The Strongest Survivor

The Almost Loss

Artemis was fuming with Carl and Sophia so she spent the rest of the day training after she checked on Athena who had chosen that she wanted to sit in the chicken coop, when Artemis had walked by Athena had been chatting away to the chickens without a care in the world so Artemis didn't bother her, it would've been rude to interrupt. She put on her old baseball jacket she had gotten so long ago and she wondered if they even still alive, she regretted the last thing she had ever said to the Smiths but she was angry at them, they promised that Athena and her would stay with them and then... they just gave them back.

"You really gave them hell earlier," she heard behind her and she turned to see Dale "they deserved it, sneakin in ta see a guy who wants us dead." She says and he hums and walks up beside her "I know what they did I heard Shane, but just remember that there kids, there going to do stupid things." Dale says and Artemis gives him a look "No disrespect mister, but imma kid and I can tell ya, I would never do somethin so stupid." She says and Dale nods and leans against the white fence "yes but you're different, Artemis... I spoke to Hershel, you're a very mature little girl for your age." He says and Artemis gives him a look "what d'ya know about it?" She asks him trying not to lose her temper with the man because she was taught to respect her elders but she sees that he gives her a sympathetic look.

"You know I read about you in the news a few years ago." Dale says and Artemis freezes and she feels fear wash over her and he is quick to reassure her "I haven't said anything, but me and my wife followed the trial, we were going to foster you see... and so we went through all the training and got all the assessments done... but she fell ill..." Dale trails off and Artemis nods and gives him a sympathetic look " 'M sorry." She says and he gives her a smile "that's quite alright, but I wanted to tell you, I think you're a very brave little girl, and that's not me pitying you, thats from admiration." He says and she pushes herself to sit up on the fence "I ain' brave mister." She says shaking her head "how do you figure that out?" He asks her genuinely intrigued in her answer "If I was brave I woulda done somethin' I didn' do anythin 'bout it." She says and Dale looks heartbroken at that confession.

"Oh Artemis that doesn't mean that you're not brave... you went through everything that you did your whole life and look at you now, most kids in your situation would be in a worse state, some get into crime, some turn to alcohol, some drugs, but you... you didn't, you worked towards making sure your little sister didn't have a life like you did." Dale says to her and Artemis sniffles and rubs at her eyes "I always wondered why... we weren' bad kids... but they always just seemed to hurt us... I always wondered why..." Artemis trailed off and Dale nodded looking at the girl who was now swinging her legs. "Some people Artemis are just bad people, there will never be an explanation for why they do what they do, they are just simply bad people." Dale says and she nods her head.

"So what are you planning on doing for the rest off the day young lady?" He asks her and she shrugs "Might practice my aim." She says nodding to her old archery target on one of the trees and he nods his head "I'm going to speak to the group about sparing this boy's life." He says and Artemis looks over at him shocked "You don't think he's dangerous?" She says and he shakes his head "He's just a kid and he's scared from what's happening to him." Dale says and Artemis scoffs. "Okay, I'll take ya point into consideration... now let me ask you, do you think I'm dangerous, I'm a kid an I'm younger than 'im... so do you think I'm dangerous?" She asks and he shakes his head "No I don't." He says and she smirks and lifts her bow up and lines up an arrow looking at different spots in the camp as she aims "Well I can tell you for a fact that I could kill four people before anyone even had a chance to get me, and you think I'm not dangerous... in this new world everyone is dangerous somehow." She says and Dale nods his head taking in her words.

"Then how do you think I'm dangerous?" He asks her and she gives him a small smile "You're far too trustin a folk, it'll get ya killed one day." She says and he nods his head "Well I'll leave you to it and go on my rounds." Dale says and she nods her head and jumps off of the fence and she walks away heading towards her target and she begins to practice her aim as Dale begins to head up to Daryl's small camp that he had moved away from everyone else. He walked through the field heading up to visit the oldest Dixon but on his way he saw the youngest Dixon sitting in the field playing with her stuffed chicken "Hello Athena, what are you doing all the way out here, on your own? Don't you want to play with Carl and Sophia? Or your sister?" He says in a kind voice and she just shrugs " 'ike playin wi' Clucky." She says and continues moving the stuffed toy around. Dale just smiles and nods his head and leaves her be.