Note: I am sorry about the last up date takeing longer to post. This might happened again in the future. The only thing that I can promise is that I am not giving up on this story. I would like to note that I own nothing of 'The Walking Dead'. Hope you all don't mind if I did not reply to your comments this time. I wanted to get this out quicker. Well here is Chapter 6 'Meeting of Souls.'
Special Thanks: Prongsie18!
Helena's point of view
The moans and snarling of the dead could be heard from behind her in the dark woods. It was so dark that she was surprised that she had not tripped over anything, but not too dark were she couldn't see the shapes of the trees. Helena was already out of breath, causing her body to unwillingly slow down. The walkers seemed to know how tired she had become by the way their moans and snarling grew louder. Since her body was starting to tire, Helena remembered the advice Aditsan had once told her; 'If you are ever being chased by a stranger in the woods, use the trees to help you. By bounceing off the trees, you will gain a small burst of speed and slightly confuse the stranger by you not being in one place.'
With that advice in mind and remembering when Rick was in the woods looking for Sophia. He hid behind the trees and waited for the walker to get close enough to smash a rock into their head. The difference between her and Rick is that Rick had only 2 walkers to worry about, where as she had to worry about 18 of them. She would have to wait to strike untill she could find trees that were close enough together to slip in though and were only one walker could get though, but that had its own set of problems. The other walkers could just go around the trees. What other choice did she have? Slipping her shot gun behind her bra, hoping it would not slip out, Helena used her other hand to take out another knife from her belt loop. Right as she took it out, a walker grabbed her shoulder and tried to take a bite out of her. Helena quickly turned around and used the knife to stab it in the arm, causing the walker to slightly turn. Using the other knife in her hand, she stabbed him in the head. Another walker tried to take a bite out of her as well. Helena lowered her self to the ground to dodge the grab. Using both knives, one in each hand, Helena cut deeply behind the walkers knees. The walker fell backwards, knocking over some walkers that just arrived.
*I guess making walkers trip and fall is my thing, my combat strategy. Plus who knew that I would be good at duel knives* By doing this, she bought herself enough time to push herself against a tree.
Bouncing off of 4 more trees, she squeezed in between 2 trees that were close together with low branches. A walker slowed down as he was passing the trees that Helena was hiding behind, sniffing the air trying to find her. Taking a quick step forward, Helena stabbed the walker in the back of the head. As she was about to bolt out of there, a walker grabed the back of her shirt, making the collar of it stretch. Refusing to stop running, Helena continued running while the walker still held on to her shirt, trying to take a bit out of her. Thinking of an idea, Helena used the knives to rip the front of her shirt opened. With the help of the walker, Helena slipped out of her shirt, causing the walker fall.
*Thank God I cut my hair!* The walker did not give up though. Grabbing Helena by the ankle, she fell on to the ground. Helena made sure she fell on her back. Before the walker took a bite out of her, Helena used her hiking boot to kick the walker's head trying to kill it. Luck must of walked on by because 3 more walkers were advancing towards her. Still kicking and smashing the walker skull before he could take a bite out of her, Helena dropped her knives and slipped out her shotgun then sat up and killed 2 of the 3 walkers that were walking towards her. The 3rd walker was unfazed by the loss of two of his friends and still held its sight on Helena.
Fliping her shot gun upside down, She used the butt of the gun to deal the killing blow to the head of the walker that she had been kicking. Standing back up, she ran over to the 3rd walker and smashed its skull using her shot gun like a baseball bat. More walkers had come from a few arms length from her. Wasting no more time, Helena dropped her shot gun, since it was of no more use, left her knives, since she did not have time to get them, and ran deeper into the woods.
It's been a while now, but she did not know how long she has been out here. All she knew was that she had killed 11 walkers. *7 more to go* That was the only good news, if you didn't count the fact that she was still alive. The bad news was that the trees were too far apart for her to hide behind and to bounce off of. The 2nd set of bad news was that she only had one knife left because some of them broke while others she had to leave behind since she did not have enough time to get them. The last set of bad news was that she was beyond exhausted. So much so that she was almost zig zaging while she trying to run. Unfortunately Helena was going to have another set of bad news. The walkers from behind her grew more louder. She turned around to face them and found out that they were only about 8 feet away from her. This was not the other set of bad news. Since she was walking backwards, it was too late to dodge something on the ground. Right as her foot hit it, a loud click could be heard.
Not expecting the pain around her foot, she lost balance and fell backwards. Lifting herself up using her elbows, Helena looked at her right foot were all the pain was. *Of my fucking god, NO!* A rigged up bear trap was closed over her foot. The bear trap was connected to a long chain, so what ever was traped could still move around. She had gotten lucky that most of the damage went to her hiking boots.
While still keeping an eye on the oncoming walkers, Helena tried to remove the trap, but she lacked the strength to open the jaws of the trap.
She was so tired and sweaty, that all she wanted to do was find a cool place and fall into a deep sleep. Knowing that she couldn't because of the oncoming walkers, she tried to think of something anything to try to get out of this mess. When she couldn't think of anything, she was filled with fear. Ever since she came into the world of the walking dead. She was the girl with a plan. When the fear got the better part of her she screamed out.
"DAR-" *was I about to call out for Daryl? I don't have a good enough relationship with Daryl yet for him to look really hard to find me.* Somehow that thought make her sad...made her heart feel like it was broken all over again.
Helena immediately screamed out in fear. "RICK! HELP ME! Please!"
Just as she said that a walker was about to throw its self at her. Until Helena used her foot that was not caught in the trap to flip the walker over her. Once it landed on the ground, Helena rolled over to its side and stabbed it in the head with her last knife. Helena could only do this a few more times before her knife broke, but that did not matter because she was too exhausted to lift it. She tried to fight against the exhaustion, but her body would not respond. Hell, she was also too tired to even really think!
The last 3 walkers kneeled next to her, ready to rip her apart. *No, please God, no! I don't want to be some damsel in distress! Or a walker for that matter!* Closing her eyes, Helena felt one of the walkers lift her arm up. She could also feel its teeth from its bloody lips on her skin and the other two walkers about to rip open her stomach. Until she heard gunshots fired. The two walkers by her stomach drop to the ground. Opening her eyes, Helena looked at the walker that still had her arm in his mouth. She was happy to find a bolt in the walker's skull.
-About a hour ago-
Daryl's point of view
Chaos was everywhere you turned. Gun shots, frantic screaming and walkers snarling could be heard. Lifeless bodies were scattered out with walkers eating them. Daryl shot one of his bolts at a oncoming walker going towards Carol and Sophia. Reloading his crossbow he, shot at another walker. A walker tried to grab a hold of him, but Daryl knocked it to the ground with his crossbow. Unsheathing his hunting knife, he lowered himself to the ground and stabbed it in the head.
