Chapter 8: Searching


KPOV

~13 years ago~

I was at school when I heard the school bell ring, I packed up my things, said goodbye to my teacher and ran down the stairs. I could see mommy and daddy waiting for me. They were waving to me, daddy had his cop outfit on and mommy was wearing a bright smile. They were both happy. Today was my birthday.

Running to them, they couched down to hug me and pick me up. Dad spun me around, gripping me tightly and kissed my cheek softly. Mommy giggled and pecked my lips softly, when we got in the car we sang along to songs and reached our home. Slipping out of my seat, we got inside and I found out there were family members here, even Shane was there and all to surprise me.

After receiving my presents, I thanked everyone and placed it in the pile I had of presents. Most were dolls, toys and clothes. Mommy had got me what I asked for and I was thankful for it. When people started to leave, it started to get quiet and soon everyone left. Mommy had just finished cleaning when me and daddy were getting to the last page of one of my favourite books.

Daddy slowly slipped me off his lap to sit on the couch and wandered off into the kitchen, mommy sat down next to me, a free space to the left side of me and this was when daddy came in. He walked up to me, holding a small box in his hands and gave me a warm smile. "Here baby girl...this is for you," he tells me as he handed me, it was wrapped up in pink and purple stripped wrapping paper. "Happy birthday," he tells me softly and this made me smile at him.

Taking it, I started to carefully unwrap the paper, peeking inside I saw it was still a box. When the paper was finally off, I held another box inside my hands and looked at it puzzled. "Open it," daddy encouraged me as mommy sat beside me, her hand gently rubbing my back soothingly.

Opening the box, I gasped. It was the same necklace I got daddy for when he was a cop. Tracing my fingers over the engravings I smiled and looked up at daddy. His smile and eyes warm as mommy leaned in and kissed my temple. "My Kitten...my daughter," I said out loud and pulled the necklace out, smiling at it as I felt daddy's fingers lightly graze mine.

He took the necklace from me, making me give him my back and looking up at mommy's happy face. Her hazel eyes gleaming as she watched me and daddy. Daddy gently placed the necklace around my neck and clasped the ends together. Holding the flat circle, I gently touched it and smiled when I felt what was on the back. 'Love RG.'

"This is so that you can wear it and always remember that...we love you and...no matter where you are...I'll always find you," daddy tells me as I turn to him his eyes serious as he spoke. Flinging my arms around him, I whispered my thanks and held him tightly to me. My new necklace...my treasure.


Present day...KPOV

We were walking in the woods for what felt like hours, every step dragged on longer than what it should, at first I was speeding up and at the front, leading everyone. Now...I was slowed down, trailing from behind and keeping to myself. I saw Glenn look back at me and slow down, catching up to me.

Glancing at him, he looked at me concerned as he spoke to me. "Kat...are you okay?" he asked me and I just clenched my jaw at his question. That's...a really stupid question to ask.

"Thank you for your concern Glenn but...don't take this personally...I don't want to talk about my emotions right now. We should focus on looking for Sophia and to keep our minds set on getting to the RV before dark," I tell him as I moved a little more angered, getting faster as we sped up.

"Okay...I'm sorry," Glenn apologized kindly and we kept walking. No one else tried to ask me any questions and we soon reached the RV. When we got there, Dale asked where the others were and this was when Glenn spoke up for me. Informing him of everything that happened, leaving Carl being shot last which made me inhale deeply as I tried not to think of it.

"Shot? What do ya mean shot?" Dale asked us concerned for my baby brother. Worried as to how this could have happened. If only we had the answers Dale...if only.

"I don't know, Dale. I wasn't there. All I know is this chick rode out of nowhere like Zorro on a horse and took Lori," Glenn explained as he climbed over the barrier. I was carrying my things and the backpack mom had given me when she ran towards the horse to climb onto it.

"Almost let her take Kat too," Daryl added as we all climbed over the barrier that stopped the cars from driving into the woods.

"You let her?" Dale asked us confused, looking at me and with eyes of uncertainty, of worry. I just looked away from his gaze, not wanting to talk about my baby brother out there right now.

"Climbed down out of my asshole, man. Rick sent her. She knew Lori's name, Kat's and Carl's," Daryl told him quickly as Daryl walked off, I stood there for a moment before going towards the ladders, climbing up and picking up the binoculars.

"I heard screams. Was that you?" Dale asked us but looked towards Andrea as she made her way up the hill and over the barrier.

"She got attacked by a walker. It was a close call," Glenn spoke as he dropped the bags on the floor, Carol leaned against the barrier and Dale turned to watch Andrea walk away.

