Blood

Blood was everywhere.

Green eyes could barely open; arms above head and broken bones.

Barely there, barely there.

The smell of fire.

Gasoline.

Death.

Green eyes closing.

Barely breathing.

Barely alive.

"Just try not to be offended, alright?" came Daryl's voice through the muddle of memories that flooded Jordan's mind. "Hm?" Jordan echoed, her eyes sliding over to the male whom strolled beside her. Daryl shook his head and sighed deeply, he could tell her mind was a million miles away, somewhere that was not wherever it was that they currently were. He sort of felt bad for Jordan; she didn't seem to have a clue about a damn thing that was going on, not with herself nor the doomed world around them. Maybe she woke up in a hospital somewhere in the middle of all this bullshit, like Rick had. Maybe someone forgot to wake her up, or maybe someone left her for dead. Whatever the case was, Daryl couldn't help but think that maybe this girl would be a ray of light for the group, an asset and aid to keep them safe. At the end of the day, whatever the group were to think or say, Jordan was still the girl who saved his damned life and as noble as that was, Daryl hated owing someone.

"I said, the group may be a bit weary of a new comer. You're a stranger and they are cautious, especially Rick." Daryl finally repeated himself, knowing now that Jordan was actually paying attention. Jordan nodded; she could understand that, with the way the world was – even before the walkers – you had to be a cautious person some times. The walk was a silent one, Jordan kept alert and Daryl kept his bow and arrow in hand, ready for walkers at any moment. "Hey…" Jordan's voice rung out and interrupted the silence, "Mind if we don't mention how things went down back there… It's sort of hard to explain to a group of people who you don't know, something about yourself that you are unsure of.."

"Sure, no problem. All they need to know is that you saved me, how it happened is none of their concern. Can you answer me one thing, though?" Asked Daryl, his curiosity peaking.

"I can try." Answered Jordan, sort of worried about whatever it was that Daryl wanted to ask.

"Your name… Is that the only thing you remember? Or did you just feel like you needed to give me a name?" Jordan thought for a long moment, a smile slowly playing her lips. "Actually, I didn't know my name until you asked." Jordan shrugged at Daryl's look. "My mom named me after the river of Jordan, you know, from the bible or whatever." He had noticed it, whenever she mentioned something about her past, those pastel green eyes would become painted crimson, even if for just a second, it was there. This time, however, Daryl kept it to himself and only nodded. "So your family was a religious one?" Daryl asked, not trying to push Jordan into trying to remember too much, maybe she forgot for a reason.

"Ironically, no." Jordan answered. "My mom just loved the story so much that she named me after the river. I don't remember the exact reason, but that much I do know." Daryl smirked, she seemed proud of herself and he did not want to rain on her parade by asking her why she was so sure. Jordan's smile was shortly lived; it was that smell that brought her crashing back to reality. Emerald bled crimson and Daryl could hear a low growl beginning to rip through her throat. It wasn't human; it was a primal noise, something a hunting tiger or wolf would make. She was in attack mode and without hesitation Daryl brought up his arrow and pointed it right at her.

He hadn't even seen her move, and once again, Daryl was beneath the 130 pound, strawberry blonde haired female with fair skin that smelled of survival. Before he could protest or fight back, he smelled it and finally heard it.

A horde.

What a fucking idiot, how had he not been paying attention to his surroundings? How dare he point his damn weapon at the only female that only hours ago had stood between him and certain demise? Guilt ravaged Daryl, raking its fingers down his spine and melting deep into his skin. It was a fairly small horde this time, or so he guessed because it didn't take long for Jordan to pull away this time. She was standing above him and watching him in a matter of minutes. "We have to get going, I hope we're close by because I'm sure there'll be more coming this way." Daryl nodded from his place on the ground, he barely even heard what she'd said, he was in a daze – his body missing her warmth and weight, crying out in protest to her absence. Why this was happening, he did not know. He barely knew the girl, hell, she barely knew herself.

As both parties continued to walk, Daryl restrained himself from making comments on what had happened and instead apologized.

"Why?" Asked Jordan, not really concerned with any needs he had to justify any actions he may have felt was or was not appropriate.

"I aimed my weapon at you." Answered Daryl, causing him to look over at Jordan, he wasn't sure what she was playing at but he did not like apologizing as it was, last thing he needed was to be forced to explain why he was apologizing.

"Don't be. Never be sorry. You thought you had to protect yourself. I would not respect a man that would not even try to protect himself." Jordan said simply, with that, Daryl smirked. He had a feeling they were going to get along just fine.

Eventually, they'd grown close to the lands that would lead to the farm in which held both his own group and the group that owned the land. Hershel, Daryl thought his name was, the man that seemed to be the leader of the group whom owned the land. "Before we go in, I just want to let you know. My group is not the only one on this land. We are staying on the land of another group while we look for the girl, Sophia. We don't know much about them but Rick seems to deem them decent people, so for the time being it'll be where we are staying." Daryl explained lightly. In all honesty, he wasn't fully sure how either group would react to him bringing in an outsider, but what was he supposed to do? Leave the one person who saved his life for dead? Whether he knew she could survive on her own or not was not the point, he owed her.

"I don't have to, you know. If it will get you in trouble with your people, I do not need to come with you." Jordan responded after a few beats of silence.

"Yeah, well you didn't have to save my ass back there or the time before even when I'd pointed a weapon at you both times. You saved my ass, that makes you trust worthy in my book, fuck what they think." Daryl spit on the ground and it became quickly obvious that this man was not backing down from his decision. Jordan smiled softly then nodded, "Lead the way."