Once every walker was killed. Rick ran over to his family and hugged them. Shane looked at Rick hugging his family with hidden jealousy while the rest of the group looked at what they had lost and what they had left.
Carl pulled away from his dad and pleaded, "Dad, you have to go after her!"
Rick looked at his son with confusion and asked, "Who?"
Daryl looked at who was left in the group. That's when it hit him, Helena was not among them. "HELENA!" Daryl called out to her without caring what the others thought of him about being worried about a girl be barley knew. He felt sick to think that something had happened to her. He looked among the dead to make sure she was not one of them.
Rick face turned serious with a hint of worry. Placing his hands on his son's arms, he calmly asked, "What happened?"
Jacqui breaking into tears, sadly explained. "We were getting swamped by walkers. There were too many of them for Shane, Morals, Jim and Dale to handle. She..She must of thought..." Jacqui was unable to finish because she started to cry.
Daryl had stopped checking the bodies and angrily went over to Jacqui, but stopped at the sound of Dale's voice that was in a sad tone. "She ran over to the edge of the woods and yelled out to the walkers. She caught a good amount of their attention and when she cut her arm with a knife she had on her, more walkers noticed her. Helena then led them into the woods...I never got to thank her for those tools."
Rick stood up and paced the ground. He than asked "How many?"
A quite and shaken voice answerd Rick. "18. 18 walkers went after her." They all turned towrds Amy, who was siting on the ground next to Andrea. Andrea was playing with Amy's hair, happy that she still had her sister, Amy. Amy was in a shocked state, just staring into space. "I counted." Amy added.
Pacing some more, Rick looked at Shane and told him. "I told you that she couldn't run! Why did you not stop her!
Shane was about to answer him untill Daryl went right up to the two of them. With a pissed off look, Daryl looked at Shane straight in the eyes and said to him. "Let me git this straight. Rick warned ya that she's bad at runnin'. So ya let her git chased by 18 walkers?"
Shane held himself back from yelling at the two of them. "We all called out to her. Telling her to come back, but she did not listen. I couldn't send someone after her! As much as I hate to say this but, if it weren't for her sacrifice. I don't think I could have held them off."
"She ain't dead!" Daryl yelled in his face. *she better not be* Reloading his crossbow Daryl ran over to the edge of the woods so he could start tracking Helena.
Watching Daryl run over to where Helena was last at, Shane yelled out to him. "Don't even try man. There is no way she would be able to survive a small herd of walkers all on her own!"
He refused to listen to Shane as he continued to run and track Helena's trail.
Reloading the shotgun he had on him, Rick followed after Daryl. Lori stopped him by grabbing on to his arm. Rick faced Lori. Lori said "You can't go after her! You just came back to us, your family." Rick replyed "She is part of this family. She may not be blood related, but she has bled for us" Removing himself from his wife's grasp, he ran after Daryl.
Shyly, Sophia left the safety of her mother's arms and slowly walked up to Lori. Sophia told Lori "Helena told us that she would protect us like a mother wolf would pertect her pups. So, shouldn't we protect her in return?"
Lori said nothing as she watched Rick and Daryl enter the woods.
Holding his crossbow, Daryl studied the killed walker that had a stab wound dead center in the head. "She knows how to put up a fight." Daryl commented as he studied it further, he also noted that there was also a stab wound on its arm. Eyeing the trees he, found a small amount of blood smeared on one of the trees. Rick followed Daryl's line of sight to the blood. Walking over to the tree, Rick rubed some of the blood on his finger. He could tell the blood was fresh. Looking at Daryl, he told him "The blood is still fresh."
Walking up to the tree as well, Daryl looked at the blood more closely. Then he looked down the tree. On the ground he found a boot print inbeded in the ground. Faceing back at Rick he, said "She must of bounced off the trees. Since she had cut her arm, she must of accidentally smeared her blood on the tree."
Wiping the blood off on his pants leg, Rick replied, "Let's get moving. I have no doubt that other walkers have picked up her trail."
With Daryl taking lead again, they continued to track her.
Not that far off, Daryl found another dead walker inbetween two trees. He smirked, realizing what she had done. *Smart bitch* The smirk on his face vanished when he found another set of tracks. "It looks like she got grabbed from behind by the looks of it. She kept on runnin with that walker holdin' on to her" Daryl told Rick.
"How do you know that?" Rick asked
Using his finger Daryl pointed out the tracks on the ground and said "Ya can tell by the start of the tracks and then they looked like they were being draged." Daryl followed the tracks untill he found a ripped up T-shirt.
Rick who had followed right beside Daryl. Picked up the riped t-shirt and examined it. He then said "This is Helena's t-shirt that she changed into back at the hospital."
Daryl also took a look at it. "The collar has been stretched. Probably when she got grabbed. She most likely used a kitchen knife to cut the front of the shirt open. You can tell by the cut" said Daryl.
Rick dropped the shirt and went over to a dead walker that looked like it had its face smashed in.
Daryl followed as he looked around his surroundings. He found 3 more walkers. Two of them had gunshots to the head and the other one had a severe blow to the head. *Damn good aim* As he walked over to Rick, Rick was holding a bloodied 2 barrel shot gun with brain matter and lots of blood on the butt of the gun.
"This is Helena's shot gun. She found it back at a farm house when we were looking for gas. It's out of ammo, already checked. So she did not leave it behind on accident." Rick said to Daryl.
Gesturing towards the 3 dead walkers that he had found, Daryl said "Used up her last bullets to kill off two of those walkers and to beat the shit out of the other."
The two of them could feel the uneasiness from each other. Helena was out there with no gun, her wits and some knives that weren't used for stabbing. Without telling each other what they were doing they both moved faster, following Helena's tracks and those of the herd of walkers.
As they were killing some walkers that had picked up on Helena's trail, without using guns, a scream of fear was heard. "RICK! HELP ME! PLEASE!"
Rick had stoped for a split second and whispered, "Helena"
Taking out his shot gun, Rick ran over to Helena's cry for help.
Daryl ran towards Helena's screams for help as well. He couldnt help, but feel jealous that Helena had called for Rick and not for him!
The first thing he found was one of the 3 walkers taking her arm into its mouth. Daryl didn't even relise that he had shot the walker until one of his bolts went right into the walker head that had Helena's arm.
Rick quickly put down the other two walkers.
