A/N: I do NOT own the characters or places in this story, except Chase and Kayla. I hope everyone enjoyed the last chapter. There's our girl! She is strong! A true survivor! Thank you, everyone, for the support of my story! Sorry these chapters are short! Hopefully longer ones are on the way!

DPOV

Over the past few months I'd noticed a significant improvement in Chase's abilities. I was still on nightshift in the guard tower but I didn't mind. I was pretty much a recluse these days. I fixed cars, I walked the fences, I read books, went on runs, stood watch. I still went to the gym and visited Beth's tree. I refused to say I was visiting Beth. Refused to think it.

We hadn't been able to go back to Atlanta to give her a proper funeral. And that bothered me everyday. Because Beth Greene deserved better. Beth Greene didn't deserve to die.

I pushed those thoughts from my mind and focused on watching Abraham and Chase as they sparred. Abe was good with Chase, kept him in line. But ultimately Abe was a soldier. So I was there to offer my years of bar-fight experience. I had plenty of it, thanks to Merle.

Every once in a while I told them both how to correct their stance, where to aim, the weak spots to go for. Bar fights were dirty, rough, ugly. That was the whole world these days. That was everyone.

Finally we called a break and they went to the showers and I moved to the punching bag. I didn't bother to wrap my hands as I just started to hit the bag. As I let out my frustration and anger I momentarily forgot the world around me. Sweat dripped down my face and back as I moved into kicks. A lot of people seemed to forget that they could kick as well as punch when they were fighting.

I stayed on the bag until my hands couldn't take it anymore and then I moved to free weights. I eventually ended up doing a full-body work-out. Everything hurt, ached, as I walked through the empty gym. I walked to my house and immediately got in the shower.

The gym shower would've made more sense but I wasn't comfortable there, where anyone could walk in. I didn't have much of a problem with my scars these days, since they were mostly self-inflicted, but I still didn't want anyone seeing me naked.

Finishing my shower, I quickly redressed and made a sandwich before picking up the book I was now reading. It was supposed to be another classic. Wuthering Heights. I liked Heathcliff, understood him. But Catherine was a manipulative bitch and I'd never understand why he felt the way he felt about her.

I understood the feelings, especially how he was after she died, but why feel them for a person like that? Then again, I loved Merle after everything he'd done, all that he'd put me through.

The sunlight started to fade and I walked over to my calender. I'd found it in the town hall and decided to keep it. It was a simple white desk calender but it was one of the few things that kept me sane these days. As I marked the day off I counted. Twenty months since I'd seen Beth's face. Almost two years.

Picking up my book and slipping it in my vest pocket, I left the house to head for the guard tower. As I walked up the ladder I could hear Sasha packing up. When I stepped into the room she gave me a sad smile and a nod. She was still in pain, too.

"Abe took Chase out for a three day survival trip. I just wanted to let you know, just in case." She said before leaving.

I scanned the area and couldn't see any movement in the trees so I sat down. Immediately, I pulled out Wuthering Heights and began to read.

BPOV

You would think that the end of the world would change people. You'd be right. Just not in a good way. You woudn't want to be right about these changes.

As I walked through the dark forest with Morgan beside me, I ran my slim fingers through my dog's hair. Brutus wasn't really a dog, he was a mixed breed. Morgan figured one of his parents was a full-blooded wolf, the other was something big. When Brutus stood on his hind legs and put his paws on my shoulders he towered over me and Morgan. He was about six feet five inches in length. Give or take an inch.

We'd found him when we'd left Atlanta and he hadn't strayed from our side since. He was extremely loyal, proving it time and again as we came across unfriendly strangers. He mostly protected me, though. I'd almost named him Daryl but wasn't sure how the redneck would take that when we met up again. Because I was confident we would meet up again.

Brutus raised his hackles and tucked his tail tightly to his leg. His teeth were bared but he didn't let out a noise. Suddenly a twig snapped and a rather large man stepped into our path. He wasn't looking in our direction so we had a moment to unsheath our blades.

I pulled a blade from a sheath on my forearm and Morgan pulled a knife from his hip. I automatically slid into a low crouch, one knee bent and one leg straight out to the side. Morgan moved sideways, planting his feet, knees bent, arms loose. Even Brutus widened his stance as if preparing to fight.

The large man had a shock of red hair and when he turned to face us I got a good look at his moustache. He honestly reminded me of a Yosemite Sam action figure. His eyes widened and he put his hands in the air when he saw us. He started to speak but something else caught his attention behind us.

"Chase, no!" He yelled.

I felt someone coming up behind me and then heard the click of a safety. Twisting, I managed to come to my feet and use the hilt of my blade to hit the person behind me. My knife hilt hit his wrist and he dropped the pistol he'd been holding. Before he could recover I followed through with the twist and jumped to bring my knee into his jaw.

With a satisfying crack, he fell to the ground. I spun completely so I was facing him again and had my knife at his throat before he could stand up. There was something disbelieving in his eyes, a cockiness I didn't trust. I knew Morgan and Brutus had my back with the other man so I stepped closer to this Chase guy.

"I know what you're thinking. Don't do it." I told him in a serious voice.

He smirked before trying to lunge for his gun. I dropped my knife, knowing I had others, and gripped Chase's hair in my fist. Using his momentum I slammed him face first into the hard ground. I stood up quickly and gave him a hard kick to the ribs. I picked upthe pistol he'd been going for and aimed it at his head as I made him take off all his weapons.

The other man still hadn't made a move or spoken. I wasn't sure what to think about that. When I was satisfied that Chase was completely disarmed I made him sit with his back to a tree and the G.I. Sam moved near him.

"We're looking for someone. A friend to both of us. We heard he was in the area." Morgan said as he looked at the two men.

"We're the only people in the area. Our community." G.I. Sam said in a deep voice. It sounded painful.

"Maybe you've met him. Or his group. There was a map that said they were headed this way." Morgan said.

I saw a hint of something, maybe recognition, in G.I. Sam's eyes but kept my expression blank.

"Do you know a man by the name of Rick Grimes?" Morgan asked, obviously having seen the same something.

"Yeah. He's our leader. I'm Abraham Ford. This is Chase Quate." G.I. Sam said.

My chest constricted painfully but I gave no outward sign of acknowledging this news. I'd learned to hide a lot of things. Emotions gave people leverage. And while Abraham seemed okay, Chase was an idiot.

"We can take you back tonight." Abraham said.

Chase looked like he wanted to protest but kept his mouth shut. I quietly gave him his knife back after it was decided that we would go ahead and head to Alexandria since the area was basically walker-free and it would only take an hour to walk there.

"What about my gun?" He asked in a childish voice.

"What about it?" I asked him.

He didn't answer and we all started to walk through the thick trees. I let out a sharp whistle and Brutus trotted to my side. His head bumped my hip and I put my hand on his head for a moment.