A.N: The first two scenes on here are new and isn't on the screenplay version. Completely new and I've been thinking of adding for a while. Hope I somewhat nailed Eugene's dialogue. Enjoy!


It's early evening and Tessa sits at one end of the gate's guard post with Eugene on the opposite end. She scans the trees casually whilst listening to him ramble off at the mouth.

"I'm usually not inclined to talk about myself," starts Eugene "But I have done some awful and unbearably shameful things against this group that I wish not ever mention again. Yet, they were humble enough to turn the other cheek but I dared to slap it."

"Oh," says Tessa still staring out to the woods but seeming confused with his pattern of speech. Suddenly movement in the trees catches her eye.

"Tessa, I can assure you that everyone here are considerably decent people who has given me more chances than I deserve. You seem like one of those said people which means you'll fly right with the flock."

She rears up from her seat with eyes still locked on the target and heads for the ladder and starts down it. Eugene calls out.

"Wait… There's about four quarters of your shift left before someone can relieve you. I can't confirm that in your absences shit won't hit the fan. There is darkness on the brightest days and it lurks at every corner ready to consume the innocent and when that happens, we need all hands on deck. I'm talking bullets galore."

Tessa ponders for a moment as she processes what he said. She understands but why does he… you know what… Never mind.

"….I'll be back," says Tessa with confusion and continues down the ladder.


Moments later…

He walks with a distinct swagger up to the gates, whistles and calls up to the post.

"Yo, Eugene!" shouts Daryl "I came to relieve you."

Eugene peers over the edge.

"If only you come sooner," says Eugene starting down the ladder. Daryl looks up and notices he is the only one.

"Where the girl that was up there with you?"

"That's why you should have come sooner. You would have had a better persuasion than me. She went solo on her own agenda. Right out of the gates."

"What direction?"

"North. About twenty minutes ago."

"Alright… hold it down a bit longer. I'll be back," orders Daryl wrapping his crossbow around his shoulders.

"That's what she said," says Eugene calling after him. On foot, Daryl heads off.


Now further from the community, Tessa walks on a narrow-worn path through the thick brush with her Recurve ready at hand. Stopping to examine the tracks in the red dirt, she reads the signs around her for the creature that lured her into the woods. There is someone lurking in the distance behind her and though not oblivious to the figure, she keeps her cool. Tessa continues on her way for a while longer. Like a prowling Cougar she treads softly through the trees before finally stopping. The slight noise made by her follower distracts her true intentions. Without turning, she calmly addresses the intruder.

" Ya know, when you're stalking someone they're not supposed to hear you."

Daryl steps out from the thicket. She turns to him.

"Or see you."

"What the hell are you doing out here?" ask Daryl completely lowering his weapon.

"Getting into trouble. Are you here to be my chaperone?"

Daryl just eyes her down.

"Well if you must know, I'm tracking a deer I saw while on watch not long ago."

"So you just abandoned your post?"

"Eugene is covering so no, it's technically not 'abandoned'. Besides, we could use a little change from the diet of fish, don't you think?"

Tessa examines the area for signs of the prey. Daryl watches her for a moment.

"What you know 'bout this?" ask Daryl curiously.

"Country girl. It's one way I've survived this long. Water should be ahead. It went there."

Tessa walks in the direction as he validates the tracks. She's right. He follows.


Another hour in a half pass. The day is fading but Daryl and Tessa are now tracking the recently shot deer. Daryl leads the way this time searching for blood trails left by the query.

"We won't have time to dress it if we lose any more light," says Tessa trailing behind him.

"Blood's gettin' thick so we're closing in. It was a good shot. At a closer range you would have dropped 'em."

They continue to track as Tessa studies Daryl. Curiosity. She makes small talk.

"Michonne told me that at one point you stopped looking for people."

"Not "one point" I still don't."

"Why?"

Daryl hestatntly answers.

"There ain't nobody worth saving."

"…You saved me."

"I found you."

"You saved me," says Tessa stopping before him. "You didn't know who I was. You could have left me dying but didn't. So… was I worth saving?"

Daryl glares at Tessa. He's not exactly sure what to make of her besides the fact she is Michonne's younger cousin. But who is she really? He shrugs his shoulder and replies.

"You tracked and shot a deer. So yeah."

Suddenly, the two react to the groans of four Walkers closing in on something in the distance. Daryl realizes it to be the kill and they dash towards it. One Walker is already on the ground preparing to feed. He shoots the one nearest the kill as Tessa takes aim for another. With her Recurve she shoots and drops it. No time to reload, Daryl smacks the third across the head with the crossbow, and draws his knife to attack the fourth. Fired up, he delivers a final blow to the recovering third ghoul as Tessa checks the deer.

"Is it good?" ask Daryl panting as he retrieves his knife from the Walker's skull.

Tessa continues to check then discovers a bite on the rump of the deer.

"No… It just started to chew."

A bit frustrated about losing the kill, she thinks of a possible solution.

"You think we could just cut—"

Already knowing what she is thinking, Daryl shuts it down.

"Naw. I wouldn't risk it."

Discouraged, Tessa gets up from the ground and takes her arrow from the animal's side.

"C'mon… we lost light anyway," says Daryl as he encourages her to move away. They head back to the community before the last light.