Hi to everyone. Thanks to all who have viewed and of course all to those who have reviewed. There is no pressure of course to review. Just read and enjoy all that is The Walking Dead. I do no own anything to do with The Walking Dead. The only thing is Anna and Samson etc.
Rick lowered his gun, looking around at them all. It was all so dreamlike to him, he felt numb and everything was in slow motion. Carol was sobbing down on the ground. Experiencing of losing a child is a form of grief no parent should bear. Daryl was trying to lift her up and away from the scene. He didn't want her to see Sophia like that. 'Don't look. Don't look" he muttered, trying to get a hold of her but Carol pushed him away and ran to the RV. Daryl stood up off his feet, looking straight to Anna; he stepped back a little, shaking his head. It wasn't right.
Anna was beside her father, crying, feeling the weight of all the grief pushing down onto her shoulders and trying to break her. Samson was sitting down beside her brother's head, whining. Animals aren't stupid; they know what is going around them. Anna has now lost all of her family, she was all alone and it scared the hell out of her. What is she going to do? Only Samson was a living thing from before when all of this shit went down and one of her only comforts now. Her heart was pounding, the beating sound vibrated in her ears, making them ring and a head ache formed in her head. The tears were streaming down her face; she wiped them away each time the fell down. Her cheeks left red raw.
Anna was trying with all she had not to sob out loud; she took big, deep breaths, to try and calm herself before it could start. Anna hated the feeling of sobbing when she cried; it made her feel weak and it made it all feel all more so real. All she wanted to be was to be brave and not sob, that's all. Was that so hard to ask? If Anna started to, that meant more of the reality would hit her and that is something she didn't want to feel at this moment. It was all a little bit too much for her to handle and it was overwhelming. Anna felt lost, hopeless.
Daryl knelt down beside her, Anna looked even smaller now and it was upsetting to see. He awkwardly put his arm around her shoulder and squeezed it, letting her know he was there. Truth is, he didn't know how to deal with it and this was the only way he knew how. That is all it took for her to break down, her walls came crumbling down. Anna threw her arms around his shoulders, knocking him to the ground. She buried her face in to his shoulder and the sobbing began. Daryl sat down on the ground with her. Anna started to find it hard to breath, her chest taut and throat closing tight.
"You are gonna be okay, Half Pint" Daryl gently pulled her out in front of him; put his hands on her cheeks. "Hey now, take some big, deep breaths for me okay. You gotta breathe, alright"
She focused on Daryl's eyes, trying to concentrate and to steady her breathing back to normal. The look in her eyes scared Daryl; the hope was almost gone out of them. Her breathing began to slow down, it became steady once again and the colour came back to her cheeks.
Daryl smiled, sadly and tucking a piece of hair away from her face. "There you are Half Pint. I'm not going to let you leave me that easily. I need someone to be able to cope with my grumpy old man temper" he joked. "No one else can handle it around here".
"They're gone and all of this is my fault. If I had of been out there sooner. Maybe I could have done something that would have helped them. It is my entire fault" she croaked. "I should not have run away that night. I should have turned back and helped them! They were only just turned. They were only just turned. Oh my god it is all my fault" she whispered.
"There is no way in any god damn hell this is any of your fault! I won't let you blame this on yourself. None of this is your fault; you gotta believe that darling for yourself. They would want you to do what it took to survive and to be safe" he replied, pulling her back into a hug. "I promise you I am not going anywhere without you. We are stuck with each other for life remember? Said so yourself."
"I am so scared now Daryl. I don't know what do anymore" she said soft, voice croaky, staring at him. Samson was whining, lying down next to her father's body now.
"You have me, if that counts for anything" Daryl laughed, pulling her in a little tighter into his side.
"You have no idea Daryl Dixon." Anna smiled, instantly feeling guilty and broke down crying again. He pulled her into his chest. "You have no idea." she muffled.
"You don't have to do anything at the moment. Give yourself some time to grieve, do what you have to do. You will get through it. We will hold a real nice proper funeral for you father and brother. Something they deserve for the good men they were and who they are to you." Daryl told her, smiling a little. "I will help you with whatever you want to do for them".
She took a big, deep breath and sniffing, wiping the snot coming from her face. He shook his head, taking a clean rag and passing it to her. "Why?"
Daryl pulled her flannelette jumper back over her shoulders. "Because you are my girl. Tell you the truth I don't have much left in this shitfull world. You are just about all I got".
Anna wiped her hand across her nose, pulling her legs up to her chest, playfully punching him "You know I will always be your girl Dixon".
"No need to thank me, Anna. It's what family does for each other. We will be moving your stuff into my camp later. That way you can get some peace and quiet away from every one. It gives you some time to yourself to get through all of this. "
She took a big, deep breath, wiping at her face. "Yeah, you got that right. There is so much going through my head right now." she muttered, putting her arms around herself.
"I need to go and see Carol for a minute. You gonna be alright out here?" he said to her, getting up off his feet, kneeling and put his hand on her shoulder.
