Sorry for the long wait and short chapter. I just can't get passed my writers block. I tried writing a short one-shot to help but it didn't turn out as good as I thought. But what's new.

I'm going to try to get the next chapter up faster this time, I have some ideas I just need to get passed the slow parts, like this chapter, in order to write them.

Thanks again to all those who are reading. The one who have favorited, followed, and left reviews. It means a lot.

Hope you enjoy this chapter and I would love to read what you guys think.

I also didn't proof-read this so sorry for any mistakes made.

Words: 3,296

I decided to set up camp outside tonight. Less crowded in the RV and I like sleeping under the stars. And I love the sounds of crickets and all the other bugs, it's peaceful.

I'm close to the RV, in the same pickup truck as last night. I caught Daryl's eye earlier and although he didn't say anything, I don't think he wants me out here. I caught sight of him saying something to Dale with a small nod towards me. Not sure what it was about or if it even involved me, it's just a feeling.

I couldn't seem to get to sleep, not that that's anything new. I was lying on my back, looking up at the stars, when I heard the RV door open.

"I'm gonna go for a walk. Shine some light in the forest." Daryl's voice rang out through the darkness, causing me to sit up and look over at him. "If she's out there, give her something to look at."

"Can I come?" I quickly asked as Daryl turns away from Dale. Looking at Daryl, I see him chew his bottom lip as he glances up at Dale. "I mean, I could just follow you." I add in a bored voice. I may have sounded bitchy, but I can't sleep, I'm just sitting here with worry. And I can go if I want to, no one here is the boss of me.

"Fine," Daryl says after a moment of thinking it over, I guess. "Jus' don't run off."

"You think that's a good idea?" Dale asks from on top of the RV. Whether he was talking about going out after dark or me going I have no idea.

"S'fine." Daryl barely mumbles without stopping his steps. I'm not even sure if Dale heard him, but he didn't say anything else as we made our way down the highway, soon turning off into the forest.

We walked in silence for a while. I thought about breaking it a few times, I'm not sure what I would say though. At one point I thought Daryl was about to say something but then he didn't.

"You ever been lost in the woods?" I finally decided on saying, feeling the silence start to get to me.

"Yeah." Daryl answered, his steps not faltering.

"How long?" I whispered when he didn't elaborate any further.

"Nine days. Made my way back though." He answered as his eyes searched through the darkened forest.

"By yourself?" I asked. Not out of disbelief, but curiosity.

"Yeah. My old man was on a bender with some waitress, Merle was doing another stint in Juvie. Didn't even know I was gone." Daryl told me, some emotion I couldn't pinpoint slightly seeping through his words.

Humming to let him know I heard, I shined my own light to the left, trying to see through the trees, when he spoke up again. "You?"

"Huh?" I asked, turning my head to look up at him.

"Ya ever get lost?" He asked, quickly glancing down at my short frame.

"Oh," Looking back in front of me, I take a moment to think about that question. I don't guess he really cares and as much as I don't like talking, I'll take it over the silence at the moment.

I mean sure, I've been lost before, but nothing big like being in the woods for nine days. More like getting lost at the supermarket when I was four, and I don't think that really counts.

Feeling the silence starting to grow again, I realize I hadn't given an answer. "Not really 'lost', I just..." Trailing off, I briefly wonder why I'm saying any of this rather than just saying no. I've never liked talking before, especially about myself, so why am I doing it now? "Left." Feeling the words slip through my lips no louder than I whisper, I again turn my head to the left, not bothering to shine my light along with it.

"You stay gone?" Daryl asked, speaking up when I started to think he wasn't going to say anything else.

"I tried." I found myself saying, and not for the first time wondering why I was saying anything in the first place.

Before either of us could say anything else, a rustling sound from the right caught our attention. Aiming my light in the same direction, I try my best to see through the darkness as Daryl raises his crossbow.

Throwing a quick look over his shoulder, Daryl slowly moves forward with me behind him until we come to a stop at the entrance of what looks like a small campsite. There's not much here, a tent, a table, an old firepit, and...

"What the hell?" Looking up into the tree, I watch as a walker sways slightly from the rope around its neck. Must have hung himself. "Got bit, fever hit, world gone to shit, might as well quit. Dumbass didn't know enough to shoot himself in the head."

"Gotta give him points for his poeticness though," I say as I shine my light in the walker's face, his arms swinging out as he tries to reach me.

"Turned himself into a big swinging piece of bait and a mess," Daryl says as he also shines his light up at the walker.

"You good?" He asks, shining his light at my feet, allowing me to look over and see his face.

I'm not sure if he's talking about the walker or Sofia, or maybe even the conversation we had on our walk here, but as I look back up to the hanging walker I answer the only way I really know how. "Yeah." But I honestly don't know if that's true.

Nodding, Daryl give one last look at the walker before turning away from it, "Let's head back."

Hesitating in my steps, I shine my light around the small campsite again. I don't know what I expected coming out here tonight. If I thought we'd find her or if I just wanted to get away from my wandering thoughts, but whatever my reasoning, going back without her still makes my heart clench.

"Hey." Turning my head, I hold my light low as to not blind Daryl as I do my best to look at him through the darkness. "We'll find her."

