"We can't go back that way," I said breathlessly as I broke through the last of the bushes. I bent over, my hands on my knees, gasping for breath. I felt a steady stream of blood flowing from my wrist, where I had snagged myself on a sharp thorn.
"Walkers?" Rick asked.
"What else?" I gasped. I stood upright, pressing my hand firmly on my wrist.
"You bit?" Daryl asked.
"No, cut my wrist's all," I sighed, showing him to settle his nerves. He pulled out his bandana and tied it firmly around my wrist.
"Don't need ya bleedin' all over," he muttered.
I said nothing, just looked around for Scout, who was nowhere in sight. I whistled softly and waited. I heard nothing.
"Where the hell did that mutt get to," I muttered as I pushed away from the men, whistling again. This time, I heard a familiar bark, followed by a low, painful whine. A few moments later, Scout came limping out of the bush, his side torn almost clear open.
"No," I whispered, falling at his side. He whined and looked up at me with sad, pained eyes. "I'm so sorry, Scout," I whispered, stroking his head softly. He collapsed into my arms, his breathing ragged. I pressed my face into his soft fur, my heart breaking for the millionth time since the apocalypse began.
"Katie, we're losing light," Rick said firmly. I looked up, but was surprised to see Daryl coming between us. He knelt next to me and stroked the dog's head.
"T'was a good dog," he said softly. I nodded my head and took a deep breath before pulling my hunting knife out of my boot.
I leveled it with his head, but couldn't bring myself to make the cut. Scout twitched in my arms, howling softly. His blood spilled out all over me, but I didn't care. This was my best friend we were talking about. In the short time I'd known him, he'd given me so much strength it wasn't even funny.
"Shh, I'll do it," Daryl said softly, turning me so I was no longer holding my dog. I heard another whine, then nothing. Complete silence. Arrow whined softly, before tossing his head, indicating that we didn't have any time to lose.
"We'll have to circle around the herd," I said softly, standing, my hands shaking. "And hope we don't run into anything that wants the deer as much as we do." I took the ropes and tied it around the horse's midsection, making a rugged, makeshift harness. I tied the deer carefully to the rope, before taking off my jacket. I wrapped it around the deer's midsection in hope that it would save the precious skin.
"Daryl, lead the horse. Rick, go up a ways and try to lead us in a straight line. I'll bring up the rear," I commanded. I didn't flinch when Rick shook his head and started to argue, instead, I simply sighed and mounted the horse.
"Forget it, I killed it, I'll bring it home," I spat. I kicked the horse into a slow trot, ignoring Daryl's impatient calls. The horse grew tired quickly, his pace slowing significantly the farther we walked. After a while, I sighed and got off his back, allowing him to rest. He grazed on the dying grace, his ears pricked as he listened to the sounds of the nearby walkers.
"Told ya to wait," Daryl said breathlessly, scaring me half to death.
"Sneak up on me one more time, Dixon, and it'll be your ass we're eating," I snarled. He cocked an eyebrow, a tight smile forming on his lips.
"Really are a spitfire, ain't ya?" he teased.
"Shu'up," I muttered.
"Rick's sorry, ya know," he said softly. "He ain't used to bein' bossed 'round by a girl."
"Yeah well, I kept my people alive and intact out here 'lot longer than he did. We didn't have enough men to pull the weight. Us girls, we kept things runnin' smoothly," I spat. "So sick and tired of people still thinkin' gender makes a difference. I got more balls than half the men you've got back there!"
"Whoa, chill," he chuckled. "Don't argue with ya there."
I growled under my breath then turned back to Arrow. "He's tired," I muttered, rubbing the horse's flake. "If we run into trouble…"
"We won't. Rick's up ahead clearin' a path for us," he smiled. "C'mon."
We continued in silence. The only sound was that of the horse's hooves hitting the dirt and the deer scraping across the ground. When we cleared the trees, I could see Michonne, Glenn, Maggie and Rick taking down Walkers, keeping us free from attacks. I smiled and slapped the horse's flake, urging him to pick up speed. That was when I realized Daryl was no longer following behind me. I let the horse get ahead before turning back. I found Daryl leaning against a tree, breathing hard.