"Yeah" she whispered. Samson came up beside her and crept as close as he could to her. He buried his nose in to her hand, sensing his owner was in distress and set his head down on to her lap. "I will be eventually. But not just right now."
Daryl turned around, walking away but was stopped by Carl, holding some blankets and Lori who was standing there nervously. Carl felt a little nervous under the narrowed and dominating gaze of Daryl. "I promised her I would be there to protect her. Her family deserves respect. They don't need to be out in the open like this"
Daryl looked at Lori; Lori smiled and nodded her head at Daryl.
"Go on now" Daryl muttered, tilting his head back to Anna.
Lori stood beside Daryl as they watched Carl slowly approach Anna. He tapped her shoulder and showed her the blankets. "Family is the most important thing to have in this world to have. You are family, Anna. Therefore your father and brother are family to us all. I'm sorry this happened to them. I really am".
This little boy made her heart swell, giving him a hug, tenderly touching his face. Carl was a little gem to have around for Anna. He was coping with it all a lot better than she was.
"You are an old soul, so wise and such a brave young man for your age. Thank you" Anna put on a brave face, taking one end of the blanket and going to the other end. Together they put the blankets over her father and brother.
"I made a promise remember? The same one you made with Daryl. You are stuck with me with life" he reminded her.
She smiled, an overwhelming emotion came over her and tears threatened to fall over her eyes. Anna put her hands out to Carl and on his shoulders. He smiled and put his arms around her to hug her. "He let you in on that little secret promise did he?" she whispered into his ear, peering up at Daryl who discreetly scratched behind his ear, smirking and shrugged.
"Everything is going to be okay, Anna. I know it is you seem to always find a way to make it all better, somehow. That is just who you are. You have something special about you that give people hope"
Lori smiled, looking back on at Carl and Anna. It is something else to watch her with Carl. "Anna sure is something extraordinary isn't she?"
"Yeah " Daryl muttered, stopping in his tracks and warily narrowing his eyes down at her.
Lori put her arms up in surrender "Now, I didn't mean anything like that, so you can relax a little sweet heart and you can stop sending those daggers my way, alright. All I was trying to say is that young lady over there has something extraordinary that a lot of people don't have in this day and time. Anna gives us all that little bit more of hope, kind of like a beacon in the dark that is surrounding us more and more each day. It is something bright to look at despite all of the gloomy stuff that is going on around us all. It is something that we all need right about now"
Lori scoffed to herself, fondly thinking "Anna has been here a short amount of time and she already has Rick going to her for advice than me or Shane now. I am happy he is at"
"Half Pint sure is poles apart from everyone else here that's for sure". Daryl mumbled as they got to the RV, looking at it and feeling a little daunted dealing with Carol.
"You ready for this?" he asked her.
"I don't think I'd ever be" she muttered.
Daryl gently walked into the RV. Carol was just sitting there, staring aimlessly out of the window. Lori came in to the RV, she looked up to Daryl. "They are out there and ready for you"
"Why? Why should I?" she muttered, hopelessly.
"Cause that is your little girl out there" Daryl whispered, feeling a little hopeless. "Anna is out there, lost and all alone too. She is going through the hardest time in her life, just the same as you are now. You can help each other through this" Daryl told her.
'Why does is it all matter now anyhow? That isn't, my daughter out there... That isn't Anna's father or brother; she is an adult and should know that. They are just some dead things, just rotting away and are just nothing." she muttered, looking up at Daryl. "My Sophia was alone in the woods and all this time. She didn't cry herself to sleep, she didn't even go hungry. She didn't try and find her way back. Sophia died a long time ago. Anna's family died out there and she has got to realize that she won't ever see them again. Anna is all alone in the world now and always will be. There is nothing in this world that can replace family. Not even you can, Daryl".
Lori bowed her head and left the RV. Daryl's rage rose in him, like hell he is going to let Anna think that. It wasn't right. Carol has lost hope; he picked up his gun and left the RV. Anna wasn't with her family. The sun was shining brightly down on to his eyes, wishing he had called her Ray Bans girly now. He shielded his eyes, scanning for the farm for her, spotted her digging graves on the outskirts of the forest, by herself. What was she doing by herself?
He walked over to the bodies of her family; he lifted up the blanket, looking at Matthew her twin was like looking into a mirror for Daryl. It was as if Anna was laying there on the ground and it made him feel sick. A shadow went over Daryl's shoulder, he looked behind and it was Rick. Rick nodded, kneeling down and helped Daryl tie the bodies up in the blankets.
They were walking to the edge of the forest, when Rick spoke up "I tried to get her to wait so we could help her dig the graves. But the Anna we all know didn't have a bar of it. She wanted to do it on her own terms".
Daryl knew her better "Once Anna sets her mind to something, there's no stopping her. She is too damn stubborn and strong willed for her own good" Daryl replied. "This is something Anna needs to do for herself. As much as I don't like it her doing this, she needs to do it for closure for herself"
Samson was sitting just beside a tree near Anna, keeping a wary eye on his owner, his eyes following her every movement. The sun was blazing down on to her even though the winter was coming, she felt hot. Anna knew she was coming down with something, but it didn't stop her digging the graves. She had to do it, they were her family and they deserved the respect of a rightful burial by someone of their own blood.
