I was lost, lost in the sound of my feet on the empty pavement and the breeze dancing across the leaves. The road I was traveling was sided with dense woods, where I never stepped into until night-time, then I walked a hundred paces or so in and hid up in the trees. I found it safer to be strapped to a limb way out of reach of the walkers or the humans going past. Spring was upon us here in Georgia and I zipped up my black hooded jacket. Shifting the gear on my back I kept treading ahead, with no real idea where I was headed.

I had been like this since the beginning. Wandering, searching, and hoping that one day I would find my brother and his family. We hadn't spoken in months before the virus broke out due to a fight we had over how I couldn't stand his wife. She just always got under my skin and I happened to call her a dumb bitch in front of Rick and well, that was that. I've been searching ever since I found their home empty.

As I contemplated the chances of me actually surviving this plague I was brought back to reality by a sound that I hadn't heard in a while…a car. Spinning around I stared, mouth open as a black car came racing towards me. I quickly ran to the side of the road, tossing my pack on the ground and threading my compound bow, just in case. This wouldn't be it, the end. I've been through too much since this whole planet went to shit and I wouldn't be taken down by people in a fucking black…is that a Camaro?!

The car in questioned slowed down a bit past me and came to a full stop. Forcing my fear down, I knelt on one knee, aiming at the door, and waiting. The passenger side opened and a dark-skinned woman with dreads came out, brandishing a katana. A freaking sword, are you serious? The driver, a grungy, white guy with a crossbow took a few steps, reaching the trunk of the car. I remained where I was, watching the two with my steady blue eyes.

I waited, wondering what their move would be. I honestly didn't want to kill someone for no reason, but I guess in the end it's me or them, right? That's what I've told myself this whole time, I might start to believe it soon. Hopefully it will put a belt on all the guilt I'm burdened with. The dirty looking biker guy dropped his bow first, resting it on the car. The woman took his cue and sheathed her katana. Exhaling slowly I removed the bolt and rested my bow next to me.

"Where you headed?" The man asked, his voice gruff with a local twang.

"Nowhere." I spoke, still kneeling. If I try I might be able to grab my stuff and run into the woods before they caught me, but with my track record it wouldn't work out for any of us. I maybe could hit the man with the knife in my boot but the woman would be on me quickly, I could tell. If they wanted to hurt me, this pair I wouldn't be able to get away from, no way could I beat them in a fight. In that moment I gave up. I stood dropping my shit to the ground and both stared, watching me with narrow eyes.

"You gonna kill me or what?" I sighed, rubbing my forehead, spreading the dirt on my hands to my skin and into my dark bangs.

"Why would we do that?" The woman asked, stepping cautiously forward, her head tilting to the side, studying me.

"Everyone else I've met has tried." Shrugging I opened my arms up to my side. "Whether it be the dead or the living for some reason they all try to kill me, so if you're gonna do it then do it. I'm too tired to try to stop you." I felt my reasoning was sound, it felt right to me. "I've been through too much." The last part was to myself but I think they heard me. The man moved a bit closer.

"You alone?" He asked, glancing into the woods. No, I'm hiding my Merry Men in the tree tops, or my secret elves are going to attack at my command.

"Yes." Nodding, I felt my dark hair shifting in my hood. The woman kept herself by the car, standing protectively.

"For how long?" God, he was full of questions wasn't he? Why did he care? I'm just a strange woman on the side of the road.

"All of it, besides a few weeks with random groups. Two weeks with one, three with another. They both ended the same." My stomach clenched as I thought of the reasons I left, disgust creeping up my throat and I felt the urge to vomit or shower.

"Whatcha mean?" The sword woman asked. Seriously, lady? A lone woman…in a group of strangers. It isn't that hard to figure out.

