The Walking Dead – The Hunter And The Fawn
Chapter 1
Daryl was on his own, he was sick of groups and the trouble they caused. Though after a week or two alone he began to wonder what the point of going on was, not that he was a coward. There was no home to go back to… Though he had thought he'd have no problem settling down. It would be easy to defend himself. But there was a longing in him to protect others. He was good at it.
One night he was foraging though an empty town that he had camped near. There were walkers around but it was nothing he couldn't handle. As he maneuvered silently down an alley he noticed something as he passed a dumpster. Something curled up next to it and a small trash bin. It was something alive. He doubled back and stared at the bright eyes that stared at him as he passed. It was a girl, probably around his age but she looked younger. Daryl kept his guard up looking for walkers but they were safe for now.
"You bit?" He asked and she shook her head.
"You hurt?" He asked and she shook her head again.
"Then what the hell you doin' out here?" He asked.
"Hiding, what's it look like." She said.
"Great place to get dead." He said.
"It got dark and I panicked. I thought the smell of garbage would keep them off."
"Smart, but a shot in the dark. Come on." Daryl said as he held his hand out to her.
She was shocked. It was rare that people were willing to help others.
"I ain't got all night!" He said a little sorely.
She shot up as she took his hand but she hadn't eaten in days and her knees gave out. He grabbed her arm, helping her stand.
"When's the last time you ate?" He asked.
"Days. I lost count." She said as her stomach made a loud growling sound that even Daryl heard.
"Damn, you'll draw every walker to us." He said.
"I'm sorry." She said without thinking and he gave her a sideways glance.
"I was kidding. I got food. If you don't mind rabbit." He said.
"I love rabbit." She said.
He was baffled by this girl, she seemed far too pretty to have eaten rabbit before but there wasn't time to question it. He put her left arm around his shoulders and his arm around her waist. She was very skinny. He doubted she weighed one hundred pounds. They moved to the edge of the alley and checked; his cross bow ready to shoot in his other hand. It was clear and they made a break for it. Daryl lead them outside of town into the woods. He had a camp set up with wire and string strung up with things to make noise several hundred feet in diameter around his camp. It was something to do in a pinch when there was no shelter. She figured he had gone to town to find shelter for the night. No one liked to sleep outside these days. There was a small campfire with low embers deep in some bush next to a tree so it wouldn't draw attention. He sat her next to the fire pit of glowing embers and discarded his stuff. He threw a few sticks on the fire to get it going again, but still keeping it low. He pulled out a skinned, ready to cook rabbit and stuck it over the fire piercing it's spit into the ground. He then grabbed his pack and started rummaging through the things he'd found in town.
"What's yer name?" He asked.
"Fawn." She replied.
He gave a short chuckled.
"Figures the only deer I find near this town is you." He said and she laughed a little.
He found something in his pack and handed it to her. It was a bottle of water. She felt bad about taking it.
"No, I couldn't." She tried to object but he tossed it to her and she caught it.
"I ain't got patients for stubborn." He said as he turned the rabbit over.
It was starting to smell good.
"Thank you." She said and took a drink.
"I'm Daryl, by the way." He said.
"It's nice to meet you." She said.
"Yeah, same." He replied with a grunt, not used to the niceities.
"How old are you?" He asked.
"Nineteen. And you?" She replied.
"Twenty-five. You look younger." He said.
"Yeah. Everyone always said I'd love it when I was older but they never said how old I'd be when that happened. Ever been mistaken for a thirteen year old out on a school day in a mall during school hours? They actually stop you and ask for ID." She said.
"That sucks. Least you don't gotta worry about it now." He said.
"Yeah. Now I can get people to help me. Is that why you did?" she asked.
"No. I knew you were older. You may be a chicken bone but you don't have the shape of a thirteen year old. And do I need an alteririer motive to help you? I aint no pig taking advantage of women." He said.
"Never thought you were."
"Oh? How'd you figure that? One minute meeting in a dark alley and you got me figured?" He said a bit angrily as if scolding her for seeming so naive and trusting.
"I saw it in your eyes. Any lustful man would give away his desires with one look no matter how good at lying they were. My dad raised me. He was a police detective, he taught me to read people." She said.
