I found Dale on top of the RV, keeping watch as he usually does.
He noticed me coming and turned towards me, setting the rifle to the side.
"If you're looking for Amy, she and Andrea just went out somewhere," he said, adjusting his seat. "Or you came to keep me company?"
I looked up at him.
"Well… I wouldn't mind that. But I came for a different reason."
I paused.
"I need guns. Two rifles, a sidearm… and enough ammo to last if things go bad."
That got his attention.
Dale looked surprised.
"Why would you need all that…"
"Daryl and me will scout a prison tomorrow," I said.
Dale blinked, clearly not expecting that.
"A prison?"
I just nodded.
"If it's still intact… it should have a cafeteria, maybe even an armory. And if it's clear enough, we could move there."
Dale tilted his head, watching me closely now.
"Move there, huh…"
He stared at me, thinking of the possibility.
"You really think that'd work? Living behind bars?"
I glanced at him.
"Yes, we could turn it into something greater than just a holding cell."
I paused.
"But for now… It's a good option for supplies. And if it's not safe, we will return immediately."
He gave a small, thoughtful nod, then started climbing down the RV.
"The guns are inside the RV. Come on."
I followed him in. He stepped past the kitchen counter and knelt beside the table, pulling out a black duffel bag from underneath.
He looked back at me.
"What do you want to take?"
I crouched beside him, eyes scanning the contents.
"I'll take two MP5s… both Glocks with suppressors… and some spare ammo, just in case."
Dale nodded, already moving.
He pulled out two clean Glock mags and set them aside, then started counting boxes of rounds, placing each one neatly on the table.
When he finished, we started packing everything into a separate bag.
"We'll need a couple more things," I said, tightening the zipper. "Bolt cutters. Something to seal the fence behind us. Flashlights would help… maybe some rope too."
Dale nodded.
"I've got all of that, or close enough."
He walked across the RV, collecting everything he had. Bolt cutters, two flashlights, and a spool of steel wire. He laid them out on the table.
"Only thing missing is rope but Hershel should have some."
I nodded and started packing everything up, sliding a few extra ration packs into the side pouch.
"By any chance… do you have a lock?"
Dale looked thoughtful for a second, then walked over to his toolbox. After a moment of digging, he pulled one out.
"This is the only one I've got," he said, handing it to me.
I took it and dropped it into the bag with the rest.
"Thank you."
Dale just looked at me for a bit.
"Just… be safe out there."
I slung the bag over my shoulder.
"Don't worry. Nothing will happen."
After packing everything up, I went to find Daryl.
He looked as I approached.
"These for tomorrow?"
I nodded.
"Yeah. Got everything we need, and this time we take a car, in case we find supplies worth bringing back."
Daryl scratched the back of his neck.
"Alright. Think T-Dog's got the keys to the truck, I'll ask him later, when you wanna head out?"
I handed him the bag.
"Right in the morning, i packed food, ammo, gear, everything we would need to get inside."
He gave a small grunt.
"Sounds good. You wanna drive?"
I stopped mid-step, glanced back.
"I don't know how."
Daryl blinked.
"Jesus… you're seventeen, you can kill walkers with damn needles, but you can't drive?"
He shook his head, smirking like he couldn't believe it.
"I'll show you when we get back. Ain't hard. And not knowin' in times like these… that's a death sentence."
I looked at him, a bit surprised.
"You sure?"
He grunted, slinging the bag over his shoulder as he turned away.
"Just don't make me regret it."
I smiled a bit before walking away as well.
I started heading towards the Greene house, figured they might have some spare rope.
When I got close, I knocked on the door.
It opened a few seconds later, and Beth stood in the doorway.
"You need somethin'?" she asked, uncertain.
I gave a short nod.
"Would you happen to have some spare rope I could borrow?"
She blinked like the question caught her off guard, then glanced back over her shoulder.
"I… I can check," she said, stepping aside a little. "Just wait here. We should have some left from before."
I nodded.
"Thanks."
I waited in the hallway while she walked off down the short corridor.
