Ari gasped for breath, choked on her own tears as Dancer cantered through the night. She had just watched her entire family and all her horses slaughtered by Walkers. She looked out into the night and saw a form stagger onto the road. As she got closer she realized that it was a Walker. Enraged that it would even cross her path, she released the reins and undid the strap that held her Ruger American .243. She took a deep breath, raised the gun and focused the corpse in her scope. With one last breath she squeezed the trigger and seconds later it dropped to the ground.
Ari awoke to sunlight on her face. Her lashes were stuck together from a night filled with crying and her long blonde hair was a tangled mess. She sat up in the bed of hay she fixed the night before and was greeted by a nicker from Dancer. She gave his nose a stroke and softly smiled at him. "I guess we should get going hunh boy? It's just you and me now…" she trailed off as a tear rolled down her cheek. She brushed it away before getting to her feet. They had arrived at the barn late in the night so she didn't get to look around then. The barn was nice to say the least. Clearly a riding school or breeding stable. Ari found a water spigot and gave it a turn crossing her fingers that there was water. As it began to flow she placed a bucket under and let it fill. She brought it Dancer and as she drank she continued to explore.
Ari came back with a few flakes of hay as well as a bucket of grain for Dancer. While he ate, she put a blanket in one of the saddle bags as well as a few pieces of clothing.
"Well we better get going," Ari said turning to Dancer as he finished off his hay. She saddled him up and did one last check of the barn. She opened the door a crack and looked out, not a Walker in sight. She slid the door open then climbed on Dancer.
The two had been traveling the dirt road, under the shade of oak trees when the sound of engines could be heard in the distance. Ari gave the reins a yank and Dancer stepped off the road just inside the tree line. Before long a man on a motorcycle followed by an old grey Ford sped by.
"People!" she exclaimed, "Come on boy we gotta catch up!"
Ari kicked Dancer into a full gallop as they raced off after the two vehicles. One must have noticed Ari because they slowed to a stop. A man excited the truck, rifle in hand and called out, "Why are you following us?"
Ari slid off Dancer placing her hands above her head. "Please! Don't shoot! I'm alone. My family was killed last night and I have no one!" Ari exclaimed as tears started to well in her eyes.
The man took a few more steps toward her. "And why should I believe you?" he asked, "For all I know you're entire family is sitting in the woods waiting to ambush us?"
"Please! I'm begging you!" Ari pleaded, "There's no way Dancer and I can survive on our own!"
The man moved even closer, the end of his gun now pressed to her chest. "I still don't believe you. Give me one good reason-"
"Wait a minute!" Ari exclaimed as she leaned closer so her nose was almost touching his, her green eyes flaring with recognition, "I remember you! You were that guy that hit on me at the stop light just before all the Walkers appeared!"
The man squinted, examining her face then her body. He smirked, "Oh I remember you, the one I wanted on the back of my bike."
He lowered his gun and took yet another step closer to her. "So what's your name?" he asked.
"Arianna and this is Dancer."
"Daryl. And that's my brother Merle" He replied motioning to the man who had climbed off his bike, "So I'll give you a little trust. You can come back to our camp but the instant you give me a reason not to trust you I'll put a bullet in your back."
Ari let out a huge sigh of relief and nodded. Daryl climbed back in his truck as Merle fired up his motorcycle. Dance trotted after the two vehicles as they led the way to the camp.