I hate to do this, actually this debate has delayed this chapter for three days. But I absolutely need your opinion, as you will notice this chapter does NOT have any past related sections, that is because after realizing where I am in the story and where I would be next chapter I realized I would have to right two or three Past only chapters to give you all the details about what happened to Rae's group. Now this is where you tell me if you want to know, before I can post the next present day chapter, what happened to her group. Or you can assume, either way at some point it will all come out it's just whether you get to find out by reading past sections, or her talking about it with lets say *Cough* Daryl *cough*

If you want to have a say, let me know either in the comment section below or by PM :)


Black Beauty

Chapter Seven

***Present day***

Five thirty came too early for Rae's liking as she shifted to get out of the fresh morning sun light that came streaming in through her windshield, in a futile attempt to get a few more hours of sleep she lifted a arm and dropped it over her eyes. Only problem was, once Raeanne was awake there was no going back to sleep she was also a light sleeper which in this world she guessed was a good thing. Dropping her arm in defeat Rae sighed, unfortunately she wasn't a morning person either and only being asleep for a total of five hours between the hours of ten pm to five thirty in the morning wasn't exactly thrilling.

Pulling herself out of the front seat she glanced around the mostly vacant grounds, Dale was up on the RV waving when she looked his way lifting her hand Rae raised it a little in greeting before dropping it back down to her side. Other than the old man everyone else appeared to either be asleep still or at least they were in the RV or still within the comfort of their tents. That was something Rae realized she needed to get her hands on again, 'Haven't had a tent since,' she thought before taking a sharp turn and opening her back door. Those weren't thoughts she wanted to entertain, memories of her worst day on this earth the day she had drove off from her camp site, leaving behind both the tents and dead bodies scattered around it was best left in the past.

Grabbing a water bottle, her tooth brush and tooth paste Rae rounded the back of her truck and pulled herself up to sit on the tailgate before applying a small amount of paste to her brush and started in on her morning routine, after all the world ending wasn't a good enough excuse to stop taking care of yourself assuming you had the time to do so. The last thing Rae needed was to get sick as a result of poor hygiene. Once satisfied Rae spat majority of the paste from her mouth onto the gravel below before taking a small drink from the water bottle and swallowing. Being against wasting the water she swallowed the mixture of remaining tooth paste and water, grimacing Rae wiped at her mouth with the back of her hand.

By the time Rae had stashed her supplies and headed to where everyone else had spent their night a few people had started to rise. Dale, who had descended the stairs of the RV was standing next to Rick in front of a fold away table talking quietly amongst themselves, it was the smell of coffee that kept her feet moving forward 'It's funny really,' Rae thought as the smell drove her forward, before the world had ended the smell used to keep her away it had been the same for energy drinks, for whatever reason if it wasn't tea she hated it. When the world changed, so had her opinions on beverages.

"Rae," Dale greeted the younger girl with a smile when he noticed her approach.

"Dale," she nodded before adding a soft "good morning."

The old man smiled at her attempt to be friendly, for whatever reason Dale found the girl interesting because despite the fact she claimed to not want a group 'hanging around' she had yet to leave, instead she joined them, fed them so whether she wanted to admit it herself or not she was slowly becoming a part of the group. Dale could tell through the short interactions they had that this world had changed her and she was struggling with it, it showed it the way she would lash out to only apologize or how she said hello and added a good morning as an afterthought. It showed that she was at least trying. "There's coffee," Dale stated after a brief silence and watched as Rae nodded and thanked him, again with the pleasantries.

Rae's eye caught on the can beside the kettle that they had boiled water in, her eyebrows knitted together pulling down lower over her eyes as her nose crinkled and she looked back at Dale and Rick with a slight disgust, "instant, decaf? Seriously?"

Laughing Dale slapped his hand, gently on her back, testing his boundaries, "sadly it's what the world has come to." He joked as Rae rolled her eyes and glanced at Rick who appeared to be hiding a smile behind his cup.

"I'm not even going to ask how you can drink this stuff," she stated, apparently her change of mind when beverages were concerned only went so far. "Any ideas on breakfast?" She asked instead

Lowering his steaming cup, a frown pulled at Rick's lips as he nodding toward the gas station they had raided the night before. "We didn't find much of anything in there, what we did find we had for dinner last night. I think there's a energy bar in the RV if you're hungry." His statement sunk into the pit of Rae's stomach where it twisted itself into a tight knot, after the dispute with Lori last night she had avoided most of the group for the remainder of the night, meaning she had eaten in her truck which also meant that Rick assumed she hadn't eaten at all.