Daryl and Rick gently laid down the bodies of her father and brother. Daryl could see her hands were read raw, torn and dirt caked the skin. It had to be causing some sort of infection surely. Her hands were bleeding as well but she kept on digging. He got down to his knee, gently putting his hands on the shovel and put it on the ground. "Let us take over alright. At this rate you are going to tear your hands to shreds. And you are coming down with a cold or something too".
Anna put her hands up on the ground; they stung as the dirt etched further in to the wounds. She hissed, wavering a little on her feet as she tried getting out of the graves. Rick went forward, kneeling down, gently grabbed a hold of her wrists and helped her out of the hole.
"You need to rest" Rick lectured her, his eyes looking down to her. "Come on, let me help you Anna the same way you are helping me" He walked her over to a big tree with lots of shade. He handed her a bottle of water.
"You are stubborn aren't you?" Daryl took the clean rag from his pocket, tearing it apart. He took her hands, gently and wrapped them up. "We don't want your hands getting infected. We need to clean them and bandage them up properly later, and then you will feel better".
"Okay " she muttered, sniffling a little and wiping her nose with the back of her hand.
Daryl and Rick looked at each other; they knew when Anna wasn't right when she didn't fight against Daryl telling her what to do. Nor did she have any smart ass come back to whatever they said. She was so despondent, sitting there patting Samson but not actually patting him the way she normally would. Anna was just a shell. Her hair was limp, cheeks raw from the salt from the tears. The whites of her eyes were a little red.
Daryl and Rick finished the digging; Anna got up off the ground and stood by her family's graves. Daryl and Rick stood there solemnly, hands clasped together in front of them.
Anna cleared her throat, it feeling dry and scratchy. Panic began to set in. "I don't know what to say. What if what I saw is the wrong thing and stuff it up?"
Rick put his hand on her shoulder, he felt for her "Just speak from the heart; you will know what to say. It will be fine"
Anna nodded, tears brimming her eye lids and she took a big, deep breath and prepared herself "I am finding it really hard to say anything at the moment. I will always be looking up to you both and going to you for advice for everything. I am sorry I couldn't be there to help you both. I promise that I won't ever give up. I will keep on fighting and not let this "world" get the better of me. I love you both... I am so sorry" Anna leaned down and put the photo of them when they were out hunting and stuck in on a stick with a nail. Anna stood up, stepping back.
"If I may, Anna I would like to say something with your permission" Rick asked.
Anna nodded and Rick stepped forward. "I never got the opportunity to meet either of you... I wish I could have because if I go by anything of what daughter/sister is like, you both were good, brave and honest men. You will be proud of her. I will keep my eye on your little Anna".
Anna put her arm around Rick in a side hug "Thank you Rick. That was real nice for you to say"
"Meant every word" he replied, rubbing her arm and giving her a small peck on the cheek "You are a part of this group, don't you ever think on any day you are not".
"Let's go and stand for Sophia. Carol will need some support" she whispered.
"Carol won't be there" Daryl grumbled. "But you two go on ahead; I will be right with you. Need to do something out here first. Check out my traps".
Samson followed behind Rick and Anna. Daryl stood beside the graves of her father and brother. It unnerved him a little, the three all looked so much alike and it was like as if he was burying her. He stood there a little nervous, scratching behind the back of his neck and not really knowing what to say.
"Now I kinda feel real stupid talking to you both here right now. I give you both my word if it worth anything to ya, that I will do whatever it is I can to keep Anna safe and alive". He kneeled down and put down a Cherokee rose on each of their graves. "I can't handle losing anyone else. Hurts too damn much".
Everyone was standing in a line of a precession in front of the three freshly dug graves. Daryl and Anna were off the side a little away from everyone else. There was complete silence as everyone took all the grief in. People broke apart when Maggie came up to her, with Daryl standing behind with his arms crossed and keeping his eye squinting at Maggie.
"I just wanted to say I am so sorry about your father and brother. I know there isn't much I can say or do" she muttered, tears falling from her eyes. "But I am real sorry".
"You lost your family and friends today as well". Tears started to fall down Maggie's cheeks.
"Come here Maggie" Anna whispered and took her into a hug. "You start crying I will start crying. You should know how it goes with us girls".
"Sorry" Maggie replied, wiping away the tears. "I have been trying so hard not too".
Anna rubbed Maggie arms "It's okay. But sometimes you got to cry a little; otherwise you will find feeling like you are going to explode".
"You go on and be with your family. They need you right about now more than anything" Anna urged, rubbing her arms.
Anna got up from her knees after planting a small rose on the grave. It was just Daryl and Anna standing by Sophia's grave. She looked around to see if anyone was around and linked her hand shyly with his. "We will get through this. We have to. Not just for the people we have lost but for ourselves as well. If we don't have hope then what is the point of living" she whispered.
"Better go and get your thing so we can move camp away from all of these people" he told her, letting go of her hand.
