TWD – The Hunter And The Fawn
Chapter 7
The next morning they slept late. Taking the opportunity to rest and relax. Yet at the same time Daryl didn't want to stop holding Fawn in his arms, feeling her bare skin against his. He held her close, placing his mouth on the nape of her neck. She started to stir. Eventually they had to get up and decide what they were going to do next.
Once they were awake, fed and dressed they opened their new map and discussed their options.
"Where can we go? We can move further away but it could take us all winter to find what we had and we need a place to hold up for winter." Fawn said.
"Your dad's place as secure as you say?" Daryl asked.
Fawn was shocked.
"Of course but Chicago… It's freezing there in the winter. Twice as cold as here."
"Yeah… makes no difference. Cold here, colder there. Snow might slow walkers down… You want to find yer dad, know one way or another don't ya? I'm giving you the chance. Get there by winter, hold up an' come back if there's nothing to find." Daryl said.
Fawn could almost cry.
"Thank you… but if we're gonna do this we'll need a lot more supplies and a safe place to strategize." Fawn said.
"I know a place." Daryl replied.
Instinctively Fawn knew what he was referring to, his old group.
"Are you sure?" She asked.
"They'll take us in. We can bring 'em a buck and maybe risk getting some apples." Daryl said.
Fawn trusted Daryl and knew there was no ill will toward his former group. He had simply told her that after a lot of hardships he'd needed to go out on his own.
It was settled that they would stay two more days in the mall, packing what they'd need for the unpredictable weather up North. Despite the potential danger they were in staying near the place they could have died; they were just enjoying the bed too much, and each other.
On the third morning they set out. Daryl carried most of their gear in a large hiking backpack. Two cold weather sleeping bags, a compact two person tent, two of the coldest weather jackets they could find given their current location, some cooking items and other survival gear and food. Daryl could tell Fawn was irritated he wouldn't let her help with heavy lifting but he let her carry the pack with their other clothes, some other survival gear and food, plus the extra arrows for their weapons. They now had enough arrows to last them a good long while.
They traveled to the apple trees first. Surprisingly enough it didn't appear that the gated community hadn't taken them that far from it. In fact they'd taken them closer to the trees and their next destination but that was still far on foot. They'd need to find a deer closer or at least some kind of meat for everyone. They were glad to put their nightmare behind them but sad they had to give up the best the ever had so far.
Daryl and Fawn had indeed decided they would travel north to Chicago where Fawn's father lived. He had stock piles of food and supplies no one knew about as well as a moderately sized house boat on the lake. If he was alive Fawn was certain he'd be out on the boat. He often lived on it for weeks at a time during the summer; traveling Lake Michigan. He was out on the Lake when the Walkers came.
When Daryl and Fawn got to the woods surrounding the prison they were headed to they started tracking for large game. Daryl had noticed some deer tracks. Luckily it didn't take them long to catch up to the deer. Daryl was careful to make it a clean shot. They didn't want a lot of blood to attract walkers. They took one down and quickly gathered it up to take to the prison. The prison group had cleared out the walkers around the prison grounds. It had taken a lot of work and a long time after a lot of trouble and tragedy. Walking up to the prison gates Daryl knew it wouldn't take long for them to get noticed. Daryl could see the shorter stature of Carl in the guard tower by the front gate. He signaled for someone to open the gate and let them in. Carl ran down to greet him. Once inside Daryl dropped the deer and gave his young friend a quick hug.
"This is Carl. Carl… Fawn." Daryl said as they nodded to each other.
Carl's smile faded a bit.
"Yer not staying." Carl pointed out.
Daryl gave a small nod.
"Yer dad around?" Daryl asked.
Carl nodded and pointed up to the prison. A few people were out enjoying a little sun. The weather had finally broken. It was still hot but at least it wasn't melting their feet to the pavement. They started walking towards the prison. Some people were concerned at first but then remembered Daryl from before he'd left. Rick came out with some of the others and greeted Daryl. Rick saw the deer and grinned with relief.
"I didn't get you anything." Rick said jokingly.
"We need refuge for a lil' while." Daryl told him.
Rick nodded again. But Daryl could see him give questioning looks toward Fawn and knew they might not get to stay for long.
"Just passing through? Where you headed?"
"Chicago."
Rick was a little surprised.
"You hear somethin'?" Rick asked and Daryl shook his head and then gave a nod toward Fawn.
"Got family there. Paranoid ex-military. Should have a stock pile. We're gonna hold up for winter there. If her dad aint there we're gonna head back. We'll share some supplies." Daryl said and Rick was grateful.