The way Rae seen the current circumstances were like this, she could keep her food and supplies for herself knowing allowing Rick and his group to starve or she could share, which would take away from how long the supplies would last. The last time she had gone out to scavenge for supplies was the day before Rick's group had joined her, it was actually the day they had first met, that was four days ago which meant she was due to go on another supply run in three days time. Hell if she was on her own her food only could last her over a month, without adding her emergency bag to the supply, but when she added in each mouth there was to feed, which she did the answer was twelve. There were twelve people here, including her, the food would be gone within days if they didn't ration carefully.

"Rick," she swallowed around the lump in her throat, not believing what she about to do, 'I can always find more.' Rae thought pushing aside the ball of nerves that was her stomach, "I've got something to show you." The nervousness showed more than Rae liked as she tried to straighten, to appear more confident and in charge of her actions.

"Alright," Rick spoke preparing for the worst; to be honest he wasn't sure the group could survive any more wrong turns. With a nod from Rae she led both Rick and Dale towards her truck, the distance between her vehicle and the others appeared to lengthen as they walked, as she realized just how far she had parked away from everyone else. The cars had been parked in a shape that resembled a diamond, with Daryl's bike being at the head closest to the gas station, and the tents being placed between the RV and the Grimes station wagon, with the truck being the bottom point.

Rae opened the back door of her truck and reached around the closest bag that held her personal items, and found purchase on the middle bag which was actually a duffle. Pulling it out Rae dropped it to the ground placing it between her and the two men and crouched down to unzip the bag, the first thing her eye caught on was the jar of peanut butter and one of the boxes of instant mashed potatoes, before she lifted her gaze to the men. "So, what are we having for breakfast?" She watched silently at the men exchanged looks, both with a varying degree of shock that gave way to a smile.

It was that moment she realized that she had made the right choice.


***Present day***

An hour had passed before everyone was gathered around a small invisible table as it were, seated in camping chairs or on the ground in front of their parents if you were Carl or Sophia, with a plate in your hands. Rae couldn't help but to stare at the food on her plate, it was the same as everyone else's, three crackers with a coat of peanut butter on them, as well as a breakfast bar and a small serving of mashed potatoes. They had demolished one of the two boxes of breakfast bars, three weeks worth of breakfast gone in a single day. Not to mention the pack of cracker, and pouch of powdered potatoes, as well as a quarter of the jaw of peanut butter, 'It would have taken me days to finish this,' Rae thought as she continued to stare at her plate unsure if she could finish her breakfast when she wasn't used to eating so much anymore.

"Ahem," Dale cleared his throat causing Rae to look to her left where he sat beside her, "it occurs to me that we have yet to thank our newest member. So thank you, Rae for sharing your food with us." Immediately Rae's eyes darted down to her food again, away from Dale's smile knowing he was up to something before forcing a small faked one on to her lips, casting a brief look around the loose circle Rae received a few smiles and nods from majority of the group. The only ones who had not offered up any kind of thanks were, Lori who was obviously still a little offended by their disagreement the day before, Shane who Rae knew didn't like her, Andrea who she realized she had yet to actually have any interaction with.

And Daryl. He sat almost directly across from her, on the other side of the circle his chair was pulled a little outside of the group it was then that she realized her chair being placed between Dale's and Rick's was tapped. Lifting her gaze, Rae met Daryl's stare head on the way he was trying to figure her out by silently observing how her eyes darted around the circle and her hands held an untouched plate, it unnerved her. Almost enough for her to hand her plate off to Dale and walk off, almost. Instead she lowered her gaze and started to pick at the food on her plate.

A few moments passed filled with what felt like awkward silence as Rae picked at her food, before the Grimes boy broke it bringing all eyes onto him. "Miss Rae?"

Sophia who was sitting next to Carl poke him and whispered loudly, "she doesn't like it when you call her that, or ma'am," She stated matter of fact like before shooting Rae a small smile that she attempted to return. "It's just Rae."

Carl nodded before shifting his gaze back to the woman, "Rae," he corrected himself, "can I ask you a question?"

"May I," Lori corrected her son's grammar causing the boy to groan and roll his eye before repeating his mother.

The smile that graced her lips was one of humor at the small interaction between mother and son, before she nodded encouraging the boy to ask his question even though she was sure she'd probably rather not answer it. "How long have you been alone?" He asked the same question Glenn had the previous day in the truck.

"Carl." Lori scolded sending a sharp look towards her son who flinched under her stare.

"It's alright," Rae spoke much to everyone's surprise before she looked directly at the young boy, effectively trying to ignore the rest of the group. "I kept count for two weeks, after awhile days started to run together." She replied before catching the small smile Rick had directed at his son, "I met your father four days ago though so probably a month. Maybe a little less."