They both ran over to her at the same time. Rick kneeled next to her on her left side. He took off his shirt so Helena would not have to expose her almost half naked body to them. While Daryl quickly retrieved his bolt from the walker and kicked it to the ground. Causing the dead walker to drop her arm. He then kneeled next to Helena on her right side. Examining her over, Daryls eyes widend at the bite mark on her arm. Luckly the bite did not brake the skin,but if they were even a half of a second too late. Helena would have been someone they would have to put down.
In a tired and weak voice Helena spoke to them as Rick covered her with his shirt. "My Princes have come! Tell me who should I kiss first?" Helena was the only one who thought her little joke was funny. She chuckled softly as she tried to keep her eyes open.
Daryl nudged Rick to get him to look at the bite mark. Rick looked at Daryl then again followed Daryl's line of sight. If Rick was worried about it, he did not show it.
Looking back at Helena, he asked "Did they scratch you or anything? How are you feeling?"
Helena closed her eyes, too tired to keep them opened. "No, I am just very tired Rick. Thank you, both of you. I would be so screwed right now if you two did not come along. The only thing that is bothering me, is that an overly large bear trap is closed over my foot."
Both Daryl and Rick had been so focused on the walkers and on Helena, that they didn't even think about why Helena was laying down on the ground in the first place. Together Daryl and Rick pried the bear trap's jaws open.
"Helena I need you to lift your foot up now!" Rick commanded. With some difficulty, Helena lifted up her leg that was trapped. Once Helena heard the jaws of the trap close. She was more than happy to let her leg fall back to the ground.
Rick examined her foot. He was no doctor, but he could tell that her boot absorbed most of the damage. A sign of relief showed on Ricks face. He rubbed the back of his head, a small sign that he was less stressed and then asked "can you walk?"
Daryl looked on the ground around Helena. When he noticed that there were other walkers dead on the ground, around Helena that he was sure Rick nor him did not kill. Those dead walkers all had a stab wound in the forehead. Another thing he noticed about them was that they all had a muddy boot print on their mid setction. A closer look at the ground, he could tell that someone was rolling around on the ground. That was when Daryl put the pieces together. *Even chained up, she still found a way to fight. This bitch is dangerous!* Smirking,Daryl was oddly proud of her.
Helena opened her eyes and hesitantly answered Rick. "Um,I think I can."
Daryl raised his eyebrows and said, "Ya think?"
He looked behind him. Helena's tracks were zig-zagie showing that she could barely run or walk. Even if it was at a slow pace. *These tracks are fairly new, so there is no way she is going to be able to move*
Looking back at Helena, his eyes landed on were she had cut herself. The cut had clogged itself up, but was still leeking some blood. *She going to attract more walkers if we don't cover that up.* Reaching into his jean pocket. He pulled out the bandana that T-dog had loaned him to wrap up Merle's hand. He then gently kicked Rick on the leg.
Rick had helped Helena put on his shirt and had helped her sit up. Feeling the kick, he looked over at Daryl. Who was handing him a bandanna. Following Daryl's line of sight again, his eyes landed on Helena's cut. Taking the bandanna, Rick wrapped it around Helena's arm were the cut was.
Facing back from were they came. Daryl stood on guard. "We need ta git movin'. We're sitin' ducks out 'ere."
"I..I can walk just give me a moment." Helena slowly stood up, with Rick matching her pace so he could quickly catch her in case she fell.
With a small zig-zag in her steps, she only walked about 7 to 8 steps before falling flat on her face. Too tired to lift her head up so, she could speak properly Helena said to them. "Ok then. I need 10 more minutes...no make that 20."
Daryl rolled his eyes in annoyance. Swinging his crossbow over his shoulder, he walked over to Helena and mumbled, "We ain't got time for this shit."
The moment Daryl touched Helena's arm to pull her up. A feeling washed over him that he had never felt before. He couldnt put it into words. Plesant, peaceful, none of those words seem to fit and yet they did. Daryl almost smiled at this feeling. Helena felt this as well, Daryl could tell when she lifted up her head and looked at him with wide eyes.
Archie's voice spoke to him again. 'At first touch, the overwhelming need to love, protect and dominate.'
Daryl let go of Helena's arm and took a couple of steps back. He was a little bit shaken and he was already missing her touch.
Helena contuined to stare at him.
*No, No, No! This soul shit ain't real!*
That was when another voice spoke to him that he had never heard before. *MINE!* He jumped in his skin at the dominating, demanding, possessive, and most of all animalistic voice. He remembered Archie saying 'you have animalistic qualities in you.'
Helena reached out one of her hands out towards him with an almost pleading look.
*Go to her! She's MINE!* Again spoke the animalistic voice.
Rick confusedly watched the scene before him. Thinking that maybe Daryl was having trouble picking her up, he walked over to Helena to pick her up.
Daryl noticed this, so he yelled. "I got her!"
Surprised by the tone of voice he used, Rick stood still.
Daryl gently picked up Helena and carried her bridal style. Helena rested her head against Daryl's shoulder blade and fell asleep right away. Facing back at Rick, Daryl asked him, "Mind leadin' the way?"
Walking towards Daryl, Rick just wanted to make sure "Are you sure you can carry her all the way back?"
He angrily replied "Ya deaf? I fuckin said I got her! Forget it, I will lead the way." He then stormed out to the direction of camp.
Rick wanted to tell him that he was fine with taking the lead, but he decided that it was best to leave him alone as he followed behind Daryl.
Feeling a small tug from his shirt, Daryl looked down at Helena and found that in her sleep, her left hand had had a fist full of his shirt. For some odd reason, he did not like that she was wareing another man's shirt. *What have you done to me, woman? Ever since you came to camp, my head has been all fucked up.*
Setting aside all of his conflicting feelings inside him, Daryl looked back ahead of them.
As they walked into camp. Daryl and Rick could tell that some clean up has been done, but not much. Carl was the first one to notice that they had come back with Helena still sound sleep and in Daryl's arms.
"They are back!" Carl happily called out as he ran over to them.
This caught the attention of the rest of the group. Lori popped out of her tent and ran over to her husband as well. Amy, Andrea and Dale stepped out of the R.V. then waited by the R.V for them to come closer before they greeted them. Amy had some what come out of her shocked state. She was now moving around, but still talked very little.
Shane and T-dog stopped reaching for some tools that they were going to use and looked over at them. Glenn had stopped gathering supplies that had been knocked around camp to welcome them back.
Carol stopped infront of Daryl, causing him to stop walking towards his camping area.
"Is she ok? She is going to be alright...Right, Dad?" Carl asked his father with fear in his voice.
Lori ran over to Rick and gave him a big hug. That was when Glenn reached them with a smile on his face, untill he looked at Helena. His smile was replaced with nothing as he also looked at her worriedly.
