"Daryl...Daryl! Daryl slow down," Beth shouted stumbling along behind him.
Daryl carried on walking, barely even hearing her, he had turned her into white noise these past few days, it was easier that way. He refused to let any emotions slip out, he couldn't afford to, not now, not ever. Since the prison had gone down he hadn't allowed himself to think about the events that had happened, besides it wasn't even like he needed to think anything over, it wasn't his dad who was decapitated.
Obviously there were things that were constantly on his mind, like the well being of the others in the group, if anyone had survived at all. Beth was more optimistic than him naturally, even after what had happened. If he was honest she would of been the last person he would of chose to get stuck with, but she was all he had right now.
He kicked the dirt on the train track, frustrated that he couldn't find any clue as to where anyone else was. His brisk walk slowed to a stopped as he waited for Beth to catch up, he scanned the area around him, looking for any sign of anyone, anything.
"Nothing," he murmured.
"What?" Beth asked, slightly out of breath.
"Nothing, there's nothing, no one, everyone is either gone or dead, it's over Beth."
Daryl carried on walking at the same brisk pace as before, no idea where he was going to go next.
"Wait what do you mean it's over?" Beth asked trying to keep up to speed with him, "they're not all dead, I know they're not, they can't be."
Daryl ignored her again and continued walking, increasing his speed.
"Hey!" Beth yelled, "it's not over, they're still alive and we're going to find them."
Daryl stopped and turned, he could see Beth's eyes glossing over, "no Beth we're not finding anyone, I'm gonna keep following the train track, you do what you want."
"You know I can't track half as well as you, we can't split up Daryl, you can't just leave me!" Beth said storming towards him as he turned his back again.
Daryl spun around fed up of her whining, "you ain't my responsibility! I can leave you any time I like, I don't need you."
Daryl knew his words hurt as he saw her wince a little, he felt bad but he knew acting like this was his way of staying strong.
Beth said nothing in return and there was a moment of silence, neither of them moving from where they were stood. Daryl waited a few seconds before he turned on his heel and continued walking, Beth following quietly behind.
Carol slowly rocked Judith in her arms trying to get her to stay quiet by the edge of the woods.
"I'm really glad you found us Carol," Lizzie said walking up behind her.
Carol gave Lizzie a smile, "me too."
Carol looked over at Tyreese who was examining the cut on his arm, "so what's the plan?"
Tyreese glanced up, "I'm not sure, I've just been trying to find a safe place to take the kids."
"Maybe if we carry along these train tracks it'll lead us to somewhere a bit safer," she suggested looking at Judith's eyes slowly close.
"Yeah but what if it leads us to a city full of walkers?" Tyreese asked, walking over to join her.
Carol shook her head, "I don't know, we have to do something, we need to be near a supply of food for the girls."
Tyreese rubbed his head, "true but I don't want to put them in anymore danger than they're already in."
"What other choice do we have? Maybe if there are others alive then they'll follow the tracks too, we can't go anywhere near the prison it's a death trap."
Tyreese took a long breath out, "alright then, if that's what you think is best then that's what we'll do."
Carol nodded, "trust me it's best option we have. We'll go in the morning, the girls need some rest it's been a long day."
Carol gave Judith to Tyreese and settled Lizzie and Mika down, explaining to them what the plan was, to keep them safe.
"Where were you?" Lizzie asked.
"What do you mean?" Carol asked.
"Back at the prison, you weren't there, when we were attacked."
"I told you I was just coming back, there was nothing I could do to help."
"That's okay, we didn't need you. I shot someone, they tried to shoot Tyreese."
"Well then you did what you had to do to stay safe, that's all that matters now, no need to feel guilty."
"Oh I don't," Lizzie said grinning up at her.
Carol bit the inside of her lip slightly and managed a small smile, "try and get some sleep now."
Carol went back over to to Tyreese and took Judith off him. He offered to take first watch and Carol thanked him gratefully resting her head against a tree as she slumped to the ground, looking up at the stars.
"Daryl can we call it a night? I'm really tired," Beth asked, her eyes straining in the dark of the night. These were the first words Beth had said to him since the earlier incident that day and it caught him off guard.
Daryl looked back at her and nodded not saying a word, he walked into the outskirts of the woods and sat down, leaning his back against a tree. Beth followed closely behind, sitting and leaning on a tree across from him.
"You go sleep first, I'll take watch," Daryl said taking his crossbow off.
"You sure? I'm fine taking first wa-"
"Yeah I'm fine, just get some rest," Daryl interrupted.
Beth nodded silently and closed her eyes, suppressing back her tears. She had never felt so alone and helpless. She put her arm over her mouth to stop the sobbing and tried desperately to compose herself.
Daryl's eyes flicked over to her and he heard her let out one sob before clamping her arm over her mouth.
"You okay?" he asked, he was surprised himself that he was asking this question but he could see she was suffering much more than him.
Beth opened her eyes and took her arm away from her mouth, taking deep breaths, "yeah I'll be fine, just not dealing with things as well as you."
Daryl nodded, "there's gotta be someone out there that's still alive, I'll try tracking again tomorrow if you want?"
Beth smiled weakly, "thank you Daryl."
Daryl scoffed, "don't thank me just yet."
"We'll find someone, we can't of been the only ones that ran this way."
Daryl nodded, "just try and sleep yeah?"
Beth nodded once back and closed her eyes.
Carol awoke to a piercing scream in her ears, she immediately stood up, knife in hand scanning the area for Lizzie, Mika and Judith. She panicked seeing Judith was no longer in her arms but then felt a huge relief when she saw Tyreese in the clearing holding her. She ran over to him seeing no danger but no Mika.
"Carol come on," Tyreese called as she ran over, "Mika ran off that way, thought she saw a walker."
They both began running, Lizzie and Judith in tow, back the way they came.
"Mika!" Carol called out, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Mika, it's safe, you don't have to hide!" Tyreese shouted out.
"Shh, be quiet!" Lizzie snapped, "they'll hear us!"
"Lizzie this is your sister! We have to find her," Carol remarked calling out Mika's name again as the continued running.
Lizzie rolled her eyes and carried on walking down the track muttering to herself.
"Beth! Beth wake up," Daryl said abruptly shaking her.
Beth yawned, "what? What is it Daryl?"
"Sh shh listen," Daryl whispered.
She heard faint shouting in the distance, "oh my god that's them! They're alive!"
She got up and began running out of the woods and down the track, "Daryl come on, they need our help!"
"Beth stop, we don't even know who it is! They could be swarmed with a damn load of walkers," Daryl said as he jogged behind her.
"Daryl they're not shouting pain, there's no screaming, come on!" Beth shouted at him running into the darkness.
Daryl sighed and reluctantly increased his speed, "...fuck's sake, Beth wait up!"