"My father and brother would have had a camp nearby. We can go look for it; they will have supplies, guns and ammo. They would have wanted us to have it. Better off going to us rather than a random stranger or someone who doesn't deserve it" she stated.
"Yeah. Sure thing" he muttered, shyly and nodded to her. "You go on now and get your stuff. Meet you at the spot with the old building in the far paddock".
Anna slung her cross bow around her shoulder, clicking her tongue for Samson to follow her. She didn't have much of her own; a small tent, couple of blankets, her father's sniper rifle, photos and a bag of her own stuff. She gathered it all together, walked past the RV as Shane caught her eye walking to his car. Anna stared him down, apprehension in her eyes and not nerved by his glare. She wasn't scared by him.
"You alright Half Pint?" Shane mocked.
Anna gave him a pointed look, ignoring him and kept walking on. Shane wasn't happy he didn't get to her, proceeding to follow her.
"Oh that's right only Daryl is allowed to call you that" he taunted, trying to get under her skin. "You seem to be self-righteous and all. What I did saved Carl and Lori! Your father and brother would have ended up biting someone and turned them anyway. I saved people's lives today!"
Samson's fur on the back of his back was standing up as he began to growl at Shane, edging closer and closer to Shane to protect his owner. Anna made Samson heel, uncrossing her arms and laying her gun beside the car, walking to Shane. "Do you really think letting all of the walkers out of the barn did us any good? You have gone off the deep end Shane; you are losing parts of your humanity every second. Everyone is starting to see it for themselves. I know I did when Dale told me when you came back with Otis' gun and a chunk of your hair missing. And you have that look in your eye. I have seen that look in a lot of murderers in the ER. So don't you think I am stupid?"
"What are you going to do about it? No one around here would take your word over mine" he asked doing all the best he could to scare her.
"I don't have to say a word to anyone. Because you know what? You will have what is yours coming to you Shane and it will get you in the end. Guys like you always do! I can promise you that" she threatened.
'Yeah. Says the woman who has lost all of her family in one day. What does that say about you?" Shane laughed her off and walked away from her.
Samson was growling beside her, staring Shane down as he got in the car and drove off. "Easy now boy. We are better than him now. Come on, Daryl will be waiting for us at our new camp".
It was a long walk for Anna across the field. The wind held a slight chill to the air as it blew around her. First thing Anna was going to do when she got to camp was get her black leather jacket and her thin merino wool hooded jumper. Sweat began to bead on the sides of her face but she still felt cold. Samson ran ahead to Daryl, probably to escape her current mood.
Daryl looked up, his eyes squinting from the bright sun. Daryl knew her better when she was pissed off or annoyed. She had her eye brows scrunched together and was dragging her feet, kicking up dust from the dirt. He straightened himself up; setting aside his hand made bolts and got up to help her. "Need help there Half Pint?"
"Yeah" she muttered tiredly. "I think I do. I just seem to have so much stuff." Her arms were aching carrying all the way across the field. "It's going to take me a while to put up".
"No need to put a tent up. You can stay in mine, alright. It is big enough for the both of us with you being a short ass. The nights are getting colder with winter coming and all".
'Suppose so" she answered, sitting down on the leg and frowning.
"Uh huh. And this mood you are in wouldn't have anything to do with that douchebag Shane with would it?"
"Is it that obvious?" she asked.
"He is the only person who can get you to do that grumpy old woman face and that wrinkle in between your eyes" Daryl teased.
Anna sat down beside him "Nothing I can't handle".
"We are a team remember?" Daryl and reached into his bag and took out dressings, antiseptic cream and bandages.
"Sit." he told her, pointing down to the log.
He gently washed out the blisters and cuts on her hands. He watched her; all Anna did was press her lips together and sighing hard. He gently rubbed the cream in to her hands and wrapped her hands with the bandages. She stretched out her hands to get circulation going on. "You ready to get out there?"
Daryl scoffed, picking up his cross bow "Are you?" he joked.
Anna smiled, whistling at Samson and walked past Daryl "Someone has to show you how to track".
"Thin ice woman! Thin ice ya hear Anna Hendricks!" At least she hasn't lost her sense humour.
Together they tracked through the local parts of the woods "Their camp shouldn't be too far from where they were found by the pond. They only had their knives on them so everything else would be back at their camp".
Daryl looked to the ground and pointed along a line of rocks along the tree line "The tracks here are a little faint but that was because they were good hunters and trackers. They meant to leave these for ya didn't they?"
Samson bounded forward, sniffing the rocks that were randomly up turned. He looked up to Anna and tilted his head twice. She smiled, her hair falling over her face a little "It was them, they would leave this type of track for me when they started teaching me to track them. A person would be none the wiser if they saw this in the woods".
Samson dug a little at the rock and stuck his nose in the dirt. He barked and ran ahead of them both.
"They taught me well. While every little girl was obsessing over Barbie dolls, make up and dress ups. I was out learning how to catch and gut a fish. We even had father and daughter time with overnight hunting trips, helped them with the kill. One time, my dad passed on watching the Super Bowl where his and my brother's team were playing and he took me to a horse event. God that day was miserable. My horse played up the whole day, it was raining and cold. But he didn't mind one bit the whole day" she smiled at the memory.
