The sun cascaded across the prison courtyard. The rays gave the winter morning a gentle warmth, making the bitter breeze tolerable than usual. Tasks were spread out among the group, giving everyone at least a single job, which in turn kept most people busy around there. After adopting the people of Woodbury, the prison flourished into something promising. Living under the threatening shadow of The Governor was beginning to cripple and vanish by each passing day. Lori setting up recon teams each and every day to hunt that bastard down was now a futile motion. He was gone, no doubt, wherever he slithered off to it was far, far away. If Glenn couldn’t find him, if Michonne couldn’t, if Daryl couldn’t, then he’s gone. 

          Crossing the courtyard he spotted his mother, with weapons scattered about her, she sat with them among her. She was their leader but she still wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. Grease covered her digits as she carefully and thoughtfully cleaned various gun parts. It was a weekly chore that Carl had done last week, but this week Lori decided it was her turn. Her long locks were tied up high, so as they were to not bother her in anyway. Approaching her he finally decided to take a seat next to her silently, as he did often. Carl was never a kid to tell you he was approaching. No, he would just appear, plop down quietly, and make a conversation if he had something to say. 

          “ Morning. “ He said, adjusting the stetson a bit that sat atop his head. “ UH ——- do we have anything planned today?” Carl inquired, hoping she wouldn’t bring up his chore. He didn’t want to categorize the food with Carol. That job was the worst, he loathed it so much. Not that he minded being with Carol, they would often talk about the little things, about the world before. He enjoyed her company. But counting the food, writing down what they had, how much they had, and how long it would last them was so —- boring, such a tedious task! Of course Carl understood fully that it was needed but being the boy that he was, he needed something else to occupy his attention and time.

       each day blended into the next --- the death of her husband, father of her only child undoubtedly left a void the brunette woman could not fill.  it was why she along the with assistance of her son and those she now called family  ( glenn, maggie, daryl, michonne, beth & everyone else met along the way )  decided it was time to see the prison flourish.  if by chance they were able to KILL that smug bastard who called himself the governor, well that would just be icing on the cake.  the desperation to survive was much more imminent than in months past.  cleaning the weapons used for protection was just busy-work, so her mind wouldn’t wander so much when she had more than a few moments with her thoughts.

      the sound of a familiar voice beside her, resulted in lori placing the metal object down on the ground.  taking the grease covered cloth resting upon one of the clean guns, she managed to somewhat remove the dirt from her fingertips.   ❛  morning, baby.   ❜    her exterior may have hardened, but she was still a mother at heart.  leaning over, she placed a gentle kiss upon her son’s head.     ❛   nothing out of the ordinary. daryl  &  maggie are headin’ out on a quick run. some others are clearin’ the gate, doin’ some inventory. makin’ sure we’re stocked and ready.  ❜

          “ Not my fault you’re a slowpoke mom.”

          “ NEVER, YOU CAN NEVER CATCH ME. “

                    ❛     CORAL U BEST GET YOURSELF BACK IN THE HOUSE !    ❜