Smoke and complete chaos surrounded a petite little blonde woman as she crouched behind one of the scattered old wooden crates used for covers, while scanning the carnage of dead walkers, enemies and people that had become friends over that last months. The walkers still wondering around trying to find their next meal, instead turning towards the burning tank. The horde was surrounding it now, some catching fire, they had not noticed her, the thick smoke masking her from view and scent. The blonde, Beth had been looking for Judith, the little baby that she had become a surrogate mother to her over the last few months, Beth was the only mother Judith had. Beth spotted the empty baby car seat that was used to carry Judy around, it was in between the walkers and she saw it was empty with blood splatters around, could be anybody's blood, right? Her heart tightening painfully, a despondent sound catching in her throat as her eyes became watery, her baby was... gone. A noise of one of the prison doors behind her opened with a familiar low rusty groan, she turned around, her eyes catching a familiar figure, her ice blue eyes clashing with a stormy grey pair. She thought she was the only one left, Beth had caught a glimpse of the orange school bus making a hurried exit only a couple minutes before with some of the leftover prison survivors from the Governor's massacre.

The figure silently jogged towards her, he would have recognised those long silky curls anywhere, glowing like a soft halo, the walkers were too busy clumsily beating on the burning tank to notice at this stage. Beth was relieved to see Darryl as he crouched down next to her, hissing at her quietly not to draw attention, "what the hell blondie! You're supposed to be on the goddamn bus!" She looked at him with a pained expression and whispered "J-Judith..." A single tear streaking down her paled porcelain cheek, fighting to keep the rest of her tears from bursting through. Daryl's shoulders sagged as he understood her tone and distraught expression, he had grown very fond of the 'lil ass-kicker' his nickname for Judith. Forcing his own distress aside for now, choosing to let the survivor instinct in him to take over, he had to, for both their sakes, he reached and squeezed her hand, whispering hoarsely, "Beth, we have to get out of here, that tank won't burn like this for long". With his other hand he held onto a small backpack he kept hidden near the entrance of the prison door for an emergency like this, he had suspected the governor would resurface sometime, but he never actually expected the confrontation would end up like this and that Governor would have had a fuckin tank. Hershel, Beth's father had been decapitated by the Governor, his body was laying a hundred metres away if there was anything left of him, Daryl pushed the thoughts aside, this was not the time and place to re-hash all this, they had to get away, all they had now was each other.

Daryl reached for the large hunting knife sheathed on the side of his hip and placed it into her small delicate hand, "Beth we are gonna use the crates, barrels, and whatever else we can find to sneak past the walkers" He reached towards her and zipped up the snug light leather jacket she was wearing, she looked at him confused. Unlike his usual cool self, he gave her a reassuring squeeze on her shoulder, "There are a lot of walkers down there, and they will try to grab at us as we pass, so tie your hair up good". Beth was in a state of shock and relieved, it was easier to follow his instructions than think for herself now. Securing his small backpack to her small frame and the crossbow to his back. Clutching her hand tightly in his, the other hand holding a very mean and sharpened looking machete, reminding him a little of shorter version of Michonne's Katana, not his usual choice of weapon, but his crossbow was just not going to cut it in this situation and the arrows were far too valuable to use in this situation if he could not retrieve them to re-use, he needed the machete to clear a path for them as they got closer to where the fence was. "Right! let's Move!"

Beth Stuck close to him as they progressed from crate to barrel, sneaking away from the main herd that was still migrating towards the tank, it was smoking more rather than burning now. The walkers that had managed to catch fire, their bodies were making spitting and crackling noises, like the same sound when you put damp log on a fire . The noises keeping most of the walkers near the tank area. Daryl and Beth were now hiding behind what had used to be old fence to the pig sty, made from random wooden planks. Daryl counted about ten walkers between them and the treeline leading into the forest. The walkers were spaced out and some were still feeding on some of the fallen bodies from the attack, which were mostly the Governor's people. Daryl squeezed Beth's hand again, she could not remember ever having so much physical contact with Daryl, except for that one time when they hugged after she had learned Zach never made it back from a run. The facade of cold hunter had been dropped giving her a glimpse of him, a good man, this fact he tried hard to hide, preferring to usually portray himself with the hard exterior of not giving two shits. He could have easily left her there if he had wanted to, he was one of the strongest from their group and definitely the toughest one out of the two of them and let's be honest, compared to him, she was more of a burden and he could probably survive a whole lot easier without her, but here he was, "Beth we are gonna have to make a run for it, keep hold of my hand and run as fast as you can, don't look back, we are gonna dodge these fuckers, I move, you move, don't stop, We are NOT stopping!" She was so grateful to him and did her best to offer him a tight forced smile and a return squeeze to his hand while she whispered. "ready as I will ever be".

Daryl had to smile inwardly at her, she may not have been the strongest person physically in the prison's ragtag group, but she had pluck. After all the shit she had been through and she was still keeping herself together, they might actually make it to the treeline, this gave Daryl an extra boost of energy, "let's go Blondie!". This part seemed to happen so fast, they were both running in unison, dodging flailing rotting hands that Daryl sliced through with his machete. Beth moved surprisingly fast, her small petite frame enabled her to move quite stealthy and fluid, it gave him the inclination to push the pace harder, a sort satisfaction washed over him, girl had some fast legs on her, he had never realised how quick she could be, Beth was much lighter and equalled his new increased pace.