Rick had let go of Lori so he could explain what had happened, untill Shane's voice yelled out to them,
"GET AWAY FROM HER!"
No one knew what Shane was talking about. When Lori had found a bite mark on Helena, covered in blood. What Shane was warning them about.
"Carl get back!" Lori told her son as she pulled him back to a safe distance.
Glenn also looked at Helena's arm With sad eyes. Taking a step back he sadly whispered "no."
Daryl was about to walk away until Shane blocked his path. Fuming Shane yelled at them both.
"Why did you bring her back to camp if she is bit! You want more of us to die?"
If Daryl's arms were free, he would have just pushed Shane out of the way. So Daryl looked over at Rick and said to him "Tell 'em what's goin' on. Im takin' her to my tent."
Before Rick could say anything, Daryl started walking towards his camping area.
As he was about to enter his camping area, he heard Andrea call out to him.
"Daryl!"
Huffing Daryl turned to face Andrea and sarcastically told her "Is everyone tryin' to wake her up?"
Before Andrea could say anything, Glenn came up from behind Andrea.
"Good lord, and what do you want?" Daryl asked Glenn. He was losing patience for dealing with these people.
Glenn was about to say why he was there untill Andrea spoke first. "I am here to help Helena; bit or not, she saved my sister. For that I owe her more than I care to admit."
Daryl looked over at Glenn and asked "An you?"
Glenn nervously replyed "Same. I am here to help."
He growled slightly from being annoyed. "If yer goin' to help, ya should now that SHE WAS NOT BIT! So stop actin' like she was."
"But we've all seen the bite, Daryl." Andrea argued.
"She almost did. The walker was just about to break the skin until we got there. The blood you see is blood from the walkers bloodly lips. Probbly ate someone back at camp when they ambushed." Daryl explained.
Andrea still did not looked convinced. Glenn was the only one brave enough and hopeful that Daryl was right, to approach Helena. Daryl wanted to take a step back so Glenn could get the message that he did not want him anywhere near Helena. But he knew that they needed to know that if Helena was truly ok.
Looking closely at her right arm were the bite was, Glenn slowly wiped away the blood with the end of his shirt. He smiled and looked back at Andrea. Glenn told her happily, "She's not bit! It just left a bite mark on her. Damn she got real lucky!"
Daryl glared at Andrea and said to make sure that she felt guilty about not going after her, "Yeah, real damn lucky."
Walking towards his tent with Andrea and Glenn close behind him, he found that his gutting tree had deer and some squirrel bones hanging from the tree. *Now that's just fucked up. It just adds more fuck to it with the hides drying at the bottom of the tree.*
Reaching the tent he told one of them to open the flap of the tent. Once everyone was in, Glenn grew bashful when he found all the play boy magazines on the floor.
*Merle's cot will be the most comfortable ,but I don't want to lay her down on the cot where Merle...well Merle did.* Searching around the tent he found Helena's camping bag with a camping blanket.
"Andera unstrap that blanet on Helena's bag and lay it over the cot on the left. Glenn pick up those mags and light em up in the fire pit." Daryl knew that she had already most likely seen them if she did change in his tent, but he did not want her to think that they were his!
Andrea unstrapped the blanket and laid it over the cot. Daryl then carefully laid Helena down, making sure she did not wake up. Removing her hand from his shirt, he nodiest that Glenn was still just staring around becouse of the playboy magazines. Afraid to wake Helena up, Daryl sent Glenn a glare.
Sensing that Daryl was glaring down at him, Glenn quickly picked up the magazines from the ground and went outside to burn them. When Glenn went out of the tent, Carol stepped inside the it.
"Did I leave a sign that was sayin' my camp was a crash pad or some shit?" Daryl said half angrily and half sarcastically.
Carol wrapped her arms around herself and softly spoke. "Rick said that her foot cought in a bear trap. I thought I could look at it to see if she needed any bandages."
Daryl said nothing as he let Carol go over to Andrea and Helena.
Andrea looked though Helena's backpack to find her some clothing. The first thing she found was a first aid kit that she laid next to Carol for her to use. Without looking at Daryl, Andrea told Daryl. "Daryl, I need you to step outside for a few minutes."
Daryl walked right up to her and glared at her. "Ya tellin' me ta leave my tent?"
Andrea rolled her eyes before replying. "I am just asking for you to step outside for a few minutes so I can change her clothing. If I were her I would not want to sleep in dirty clothing and I don't think that a man should be in the room while I change her, especially a man with no relationship or blood ties with her."
Mumbling angrily under his breath, Daryl harshly opened the flap to the tent and stormed out. He kicked the first thing his eyes fell on, which was an empty bucket. Glenn who was siting on the log by the fire, got startled by this action.
"Kickin' me outta my own tent! Dumb ass bitches!" Daryl mumbled. Taking the folding chair , he sat it down besides the entrance to the tent and sat on it.
Glenn nervously offered Daryl "Um if you dont want them in your tent then Helena could sleep in my tent. She can take the cot, I don't mind sleeping on the floor."
"Shut up China man!" Daryl snapped back. *There is no way in hell that I am letting her sleep in another man's tent! Fuck, there I go for the millionth time. I am just going to ignore these fucked up thoughts from now, on!*
He did not like the thought that he had left Helena alone in the tent with pepole he realy didnt know and didn't care to know. Every fiber of his being told him to kick them all out and take care of her himself.
Knowing that it was better not to correct Daryl that he was Korean, Glenn instead was about to ask him how Helena was doing, even though she was just in a deep sleep, until Amy came into the camp site and approached Daryl.
Amy was carrying a summer dress that was grey and yellow tyi-die. Being nervous that she was in Daryl's camp site, she looked at the ground and asked him in a quiet voice. "I am just here to give Helena this dress as a thank you for...saving my life. Then I promise that I will leave."
Thinking that Helena would look good in the dress, Daryl gestured with his head towards the entrance to the tent letting her know that she could go in.
Just when he thought he had one to many people in his camp site, Rick came into the camp site as well and sat down next to Glenn on the log.
Daryl was very uncomfortable with so many pepole in his camp site. He just wanted them all to leave!
Rick spoke to Daryl, "I explained to the others what happened and how the bite mark did not break the skin. The blood over her bite mark belonged to the walker that was about to bite into her. How is she?"
The flap of the tent opened, revealing Carol stepping out of the tent followed by Andera and Amy. Answering Rick carol said. "She seems to be ok. Didn't wake up once. Her foot is good, but it might leave a few small scars. The bite mark is completly gone now. I wrapped up her arm. As for the bruise on her upper back, I can't do anything about that, so it's going to hurt for a while."
