Hello there!

So here's a little something for my fellow Carylers. I don't normally write out of canon, or I at least try to stay within it as much as possible but this little story caught a hold of me and well... I've been dreaming about it, I've been day dreaming about it, I've been thinking it about at work, while I'm walking home, while I'm taking a bath... seriously, it's been constant. So I figured, well, let's fuck this pig. There you have it.

As the summary says, this is going along the lines of, what if Carol didn't rejoin the group after Terminus? There was no reunion between Daryl and Carol (don't worry, I hate myself for that too) but she did do as she promised and reunited Tyreese and Judith with the group. That also means no Consumed... I'm really beginning to wonder why I'm doing this. Also Beth is alive, I figured I could probably have some fun with that later (please don't hate me!) but everything that has happened at Alexandria has happened in this story, just imagine it happening without Carol (gasp!).

Are you still with me?

Chapter two will be coming along soon and as this is my first Walking Dead fic, I would really appreciate some feedback.

I hope you enjoy it!

Wren.


Chapter 01

It had been 24 days since they'd left Alexandria. It had been 32 days since Pete and Reg had been killed. Things had settled in the safe zone since then but the people were still adjusting in the aftermath. Rick and Deanna were working together to change the way things were done at Alexandria. New rules, new procedures, new lives. Everyone was required to take part in training; weapon lessons, knife handling and target practise. Some people weren't happy with the new arrangements but Deanna backed Rick and the rest of them followed. Morgan had been good for Rick, everyone could see it. Rick seemed more grounded, more patient with the rest of the group under Morgan's influence.

Daryl pulled his bike up at the prearranged meeting spot and proceeded to cover it with branches in case of passersby. He slung his crossbow over his shoulder and headed into the woods.

Daryl looked up at the sky, the fading light bringing with it a feeling of belonging. He always thought it strange how he felt more himself out in the open where danger lay around every bush than behind the walls at Alexandria. He felt free here; free to be the man he always thought he could be.

Twigs cracking underfoot drew his attention and he turned to see a walker hurrying in his direction. Daryl lazily loaded a bolt and pointed it in the direction of the walker but before he could take it down the walker froze, stumbled slightly and then fell to the ground, dead. Daryl stopped, his eyes scanning the woods, his crossbow raised high. He listened for whoever had brought the walker down but he couldn't hear anything. Nothing. Not even the birds were singing in the trees. He felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end and he quickly whipped around, aiming his crossbow at the slightest flicker or movement. But there was nothing there. He could see the prearranged meeting point in the distance, a small cabin, one of several that he and Aaron used when they needed supplies and a good night sleep.

Daryl headed toward the cabin, his eyes scanning for any sign of something he couldn't hear. When he got to the door he knocked gently. He saw a curtain inside move slightly then the door opened.

"Someone's been here," Aaron said as soon as he opened the door.

"And they're still here," Daryl said, stepping inside and closing the door behind him securely.

"You see them?" Aaron asked, taking another look outside.

"Nah," Daryl said as he began looking around the cabin for signs of whoever had been there. "They killed a walker right in front of me but a didn't hear them, couldn't see them."

"You think it's just one?" Aaron asked, turning to look back at him.

Daryl shrugged, "Maybe," he said as he knelt down in front of the grate they usually used to build small fires in. He pressed his hand close to the remaining ashes and felt warmth bleed into his fingers. "They haven't been gone long."

"I don't think they took much," Aaron said over his shoulder, not taking his eyes from the window.

"Don't look like it," Daryl mumbled. "They was here a night, maybe two at the most."

"Maybe we should move on," Aaron suggested.

"Nah," Daryl stood and moved to where Aaron sat. "I'll take first watch."

"I'll get us some food," Aaron offered as he left Daryl at the window.

Daryl moved the curtain a little more and his eyes adjusted to the outside. He could still see the dead walker on the ground where it had fallen. He felt uneasy. He figured they must have used a silencer but the fact that he didn't hear them until they'd already taken down the walker left him on edge. Hell, it could have been him lying dead on the floor out there.

"Son of a bitch took the medical kit," Aaron said as he came out the supply cupboard with several tins of food in his arms.

Daryl watched him for a moment. "S'not like we need 'em," he said.

Aaron placed the cans on the floor and began working on the fire. "We shouldn't use this place again," he said as he worked. "We clear it out and move on first thing."

"Whatever," Daryl said moving to look outside again. Without warning a walker flung itself at the window and Daryl lurched backwards. "Fuck!"

"What was that?" Aaron ran toward him, his gun already in his hand.

"Walker," Daryl said, pulling his knife from his belt and heading for the door.

Aaron had moved back to the window and he suddenly held up his hand, signalling for Daryl to stop. "There's more."

"How many?" Daryl asked, moving toward Aaron.

"I can see six," Aaron said.

"We can take 'em," Daryl grabbed his crossbow.

"There could be more," Aaron stopped him from going anywhere. "We should just block the windows and the doors and lay low for a while."

