The woods were quiet. Except for the birds, the ever present rustling of countless leaves and Dogs panting, fading in and out while he ran from one spot to another before turning back to his master. Daryl readjusted the crossbow on his back and kept pace with the animal, squinting against the few rays of sunlight that managed to find their way through the dense canopy. He felt completely relaxed and safe, knowing that if there was any danger closing in on the two of them, Dog would let him know immediately.
"You needed this, too, huh?", Daryl said in a low voice and reached out, ruffling the animals soft brown fur. As if to give his approval, Dog let out a small bark and nestled his head against Daryl's legs before he hastily set off again. Daryl watched him go. Yes, he could sympathize easily with his friend. It was the first time in what felt like ages that it was only the two of them out here, in the wilderness, on the other side of Alexandrias walls.
Daryl's solitary hunting trips had become rare events, for one because every able-bodied person was needed back in Alexandria – or what was left of it. There were walls to rebuild, homes to re-erect, was an infrastructure to restore. And than there was the new rule of nobody leaving the safe zone alone; with a new threat lurking in the woods, ready to slaughter everything that wasn't dead yet, everybody was supposed to be accompanied by at least two others.
As if it would be much of help to be in a group if some sick camouflaged bastards threw grenades at them.
Daryl came to a halt and grabbed his canteen, thoughtfully pulling the cap off. It had been hard work for him to get out of there. Nobody had wanted him to go. But since they were slowly running out of food and everybody else was occupied with duties that couldn't be delayed, he had willingly volunteered to go out and hunt on his own. Maggie had protested, Gabriel hadn't been happy and even Aaron, who had stayed in his house during the last days to take care of a feverish Gracie, had suggested to accompany him.
Daryl had managed to shut them all up and had readied himself despite their worries. The truth was that he was the only one who had no one to take care of. Maggie had Hershel, Rosita and Gabriel had Coco and Jerry had a whole bunch of kids to look after. Even Judith was old enough to look after herself and RJ.
And he desperately needed some time for himself.
The last person he had to pass on his way out of Alexandria however had been the one he had expected the least.
Beside his bike Carol sat on the remains of a wooden fence, fumbling with a thread sticking out of her glove. Dog ran up to her and greeted her happily, while Daryl's steps faltered for a second before he finally averted his eyes and approached his motorcycle to assemble his crossbow to the self-made bracket. He felt her eyes on him but couldn't find the urge to say anything. They hadn't seen each other often for the last weeks, had been avoiding any contact most of the time after their conversation back in Leah's cabin.
He didn't know how to feel. While the one part of him constantly kept screaming at him for being stupid and unforgiving, for pushing her away despite the fact that she was so much like him, the other part had reinforced his human shield. The same shield he had started to create around himself over the years, had added layer by layer with every beloved person he had lost – Carol had helped to finalize it by adding one thick coat of varnish.
Daryl worked in silence, waiting for Carol to start talking. She always did and he knew that.
"For the record ... I don't like this", she stated and defiantly crossed her arms in front of her chest.
"So?", Daryl replied, not looking at her.
"So? Someone should be with you out there."
"I've got Dog."
Carol let out a humorless laugh. "Yeah, right. How about Jerry? Why isn't he coming?"
"He's the strongest, you need him here."
"But Aaron said ..."
"Aaron is where he needs to be. He takes care of his daughter."
"But why does it have to be you?"
Daryl got on his bike with a little more force then intended. He had the sudden desire to get away as fast as possible.
"Look, I don't have time for this now, okay?", he growled and was grateful for the kickstarter doing its job for once, firing up the bike right away.
Carol didn't reply, but didn't move either. When Daryl raised his eyes he was met with her teared-up gaze. He swallowed. It was a thing he would never get used to. Looking into Carols big blue eyes, filled up with so much emotion and pain. It was ‚Be safe'. It was ‚I'm sorry.' It was ‚Will we ever be okay again?'. He hated being the reason for her tears. But there was nothing he could do to make it better.
"Take care", Daryl heard her over the noise of the engine, and he simply nodded before he accelerated his bike and set off without looking back.
This had been two days ago. The swig from the canteen had turned from refreshing to disappointing, the water had gone warm and stale. Daryl felt the weariness and frustration crawl up in him and let out a tired sigh. Maybe it was time to go back where he had hidden the bike and find some shelter for the night. No way would he return to Alexandria just yet. And no way would show up empty-handed. His people were counting on him. He wouldn't let them down. He just couldn't.
"How about we hole up somewhere?", Daryl addressed Dog who had decided to lay down on a patch of moss and looked at him expectantly. "I'm beat, and you ..."
