Daryl, Merle and Rick were at a loss, stuck outside the prison with no ammo, save Daryl's trusty crossbow. Granted each man had a handy and sharp weapon, and Rick was in a state of mind where pistol whipping undead was quite satisfying. Even with all that in mind, the remnants of the Governor's walker bomb standing between them and the prison was a challenge; even in the best of times.
Rick ran his still trembling and dirty hands through his hair frantically. Carl and Judith were still inside the prison with the others. Safe and sound he hoped. Even in his fragile state of mind he did think about his children. They were all he had left. He didn't need any more ghosts haunting him.
The men spent the night sleeping in shifts, hidden in a dense copse of trees. Walkers had been drawn by the sound of the Governor's assault so few moments went by, Daryl being first watch, when his bow didn't sing its quiet note and drop one to the ground. Sleep was minute by minute even when it wasn't their watch.
Merle took the second watch and seemed to be having the time of his life. Stalking the woods and using his modified hand extention to dispatch the animated dead, to his perverse delight. After all it could very well be the last days of his life. If they made it to the prison at all his life could very well be forfeit, thanks to his hand in Glenn's brutal beating and near death. If not the end of his life it would certainly be the last few days he could spend with his baby brother, whom was already pushing him away.
Morning rose relatively quiet and dew laden. Daryl dosed, his crossbow ever ready and his hand poised by his wicked knife. Rick stood watch and greeted the rising morning with manic eyes. He was impatient to find a way back into the prison. Merle slept the peaceful sleep of a man spent by violence. Rick eyed him with disgust.
"Tempting, huh?" Daryl said in his gruff tone. Rick's eyebrows greeted his forehead in response.
"To just leave his sorry ass. Don't spose ya got more handcuffs?" Daryl continued.
Rick just grunted in what could have been amusement. "Aside from Merle following you like a lost bitch, I'm glad you came back. You saved my life."
It was Daryl's turn to grunt. He wasn't used to or good with being paid compliments. Instead he said, "Yea, well you did the same thing for me when the Governor had me." Rick nodded almost imperceptibly, which was all Daryl needed.
Merle grunted unattractively and flopped over in his sleep. Rick sat down next to Daryl and the two kept watch as the sun continued to rise.
After too short a time the silence was broken as noise came toward them through the foliage. Both men stood and readied their weapons. Daryl kicked Merle's boot to wake him. So suddenly the one armed bald man stood with the other two ready for whatever came their way.
Daryl broke the men's silent watch to whisper, "Sounds like a horse."
"Oh, come on little brother why would some horse be trotting around the woods?" he gave a meaty chuckle. Daryl only glanced at Rick and rolled his blue eyes, but he never lowered the crossbow trained in the direction of the sound.
Soon, through the underbrush the head of a horse did indeed poke its way through. The rest of the animal followed. It was heavily laden with saddle bags, and a rather windswept female rider; A heavily armed one at that. Weapons draped her person, but what the men immediately trained on was the silencer equipped pistol trained on them.
She surveyed the little group of men and lowered her weapon, to the surprise of her new acquaintances. She holstered it and spoke, "Well you lot must not be the ones who started that racket. Not enough fire power." She surveyed Daryl's bow, Rick pistol, and Merle's arm. She also saw the automatic rifle lying in the dirt, clearly useless. She leaned forward on her horse, "Fellas, do me a favor and stop pointing them weapons at me, I put my gun away… I'd appreciate the courtesy." They reluctantly did as she asked.
"Thanks, now if you wouldn't mind pointing me in the direction of the son of a bitch who started that racket I'll be on my way. If you like I can trade some ammo or food for information." She dismounted her great grey animal and patted him on the flank. Daryl eyed her with an almost surprised expression on his face. She spoke to the horse, "Alright Ash go much away ya big oinker," she said this with a smile and an affectionate look on her face. The animal snorted and promptly began feasting on the new spring grass shoots beneath his hooves. She walked toward the three men and stopped in front of them with a wry but welcoming smile on her face.
