Daryl growled in frustration as he glared up at the setting sun. After hours of following the crappy little gas station map, he had finally made his way back to the motel. The redneck had been gone from sun up to sundown, and was mentally preparing for the lecture he'd get from Sophia. He really hoped that Twinkies would distract her, and stop her from going off on a tangent.

Daryl knocked hard on the door he knew to be theirs and waited for the gentle click of the lock turning. After a few moments of not getting a response, Daryl knocked on the door a few more times, slightly annoyed. However, his annoyance quickly faded and turned into panic when the kids didn't answer to his knocks.

"Carl? Sophia?" He called, jiggling the door knob.

Once again, no response. The door wouldn't give into Daryl's desperate attempts to open it.

"Kids, open the door!"

Daryls mind raced as he wondered what the hell could be keeping them from opening the door. They couldn't have left, the door was still locked and he didn't think that the windows even opened. A walker couldn't have gotten in with the locked door either.

What if there was a walker already inside? I just didn't know it.

The horrible thought struck Daryl, what if Sophia's bite hadn't been amputated well enough? There was a chance that the girls bite hadn't been cut off enough to stop an infection. After all, it was done in a poorly lit room by a stressed man with a Bowie knife. His attempts to open the door became more and more desperate as the though sunk in. He couldn't lose both these kids. He just couldn't.

"I'm gonna break this God damn door down!" He yelled into the wood.

Daryl backed up a few paces before he charged at the door at full speed. He heard the lock click, and the door swung open just before he could hit it. The sudden change sent Daryl flying into the hotel room. He collided with a steady bed frame, and feel to the floor with an oof.

Daryl recovered from the blow quickly, and looked around the room. His panic turned to anger and confusion as he wasn't meet with any undead children. Instead he was meet with to, young, smirking faces.

"And that's for leaving us alone a day". Carl huffed triumphantly.

"Are you serious right now!" Daryl growled. "Do you have any idea how worried I was?!"

"We're sorry to trick you, but do you know how worried we were". Sophia countered. "Where did you even go?"

"I got lost". Daryl admitted,climbing to his feet with a pop of his joints. "Damn it, I'm getting too old for this". He muttered.

"How old?" Carl questioned.

"Older than you need to know". He answered.

Daryl looked at the faces of the children, and sighed. He knew that he couldn't stay mad at them for tricking him, hell he'd have done the same thing in their shoes. He did leave them alone all day, and could see the worry that lingered in their trusting eyes, but it was still a major dick move. He'd need to find a way to get them back.

"At least you're back now". Sophia chimed in. "Did you figure out whatever you needed to?"

"Not really". Daryl sighed. "Kinda got focused in gettin' unlost".

"I don't this you should wander off anymore". She said. "What would we do without you?"

"Well, you certainly wouldn't have these with me, or my wandering off". Daryl grinned, pulling out the box of Twinkies. The two children's young eyes seemed to light up at the sight of the familiar blue packaging. They exchanged brief glances before Daryl handed the box over to them.

Carl turned the box over in his hands, and squinted his eyes as he read the back carefully.

"These are seriously real?" He asked in disbelief.

Daryl nodded, causing Carl and Sophia to exchange another glance, this time one of awe. Their eyes seemed so bright that they could burn a hole through a wooden board.

"Where did you find these?" Sophia asked, smiling. "I can't believe that someone didn't take them!"

"There were at an old gas station" Daryl shrugged. "Nothin' too special".

Carl handed the box back to Daryl after he finding reading it. The hunter ripped open the cardboard flaps, and emptied the boxes contents onto the small table. Ten of the yellow sponge cakes toppled out of the packaging. Daryl pulled three Twinkies out of the pile, and shoved the seven that remained back init their disposable home.

"Now, we're gonna ration these because one: I don't want no one gettin' sick". He couldn't help but gaze at Sophia as he spoke, remembering the previous few nights. She flashed a apologetic grin. "Second," Daryl continued, "You'll both thank me when we have leftover snacks in a few days".

