nanami pushes.

Ryan looks over to him, laughs under his breath and then glances to where Sakiko was walking down through the trees to the tents.

"Glenn's not my brother. Not really. He's my step brother," Ryan reveals, "But, she believed that."

"Step brother is still brother, though. Right?"

"Yeah.. It just feels like I won since she doesn't know," Ryan admits.

"Believe me, there's no winning against her," Nanami scoffs.

--

Sakiko found herself near the tents until she heard Daryl's voice. Part of her still wanted to avoid him, the other part just wanted to know if he was still the same guy outside the tobacco store and that they were okay.

She pushes through into the woods to find Daryl and Merle huddled together, skinning a deer.

"Gross," she comments, looking down at the fur that lay on the ground.

"You say gross until you're eatin' this tonight," Merle grunts as he tears into the flesh, "Then, you'll be real happy for Bambi's sacrifice."

"Bambi won't feed a camp, you better hope you got the mom," Sakiko comments, making Merle laugh.

"You would be right on the nose with that one little lady," Merle says through his laughter.

Daryl kept quiet, watching Merle carefully before giving Sakiko a look that said to be mindful of her words.

"You wanna learn?" Merle asks, surprising both of them.

"Learn.. What?" Sakiko questions.

"Skinnin' 'em," Merle motions to the deer, "You ain't ready for hunting, but it won't hurt for you to know how to prep it. Before long, Daryl and I can hunt while you prep. Have ourselves a little buddy system, eh?"

"Okay.." Sakiko hesitates, stepping closer to the men.

She takes out her pocket knife as Daryl steps aside for her to move in his spot.

"Cut right along here, that'll help it bleed out," Daryl points out, guiding her hand.

Sakiko cringes as she stabs the knife into the animal's corpse, going along with what Daryl says to follow him word for word.

--

"You worried about your old man?" Merle asks after awhile.

Sakiko pauses her actions, quickly shaking her head, "No. Nana and I ran away so we don't get to know."

"Where was y'all heading to? Must've been far out if Daryl found you both," Merle comments.

"Guess so," Sakiko shrugs.

Merle nods, flicking his eyes to Daryl and shaking his finger at his younger brother, "Where was you going so early in the morning, anyway, little brother?"

"Shop for wirin' on the bow," Daryl grunts, not looking away from where he was cutting the meat up.

"Ah, so that's why you had your bow," Merle clicks his tongue.

Sakiko pushes back her hair with her bent wrist, now sweating in the summer heat.

"So, where were you two heading?" Merle returns to his question.

"Just away," Sakiko shrugs, sitting down on the ground, "Where does anyone go after they run away? We just started walking."

Merle hums, tilting his head back and forth as though he accepted the girl's answer.

"Say, was it you or your brother that's got that slippery fingers?" Merle wonders.

"What do you mean?" she asks.

"Your old man says that he had trouble out of one of you for stealing and shit."

"The only trouble in our house was him," Sakiko quickly argues.

Daryl sighs, knowing what that word did to her.

"Seemed like an all right guy to me," Merle shrugs, "He's on the better end of work friends."

"That's because you're just li-"

"Dammit!" Daryl exclaims, cutting the young girl short.

"What happened?" Merle asks, peering over Daryl's shoulder.

Daryl feigns confusion, shaking his head. He motions to the pieces that lay in front of him.

"Ain't much. Hardly feed a toddler on this shit," he lies, "Need to go back out."

Merle nods, saying something about doing it tomorrow as Daryl gives Sakiko a stern look that goes unnoticed by Merle. Sakiko shrinks down with the warning glance, opening and closing her knife.

Merle looks to her, taking notice of the knife she toyed with. From there, he glances to the back of Daryl's head, then back to her.

"Where'd Daryl finally find y'all at?" Merle asks, still looking between the two as though figuring out a puzzle.

Sakiko looks to Daryl, unsure how to answer. Merle makes a note of her actions just as Daryl breaks the silence.

"You're full of questions today," Daryl comments, wiping his bloodied hands on his jeans, "Didn't think you were this nosey to a kid."

"Yeah," Merle nods, puckering his lips, "Guess I'm just bored, kid seemed like entertainment enough."

"Y'all ready to bring this up to camp?" Daryl asks, picking up one of the bags of meat.

Sakiko hurriedly places her knife in her pocket, picking another bag up without question. She just wanted to get back away from Merle's interrogation- maybe staying at the log wasn't a bad idea after all.

Merle doesn't move, too busy watching the way the pair interacted. The way Daryl grabbed a rag from his pocket for Sakiko to wipe her hands on. The way he patted her shoulder and said she did good for a beginner. The way she lit up at the compliment. The way she stood closer to him when they began to walk away.

"You comin', bro?" Daryl asks, glancing back to Merle.

"Yeah.." Merle nods, picking up the last bag, "Right behind y'all."