Title: Hunting Darkness
Summary: After losing Merle, and gaining Woodbury's defenceless, Daryl struggles with his place in the group and whether it's really where he wants to be any more.
Notes: Set post season 3, spoilers if you haven't seen it.
The twig snapping underfoot sounded harsh even to his own ears, the woods quietening down for the night.
The birds had stopped chirping and the nocturnal beasts had yet to emerge. Everything was peaceful.
He was hunting rabbits. Ridiculous images of Elmer Fudd stalking Bugs Bunny came to mind. Better than the other thoughts that lingered, though he seemed to be having about as much luck as the cartoon hunter just lately.
Rabbit tracks on the dirt distracted him from his thoughts and he followed the trail. Found a perfect place to set the snare between some small shrubs. Eight snares set in the woods around the prison, he headed back.
With any luck, the snares would catch them rabbits for tomorrow. But he knew he'd be back out again, setting more snares. The food couldn't last with the amount of people they now housed.
With the extra man power, they had managed to secure the damaged part of the prison wall. It had taken a lot of work and effort, but more of the prison was now liveable and they could walk the halls without fear.
They constantly checked for new exposed areas, not wanting to be caught out again. And they kept watch still, never sure that the Governor wouldn't return.
And once they were secure in the prison they checked out every single inch of it. Gathered all the food supplies from it and anything they could use. Clothes, tools, books, everything that made their lives worth living again. Rather than just surviving.
They decided the C and D cells would be the living areas for them, the old group staying in C cell and the new inhabitants going to D cell.
They'd gone on more runs, stocked up for the winter. Even gone back to Woodbury and cleared out their supplies.
Winter was hard for them. And it cut into their stock.
And it was still early now. Maybe February, and while they still had supplies, they were all getting anxious about the amount remaining.
It was easier for Daryl to set snares and traps for rabbits than trying to track a deer for a few days. Especially considering that even that wouldn't last them too long these days.
Content that he'd done what he could, Daryl headed back to the prison.
"How'd it go?" Rick asked, opening the gate allowing Daryl back inside the fence of the prison yard.
Daryl nodded. "Fine."
They headed back towards the group, huddled together outside.
Daryl caught a brief smile from Carol, returned it before pulling his crossbow off of his shoulder and laying it down on the table. Lugging a crossbow around almost everyday of his life was starting to wear his body down. He absently rubbed at his sore shoulder as Rick started to talk about supplies and runs.
Daryl listened to their plans. An area just past Woodbury that might have some supplies left, Karen had suggested. Seemed to Daryl that The Governor and his men would hit that first, it being so close to their town an all, but he also knew they were running out of options for runs they could complete in a day.
Soon enough they'd have to go for runs for several days.
They'd found enough trouble on their doorstep, let alone what other things were bound to be out there waiting for them. So he kept his mouth shut.
Hershel suggested they get under way with planting seeds. He listed a few crops that they could get in at this time of year and the food supplies needed to be bolstered up somehow. Onions, peppers, tomatoes as well as some herbs if they could find them, could all be planted.
The idea of some fresh food was an idea they all looked forward too.
Glenn and Maggie agreed to going on a run with Tyresse, taking a list of supplies they needed and the seeds to look for.
The informal meeting broke up with the decision made. Most headed inside.
"Your shoulder playing up still?" Carol asked after the others save for Hershel had left.
"It's okay," Daryl said. "I was thinking about trapping some live rabbits."
"Would be a good idea to have a fresh meat source here," Hershel said. "You know how?"
Daryl nodded "Ain't got the stuff for it. Not here anyway. Maybe there's a huntin' store nearby."
"It's certainly worth a look. We could start working on some sort of hutch and run to keep them in."
"It's a great idea," Carol said. She smiled at him and then headed inside, her hand briefly touching Daryl's back as she passed by.
He never ate with them. The new people.
He could tell some of the group thought he should make an effort, but he couldn't muster it up inside himself to try. Not when he still recognised some of their faces from the crowd of people baying for his blood at Woodbury.
Passing through the gathered crowds, eating and talking together, he was able to slip through unnoticed. He dished himself up a portion of food and stayed hidden out of the way to eat it, not bothering to move or even sit down.
Rick joined him. Not to eat, he just stood there. Clearly he wanted to talk but waited until Daryl finished scrapping together the last of his meal and shovelling it in his mouth before he said anything.
"Hershel told me about the rabbits. Sounds good,"
Still chewing on his mouthful, Daryl nodded.
"You want in on this run? You haven't been in a while."
"You got it covered, don't need me for it,"
"I know, but before..."
"Before was different. Got more people now. Best I stick to hunting food. Anyone can do a supply run." Daryl said.
Rick held Daryl's gaze before he let out a sigh. "Okay," he relented before leaving the hunter alone.
Rick stepped outside.
The night was drawing in. He was sat at a table, heard him approach.
"Did you talk to him?" Hershel asked.
Rick nodded, sitting down on the opposite side of the table. "I tried to get him to go on the run but... he wasn't interested." Rick looked down at his hands, playing with his wedding ring, thinking things through before he finally spoke. "I can't reach him."
"Rick, you need to worry about reaching your son. You have to do that. I've got my eye on Daryl, as does Carol. You can't fix everything. You sort out Carl, we can deal with Daryl."
Rick sighed. "You're right. I know you're right. Thank you."
The slamming of the door leading to the prison yard was never a good thing to hear.
Curiosity got the better of her, and Carol headed down the stairs. Woodbury's former residents were heading over to D block, where they all slept.
"What's all the fuss about?" she asked.
"It was my fault," Tyresse started to explain. "We were talking about the food situation and I thought maybe someone else knew how to hunt besides from your friend... " He stopped there, not wanting to go on.
"And?" Carol pressed, turning to Glenn and Maggie.
"Someone remembered that guy who could hunt back at Woodbury. Merle."
"Ah," Carol said.
"I'm so sorry, I really didn't know..."
"It's fine, don't worry," Carol reassured him, smiling at him. "I'll go talk to him."
Carol followed the path Daryl would have taken to get outside and found him not far from the door, pacing slightly, but stilling with her appearance. "Hey," she greeted.
He nodded at her, but said nothing. "He didn't mean anything you know?" Carol said, on Tyresse's behalf.
"I know. Didn't bother me, just didn't expect to have someone mention him and then it was like... jus' all over again, you know?"
She nodded. Because she did.
Knew what it was like to lose the one link you had to your family, your past. "Of course." She moved over to the table and chairs and sat down. "It does get better. Promise you that."
He smiled weakly, but shook his head slightly. "Shouldn't have too."
She nodded slightly. He was right.
She shouldn't be coming to terms with the loss of her child any more than he should be grieving for Merle. Carol put her hands in her pockets and felt the tube of cream she'd put in there earlier.
"Oh, here, I got this for you from Hershel's supplies. For your shoulder. I don't know if it's any good but it can't hurt to try."
She handed over the tube and Daryl pocketed it. "Thanks."
"Wanna head back inside?"
He nodded and followed her back into the prison.
