As they walked back to camp, Brady couldn't help but reflect on the past few hours. She had just opened up to Daryl in a way she had never had with anyone before. Despite her initial reluctance, she found comfort in his presence and the weight on her chest had lifted ever so slightly. She had to admit, it helped.
The hunting had been a welcome distraction, and even though they didn't talk much, she appreciated the quiet companionship. It was a far cry from the way she used to feel about hunting - she used to be bothered by it, but now she found it oddly therapeutic.
Memory: First Time Hunting With Daryl
Brady and Daryl made their way through the serene wilderness, the rustling of leaves, and twigs the only sound breaking the peaceful silence. It'd been a couple of days since they arrived at the cabin. Despite being paired up, Brady could sense Daryl's preference for solo hunting. Her upbeat demeanor had the tendency to grate on his nerves, but they had become friends nonetheless. But Rick insisted everyone pair up these days.
As they walked, Daryl broke the silence, "You ever been huntin' before?"
Brady nodded, "Yeah, my dad used to take me to go hunt prairie chickens when I was younger."
Daryl grunted in response, clearly unimpressed. But Brady knew there was more to the story. Hunting had never been her thing, she was a meat eater but had never killed for her food.
As if reading her thoughts, Daryl held up a hand, signaling for her to be quiet as a bunny hopped into view. He nodded for her to take the shot, but as she aimed, Brady couldn't bring herself to kill the innocent creature. She missed intentionally, unable to ignore her conscience. The bunny ran off.
Daryl's expression turned sour, "If you don't wanna kill, just say it, and don't waste my time."
Brady felt dejected, but it didn't last long as they continued on. She caught sight of a squirrel up in a tree and asked Daryl if she could use his crossbow. "I promise I'll actually aim for it this time," she joked.
Daryl raised an eyebrow. "Only if you're willing to kill it," he said, knowing full well that Brady had a soft spot for cute little critters.
Brady laughed. "Okay, maybe not. But can I at least pretend to be a badass with your crossbow?"
Daryl chuckled, despite himself. "You're something else, you know that?"
"What, you don't like my bubbly personality?" Brady teased.
Daryl shrugged. "It's not that. Just not used to people being so...optimistic all the time."
Brady grinned. "Well, life's too short to be anything but upbeat, right?"
He rolled his eyes. He caught a few squirrels and told her to make herself useful by caring them back.
As they made their way back to the group, Brady felt a wave of nostalgia wash over her. She longed for the simpler times before everything had gone to hell. Gathering up the courage, she turned to Daryl and spoke up, "Hey, thanks," she paused for a moment before adding, "Big bro," teasingly. She had tried to call him that back at the prison but had been met with a swift rejection. To her surprise, Daryl simply rolled his eyes but didn't object this time, and Brady felt a small sense of victory.
"Anytime," Daryl replied with a small smile, and Brady could see the sincerity in his eyes.
As they emerged from the bush, they were met with the sight of their group, all packed up and ready to move. Upon seeing them, the group quickly pointed their guns in their direction.
Without missing a beat, Daryl raised his hands in mock surrender, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. The group lowered their guns, realizing it was just Daryl and Brady returning from their hunting trip. They fell in line with the rest of the group.
Rick gave Brady a once-over, and she sheepishly returned the gesture, feeling embarrassed about her outburst earlier. Man, she knew she owed him and Carl an apology, but she was too mentally drained to do it now. She had talked enough for one day, and her mind felt lighter for it. She even noticed her back didn't ache as much as it had been, making a mental note to have someone take a look at it since she couldn't see it herself.
Daryl spoke briefly with Rick before taking the lead, the rest of the group fell in line behind them. Rick advised everyone to stick close together, and they moved forward in relative silence, with only a few whispers. Brady wiped her tear-stained glasses and retrieved her bag from Maggie, thanking her before walking alongside her in a comfortable silence. Maggie could sense that the burden on Brady's shoulders had lifted slightly, and she felt grateful for that small relief.
It didn't take long to hear in the distance, a desperate cry for help shattered their silence. Brady's heart raced with anxiety at the sound, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of fear. The idea of walking into another trap was not something she wanted to entertain. Rick's face tightened with caution, and he quickly assessed the situation. But Carl's unwavering determination to help urged his father to take action.
Despite her reservations, Brady followed closely behind as Rick took the lead. The group moved cautiously, each step filled with uncertainty. The woods were dense, and the sound of the cries made it difficult to pinpoint the direction they were coming from.