Rick stepped forward and extended his filthy hand, which she took without hesitation, her grip was warm and dry, "I'm Rick Grimes." He said simply. It was now that Rick got a good look at the woman. She was short, about 5'3" with curves to make an hourglass envious. Her green eyes shown brightly, brought out by the long auburn hair running wild around her face. She was extensively pierce, with ½ inch gaged ears and several eyebrow rings. Rick could see tattoos peeking from beneath the collar of her shirt, and covering her bare arms.
"Pleasure Rick, I'm Harper Brooks," she released his hand and turned to the man on Rick's left, Merle. Rick spoke as Merle shamelessly eyed her, "This is Merle Dixon." The two shook hands awkwardly as the standard right hand to right hand was void on Merle. She quickly pulled her hand away and turned to the man on Rick's right. "This is—" she cut him off, "Daryl Dixon!" she finished for Rick. A smile lit up her features.
"Of all the people I've known you are defiantly one I'm glad to see alive and kickin',"
"Harp, good to see ya too… you alone? I'd a thought your ol' gramps woulda been with ya, " he said extending his hand, which she took and shook heartily. Then to everyone's surprise the two pulled each other into a brief embrace. Rick and Merle exchanged a look. It wasn't like Daryl to be affectionate physically.
After the brief hug she pulled back. "Well, that's just it Daryl all that racket drew the walkers in. Gramps and our other companions didn't make it. That's why I wanna find the fucker that cost me the lives of what little family I had left."
Rick narrowed his eyes at her, "How are you so well provisioned if your group was overrun?"
"I was out hunting. I always take extra weapons and provisions when I do. I learned that lesson the hard way. I got stuck for 3 days in an old shack surrounded by walkers last winter. Picked off what I could but I got lucky when a deer wandered by. Lucky shot brought the beast down and distracted them long enough for me to get away. And I'm telling you its none to pleasant being stuck in a hunting shack with a horse like Ash over there." She shrugged her head in the direction of the contented horse.
"Anyway on the subject at hand, I heard the shots while I was on the way back from my hunt. I knew I had to get back, noise draws them bastards like no other. So any living meat sack in hearing distance would be in danger. I hurried back. But by the time I got there everyone was dead. All of em got bit fighting off the walkers that got in our little home. Shot themselves but managed to kill the fuckers that got em too. Looked like gramps was the last man standing, had to shoot himself," her face twisted in pain thinking about it. "So I grabbed a few more provisions and split before the smell of my family could attract more of em. And thankfully Ripley was there to help dispatch the few stragglers. Lionel was flying overhead keeping an eye out."
"Ripley still with ya then?" Daryl asked raising an eyebrow. Harper laughed, "Course she is, raised her from a cub. Just look behind your friends there. All three men turned to find a good sized cougar lounging behind them. Her green/yellow eyes trained on Merle.
Daryl stifled a laugh and stalked over to the cat while swinging his crossbow over his back. The cat's ears perked up. "Hey girl," he said quietly to the cat. Her response was to lift her head to let Daryl scratch her massive chin. After he did so she bumped her head affectionately on his arm. A loud purr issued from her.
"She remembers you D," Harper smiled and walked over to pat the large animal on the back. Contented, the cat rolled over and bared her belly. "Show off," Harper said giving the cat a quick belly rub. A half smile still played on Daryl's face as he asked, "Who is Lionel?"
Harper smiled and gave a low hoot. A few moments later a young tawny owl fluttered down from the trees. It landed lightly on her broad shoulders. "This is Lionel," she scratched the birds chin. "I found this little guy abandoned this winter and took him in. So, now I have ground and areal support as it were." She then looked at the contented horse stuffing his face. "Well and I'm sure you remember the pain in the ass that is Ash. He's getting quite good at stomping walker heads in," she shrugged. She and Daryl then turned to the other two men, whom looked at them like they both grew a second head each. Harper asked a pleading look on her face, "So tell me, please, what the hell happened here?"