The two kids nodded and gave their thanks as Daryl handed them their treats. They padded back over the the welcoming bed to eat their goods. Daryl sat down in the recliner with a sigh, and a Twinkie of his own. He watched the children flop onto the matters, and begin to talk excitedly about various random things, while they ate. It amazed Daryl how something as simple as a Twinkie could amaze and make the pair so happy. It really made him think about the things people had always taken for granted. Fresh foods, hot running water, real beds, toilets, family, and feelings of security, were the first few things that came to mind. The list really could go on, and on, forever. What Daryl wouldn't give to be able to just go stroll on into town, without having to worry about having his face bitten off. The new works was hard enough to cope with, he couldn't imagine being a child in it.

"Hey, Daryl?"

"Hmm?"

"What are we gonna do tomorrow?"

Daryl sighed, the Twinkie distraction was wearing off, and Sophia was begging to ask questions again. At least he stopped a lecture from happening. He looked up at the girl, trying to decided his answer. They had already lost a full day to being lost, and were now carless. It was time to get a move on.

"We're gonna leave tonight". Daryl said firmly.

"What?!"

Sophia stared at Daryl like he was crazy. It was common knowledge that moving at night was one of the most dangerous things a person could do! She had barely survived her time alone, if she hadn't found the abandoned house, she doubted she'd even be sitting here. She gazed at her boney foot. The bandaged had been removed during the day, and appeared to be healed, besides the long scar she now sported.

"If we leave in a few hours we can cover more ground. This day was already wasted". Daryl explained himself. "Plus the dark will hide us from anyone lookin' fer trouble. Something tells me that car thief wasn't alone".

Carl and Sophia gave Daryl sideways glances as he spoke. Was moving at night really the best option? In truth, Daryl wasn't sure himself, but the sooner they got back to the group, the sooner he could stop being responsible. As much as the redneck liked the kids, he did not want to be responsible for them.

"We'll leave in a few hours. Spend the time gettin' ready. Gather up useful things, rest up, and use the bathroom if you have too". Daryl stated. "You'll never know when we might might find another one". He added.

…

Sophia stood shivering in the dark parking lot as Daryl and Carl scurried about, trying to get the abandoned truck to start. Daryl swore as Carl turned the ignition, again, reviving only a fribble sputter.

"Stop, before we flood it!" Daryl said in frustration.

Sophia sighed, and peered into the shadows. She squinted as a small figure slinked towards her in the darkness. Her eyes widened in shock as she realized what was approaching.

Sophia's gasping scream echoed through the parking lot, startling Daryl and Carl. The hunter banged his head off the propped up hood of the truck as he looked up quickly.

"Ow! Damn it! Sophia, is everything okay?" He asked, rubbing his head as he hired around the side of the truck.

Carl popped open the door, and joined Daryl in staring at Sophia's still figure. She sat, hunched over, on the ground, not moving at all.

"Sophia?" Daryl tried again.

Daryl and Carl tensed as Sophia slowly rose. The pair waited with baited breath to see what would happen next. It wasn't like Sophia to not answer.

"I can't believe…" She muttered.

"Can't believe what?" Carl asked cautiously.

Sophia spun on her heels to face the pair. Daryl felt perplexed at the wide grin on her young face, nothing seemed to be wrong. He traced his gaze along her body, looking for whatever caused her alarm. The only thing that was out of place was the lump she held in her arms.

"Look at how cute he is!" Sophia giggled.

The girl held out lump for the others to see. Daryl struggled to make out the shape in the darkness, until it let out a soft meow. It was a cat.

"Are you serious?" Carl asked. "We thought something was wrong".

"I'm very serious". She replied. "When's the last time you've seen a real, live, pet?"

Carl considered his friends question. It had been an awfully long time since they had seen something other that birds or walkers. Herschel had the horses, and there was that deer, but Carl felt like this cat wouldn't get him shot.

"Sophia, next time you gasp like that it better be a walker". Daryl warned. "Or you'll wish it was".