"Daryl?" I called softly. He put up a hand, stopping me in my tracks. He keeled over, his hands on his knees and he emptied the contents on his stomach onto the ground. Panic rose in my chest as I came up beside him, slinging his arm over my shoulder. Even as weak as I still was, he was weaker.
"Arrow, straight forward," I called to the horse. He seemed to nod his head as he kept going towards the gate where Carl waited.
"What happened?" Rick called, looking towards us.
"Dunno," I called back. "Keep us clear," I added as I struggled to support Daryl's weight. He groaned and slipped away from me, his knees giving way.
"Crap, Daryl, c'mon, ya just gotta make it to the gate," I pleaded. He looked up at me, his eyes full of fear. I gingerly touched my hand to his forehead. He was burning up. Worse than he had been for some time now.
"Rick!" I called as loudly as I dared. Glenn and Maggie were closer. Glenn and I lifted Daryl to his feet and carefully started walking forward, while Maggie provided us with enough cover to clear the field. We were almost at the fence when the herd turned towards us.
"Carl, let the horse in!" I shouted over the moans and growls of the Walkers. Maggie took over my position as Angel tore through the fence. Back to back, we fought them off, circling our friends without a single word.
Breathless, we managed to take out enough walkers to allow us to reach the fence in one piece. Once inside, I sank to my knees, breathing hard, the events of the last hour finally catching up with me.
"Easy, Katie," Angel said softly, her hand on my back.
"M'fine," I said softly. "How's Daryl?"
"Hershel's got him, Glenn and Maggie got him up in C again," she said. She stood over me while I took deep, even breaths. I felt my heart finally slow and breathing becomes easier. I looked up and saw the walkers clawing at the fence, hunger apparent in their eyes.
"Les' go," I said softly. Angel nodded and helped me to my feet while Rick tended to the horse. He had moved the deer so it was far enough from the fence. In that moment, I had no concern for it. I just wanted to sit down and breathe.
We made it into the cell block just in time to hear Daryl empty his stomach again. I winced at the sound, my own stomach turning just at that alone. Angel led me towards the back corner, where I sat down, for once without my faithful friend at my side.
"What happened out there?" she asked, motioning to the blood that still covered my pants and shirt. "I know you hunt cleaner than that."
"Scout got bit and tore up…" I whispered, unable to keep the sadness from my voice. "I don't even know how it happened. He was always so careful."
"Well than it's a good thing Carl found a few puppies down in the tombs this morning, huh?" she smiled sadly.
"Why was Carl in the tombs? Was he by himself?" I almost snapped. The last thing we needed was the kid running amuck all his lonesome when there were still walkers in the prison.
"He was looking for supplies. And no, I was with him," she chuckled. "Nice to see your motherly instincts are still intact. Want to see the pups? They're pretty cute."
"Whatever," I muttered. I didn't look up until I heard the familiar yaps of puppies. To my surprise, she was right, the puppies were adorable. I looked at them for a moment, before gasping.
"What?" Angel asked, her eyes widening as she took one of the three puppies from Carl.
"Those aren't puppies," I said softly. I took the pup from her, running my hand down its back. "They're wolf pups."
"No way!" Carl said excitedly. "Can we keep them?"
"They're young enough to train," I thought out loud. "And wolves are hardy. They'd be great at tracking and hunting."
"Not that we'll need to go out any time soon, with that deer you brought in!" Angel said happily.
"Yeah, yeah," I muttered. I looked at the dark little pup in my arms. I stood up and walked over to Daryl's cell. Hershel was still hovering over him. The pup in my arms began to squirm until I set her down on the floor. She bounded towards Daryl, her tail tagging.
I watched in amazement as she sniffed his hand, which was hanging over the bed. For being a wild dog, it seemed almost unbelievable that she would be so friendly.