"And how do you read me?" He asked.
"You come off as a dirty, rough around the edges country boy but you're kind. Despite the grumpy nature. You think I'm naive for being so trusting; maybe I am. I got no chance on my own and it's a miracle I've lasted so long but I'm still alive. I'm a fast learner." She said.
The rabbit was done then and he handed it to her.
"Eat as much as you like. I've had one already." He said and she nodded egar for the food.
She almost ate all of it but her stomach had shrunk from lack of food. He was amazed she had eaten as much as she had. As he finished the rest he saw her sit in front of the fire dozing off. She was exhausted; there was no telling how long she'd been awake.
"You should sleep. If any walkers come near we'll hear it." He said.
She curled up on the ground and tried to sleep but she felt too exposed. After a while Daryl was sound asleep which didn't make her feel any better. She noticed the tree near them and knew she'd feel much more comfortable up in it. She got up quietly and pulled herself up onto the first low hanging branch, only having to jump a little. With restored energy from the rabbit meat it was a piece of cake. She climbed several feet into the air, out of Walker range and found a good branch to tie herself to. Around her wrist she wore a bracelet made of par cord braided tightly into a bracelet with a clasp. It unraveled to revile about twenty feet of rope. She had seen the bracelets sold in stores but never would pay for one so she looked up how to do it herself and improved upon the method enabling herself to get more feet of cord in one bracelet. She wore two on one wrist and had a larger one clipped around the ankle of her boot. Tying herself to the tree she let a bit of the bright colored cord hang down so Daryl would notice it. She was able to sleep peacefully the rest of the night. She didn't wake up until Daryl started moving around. She was a light sleeper to begin with now even more so. Daryl woke up and noticed Fawn was gone. He looked around and noticed the rope. He looked up and saw her up about eight feet. She sat up and looked down at him with a grin as she untied herself.
"Is this how you survived so long? Livin' in trees." Daryl said.
"Pretty much. Oh sweet! A bird's nest." She said as she pocketed her cord and climbed a little higher.
Daryl watched her skillfully climb the tree to get at the nest. There were a few eggs in the nest, about five. She tested them to be sure they weren't too fertile and they were good to eat. They were still warm and Fawn figured the mother had woken up to eat. She took three eggs, leaving a few so that life could go on.
"Three eggs. How about eggs for breakfast." She said.
"There's another one. Can you get it?"
She looked to where he pointed and nodded.
"I'll come down and drop these off first." She said and carefully started climbing down, cradling the eggs in her shirt.
She jumped from the last limb in front of Daryl. She handed off the eggs to Daryl and went right back up. The next nest had six eggs and all were good for eating. She took three and left the rest. She made it back down and Daryl had started cooking. He handed off the pan to her as he stood up.
"Keep cookin', yeah? I'm gonna take a once around and check some traps. Maybe we get a bit more meat today." He said as he picked up his crossbow.
She nodded and he left.
He wasn't gone long and when he got back the eggs were done. Bird's eggs didn't give you much but protein was protein. Daryl looked triumphant with a string of five squirrels.
"Jack pot." He said and she smiled. "Ever have squirrel?" He asked and she shook her head as she handed him his share of eggs.
He scarffed 'em down and then got to work on gutting and skinning a squirrel for them. He did it on the other side of the tree incase Fawn had a weak stomach. He came back when the squirrel was ready for cooking. He set the squirrel up for cooking and sat next to Fawn as she rebraided her bracelet.
"I've seen those. Smart." Daryl said.
"Tied these myself. No way I was paying out the nose for one of 'em." She said and he smirked. "So what's your plan?" Fawn asked.
"My plan? Don't you mean our plan? Gotta include you now don't I?" He said.
"You don't have to."
"I can teach you to protect yourself, to fend for yourself. I could protect you." He said and she nodded.
"Sounds like a good plan to start and the rest of the day?" She asked.
"Back into town. Scavenge for more supplies. Stay another night and move on in the morning."
"Where we headed?" She asked.