A minute later, she returned with a coiled length of rope.
"It's the only kind we've got around the farm," she said, holding it out.
I took it from her hands.
"This is perfect. Thank you."
She nodded, then hesitated, eyes lingering on the rope.
"If you don't mind me askin'... why do you need it?"
I met her eyes for a moment.
"Nothing specific. Just something that might come in handy tomorrow."
She tilted her head slightly.
"Tomorrow?"
"We're going to check out the prison Hershel showed us."
Beth nodded again, slower this time. She didn't ask anything else, just stood there quietly, like she wasn't sure what to say.
I thanked her one more time and turned to leave.
I met up with Daryl near the truck. We packed the last of the gear in the bed and went over the route one more time, recounting the ammo, checking everything twice.
We were just finishing up when Rick approached.
He looked between us.
"Where you two headed?"
Daryl tossed the last bag into the back.
"Gonna scout that prison," he said. "See if there's anything worth takin'."
Rick turned to me, his expression tight.
"You found something?"
I nodded.
"For now, it's just a supply run. But if the place holds up… I'll start working on it."
Rick narrowed his eyes a little, thinking it through.
"Even if Hershel says we can stay here?"
I met his gaze.
"Yes."
He stood there for a second, not arguing, just watching me.
Then he sighed.
"Alright."
And he walked off.
Daryl leaned on the tailgate, watching him go.
"Well… guess that's as close to a blessing as we'll get."
I turned toward him.
"Better than nothing."
Daryl gave a small grunt, then looked back at the gear.
<3rd Person Pov>
Glenn and Maggie rode back on horseback, returning from their run.
And Glenn was grinning like an idiot.
"I—" he started, but Maggie cut him off before he could finish.
"Don't spoil it," she said, glancing over at him.
He chuckled, then after a short pause, said, "So it was good," smiling like he was proud of himself.
"It was a one-time thing," Maggie replied, her voice flat as she looked back at him.
Glenn's smile faded. She didn't say anything else, just nudged her horse forward and rode ahead, leaving him behind in silence.
By the time they reached the house, both of them had already dismounted.
Hershel stepped out onto the porch and walked over to meet them.
"Everything go okay?" he asked.
"Fine. Nothing happened," Maggie answered simply.
They exchanged a few more words, but before long, Lori came straight past them, heading for Glenn.
"Did you find it?" she asked, her voice tight, just a little unsteady.
Glenn didn't say a word. He pulled the small bag from his side and handed it to her.
Lori took it quickly, tucking it behind her back without a word. For a second, she just stared at him.
Glenn didn't say anything more; he just walked right past her.
Itachi sat in the shade of an old tree near the pasture fence, slowly sharpening one of his kunai.
Carl and Sophia approached from across the yard, slowing as they got closer to him.
"Um… hi," Carl said, stopping just a few feet away.
He looked up.
Carl stood there fidgeting, hands half in his pockets. Sophia was beside him, looking a little more excited than nervous.
"We didn't mean to bother you," Carl added quickly, "we just… Sophia said you were really good with knives. Like, really good."
Sophia lit up.
"He took out two walkers with just needles! No gun, no yelling, just—" she made a throwing motion and a dramatic shink! noise.
Carl glanced at her, then back at Itachi.
"Is that true?"
Itachi gave a small nod.
Carl hesitated again.
"Could you maybe… show us?"
A pause.
Then Itachi's expression softened. He stood up and looked toward the fence.
"Come on."
They followed eagerly.
Near the edge of the field sat a splintered bench and a few old soda cans, left behind from earlier target practice. Itachi picked up four and lined them along the fence rail, spacing them apart.
Carl and Sophia stood behind him, eyes wide, waiting for what came next.
Without a word, Itachi reached behind his back, pulled out a shuriken, and threw it in one smooth motion.
It flew so fast, they didn't even see it leave his hand; they just heard the sudden clink as the can toppled off the rail with the shuriken already buried in it.
Carl jumped.
"Whoa!"
Itachi pulled out three shuriken at once.
