Chapter Four
Disclaimer: Your killin' me Larry!
It had been nearly a week since Daryl had gotten shot in his leg. And he was still pissed. He knew now that it had been a woman who'd shot him, bandaged him up, and dumped him back at his camp. Forget the fact that she'd saved his life from a walker! She'd shot him in the leg! Daryl seethed at the fact he couldn't hunt for the group anymore, worse yet he didn't want them to go hungry. Despite all their protests for him to get a steady recovery, Daryl couldn't help but push harder on himself every day.
He needed to hunt. He needed to help keep this camp alive. It was all he was good for.
He was stomping around the back end of the camp- delegated as the "safe-zone" for him, as determined by Lori and Carol, to exercise in until he got his strength back- when he heard the commotion. As fast as he could, he grabbed his crossbow and ran, or rather limped, his way towards the sounds. Everyone was half circled around the edge of camp and Daryl's heart jumped into his throat.
Please, he thought desperately, don't let this be another walker attack. Shoving his way through the throng of people, his jaw dropped instantly. There laying out like an offering from God was a beautiful, golden buck with an arrow sticking out of its neck; and kneeling over it was a woman with long black hair cascading over pale, gold dusted shoulders. As if sensing his arrival, her head shot up and looked him straight into the eyes- her eyes, a green and molten golden, met his with indifference. He knew those eyes.
Daryl just stood and stared at the woman, who by no means could be considered beautiful, but could never be plain either. With a quick tug she dislodged her arrow from the neck of the deer, gestured with a hand and started to walk away. Finally dragging his tongue off the ground he started to chase after her.
"Now wait just a damn minute!" He said hobbling after her, his breath coming out in short pants from the exertion, "You shot me!"
The woman paused and turned her head towards him slightly as if listening, then slowly turned when she realized he would say no more. Looking him straight into the eyes, Daryl saw the sorrow and pain written in her features. He knew without words that this woman felt incredible guilt for hurting him.
Daryl and the woman stood facing one another, each watching and waiting for the other to make a move. When Daryl made no change in his stance she bowed her head slightly and walked back into the woods, and out of his sight.
He gazed into the woods for a few minutes, blindsided by the sincerity of her features, before returning to his camp now full of happy people who would finally feast.