"It ended with men thinking they can take what isn't theirs and me realizing that alone is sometimes better." The pair just stared as I scratched at my skin, almost feeling the touch of those cretins upon me once more. Memories bubbled up inside of me and I forced them down, refusing to fall into those dark thoughts again. Faintly I heard the one's laugh and I shook my head, my nails digging into my forearms bringing me back. Glancing up at the two through my long bangs I saw them share glances and then nod to each other.

"We have a place. It's safe. You can come with us, if you want." The woman spoke, her hands on her hips. Yippy another strange place, with more strangers…perfect. Although if Warrior Princess was there and still standing then maybe it wasn't so bad.

"No place is safe." I chuckled, dark thoughts twirling in my mind. They all fall apart somehow. Either the walkers or the personal greed of man in this broken world around us. I've never felt safe in this new world, I doubt I would ever again.

"Well this is." The man snapped. Wow, that's a good selling pitch. Raising an eyebrow I crossed my arms feeling this urge to smack the guy.

"That's what they all say. We're safe, you can come with us, you'll be safe, and then bam a whole bunch of shit hits the proverbial fan and I'm on the road again, still alone." Muttering the last part I tightened my arms across me.

"You searching for someone?" The man asked and I looked back up at him, giving a quick nod.

"Since the beginning. Haven't found them yet." Not that I haven't been trying. Months…months searching in a pretty little circle. All I've found is some destroyed farm houses and barns and a whole lot of trouble.

"Them?" The dirty cross-bow guy brushed his hair out of his eyes. I guess I wasn't the only one who needed a haircut. There wasn't exactly a Great Clips anymore.

"Yeah, my brother, his wife and kid. They're the only family I got so I've been searching for them." I repressed all emotions that came with thinking of my brother and his family. No way was I letting these people know that I was dying slowly inside. That all I wanted was to hug my brother again and see how big my nephew had gotten. Hell I'd even hug the bitch, that's how much I miss them.

"What's their names?" Crossbow Man asked looking at me curiously, a bit of sadness in his eyes.

"Uh, Rick. His wife's Lori and their kid's Carl. Rick was a sheriff a few towns away from Atlanta so I was hoping they stuck to the area." The two shared a look and I tensed. "What? Have you seen them?" Excitement filtered into my voice, and I think they could see it barely shine in my dulled eyes.

"Yeah, we know them. What's your name?" The man moved a bit closer, only a few feet way now, but we still kept a healthy distance from each other.

"Kate." Responding I moved to go pick up my gear, a new sense of life in me. "Can you take me to them?" I slid it on my back, then the quiver my bow resting in my hand.

"Need you to answer three questions first." The rough man asked, his eyes watching me still.

"Okay." Nodding quickly I glanced between the pair.

"How many walkers have you killed?" Wanting to laugh at the man's questions I resisted and shrugged.

"Never kept count. Several dozens, at least." I waited, wondering what else they wanted to know.

"How many people have you killed?" That caused me to freeze, my eyes hitting the ground and the urge to puke coming around again.

"Two." I spat, revulsion twisting my face and I shoved down the pain and anguish the memories caused me.

"Why?" Grinding my teeth I closed my eyes, the images flashing around in my mind and I gripped my bow tightly in my grasp, my other hand tugging on my long, dark brown pony tail. The feel of their hands and their laughter haunted me.

"I wouldn't let them hurt another woman like…" Taking a deep breath I shook my head, once more shoving those feelings down and away. "This world maybe fucked up, but there are some men who think it means that they can claim what they want and nothing will stop them. So I stopped them. I don't regret it. I made sure that they could never hurt anyone else." Once more they shared a look before nodding.

"Name's Daryl." The man spoke, ah so they do have names.

"Michonne." The dreaded woman nodded. Nodding I headed over to the car, hoping that getting their names means that I was going with them. They didn't resist as I climbed into the back seat, tossing my gear to the side, making sure I didn't knock over the items they had back there. Looks like they went on a supply run.

When Daryl looked back at me in the mirror I was staring out the side window, my face blank, but inside my heart was pounding and I was overwhelmed with excitement. My brother, I was getting my brother back.