"How did she get the bruise? She fall on a rock or somthin?" Daryl curiously asked.
Rick was curious too as he waited for an answer.
Carol had a look of shame on her face as she walked quickly away.
"Somethin I should now about?" Asked Daryl, as he stood up.
Andera threw Rick's T-shirt that he had loaned Helena at him then turned to face Daryl, to ask back. "Why would you care? You have been acting a little weird ever since Rick and Helena showed up."
Daryl got right up to Andrea and looked at her with a powerful threatning glare. Andrea took a step back, but Daryl just got right back up to her face and coldly told her "I saved her ass, I carried her back, I am lettin' her sleep in my tent. I a reckon that makes it my business." Everyone could hear the warning in Daryl's voice.
Leaving his seat, Rick walked to the both of them and said to Andera. "If you did not find Daryl's reasons good enough, then maybe mine will. Helena and I have been together since we both woke up from the hospital. We had each others back and safety in mind. If there is a threat to her and this group, I want to know about it. If she just fell on a rock you would have told us, but that's not the case now is it?"
Sighing she replied. "Not what I was getting at, but whatever. Ed got mad at Helena for 'rattling' us up. So after he hit Carol, Ed kicked Helena on her upper back. Luckily Helena caught herself before her face hit the water."
"Were is that lazy ass fuck now?" Daryl growled angrily.
"He's among the dead." Shane said as he entered Daryl's camping area.
*Well didn't he just get lucky.* He very badly wanted to beat the shit out of Ed.
Shane whispered something to Rick. Nodding his head at Shane, Rick told everyone. "Everyone should get some rest. The smell of the dead walkers should mask are sent. If more walkers do come, someone will be on watch, so be prepared to be woken up by someone when it's your time. I will take first shift."
Daryl made sure everyone left, before he entered his own tent.
Walking over to his cot, Daryl set down his crossbow were he could quickly grab it. Before laying down on his cot, he stood beside Helena who was still sound asleep. *She must be a heavy sleeper.* While she slept, her face held a peaceful look to it. He was content knowing that she was safe and sound in his tent. This scared Daryl, he had never in his life felt this way towards any girl before. Remembering his talk with Archie about soul mates, he still did not believe her for two reasons; one, Archie told him that there was no such thing as the Chupacabra and reason number two, he had this talk with Archie about 2 years ago! Archie pretty much indicated that she was going to go find her for him. So why was he so obsessed with her?
Helena seemed to sense Daryl's presence; still sleeping, Helena reached out towards him.
Without thinking or hesitating, Daryl lowered himself to the ground next to Helena and took ahold of her outstretched hand. Her hand was slightly soft, probably from the paints she worked with. Her middle finger had a small bump on the side of it from holding pencils and paint brushes often.
When he had let go of her hand, Helena curled her hand underneath her chin. Trying to still keep the warmth of his hand. Daryl smirked at that. Laying down on his cot, Daryl fell asleep to the sound of Helenas breathing.
Helena's point of view
Helena gradually woke up from her sleep. It was morning now, she could tell by how bright it was.
Before she sat up. Helena stretched out like a dog would; both arms and legs at the same time. Hearing the crack of her bones from stretching, she slowly sat up. The bruise on her back was sore, but nothing she could not handle. If her past had taught her anything, it would be on how to deal with pain of almost any kind.
What happened last night returned to her. The memory she remembered the most was when Daryl had touched her arm. When he had touched her arm, she felt...she felt...She did not know how to put it into words. Maybe the closest words she could come up with was peaceful and a sense of belonging? The moment when he had picked her up, she instantly felt safe. The safest she had ever felt. *Great. Now I am acting like a school girl with a crush.*
Looking around the tent she was in, Helena realized that she was in Daryl's tent and sleeping in Merle's cot. *This isn't something Daryl would do.*
Now looking at herself Helena noticed she was wearing the biker chick night gown and her gray sweat shorts. *Please tell me that Daryl did not change my clothing!* If he did, she would have no idea how not to be shy around him. When she stood up, it looked like she was just wearing a night gown. Feeling some tightness around her arm from were she had cut herself, she found a nicely done bandage around her upper arm. Then she found some bandaids on her foot were the jaws of the trap would have been. *So it must have been one of the girls who had changed my clothing and bandage up my wounds.*
Deciding that she should get ready for the day, Helena walked over to her back pack. A strapless summer dress with grey and yellow tie-die printing laid on top of her bag. *That's cute. I wonder who this belongs to.*
Amy walked into the tent and spoke to Helena. "Morning. Please don't tell Daryl that I was not here when you woke up. He was very adamant that someone should be here for when you woke up. In case you started freaking out or something, but I really needed use the restroom."
*Now that really does not sound like Daryl.*
With a reassuring smile, Helena said "Don't worry your secret is safe with me."
Thinking about the dress, Helena picked up the dress and showed it to Amy. "Do you know who this belongs to?"
With a smile of her own Amy responded. "It belongs to you. Well now anyway. Do you like it?"
Helena's eyes shined brightly and she happily told Amy. "I LOVE it! But are you sure you want to give this to me? If this is about saving your life. Than you can-"
Amy cut her off. "Please just let me express my thanks. Besides if you try to give it back to me, I will just burn it along with those playboy magazines!"
*what?* Helena looked on the ground and realized that the floor was completely clean.
Her attention went back to Amy, when she spoke to Helena again. "Well now you are awake. I will let you get dressed." As Amy was about to leave the room, Helena quickly told her, "Happy birthday Amy!"
"Thank you Helena. Although this is not the kind of birthday I was hoping for" Amy said in a sad tone.
She got what she meant. With the zombies ruling the earth and a whole lot of pepole died on her birthday. That would be a birthday that no one would want. Helena wanted to tell her that everything in the end will be ok, but that would be a lie. Things from here on out will only get tougher and Helena signed Amy up for the ride.
When Amy left, Helena changed into the dress that Amy had given her. She really needed to see Daryl now that two things were out of character for him and see if any of these changes could screw up the story line, but in reality she just wanted to see him.