She smiled, thinking of the happy thoughts about her father. Anna hopped over a log, with her arms in the air and Samson leaping to join her. Anna cheekily shot a nearby walker. Daryl scoffed, crossing his arms and pretending to be angry with her. "Bit cocky there aren't ya Half Pint?"
Anna rolled her eyes at him, drawing her cross bow up again and holding it in her arms ready to shot for anything. She jumped off the log, her feet landing steady. "My brother would call me his little big sister. I was born five minutes before him. But he always called me that".
"Two of you. How'd your father manage that?" Daryl joked, nudging her playfully with his elbow and one of his arms around her shoulder, to try and cheer her up.
Anna raised her eye brows, laughing a little "I don't know how he did it truth is told... That man had a heart of gold most of times but when the time called for it he would turn in to a lion when it came to his kids".
Daryl looked at Anna; scoffed "Now I know where you got that trait from" he mocked her.
Anna hit Daryl in the stomach; Daryl pretended to be hurt but then playfully pushing her away from him. She smiled, sniffing. Samson was whining beside her, Anna knelt down, patted him behind the ears. "We are close aren't we boy? Go on, see if the coast is clear for me won't you".
Anna was nervous to say the least; part of her didn't want to see the camp knowing they were so close to finding each other. Daryl kept his eye on her, she was fiddling with her cross bow strap and he knew that meant Anna was anxious.
They came to a clearing and there was their camp. She stopped in her steps, breathing fast as fear took over her. It looked like a total blood bath. Their tent was ripped open and the frame exposed. There were chairs torn to shreds and tipped over like if someone in a rush. The whole camp had been ransacked by someone. Samson was bobbing his head up, down and whining up to Anna. Daryl put his hand on her shoulder "I will go ahead and see if the coast is clear. Hide and stay back here until I give you the signal to come forward".
Daryl picked up a large rock off the ground and chucked it in to the area of the camp to attract any walkers that could be hiding. He looked around the camp, cross bow raised and ready. There was a large log that had blood spilled all across it.
Samson's nose nudged under his arm, his big brown eyes looking all around and he laid himself down on the ground. "It's gonna be alright boy".
Daryl turned, not all really surprised to see her there. "Didn't I tell you to stay back?" he whispered.
'Would you have waited if it were your brother?" she bit back.
Daryl looked behind his shoulder and Anna was staring at the blood on the log. Her cross bow was up and ready to fire.
'Whatever they were trying to find, they didn't. Look at the state of the camp; it is as if a tornado has torn through it" Anna wiped a piece of her away from her face; she smiled and got up off her knees. She looked around, trying to find the sign. Anna laughed, throwing her head back a little. Daryl got up himself, looking at her weirdly. She just rolled her eyes and pointed at some turned over rocks.
Anna ran ahead with Samson following ahead on the trail. Before Daryl knew it, she was out of his sight and ahead of him.
"Damn girl." he muttered.
She came to a stop, looking up high to a big over hanging oak tree. Daryl squinted looking up high and saw a few big bags hidden up in the tree. "People never look up".
"Ever since the world has been taken over by those dead things. We never had the majority of supplies or weapons close to the camp. It was a just in case policy".
Anna handed over her cross bow to Daryl and took off her flannelette jumper. He couldn't believe it. She was going to climb the tree. "Sure climbing that tree is a smart idea with your hands?" he asked her.
She just rolled her eyes, braided her hair nice and tight. Anna pulled her gloves out of her pockets, waving them at Daryl cheekily "I have been climbing trees as long as I could remember. This is an easy one compared the rickety old tree back at my parents' house. It's like fifty feet high and looks like it has spikes all over it. You had to be careful for two reasons. Be careful where you placed your foot because you could place it on a weak branch or misplace your footing and you could fall to your death".
He shook his head, outing down both of their cross bows, kneeled down and cupped his hands. "Least let me give you a boost to get up there. Any more injuries you are going to fall apart on me".
Anna laughed, putting her foot in to his hand, the other to the tree.
"1... 2... 3..." he counted and pushed her up to the branch. She grabbed a small branch and hoisted herself up. Anna looked up; she still had about twenty feet to go.
Samson was staring up at his owner, whining. Daryl patted him behind the ears. "Your momma sure is crazy boy".
Daryl shielded his eyes, looking up at Anna "Ya alright up there?"
"These branches are real sturdy. Old oak tree. Sturdy as a rock" she called out grabbing another branch... It was a small one, it cracked. Her breath was caught in her throat as she slipped. Daryl ran to the base of the tree, putting his hands up ready to catch her. She was dangling, gripping tight onto the cracking branch.
"That branch is just about to break. Just let go, I will catch you. You are going to break your neck Anna" he called out.
Anna was desperate, she had to get to the bags "No. No. I see a branch I can get a hold off. I can reach it".
"You are kinda making me just about shit my pants here Anna. Just drop yourself and we can try another way to get those bags" he called up to her.