"Is that a wolf?" Hershel asked me in a soft tone. I nodded and watched as the pup licked Daryl's hand before sitting on the floor beside him, her ears pricked.
"Looks like she's already got that loyal streak," I muttered. "How is he?"
"His fever spiked. What I don't understand is why. Or what's causing it in the first place," he said, a troubled look on his face. "We've tried everything. It's like one minute he's fine, the next, he's half dead."
"Lovely wording, Hershel," I muttered. "I'm going to try and get more medicine tomorrow," I added. "I'll take Angel with me. We'll go a few towns over and see if we can't find some more saline. I have a hunch as to what's causing his fever though."
"What?" Hershel asked, his eyes sparking with interest.
"Cancer, infection, lupus, Hershel, the list is endless. Let's just pray to whoever's listening that it's not cancer. We can't treat cancer," I said in a hushed tone.
"It ain't cancer," Daryl muttered. He looked at me with scared, sad eyes. "It ain't. Can't be."
"Daryl, anythin's possible," I whispered. I knelt down next to him, my hand gently stroking his cheek. "But don't you worry none. I'll find somethin' to take the fever back down, okay? I promise."
"Why do you care so much?" he asked, his tone almost childlike.
"Because I care about you, you idiot," I said gently. I planted a kiss on his forehead before standing and walking back out of the cell. The pup remained still, her eyes on Daryl's hand.
I was aware of Hershel following me, his eyes sad as he motioned for me to follow.
"If it is cancer…" he said, his tone worried.
"If it is, then it's all a matter of time," I whispered. "But I have this feeling…" I said softly.
"What kind of feeling?"
"I've seen this before. I don't remember where or when, but I know I have. Deep, deep down, I know it," I sighed.
"How'd your mama die again?" he asked gently.
"Stage four carcinoma. She found out three months before she died," I shrugged.
"Is that why you suggested cancer?" he asked, concern crossing his face.
"No. I wasn't around when my mama got sick. I was off doing drugs…Couldn't even sober up for her funeral," I sighed sadly. "I suggest cancer, because we're looking for the cause. You can't just look for cancer. 'Specially now."
"You sure about going for this run tomorrow? You're still weak," he said softly. I could see the true fatherly instinct kicking in.
"Thanks for looking out for me, Hershel, but right now, Daryl needs something to take that fever down or it's gon' kill him. I can't watch that happen. I wasn't aware or lucid when my daughter died, but I am now. I sure as hell ain't about to watch a fever claim another person I care about," I said sternly, determination and pride dripping in my voice.
"You have to be careful, Katie. You can't afford to get hurt again," he said softly.
"I know."
I picked up one of the bigger pups, a round, almost jet black boy. I held him in my arms as I walked through the prison, out into the yard. I saw Carol cutting the deer up, the skin draped over a clothes line.
"Hey there," she called softly. She saw the concerned look on my face. "Daryl any better?"
"No," I sighed. I stroked the pup's face. "How's the deer coming along?"
"Good, good," she nodded. "It'll be ready in a few hours, I'd assume. Making stew tonight, smoking some of it for jerky, ya know?"
"Sounds good," I nodded, walking over to where the intestines laid. I picked up a small handful and offered it to the pup. He ate eagerly, his tail thumping against my arm. "Looks like lil' Hunter here likes it," I chuckled.
"I still can't believe Carl found them. How old do you reckon they are?" she asked me.
"About ten weeks or so, I'd say. More 'en old enough to start training," I smiled.
"So you're keeping them?" she asked, stroking the pup's ear. "Wolves, who knew!"
"I am. They'll make great hunters. Might be our saving grace this winter," I nodded.
"Where're you off to?"
I turned to face her, a sad smile on my face. "I need to wrack my brain until I come up with a liable explanation as to why Daryl's fever just won't break."
"Good luck," she said sincerely as she turned back to her work.
I sat against the overturned school bus, the little wolf cub in my lap as I watched the Walkers crowd around one side of the fence. As I watched, a thought finally dawned on me. It made sense. It all made sense.