"But how have you survived?" Carl asked with growing concern, the adults remained silent either because they were also curious or because the question coming from a child had been a shock.

Shrugging Rae answered, "I have rules, they've helped keep me safe." She paused before continuing, "But mostly I was lucky." Shane snorted at her comment, obviously agreeing that she had to have been lucky to survive. Rolling her eyes Rae bit off a piece of her granola bar, hoping that the conversation was over. Unfortunately her response only brought more questions from the children.

"What kind of rules?" Sophia asked quietly looking up at Rae who swallowed with a suddenly dry throat, how was she supposed to tell them that she had a rule to avoid living human beings at all cost?

"Umm," Rae cleared her throat, "there's a lot really. Most of them are just common sense stuff really, like rationing and always having two weapons and staying quiet." Shane chuckling at Rae caught her attention as she glared at him, "something funny?" she asked narrowing her eyes.

"Come on," he laughed, "those are the big important rules? Ration. Have weapons. Stay quiet, stay safe?" Rae's glare didn't waver as he shook his head, "no offence," he stated lifting his hand before gesturing to the rest of the group "you said so yourself, it's common sense. So what's the other rule, the one that has clearly kept you alive while we keep losing people? My guess it's the one thing we have yet to try." He stated leering at her, Rae could feel her blood start to boil as she almost snapped and told him what rule that was that was until Rick stepped in.

"That's enough." He spoke eyeing his former partner, who was still sizing up the blonde that was glaring back at him.

"So, I wanted to get a word in." Rick spoke turning to Rae after majority of the group had dispersed to clean up, while Rae sat still picking away at her food slowly forcing herself to eat it all not wanting to waste such a precious resource. "I talked to a few of the others, and I've decided if you want to teach anyone how to handle a gun properly then I'd appreciate that." He paused, "as long as you do so outside of the camp." Another pause, this time Rae nodded assuming he was done with what he had wanted to say. Instead his eyes shifted around the camp before landing on Rae once more, "I think Glenn said he wouldn't mind learning more, if you were up for that."

"The woman didn't want to learn." Rae spoke, it wasn't really a question since she had assumed that they didn't, still she couldn't help but to pity them because it would cost them their life.

"Afraid not," Rick confirmed, "not yet anyway, they may change their minds." He spoke sounding a little hopeful he added, "Andrea has a gun, I've seen her use it but…I'll see if she is up for target practice."

Rae picked up on his hesitance and it didn't take her long to figure out that when he had seen Andrea use her gun it had not been good, which only meant that they had lost people when it happened. Not wanting to pry Rae nodded before getting up to wash her plate. Getting up Rae walked over to where Carol and Lori were doing the last of the remaining dishes, "I can finish up," Rae stated to fill the silence that happened when Lori realized she was approaching.

"No need, dear." Carol smiled at Rae, either unaware of Lori's tense shoulders and frown or ignoring it. Nodding Rae thanked Carol as the older woman took her plate from her, turning Rae shifted on her feet for a moment before deciding to walk the tree line.


***Present day***

Walking through the wooded area Rae kicked absent mindedly at the broken trigs on the forest floor, everything was quiet. Too quiet really, looking up she glanced around not wanting to get caught off guard before sighing and running a hand over her head. She needed to decide what it was she would be doing; whether that meant leaving the group behind or staying for awhile longer and how much was a while longer exactly? Groaning she dropped her hand and leaned against a tree before the sound of rustling leaves to her left caught her attention.

Shifting Rae placed her hand where her hatchet was dangling at her hip, if it was only a single walker then she'd take it out quietly. A few seconds later Daryl appeared aiming his crossbow at her after stepping through the bush, "The hell ya do'in?" He asked lowering his weapon as his eyebrows knitted together, before looking down at the ground before lifting his gaze back to her.

"Going for a walk?" Rae stated, though it sounded more like a question as it left her lips, 'Or is that not obvious?' She thought sarcastically. Damn this group was making a point of having someone keeping watch on her at all times, and it was starting to put her on edge.

"Ya ain't leavin." Daryl stated noticing her lack of gear, not to mention he doubted she would leave her truck behind.

"S'cuze me?" Rae questioned narrowing her eyes at the hunter, it was no secret that people in the group like Rick wanted her to stay, while others like Shane wanted her gone ASAP but no one, not a single one had said she couldn't leave. Rae could feel her blood start to boil, if they thought that forcing her to stay was the way to go about this then they had another thing coming their way.

"Ain't like that," Daryl stated seeing how her body tensed up at his words, shifting his gaze back towards the road where their camp was he continued "doesn't matter if you leave, just an observation." Looking away from the man Rae realized what he meant, and allowed a silence to fall until Daryl turned and started to walk away from her shaking his head slightly as he adjusted the bow that he had only just placed on his back, It was stupid to be wasting time exchanging words with some girl when there was hunting to be done.