"Andrea, are you all right?" Dale asked but all I heard were sighs and then the door of the RV open, the RV shook a little while Andrea walked inside and moved in it a little. I kept looking out in the distance, unable to move and I kept looking out. The sun was setting and every second that past I felt more and more disconnected to Carl. The eager need to be with him was driving me crazy.

From the distance I could hear them talking about me, Dale and Glenn at least. Talking about how I hadn't moved, not even a flinch of a second as I stood there, staring out into the distance. Watching the sun go down and listening to the others do whatever they wanted to do. My mind wouldn't stop thinking about my baby brother. How I would do anything to be with him right now.

I then heard footsteps climb up the ladder, not turning to see who it was, I stayed still and looked towards the distance. Watching the sky turn different colours as the time passed. "Kat...I can't imagine what you're going through but...you need to move...to eat," Dale suggested and I then heard another pair of feet walk towards me.

"It wouldn't do you or Carl any good if you don't eat something, he's not moving from wherever he is," Carol spoke as they stood at either side of me. My arms wrapped tightly around my chest, one of my hands raising lazily to grasp at the necklace I held between my fingers tightly. "He's in good care especially with your parents there," she tried to calm me further.

Sniffling, I sigh and look towards the distance. "I...I'm worried...you know? Well...who wouldn't be worried about someone they love...someone they care about. Carl he...he's my best friend...my little man. I-..." my voice began to crack as my eyes started to water slightly. "I know that...wherever he is...I'll find him. I always will," I say and give the sun a nod. Staring into the distance, I felt Carol's hands gently rub my back and Dale lower his head from the corner of my eye.

"I just...I need time alone," I hint at them softly and this made Carol give me a small hug before she turned and left. Dale reached out and patted my shoulder before he too left me alone to my own thoughts. It was getting darker as every moment passed. Stay strong Carl...I'll be there soon...I promise.

"I won't do it. We can't just leave," Carol said as we all began to suggest moving towards the location the girl gave us. To go to Carl...to be by his side.

"Carol, the group is split. We're scattered and weak," Dale informed her but she just looked at him, about to burst into tears and crumble right in front of us.

"What if she comes back and we're not here? It could happen," Carol told us hopeful, she seemed to be hopeful even after all that had happened and I couldn't blame her.

"If Sophia found her way back and we were gone, that would be awful," I agree as I thought of me in Carol's position and if Carl was out there. Sadly Carl is out there and...he could be...no. He can't be. He's my fighter. He's going to pull through. Just like dad.

"Okay. We gotta plan for this. I say tomorrow morning is soon enough to pull up stakes. Give us a chance to rig a big sign, leave her some supplies. I'll hold here tonight, stay with the RV," Daryl planned out for us, giving himself the position of keeping lookout in case Sophia returned.

"If the RV is stayin', I am too," Dale said admirably. Him and that RV at joined at the hip. Wherever the RV goes...he goes.

"Thank you. Thank you both," Carol said softly, smiling at them both which made Dale smile sadly and Daryl give her a small nod.

"I'm in," Andrea agreed as she looked at all of us.

"Well, if you're all staying then I'm-" Glenn began but was soon cut off by Dale.

"Not you, Glenn. You're going. Take-take Carol's cherokee," Dale instructed as Glenn looked around angered and annoyed.

"Me? Why is it always me?" Glenn questioned, disbelief coloured his face as he looked at each of us.

"You have to find this farm, reconnect with our people and see what's going on...but most important, you have to get T-Dog and Kat there. This is not an option. That cut has gone from bad to worse. As for Kat...she needs to be with her brother. T-Dog has a very serious blood infection. Get them to that farm. See if they have any antibiotics...because if not, T-Dog will die, no joke," Dale spoke which made me look at him insulted. Daryl moved away from us to grab a stash that was in his brother's motorbike.

"Dale. You don't get to make my decisions for me. I'm staying, I'll go in the morning to my family. Right now...I want to be here if Sophia comes and if not...to help find her if we can before heading to that farm. That is my choice and I am stubborn when it comes to my decisions," I growled at him as he raised his hands in silent surrender.

"Keep your oily rags off my brother's motorcycle," Daryl said as he threw Dale's cloths to him. "Why'd you wait till now to say anything? Got my brother's stash. Crystal, x- don't need that. Got some kick ass painkillers," Daryl said as he dug in the bag, throwing one bottle to Glenn. "Doxycycline. Not the generic stuff neither," Daryl pointed out as he passed it to Dale. "It's first class. Merle got the clap on occasion," Daryl told us which made me watch as Daryl walked away from us.


It was late at night, T-Dog and Glenn had already left to locate the farm. We were trying to get some sleep in the RV, or at least Daryl was while I just sat there, opposite Andrea as she fixed her gun over and over again. Carol was sobbing. I kept staring out the window and hoped for sunlight to come. To get back to Carl and to be with him.