The sound of a twig breaking reached Daryl's ear the same second Dog jerked up and started to growl. With one swift motion Daryl dropped the canteen and got his crossbow ready, pulling it up and took aim at the direction Dog had turned to. Both, man and animal were tense and fully on alert in an instant. Dogs teeth were bared, his whole stance switched from relaxed to attack. Daryl's eyes were fixed on the foliage, trying to make out any movement. If it was a walker, he could deal with it. If it was a horde, they might be in trouble. If it was something – or someone – else, they were probably already dead.
Another rustle. Something was closing in on them. Too stealthy to be a walker. Way too quiet. Daryl tightened the grip on the crossbow and took a step backwards. Then another one.
"Dog!", he hissed, "Back!"
Against these Reapers they didn't stand a chance. There was just flight, no fight. And even for an escape it was likely too late. Which didn't mean Daryl wouldn't at least give it a try.
"Dog!" He called it out this time. No need to keep quiet anymore.
To his surprise the animal didn't move. Dog had stopped growling altogether and was tilting his head out of curiosity, before he started to bark and wiggle his tail.
"What the hell ..."
Dogs unnatural behavior caused Daryl to let his guard down for just one second, but it was enough. He heard the sound of a gun being cocked before a figure emerged from the bushes in front of him, pointing a rifle directly at his head. It was dressed the same way as the guy who had blown himself to bits and pieces weeks ago – in a gray and green cape and some tattered rags which helped to blend perfectly into nature. Between the material Daryl could make out a set of dark eyes staring at him from a half-covered dirt-smeared face.
Daryl stood perfectly still, crossbow unwavering and aiming. He tried to get his rapid breathing under control. One shot was all he got, and all he needed. He wouldn't be able to reload in time if he didn't kill that son of a bitch with one shot. Plus, he was sure that if there was one, there were probably more. One bolt in this one's head would earn him a hail of bullets from all sides, he was sure of that. So he waited, assessing the situation. Laying out his options.
Getting more and more confused by Dogs weird behavior.
Despite the dangerous setting the canine still barked at their opponent – not the aggressive, poised-to-attack-kind of barking, but the playful, happy type, still with a wildly wiggling tail, as if they had met an old friend. He looked back and forth from the rag-wearing figure to Daryl, his excited barks being interrupted by whimpers.
All of a sudden, the barrel Daryl was staring into started to shake before it was slowly lowered and a small sob erupted from the smudgy face.
His confusion growing, Daryl didn't move while he watched as his opponent went to his knees, the sobs turning into crying. The moment he was down, Dog jumped into his lap immediately, nestling himself against him. When the movement caused the cape to slide from his enemy's head to reveal his face fully, Daryl slowly let the crossbow sink. He took another step back. Unable to filter the onslaught of raw emotions that hit him, he could only stare and try to process what was happening.
She looked up at him with a mixture of awe and shock. The filth on her cheeks was being washed away partly by tears running freely from her huge eyes, partly by Dogs tongue while he was occupied licking her face.
His mouth formed her name, but he couldn't say it out loud. It felt like poison, sweet but toxic. Maybe, if he'd say it, she would vanish, like she had years ago.
"Daryl", she choked out, her hands buried in Dogs fur. Whatever she was about say, got lost in another sob.
Daryl just stood there, swaying slightly. He didn't know what to say or to do. He was torn between running up to her and close his arms around her trembling frame, or turn around to run. He wanted to touch her, all while he felt the urge to be as far away as possible. He wanted to apologize, for leaving. He wanted to yell at her, for leaving.
The wounds had never healed. And now they were viciously torn open again.
Leah ran a hand through her hair and got up on shaky legs. With a lose grip on the rifle she looked at him, inspected him. As if she couldn't believe her own eyes either.
"How are you?", she asked in an almost whisper.
Daryl blinked and bit his bottom lip. A short, hesitant nod was all he managed for now.
"You ...", Leah patted Dogs head, "you took care of him. All those years ... I thought I'd never see him again. Or ... you."
"Where have you been?" Daryl's voice was hoarse and soft. There was so much he needed to know. Still, he couldn't fight the strength to ask.
Leah didn't have the chance to reply.
A shot rang out, scaring away a bunch of crows. Daryl jerked violently, startled and surprised. Then he noticed everything at once in the blink of an eye. Pain. Dog barking. Leah's eyes widening, accompanied by her desperate cry of denial. He felt the world tilt, heard his own blood rush in his ears and all the air forcefully leaving his lungs when his back connected with the unforgiving ground.