Chapter 2: Daryl
Daryl and Rick were doing their usual rounds before it got too dark. The last thing Daryl wanted was a horde of walkers to show up and ruin the party. They were about to head back when Rick had grabbed his arm, pointing about 20 feet away. At first, he thought it was just another walker, but then he realized, she was alive. Daryl followed Rick over to her, but he kept his trigger finger ready. She just stared at them, wide eyed as Daryl gave her the once over, checking for bites or scratches. She was slim, maybe 5'4 tops. Her skin was sun kissed and Daryl could tell she'd spent most of her life outside. Her light brown hair was in braided pig tails that hung to her shoulders. She donned a black tank top that looked in need of a good wash and camo cut offs that ended at her knees with a pair of worn looking Doc Martins. He also noticed the 20 something stitches stretching down her left calf, and they were fresh.
"Ya ain't bit is ya?" He broke the silence, watching her hand instinctively go for the shotgun perched on her shoulder.
"Hell naw. Woulda offed myself by now if I was. How 'bout you two?" She said cautiously. Daryl liked her style already. She wasn't some prissy house wife like all the other women at camp.
"No. We're fine. Where are the rest of your people?" Rick asked. Her eyes lowered for only a second.
"Ain't no one else. Just me." She half-shrugged.
"We got a camp few hundred feet from here. We got food and water if you'd like to come back with us." Rick offered. The girl suddenly broke into a toothy smile.
"FUCKIN' FINALLY! I've been tryin' to find this camp for 2 goddamn days. Saw smoke from a fire and figured there'd be people of some sort." She explained and then even more quickly she was lunging past Daryl, machete in hand. She killed the poor bastard in one, perfectly aimed swing. Daryl liked her style indeed. Rick extended a hand when she stood.
"I'm Rick Grimes, this here's Daryl Dixon." The girl shook his hand and gave Daryl a nod.
"Hannah McClure." She said and Daryl suddenly realized her thick southern twang was not the same as around here.
"Where ya from with that accent?" He asked before he could stop himself.
"Biloxi, Mississippi." She said and for a second, a deep sadness resonated in her forest green eyes.
"Well, they should be gettin' supper fixed soon so let's head back." Rick said, staring to walk.
"What brings you ta Atlanta?" he turned to ask her.
"Just seein' what there is left. Don't really have any set place." She said simply, hooking machete back to her belt. Suddenly Hannah stumbled and Daryl could see the blood pouring from the popped suture as she inhaled sharply.
"Sunovabeeeeetch. Aw fuccccck." She said as her hands clenched in pain.
"Knew those stitches wasn't holdin' for much longer." She half joked to Daryl, the anguish clearly written all over her face. He put her arm around his shoulders and helped her limp the rest of the way to the camp. When they arrived he ushered her into the back room of the RV while Rick went to get Dale. He watched her sink into the bed, relaxing as she looked out the window.
"There's so many of you!" She said, astonished. He wondered how many people she'd come across since the end of the world.
"You make 15, I think." He said casually. Daryl Dixon was not one for words, but he felt like he needed to try with her.
"Damn. Lotta mouths to feed, huh? I'll be glad to help whoever hunt. Been huntin since I was 6." She offered.
"I could use the help. Usually it's just me and Merle." He confessed as Dale entered the room.
"I'm Dale. Mind if I take a look at that leg?" He asked gently. She smiled as she slipped off her well worn boot.
"Hannah. And go for it. Didn't get the chance ta stitch it well, bein' on the move an all." She winced as Dale propped her leg up.
"Well, we'll have you fixed in a jiff, though I hate to tell you we ran out of anesthetic a few days ago." Dale said regretfully.
"Don't matter much to me. Been through worse than this." She said feebly.
Daryl watched as Dale stitched her up. He had to admit he was impressed with how she handled it. Andrea had practically passed out last time she got hurt and that wasn't nearly as bad. Rick came in just as Dale was finishing.
"If you're up to it, I'd like ta introduce ya to the rest of the camp." He said.
She nodded as she limped out of the RV and into the camp.