"Imma need my clip now," Daryl told Andrea while he got up and picked up his crossbow. "I'm gonna walk the road, look for the girl," Daryl said as Andrea offered him his clip, this made me look up at him and Carol stop crying for a moment. Daryl looked behind him, at Carol and gave her a silent nod.

"I'm coming too," I spoke as I grabbed my things and left the RV, Daryl had already exited the RV and we were walking towards the barrier. This caused Daryl to turn to look at me and Carol to come out with Andrea.

"I'm going for a walk. Shine some light in the forest. If she's out there, give her something to look at," Daryl ordered and informed Dale who was sat above the RV looking down at us all.

"You think that's a good idea right now?" Dale questioned us unsure that this was the right thing to do. I can't sit on my ass any longer, non of us are getting any sleep and I don't want to have to think about Carl for a minute longer.

"Dale," Andrea warned him and this made me smile at her sadly, Daryl giving me a nod as he began to walk towards the barrier and crossed it, following his lead and pulling out my flashlight.


RPOV

It had been hours since the shot, Lori was with me and Kat was...well...she was with the others. Carl's shot made me worry, panick and tremble with fear. There were moments I was hazy, weak and most of the time terrified. When Kat didn't show up I felt sad but...she's doing what she had to. Only Lori could fit and Kat's doing what she has to in order to find Sophia.

"Hey," we heard Glenn's familiar voice as we all heard footsteps lightly come towards us, looking up I half expected to see Kat standing with them but was saddened to see she still wasn't here. Maybe she had to go get something to eat and will be here in a second...

"Hey," I answered back weakly, looking down at Carl as his pale and stiff body laid on the bed. Hershel checking our son and Lori gripped tightly onto my hand.

"Um, we're here, okay?" Glenn spoke, unsure what to say as we all stared at the frozen Carl. Lifeless...silent...unmoving. It was a hard thing for a father to see. Whether it be Kat or Carl...it was difficult to see.

"Thank you," Lori thanked them quietly, it was dark and getting warm with the hot night air. We were sweaty from the heat and the tension. T-Dog and Glenn stood there unsure what to do or say.

"Whatever you need," T-Dog said kindly as they were both about to turn around and leave us there.

"Where's Kat?" I asked them and they both turned to look at me, unsure what to say as they both stayed silent and looked between each other then back down to Carl.

"She's...going to be here tomorrow. She's holding up the others at the highway, keeping them motivated and strong," Glenn said and this made both me and Lori nod. Always doing the right thing...even if it almost kills her. Inside or out. She does what's right and suffers whenever we're hurt or in possible danger. I'm proud...but sad. She should be here but...she knows what she's doing. I won't blame her for not being here.


KPOV

"You really think we're gonna find Sophia?" I asked Daryl as we walked side by side in the woods, dark at night and only source of light was our flashlights.

"You haven't got that look on your face the same as everybody else. What the hell's wrong with those people? We just started looking," Daryl told me as we walked along the woods quietly, as to not attract attention from any nearby walkers.

"I know but...well, do you?" I asked him, curious as to what he thought and believed. He's always so quiet and doesn't talk much...at least not to me.

"It ain't the mountains of Tibet. It's Georgia. She could be holed up in a farmhouse somewhere. People get lost and they survive. It happens all the time," he tells me and this made me think of the time Shane found me, when dad went looking for me on that cold night when I was a child.

"She's only 12," I state and he just looked at me, our eyes caught each other's glance and made me quickly shy away from his gaze. My eyes on the ground we were walking on, the torch lighting a path that I stepped upon.

"Hell, I was younger than her and I got lost. Nine days in the woods eating berries, wiping my ass with poison oak," he tells me and this made me look at him curiously, my brows furrowing confused as to where he was going with this story.

"They found you?" I asked him and this made him shake his head, he looked to me and he quickly looked back down. His grip on his crossbow strap strong as we continued to walk silently.

"My old man was off on a bender with some waitress. Merle was doing another stint in juvie. Didn't even know I was gone. I made my way back though. Went straight into the kitchen and made myself a sandwich. No worse for wear. Except my ass itched something awful," Daryl told me which made me stifle a giggle.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, that is a terrible story," I tell him and start laughing quietly, unable to hold it in at the thought of Daryl as a young boy lost in the woods, using poison oak to wipe his ass. I looked to him, to see him watching me, a small smirk growing on his lips as we continued to walk and search for Sophia.

"Only difference is Sophia's got people looking for her," he tells me which made me think it over. It's true. Just like people looked for me when I was a child. Daryl...he just...told me something personal about himself and it...actually makes me feel special. He...made me forget about Carl for a second.

"I call that an advantage," I admit and this made him nod at me, walking deeper into the woods soundlessly. Please be safe...Sophia...Carl. God...please let them be safe...and alive.

