The group of survivors followed Rick down the stairs. He had them group into pairs and explained his plan to get them all in the truck.

"You can't seriously still have feelings for my little brother."

Merle whispered to Ferret, they were trailing at the back of the group per Rick's conditions.

"That's none of your business."

The man chuckled and laid his hand on her shoulder.

"Look little miss red locks, he's family so I figure this whole thing is my business."

Ferret jerked her shoulder away from him and snapped.

"You're just mad that I was there for him and you weren't. Oh and you're jealous that I picked him over you."

He huffed angrily and twisted the girl around, slamming her into the wall. She let out a sharp squeak.

"Don't talk about things you don't know about."

His anger quickly shifted to something else as he played with a strand of her messy hair.

"As for being jealous, heh a little cunt like you? I could make you mine anytime I wanted."

He continued to pin her down and moved his face in closer. Panicked, Ferret squirmed in place. It was the roughest kiss she had ever experienced. It was anything, but love. Finally letting go of his grip he smirked at her shaken appearance. Flash backs to her teenage life raced through her mind.

"What's wrong sweet stuff?"

The red haired beauty covered her face it was red and soaked with tears. Her body shook, and she dropped to her knees.

"Merle you wouldn't understand."

The boy scoffed and without a word he kneeled near the girl. She didn't react at all she just stared at the night sky and continued to cry.

"Daryl..."

"Is he making you cry? Boy don't know how to treat a woman."

He rose up and started to storm off. With worry Ferret jerked up from her position, her legs caved and she grabbed Merle in an attempt to save herself. The two landed into the lush grass, Ferret lying on top of him.

"He didn't do a thing...I-I'm in love with him and I can't tell him."

Merle's body seemed to become tense. Her tear filled eyes met his rough demeanor. She was momentarily stunned when he embraced her tightly.

"I know how that is."

She was puzzled; this was so out of character for her love's troublemaker brother. The girl decided to stay silent and let it all out while she had someone by her side.

"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger."

She whispered it under her breath as if she was convincing herself.

"Alright we're moving out."

Rick signaled the group to meet around the exit. She double checked her belt for the knives she had newly received.

"Go!"

The truck was in sight, but the walkers soon took notice of the group. No one wasted time, it was a race. The drooling and snarling of the creatures still terrified her, she tried not to look at them and keep her eyes on the goal. All of the sudden she heard a desperate grunt from behind her. Stopping in her tracks she saw Merle fighting off three or four of those things with much trouble. Without a moment's hesitation she turned around and pulled out her daggers.

"Sissy no!"

She heard the cry from her sister and then a few worried noises from the rest of the group.

"Merle duck!"

He didn't listen, with a frustrated huff she tackled one of the biters to the ground and shoved her knife through its skull, a sick moist noise made her cringe. Turning herself around she kicked another in the gut and drove the other knife through its eye socket. He had taken care of the others, but more were approaching.

"God damn it girl!"

Fear started to cover her face; she couldn't pull the daggers out from their resting places. Jerking and pulling made no budge; she had dug them too deep. She felt herself being lifted off the ground before she realized what was happening. Merle carried her close to his body and ran for the truck. A flush blush crossed her face, he smelled like an older man's cologne and cigarettes. Finally they made it, into the bed of the truck. Seconds later the car zoomed off back into the forest they had come from.

"My weapons…"

"You could've gotten bitten trying to pull those things out with your weak ass body!"

Merle scolded the girl like she was a small child. She ignored him and peered into the window of the truck and gave her little one a smile of success. Rinoa waved happily and tears welled up in her eyes. No one seemed to want to talk, everyone was on edge.

The truck started to slow as an RV and other people came into view. Everyone hopped out of the car and made their way over to the camp. People hugged each other and clamored happily. Rinoa took her sister's hand, but Ferret was unfocused, she scanned the unfamiliar people for her one and only.

"Where's my brother?"

Merle was talking to older man wearing a fishing hat of some sort.

"Went out to hunt for food, should be back soon."

Everyone seemed to break into their own mini groups, until they all noticed the new comer.

"Who's she?"

"This is Ferret and her little sister Rinoa, we found her while we were gathering supplies."

Rick placed a hand on Ferret's shoulder.

"Can we play with Rinoa?"

A little blonde girl and a brown haired boy scurried over, probably excited to have a new playmate.

"Would you like to play with them sweetie?"

Rinoa glanced up at her sister and nodded.

"You all stay within sight alright?"

They agreed and ran off giggling.

"Guess who just brought dinner for everyone?"

Ferret nearly fainted; his voice was something she craved for so long. From the moment they were forbidden to see each other, from the moment she was sent across the states to live with her grandparents.

"D-Daryl!"

She started to tremble and her eyes fogged up with tears.