Eve's POV

I sighed, staring at the red cloth nailed to a tree.

I've made it all the way to Rick & Shane's grid, and not a damn thing— not so much as a feeling of going in the right direction.

My grid is twice the size of everyone except Daryl's. If I haven't found anything, she probably never made it out this far, and I don't know if that's good or bad.

I scratched my neck and wiped the sweat from my forehead.

I'm not giving up. Not yet. It's just— ...it's hard not to lose hope of finding her alive at this rate. If at all.

I shook my head and ran my tongue over my dry lips. I should've brought a water bottle with me. I'm gonna be dehydrated by the time I make it back to the farm.

I don't think I've ever felt more dejected to have finished something in my entire life.

Aside from a few years ago when I ate two entire pizzas in a half hour. Those I regretted finishing but I more than paid for it then.

What am I doin?... thinking about pizza, when I'm supposed to be finding a lost child.

Come on, kid...please be alright. Just hold on a little longer. We'll find you. I promise.

Abruptly turning, I began the trudge back.

Last I knew, things were going well with Hershel and his family, and letting us stay here but… I don't know what's going on right now. I still feel like we're swaying in the wind.

It could be because I haven't spent nearly as much time on the farm as I've spent combing these woods.

It's definitely the safest place we've been so far. Massive sight lines, wide open areas, water sources, woods, plenty of food and resources. Even some defensible positions. The safety isn't in question.

It doesn't feel stable. And I'd like to say I don't know why, but I've got a few ideas. And they all start with one person.

Daryl's POV

"Daryl...wake up. You have to get up. Get up! Daryl, wake up!"

Sunlight streamed against my squinted eyes.

After a hazy moment, I came back to where I am but there's no one else here. Not unless ya count the two walker bodies on the ground by me.

I could'a sworn I heard somethin'. There ain't nothin' but trees, bushes, and dirt.

I laid back, looking at the sky before I pulled myself up.

My side pulled and ached as I sat up, and I could feel the blood running down my skin. If I don' take care a this I ain't gonna make it back to the farm.

Stripping off my shirt, I folded it and used it to stop the bleeding from the hole pulling out the bolt left.

I glanced around again while tying the knots, like I was expectin' someone to come outta the trees but no one did.

I don't know why or who I was expectin' to see but what matters is they ain't 'ere.

"Son o' bitch was right" Only person who's gonna help me, is me.

I grabbed my crossbow and hauled it over my shoulder as I stood. I went over to the downed tree in the edge of the water and sat down, pulling the squirrel from earlier off my belt.

I splashed my knife off in the water, and cut it open.

I stabbed my knife into the wood in front of me and dug through the squirrel, popping pieces of it into my mouth.

I licked my fingers, looking up at the ridge but somethin' at the base caught my attention. I reached around me, checking for the doll and sighed. Musta fell when I stood up.

I finished the squirrel, pulled my knife out of the tree as I stood and picked up 'er doll; securing the doll in my waistband.

I took the shoelaces from one of the walkers and tied 'em together before cutting the ears off the walkers and stringin' 'em together.

I put my knife away and put them around my neck. One less thing to worry about now. I'll be just another walker to any that come stumblin' by.

I grabbed another stick, striding determinedly to the mountain side I've been tryna climb all damn day.

If I fall again, this time it better kill me.

Eve's POV

I trudged up the farm's dirt road, heading into camp.

I see Andrea and T are back, and Shane & Rick— everyone except Daryl's already back from their grids.

Somebody better have some good news today.

As I got closer, T-Dog looked at me and I searched his face. He shook his head and I looked at Rick and Shane. Neither noticed, as Rick's busy glaring at Shane from a distance.

My fingernails dug into my palms.

Damnit!

I kicked a rock as hard as I could, sending the grey pebble soaring into the side of the RV.

Everyone turned my way, but I couldn't bring myself to form an apology smile, so I walked away, harshly rubbing at my head.

I didn't mean to scare anyone but God— we're running out of time. Every second she's out there alone, her chances of surviving go down.