While walking deeper into the woods, we heard rustling in the trees and bushes which made both me and Daryl quickly tense. I pulled out my machete and Daryl aimed his crossbow at where the sound came from. Gradually we sneaked closer to where the sound was echoing from.

We came across a tent camp site and then heard gurgling coming from the tree. "What the hell?" Daryl said surprised when we both looked up to see a walker dangling from the tree. Hung up on the tree. "'Got bit. Fever hit. World gone to shit. Might as well quit,'" Daryl said as he read out the note that was left on the tree.

"Dumbass didn't know enough to shoot himself in the head. Turned himself into a big swinging piece of bait...and a mess," Daryl said as we looked up at it. The thought of it's chewed up legs and swinging, awful smelling body dangling made me want to gag. "You all right?" Daryl asked me when he noticed me cough and hold in any vile that wanted to come up.

"Trying not to puke," I admit as I held in my sick. Trying not to think about the man that was now dangling from the tree, not far from me who was now a walker dangling from a tree.

"Go ahead if you gotta," Daryl said as he turned his head a little to look at me, the thought of him encouraging me to throw up made me cough a little more, focusing on trying to get out of here and find Sophia.

"No, I'm fine. Let's just talk about something else for a minute. How'd you learn to shoot?" I asked him, trying to change the subject as I straightened up and saw him look back at me then up to the walker up on the tree.

"Gotta eat. That's one thing these walkers and us have in common," Daryl started to tell me while he changed the subject but then it went down hill from here. "I guess it's the closest he's been to food since he turned. Hanging up there like a big pinata. The other geeks came and ate all the flesh off his legs." he said as I looked up at the walker.

The sudden reek of dead corpse engulfed my nose and curling my back, I threw up a little and wiped at my mouth with the back of my hand. Groaning at how vile the smell and taste was in my mouth mixed with the rotting corpse dangling from the tree. "I thought we were changing the subject," I complained to Daryl who turned to look at me, he was tapping his foot a few times as he looked between me and the walker.

"Call that payback for laughing about my itchy ass," Daryl explained as he kept looking between my and the walker, finally turning his head to squint up at the walker.

"There wasn't a lot that came up," I tell him proud of myself enough to admit that. I could have thrown up a lot more, especially if I was thinking about Carl being shot and nowhere near me.

"Huh. Let's head back," Daryl said as he gave the walker a once over, then turned his back to walk towards the way we came.

"Aren't you gonna -?" I suggested as I felt too weak to pull off my bow and grab an arrow, especially not after me just throwing up. He stopped in his tracks and looked at me before looking up at the walker.

"No. He ain't hurting nobody. Ain't gonna waste an arrow either. He made his choice. Opted out. Let him hang," Daryl said as he looked at the walker, he turned his back and began to head back to the others. I just stood there and walked closer to the riled up, hung up walker in the tree.

"You worried about your brother? It's just a question," Daryl asked me as he walked up behind me, close enough for me to turn to look at him and see his kind and soft expression look at me. He seems sincere and curious as to what I'm thinking but...he's mistaken if he thinks I'm going to answer him easily.

I looked back up at the swinging walker who was trying to reach at me. Doesn't seem right to leave this guy to die up there like that. Not to leave him here like a walker decoration. "An answer for an arrow. Fair?" I asked him, his light blue eyes twinkled in this lighting which made me feel slightly...warm. He gave me a small nod and quiet hum in agreement.

"Weren't you worried about Merle being cuffed to that roof and when we found only his hand still there?" I questioned him back which made him stay silent in thought. He chewed at his inside cheek, his eyes scanning around, the floor, me and then back to the floor.

"Not much of an answer," Daryl tells me but shot the walker for me anyway. The struggling walker stopped moving, dangling from the tree silently and no longer having to suffer this stupidity. "Waste of an arrow," Daryl growled before we turned our backs and headed back to the RV.


DPOV

"You really think we're gonna find Sophia?" Kat asked me as we walked side by side in the dark woods. The flashlights were dimn but...they were good enough for what we were using them for. A simple guide so that we didn't stumble over ourselves.

"You haven't got that look on your face the same as everybody else. What the hell's wrong with those people? We just started looking," I stated, angered that people back at camp kept looking like we should give up and leave Sophia out here to die.

"I know but...well, do you?" Kat asked me, she was hopeful that things would turn out better which was admirable. She seemed curious as to what I would possibly say back.

"It ain't the mountains of Tibet. It's Georgia. She could be holed up in a farmhouse somewhere. People get lost and they survive. It happens all the time," I state but she just looked at me as though I was stupid.

"She's only 12," she stated to me, making me look up at her questioningly and this made us both look away quickly, her blue eyes were twinkling under this natural moonlight and were almost impossible to look away from. You say that but you know you're too pussy to admit you think she looks pretty.