"Thank you." Rick said.
Daryl nodded and Fawn smiled as Daryl put his arm around her shoulder, pulling her forward toward Rick.
"This is Fawn." Daryl said.
"Nice to meet you. Now let's get that deer ready to eat." Rick said.
"We have apples too." Fawn said as she held open a cloth sack full of them.
They ate well that night. Not a single piece of deer meat went to waste. The people at the prison were grateful and thanked Daryl a lot. He of course did not like the attention. After dinner everyone mingled for a bit. Daryl could tell Rick had some questions for him about Fawn.
"You know I gotta ask." Rick said.
Daryl nodded.
"How many walkers has she killed?"
"A lot. I taught her."
"How many people has she killed?"
"Just one. She had no choice."
"Why?"
"It started when we were hold up in a small town. Had a good thing goin' and thought we'd stay put a while… until some survivors found us. Three men, and two women. They were eyeing Fawn like fresh meat and their women were in horrible shape. I threatened them to stay away from us, but they came lookin' for her. I overheard them walking the streets from the back yard of the house we were in. We lit on out of there and hadn't been back since. Things were quiet all summer. We tracked a herd of deer in the woods, I taught her to fight and defend herself. We thought we'd seen the last of people for a while until a group of men came across us. We'd stumbled upon their water hole. They insisted we go to their town. They wouldn't take no for an answer and I stupidly agreed. We went but things were off from the start. It was a trap. They jumped us when we tried to leave. They drove us blindfolded miles away into some town and were gonna feed us to walkers because they knew Fawn would never let them touch her. She'd find a way to turn herself into a walker just to spite them. We got away but were separated and they went after us. When I found Fawn again the leader had gotten to her first. He shot me with buck shot and it knocked me on my ass. Fawn thought I was dead. They pushed her to a breaking point. She slit his throat and stabbed him in the head… I know you can't trust her but please man let us gather our own supplies and we'll leave and never come back." Daryl pleaded.
"It was self defense. She didn't have a choice." Rick stated, "She any good with that bow?" He asked.
"Yeah best I've seen."
"You're welcome as long as you need." Rick said.
Daryl nodded again giving Rick a firm pat on his shoulder. Rick excused himself and it was then Daryl noticed Carol was watching him. Daryl could tell Carol had questions of her own, itching all afternoon to ask. Every time he caught her eye she had a goofy look on her face and Daryl could tell it had to do with Fawn. Carol eventually cornered him.
"You know, you could have your old cell back. No one's taken it. And there's plenty of open ones for Fawn." Carol started and Daryl knew exactly what she was trying to do.
She was bating him for information on his relationship to Fawn.
"Never slept in that cell anyway. We'll pitch our tent in the yard." Daryl said.
"Ohh… we?" Carol mused.
"Yeah what of it?" Daryl grumbled.
Carol chuckled but left the subject along having gotten what she wanted out of him, knowing Daryl didn't like talking about personal things.
"How did you meet?" Carol asked.
"Found her half starved in an alley, hiding next to a garbage can thinking the smell would keep Walkers away. That was months ago." Daryl said.
"She's beautiful." Carol said.
"It's a miracle she's alive! She's naive but smart with survival instincts. Climbs trees like a friggin' squirrel." He said.
"I'm happy for you." Carol said a bit teary eyed and Daryl groaned again.
Around sunset everyone retired indoors and Daryl and Fawn to their tent. Daryl laid back on top of their sleeping bags as Fawn cleaned and redressed his wounds by lantern light. When she was finished Daryl sat up as she repacked their first aid kit into her bag. They were dressed for bed, taking the opportunity to sleep comfortably in shirts and underwear. The heat had broken but it was still warm. Their two person tent had a rain fly, which Daryl had left off. The sky was clear and filled with millions of stars. More stars than anyone had seen before. Daryl leaned close to Fawn's back. He brushed his fingers across her right shoulder blade, moving her braid out of the way. He kissed the bare skin of her shoulder and neck slowly. Fawn sighed and leaned back to him slightly. She turned toward him grinning.
"So…is this why you wanted to pitch the tent in the prison yard?" Fawn asked softly.
"Mostly." He replied as he brushed his right hand along her leg. He slipped his hand under her tank top and she planted her lips onto his. She laced the fingers of her left hand into his hair at the back of his neck. Having given into their desires they could hardly keep their hands off each other. His hand dove deeper under her tank as he pulled her closer to him. He guided her to lay down as he tugged the tank up over her head, tossing it aside. He leaned over here as he kissed her and without looking up, he turned off the lantern.