Lifting her gaze Rae watched as he moved further and further away, "Last night," Rae spoke, her voice sounding strangely loud in the quiet forest even though her tone was soft, "you heard?"

Daryl almost kept walking, which Rae had honestly expected him to do, after all what did it matter if he had heard? It didn't change anything; it was no secret that her and Shane didn't exactly get along. So why had she asked? Turning his head to look at Rae out of the corner of his eye he nodded at the blonde, Rae nodded back willing to accept his answer until his demeanor changed. Turning in one swift motion Daryl pulled his crossbow from his back and pointed in the direction of Rae's head. Stepping back Rae's jaw tensed, "the hell?" she asked taken back by the sudden change.

Narrowing her eyes Rae realized this was the third time he had aimed his damned bow at her, first when they had met in Atlanta and now twice in one morning and they had only known of each other for total of four days. "Move." Daryl ordered, the way he spoke the single word had the hairs on her arms standing on their ends, she momentarily wondered if he was going to march her further into the wood before killing her off before shaking it off. Daryl had saved her ass, when she was in no way his problem so he could have left her to die, hell he didn't have to go after her in the first place yet Glen and he did. She hated to admit it but a part of her trusted the hunter that she didn't really know.

A gurgled moan pulled Rae out of her thoughts as she pulled her hatchet from her belt loop and stumbled over toward Daryl who was already taking aim at the walker, that was the moment all of the blood drained from Rae's face as she placed a hand on Daryl's arm to only drop it after he flinched away from the unwanted contact. "Look," she hissed scanning the woods before them, "it's a herd, we've gatta go." The man grumbled before moving away from her towards the oncoming dead, "Daryl there could be two dozen," the plea left her lips before she could bite it back.

Rae hated feeling week, but this went against rule number one. You see a herd of walkers, RUN. HIDE. Do NOT be cocky and get yourself killed. Looking over her shoulder back towards where she knew the others were blissfully unaware of the oncoming threat she felt the need to run. "Daryl, we need to warn the others." That was the moment the hunter shot her an annoyed look and turned and started to sprint back towards the road, Rae close behind him.

The chase was on. Rae though she couldn't be sure as to how many walkers were in fact following them, she could be sure it was over a dozen.

Rae stopped to catch her breath as Daryl told the others about the oncoming herd of walkers, straightening Rae watched as everyone scattered to collect what they could before realizing just how far down she was from her truck. 'When had I walked this far down?' She thought realizing that she was closer to the gas station and Daryl's bike then her baby that sat at the other end of the parking lot. Groaning Rae watched as the dead started to break free of the tree line all over the place, separating her from her truck.

Pulling out her pistol Rae held both of her weapons, one in each hand before she broke out in a run passing by Glenn who was about to climb into the RV "There's no time!" He shouted after her, throwing a disbelieving look over her shoulder Rae thought about shouting and telling him that there was no way in hell she would be leaving her truck behind but like he said there was no time for that. Turning to face forward Rae continued to run towards the mass of walkers, there were only a few coming up around where her truck was parked and until it was swarmed there was no way she'd be giving up on it.

'This is what I get for skipping cardio yesterday,' she thought with a sneer taking out the closest walker that stumbled into her path, pulling her hatchet back out of what had once been a man's skull she stepped passed his crumbled form that fell to the ground.

Glancing up Rae knew she was running out of time, her truck was only a few feet away but so was the mass that were starting to pass her truck on either side one by one. Two were closing in on Rae as she closed the distance between her and her truck and made it to the door lifting her pistol she took out the one that stood in front of her, to close for comfort, she realized inhaling sharply the other one a man that had his face torn apart was lunging for her as she spun in time to see it go down with a orange fathered arrow sticking out of its eye socket.

Turning her wide eyes from the arrow to her truck and back to the arrow Rae huffed before jogging forward and shooting another walker that was gaining on her before reaching forward to pull it from the eye socket groaning when she heard the squishy sound it made when it came free. Turning Rae swung open the door and jumped in slamming it closed in time to see two more walkers throw themselves at her now closed door smearing bloody hand prints over the black bars.

Sneering at them Rae pressed down the lock before one could try the handle and open the door, placing the key in the ignition the sound of her truck roaring to life brought a smile to her face as she watched the RV followed by the Grimes car and Daryl on his bike pass by her. Grinning Rae put her truck in drive to follow after the group that had made it out alive.


If you dare to believe in life,

You might realize that there's no time for talking,

Or to just let the innocent die, No more,

We're gonna lose everything,

If we believe all the lies – Boyce Avenue 'Dare to Believe'