"Hell, I was younger than her and I got lost. Nine days in the woods eating berries, wiping my ass with poison oak," I tell her, surprised I was so willing to tell her about my past before the apocalypse. From the corner of my eyes I could see her staring at me confused and curious as to this story I was telling her.

"They found you?" she asked me, making me shake my head and look up at her. I quickly looked down when she realized me looking at her. Her eyes soft and face glowing lightly in the moonlight. I kept walking as I felt my fingers grip tightly onto the strap of my crossbow.

"My old man was off on a bender with some waitress. Merle was doing another stint in juvie. Didn't even know I was gone. I made my way back though. Went straight into the kitchen and made myself a sandwich. No worse for wear. Except my ass itched something awful," I told her, slightly teasing and hoping it lifted the mood for her.

She's probably losing it with her brother being shot. Still...it seems so easy to talk to her about my past. About my family. I'm so worried I said something that could cause me to look like an idiot or that would make her hate me.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, that is a terrible story," Kat said as she held in a giggle, after her second sorry she began to laugh. It was light...airy. Like the sound of warmth and joy. It was a beautiful sound to hear. Her laughs and giggles were contagious in a way, making me smirk slowly at her momentary joy. Watching her laugh, she looked beautiful as she laughed, so carefree and...young.

"Only difference is Sophia's got people looking for her," I state when I thought about the girl out in the woods, alone and lost. We looked to each other but then back to the ground we were walking on.

"I call that an advantage," she tells me and this made me think of my past. That girl is going to be just fine. Just like her brother will be fine too.

While walking in the woods, we heard something move and it made me jump back a little. Aiming up my crossbow as I looked to where the sound was, lifting up my flashlight to get a better look and crouching as to not be spotted so easily. We slowly wandered closer to the sound, to make sure it wasn't a hidden Sophia or a lonely walker.

We came across a small camp site, enough for at least one person when I heard the rustling turn into growling gurgles. "What the hell?" I said shocked to find a walker dangling on a noose in a tree. "'Got bit. Fever hit. World gone to shit. Might as well quit,'" I spoke out loud, reading out the note the guy had left for anyone who found him like this.

"Dumbass didn't know enough to shoot himself in the head. Turned himself into a big swinging piece of bait...and a mess," I said as I examined the walker further, it was a male...he seemed...normal to say the least but he was dumb enough to forget that to not turn you had to destroy the brain. "You all right?" I asked Kat as I looked over to see her bending over, coughing as she tried not to puke.

"Trying not to puke," she admitted to me, making me turn to squint up at the walker that was dangling above us. It's legs were shredded, the mead from it gone and pieces of bones and muscles remained.

"Go ahead if you gotta," I tell her as I kept examining the walker. He seemed to have died and came back quite slowly, seeing as the flesh hadn't been chewed on while he was a walker but more as when he had died.

"No, I'm fine. Let's just talk about something else for a minute. How'd you learn to shoot?" she asked me trying to change the subject but...I'm way too stubborn for her to get out of not throwing up. Girl laughed about my itchy ass...I need to make her feel bad in some way.

"Gotta eat. That's one thing these walkers and us have in common," I say trying to make her think I was agreeing with her. The smell of rotting flesh reeked as the walker wiggled and swung the air around us as it tried to grab at us. "I guess it's the closest he's been to food since he turned. Hanging up there like a big pinata. The other geeks came and ate all the flesh off his legs." I informed her dully.

"I thought we were changing the subject," she said after she threw up a little, I turned to look at her and saw she was bent over, wiping at her lips and groaning at the smell of whatever smelt worse to her at this point. I looked back up at the walker, squinting at it and shining my torch up at it.

"Call that payback for laughing about my itchy ass," I state as I felt myself feeling bad about it a little. The girl just threw up...you're being such a jerk. You should of stopped when she asked you to. I kept glancing at her and then back to the walker, my feet shuffling from side to side as I watched her.

"There wasn't a lot that came up," she informed me, proud of herself as she said it. This made me look at her, giving the walker a once over with my eyes and turn my back.

"Huh. Let's head back," I say as I head to walk away, but she just kept her back to me and walked closer to the walker bait.

"Aren't you gonna -?" she asked me trying to indicate that I should shoot it down. Isn't she carrying her own bow and arrows? Why do I have to do it? Anyway...you did make her ill, maybe she's already sick enough of worry for her brother and you just made it worse. Asshole.

"No. He ain't hurting nobody. Ain't gonna waste an arrow either. He made his choice. Opted out. Let him hang," I tell her as I turn my back, about to walk off but deciding to go back to her and she stared up at the walker. "You worried about your brother? It's just a question," I asked her as she turned to look at me slowly.

