Here is another chapter for y'all. Granted it's alot shorter then the others, but...I'll be working all weekend, so I wasn't sure if I'd be able to post again. ALSO, ty to those of you that nominated myself and my stories for the CARYL Fanfic awards. Voting has started, so please, if you like my stories, please go vote for them. You can vote at www dot thecaryldaily dot tumblr dot com/voting.
**SPECIAL THANKS to HaloHunter89 for her AWESOME help with some of the direction this story is going, and for her advice on some of the "mountain remedies" I'm including like the tea leaves and wild fruits.**
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT own any of The Walking Dead characters and I'm NOT making any money off of them! I only claim the OC characters I created for this story.
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CARYL ON!
Daryl had left out before the sun had started to go down, having found fresh tracks of a large buck in the area. He had been on his way back to camp with a string full of squirrel's when he had come across them on the other side of the quarry. He had made his way back and had handed them off to the women after skinning and quartering the meat for them.
Collecting more water, he took off, slipping back into the woods and heading back to the area where the tracks had been. He tracked the deer until he could no longer see in the dark and then made a small camp for himself.
The next morning Daryl was up before the sun and moved on once he could start to see the tracks again. With having to stop for the night, he knew there was a chance he might not find the one he was after, but, he would settle for any others he might happen across. The camp needed meat, more then what the squirrel's he had been bringing back were giving them.
It was early afternoon by the time Daryl made the clearing miles from where the quarry was. Taking a moment, he pulled a water bottle from his pants and drank some down. The hot Georgia sun was doing it's best to roast anyone and everything. His shirt was soaked with sweat causing it to stick to him, the exposed skin of his muscular arms tanned and glistening. Closing the bottle back and shoving it into his back pocket, he found the trail again and moved swiftly.
The tracks headed back into the woods and Daryl stopped, listening to the sounds of the woods. Narrowing his eyes, he moved slowly, his steps careful and precise. This was his domain, one he had learned to live in and to love. On any given day, Daryl would have chosen to be out somewhere in the woods, living off the land then in a crowded city or small town. But following his brother around hadn't given Daryl the opportunity to do that. Instead he had been dragged all over most of Georgia living out of his truck most of the time and dealing with Merle's drunk and high ass.
A grunt in the distance cause him to still, his eyes searching for the animal it came from. Crouching low, he moved even slower, his senses on high alert. Movement up ahead caused him to settle once more and his eyes stayed on his prey. The deer kept it's head down, foraging as it walked, unaware of his presence yet. Moving with the grace of a panther, Daryl moved forward and to the left, getting a better view of the large doe. Taking aim, he sighted her in, his index finger on the trigger. Waiting for just the right moment, he squeezed the trigger at the same time a branch cracked, causing the animal to move forward.
Snarling as the bolt lodged into the animals left flank, he got another ready and walked to where the doe had been before talking off. Seeing the trail of blood from his hit, he began to follow it, until he spotted her again. For a second time, he took aim, firing off another shot, but missing his mark when the animal turned. Instead, the bolt hit close to the first and Daryl cussed the animal that was alluding him.
Pulling a third bolt from the quiver, he readied the crossbow once more. He was determined to get the deer in the next shot and bring it down. The only good thing that he could see at the moment though was that the deer was heading back towards the quarry and the closer it got, the less distance he would have to carry it once it was down.
Daryl hiked up the hill, the trail of blood spotty through the leaves and pine needles. When he reached the top, he scanned down the other side and caught a glimpse of the animal as it moved behind some trees. Heading down as quickly and as quietly as he could, he ducked behind some rocks and glanced around them. Seeing the doe panting hard, he took aim, and fired. The bolt sunk into the ribs and through the lung. The doe trotted off, down and around out of his view. Taking a moment and knowing he'd find the animal dead, he pulled out his water again, taking another long drink before putting it back.
Standing up from behind the rocks he loaded another bolt and wiped the sweat from his face. Heading off in the direction the deer had gone, he trudged through the brush and came out into a smaller clearing. The deer laid on the ground, dead, but it was the geek kneeling at it's side and ripping flesh and muscle from it's neck that caused a low growl to come from Daryl. Coming around behind it, he held his crossbow up, pissed that his prize kill was now ruined. Clenching his jaw, he growled out, getting the attention of the dead man, "Hey!"
Blood dripped from the dead's hands and flesh hung from around it's mouth as it lifted it's head and stood up. Turning and spotting a fresh dinner for itself, the former man snarled, moving towards Daryl.
Daryl's expression dropped, recognizing who the geek had once been. As it got closer, Daryl breathed out and took aim, releasing the bolt. The body dropped to the ground, the putrid smell causing Daryl to turn up his nose. Walking over, he pulled the bolt from the creature's eye socket and starred into the face of who use to be Ed Peletier.
Another growl from behind had Daryl turning as another geek came out of the woods towards him. He didn't have time to reset his bow and dropped it, pulling his knife from it's sheath. Moving quickly, he sunk the blade into the skull of geek, taking it down to the ground before pulling the blade free. Breathing hard, he looked around, making sure there wasn't anymore and got up, going over to the other body. Kneeling down, he noticed the scratch mark's on Ed's arm and shook his head, "Serves ya right for beatin' on ya woman, ya bastard."
Daryl pulled himself back up, tired from the heat and the day of tracking the animal. Even though he wasn't going to be able to bring back a deer for dinner, he could at least ease the minds of many back at camp, especially that of the quiet pregnant woman. He had seen the fear in her eyes when he had given her the tea leaves. He knew that same fear, had lived it himself. If anything, at least now she wouldn't have to fear the likes of Ed Peletier ever again.
Before he walked away, he spotted some wild blackberries and went over, picking a few. Popping them into his mouth, he savored the sweet fruit and pulled off more. Pulling the rag from his back pocket, he put the rest of the berries into it and then tied it close. He would keep an eye out for more on the way back, already knowing exactly what he could do with them.
Don't forget to go vote over at the CARYL FanFic Awards if you like this story or any of my other CARYL stories...they all got nominated, lol. You can vote at www dot thecaryldaily dot tumblr dot com/voting.
CARYL on!