"I know." I tell him with a nod. But I can't help wondering, will we?

I watched the sun rise from the roof of the RV the next morning. Daryl had gotten me to come into the RV when we got back, he said I shouldn't be outside alone despite the fact that someone was on watch.

I decided not to argue with him, he seemed tired. I was tired too, but that didn't help when I tried to fall asleep in the passenger seat, I ended up just staring out at the stars until I climbed to the top of the RV with Dale.

Sometimes later Dale went down and Daryl came up. We didn't talk, I lied on my back and looked up at the stars while he sat in the chair someone had moved up there until the sun was starting to get high in the sky.

That was the signal to leave apparently as everyone was waking up and making sure everything was packed up, giving one last check to the supplies and sign we left for Sofia. Just in case.

I had a decision to make. Ride in the car with Andrea or in the RV with Dale and Carol. I chose the RV. Sitting at the table as Dale drives, Carol riding in the passenger seat.

Looking out the window, I watch as the trees go by fast, turning them unto a blur of green and brown until we slow down as we pull into a long driveway that leads to a white farmhouse.

"How is he?" Dales asks as Rick, Lori, and the others walk down off the porch of the house, joined by a few new people.

"He'll pull through," Lori told us with a smile, earning a relieved sigh from most everyone. "Thanks to Hershel and his people."

"And Shane." Rick cuts in, "We'd have lost Carl without him."

Carl isn't my responsibility, he isn't my brother, he's not my family, but I still care for the kid and I'm grateful he's going to be okay, but I still don't like Shane. And although hearing the news that he's going to be okay is a great relief, the knowledge that Sophia is still out there continues to weigh on my heart.

The others talked a little more after they shared hugs, Rick explaining that it was just an accident. One of Hershals men was hunting and didn't see Carl on the other side of the deer. The same man, Otis, died when he went with Shane to get the medical supplies needed to save Carls life.

And that's how I found myself standing as fare off as I could from the circle of people as they all surrounded a pile of rocks. Hershal holding a Bible and speaking about Otis. A memorial service.

It was a nice thing to do, but I felt out of place. I didn't know the man and despite my best efforts not to, I couldn't help but feel a little hatred for the man who shot Carl. I know he didn't mean to and I told myself that but it was still there. Doesn't matter now I guess, he's dead.

I pretty much blocked out the whole thing, briefly looking up when Shane started talking before quickly going back to ignoring what everyone was saying.

When everyone broke apart, I watched Lori separate from most and walk towards the house. She must be going to see Carl. I want to go see him too, but he's probably not feeling the best and he needs rest.

"County survey map. Shows terrain and elevations." I hear Maggie say as I climb the latter up the RV.

I tuned them out for the most part, only turning my head towards them slightly when I heard the old man, Hershal, say he didn't want us carrying guns. Shane didn't agree but Rick said he would respect Hershals request because it was his property.

I can see where he's coming from, but I'm not going to dig through my bag and give up the gun no one even knows I have. I don't plan on carrying it around anyways, so I don't see the problem.

"I heard you're fast on your feet and know how to get in and out," Maggie said as I leaned my back against a tree nearby, cracking a smile at the look on Glenn's face. "Got a pharmacy run, you in?"

"Uh..."

"Miss, what's the water situation here?" Dale asks Maggie while Glenn struggles to get words out of his mouth.

"Got five wells on our land. The house draws directly from number one. Number-two well in right over there," Maggie says while pointing into the distance. "We use it for the cattle but it's just as pure. Take what you need. I'll go saddle your horse then." She tells Glenn before walking off.

"Horse?" Glenn questions with a glance to Dale and me.

"Got the wrong hat there, cowboy." I say to Glenn with a smile as I walk past, causing him to reach up a hand to touch his ballcap.

I thought I saw Lori by the RV a minute ago, I guess it's as good as a time of any to ask if I can see Carl now.

"Oh, Charlie." Lori says as she spins around, hand over her heart. I must have scared her when I knocked on the side of the RV.

"Sorry. I was just coming to ask if it was okay to see Carl now. I know he probably needs his rest, I just wanted to check up on him." I told her as I stood in the doorway, one foot dangling outside.

"Yeah, I'm sure he'd like that." She told me with a smile. "C'mon, I'll show you where he is."

Moving out of the way, I wait for Lori to climb out of the RV before following her up to the house, through the front door until we stop outside of a room I'm guessing Carl is in.

"He's sleeping, but you can go on in." Lori says when she turns back to me, offering me a smile before walking off, leaving me alone.

Taking a deep breath, I slowly and quietly walk into the room where I immediately notice the pale, limp body lying in the center of the bed.

Walking around the bed, I keep my steps light as I slowly lower myself into the seat next to it.

It's odd, how you can know something but the reality not really hit you until you see it. Like your brain can't fully accept what's happened. It's like that now. When I heard the words "Carl's been shot", I know I felt my heart stop and I knew it was bad, but seeing him now, looking so small and almost lifeless, feels like my hearts stopping all over again.