Resisting the urge to see Daryl first, Helena thought that it would be better if she got to work first. One of the first things she did was gather all of her things for when they left tommorow morning. The 2nd thing she had to do was check on the meat in the pit. The smell of the cooking meats made her mouth water. Letting the venison and organ meats cook longer, she took out the squirrel meats since they were ready to eat. Using Black Berry jam that she had found among the groups food supply, she first boiled it down, making it almost look like a sause. Cutting up the squirrel meats to medium sizes, she stuck them all on Daryl's cooking spit then started a fire under it. Using one of her cooking brushes, Helena dumped it into the black berry jam that she had melted down to glaze the squril meats. Once the meat was done Helena used BBQ sticks to slide the squirrel meat onto. Even though Daryl had brought back a good number of them everyone could only have about 4 pieces. Helena decided to only give herself 3 so Daryl could have one more. She also wanted to give some more to Rick and Carl, but she need to make things fair and she was very hungry from not eating dinner last night. Finding a platter and some paper plates, Helena placed the meats and the paper plates on the platter. Carrying the food she had cooked, she headed towards camp.
The first ones she ran into were the kids. "Helena!" Carl and Sophia called out at the same time. They both ran over to her and hugged her waist since she was holding the platter. The Morales children slowly approached her as well.
"Hey guys!" Helena said in a cheerful voice.
"What smells so good?" Sophia asked as she and Carl both pulled away from her.
Smiling Helena kneeled in front of the kids and said "I made some food for all of us. Something to hold us over."
One of the Morales children asked, "What is it?"
"Its squirrel meat glazed in a black berry jam. Now, before you say 'ewe', I want you to at least try one. The ones on the left are for you guys. I put on more jam on yours."
All of the childern took one, but it was Carl who took the first bite. He nodded his head yes, indicating that he liked it. The other children followed suit and liked it as well.
Standing back up, Helena continued to walk towards the main camp site.
"Make sure you all say thank you to Daryl for providing us with food!"
"We will!" Sophia replied as she ran off with the other kids.
Entering the campsite, Helena could tell that this was the scene where they were debating on what to do about Jim. She knew it when she heard Daryl's voice. "I say we put a pickaxe in his head."
Setting down the platter on a folding chair, Helena picked up one of the sticks of meat for Jim and placed it on a paper plate that she had brought with her, then walked over to him.
Jim was so focused on Rick and the others that were discussing his fate, he never noticed Helena approach him untill she kneeled next to him. He did not face her, he kept on watching Rick and the others.
In a soft caring voice Helena said to him "Hey Jim. I got some food for you." She handed Jim the plate she had made for him. When Jim did not take the plate and said nothing, Helena sat the plate down in between her and Jim. Helena was not offended by Jim when he did not take what she had made for him. "Is there something else I can get you, like water maybe?"
Finally Jim looked at Helena, but what he said to her, froze Helena in her place.
"Aren't you curious about what they are talking about? But then again you already know. Don't you?"
Helena would haved loved to think that this is just his high fever talking from the virus taking over his body, but she knew better. The virus had not taken that much control of him yet and by the look in his eyes, he knew her biggest secret; about her not belonging to this world.
"H..Ho..How-" Helena had run out of time as the next scene played out.
Daryl had pushed her out of the way as he raised the pickaxe over Jim's head. She didn't even have a chance to stand up before Rick clicked his gun from behind Daryl which stopped him from killing Jim.
"We don't kill the living." Rick stated.
Daryl turned his head to glare at Rick. Shane took this chance to step in between Jim and Daryl. Still on the ground Helena looked on in silence.
"That's funny comin' from a man who just put a gun to my head." Daryl sarcastically told Rick.
"We may disagree on somethings, not on this. You put it down...go on."
Without taking his eyes off Daryl, Rick asked Helena. "You alright Helena?"
"I am ok. No blood, no harm done. Can someone tell me what's going on here?" Helena answered.
That's when T-dog walked over to her, pulled her up and told her. "Jim's bit."
Making sure she still stayed in character, Helena eyes widened with shock. She used one of her hands to cover her mouth. While she used her other arm to wrap around herself. Removing her hand from her mouth, she asked, "You mean from last night?"
T-dog noded his head yes. Facing Jim, she said in a sad tone of voice, "Jim."
They all stood there in silence, waiting for Daryl to drop the pick axe or needing to put Daryl down. Helena knew that something was not right. *He should have dropped it by now.*
Daryl slowly lowered the pickaxe while still glaring at Rick.
*He's not planing on putting down the pickaxe. He is going to try to take another swing at Jim. All he is looking for is an opening.*
"Drop it now!" Shane demanded, but Daryl still held on to the pickaxe.
No longer being able to sit still any longer with knowing that this was not supposed to be happening, Helena walked over to Daryl and stood by him. When she touched Daryl on the shoulder, his muscles flexed. In a soothing tone of voice, Helena spoke to Daryl. "Please Daryl?"
Daryl now turned his glare over to her. He said nothing as he contuined to hold the pickaxe.
The hand that was on Daryl's shoulder, went down to gently hold on to Daryl's upper arm. This time she pleded with him.
"Pretty please? I made some food for everyone. Come on, you got to be hungry. I don't want you or anyone else to eat their food cold. So please drop the pickaxe. I really want you to try some and you can't do that with a bullet in your brain."
A few more seconds went by. With a grunt Daryl, angrily dropped the pick axe to the ground.
Smiling, Helena took Daryl by the hand and led him over to were she had set down the food. She was kinda surprised that Daryl had let her lead him away. Letting go of Daryl's hand, Helena picked up the plater and showed it to him.
"I roasted and glazed the squirrel meats with a black berry jam that I found. Yours is the one with the extra piece." Helena explained excitedly.
He looked at her with a questionable look. "Why do I get more?"
"Because you hunted it. So I thought that you should get an extra piece. Now come on! I want to know what you think of it!" Helena replied impatiently.
Taking the one that she made for him, he examined it. Before Daryl took a bite he told her, "It better not be poisoned."
Helena rolled her eyes as she waited for Daryl's reaction to her food.
Nodding his head yes, still having a mouth full of food. Daryl told her, "It's alright."
*Yeah sure that's why you are shoving more food in you mouth.* Helena wanted to squeal in delight from Daryl liking her food.
Helena wished she had looked away before Daryl started sucking the black berry glaze off his fingers like he did in the show. *Why does that have to be so damn sexy?!* She felt herself get slightly wet and her nipples harden at watching him suck his fingers. *Pull your self together! This is so not the place to get horny! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Helena!*
"Well what do we have here?" asked T-dog
Helena tensed. Hoping to god that T-dog did not notice anything off about her because if T-dog could tell, so could Daryl. *Nothing! I was not about to jump on Daryl! Nope not me!*
A big grin was on T-dog's face as he walked up to Helena and took one of the sticks of meat. "I was getting real hungry too! Thank you Helena!"
She felt herself relax, happy that T-dog did not see anything off about her.
Andrea and Amy came up from behind Helena. Amy was the first one to speak. "That dress does look good on you!"