"An answer for an arrow. Fair?" she suggested after she looked up at the walker than back down at me. Those bright blue eyes...her softly lit face in this moonlight. With this beauty men would crumble rocks for her. I gave her a small 'mmhm' and a quick nod in agreement. "Weren't you worried about Merle being cuffed to that roof and when we found only his hand still there?" she asked me.

This question in return made me deliberate. Chewing on the inside of my cheek as I looked to the ground to her, as she stared at me, watching my every movement and finally landing on the ground. Well...Merle did get stuck on that roof...alone and I was worried...I went to find him and he had no hand, little blood in his body and...I was still worried. Hell...I still am worried for him, wherever he is.

"Not much of an answer," I state but it was an answer enough. It would make sense for her to worry about her brother, he's blood and her brother. Family means everything these days. "Waste of an arrow," I admit when I shot down the walker and it finally stopped moving, I began to walk back and she slowly trailed behind me.


RPOV

We could hear the motorcycle approaching from inside and were sat by Carl's bed. "Fever's gone down," Hershel told us as we looked to Carl who had thankfully been saved by Shane, Hershel and the others who assisted in it all.

"Baby?" Lori called to him as he slowly started to squirm, clearing his throat as he got comfortable and started to wake up.

"Carl?" I called to him, my voice dry from the lack of hydration and worry that was caught in my throat. His eyes slowly began to flutter open and his bright blues looked up at us.

"Sophia? Is she okay?" Carl asked up at us, his eyes tired and his voice cracking a little from the amount of unknown sleep he had.

"Fine. She's fine," I reassure him as to not worry him. Right now he needs to worry about getting better, not about Sophia and...hopefully Kat found Sophia by now and we were all safe.

"Rest. We'll be right here, okay?" Lori told him gently as she looked to him, both of us were leaning over his bed, staring down at him, pleaded to see him alive and well enough.

"Okay," Carl agreed as he shut his eyes softly, his body slowly relaxing as I sank down onto my chair.

"They're here," T-Dog alerted us as we looked up and heard the motorcycle get closer, getting to our feet we rushed to the front door quietly, as to not wake Carl from his sleep.


KPOV

We had left Sophia a sign on the car, some supplies and I had asked Daryl if I could go on his motorcycle with him. He agreed which made me feel relieved. This way I can hop off and run to Carl.

When Daryl slowly started to stop, I got off and ran towards the house, seeing both dad and mom stood at the top of the stairs as they rushed towards me. "How is he?" I asked them panicked as I hugged them both tightly and quickly.

"He'll pull through, thanks to Hershel and his people," mom said stuttering, I could tell she had hardly any sleep. Wouldn't blame her, I haven't had a good amount of sleep either. Laying awake all night thinking of Carl.

"And Shane," dad mentioned as I looked to the people who surrounded us and my eyes landed on Shane. He gave me a small smile as he wore clothes that...didn't fit him or suit him at all. "We'd have lost Carl if not for him," dad told us and I went towards all of them to hug them, whispering my thanks to them.

"Thank God. We were so worried," Carol whispered to mom as they hugged, everyone giving my parents their hugs and small condolences of what happened.

"How'd it happen?" I ask them, wanting to know all the details of what happened to him. Curious and wondering as to what happened while I was away searching for Sophia.

"Hunting accident. That's all...just a stupid accident," dad tells me and this made me frown at him, I gulped a hard one that got caught a little in my throat as I walked towards the door. Without a word, I walked in and headed to find the room my brother was in.

Shivering, I opened the door to find him laying there, a bandage to his side and he was...so...pale. Lifeless...the only movement was the one of his inflating and deflating lungs. The sound of his light breathing filled the room and the smell of blood still lingered in the room of the operation they had to do on him.

I laid beside him, cuddling him to me slightly as I watched his angelic little face fast asleep. Calm. Like nothing happened over this small amount of time. With this time alone, I spent it just talking to him, whispering what I thought and how I felt to him. No one else had to know, just me...and his subconscious...


DPOV

I went inside to place my brothers meds inside the cabinets they had. To store them for safekeeping. When I heard crying and then looked inside a room to find Kat laying beside an unmoving Carl. She was crying as she caressed his face, stroked his hair and looked down at him.

"Carl...I was so...worried but...I knew I'd find you. I always will. I...I don't know what I would do without you. You're what keeps me going. You give me hope and without you I...I'd just be lost," she said as she cried. Her voice cracking a little from the pain she was possibly bottling up inside.

"I love you Carl and...you're my brother...my best friend. I've always been there for you but...this time I wasn't. I should have been here with you. If I wasn't here and you-...I wouldn't be able to live with myself," she cried out and placed a wet kiss on his forehead.