The branch cracked loudly, Anna looked down at Daryl wide eyed. The branch snapped, she gasped. Daryl rushed forward getting ready to catch her. Anna's quick reflex she grabbed the branch she was reaching for. She closed her eyes, dangling and holding tight, her hands stinging badly. "I am not dead am I?" she called out, her eyes closed and her heart pounding hard in her chest. Daryl dodged the branch that fell towards him.
Daryl let out a breath he didn't know he was holding, sitting down on the ground and patted Samson behind the ears. "No. But as soon as you get your ass out of that tree and back on to this ground". He paused, catching his breath "You are for giving me that heart attack".
She laughed at him, gripping a branch above her head "Only a Hendricks can kill a Hendricks".
Daryl scoffed "Yeah. I have heard those words before. Just hurry up and get down here".
Three bags were dropped down on to the ground. Anna slowly made her way back down the tree. Daryl came to the base of the tree, put his hands up and brought Anna back down to the ground. Samson went up to her, wagging his tail and nuzzling her hands.
"Don't do that again" he warned her.
She just rolled her eyes at him, sticking her tongue out cheekily "Not my fault you are an old fart. You should take better care of yourself".
"Bit hard when you are around doing all of this crazy shit" he muttered.
Anna laughed, kneeling down and putting her hands to the zipper of the bags. Her hands froze a little, taking a small breath and pulled the zipper along to open the bag. Inside was all sorts of weapons; small hand guns, semi-automatic weapons and shot guns, she didn't care for all of that. Under all the weapons, she pulled out her dad's Stryker Solution LS cross bow. Anna picked it up, looking down the sight. It was hard but she knew her dad wouldn't want it to go to waste, with a heavy heart she stood up and face Daryl. She held up the cross bow and gave it to Daryl. Daryl felt a little nervous holding the weapon "I can't take this... It was your dads... You should have it"
"I can hardly lift it or draw it. My father would want you to have it. A weapon like this needs to be carried by a good man. You are a good man Daryl Dixon".
Daryl strung his old cross bow behind on his back and held her dad's cross bow in his hands. "What else we got?"
"Food rations. Beans. Canned soups. Flour. Clothes. We had better get this back to the others. I am thinking we put these in a car or something. That way if something goes down we aren't left totally unprepared. The weapons need to stay out of Shane's hands" she stated with a concerned look.
He noticed the tone in her voice "Something happen between you two I should know about?"
"Nothing to worry about" she answered going to pick up a one of the bags. Daryl stopped her and carried the three bags. "He is just a hot head that is scared for his life. Who isn't in this day and age?"
Anna had a fair point there. "Come on.. We had better get back to camp and set up properly. They all will be wondering if we have run off or not".
Anna and Daryl didn't even have a chance to sit down at their camp. Maggie was sitting there, tears in her eyes.
"What do you want?" Daryl asked abruptly, dumping the bags in their tent and stared her down.
'Daryl. There is no need to talk like that, can't you see she is upset about something?" Anna warned him. "What's wrong Maggie?"
Maggie got up her seat, her hands rubbing her arms. "It's Beth. She has just collapsed and is in some state of shock or something. I can't find my daddy anywhere. I need your help, please".
'Why should she help you huh?" Daryl taunted.
Anna turned to Daryl, glaring at him "Daryl. Now is not the time. Back off alright".
Anna went into the tent, into one of the bags and grabbed her emergency medical bag. She looked at Daryl "I will be back soon" she slung her medical bag around her shoulder and put her hand on the small of Maggie's back. "Come on. Let's go and check on your sister okay".
They got to the front door of the house when Maggie stopped her. "I am really sorry about everything that happened out there today with your family and all. I couldn't find my dad and I didn't know what else to do".
"Hey, hey. There is no need to be sorry here. I want to help Beth. It is part of being a doctor. I will do whatever I can within my power to help those who are sick. No hard feelings okay" she reassured Maggie.
"Daryl seemed pretty mad I asked you for help though. He seemed pretty pissed I even come to you" she claimed.
"You don't have to worry about Daryl. I can handle him" Anna assured Maggie. "Come on, let's go and see what I can do for Beth".
Anna followed Maggie through the house, passing Shane and he put his hand on her arm, holding her tight. He snickered at her "Now where did you get that bag?"
"I don't have to answer to you. But will you please excuse me; I have a patient to tend to. So let go of my arm. You are hurting me" she said to Shane as she tried to yank her arm free from his grip.
Rick stood in the hallway, his arms crossed his chest "Shane. Let Anna go"
He reluctantly let go of her arm and raised his hands, retreating back away from her. Rick stepped forward, in between her and Shane. "Stand down, alright" he muttered.
"Yes sir" he replied. "I am going to look in Hershel's room. See any signs where he might be".
Rick leaned in to her ear as they walked along "Is he bothering you?"
"I will be fine" she muttered, smiling at him. "You don't have to worry about a thing".
"When you say that it makes me worry even more. You know that right?" he questioned protectively.
"I know and I'm fine" she replied, smirking.
Rick knocked on the door where Beth was; Maggie answered the door and instantly gave her a big hug. 'Thank you again".