It's already been too long. If we don't find her within the next 3 days, we're never going to.

If she hasn't found food or water, or shelter by now, she's already dead. And if she has found those things but the food or water made her sick, she won't be able to keep going on by herself.

Jesus— I hope Daryl's had more luck today.

I pulled out my hair tie and ran my hand over my head, through my hair.

Where is he anyway?

He's probably staying out longer. He does have a horse, he can cover more ground than the rest of us(on foot) combined.

I stormed into my tent, not bothering to close it and tore my shoes off with a level of frustration I haven't had in a long time.

My hair fell over my cheeks, dangling in front of me as I sat down, resting my elbows on my knees.

What are we gonna do if we don't find her?

"Eve?" a hesitant voice drew my attention to outside my tent where Carl was standing, looking at me warily.

I let out a breath I didn't know was stuck in my chest and gave him a tired smile.

I scratched my neck, motioning for him to come in. He hesitated but took his shoes off and sat in front of me.

"You don't have to worry you know. We're gonna find her."

I looked at him and an honest smile spread across my face. I ruffled his hair.

Reassurance is supposed to be my job, kiddo.

Carl squinted to the side of me, "Why's there a bandaid in your hair?"

I looked down and huffed that section of my hair away from me, scowling at it as it drifted back down.

Here we go again.

I tried to untangle the sticky contraption but after two minutes of watching me struggle Carl scooted forward, "I got it"

I let him push my hands away and take over trying to get it out. This little sucker is really tangled.

While he did that, I awkwardly reached for my backpack and dug through until I found my nail clippers. I might as well take care of all this while I'm just sitting here.

I was almost finished clipping my fingernails and Carl's got it mostly untangled but I gotta say, this is the last thing I expected to be doing today.

He's doing better than I was though.

"What're you doing?"

I looked over/through my hair, at the opening where Glenn was standing, watching us.

"She's got a bandaid stuck in her hair."

Glenn started laughing and I flipped him off before realizing Carl is present and quickly retracted my finger.

Damage done, he's already giggling.

"Aha!" Carl pulled the little devil free and Glenn cheered holding out his hand. Carl high fived him, then me.

Carl got up and put his shoes back on, and I reached for my own, pulling them on less angrily than I'd taken them off, and we all exited my tent.

"Oh uh, Lori and Carol are cooking dinner in the house for everybody." Glenn turned back to us.

Oh good, I'm starving. I haven't eaten all day(I think. Sure feels like I haven't).

I nodded, giving him a pat on the shoulder and a thankful smile.

Speaking of everybody, Daryl should've been back by now. Where is that hunter?

I went over by the RV and got on the roof, where Andrea's keeping watch.

I picked up the binoculars next to her and gave a brief smile before scanning the treeline.

Half an hour passed by and I've been pacing a trail in the RV's roof.

He should be back by now. Something doesn't feel right.

He should've been back before me, he's got a horse.

Did something happen? He's Daryl, what could've happened? He's still human.

I looked at the edge of the forest for the umpteenth time in the last five minutes.

"Would you please sit down? You're burning a hole in the floor." Andrea pleaded, motioning to the chair next to her.

I chewed my bottom lip before sitting but it wasn't two seconds before my leg began restlessly bouncing and my eyes flickered to the treeline once again, scanning for anything moving.

"You're really worried about him aren't you?" I glanced at Dale who came up next to the RV.

I didn't answer but I can't shake this.

It's been too long.

I got down and grabbed Dale's wrist without thinking, making him jump. I checked his watch before looking at the sun.

That's it, I can't take this any longer.

Abruptly walking away, I checked my hand gun's clip before grabbing my jacket out of my tent and pulling it over my shoulders.

"What are you doing?" Glenn jumped up from his seat by the firepit as I pulled my night vision goggles out of my backpack and pulled the strap over my neck.

"I'm going to look for him." I started running for the treeline, knowing full well if I don't, someone will try to stop me.

Rick was right there in camp. I have to get away before he can talk me outta this— and I do believe he's capable of that. It's his damn superpower.