Beth gripped tighter to his hand drawing strength from his contact, she surprised herself by pushing harder, not for herself, but for him. Her worst fear would for him to regret coming to her aid, if not for Daryl, she would have been walker feed by now. They made it to the treeline without too much difficulty, some of the stray walkers following them into the woods, the two of them putting a sizable distance between them and the walkers as they moved almost as one, this new unlikely alliance sustaining them to keep pushing on. Twenty minutes of almost inaudible sprinting since they had reached the treeline and not a walker to be heard groaning and hissing behind them, Daryl slowed and Beth followed suit, they both made it to a stop, inches from one another, leaning over and panting, they still had their hands locked together. Panting eventually turned to slow deeper lungful's of air and then slowing to normal. Beth Stood up straight, Daryl was already up and looking down at her. He saw relief skittle across her face, she let go of his hand, for a split second, somewhere deep inside him, he was somewhat reluctant and refused to admit he did not want her to let go. Instead Beth plunged herself against his chest and just hugged him like he was the only solid foundation in this stormy scenario, he was a bit taken back, not used to the intimate contact, but after their mad dash, they had actually made it, he relaxed and laced his arms around her quietly, giving into the sensation, both relaxing and drawing mutual strength from one another again, it was a strange dynamic that he had not experienced before, leaving him feeling a little unsettled and curious all at the same time.

The whole encounter mixed with the physical exchange seemed to pull them a little closer, you could even describe it as a wisp of something linking them, a bond had started grow that was not there before the attack of the Governor. Beth and Daryl stood there for a few minutes before they both reluctantly withdrew from the embrace. He gently turned her around by her shoulders, the contact warming his fingers and through her thin leather jacket to her skin, a soft blush making her cheeks glow, though it would not have been noticeable as they were both still flushed from the heavy sprint. Daryl unzipped and reached into the small backpack that held a small bottle of water, an additional hunting, an oversized poncho and some expired muesli bars. He handed her the water bottle to drink from. She took a few small sips, closing her eyes at how wonderful it felt to have the liquid coat and soothe her dry hoarse throat, a sigh of pleasure escaped her lips, she gave him an appreciative smile pushing the bottle to him, he was still watching her, curbing his reckless and wayward thoughts, the tip of his tongue sliding along the inside of his bottom lip unconsciously. Shaking his head, he pushed the bottle back to her obviously not satisfied with her tiny intake, insisting she partake of more, giving in she took a larger sip and pushed it back towards him again, he seemed a little more pleased with her last sip. He took two large gulps and sealed the bottle. They had to conserve what was left till they could find a water source.

Beth was the first to really speak, "Daryl? what now?",Her facial expression seemed lost and he knew that he needed to give her something to focus on, a goal, she could not fall to pieces yet, they needed a safe place and food so that could pull together and come up with a plan. Daryl spoke in a calm controlled tone of voice. "We find shelter and food, that's our first priority, when we find that we can come up with a plan, find our family, what's left of it.. first our priority, then we can talk about it further" Beth was content with his response, she liked that he had taken control of the situation, again.. Daryl was quickly becoming her rock and Beth his new purpose.

Beth lifted the hand up that still held the knife he had giving her earlier at the prison, she was surprised that she had not cut herself to ribbons during their marathon, Daryl also smiled intuitively reading her thoughts through her facial expressions, indeed she did not injure herself in the process of their run. He placed the machete on one of the leather loops along his leather belt, letting the object dangle towards the mossy ground. Beth was surprised as he started to loosen his belt, sliding his hunting knife's sheath off his belt, there was a spare smaller knife in the pack. He was making a move towards her own belt that was looped into her snugly fitting skinny jeans, quickly undoing it and sliding the sheath along her own belt now, making sure to put it in the best place for her own easy access. Beth bit her lip softly at the action, feeling a little shy that he seemed so comfortable to invade her space, not that she minded, a tiny seed in the pit of her stomach giving a faint warming feeling , he gave her a playful smirk without even realising it, causing her breath to hitch, while he gently slid the knife out her hand, his calloused fingertips unintentionally feathering briefly against the palm of her hand, He had to admit himself he enjoyed the contact, maybe too much, it concerned him, now was not the time so be getting involved, let alone with Beth Green, there was the undeniable age gap between them, he would have to watch himself. Clearing his throat, a voice more grainy than usual, "Since you not gone and cut yourself, maybe you should hold onto it and I could give you a few pointers on how to use it effectively.. " Beth was struggling for words from the contact, making the thud in her chest speed up a little, instead she swallowed and nodded. He continued again, "You already know to go for the head, you would not have the strength like I do, but if you aim for a walker's eyes or down through the ears if you have the walker side on, it will be easier to get to where you need the blade to go." using the knife in his hand to gesture the stabbing action, before sliding it into the sheath resting along her hip. Beth gave a faint smile and soft murmur. "Thanks Daryl.. f-for everything" His name on her lips seemed to curl a little up his spine, he was embarrassed by that and gave her a curt nod and turned to start walking, "come on" was spoken over his left shoulder. Beth smiled to herself, So Mr Dixon had a problem with being told thank you, she followed him all the same, sneaking a brief look at his ass as he walked away, taking pleasure in the sight she felt a blush warming her cheeks again.

-To be continued-