𝐍𝐄𝐅𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐎𝐔𝐒 | daryl dixon

- 𝟏𝟒𝟔

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     ROSALINE COULDN'T help but notice daryl's absence once carol had returned. the woman hadn't uttered one word to her since their trip outside. the brunette had willingly stayed behind to take care of their daughter while the pair attempted to gather supplies, but expected her husband to return sooner rather than later.

     something that seemed even stranger to her was that horizon, who'd accompanied daryl on the trip outside had also come back, but without him. a frown settled upon the woman's face as she looked out the window, pulling visenya up into her arms, making her way outside.

     carol's eyes met hers, a certain flash of guilt behind them. raising her brows in question, the young mother spoke with concern, "carol, where's daryl? i thought he would have come back with you?"

     the elder woman gave a small breath, delaying her answer momentarily, "he said he'd be out a bit longer. you know... just looking for things."

     there was one thing that she wasn't willing to share with her. their 'minor' disagreement on the road. carol decided to mask it behind a happy smile, patting horizon's side in the process to make it seem all the more convincing.

     however, rosaline wasn't stupid - she had learned carol's mannerisms throughout all the years they had travelled together in their respective groups. hell, sometimes she even depended on carol as a helping hand. times had become different.

     unconvinced, rosaline hushed visenya who'd become slightly fussy in her hold, "alright, i guess." she paused to stare at the belgian malinois, "come on, horizon."

     with a remotely loud yap, the dog bounded after her, rushing into the open house where rhaegar had already been waiting for her, the pair beginning their overdue play session whilst rosaline departed, giving carol one last stare before retreating back to the house.

     "daryl..." the woman sighed, shaking her head before slumping down on the couch and placing her daughter aside. this wasn't very unlikely for daryl - he'd usually extend his trips outside the walls but this time things seemed strange between him and carol. there was something that she couldn't point out.

     beside her, visenya mumbled incoherent words, bringing rosaline's attention onto her once more. with her focus onto her, the brunette couldn't help but notice that she had slowly been making out a word. of course it sounded like something along the lines of 'da'.

     a smile crept onto her face, "i know, baby. he'll be home."

     the rest of the evening had flown by but there had been no sign of daryl. occasionally, rosaline could see carol walking out of the next house, coming back with buckets or setting up a solar panel to bring light into her house. horizon pressed up against the window letting out a bark, rosaline shushing the canine before walking away to settle visenya into bed.