(I was too hooked to take a break, so here is chapter four, and I am very happy with it. Enjoy!)

Morning came slowly and softly to the camp. It had been another quiet night thankfully and now the birds sung loudly in the trees. They made it so easy to forget that the world had ended, it sounded like any other morning, I could have just been on an overnight trail ride, which would explain why I woke in a tent. But alas it wasn't so and I couldn't fool myself in to thinking that, not even for just a second. It would only make this life now hurt more. I climbed out of my tent and straight into my jacket, there will a chill in the morning air and I could see my breath floating away. The sun was still fighting to break through the mist as I made my way to the fire, waving to Glenn who was doing watch as I passed.

Not many were up at this time; it was just Glenn, Rick, Carol, and myself right now. The rest would stir soon, but the wee hours of the morning were usually mostly undisturbed. Most of the time Daryl could be seen up as well, cleaning his crossbow, sharpening a knife, slipping off for a squirrel before Rick could argue about going out alone. Although I doubted that Rick worried much about Daryl on his own. But he was nowhere to be found this morning, which hardly surprised me. I was curious as to how his face would look and I wouldn't feel bad one bit. That was for sure.

Carol shot me a look as she sat across the low fire, clutching a mug. It wasn't necessarily a mean look, more like she was sizing me up. I knew that she and Daryl had an interesting relationship, he was so deadest in finding her daughter and I figured that in that trying time they had grown close. Although close for Daryl was still distant to other people, people who didn't understand or care to, but it was a big step for a person like him. Our eyes met over the smoldering embers and she smiled at me, I was relieved because it was warm, there was kindness in her eyes. I returned the gesture and then shoved my hands into my pockets to warm them.

It wasn't much longer before everyone was up; I had finished my breakfast when Maggie plopped down next to me. Glenn joined her shortly, after being relieved by T-Dog. He gave her cheek a quick peck and I smiled, they were sweet and refreshing. It was uplifting to see their love even in a time like this.

"Have you seen Daryl?" Glenn asked and I shook my head. "I didn't see him at all this morning during watch, I wonder where he is?" He paused and I could see he was considering his words before he spoke again. "I can't believe you punched him like that," he whispered, as if it was a big secret. I laughed, not bothering to keep my voice down.

"He was asking for it," I told him and he shook his head grinning.

"I just can't believe you got away with it." The morning was relatively uneventful after that, although Lori complimented me on my hook right hook. Finally Daryl emerged from the woods, there was blood on his shirt and at least two squirrels hung off his shoulder, although the blood told me there had been more. He moved off quickly, before I could get a good look at his face and he disappeared into his tent. Maggie glanced at me, a smirk pulling at her lips and I gave a small giggle. What a sourpuss. Oh well, he would get over it.

After helping around the camp with a few things I hurried over to Hera, wanting to groom her so that she looked like I polished her and then ride, we hadn't for so long! When I was satisfied with her coat I did her lead rope up in her halter like reins and swung up onto her sleek back. I turned her to where I saw Rick standing and stopped a little in front of him. He stroked Hera's nose absentmindedly for a moment which made me wonder how much he had been around horses before, he seemed pretty relaxed with my mare.

"I'm just going to go out for a quick gallop, she needs to stretch her legs and I need some time for myself." I told him. He studied me for a moment, and I could tell he was thinking.

"Well you can't go alone," he said.

"There is a long field not far at all from here, we won't be long, it'll be fine." I argued.

"I still want someone to go with you. You never know what can happen out there." His voice was firm.

"But everyone else is busy, no one can go." Most of the women were working on preparing lunch or washing clothes. Glenn was catching up on his sleep after watch last night and T-Dog was doing watch still. Hershel and Rick were taking a break from discussing what we should do next. Anyway Rick shouldn't leave the group and Hershel was up in his years, he shouldn't be following after me on horseback. That left only one person and from the look in Rick's eyes I knew he had already figured that out. "No." I flatly said.

"Please or I'll have to tell you that you can't go." I would have to listen too, I wasn't on my own anymore, I couldn't just do as I pleased and I gritted my teeth.

"Fine," I hissed as I released the air I had been holding in my lungs. Sure we had figured things out, but that didn't mean I wanted to spend time with the guy.

"Thank you." Rick sighed, seeming relieved and he went over to talk to Daryl who sat sharpening his large hinting knife. It took a little before they walked back over, Daryl seemed a little cross, the bruise his face was coming in quite nicely, so I figured that was one reason. It shaded his cheek a nice blue and green color, luckily for him is wasn't very big and wouldn't last too long.