"I would have given everything to trade places with you when I found out you were shot. I don't ever want to see you suffer. I never have. I feel like I failed you...failed mom...dad. All of us. I'm sorry Carl. I'm sorry," she said and this was when I decided I had enough of prying into her business. Turning my back, I left her there to let out her emotions to her brother and herself.


KPOV

Stepping out, I found the others all either inside or out. I had said my thanks to each of them, to Hershel for saving his life. Patricia for assisting Hershel. Maggie for helping them with whatever they needed. Shane for getting what Hershel needed in order to save my brother and all that was left now...was Otis. We had all travelled to a nearby tree in their land and placed rocks into a pile.

I grabbed two, sniffled and bit back my tears. "I want to thank...Otis for...for saving my brother with his heroic sacrifice. If it weren't for Otis' sacrifice...Carl wouldn't be here...alive...today and...I know Carl would want to thank him too so...I'm going to place two rocks. One to say my thanks and the other to give Carl's thanks in his behalf," I state as I laid the two rocks onto the pile.

Mom and dad stood beside me as mom held onto my shoulders, gently rubbing my back to comfort me and I stood strong. "Blessed be God, father of our lord Jesus Christ. Praise be to him for the gift of our brother Otis, for his span of years, for his abundance of character; Otis, who gave his life to save a child's, now more than ever, our most precious asset. We thank you, God, for the peace he enjoys in your embrace. He died as he lived, in Grace," Hershel spoke in memory of Otis. "Shane, will you speak for Otis?" Hershel asked of Shane.

"I'm not good at it. I'm sorry," Shane denied them politely but the woman who I presumed was either his wife or partner cried for him.

"You were the last one with him. You shared his final moments. Please. I need to hear. I need to know his death had meaning," Patricia pleaded of Shane as Shane looked at her and then every one of us.

"Okay. We were about done. Almost out of ammo. We were down to pistols by then. I was limping. It was bad. Ankle all swollen up. 'We've got to save the boy,' see, that's what he said. He gave me his backpack. He shoved me ahead. 'Run,' he said. He said, 'I'll take the rear. I'll cover you,' and when I looked back..." Shane said as he began to limp towards the stone pile, placing one on the mountain.

"If not for Otis, I'd have never made it out alive. And that goes for Carl too. It was Otis. He saved us both. If any death ever had meaning, it was his," Shane told us the story which made some not entire believe it, mom and dad had faces which made me feel like doubting this story was true.


"How long has this girl been lost?" Hershel asked us as we all gathered around a truck.

"This'll be day three," dad tells him as he looked between all of us, the daughter of Hershel...Maggie started to walk up to us, a rolled up piece of paper in her hands.

"County survey map. Shows terrain and elevations," she informed us as she rolled out the paper onto the truck. Placing three stones on top of it to hold it down and to check it without it folding up on us.

"This is perfect. We can finally get this thing organized. We'll grid the whole area, start searching in teams," dad started to explain, confirming that this was going to be better. Neater.

"Not you. Not today. You gave three units of blood. You wouldn't be hiking five minutes in this heat before passing out," Hershel said as he spoke of dad. This made me feel a little guilty. I should have been here...for both of them. For all of them. For Carl, mom and dad. "And your ankle...push it now, you'll be laid up a month, no good to anybody," Hershel pointed out to Shane.

"Guess it's just me," Daryl said as he fixed his crossbow a little.

"No. Not just you, I can help," I tell him and he just stayed silent, ignoring what I said and looked at the map.

"I'm gonna head back to the creek, work my way from there," Daryl said as he looked at the map and showed us the way he would go.

"I can still be useful. I'll drive up to the interstate, see if Sophia wandered back," Shane suggested as he we all looked to one another.

"All right, tomorrow then. We'll start doing this right," Dad confirmed.

"That means we can't have our people out there with just knives. They need the gun training we've been promising them," Shane suggested, ensuring that this should be the time that those that don't know get the proper training they need.

"I'd prefer you not carrying guns on my property. We've managed so far without turning this into an armed camp," Hershel declared as he told us honestly how his place was. Guns were loud and if there are around here...walkers would come by and make us run away.

"All due respect, you get a crowd of those things wandering in here," Shane began to state, defending the chance of letting others use guns around here like it was his property.

"Look, we're guests here. This is your property and we will respect that. First things first...set camp, find Sophia," dad told us as he looked between Shane and Hershel. Me, Shane and dad placing our guns onto the map.

"I hate to be the one to ask, but somebody's got to. What happens if we find her and she's bit? I think we should all be clear on how we handle that," Shane suggested as we all looked at one another.

"You do what has to be done," dad tells us and I just nod simply.

"And her mother? What do you tell her?" Maggie asked, speaking up as she looked to all of us and the to her father.

