Notes: Big big biggggg thank you to FanFicGirl10 for the reviews on this fanfic, and to KaitlynWinchester for the review on my other Walking Dead Fanfic "Family Comes First" Another chapter to that will be out sometime next week, decided to get this chapter out now so i can try and get a proper date set to post a chapter... what day do you guys think? Should i do a different day for each fanfic, or just upload them both the same day?

Recap:

My heart broke as I read it, I couldn't believe I was alone in this. Tears started to fall from my face, I had just lost the only people that kept me going in this cruel world. My rocks were gone. They were still alive though, so that must count for something. A few more silent tears fell down my face while I read the note over and over, not really believing it.


After about an hour of dwelling, I looted what was left, a few beers that were in the fridge, more bolts for the crossbow, a few clothes including a hoody, a small blanket, more rope and a few other bits and pieces. I changed my backpack for a duffel bag, using the straps to fling over my shoulders using it as an oversized backpack. This was it, I am leaving the cabin for good, never to return. I sighed heavily, making sure the duffel bag was strapped to my body, I had stitched on some extra straps which will hold it in place on my back while I searched for a new place to stay. I grabbed my crossbow and headed out of the cabin. I looked back at it and sighed softly, the note from my gran sitting in my wallet along with a photo of my whole family. I closed my eyes and turned away deciding not to look back and headed into the wood, making sure to stay away from the roads because of the rather large group that had scared off my family last night. While walking through the wood, thoughts and memories covering my mind, I found myself crying silently, I forced myself to stop, rubbing the tears from my face with my arm. Sighing I stopped for a second, grabbing a bottle of water from the side pocket of the duffel bag, taking a few gulps before putting it back. While I was strapping the bag onto my back again I heard bells in the distance, like those of a church bell. My eyes widened thinking it could have been my family signalling they were safe. I rushed strapping the back on again grabbed my crossbow and ran. I ran as fast as my legs would take me, the extra weight of the duffel bag wasn't helping, but im more than sure if my family was there, they would wait. I ran for what felt like forever until I come across an opening, a small cemetery, seeing the church sitting there right in the middle, but I never spotted a steeple, no bells. I shook my head slightly and picked up my pace again, running towards it I stopped as I spotted a bunch of people standing outside it, It was the people I had met yesterday. My eyes widened as Shane held his gun up at me.

"Easy now...wait...You were the one at camp yesterday right?" He asked and I sighed heavily nodding my head.

"Yeah... I suppose you come to see the bells too... when you got here was there any sign of any others being around here?" I asked and Rick shook his head.

"Sadly not... We thought it was Sophia, but the bells are on a timer" Rick told me and I looked down at the floor.

"Right...timer..."I mumbled kicking the floor. "fucking...TIMER!" I yelled out punching the tree I was beside, breathing heavily I sat down head in my hands.

"Hey, hey, hey... What's wrong?" Rick asked coming over and placing a hand on my shoulder. I flung my head back in anger, looking at him in the eyes.

"My family, got attacked while I was out helping your people find this little girl... they escaped and took my Jeep, but they left me behind" I told them and Rick shook his head slowly, his hand squeezing my shoulder softly. "Now the only thing I have is this bag on my back and this crossbow" I told him and he stood up. "I'm all alone.." I mumbled looking at the floor. He held out a hand in front of my face, where I looked at him. The others stood watch as I took his hand and he helped me up onto my feet. Shane let out a suppressed sigh, causing everyone to look at him. I stood awkwardly as Rick walked over to him. They had a few quiet words, although some of the words Shane was saying were a little louder with him being annoyed. After a few more words from Rick, and a lot of glares from Shane he reluctantly agreed to let me stay with them for a while.

"Okay, Daryl, You've got another tracker with you, Ellie you head off with Daryl and the others, me Shane are going to stay back a bit, look around here for another hour or so, we'll catch up with you" Shane told everyone, I glanced at Daryl who was looking at me, he gave me an approving nod before looking back at Shane. Apparently they had sorted this out before I got here.