"Let's go." He gruffly said and I turned Hera toward the woods. Once we entered its shady depths, the cool air felt so nice and I was so ready for fall to fix its grasp on us, it wouldn't be too long now.

"You don't have to stick with me; I'll be fine on my own." I informed him, and he looked up at me, his blue eyes stopping for a moment on my hand where it sat on the hilt of my hunting knife.

"If you say so," he said and raised his eyebrows in submission. "I'll be close, if you need back up, just yell." He said then slipped off, probably to hunt squirrels. I think he liked hunting squirrels because they weren't always the easiest target, they hardly ever sat still, flitting about all over the place. I bet he did it half to show off that he could hit such a small and unpredictable target. I huffed softly, he could just suit his self, what did I care, I was free now. Or at least free for a little.

When I lost sight of him I dropped down on Hera's neck as she walked, she immediately stopped and turned to look at me. I buried my head in her mane, breathing in her sweet smell. My arms wrapped around her neck and I sat there for a moment, just feeling myself relax, breathing in and out slowly and calmingly. After sometime I sat up, took in a deep breath and urged her to the field, we trotted there, I had to focus on letting my hips rock with her because riding bareback was not simple but I had much improved since the first day I tried. I didn't fall off as much as I used to and lucky for me, she had a nice broad back which made it that much easier to stay on.

When we reached the field I let her open up and we flew, soared over the ground and it didn't take but a minute for my spirits to life and a huge smile to stretch across my lips. It was so exhilarating, so freeing, so much fun. I laughed out loud with joy as we tore around the field, so glad to have some time to forget my fears and free my mind. We didn't go for too long but I could see Hera enjoyed it as much as me, tossing her head and giving a few playful bucks as we raced. Momentarily throwing me up toward her withers and I almost shouted as I caught a glimpse of the ground rushing past underneath me, I really would prefer not to meet it. Thankfully she slowed her pace; allowing me to fix my seat again and I shook my head at her, my face giving away my joy in this moment. This is what I lived for. We went for one more pass, she was slowing, burning up her energy quickly, and as we gently loped along I let go of the lead rope reins and held my arms out. I closed my eyes and the cool wind tickled my face, the sensation was so much like flying, it sent such a peace to my heart I could hardly stand it. But all too soon I had to pull her up and head back to camp, I saw him then, standing at the edge of the woods, a few squirrels hanging from a string across his back. He watched us with something like wonder but as we approached it was gone.

"Have fun?" He sarcastically asked.

"Yes, I did actually," I retorted smartly and we trotted right past him.

We were about half way back to camp when it wandered across my path, turning its clouded eyes in my direction and giving a raspy growl. Suddenly they were all around Hera and me. She spun around, almost unseating me and seeing us surrounded she let out a worried snort, then lashed out. Her back hoof taking out one walker, as one ran for her side my knife was in my hand and through its skull. She reared and pawed at another, taking it down then stamping it into the ground. But it was too much for me, with a sharp cry I was thrown from her back, onto my shoulder. I heard a pop but I didn't have time to register the pain, I was on my feet in seconds and charging another rotting and hungry walker, shoving the knife into its eye, then again to make sure it was dead.

"Jem!" I heard Daryl shout a little ways behind us but I didn't have time to respond, another walker was bearing down on me. Hera was breaking them but she didn't know to go for their heads, I could see the fear in her eyes as they rose again after she kicked one down.

"Hera, go, back to camp," I yelled at her and she gave one last kick with her back legs before tearing off, her golden coat rolling over her strong muscles, leaving me alone to face the pack. She left pretty many unable to rise again, but they still withered around on the ground and I had to be careful. I fought viciously, hoping Daryl would come soon.

A walker came toward me, arms outstretched and I could hear another behind me. I quickly spun around and bashed in that one's skull but I was too slow turning back because suddenly that walker was on me. It pushed me to the ground, I braced against its shoulder, working my knees up between its body and mine but I just couldn't kick it off. Blood from its mouth dripped onto my face and its teeth snapped closed inches away from my nose. I felt panic and fear taking over my body and I knew I wouldn't be making it out of this one. With one last desperate push with my knees I tried to get it off but it was too heavy, I couldn't. I didn't want to accept my fate, killed by a walker; I didn't want to die, not like this. I wanted to keep fighting but what more could I do, my arms were growing weak, I couldn't hold it back much longer, they shook with exhaustion and started to give under its dead weight.

