I walked at the back of the group, keeping a look out behind us while Daryl lead the way at the front and Glenn, Lori, Andrea, and Carol trudged between us.
I don't know— scratch that, I know exactly why I feel like a school teacher babysitting a bunch of kids on a field trip.
"So this is it?" Carol sat down on the log in front of me, making me stop suddenly before I ran into her. "This the whole plan?"
"Guess the plan is to whittle us down into smaller and smaller groups." Daryl leaned against a tree, while everyone stopped to catch their breath.
"Carrying knives and pointy sticks" Andrea interjected before her gaze shifted to Lori. Oh no
"I see you have a gun."
"Why, you want it?" Lori looked up at her. I watched Lori extend the gun out to Andrea.
"Here, take it. I'm sick of the looks you're giving me."
I'm not sure if she's actually giving it, or daring her to take it. Although it really looks like both. Andrea's mouth was gaping like a fish but she took the gun with a huff because Lori had called her out.
"All of you" Lori sat down on the log, pulling her water bottle out from her backpack.
I haven't been throwing dirty looks, I haven't been looking at any of you.
I thought we were supposed to be keeping our eyes out for Sophia, and signs that someone's been through here. That's what we're doing out here in the first place.
Am I the only one who's actually been looking!?
What the actual Hell!?
"Honey, I can't imagine what you're going through and I would do anything to stop it, but you have gotta stop blaming Rick. It is in your face every time you look at him."
Carol looked at Lori before looking down at her shoes.
"And when Sophia ran, he didn't hesitate did he? Not for a second. I don't know that any of us would have gone after her the way he did." Lori looked at Daryl, "Or made the hard decisions that he had to make, or that anybody could have done it any differently."
Selfish sons a bitches—
"Anybody?" Lori looked around but when she looked at me I put my hands up. I'm not gettin' involved in this BS.
I came out here to find a little girl, not babysit and watch cranky "adults" bitch & whine like spoiled brats.
I walked past Glenn, just so done with all these people's shit, and Daryl threw me a questioning look.
I took off my backpack and dropped it near the base of the tree. Pointing to my eyes then up, I jumped, hooking my hands on a thick low branch. He nodded, glancing up.
I swung my legs similar to a gymnast and pulled myself up. Being careful where I grabbed, I scaled the tree until I was high enough to get a bird's eye view but low enough to be under the canopy of tree tops.
I didn't hear the rest of the conversation below but a minute or so later, Daryl whistled and I looked down to see we were about to move on.
I pointed in the direction we needed to go and Daryl glanced over their before nodding, motioning for me to come down, and leading the group from there while I climbed down.
I was halfway down the tree when a gunshot startled me and my foot missed the branch.
My heart stopped for a split second as my side smashed into the branch full force and the branch I'd been holding onto broke under the sudden weight.
"Eve!"
Hitting one branch after the other on the way down, my hands skidded against the bark, scratching my skin open as I tried to catch hold of anything.
The bark disappeared from under my hands and in a split second, I was surrounded by nothing but air for what felt like an eternity. Like when you jump off a high dive, the moment before you're about to hit the water.
Before I knew it I was staring up, gasping; feeling like a cannonball hit me in the back.
Daryl appeared in my vision, followed by Glenn, and Lori.
"Oh my God— oh my god— oh my god— are you okay?" Glenn panicked above me.
That's a fair question.
I struggled to force the air deeper into my lungs but they weren't having it. I'm getting enough to live but I feel like I'm suffocating. Breathing through a coffee-straw.
It hurts like a hornet to the eye but I don't think anything's broken. A sharp pain in my neck kept me from turning my head to look at Daryl.
I swallowed, biting my lip, and slowly reached up to my neck.
As soon as I touched my skin, I flinched away with a hiss. My hand stung and burned like I'd stuck a papercut in a vat of vinegar.
Looking at my hand, I barely recognized it as mine. It looks like the remains of a cat's scratching post and I don't think my other hand looks much better.
"Sit her up" Daryl moved his hand behind my neck, sliding it under my head while Lori moved hers under my arm behind my back, and Glenn grabbed my wrist, and my back.
"Slow" Daryl warned as my shoulders left the ground and more hands were on my back.
They helped me sit up but my ribcage protested severely. Even breathing hurts. I couldn't turn my head more than a centimeter or two without sharp pains deterring my efforts from looking to the left.
I can already feel the bruises forming on my arms and back. I think I landed on a rock...or a boulder.
"Where does it hurt?" Lori asked. I gave her a 'really' look and she sighed. "Everywhere, then"
"Can you stand up?" Carol asked. I tried to nod but I'm not entirely sure I did, to be honest.
Daryl lifted my arm over his shoulders and Glenn followed suit on my other side. My whole back is almost numb, but I still felt their arms lay across it and it hurt.
Daryl put his other hand on my stomach, taking just a little more of my weight but a little goes a long way. It was enough to get me on my feet.
Standing hurt, even though they did most of the work, and miraculously I think my legs are okay. I'm surprised I didn't snap an ankle or something.
It's a miracle I didn't break something— as far as I know.
How high up was I? 10— 15 feet, maybe 20.
I pulled my hand from Glenn's shoulders and held my side, where my ribs are now throbbing like something's trapped under my skin, trying to get out. That is not a pretty visual.
"Can I?" Lori carefully took the end of my shirt.
I nodded, and she lifted my shirt up where I had hit the branches and from the looks on their faces, I'm guessing it doesn't look good.
"Think you can keep going?" Daryl asked, almost mumbling.
"Uh— is that a good idea?" Glenn eyed my ribs. I don't dare look down. I can feel it, that's enough for me.
Out of sight, out of mind, right? I dearly hope so, cause my back is starting to burn.
"We can't exactly stay 'ere" He's got a point. I can barely see Daryl out of the corner of my eye but I think he's looking around.
I squeezed Glenn's shoulder, even though it stung and nodded, to let him know I'm fine to go on.
All things considered, this could've been a lot worse.
Sweet honey mustard...I could have died from that height. If I'd hit that rock(if it was a rock) any other way than I did…
Yet I don't even have a broken bone —as far as I can tell. I've had broken bones before, they don't all feel same but pretty damn close.
It took a moment to get my walking sorted out before Lori picked up my backpack, and we kept moving.
Every time someone moved to help me, I didn't let them. Maybe it's just my own stubbornness talking but I can walk, I don't need help.
I stayed in the middle, just behind Glenn and Daryl since I can't turn my head. At least I did for awhile, at some point I found myself walking in the back again.
It got a little easier to move, I think it was just getting adjusted to the new bruises I've got that slowed me down. Kinda like building muscle, you've gotta tear it and wear yourself out to get stronger.
My legs are fine, my eyes are fine, and there's nothing we can do about the injuries I do have, there's no reason not to keep looking.
I think I've got a massive bruise on my hip though. It's hindering my step a little.
If a walker died every time Daryl glanced back at me, we could all sleep soundly for the rest of our lives.