Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to The Walking Dead, AMC or anyone/anything else. This is purely for entertainment purposes and is fiction created by me. This story does not reflect the actual series and doesn't claim to be anything but me having a bit of extra time on my hands getting the mental dialogue from my make believe stories in my head on paper (or computer that is). Any and all original characters created by me are not and do not resemble any known person(s). If you have any concerns or questions about what I've written please contact me and I will be happy to discuss anything.

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Chapter 1

Daryl headed down the roadway on his bike. All he needed was some time to himself. Being cooped up with everyone was beginning to take it's toll no matter how attached he had become to some of them or was beginning to feel like part of the group. After everything that had happened on Herschel's farm and even with the group now smaller, he just needed some time alone. He used the excuse of scouting out the surrounding area for a place they could set up as a more permanent camp. That way there were no questioned asked.

The one good thing about this new world they lived in, Daryl no longer had to worry about cops on the road. Not that it really stopped him before but now he could be completely carefree and open up full speed down the road without a care in the world. The wind hitting him in the face, blowing back his hair and the roar of the bike's engine drowned out any noise around, helped him not have a care in the world. At least for the moment…..

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Caleb ran through the woods as fast as his feet would carry him. Two walkers were hot on his trail. Although walkers weren't known for being fast themselves, a ten year old's legs could only carry him but so fast away from that of a grown person, walker or not. His heart raced as he heard them gaining ground. It took all the will he had not to turn and look back. All he could think about was the last thing that Alex had told him….to stay close to camp….words he now wished he had listened to….

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Daryl had driven for a few hours before he slowed down and figured he should probably turn around and head back. He knew if he wasn't back before nightfall the others would get worried. As much as he wished to continue further, he knew it was best he turn around. As Daryl started his u-turn in the middle of the road, something caught his eye. He stopped dead in his tracks and looked toward his right. He could see a figure moving in the trees a short distance away. Daryl swung his crossbow around from his back and loaded an arrow, taking ready to aim. He lifted up his bow to site and waited for a clear shot. The joy and carefree ride on his bike quickly faded as reality set back in. Daryl remained quiet and still, taking aim and waiting for whatever was in the woods to come into clear view.

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Caleb could see the roadway ahead of him, he knew if he made it across the road and down past the creek he was home free. Even though he knew the distance wasn't that far, his legs began to feel heavy and he began to feel like he was running through mud. He didn't know how he could make it much further but no matter how much his body wanted to give up, the last thing he wanted to be was dinner for a walker. He approached the clearing and ran out onto the road. As he hit the pavement his legs buckled beneath him and he went crashing forward. One of the walkers stumbled out of the woods shortly after. As Caleb turned around to look his fate in the eyes, he watched as an arrow pierced through the walker's head and the walker dropped like a rag doll to the ground. Caleb couldn't comprehend what had just happened. His mind wasn't working fast enough to understand. Then he heard a roar of a motorcycle and could barely make out someone shouting. He looked to his left and saw a man on a bike riding towards him, waving to the side. Caleb realized he was waving for him to get out of the way of his bike and Caleb scrambled as fast as he could to the opposite side of the road. He turned back around just in time to see the man ride past him just as the other walker stumbled out of the woods. The man swung at the walker hard with a hand axe in his left hand and plunged it deep into the walker's head. Caleb could hear the loud crack when the axe made contact and just as the other one did, the walker dropped to the ground. He watched in awe as the man on the motorcycle turned around and drove back over to him, cutting off the engine. The man stepped off his bike and walked over to him. Caleb watched as the man scanned the area from side to side as if expecting more walkers to come from the woods. Caleb couldn't help but feel relief because of him. The man removed the crossbow that was slung over his back and held it in his hand. Caleb heard the man say something but whatever it was just echoed in his head. He watched as the man loaded another arrow into his crossbow and look around again.

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Daryl stepped closer to the boy. All he could think about was Sophia. Wondering if something similar had happened to her, only there was no one there to save her. No one there to protect her from walkers chasing her. Daryl repeated himself wondering why the boy wouldn't answer. "Boy I said are you ok? Answer me!" Daryl said to him sternly. The boy just stared at him wide eyed and finally shook his head yes.