"I wanna stay too" Carl blurted out, looking at his father and Shane. "I'm her friend..." He added, Both Shane and Rick looked at each other before looking at Lori, who was the apparent decision maker in this situation.

"You just be careful okay" She told him going over and kissing him on the head, giving her son a big hug. "When did you start growing up" She mumbled before letting him go. I watched as Carl stood back with Rick and Shane and I scanned the area, my eyes landing on Daryl, his crossbow was very interesting, I would have to catch him and talk to him about it later, see where he managed to get hold of a beautiful piece of work.

"Here, take this" Rick stated handing Lori his gun, she refused shaking her head.

"I aint taking your gun, leaving you unarmed" She retorted and I raised my eyes at them. That's when Daryl walked over handing Lori the one he had.

"Here, got a spare... take it" He told her and she gently took the gun from his hands. Everyone looking at him, I glanced over at Andrea, the blonde one who sighed heavily, as if she were annoyed. I felt a nudge on my arm, turning to face Daryl who mumbled a 'come on' as he carried his crossbow walking towards the wood again. I followed his footsteps, yawning slightly. I hadn't had a good night sleep in a few days, hoping tonight I would. We got into the wood, I walked along side Daryl making sure to watch my step and keep an eye open for any sort of track that would signal the little girl being near.

"So this is it? This is the whole plan?" Carol asked looking at us all. While Daryl talked to them and kept them calm, I searched the area, looking on the floor for some tracks, nada. I found a tree that looked an easy climb. I glanced back at the group and seen Lori giving them all a speech. Licking my lips slightly I put my bow on my back and used the foothold on the tree to step up and have a look. Nothing. They started walking again and I heard a whistle, I looked over my shoulder to see Daryl summon me with his hand. I nodded taking my bow into my hand and jogging to catch up to them. We heard the gunshot when we were a few mile away from the church, it had shook everyone for a few moment before we managed to calm each other down and carry on with the search for Sophia.

"Come on, we need to keep moving" Daryl stated and we did. We carried on walking until Lori stopped looking back.

"You still worrying about it?" Andrea asked

"There was a gunshot..." Lori stated

"We all heard it" Daryl stated

"Why one? Why just one gunshot?" Lori asked and looked at us all, I glanced at her and tilted my head slightly.

"Maybe they took down a walker"Daryl suggested.

"Please don't patronize me, they wouldn't risk a gunshot to put down one walker, they'd do it quietly..."Lori stated.

"Shouldn't they have caught up with us by now?" Carol asked and I sighed lightly.

"We aren't the only people in these woods... there could be other survivors out here hunting, or I don't know taking down biters...or walkers, whatever you call them... you don't know it was them" I told them and Daryl watched me. "We need to stop, take a breath and then carry on searching for this little girl" I told them and Daryl nodded his head.

"Doesn't matter anyway...cant run around these woods chasing echoes" Daryl stated

"So what do we do?" Lori asked

" Like Ellie said, look for Sophia work our way back to the highway..." Daryl replied.

"I'm sure they'll hook up with us back at the RV" Andrea stated nodding. We started walking again, and Carol stood still, I turned to see Andrea stopped by her. "I'm sorry for what you're going through...I know how you feel" Andrea spoke to Carol.

"Suppose you do..."Carol mumbled looking at the floor. "thank you" She added before glancing at us all. "the thought of her, out here by herself... Its the not knowing that's killing me" Carol stated. "I just keep hoping and praying she don't end up like Amy..." Carol added without thinking first, she teared up and placed a hand over her mouth "Thats the worst thing I've ever said" Carol whimpered.

"Who's Amy?" I whispered over at Daryl and he looked at me, nodding towards Andrea.

"Andreas sister" he whispered back "She got bit and turned"He added and I nodded my head slowly, looking down at the floor as the conversation continued, I spotted a few deer tracks and scanned the surrounding area.

