Chapter 1

Run. That one word. That's all it's been about for months. Run. Don't stop. Run. Don't look behind you. Keep going. Push. Don't think. Flee. Go.

Lily was tired. She's been shaking off a small group of infected for days, unsure if they followed her path. Doesn't matter, she thought to herself. Can't stop now.

She kept jogging through the forest, hearing the crunch of the leaves beneath her feet. Longing for a break, she doesn't dare stop, knowing she'll collapse if she doesn't keep going. She sighs, wiping the sweat off her face.

Two weeks ago she crossed the Florida border into Georgia. She's managed to collect some peaches along the way, but not much else. With no hunting experience, she's only been able to collect fruits she's found on the trek, since the stash she brought with her had gotten left behind when she got cut off by that small group. I wish I saved that last peach, she grumbles to herself as she feels the ache in her stomach. Her last wedge of the fruit was gone last week. Lily's mouth watered at the thought of the succulent golden fruit.

She surprised herself by how long she's survived. An engineering student, armed with only an axe from her parents' garage, outlasted most of the folks from her hometown. She would've laughed at the situation if she was back in her college dorm a few months ago, watching a zombie movie, but now that the situation was real, all it really did was make her want to puke.

It all happened so fast, the outbreak, the evacuations, and the bombings. She hasn't come across another person since the outbreak started, not that she minded much. Even in high school and into college, Lily was always a loner. She'd rather read a book instead of hang out with all the partiers, making her more of an outcast than she was before. She sighed, thinking how it'd be nice to talk to someone other than herself, at least for a minute. Part of her wished she had been more social when she had the chance. As silly as she thought they were, she even missed the pointless social networking sites she barely used. Her mind wanders to her days sitting in her dorm with her laptop, talking to a friend from back home or curled up with a book in her lap. She sighed, erasing that thought from her mind. Can't think like that now, girl. You'll just disappoint yourself.

Dehydrated and exhausted, she pushed on, knowing that stopping could be the biggest mistake of her life. Sweating profusely from the Georgia humidity, she took off her dirty sweater and tied it around her waist sloppily, not willing to stop to secure it properly. I'm going to die if I don't get some water, she thought, thinking how the cool liquid would go down her parched throat.

Lily scanned the area, searching and listening for potential threats. She hasn't seen an infected all day. Feeling relatively secure, she lunged herself at the base of a tree, breathing heavily from exhaustion. "I can't do this much longer," she muttered. Her constant movement over the last few days has drained every ounce of energy from her body. Enjoying her first break in a while, Lily leans her body fully against the oak, taking advantage of the shade the thick wood provides.

It seemed to all go by in a second. She didn't even feel it at first. If she weren't in so much pain, it would've seemed unreal. Lily struggled to breathe, looking down as her blood seeped through her clothes from an arrow wound in her side. Confused and in a daze, she searched the area for her predator. Too exhausted and in too much pain, she watched a figure emerge from a bush as she passed out into darkness.

Trudging through the forest on his way back to camp, Daryl listened to the sounds around him. He's been tracking this deer for days, finally getting it to go around back towards camp. Though sweaty and tired, he's enjoyed the time away from the others. He's tired of being around these people, always getting in his way and expecting the meat he brings back without thanks. The only one really worth being around is Merle. Barely. That dick's not worth much a anythin', he thought. If it were up to him, he'd be all on his own.

Ever since childhood, Daryl Dixon knew what it was like to be alone, and he liked it. Thrived in it. No one to take care of but himself, and he wanted to keep it that way. Just 'cause I'm with these people don't mean I gotta look out for 'em.

Daryl stealthily moved through the thick, unkempt grass. Hearing a soft sound a few meters ahead, he paused to listen to the creature. We're eatin' real well tonight, he thought, knowing another dear would save him a hunting trip for a while, maybe allow them to make some jerky too. Inching closer, he crept as quietly and as low to ground as possible, knowing not to scare the small animal near the tree. Fuck, he though, can't get a clear shot. Taking his chances, Daryl carefully aimed his crossbow towards the creature and shot.

Moments later, a shout of pain ripped through the forest. Alarmed some walkers might hear, he approaches the creature he just shot; realizing quickly that no creature lay on the ground before him. In its place, a young woman lay, bleeding profusely from her side. Daryl stared down at her, confused for a moment, before pulling himself together. He tore away the sleeve of his shirt, and tied it around the unconscious woman's waist. Piss. Guess I better take 'er back to camp. Annoyed and frustrated with himself, Daryl hoisted the woman upon his shoulders and started his tread back to camp. He looked at her unconscious body as he walked. She's little, only five feet tall, if that, he assumed, and clearly hasn't eaten in a while. Her long brown hair is tangled and cakes with dirt, and, from what Daryl could tell, her delicate face is smeared with dirt and blood. Her jeans are ripped, her tank top dirty, and her sweater is ratty. "Dumb girl," he muttered. He was angry with himself for being so careless. As he continued to look at her while he walked, he became sickened with himself. Ya dumb fuck. How could ya ruin somethin' like that?