I know he'll be okay, that he's healing, but he shouldn't even be here in the first place. I know there's nothing anyone could have done to stop it and no one can change it now, but that doesn't stop me from wishing I could. He's just a kid, he shouldn't have to worry about getting shot and almost dying. No kid should have to go through that.

"Charlie?" I small voice calls, snapping me from my thoughts.

"Hey, champ." I greet Carl with a smile when I see his eyes open and looking over at me. "How you feeling?"

"I'm good." Carl tells me with a quick glance at his Stomach.

"Tough guy, huh?" I ask as I scoot forward in my seat, causing him to smile. "How do you really feel?"

"It hurts," Carl admits, "But only a little."

"Yeah, I know, little man. I'm sorry." I tell him with a sad sigh.

"Why? It's not your fault. And it's really not that bad anymore." Carl tells me in what I'm guessing is him trying to reassure me. "I saw a deer."

"Did you?" I ask, happy for the change of subject. "How big was it?"

"It was so big," Carl tells me as a smile grows on his face.

"Did it have antlers?"

"Yeah, they were huge, it was so pretty. You would have loved it." He says with a smile, causing a matching one to grow on my own face.

"I bet I would have. Here, I'll make you a deal. You focus on getting better and I'll draw you a picture of this deer."

"Really?" Carl asks, his smile growing even more.

"Really. But, I'm going to need some size reference here, so how big were its antlers again? About this big?" I ask, lifting my arms up, a short distance apart.

"Bigger," Carl tells me, causing me to move my arms farther apart and higher into the air and raise a brow in question. "No, bigger."

"Bigger, really? The poor deer probably had trouble holding his head up." I said, making his smile grow into a quiet laugh, only to be interrupted by the creaking floorboards.

"Hey, dad." Carl says as Rick takes a step into the room.

"I was just leaving," I stand, shooting Carl one last smile, "I'll see you later, buddy."

Rushing out of the house before anyone could stop me, I take a moment and let my eyes search over the farm before stopping on the stables.

Trying my best to ignore the heat beating down on me, I lift my feet as I slowly carry myself towards the stables, soon coming to a stop at the entrance, the smell of horses hay reaching my nose.

Letting my hand glide along the wood walls, I take slow steps down the wide space between the stalls, looking in at the horses.

"Hi there, handsome." I say with a smile as a dark chestnut colored horse slips his head over his stall door, allowing me to pet his nose. "How's your day going?" I asked him, earning a snort in return. "Yeah, that's about how mines going too."

"I'll keep you company for a little while if you don't mind." Rubbing his nose one last time, I turn around with my back to the stall door and slide down until I hit the ground, resting my head back, occasionally feeling the horses hot breath shift my hair around.

"I see you met Teddy." I voice sounds from my left, causing me to jump and snap my head towards the door to see the girl, Maggie, leading two horses into the barn.

"Oh, uh, sorry, I uh..." I stumbled out as I got to my feet, wondering how long I had been there.

"It's alright. He likes you." She tells me with a nod towards the horse, Teddy, as she continues to lead the other two horses into the stables. "You mind helping me?"

"Uh, no, no," I say, snapping out of my head before walking to the saddled horse Maggie had previously gestured too.

"You done this before?" She asks me as I start to unsaddle the light brown horse.

"Uh, yeah, once or twice," I tell her as I lift the saddle and blanket from the horses back before placing it on a stand nearby. "Brushes?"

"Over there," Maggie says, pointing to an old chest not far from where I was standing.

Retrieving a brush from the box, I walk back over to the horse before starting to brush her, Maggie soon following my motions with her own horse.

"You know, I don't think I ever caught your name." Maggie says from the other side of her horse, causing my eyes to lift and meet hers.

"Oh um, Charlie." I tell her after the brief pause in my actions.

"Short for Charlotte?" She asks me as she walks around her horse.

"Yeah, but I prefer Charlie." Finishing with my brush, I walk over and put it back in the chest I got it from before walking back over to the horse, letting her smell my hands before patting her neck.

"Well I'm Maggie, and if you ever need anything you let me know, okay?" Maggie tells me politely as she puts her own horse in its stall. "And that there is Rose, her stall is right next to Teddy's. And if you're up for it, I'm sure he'd loved for you to brush him."

"Okay, thanks." I say as I lead Rose to her stall, letting a small smile show on my face.

"I'll leave you to it. If you need anything you come find me, okay?" Maggie says as she takes a slow step back towards the door.

"Yeah," I say with a nod, double checking the lock on the stall door.
Walking back to the chest, I pick out a similar brush and make my way to Teddy's stall door before carefully opening it, causing him to take a few steps back to allow me entrance.

"Good boy."I say as I hold out my free hand, letting him smell it before slowly walking beside him before starting to brush down his neck.
Returning the brush to the chest, I return to Teddy's stall as he nibbles on the hay that's sticking through his hay net.

"Long day?" I ask him as he lets out a deep breath that sounds an awful lot like a tired sigh. "Yeah, I have a feeling it's the first of many."

Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed this short chapter, I'd love to read your thoughts in the reviews! I'm trying to write the next chapter now, but I'm really tired since I got my wisdom teeth taken out. That was fun.

Anyway, hope you guys enjoyed!

'-'