Rick still couldnt believe that his son was alive. He had held out hope, of course, but to have actually run into him here of all places felt like a miracle.
Of course, he noticed he was different, running around with guns, alone, taking down walkers with ease, more confident, but he would have to worry about that later.
"Sophia was shot by a hunter on accident. My friend Paul took her to the farm, Dad, we need to get to the farm." Carl said while looking at his dad, who still had a hand on his shoulder as if to make sure he didn't go anywhere.
"You found Sophia?" Rick rubbed his face and tried to process everything that was happening.
"Okay. We need to get back to the highway and get a vehicle, it's too far to run." Rick said while hoping that Sophia was still alive.
"Let's go!" Carl took off with Rick following behind him, both scanning the tree line for any sign of walkers while Rick couldnt help but keep stealing glances at Carl.
He was just so different in the way he moved, he was dangerous, though he wasn't sure that was a bad thing, not anymore, not in this world.
"Shh!" Carl turned around and looked at his dad.
"Your footsteps are so loud," Carl said, making Rick look around, not knowing what to say.
"He's right. I heard you a hundred feet away."
They both turned around at the sound of a voice.
Carl raised his gun while Rick nodded calmly at the man.
"Dad, whose that?" Carl put his gun down after seeing his dad so relaxed while he looked at the man who was carrying a crossbow and looked sorta like a hillbilly.
"Daryl, and I guess you're the boy everyone's been speaking of." Daryl walked closer before looking Carl up and down.
"Carl."
"Looks like you got some balls on you, kid." Daryl patted him on the shoulder.
"Thanks, I guess?" Carl looked at Daryl before looking at his dad, who was smirking a little.
"Carl found Sophia. She was shot." Rick informed Daryl of the situation.
"Figured something happened after I followed the trail this way." Daryl nodded.
"What are we waiting for then, let's go!"
The three took off toward the highway again.
—------------------------------------
Back on the highway, the group was getting antsy as the sun was getting ready to go down and daylight would soon disappear.
Carol was looking off into the woods, waiting for Rick and Daryl to bring her precious daughter back to her.
Andrea was arguing with Shane and Dale about getting her gun back while a few others scavenged for food and supplies they could find in cars.
Lori, who was much skinnier and sick looking after losing her kid, was pacing back in forth waiting for Rick to get back.
She couldn't help but bite her nails and glance at the tree line in worry, hoping he'd be there. She couldnt lose her husband to.
"Lori, maybe you should sit down," Glenn suggested, worried that Lori might give herself a heart attack, but all he earned in return was a glare that made him back up.
"Still worried about the gunshot?" Andrea came up from behind, still mad after not getting her pistol back from Dale.
"Why just one shot? It doesn't make any sense." Lori shook her head while pacing.
"Could have been anything. Rick has it handled." Shane said from the side with certainty.
"Lo and behold," Dale said, making everyone look over at the tree line but what they saw surprised them.
They saw a kid with Rick and Daryl, but it wasn't Sophia.
Lori, who had been pacing, stopped and looked at Rick with relief before looking at the kid, making her freeze in disbelief.
Staring at who she knew was her son, she saw him looking back before he smiled and ran over to her.
"Mom!" Lori felt Carl jump into her arms, but she still couldnt say anything.
She could only cry tears of joy and enjoy the warmth of her son in her arms before feeling Rick put his arms around them both as well.
"How? How is this possible?" Lori croaked out after calming down a little and rubbing her hands through Carl's hair like she used to.
"I found him out in the woods. Apparently he got here with a friend." Rick said while smiling and enjoying the family moment.
"Carl, it's good to see you back, little man. I have to say it's one hell of a surprise." Carl turned around and saw Shane standing there with a smile, though he looked a little sad and guilty as he considered Carl getting lost his fault.
"Uncle Shane!" Carl smiled and hugged Shane, making Shane rub his head
"Don't mess my hair up, haha!" Carl pushed Shane's hand away from his head.
"Carl, I'm so sorry. I should have kept a better eye on you."
Carl turned around and saw Carol looking at him with some tears in her eyes.
"It's not your fault." Carl shook his head
"I hate to interrupt the family moment, but where is Sophia?" Dale asked, making everyone look at Rick.
"Carl and his friend found her, but she was shot by a hunter on accident. We need to go to their farm to check on her." Rick said while comforting Carol, and the others started loading up the vehicles.
Carl, who was mixed in with the others in the RV, told his dad about the box truck he and Paul drove down full of supplies, and Rick said he would drive it to the farm.
Looking over at his mom, who was sitting next to him, Carl saw that her cheekbones were visible and she looked a lot worse than he had ever seen her.
"Mom, you need to make sure you eat more," Carl said while pulling out some jerky from his bag and sliding it over to her.
"I'm fine. It's not a kid's job to worry about their mother." Lori said, but Carl put on a pouty face, so she took the Jerky.
"So howd you end up here anyway, didn't you go missing back in Atlanta?" Carl looked over at the woman whom he came to know as Andrea.
Lori, Dale, and Glenn were also listening in, wondering how he got here.
"It's kind of a long story, but it all began with the night on the highway."