"Nowhere to hide in here," Daryl loaded up his crossbow. "Be better to fight our way out."

"Let me check the back," Aaron said, collecting his weapons and rucksack. "We can start a fire in here and leave through the window in the supply cupboard. That'll keep them distracted long enough for us to get back to the road."

"Yeah, you go," Daryl said, already setting the room up to light on fire. He collected his belongings, pulled the covers from the windows and ran toward the cupboard. There were more walkers collecting at the windows, clawing and snarling, banging and pressing at the glass. It wouldn't hold up much longer. When he caught up with Aaron, his partner was peeping through the cover at the window. "What is it?" Daryl asked, glancing back at the windows.

"I think someone's out there," Aaron said. "I think this could be another trap."

"Fuck sake," Daryl mumbled. He looked back toward the front of the cabin in time to see a walker hand come through the window. He turned to look back at Aaron. "We don't got much choice," he said lighting a match and throwing into the centre of the room where it immediately took light to the couch. "Rather take my chance out there with a stranger than stay in here with them." He pulled the covers from the window and pushed it open with his shoulder. He jumped out first and the first thing he saw was a walker coming toward him. Before he could lift his crossbow the walker went down silently, just as the other had. He looked down at the walker and he noticed a small wooden arrow sticking out of the back of the walkers head. His eyes snapped up and he glanced around as Aaron jumped down from the window.

"Did you do that?" Aaron asked, looking at the walker.

"Nope." Daryl lifted his crossbow. "An'a don't wanna stick around to find out who did."

"I second that," Aaron said, starting off into the woods.

They knew they'd have to take the long way around before they could double back toward the road. What worried Daryl was that someone was clearly following them. He could feel it. He'd stop every now and again to listen; he could hear the walkers in the distance, the ones still trying to get into the cabin and the ones that had followed them into the woods. But he still couldn't hear the person following them.

"Walkers," Aaron whispered, pointing up ahead.

"I'll take the left," Daryl said as he aimed his crossbow at the walkers. Aaron headed for the ones on the right.

There were more of them then they thought but the numbers where staggered enough not to overwhelm. That was until Daryl caught sight of the ones approaching from behind. "Shit!" He aimed his crossbow at the ones behind them knowing Aaron would be able to handle the ones at the front.

"There's too many," Aaron shouted over his shoulder. "We need to get back to the..." Whatever he was going to say Daryl didn't catch.

Three arrows in quick succession took down three walkers closest to Daryl. He staggered back slightly from the surprise but quickly got back into the fight. As he and Aaron continued to take down the walkers, they continued to fall silently around them; ones that seemed to get a little too close when their backs were turned. Aaron took down the last one and they turned to look at each other.

"What the hell is going on?" Aaron asked him.

Daryl shrugged and looked out in the dark woods. "Whoever you are, come out, now!"

It was no surprise to either of them when the space around them stayed motionless and quiet. "You really didn't think that would work, did you?" Aaron smirked.

"Worth a try," Daryl shrugged. "Let's get outta here."

"It shouldn't be much further," Aaron said as they began to run in the direction they were heading before they saw the walkers.

They hadn't got much further when a shadow moved in the distance. They froze at the same time, their weapons going up and aiming at the shadow as they watched it slowly become a person.

Daryl was surprised. The person was small, almost timid looking even in the dark. He wore a cloak which covered him entirely and even in the limited moon light, he could see that they were covered in blood. "Who are you?" Daryl asked, stepping forward with his crossbow aimed at the strangers head. "What do you want?"

"It's not safe," the voice said and Daryl was taken by surprise to find the voice belonged to a woman.

"What does that mean?" He asked her.

"They found the car," she said, in a deep voice. Daryl narrowed his eyes at her, her voice was familiar somehow but he couldn't place it. "They're looking for you."

"How do we know you're not working with them?" Aaron asked her.

"You don't," she said. It was strange but Daryl somehow knew she was smiling, he could hear it in her voice, see it in the tilt of her head. "You just have to trust me."

Aaron turned to look at Daryl and he took a moment to watch the woman. "Guess we don't have much choice," he said, nodding at Aaron.

They had a plan for this kind of thing. They knew that if anything went wrong, Aaron would make a run for it while Daryl, the better fighter, would try to buy him some time. If all went to plan, they meet up at the nearest safe point. They'd wait two days but if there was no sign, they'd head back to Alexandria and a search party would be despatched if there was hope that the other was still alive.

"Then we need to leave now," she said. "We can come back for your bike tomorrow."

Daryl narrowed his eyes at her again but he didn't ask her how she knew about the bike. He already knew from their brief conversation that she must have been following them for some time.

"Where are we going?" Aaron asked, following after her first to leave Daryl to watch out for anyone approaching from behind.

"You'll see," was the cryptic reply they got from her.


Sooooo waddya think? Should I continue? Are you intrigued?

Thank ya'll so so much! I hope you enjoyed and I look forward to next time x