Another unsuccessful hunt "aren't there any animals left in these woods" I muttered under my breath as I raised my bow trying to keep positive, there had to be something to eat out here I can't remember a time where I wasn't hunger, My mind started to wander so I decided to call it a day feeling slightly unfocused I thought my chances of catching something would be slim. I had just lowered my bow when I heard the sound of twigs breaking underfoot someone was running I spun around raising my bow as a man stumbled towards me a crossbow clutched in one hand the other hung loosely at his side, he looked in pretty rough shape his eyes locked on yours both of you searching each other expressions trying to figure each other out. I thought about turning and running I didn't know who this man was, what his intentions may have been, the last group of people I'd ran into hadn't been the nicest. I may have been left with a few trust issues to say the least. Just as I was making up my mind on what the hell to do the man, I still had my arrow aimed at, took a step forward wincing in pain as he did so, he opened his mouth and shouted "Walkers!"
I tour my eyes away from the man's looking over his shoulder to see an hand full of walkers closing in on the man. There was no time to think, I pulled back my arrow stepping forward "Duck" I yelled the man responded instantly dropping to his knees. I may have been a little weary of the guy but I sure as hell was not going to stand there and watch him die. I let lose my first arrow hitting its target perfectly right between the eyes I reached back grabbing another arrow lining up my next target hitting its target a little higher than my last shot, there were four other walkers closing in I turned quickly to see the man had behind me had stood but looked a little shaky on his feet "Stay behind me" I ordered the man didn't look too happy at my words but I didn't take much notice grabbing my knife from its holster on my right thigh before lunging towards one of the walkers.
I impaled it's skull on my knife I turned to the next one this time driving my knife through its temple as I pulled my knife free its blood a thick black ooze had coated my knife, I had just turned when another walker reached out to grab at me it I stepped back, my back colliding with a tree the walker leaned forward trying to take a bit out of me I pushed the creature back holding it at arm's length before driving my knife up through its jaw, it went limp and dropped at my feet I turned to see the last of the four walkers as it was making its way towards the stranger who sat crouched by a tree he was fumbling with his crossbow trying to load it with one hand. I reached back grabbing an arrow and lining it up, the walker dropped just inches from the man. His face shot up to meet my gaze, he looked almost annoyed, like I'd stolen this thunder. I started to walk towards the man kicking the walker out of my way as I approached the man who now stood I had walked a little closer than I had intended to and I almost let out a scream as the man suddenly took a step forward pushing me aside with his good arm I stumbled backwards away from the man I grabbed an arrow and loaded my bow pointing it at him as he raised his crossbow but he didn't point it at me instead taking out a walker that had stood not too far behind me.
He lowered the crossbow and turned to me eyes scolding as I realised I still had my bow raised at him. "You're welcome" the stranger grumbled and my mouth nearly fell open, fucking cheek! I was about to express my anger when I heard another moan coming from behind the men. I shot an arrow between its eyes before he had time to turn around. "You're welcome" I mimicked bitterness evident in my tone I walked past the man going to retrieve my arrows, whipping them clean on the grass, had I really just risked my life to save this ungrateful little shit. I turned to go get my last arrow only to see the man standing inches from me the closeness instantly made me uncomfortable and I jolted back he must have noticed my discomfort taking a small step back himself before holding his hand out in it he held my arrow I reached forward tentatively to tack it as I did the man met my gaze, his eyes were extremely blue I hadn't noticed this before, "Thank you" he spoke his voice softer than it had been before he sounded genuinely thankful "No problem" I said back before the silence between us became to awkward "and thanks" I added before going back to chewing on my lip nervously. the stranger bent down to pick up the crossbow he had placed by his feet as he lifted it he winced in pain "What happened" I asked gesturing to the arm that hung loosely at the man's side "It's nothing" the stranger replied almost defensively "Don't look like nothing" I replied taking a small step closer to look at the man's arm. He wore a vest top leaving his muscular arms exposed, I was taking the time to examine his arm a little closer I noticed his shoulder was too far forward. Dislocated. "How'd you manage to dislocate your arm?" walkers wouldn't have been able to do anything like that they aren't strong enough beside the marks and bruises on his face had made it fairly obvious that the man had been in a fight with the living. "Some guys jumped me beat me up pretty bad and left me for the walkers" he was practically spitting venom in his words, I went to bit my lip a habit of mine but as I bit down on my lip I remembered the cut left there hissing and shaking my head I returned my attention back to the man before me. I couldn't blame him people these days weren't to be trusted seemed not many good people had made it or maybe they used to be good but this world it changes you I certainly were not saint beside if these people that had done this to him had been anything like the ones I'd ran into I'm sure I'd be just as pissed as him in fact I was. I nodded to show my understanding "Want me to take a look at that?" I asked carefully I still didn't know if I could trust this man. His eyes squinted looking me up and down he grunted in response and I took it as a yes "Maybe you should sit down" I gestured to a fallen tree not far behind us.