"You don't have to thank me. It is my job" Anna replied.
She walked into Beth's room, it was just like a normal teenage girls' rooms. There were posters of boy bands, movie stars and singers. Beth was lying on her bed, white as a ghost. She nodded at Glenn, giving him a small smile. He shook his head and gave her a big hug, rubbing his hands on her back "I am so sorry Anna. I really am".
"It's going to be okay, Glenn. We all have each other. That's what family do" she told him. She placed her bag in the end of Beth's bed. "I had better see to this young lady now".
"Of course" Glenn replied and then stepped out if her way.
Anna walked up to Beth's head, feeling for her pulse in her wrist and took out her stethoscope, listening to her heart. "The poor girl is in a state of shock. She needs to lower her heart rate to make herself feel any better. I have a sedative I can give her by a needle" she informed them. "Has anyone found Hershel yet?" she asked, concentrating on Beth.
"I have looked around the farm. No luck, I'm sorry" Lori said, as she stood by the door with Rick.
"No one has found him" Glenn added.
"We will find him. Even if I have to go out there and track him by myself. More than anything Beth needs her father here for support to get through this, to soothe her and get her pulse down. A daughter always needs her father. Otherwise they feel all alone in the world" Anna stated referring more to herself than Beth.
Anna collected her bag and followed Maggie out of the room. She was instantly engulfed by a big bear hug. "Thank you so much, for everything".
She pulled out of the hug and reached into her bag for a clean cloth. "Here" she offered it to Maggie.
"Oh you don't have to. It is a part of your medical supplies" Maggie declined.
Anna took the clean cloth out of her hand and wiped away the tears herself, putting in her bag again. "I can easily sanitize it later with boiling water, so you don't have to worry about it".
Maggie gave her another hug, feeling a little overwhelmed by all of the emotions again. Anna put her arms around Maggie again. Maggie dwarfed her height with Anna being as petite as she is.
"It is all going to be okay. We will find your dad, I promise you" Anna pledged.
Maggie put her hands on Anna's shoulders, she looked at her like a sister "you always know what to say don't you? You just have one of those old souls".
She shook her head and tightening up the zipper of her bag properly. "I am no old soul. Just looking out for those for those I care about".
"Well I am hoping you can do me a favour then. My dad has run off, I don't know where. Shane and Rick are going through his room right now. Could use a different set of eyes on it all. Would be able to help?"
Anna nodded, putting her hand forward for Maggie to show her the way to his room. Maggie let out a sigh of relief, feeling a lot better Anna was involved. "Thank you for your help in there. You know you are more than welcome to stay in the house".
"I am okay out there with Daryl" she answered.
There was something the way Anna talked about Daryl, nothing obsessive or love sick like that. It was like he was her strong hold on reality and stopping her from losing it.
Maggie walked into a room where Shane and Rick were looking through Hershel's belongings. Glenn stopped her, just before the door. "You okay?" he asked.
"I'm good" she replied.
But Glenn knew better and how stubborn Anna could be "You need anything, just let me know. Even if it is just chocolate" he laughed quietly. "And even to get away from Daryl" he joked.
"Daryl isn't that bad" she joked. "Just don't touch his cross bow. He is rather protective of it" she teased and walked into the room.
"And of you" Glenn whispered, smiling a little and following her into the room where everyone else was.
The air was a little tense; Lori was looking through the chest of drawers. She smiled softly at her, a mother's look without saying words. Anna appreciated it, not being smothered and all. Rick was looking through the boxes that were laying open on Hershel's bed. He looked up, his eyes filled with guilt.
"Anna" Shane greeted, going over the top of a cupboard.
There was no way in hell she was going to talk to him. Anna pointed to the clothes Rick was going through.
"These are you step moms, right?" she asked Maggie.
Shane looked between Rick and Anna, his eyebrows raised.
"Yeah" Maggie put her hands in to her pockets and leaned against the dresser table. "He was so sure she would be alright and they would have picked up before all of this happened".
On the large mahogany dressers, there was an empty flask of whiskey. Shane picked it up and chucked it to Rick. "Looks like Hershel found an old friend".
Anna run her hand through her hair; a sense of worry over came her. She started biting her nail, looking at Rick. Glenn rubbed her back a little "It's going to be okay" he whispered.
She really wanted to feel better, she did. Maggie looked at the small flask, taking it out of Rick's hands. "That used to be my grandfathers. He gave it to my father when he died".
"I never took Hershel for a drinker" Rick pointed out.
"He gave it up when I was born. He didn't even allow alcohol in the house" Maggie answered.
"Maggie. What was the bar in town?" Rick asked.
"Hadlands. He practically lived there in his drinking days" she answered.
"Well that is where I will find him" Rick concluded.
"Yeah. I know where it is. I have seen it" Glenn added.
Fear took over Maggie, she stopped Glenn. "No".
"It is an easy run" He replied.
"Like the pharmacy?" she reminded him.
Anna knew where Maggie was coming from, she put her hand on Maggie's arm. "It will be okay. Rick won't let anything happen to Glenn. He will bring him back".