As Daryl approached camp, he heard a scream ring from around the corner. He gently adjusted the girl in order to reach his crossbow, preparing for what's ahead. He entered the lighter area to see part of the group with weapons aimed at him, and his half eaten deer lying on the group.

"Son of a bitch." Daryl says, while handing off the girl to Shane, gently.

"Dixon, who the-"

"That's my deer! Look at it!" He yells, kicking the corpse. " All gnawed on by this…filthy, disease-bearing, motherless, poxy bastard!"

Dale looks at him, frowning. "Calm down, son. That's not helping."
Furious, Daryl got in his face and screamed, "What do you know 'bout it, ol' man? Ya take that stupid hat and go back ta On Golden Pond."

Daryl stepped back, grabbing the arrows from the deer. "I've been trackin' this deer for miles…. Drag it back to camp….Cook us up some venison….What do ya think? Think we can cut 'round this chewed up part right here?"
Shane frowns, "I would not risk it." Daryl sighs.

"Well that's a damn shame. Got some squire, 'bout a dozen or so. That'll have to do."
Before heading back, Shane stops Daryl. "What happen with this here young lady?"
Daryl looks back at the ex-cop. "Thought the dumb girl was an animal. Shot 'er in the side. Was able to bind 'er wound, so it should heal fine."
Shane, aggravated, glares at him. "What the hell, man? Dale, can you patch her up in the RV? She looks pretty beat up. Shouldda known better than to trust your ass out here, Dixon." Dale nods, as the group starts heading back. Daryl, on the other hand was furious. He lunged forward and grabbed at the front of Shane's shirt.

"Ya don't know what the fuck ya talking about, prick! S'not like I see ya ass up and gettin' anythin' for anyone here! Girl wouldda been dead anyway if I hadn't brought 'er back!" Shane pushed Daryl back. Jim stepped between the two as they were about to go at it.

"Knock it off, guys. Come on now, we gotta help this girl out. It's not the time for this crap." Daryl huffed, but didn't say anything in return.
As he began walking away, Daryl noticed the decapitated walker head still biting on the ground. "Come on people, what the hell." he says, grabbing everyone's attention by aiming his crossbow and shooting the walker in the head. "Gotta be the brain. Don't ya'll know nothing?" He presses his boot into the walker's head, pulled out the bolt, and headed back to camp.

As the group approached camp, Dale and Shane placed the young woman on the bed in the RV. Shane rushed back out to talk to Daryl. Amy, who was reading a book, quickly discarded it and rusheed for the first aid kit, eyes wide. "What happened?"
"Daryl shot the young lady by accident," Dale mumbled. He quickly cleaned her and carefully attempted to stitch the wound. Hearing the ruckus outside, Amy peers through the window, gazing upon the moment the group's been anxiously waiting for all day.

She watcheed quietly as Daryl Dixon paces back and forth, stopping to give the new guy, Rick, a death glare. "Hang on, lemme process this. Ya say ya handcuffed my brother to a roof? And ya left him there?!" Furious, he threw his string of squirrels at Rick as Shane slammed into his side. Daryl quickly pulled out his knife, swiping at Rick furiously until Shane held him in a headlock.

"You best let me go!" Daryl panted, struggling to break Shane's head lock.

"Nah. Think it's better if I don't."

"Ahhh," he growled out, "choke hold's illegal!"

"File a complaint," Shane muttered.

From the window, Amy grimaced and walked back in the bedroom to help Dale patch up the new girl.

"You think she'll be alright?" Amy asked, worry evident in her tone.

"Looks like the arrow didn't do much damage, but I'm no expert. She'll probably be fine once we get her patched up and on some pain killers."

"How do you think it happened? How do you just accidentally shoot someone?" Dale frowned at her accusing tone.

"Now, I don't know about you, young lady, but I could barely find myself in those woods. I truly think Daryl would never hurt someone on purpose. Everyone makes mistakes, even hot-headed 'rednecks,'" he chuckled.

Daryl sat in his tent for a few hours before emerging. He headed straight for the RV, not bothering to even give a look to any of the campers. He opened the door and stomped up the stairs before slamming the door shut, letting everyone know not to mess with him right now. He felt nervousness creep up through his stomach and slowly start to replace the anger as he approached the back bedroom. He slowly and carefully opened the door and peered at the sleeping woman on the bed. He sat down at the edge of the bed by her feet before looking up at her unconscious face again.

She was beautiful without the dirt and blood on her face, and it made him feel even worse for what he did.

He sighed before speaking.

"I'm really sorry 'bout this, girl. Ya never shouldda had that happen to ya," he trailed off, not really knowing what to say. He reached his rough hand up to lightly touch her bandaged side before dropping it. His tone grew angry.

"The hell ya doin' out there anyway, huh? Ya ain't got no business, stompin' through the wild'rness like that! Dumb bitch. Prolly got lost 'r somethin'."

Daryl rested his head in his hands as he softened his tone.

"Not mad at ya. Not really. Ain't mean nothin', me blamin' ya for somethin' I done."

He sighed in frustration one final time.

"Somethin' as angelic like ya don't deserve to be fucked up by someone like me."

He glanced at her sleeping figure once more before getting up and exiting the RV.

Alright everyone! Let me know if you like the changes or not! :D