"The truth," I tell them. The truth is better than a lie. Honesty is the best policy. Whatever you want to say about honesty and truth. Telling lies won't get anyone anywhere.

"I'll gather and secure all the weapons. Make sure no one's carrying till we're at a practice range off site. I do request one rifleman on lookout. Dale's got experience," Shane suggested, wanting to make sure that there was someone out here protecting us from any walkers getting towards us.

"Our people would feel safer, less inclined to carry a gun," dad tried to reason, after a few seconds of deliberation Hershel gave dad a firm nod of his head. "Thank you," dad replied which made us all start to separate into our own different paths.

"Daryl, Kat...You both okay going out there on your own?" Dad asked us as we all began to walk towards each other, dad was sat on the porch steps waiting for either of us to arrive.

"I'm better on my own...we'll be back before dark," Daryl hinted but then gave in when he looked at my face. He was studying it long and hard but I didn't waver.

"Give me a few minutes to go say goodbye to my family and talk to my parents?" I ask Daryl. He just gave me a nod and looked at me, up and down like he always did before he walked off to do whatever he wanted to do.

"Dad...I...I'm sorry I wasn't here for Carl...or you...or mom," I tell him but he just steps closer and shook his head at me.

"Kat...you had your reasons. I respect that. You did what a leader would do. Stay strong for the group and for those that were weaker. You did the right thing by staying there. What's important is that you're here now," he tells me as he looked into my eyes.

"Thanks dad...for understanding. I want to say that...I'm sorry for how I was acting I just...I didn't like that you were losing faith on us," I tell him and he nods.

"Tell me about it. You did what you had to make me see that. Thank you Kat. Your mom she...was having a tough time with Carl like this," he tells me. "She was thinking the same thing Jenner was. What Jacqui and Andrea were. You...you made me see what I had to. Carl did. He got shot from watching a beautiful, alive deer," he told me.

"There is always something to live for and...that chance of pulling through this...that's worth more than anything for me. You...your mom and Carl. You're all what matters most to me," he tells me and this makes me hug him tightly.

"I love you dad," I whispered to him. Holding him closely to me as I rested my head on his chest.

"I love you too Kitten," dad tells me as he held me just as tightly. The both of us stayed there, still and holding onto each other. I felt...better. Like things were going to be okay again.

I walked towards mom when she smiled at me and rubbed at my arms. "I heard...leaving already?" she asked me with a soft smile on her face. "I'm proud of what you did. As is your father. We're both proud of how old and mature you've gotten. You're a woman now...but you'll always be my baby girl," she told me as she kissed my forehead. Making me giggle at her.

Glenn suddenly ran towards us and claimed there was a walker stuck in a well. We rushed towards it to hear the hissing and growling coming from way down. The walker was...disgusting. Scales on it, fat and just plain disturbing to look at. "Looks like we've got us a swimmer," Dale said as he shone his torch down at it.

"How long you think it has been down there?" Glenn asked us.

"Long enough to grow gills. We can't leave it in there," I tell them.

"God knows what it's doing to the water," mom tells us.

"We got to get it out," Shane told us as we all examined the walker.

"Easy. Put a bullet in its head," T-Dog suggested.

"I'll get a rope," Shane started.

"Whoa whoa, guys. No," Maggie disagreed with them completely.

"Why not? It's a good plan," Glenn agreed with T-Dog.

"It's a stupid plan. If that thing hasn't contaminated the water yet, blowing its brains out will finish the job," I tell them all, keeping the basics of infection and contamination clear to them. Thank God I did biology.

"She's right. Can't risk it," Shane agreed with me when he stopped to think about it.

"So it has to come out alive?" T-Dog asked us.

"So to speak," Shane explained subtly.

"How do we do that?" Glenn asked as we all began to put our ideas forward.

"He's not going for it," Dale told us as we dangled the rope and a piece of ham on the fishing line. The walker ignored it and kept moving away from both of them.

"Maybe 'cause a canned ham don't kick and scream when you try to eat it," T-Dog tried to suggest to us which made me think.

"He's right. There's a reason the dead didn't come back to life and start raiding our cupboards," I agree and everyone looked up at me.

"We need live bait," Andrea said as we all looked down at the walker then back up to look at Glenn. Glenn was looking worried. He can't always do the risky work.

"I'll do it," I spoke up after a loud gulp, the rest of them looked at me and this was when I saw mom's eyes widen in shock and fear. She doesn't want me to do it but...she's not stopping me. I can do this. I've got this. I'll be fine.


What do you think? Should I continue? Can I have 5 reviews please? This way I can post another chapter as soon as I can! What do you think of Daryl and Kat's interactions so far? What do you think of the chapter overall? Super late so...sorry for the mistakes! Night guys!

Much love!

HeroJustInTime90 x