"Were all hoping and praying with you...for what its worth" Andrea stated and I rolled my eyes. Praying is pointless. And then Daryl stepped up. I didn't get to hear what he said to them as I was concentrating on looking for little tracks, or any sign that a little girl was close by. When they all started walking again I jogged and caught up with them walking alongside Glenn.

"So what's in the bag?" Glenn asked and I raised an eyebrow at him.

"A body" I whispered and his face dropped, I laughed lightly and shook my head. "Supplies, you didn't really think I would carry a body around did you?" I asked and he gave me an awkward smile before chuckling.

"No...of course not" He mumbled and I smirked slightly. "What sort of supplies?" He asked

"Nosey little bugger aren't you?" I asked and he shrugged his shoulders with a nod. " Blanket, food, beer..." I stated as a few and he looked at me.

"Beer? You brought Beer as supplies?" He asked and I shrugged nodding.

"Of course..." I mumbled and Daryl lagged back so that he was walking with us.

"I like your supply stash" Daryl complimented and I chuckled lightly.

"Its a six pack so if you want, we can keep it quiet and have a few later on, or tomorrow...whenever we are all free" I told them and they agreed.

"Okay, sounds like a deal" Glenn stated happily, glad he was getting a beer.

"Don't worry little man, you wont get as drunk as you were in CDC... unless you are a super lightweight" Daryl joked and I looked at them raising an eyebrow.

"You guys must have a lot of stories to tell... I want to hear them" I stated and Daryl looked at me.

"Good camp fire stories, not good for walking and tracking" He replied and I nodded my head. "But we'll tell you when we get those beers...deal?" He asked holding out a hand to shake and I nodded with a smirk, shaking his hand. We walked for a good two hours longer before people started to get exhausted, we stopped for a few moments having a drink of water before getting up and heading towards the highway. I'm glad I found these guys at the church, I actually thought that I would have been left on my own to fight the world, but someone thought it would be a good idea for me to run into these guys again, which im eternally thankful for. Screams came from nowhere, I turned my head and noticed the blonde woman wasn't anywhere close, When Daryl ran in the direction of the screaming, we all followed suite.

"Andrea?!" Lori called turning around looking for her, none of us hesitated, we all ran towards the screams. that's when we noticed a woman on a horse, calling Loris name.

"Lori?" She asked "Lori Grimes?" She asked again and we all turned up.

"I'm Lori"

"Rick sent me you have to come with me now, There's been an accident Carl's been shot" She stated, Lori was in state of shock, eyes wide, fear filling her. "He's still alive, but you gotta come now, Rick needs you just come!" The lady spoke. Lori, took off her backpack and started to get on the horse.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, we don't know this girl!" Daryl called after her. "You cant get on that horse!" Daryl added. The lady spoke some more and I was just looking at everyone, as she explained where they lived.

"What the hell just happened..." I mumbled and Daryl looked at me. The walker sat back up from the blow to the head the woman on the horse gave him, Daryl used his crossbow and shot a bolt into its head. I helped Andrea to her feet and Daryl lead us on the road back to the highway, making sure our minds were focused on getting to safety, all of us confused on what had just happened. The duffel bag was starting to hurt my back as we reached the bottom of the highway, I followed them up a small dirt path which lead to the railing. I was lagging back a little, the bag dragging me down slowly I heard Glenn and Daryl explain what had happened to Dale who seemed overly worried about everything. I slowly climbed over the railing and immediately pulled at the holders around my torso and waist which was holding the duffel back in place on my back, letting it drop to the floor I let out a sigh of relief , stretching my arms up ignoring the world for a moment. I cracked my back, a flush of relaxation hit my body and I let out a small groan.

"I thought Daryl took you back to your cabin last night?" Dale asked raising his eyebrow at me just after he had asked about Andrea .

"Long story short.. lost my family, found your group again" I replied simply before looking away, down the highway which lead to the main city. I would have to try and find my family, they told me where they were going but, with that group of biters that had forced my family out of their home last night I was starting to wonder what the city was like...