Just then the creature was torn off me and the twang of a bow told me it now sported an arrow in the head. I heard the crossbow sing and few more times, along with the slashing of a knife before it grew quiet. I lay there, chest heaving, unable to rise; I just wanted to catch my breath. He stood over me, his blue eyes filled with worry; he slung the bow over his shoulder and kneeled next to me. His dark red, brown hair was plastered to his forehead and he looked me over, checking for any major damage.

"Are you okay? Were you bit?" He asked.

"No, I wasn't," I gasped and slowly sat up to see the corpses scattered all around us. "I'm fine." I said, wiping my hand across my bloody face. He scooted back a bit to give me room but still watched me warily. I took in a deep breath to settle myself and leaned on my left arm to try to get up. Pain vibrated from the whole length, piercing me all the way to my back and I gave a small whimper and jerked off it.

"You're fine," he sarcastically grunted.

"Shut up," I growled and searched my arm for the source of the pain. "It's not broken, just sprained," I informed him, hoping I was right. "I'll live." And with that I stood, cradling my left arm, my shoulder screamed at the movement but I ignored it, I was too tough to let this get the best of me.

"I don't know what to say about you Jem. I don't know what to call you either, but it is between stupid and brave," he said searching my face, strained at the effort of fighting back a scream and I wasn't quite sure if that was a compliment or not.

"Well thanks, I think," I forced past my gritted teeth, to which he returned me a lazy little smirk.

"Can you walk?"

"Of course I can walk, I didn't sprain my legs." I snapped, pulled myself together, and started to head toward camp with him following right along next to me. Suddenly we heard rustling, I gripped the hilt of my knife, unsure if I could take many more walkers and Daryl stepped up so he was ahead of me a little, bow cocked and pointed toward the sound. Rick got to us first, bushing through a bush; I couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.

"I heard yelling and then Hera came running to camp without you, we feared the worst," he breathlessly said. And shortly later the rest of the group came up behind me. "Are you hurt?" He demanded looking at me.

"It's nothing, I'll be fine." I shook it off.

"This bitc…" Daryl paused then corrected himself. "She is crazy, her and that horse took down nearly a dozen walkers and when I got to her she was pinned down by one but yet she still has the strength to be a smartass." He said it in such a way that I caught the sound of admiration in his voice but I think it might have only been just me.

"You-what happened," Rick seemed beside himself.

"They just appeared out of nowhere and had Hera and I surrounded before I knew what was happening. She unseated me and there were so many I figured my best bet was to send her back to camp for help." I explained.

"And where were you?" Rick looked at Daryl.

"I was hunting some squirrels," and he held up his catch. I looked at him in astonishment, what was he doing?

"I thought I told you to stay together!"

"I wanted some meat tonight, so I went off," he lied, why was he taking the blame for me?

"I can't believe you would do that," Rick looked tired. He ran his hand over his face. "We can't stay here, it's not safe anymore." He groaned. "Don't you ever split up again, I'm serious, everyone stays together."

We made our way back to camp, I wanted to find Daryl and demand an answer for why he did that but Maggie had my good arm and was leading me back to camp. She washed me up and got me changed and comfortable, had Hershel look at my arm, which was only a sprain as I said, all in tight lipped silence.

"Okay, what happened?" She questioned when I was finally settled.

"It wasn't Daryl's fault," I started out and her eyebrows rose in surprise.

"That's the last thing I would have ever expected to hear from your mouth. You're defending him?"

"Oh hush. I told him to leave me alone and then went out ahead of him. I don't know why he took the blame for me." I fixed the position of my arm in my new sling to make it a little more comfortable.

"You know," she smirked after a little time to think. "You and Daryl are perfect for each other," she teased.

"Now you better hush up," I warned.

"Really, hear me out," she laughed and I decided to humor her. "You're both stubborn, short tempered, passionate, brash, unreasonable, ornery, hardheaded, fierce-"

"Does this have a point?" I cut her off.

"Let me finish. Loyal, confident, knowledgeable, resourceful. There would never be a dull moment." She nudged my good arm with her elbow. "I think I see a real future for you there," okay, now she crossed a line.

"You are delusional. The only outcome of a relationship between the two of us would be someone dead and that someone would be him." I explained and she just laughed again.

"We'll see."

"Oh no we won't," I corrected her but she just flashed me a playful smile. "You are the unreasonable one Maggie, not me." I added.

(I really hoped you liked it, please review, it means the world to me! I hope to have the fifth out tomorrow, of course that might not happen. I have to work for half the day but fingers crossed!)