Brady unconsciously gravitated towards Daryl's side, a fact that didn't escape his notice. As they neared the source of the screams, they saw a priest quivering on a boulder, hemmed in by a pack of walkers. Rick, Carl, Carol, Michonne, and Daryl sprang into action, taking out the five walkers with ease.
Brady couldn't help but roll her eyes as the priest cowered on the ground, retching in front of Rick. From the corner of her eye, she saw Daryl scratch his head in confusion. It didn't make sense to any of them - after two years of living in this world, how could anyone still be so afraid of killing walkers? Everyone eyed him suspiciously.
As Gabriel introduced himself, Rick peppered him with a barrage of questions about weapons, walker kills, and human kills. The priest appeared appalled by the interrogation, but he answered truthfully, claiming that the word of God was his only protection. Brady rolled her eyes, again, at his response, finding it naive and unhelpful. She didn't trust the man, but then again, she didn't trust many people these days. She was already getting tired of this day.
Gabriel's Church:
After clearing the church, it became apparent that Gabriel was the only person there. The group searched the premises, finding an office with a couch where he slept, and a corner littered with empty cans. Despite the lack of any obvious threats, Brady remained on edge. She found herself sticking close to Daryl, and although this was typical behavior for them, it felt different now. While Daryl inspected the room and walls, littered with children's drawings, Brady sifted through desk drawers, but all she found were a few pencils and old scriptures. Nothing of use.
Brady took a seat on one of the pews, the wooden bench creaking beneath her weight. She had never been much of a churchgoer, only tagging along when her grandma took her when she was little. She let out a long sigh and closed her eyes, relishing the rare moment of stillness. They were planning to stay here for the next couple of days, searching for supplies and waiting for the big red guy, who she had yet to interact with, to fix up a bus. It felt like the first time in forever that she could truly stop and rest.
The rest of the group continued to pepper Gabriel with questions, but Brady's mind was elsewhere. She was lost in a haze of exhaustion, her thoughts muddled and her body craving rest. Despite the midday hour, she struggled to keep her eyes open. She tried to focus on the conversation around her, but it all seemed distant and unimportant.
As the drowsiness threatened to overtake her, Brady fought back. She shook her head and rubbed her eyes, but it was no use. She was too tired to resist. Just as she felt herself slipping away, she was jolted back to reality by a sudden movement. Something had hit her shoulder, and she instinctively reached for her weapon.
But it was just Daryl, settling down beside her. His presence was a balm to her frazzled nerves, and she let out a small sigh of relief. She smiled gratefully at him, and he responded with a nod, silently urging her to rest. "Sleep," he murmured, she didn't want to, but at the same time, she really did. Brady felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her. She leaned her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes, finally succumbing to the much-needed rest she hadn't been able to properly get.
Daryl had mixed feelings about Gabriel, but he knew they needed to rest and regroup. It was the perfect opportunity to gather supplies and regain their strength. The others were already preparing to scavenge for canned goods in the nearby town, and Daryl planned to join them. He looked down at Brady, her petite frame curled up on the pew, her face peaceful in sleep. Despite her tough exterior, she looked vulnerable, almost childlike. She hadn't been sleeping well lately, and he could see the exhaustion weighing heavily on her. He hesitated for a moment, wondering whether he should wake her and tell her that he was leaving, but decided against it. He gently laid her down on the pew, making sure not to wake her, before getting up to join the others. As he turned to leave, he caught Carol's amused expression.
"What?" He grunted.
"Oh, nothing." She smiled knowingly. Daryl knew Carol had a way of reading him. He wondered if she could see the way he looked at Brady, with a sense of protectiveness and care, more than likely.
Most people had made it outside already but Daryl noticed Carl standing there with Judith on his hip, watching intently. Despite knowing that he shouldn't interfere with whatever had transpired between Brady and Carl earlier, Daryl couldn't help but feel an urge to protect them both from any further conflict while he was away.
Without missing a beat, he approached Carl and looked him directly in the eyes, "She didn't mean to yell," he said.
Carl's response was just as level-headed as Daryl expected. "I know," he replied, indicating that he held no ill feelings towards Brady. It was clear to Daryl that Carl possessed a maturity far beyond his years, and he respected the boy for it. Feeling relieved, Daryl gave Carl one last nod before turning his attention back to the group. That was easy.
"Make sure she rests properly," he said before giving Rick a nod signaling that it was time to move on. Rick engaged in a brief conversation with Carl before the group set off towards their next destination.
AN: Not the most exciting but it's there.