-Idea from The Cargo Movie-

The forest was eerily quiet as the group trudged through, the crunch of leaves underfoot the only sound. Rick led the way, his sharp eyes scanning for any sign of danger. Behind him, Daryl, Michonne, Glenn, Maggie, and the rest of the group moved cautiously, tired but determined to find supplies and maybe, just maybe, a safe place to rest.

A faint sound stopped them all in their tracks—a soft, cooing noise. A baby.

Rick raised his hand, signaling for silence. Daryl stepped forward, his crossbow at the ready, his keen ears pinpointing the direction of the sound. Slowly, they moved closer, the cooing becoming louder. Then they saw it.

A walker stumbled aimlessly through the trees, its gait uneven and jerky. Its skin was pale and rotting, the familiar stench of decay wafting toward them. But that wasn’t what froze the group in their tracks.

Strapped to the back of the walker was a baby, no more than a year old, giggling softly as it played with a small toy. The sight was surreal and horrifying, a grotesque juxtaposition of innocence and death.

“What the hell?” Glenn whispered, his face pale.

Maggie covered her mouth, tears welling in her eyes. “Oh my God…”

The walker didn’t notice them, its focus fixed on the long stick tied to its front, smeared with guts that kept it moving forward. A makeshift leash of sorts, guiding the creature.

“Is… is that walker protecting the baby?” Carl asked, his voice trembling.

“No,” Daryl said, stepping closer, his eyes narrowing. “That ain’t just any walker. That’s the baby’s mother.”

The group fell silent as the weight of his words sunk in. They could see it now—the walker had once been a woman. Her clothes were tattered but had once been well-kept, her hair matted but still showing hints of care. And in the baby’s lap was a note, pinned to a blanket along with a photo.

Michonne stepped forward cautiously, her katana drawn. “We have to stop this,” she said softly, her voice tinged with sadness.

Rick nodded. “Daryl, cover me.”

Daryl raised his crossbow, aiming it at the walker’s head as Rick moved closer. The baby giggled again, reaching for the toy dangling from its tiny hands, blissfully unaware of the horror surrounding it.

Rick reached the walker and gently untied the baby from its back. The walker let out a low growl, stumbling slightly as its burden was removed. Daryl didn’t hesitate. A single bolt shot through the air, burying itself in the walker’s skull. It collapsed to the ground, lifeless once more.

Rick cradled the baby in his arms, his heart heavy as he unpinned the note and photo. He unfolded the paper, his hands shaking slightly.

The note read:

"To whoever finds my baby,
Please protect her. I don’t have much time. A walker bit me, and I knew I couldn’t survive. She’s my everything. Her name is Hana. Please tell her I loved her more than anything in this world. I didn’t want her to die with me, so I tried to lead her to safety. If you find this, you are her last hope.
Thank you.
—Song Jihyo"

The photo was of the woman in her human form, smiling brightly with the baby in her arms. The love in her eyes was unmistakable.

Rick handed the note and photo to the others. Maggie burst into tears, clutching Glenn for support. Even Daryl, who rarely showed emotion, looked away, his jaw clenched tightly.

“She… she did all this to keep her baby safe,” Michonne said, her voice breaking.

Carl stared at the walker’s lifeless body, his eyes filled with sorrow. “She was brave,” he whispered.

Rick nodded, holding the baby close. “She gave everything for her child. We owe it to her to make sure Hana grows up safe.”

The group gathered around, their grief palpable as they laid the walker to rest. They buried her under a tree, marking the grave with a makeshift cross.

As they walked away, Hana giggled again, oblivious to the sacrifices that had been made for her. The group moved forward, carrying not just a baby, but the memory of a mother who had defied death itself to protect her child.

And somewhere in the stillness of the forest, the spirit of Song Jihyo smiled, knowing her baby was safe.

End of the Fanfic