"Stick to forests, good source of food. Hit towns along the way. Maybe find a place to hunker down for a while. Especially when winter comes again." He said as he gave her some of the squirrel meat.
She ate it and found it wasn't bad.
"Like?" He asked.
"Not bad. Wish I had salt and pepper though." She said and he smirked.
"Don't we all." He said as he offered her more.
They finished eating and made to set out to town. Daryl had Fawn string up their squirrels in the tree so other animals wouldn't get them.
When they got to the edge of town Fawn tensed up. There were walkers around and Fawn was weaponless. Daryl sensed her unease and looked at her.
"Relax. I've got your back. Stick close, do as I say. We'll find a weapon for you." Daryl said and she nodded.
In the mean time he gave her his knife and showed her a few ways to hold it. He could tell she was afraid to get near them.
"Don't fear them. They're dead. They're slow and stupid but sound really riles them up. If yer quick and quiet they won't really notice you." He said and she nodded.
He took out a few walkers as they went down the street, none of them became aware of them and Daryl gathered his arrows as they went. They searched a few stores. Most everything was picked clean but they managed to find a few useful things. Canned food, water bottles, even salt and pepper. Fawn found a small back pack and stored the items. They finished their search and made their way back. The town still wasn't clear so they opted to stay in the woods. Reaching the end of town there was one walker and Daryl thought it a good opportunity for Fawn to get some experience.
"One walker. Time for some practice." Daryl said.
Fawn looked at him in horror.
"If you don't get your hands dirty you won't learn. I'll be right behind you. Nice and quiet like said and stab as hard as you can in the brain." He said and she nodded.
She took a deep breath and they snuck up behind the walker. The walker didn't notice them. Fawn's nerves almost got the better of her but she rushed the walker, quick and quiet like a cat. The walker never turned and Fawn stabbed the knife into the back of the head. The Walker dropped and Fawn turned with a smile. Daryl nodded in approval.
"There's hope for you yet. Your parents gave you the wrong name. More like a cat than a baby deer." Daryl said and Fawn smiled bigger.
Daryl grabbed his knife and they headed back. Back at their camp Daryl took to preparing two squirrels for them.
"Wanna learn to gut and skin an animal?" Daryl asked not expecting her to say yes.
Fawn was unsure at first, she didn't want to throw up but she knew she'd have to learn.
"Okay." She said and followed Daryl and watched him carefully as he explained. On the second squirrel Daryl let her have the knife and guided her hands. Fawn blushed at being so close to him but Daryl was a good teacher and held her attention. It wasn't as bad as she thought. Though it would take her a few times to get it.
They had an early dinner and while they still had light left Daryl made her practice shooting his crossbow; should she ever need to use it. She was a pretty good shot and with more practice she'd be great. The only problem was she couldn't pull the string back far enough to lock it in place. Even if she used her legs as leverage she couldn't do it.
"Easy chicken bone, don't strain yourself." Daryl teased. "Yer a good shot though." He added.
"Archery class. Give me a simple bow and I'll be great." She said.
"Archery class? Fancy." He said.
"School electives. Archery, mechanics, wood shop. I could probably make a bow if we came across the right wood."
Daryl stared at her speechless.
"And every boy in class had that same look on their face." She said with a grin.
"Never met a girl like you. Like you were born city but grew up country." He said.
"My dad and I loved camping, fishing, hunting. Practical hobbies that could save yer life in a tight spot. Though it's a shame we're not closer to my dad's. He's got a house full of high powered rifles and hand guns. Plus he usually keeps a few years of supplies in the basement."
"Ex military or just paranoid?" Daryl asked.
"Army and a little paranoid. We sometimes joked about the end of the world. What we'd do. Never counted on being this far apart."
"Where is he?"
"Chicago."
"Do you wanna go there?" He asked.
"I'd never make it."
"We could." He said.
She was shocked but she wasn't sure, it was a long way.
"I don't know… but thank you." She said and he nodded.
"It's getting dark. Let's get back to camp." He said.
That night Fawn slept in the tree again but this time Daryl gave her a serape to use as a blanket. He didn't mind her sleeping in the tree; he'd rather she felt comfortable. He'd only have to worry about himself if something stumbled upon them.