Sophia stroked the cat's soft fur, and shot Daryl an apologetic nod. She continued to smile as the animal began to pur.

"Are you gonna give him a name?" Carl asked.

"Oh, no". Daryl interrupted. "No, no, no. We can't keep that thing".

"We can't just leave him!" Sophia argued.

"Yes, we can".

"He'll die all on his own!"

"That's not our problem".

Sophia gave Daryl a pledging look as the cat nuzzled its tiny head against her bony chest. The animals couldn't be more than a few months old, barely an adult.

"Please, Daryl?" The girl tried one more time. "It's no fun to be left all alone. This cat is lost, just like I was. He's probably scared, too".

"Fine," Daryl sighed in defeat. "If it'll get use moving fast, you can bring the damn cat".

"Yes! Thank you!" Sophia beamed. "You won't regret this".

"Already kinda am". He muttered.

"So, what's his name". Carl asked again.

Sophia ran her delicate hands throwing her new companions light fur, trying to think of a suitable name. She considered naming him after a fallen member of the group, like Jim, but found herself to sad by the thought. Sophia wanted to be happy every time she looked at the cat, so she decided on a goofy name.

"Mr. Peebs". The girl announced.

"What in the world is a Peebs?" Daryl asked.

"Peebs, like peanut butter. His fur is kinda colored like it". She explained.

"I like it". Carl shrugged. "It's fun to say".

"I'm just glad kids don't pick names for people". Daryl commented, jokingly.

Sophia lifted the small cat up, and draped him around her shoulders like a scarf. He hung around her neck, purring contently. Daryl figured that Mr. Peebs had to have some ragdoll in him. He was small, and skinny as hell, but still had a thick coat. What ever he was, Daryl hoped that Peebs wouldn't be a liability.

The redneck shrugged his thoughts away from the cat, and back towards the truck. He walked back over to the metal monster, to resume his work. The vehicle was more rust than truck, and needed a lot of work with its busted up insides, but if he could get the engine to work none of that would matter. All that really mattered was having a running truck. Daryl tinkered with the wire guts of the machine for what felt like forever, before the vehicle roared to life.

The engine sputtered and wheezed like it was on its last leg, but at least it was running. Daryl turned to call the kids and saw them sitting on the pavement playing with their new friend. Mr. Peebs purred and rolled on the ground as the children showered him with pats and chin scratches. It was kinda cute.

"Yall ready to go?" He asked.

"You bet!" Carl said, leaping up.

"Yup". Sophia answered. Scooping up the cat.

"Then let's go".

…

"Uh, I think you gotta take left up here".

The group had been driving for so long the sun was starting to rise up, for the new day. Carl sat in passenger seat, next to Daryl, holding the gas station map. He had been playing the role of navigator all night.

"You told me that five miles ago, and it got us lost". Daryl said, looking at the road ahead.

"Hey, that was Sophia". Carl reminded him.

"Hey! Don't drag me into this!" Sophia interjected from the back seat.

"What's that sign say?" Daryl asked squinting at the faded sign that lates before them.

"West Georgia Correctional Facility". Carl read aloud.

"What's a correction facility?" Sophia asked.

"It's a nice was of saying prison". Daryl explained.

Daryl turned the truck down the road in front of the sign. According to the map cutting across the area would be the best shortcut to Fort Benning. Normal it would be considered trespassing, but the hunter guessed that lack of law was one of the most convenient aspects of the apocalypse. The truck rattled like it could fall apart at any time as the drive down the long road. The trucks rattling oh got worse as the road switched from pavement to dirt. Daryl watched the large prison take shape as they drew near.

"Look!"

Mr. Peebs mewed in protest as Sophia leaned forward suddenly to point out the windshield. Daryl followed her gaze to what looked like just a clump of abandoned cars, but upon closer inspection he realized something that made his heart jump. A large winnebago sat around the cars. The trio sat in disbelief at what they had stumbled apon.

They had found the group.

Thanks for reading! New chapter soon~