Chapter 10

A few days later everyone was gathered around the campfire. Daryl smiled at me and handed me some breakfast. The group now knew we were together, and so far only Daryl and Sophia knew my secret. I hoped it would stay that way. Glenn stood up and I looked at him.

"So…..guys….the barn is full of walkers." he said.

I slowly looked over at the barn. So much for a calm day. We all got up and walked over to the barn. Shane walked forward and looked through a crack. He jumped back as the walkers started to bang against the doors. He looked at Rick.

"Okay you can't tell me you're alright with this!" He said.

"This isn't our land!" Rick said.

"Okay I think it's time we moved on. We've been talking about Fort Benning for a while now." Shane said.

"You can't go there. It's Atlanta all over. I've seen it." I said.

He glared at me but otherwise ignored me.

"Well then someone's gotta do what needs to be done."

"This is Hershel's farm and we are guests here! He has to have a reason!" Rick argued.

"Safer here." Daryl said.

"What?! You wanna say that bit louder there Daryl?!" Shane snarled.

I glared at him and tried to keep calm.

"Yeah! Yer an asshole and a dumbass! Ye ain't go no right to be saying what ya are!" Daryl shouted.

Shane lunged forward and hit Daryl in his stitches.

"Son of a bitch!" He hissed.

That did it. When I saw the blood on his shirt I snapped.

"Sophia…..get back!" I said in a strained voice.

Shane looked at me.

"What!? You gonna do something!?"

I shouted in rage and turned. I jumped in front of Daryl and growled at Shane. I braked and he stepped back in shock.

"See what happens when ya piss her off?" Daryl said.

"You knew?!" Shane snapped.

I barked again and he jumped back. I looked at the others. All of them were staring at me. Sophia ran forward before he mother could grab her and stood beside me.

"I knew too. She saved me when she was a wolf. She isn't gonna hurt anyone! She got mad when Shane hit Daryl because she loves him! She tries her best to control it and she does really good. But sometimes it happens. That's why she goes away at night. That's why she let T-dog near her." Sophia said.

I was trying desperately to calm down.

"Tala…."

I looked over at Daryl. He sat up and held out his hand. I placed my paw in it and watched as it turned to a human hand. He smiled and hugged me. I closed my eyes and wrapped my arms around him. When we separated I looked at everyone.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I've been like this since I was a child. I don't know why, no one did. I can't get infected. Daryl can back me up on that. A walker scratched my leg the night I found him. I don't why that is either. This talisman helps me keep my head and allows me to change at will. Except at night. But I would never hurt any of you." I said.

They still looked at me cautiously and then Andrea raised a gun and pointed it at me. My eyes widened. Sophia jumped in front of me.

"No!"

"Sophia no! Get out of the way!" I said.

I stood up and pushed her behind me. I looked Andrea dead in the eye.

"If you want to kill me go ahead. But not in front of Sophia or Carl." I said.

She looked at me, the gun still aimed at my head. I didn't blink and I didn't show any fear. Daryl stood up and got in front of me. It was Dale who pushed her gun down. She looked at him bewildered.

"Dale you can't really think she's stable.' She said.

"I trust her. She's been with us all this time and could have killed any one of us. But she didn't. She could've killed Shane right there but didn't." Dale said.

I smiled at him with gratitude. He winked and nodded.

"Dale's right. Tala hasn't hurt any of us. She's saved half of us. She found Sophia and Daryl and helped save my son. She's as much a part of this group as any of us." He said.

I looked at Rick. He had become somewhat of a father to me, and Lori like a mother. I smiled at him.

"Thank you." I said.

He smiled and nodded. Lori came forward and hugged me.

"You can trust us." She said.

I hugged her back and closed my eyes.

"How do we know we can trust her?!" Shane asked.

"Shut the hell up dipshit!" Daryl shouted.

I saw Shane about to say something and I glared at him. He shut his mouth.

Yeah you know I'll go wolf on your ass! Try me!

Carol walked over slowly.

"You saved my daughter. That's all I need to know." She said.

I smiled and nodded. Sophia walked back to her mother and Carl came up to me.

"So…you can turn into a wolf whenever you want?" He asked.

I smiled and nodded.

"Yeah but I don't really like to." I said.

"Why!? That's awesome! And it's part of you." He said.

For the first time I started to look at my…..condition….differently. And a 14 year old boy had made me see it. I smiled and nodded.

"Maybe you're right Carl." I said.

He smiled and gave me a knuckle bump. I looked over at Andrea. I tried to walk forward but she just shook her head and walked away with Shane. I sighed.

"Those two would make the perfect couple." I grumbled.

T-dog started to laugh and so did Glenn and Daryl. I looked at Daryl and ran and kissed him. He wrapped his strong arms around me and kissed me harder.

"Uh guys….there are kids here." Lori said.

We separated and I smiled shyly. Then I looked at Rick.

"So what about the barn. I'm with you on the not our land part, but it's still dangerous." I said.

"I'll talk with Hershel." he said.

We all nodded and then I looked at Sophia.

"You saved my life today Sophia. I can never thank you enough for that." I said.

She smiled and hugged me.

Man I love this kid!

"That's what friends do." She said.

"Yeah." I agreed.

She pulled away and then she and Carl ran off to play. Daryl slipped his hand into mine and then led me away. He brought me to a pond where there was a large bush of Cherokee Roses. I smiled and looked at him. He sort of smiled back.

"I ain't never gonna think yer a beast or anything like that. I'ma think of you like this. A Cherokee Rose with a few thorns." He said.

I smiled and hugged him.

"Every rose has a few thorns." I whispered.

He chuckled and I laughed. I touched the petals lightly and smiled again. A flash of memory came to me.

"Be safe my little Cherokee rose! We're always with you!"

"Daddy don't go! Mommy!"

I stumbled back into Daryl's arms.

"Ye alright?" he asked.

"I heard him…..my father." I said.

He didn't answer. I turned and saw the confused look on his face.

"My father used to call me his little Cherokee Rose. I remember him telling me him and my mother would always be with me. I begged them not to go. My mother was already dead and those were the last words my father said." I explained.

Daryl nodded and looked at the flowers.

"Maybe that's them sending ya a sign. That maybe they're proud of ya." He said.

I smiled sadly.

"Maybe….but how could they proud….."

"Don'tcha start on all that I'ma beast shit." he said.

I looked at him.

"Ye ain't no beast like I said. Yer special and ain't nothing wrong with that." He said.

I raised my eyebrow. He held my face in his hands.

"Yer a sexy wolf Indian and I like that." he said.

I smiled.

"Trying to get lucky?" I asked.

He smiled a little and I smashed my lips to his. He pulled away a bit.

"Hang on. Ain't there any way ye can make it so ye don't have to change at night? I mean so that ya can be human when ya want?" He asked.

I thought for a minute.

"Well that night we lost Otis I managed to change, but only for a little bit." I said.

"It's a start." He said.

I smiled and continued to kiss him.