With a smooth motion, he threw them simultaneously, each one spinning through the air in a tight arc. All three hit their marks at nearly the same time, slamming into the cans and knocking them clean off the rail.
Carl stared, completely still.
Sophia stood beside him, her mouth slightly open.
Then finally, Carl said, "That was the coolest thing I've ever seen."
Itachi looked over.
Carl grinned widely, all the hesitation gone.
"Can you teach us? Please? I wanna learn all of that!" Carl said, practically begging.
Itachi walked over to the knocked-over cans and pulled the shuriken from where they were embedded. Then he returned to the kids and handed Carl a kunai.
"Here," he said, handing it to Carl. "Be careful. The blade is sharp."
Carl took it slowly.
Itachi pointed to the grip.
"Hold it from here, never by the blade. Keep your fingers firm, but not too tight."
He guided Carl's hand gently, adjusting the boy's stance.
"When you throw it, don't flick your wrist. Use your shoulder and arm. Keep the motion straight, you want the point to fly forward, not spin."
Carl nodded slowly, watching every move.
Sophia giggled and asked if she could try too.
Itachi handed her one and gently corrected both of their grips.
Before long, the three of them were all by the tree: Itachi guiding their hands, explaining the technique in just a few words. Carl tried again and again, chasing each throw. Sophia was worse but didn't care; she was laughing and having fun.
Carl kept sneaking glances at Itachi between throws, his eyes sparkling.
He's way nicer than I thought.
I figured he'd just ignore us. Or say it's too dangerous, like everyone else always does.
But he's actually showing us. Teaching us. For real.
Mom would lose her mind if she saw this.
But he handed me a real knife — a sharp one — just like that.
He's not quiet and weird like Mom said… he's awesome!
<3rd Person Pov>
While Carl and Sophia took turns practicing their throws, Itachi watched their movements closely, occasionally stepping in to adjust their form.
Then he looked up.
Two people were approaching from across the field.
Beth walked just behind Jimmy, who slowed a little when he spotted the group by the tree. He hesitated, eyes landing on Itachi, the weapons, the setup, the way the kids were listening to him.
Jimmy cleared his throat, trying to sound casual.
"Hey. Uh… y'all teachin' the kids or somethin'?"
Carl turned around proudly. "He's showing us how to throw these!" Carl said, holding up a kunai, "and he hit like four cans in a row!"
Jimmy raised his eyebrows, giving a half-smile.
"That so?"
His eyes went to the kunai in Carl's hand, then to the knocked-over cans. He rubbed the back of his neck.
"I mean… reckon I could give it a shot too, if that's alright."
Itachi studied him briefly, then nodded.
He walked over to him and pulled out another kunai, then held it out.
"Hold it by the grip and keep your throw straight."
Jimmy took it, nodding a little too quickly.
"Yeah, yeah. Got it."
He backed up a step, adjusting his stance, trying to look confident in front of Beth, who stood a few feet off, arms crossed and watching quietly.
Jimmy threw.
It left his hand awkwardly, spun too much, and landed in the dirt, nowhere near the targets.
Sophia giggled. Carl covered his mouth, trying not to laugh as well.
Jimmy laughed under his breath, scratching the back of his head again.
"Alright, alright… first one's just a warm-up."
Itachi stepped forward, voice even.
"You threw too hard. Keep your arm steady, and let the weight carry it."
Jimmy nodded again, quieter this time.
Beth had settled on the grass nearby, sitting cross-legged a few feet away.
She just watched.
Watched how Carl kept asking questions like a kid meeting a superhero.
Watched how Sophia's smile hasn't left her face even once.
Watched how even Jimmy, full of nerves and trying to act confident, was still listening intensely.
Her eyes drifted back to Itachi, standing still, arms folded, quietly watching the kids aim again and correcting them every once in a while.
And maybe… her eyes lingered on him a little longer than they should have.
--------------------------------------
🧪 Author's Note:
Thank you all so much for the support, we've passed 600+ power stones!
As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the chapter. Your feedback means everything and helps me improve with each update.
Thanks again for reading! 🖤