The forest was quieter on the way back.
Sophia walked beside Ghost carefully, still holding his gloved hand.
Every few seconds she glanced up at the mask.
The red lenses reflected the sunlight between the trees.
"You really killed them all," she said softly.
Ghost didn't answer immediately.
Ahead of them the path sloped downward toward the quarry.
"We dealt with them," he finally said.
Sophia looked back nervously.
"You think more will come?"
"Eventually."
She swallowed.
The world suddenly felt much bigger and more dangerous than it had only a day earlier.
A few minutes later voices echoed through the forest.
"Sophia!"
Rick's voice.
Shane answered from somewhere farther away.
"Over here!"
Sophia suddenly ran forward.
"Mom!"
Carol burst through the trees moments later.
When she saw her daughter she collapsed to her knees and pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Oh my God… Sophia!"
Sophia started crying again.
"I thought you were gone."
Carol held her tightly, shaking.
"I thought I lost you."
Rick and Shane stepped out of the forest behind them.
Rick looked from Sophia… to Ghost.
"You found her."
Ghost simply nodded.
Shane studied him carefully.
"That fast?"
Ghost answered calmly.
"She left a trail."
Shane looked skeptical.
"Through the woods?"
Ghost didn't explain further.
But Rick understood.
This wasn't luck.
This was training.
Military training.
The group slowly returned to the quarry camp.
When the survivors saw Sophia walking beside the masked soldier, cheers broke out across the camp.
Andrea hugged the girl.
Amy clapped happily.
Glenn smiled in disbelief.
"Well… that was faster than expected."
Carol approached Ghost once more.
Her voice trembled.
"Thank you."
Ghost looked toward the forest again instead of answering.
Because something about the situation still bothered him.
Sophia had run in a straight line.
But walkers had appeared around her too quickly.
Almost like they had been drawn there.
Rick noticed his expression.
"What is it?"
Ghost finally spoke.
"The forest."
Rick frowned.
"What about it?"
Ghost looked toward the distant trees.
"There are more walkers moving through the area than before."
Rick's face darkened.
"You think they're migrating?"
Ghost gave a short nod.
"If they are…"
Rick finished the thought.
"This camp won't stay safe forever."