Beauty. That's what Molly was currently taking in. There were fields as far back as you could see, their view only broken by rows of trees that surrounded the owned land. To the left, a road slithered between two acres of green land, arriving at the traditional American farmhouse. A large barn sat a good few hundred yards from the house, it's old paint chipping away.
Molly suddenly felt a wave of envy wash over her from head to toe. To have been welcomed onto the farm must've been amazing. To even have been able to grow up on and live on the farm must've been something special for the people who did own it. Amid the barn, amid the house, moves the unseen wind. It moves her hair and sea of summer grass all the same. It was absolutely breath taking and untouched by the world. If she could wish for peace within this human body and all around, she could wish for no more.
For a moment or two, she had forgotten why she had the privilege of setting foot within the land of the farm, a harsh intake of breath coming from above her tore her from her daydream as she looked up at Daryl's face.
"You good?" She asked Daryl who seemed to be growing weaker with every step he took.
"M'fine." He mumbled, using the little strength in his hand to squeeze her shoulder that was one of the main reasons he was even upright.
"I see the R.V!" Sophia loudly exclaimed from Molly's other side, her hands gripping the straps of her backpack as she grinned at the distanced R.V. "You did it Mr. Dixon!"
Molly chuckled at the enthusiasm Sophia displayed and she was right. Daryl had done it. Without him, they would never have been able to find the others and if they had, it would've taken much longer before she decided to start checking the farms. She knew when he was back to his old self he would deny ever being the one to find them.
"Someone's coming..." Sophia trailed off, clearly sounding slightly anxious as to why a small cluster of people were running at them as though they were about to be tackled.
Molly couldn't help but snort at the four men moving towards them. It really was a sight to behold. Whilst Rick and Glenn looked to be perfectly fine, cleaner then she had last seen them the same couldn't be said for T-Dog and Shane.
Though they were equally as clean, the two were breathless, T-Dog supporting a bandaged arm while Shane looked as though his right leg needed medical attention days ago.
"I know you're not that excited to see us." She spoke up when they came to a stop before them. "You could've walked."
"Andrea said she saw a walker." Rick said, eyeing Daryl slightly apprehensively.
Molly raised a brow, looking down at Sophia who was already looked up at her with a frown of her own. Sure, Daryl looked much worse than he should be looking, but why would she be helping him if he was a walker?
"Who Daryl?" She finally asked. "Nah he's just having a bad day is all… Forgot to shower this morning." She added, much more sarcastically than she would have liked. "We kinda need that doctor guy that lives here to look at him... Like, now?"
"Whe-What… You're here?" Rick stuttered over his words as he looked from Molly to Sophia. "What happened to you?"
"Oh, sure! I'm more than willing to tell you but, can this not wait?" Molly asked impatiently, gripping Daryl's waist as though trying to show the men what the problem was.
"You gonna pull the trigger or what?" Daryl finally groaned out, his eyes zeroed in on the way Rick was gripping his gun hat was held tightly in his hand.
As though finally realising what he was doing, Rick was quick to holster his gun, apologising almost instantly. "Let's get you all to Hers-"
Molly felt a harsh gust of wind blow against the side of her face. It was so rapid and rough that it made her wince and cower away. For a moment, Molly froze, her whole form seizing up as she felt the heavy weight that was all but laid on her disappear. She forced her eyes open, hearing Rick shouting and waving his arms around at something behind him.
"M-Molly!" Sophia exclaimed, reaching out to grip at the back of her shirt.
"Daryl?" Molly mumbled, her heart beating anxiously in her chest. She dropped to her knees, looking the still man over. "Daryl?" She tried again, reaching her shaking hand out to press two fingers to his neck.
She breathed out when she felt a pulse which was quickly followed by the man groaning. "I was kiddin'."
"Molly, let us help him." Rick seemed to cool down when he noticing that Daryl was alive. He reached down, gripping one arm while Shane grasped the other and together, the two men began to make their way up to the farmhouse.
Molly gripped Sophia's hand, following the men closely. Her heart was beating abnormally against the inside of her chest. She found it difficult to breath as she stumbled, trying to keep up with them.
Panic was an odd feeling. Though she knew Daryl was alive and had a good chance, it was still possible that things could go side-ways. the feeling that bubbled inside her was something she hated. The feeling of panic was never welcomed by anyone and yet was felt in so many scenarios. Molly tried her hardest to keep the panic from over pouring within her.
Molly and Sophia caught up to the men when the familiar blonde had ran down to meet them.
"Oh my god!" Andrea cried, running full speed at them. "Oh my god, is he dead?!"
"Unconscious, you just grazed him." Rick spat, pushing past her.
Despite the need to stick with Daryl, Molly turned her burning eyes on Andrea who had the decency to look away. "I-I the glare from the sun! I'm sorry! I didn't se-"
"You didn't LOOK!" Molly found herself shouting towards the end of her statement. "How the fuck do you not see two other people?" She monitored to herself and Sophia. "Talking about Walkers as though you can't see two people ALIVE! If you would've killed him…"
"You would've hated me I know, I'm so sorry!"
Molly shook her head, gritting her teeth. She leaned forward, her face all up in Andrea's despite being of a smaller height. "I would've killed you." She muttered, making sure Sophia couldn't hear her.
Andrea froze as though she had just been told the scariest news of her life. Molly wasted no time sticking around and was quick to grip Sophia's hand, moving to follow after the men in the direction they had jogged off in.
For a split second. her heart beat abnormally. To her recollection, she could never remember saying that she would kill some one. She had never said it as a joke either. However, she didn't have long to think about it when a loud cry rang out into the open.
"SOPHIA?" Molly felt the girl's hand slip from her own as she ran, full force to her mother who was openly crying when she welcomed the girl into her arms.
And suddenly, for the first time since she had made the split decision to run after Sophia, Molly felt as though she could breath. She let out a deep breath, finding herself suddenly at peace and rolled her tensed shoulders.
Her head fell back and her eyes fluttered closed. The sun basked her in all it's glory, the fresh air feeling as though it was a drug she wasn't used to. Molly breathed in deeply, holding for a few seconds before letting it blow out her lips.
Finally, she had succeeded.
"Wha-!" She squeezed out, jolting when someone threw themselves at her.
"Oh, thank you! Thank you so so much!" Molly grimaced slightest at the thanks, not really wanting it for doing something any person would've done.
"Don't mention it…" She trailed off, wrapping one of her arms around a sobbing Carol. "I'm sure you would've done the same." She said half heartedly. Whilst she knew Carol would look after Jacob, should it come down to it, she wasn't so sure the woman would follow her son into the unknown like she had done Sophia.
"You kept my baby safe." Carol muttered when she finally pulled away from Molly, wiping at her eyes with a tissue she pulled from her pocket. "I don't think I could ever repa-"
"You don't have to." Molly was quick to tell her, smiling softly as she looked to Sophia who held her mums hand. "She kept me safe too." The young girls eyes lit up at the fact. "Now, I don't mean to be rude but where's my son?"
"I'll take you to him." Carol looked much more cheerful as she grabbed Molly's hand and began to lead her across the green grass and towards the parched R.V.