He walked over and took a seat without a word his eyes still scanning me. I rested my hand lightly on his shoulder to get a feel of what I was dealing with the heat of his skin was the first thing I noticed as my fingers lightly grazed his shoulder, he shot back in pain "Dammit woman" he hissed moving back slightly "Don't be such a baby" I shot back at him "I hardly touched you and if you think that's the worst of the pain I hate to break it to you but putting that back in place is gonna hurt a lot more" The man looked almost stunned at my reply and for a moment I thought I'd been too harsh but he just grumbled and moved closer allowing me to continue playing doctor "Now this 'IS' going to hurt" I warned him having sorted out how to do this "On the count of three" I said getting myself ready as well as him "One...Tw-." I pushed hard relining the dislocated shoulder. The man pulled back swearing as he did so then he looked at me anger in his eyes "Jesus woman what happened to three!" the man yelled "Your welcome" I practically growled back, how ungrateful could one man be I turned rolling my eyes "whatever" I muttered under my breath more to myself than him I turned and began to walk away.
It was getting late, the sun would begin to set soon and I wanted to get back to where I was holding up before the darkness left me blind and vulnerable. I was well aware of the footsteps approaching behind me I shot a glance over my shoulder to see the stranger following me "What do you want" I called over my shoulder not bothering to stop making sure he could hear the hint of boredom in my tone. There was no answer so I stopped to face my new stalker "Why are you following me" I held my bow tight in the left hand "You out here alone?" the man asked ignoring my questions completely eyes looking me up and down "Are you?" I questioned back not feeling comfortable in exposing my position "I asked first" he shot back, I shook my head frustration growing silence fell between us as we waited to see who would cave in first. He man sighed heavily as he began to speak, I'd won the silent standoff. He answered choosing his words as carefully as he could "I was with a group... we were attacked... I lost them... all of them" his eyes had dropped staring at his feet as he'd spoken slowly he raised them to meet mine, I could see the pain etched behind them. "I'm sorry" I offered weakly not sure what to say I smiled wearily "I know you don't wanna hear that, doesn't help right" the man nodded in agreement "It's just me, out here it's been like this for a while now" as I finished speaking I heard some rustling from the bushes not far behind me, not having to think about my next moves I spun round lifting my bow reaching back grabbing an arrow, the bush stopped rustling as a rabbit appeared darting forward I let lose my arrow and it's body went limp.
I smiled to myself satisfied that I had finally caught something the rabbit was a decent size, I bent down to scoop up my reward for all the hours I'd spend tiptoeing through the woods holding onto the hope that there was something out there it all seemed worth it now, now that I had the promise of food even if it was only for tonight. "Nice shot" I'd forgotten for a moment the man that stood behind me "I thought so" I said smiling proudly as I holding the rabbit up by its hind legs looking at the arrow that was sticking out of the rabbits eye "You always hit your target like that?" the man asked gesturing to the arrow "I've always aim for the head, does comes in handy now a day's..." I paused thinking of the irony before continuing "It's the quickest way to kill most humane, don't like them suffering... animals to" I added giving a nod to the rabbit. I looked away from the man as I removed the arrow from the rabbits eye placing it back with the others. I held the rabbit in my right hand as I looked back at the stranger who stood trying to avoid eye contact "You hungry" I called out the man's eye met mine he looked shocked that I'd asked "well?" I asked raising the rabbit in my right hand and shaking it lightly before him "I know I am" "You don't gotta.." the man started before I cut him off "I know" there was another short silence before I continued "I don't trust people, usually that's why I'm out here on my own its better this way I don't get hurt don't lose people.." I paused taking a breath " Truth is when I saw you hurt and alone... I didn't have to help but I couldn't just stand there and watch you die. And then you saved me made me think you might not be so bad and just now you started following me like a lost sheep. I don't trust people because I know what they are capable of, you seem different though" I finished understanding how my little ramble may seem strange but to my surprise the man the man nodded and began to speak " I thought like that once, there was a time it was just me and my brother" I didn't miss the look in the man's eyes as he mentioned his brother "Then he was gone shut myself off from the group I was with for a time, but people got a way of getting to ya even if you don't want em to" I nodded for the first time understanding this man. I stepped forward holding out my hand "Let's start over, My names Marceline" I smiled as the stranger took my hand, the whole situation seeming bizarre It was the first time in a long time I'd had any human contact with someone that seemed nice anyway. "Daryl Dixon" he answered as he let go of my hand and it fell to my side "Let's go them Daryl I'm starved" I turned and began to walk Daryl by my side I kept catching glances from him as we walked in sync side by side, I couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking however my thoughts were cut short by the ominous sound of groaning, growing louder I raised my bow and Daryl raised his.