Facing the two sisters, Helena commented on how much she loved the dress. "Not only do I love it. It's also comfy and does not try to slide down. You guys want some food? I have some squirrel meat with a black berry glaze on it. So far I have gotten no complaints."
*Too bad I can't put cooking as a survivor skill. I am only good at cooking with foods that I know how to cook.*
Andera asked Helena "Well I can't say I was looking forward to eating squirrel again. What happened to the deer meat that you were cooking?"
Although the qustion was not aimed at Daryl, he answered. "Ya don't have ta eat it, but don't bitch about bein' hungry later."
"I was just curious." Andera defended.
Amy already had taken a bite out of her stick and encouraged Andrea to try it. "I wouldn't mind eating squirrel often if it always tasted like this. Here try a little bit of mine." She said ripping off a small piece for her sister.
Taking the small ripped up piece from Amy, Andrea hesitantly took a bite. "I like it." Andrea said.
"Looks like sleeping beauty is back up!" Glenn said smiling as he was walking over to her.
Now turning towards Glenn, she said "You think I like passing out? The truth is I hate it. And besides the 2nd time does not count because I fell asleep!"
"Sure you don't." Glenn teased.
When he reached out to take a stick of meat, Helena turned her back towards him and said jokingly. "I'm sorry. It doesn't look like I made enough for everyone!"
"Oh come on Helena I was only kidding!" Glenn defended himself.
"Nope." Helena tried to hide the smile growing on her face.
Rolling his eyes, Glenn bowed on the ground to Helena and begged "Oh mighty Helena! Please bless me with your glorious food!"
Everyone laughed at this, but Daryl. Who was thinking that Glenn was just trying to look up at Helena's dress.
"Well it looks like I counted wrong. I guess you could have one." Helena teased.
Glenn had hopped back on his feet and grabbed one of the sticks of meat. Helena chuckled at this. That was when Daryl grabbed her arm and lead her towards his camp site. "We need to talk" Was his only explanation.
Being confused on why he was acting like this all of a sudden, Helena replied to Daryl. "Okay. Just let me hand the platter to someone else so they can pass the rest out."
Stoping for a moment, Daryl ordered Glenn to take the platter. Everyone else seemed to be stunned at this sudden change in attitude with Daryl. Handing the platter over to Glenn she quickly told him who still needed food. Then she left with Daryl, who would not let go of her arm.
Entering his camp site, Helena told Daryl "You can let go of me. It's not like I am going to run away or anything." Daryl did not listen to her as he contuned to pull her along.
Reaching the log, Daryl looked at her and, in almost a commanding voice, told her to "Sit." She sat down and waited for Daryl to talk. Standing in front of her, Daryl said "We need to talk about a few things."
Slowly nodding her head, she said "Yes, you have already said that." Helena was a little nervous because he looked pissed all of a sudden.
"The first thing we need to be talkin about is yer stupidity!" Daryl stopped talking when Helena jumped off the log and said, "Excuse me, but I think you have mistakin me for someone who takes insults!"
As she was about to walk away, Daryl quickly grabbed her and turned her around to face him. "Ya know ya could have died! Makin' all those walkers chase ya! Wha' the hell were ya thinkin'!" Daryl demanded.
*Why did he bring this up all of the sudden?*
Helena did not need to think about what he meant. "I was thinking that I needed to take the pressure off Shane or else we were going to be eaten and turned if someone did not do something soon! Was it the best plan? Hell no, but it was the only plan that I could come up with! What would you have done?"
He didn't answer her question. All he said was, "Wait here." Letting go of Helena, he walked into his tent. Helena sat back down on the log and waited for him.
Walking back out of his tent, he approached Helena with four military daggers that he handed to her.
Taking them, Helena examined the daggers. The handles were comfortable to hold on to. She did not know what the material of the handle was made of, to her it was something in between rubber and plastic. Looking over at the blades, they were very high quality, fairly long and sharp. The overall dagger was light and sturdy which meant they could be thrown. Her most favorite part was the most important one to her; they couldn't be broken.
"Were did you get these?" She asked curiously.
"They were Merle's when he was in the marines. Ya keep them" Daryl answered.
*Dang I am getting a lot of gifts today.*
"I will admit that I really need these, but are you sure? They are Merle's." Helena questioned.
Daryl did not hesitate when he replied. "Im sure. If ya need ta learn how to throw 'em. I can teach ya."
Helena could not believe her luck. Not only did she get free daggers, but also throwing lessons!
"I would love that!" Helena sat down the daggers and practically flew off the log to hug Daryl tightly. Not knowing how to react, he just stood there.
Once Helena let go, Daryl reached in to one of his pockets and pulled out the daggers sheaths along with a band that she could tie around her thigh to place the daggers into. He threw them on the log along with the dagers.
"Well . Now I forgive you for basically calling me stupid." Looking him in the eyes, she could tell that he wanted to ask her something. When she was about to ask him what he wanted to ask, Rick called out to her. "Helena could I borrow you for a few minutes?"
Looking over at Rick who was aproching them, she replied. "Sure, but Daryl and I were talking. So-"
"She's all yers" Daryl interrupted.
Raising her eyebrow Helena asked, "Are you sure?"
Daryl walked back towards camp. Without facing her he answered. "Yeah."
Rick walked up to Helena and asked her "Did I interrupt something?"
Helena watched Daryl walk away. *He is acting very out of character.* She replied. "I honestly dont know."
Rick sat down on the log and looked at the daggers that Daryl had given her. "Nice daggers." Rick comented.
Siting down on the log next to Rick, she asked him "Now Rick, I know that you did not come over here to compliment on my sharp little toys. So what's on your mind?"
Sighing, Rick told Helena the reason why he wanted to speak with her. "It's about where we go from here. Fort Benning or the CDC. I am thinking CDC. If there is any hope for Jim or any of us, it would be there."
"So you want my vote, my advice, or both?" She asked.
"All of it." Rick told her.
"I vote CDC for the same reasons as you. Like I told you before, where you go, I go. Even if it's to my death."
Rick chuckled, but not because it was funny. "In which case, you almost died last night." He pointed out.
"That was my choice." Helena said flatly.
"Dying?" Rick questioned.
"Saving the group." Helena corrected.
Rick looked deep in to Helena's eyes to make sure that when he asked his next question, he would know if she was being honest with him or not. "I want you to be completely honest with me for what I am going to ask you." She nodded her head and waited for Rick to continue. "Do you think that this is all my fault. For the deaths of all these people?"
