Chupacabra
*** Daryl POV**
"All right, everyone's getting a new search grid today. If she made it as far as the farmhouse I found she might've gone further east than we've been so far." Rick said as we gathered around the hood of the car.
"I'd like to help." Behind Rick, a boy, Jimmy I think, walked up, "I know the area pretty well and stuff."
"Hershel's okay with this?" Rick asked.
"Yeah yeah. He said I should ask you." Jimmy answered.
"Alright then, thanks." Rick replied.
"Nothing about what you found screams Sophia to me. Anyone could have been holed up in that farmhouse." Shane said.
"Anybody includes her, right?" Andrea replied.
"Whoever slept in that cupboard was no bigger than yay-high." Rick said, holding his hand near his waist, around Sophia's height.
"It's a good lead."
"Maybe we'll pick up her trail again." I said. "I'm gonna borrow a horse, head up to this ridge right here, take a birds-eye view of the whole grid. If she's up there, I'll spot her."
"Good idea. Maybe you'll see you Chupacabra up there, too." T-Dog said.
"Chupacabra?" Rick questioned.
"You never heard this? Our first night in camp, Daryl tells us that the whole thing reminds him of the time he went squirrel hunting and he saw a Chupacabra." Dale said, handing Rick a gun and Jimmy laughs.
"What are you braying at, jackass?" I asked him.
"You believe in a blood-sucking dog?"
"Do you believe dead people walking around?" I snapped back.
Jimmy didn't reply and reached for a gun, "Hey, hey. Ever fire one before?"
"Well, if I'm going out, I want one." Jimmy said.
"Yeah, and people in hell want slurpees." I replied, putting my crossbow on my back and walking away to get a horse.
***Arabella POV***
"Can't I at least sit on the porch?" I asked mom.
"I don't want you to get hurt. But I'll tell you what, tonight Carol and I are making dinner. You can come down and eat with us." Mom replied.
"Fine. Can you at least bring Carl in and we can play checkers or somethin'?" I asked.
"Sure, baby." Mom kissed my head before leaving.
Carl came in with his checker board and pieces. I also gave him dad's hat and like I said, he looked really good in it. He won a few games, but I won most of them.
"Where's everyone else at?" I asked.
It's been a week since I've been shot. My side is still a little sore, but other than that, I feel fine. I've been sitting in this bed for days. Everyone's been up to see me a few times, but mostly mom, dad, Carl, and Daryl.
"Daryl's out lookin' for Sophia. Mom and Carol are downstairs making dinner. Andrea's keepin' watch. I don't know about the others." Carl answered.
Then I heard yelling outside. I slowly started to get up from the bed.
"Arabella, you need to lay down. Mom said you can't get up yet." Carl said.
"Somethin's happenin'." I replied, walking to the window.
Everyone was running toward the field, but I had no idea what was going on.
"Can you see what's happenin'?" I asked Carl.
He nodded and left the room. He came back a while later.
"Daryl came back. Apparently he looked like a walker and Andrea shot him." Carl told me.
"Is he okay?" I asked.
"Yeah, the bullet just grazed him. He did look scary looking. He was covered in blood. Mom said you can come down and eat now."
I smiled and walked toward the door, slowly. Going down the stairs was the hard part. But I eventually got down with the help of Carl and Carol. Everyone ate in silence.
"Does anybody know how to play guitar?" Glenn asked to break the silence. "Dale found a cool one. Somebody's got to know how to play."
"Otis did." Patricia said.
"Yes, and he was very good, too." Hershel replied.
We were again greeted by silence.
I cleared my throat, "I'll take this up to Daryl."
"You need any help?" Dad asked.
I shook my head, "I can do it."
I grabbed a plate and filled it up with ham and potatoes before walking up the stairs.
"How are you feelin'?" I asked when I opened the door.
"As good as I look." Daryl replied and I put the food on the night stand next to him.
"How are you?" He asked and I sat down on the bed.
"Still hurts." I answered.
"Then you should be in your bed." Daryl said, sitting up.
"Nah, I'll be fine in a few days." I smiled, "I heard you looked pretty scary. Ears, really?"
"It was so walkers couldn't smell me. I was already attacked by two of 'em and I was loosin' blood." He said.
"How'd you get an arrow in your side anyway?" I asked.
"That stupid horse got spooked and I fell from a cliff." Daryl answered.
I sighed and got up, "Feel better." I kissed his head.
Before I even moved I felt his hands grabbed my waist and pull me down on top of him. I let out a small squeak and put my hands on his chest.
"Jesus, Daryl. What was that f-" I started before I felt his lips on mine.
We went on for a few minutes before I heard my name being called. I pulled back and watched him. He was smirking.
I bit my lip, "I better go."
I slowly got up and went to the door. I could just feel the blush on my cheeks. I looked at him again before opening the door and leaving.
Congrats to Norman Reedus for winning the Best Ass Kicker award at the Guys Choice 2014.