Helena took ahold of Rick's hands to let him know that what she was about to say was her honest answer. "I believe you did the right thing. Let's say you didn't go back and get those guns. Daryl would have gone to Atlanta to find his brother and most likely would not have come back. His crossbow and his lone survivor skills are very handy. Yes, he has a bad temper, but we need him. What would happen if we got attacked again? If you have not gone back to the city. We would have more people to protect with less guns and ammo. Either choice you picked about going back to the city or not, people were going to die. People are still going to die as long as there are walkers around. Dont beat yourself up over this Rick, just don't. You need to focus on pepole who are still alive now."
He seemed to be thinking seriously about what she had said by the look on his face. She hoped what she said made sense to him.
Sighing, Rick got up and thanked Helena. "Thank you Helena. I feel a little bit more at ease."
To put him more a ease, Helena smiled cheerfuly, telling him, "Any time. If you need someone to talk to, even if it is personal, you can talk to me. I will always make the time for you. Hey, by the way. Did Jim say anything about me?"
Raising one of his eyebrows he questionably asked. "No, why?"
*Thank god, but how does Jim know about me? It's already to late to ask him. The virius is already messing with his head.* "Its nothing. No worries."
"Helena." Rick said urging her to tell the truth.
"Rick, truly, it is nothing. You have other things to worry about. How is he doing by the way?"
With a grim look on his face, Rick replied "Not good I am afraid."
Daryl's point of view
Daryl did not know if he should be thanking Rick or hitting him for interrupting his conversation with Helena. He also didn't know why he had to talk to her so suddenly. When she was talking to Glenn, he wanted to ask her if she had felt anything last night when he had touched her arm back in the woods. How on earth would he have asked her that with out sounding like he was fucking crazy?
Daryl was slamming down the pick axe extra hard in to the heads of the people that lost last night, venting out his anger.
*Should not have called her stupid. Even though that plan was plain stupid! Hope she's not too pissed off at me for it. I gave her those daggers as a sorry gift and also so she could protect herself.* Oddly some part inside of him was yelling at him for giving he those daggers, not because they were Merle's but because the animalistic voice was yelling at him 'She needs to learn to lean on me! I will protect and provide for her. All she needs to do is give herself to me!'
Moving on to the next body, Daryl smirked. It was Ed's chewed up, bone showing and pretty much gutless body. He never liked Ed. Ed reminded him of his old man; a drinking, hitting and bitching prick!
Remembering when he woke up, Helena was facing the tent wall with the back of her shirt risen high enough to see a big bruise in the shape of Ed's boot. He had no idea how she was still walking without being in pain; he knew the pain from personal experience.
As he was about to raise the pick axe in the air, Carol came up to him and said in a tearful tone of voice "I'll do it. He's my husband." But Daryl did not want to hand over the pick axe to her. Ed had harmed and touched what was his! Ed was going to get what was coming to him even if he was dead!
Swinging down the pick axe into Ed's head, he entered a blood frenzy mode that he could not stop. Blood and brain mater landed on Daryl's and Carol's feet. Carol cried and screamed from the mutilation of her husband's body. Never hearing Carol's cries or screams, he continued his blood frenzy.
-a few hours later-
Helena's point of view
She had helped the girls pick up things they needed for the trip until she could no longer ignore the pain from her back. She asked if it was alright if she took a break, to which they said it was alright. Siting down on a lawn chair in Daryl's camp site, Helena was carving a pendent for Sophia. Since she could not do figure carving like Aditsan could she was just going to carve a picture on a flat piece of deer bone. The carving was going to be a baby deer laying down in a daisy field. Once she hammered a hole in it she would use yarn to make the necklace.
The reason why she was doing this was because when she was talking to Dale, Sophia had ran up to her with a huge grin on her face and holding something behind her back. When Helena asked what she was hiding, Sophia had given her a drawing with Helena playing with Sophia and Carl that she had done in crayons. What Helena thought waas the cutest thing was that she had used a blue and a light gray crayon to dot he eyes. She was ecstatic when Helena had told her that she loved the drawing and placed it in her sketch pad. So in return Helena wanted to give Sophia something in return. That's when a idea for a pendent came up. She wanted to get this done today so Sophia could enjoy it a little before she...she passed away.
By the time Helena was ready to put yarn though it, Andrea approached Helena. Andrea looked at the pendent in awe. "Wow you are really good at the artsy stuff. Who is it for?"
Finishing the neckless Helena faced Andrea and patted on the log indicating for Andrea to sit next to her. Siting down next to Helena, Andrea listened to Helena speak.
"I made it for Sophia. She made me such a cute drawing so I wanted to give her something in return. What's up Andrea?"
Andrea's face looked hopeful as she looked at Helena and told her. "As you know, today is Amy's birthday." Before Andrea continued to say anything else, she looked around to make sure that Amy was not around. Feeling sure that she was not around, Andrea took out the mermaid necklace from her jean pocket and showed it to Helena.
Smiling, Helena already knew that this necklace was for Amy for her birthday. *Only this time Andrea can give it to Amy alive.*
Continuing Andrea spoke "I got this back at the store in Atlanta for Amy's birthday. She likes Dragons, witches and stuff like that so I thought she would love this. This would be the first birthday in a while that I will be at for her. I want it to be perfect as it can be. I looked in Dale's RV to look for wraping paper, but he didn't have any. That's when I reamberd that I found a sketch book in your bag when I was looking for clothing for you." Before Helena could actually ask Andrea if she looked at her sketch book. Andrea reassured her that she didn't "So I was wondering if you could use one of your sketch pages and make a design on it so it can look like wrapping paper."
Helena smiled brightly from all the ideas popping into her head. Unable to hold all of her ideas in, she begain to tell Andera all of her ideas, even if she was mainly talking to her self.
"I could do a design were the person looking at the paper would feel like that they were swimming with mermaids or fish. Most likely the fish since you dont want to give off a too big of a hint of whats inside. Oh! Or we could do a birds eye view of the sea, but like inside of the ocean. Your luckly that I can do some origami. I can make a box for you to place the box in. Oh! Another idea that we-"
Andrea cut her off by shaking her shoulders.
"Helena! Ok, ok I get it, you're up for the job." Andera said to her while trying her best not to laugh so hard.
"Oops sorry, it's just when I get all these ideas in my head I just can't keep them all inside." Helena apologized, looking embarrassed.
"So is it ok?" Andera asked.
Smiling, Helena jumped off of the log and did a milltary salute to Andrea. In a serious and joking tone of voice, she said, "Yes Ma'am! Project Amy B-day starting now!"
They both laughed. Helena went right to work. Working on the wraping paper and ther box. While Andrea kept Amy at bay and did Helena's chores, so Helena could focus on what she was doing.