Glenn was thankful for Anna backing him up there. "Yeah. It is an easy run. Be back before you know it".
"I will go and get the truck" Rick stated.
Rick walked out of the room, Lori crossed her arms and shook her head Anna. Shane walked up to her "You think you all that?"
She nodded her head, pretending to think and smirked at Shane. "But you do since you seem to feel threatened by me. Big ol Shane afraid of pint sized Anna".
Shane scoffed, brushing past her. Anna stretched out both of her hands, they were starting to become stiff and swollen from the blisters. She went out to the hallway to find Lori in Rick's face.
"You wanna have a conversation about this before you head out?" Lori asked him, seeing Anna out of the corner of her eye. "Anna. No offence but this is between my husband and I. Will you please excuse us?"
Rick couldn't believe his wife, a headache started to nag at him. He took a deep breath, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Anna scoffed, not really believing Lori at the moment. "For what my opinion is worth to you Lori. May I suggest you give your husband the credit he deserves here? He has a level head, a good sense of judgement and he is doing what he feels is right. Unlike some other people around here." Anna stared directly into Shane's eyes. "Excuse me all will you?"
Shane stepped forward "Where did you get that medical bag?"
The day had finally caught up with her. There were dark circles under her eyes, she could feel them just drooping down. "You know what? Screw you Shane. I have had enough of your shit".
Rick put his hand on her shoulder as she walked past.
"You seriously going after him with everything going on around here. Standing up for people you don't even know" Shane countered.
"Yeah. He is right. This is not the time to run off. Not today. You don't always have to run off and solve everyone else problems" Lori told him.
"I am not arguing. This is the least I can do for Hershel. For Anna as well. After we the way you two have treated her lately is just so damn cruel" he replied.
Shane shook his head, walking in between the two and walked out.
"Carl said he would have shot Sophia himself. That he wants to be as good a shot as Anna is. He says she is the best. That is our son. He is getting cold and growing up in a world... He is growing up in a world where he needs a father like you" Lori argued.
"It is not just his problems I am trying to solve. We need Hershel and Anna for the baby. What Shane did out there today to her was not called for. That was not right. I am going to go out there find Hershel and bring him back here. By the way, I suggest you keep Shane away from Anna. The hostility between those two won't be a secret anymore and I won't be here to stop Daryl kicking his ass when he finds out all of the truth behind it all" Rick retorted.
Anna was feeling a little hot despite it the weather getting a little cooler. It was a long walk to her new camp site on the out skirts of the farm, she tugged her flannelette collar higher up on her neck. Anna needed the long walk to try and cool off because she was so pissed with Shane. Last thing Anna needed was Daryl being over bearing and turning in to an angry red neck hick, again. It was such a shame to world had become the way it has. The farm is a beautiful spot, it reminded her of her own childhood home. Open golden field of grass. Cattle grazing lazily in the fields. Big trees surrounding the house that had big cement and metal fences. All up on top of a big, mountain and one of the only properties for miles. She hoped her family home would still be standing. Maybe she would see it again one day. That is if it is still standing that is. If the farm didn't work out they could go there.
The sun was glaring down into Daryl's eyes, making him squint when he saw Anna coming. "You got the wrinkle in between your eyes there. You are pissed off at someone aren't ya?"
"I'm not pissed off at just anyone. I am absolutely and fundamentally pissed off beyond anything at the stuck up mom, Lori and the douchebag called Shane. Never have I wanted to hit someone so bad before" she answered, going past him and setting her weapons and tent down next to his.
Daryl stood up, one of his eyebrows cocked up, took her tent and put it aside. "You aren't sleeping in a tent alone. The nights are getting colder and I don't need you freezing and catching your death because of it".
Samson cowered back behind Daryl.
"That dog goes running to you whenever he sees you. Here Samson is now too scared to get up and say hello to ya" Daryl took her things and pointedly put them in his tent. "What happened at the farm to make you like this?"
Anna pulled on her hooded jumper and her leather jacket, she was starting to feel a cold coming on "Rick and Glenn have gone out to find Hershel to bring him back. Lori and Shane were well pissed off that he was going after him. They said it wasn't the time to do it because what was going on here at the farm. I couldn't exactly bite my tongue and I gave both of those two good for nothing adults my two cents worth with what I thought about it".
He looked at her, was she feeling alright putting on all of those layers of clothes. He could see a sheen of sweat on her skin and she was taking shallow breaths. "My guess they didn't like it?"
"You got that right. I have now had two run-ins with Lori and god knows how many with that douchebag we call Shane. Mind you, I have a few more words I could call Shane with what he has said and done to me when no one else is around" Daryl replied.
"What has he done? Want me to deal with him?" Anna asked.
"No need to get your pretty face upset about it all" she joked.
He lifted the squirrels off the fire, putting them on the plate with some wild sweet potatoes with some wild rosemary he found and he picked up a bottle of water, giving them to Anna "Eat all of it and drink the water. Need to keep yourself hydrated".
She sighed, her eyes feeling heavy as she felt the day weighing day on her. It looked delicious to eat, her stomach wasn't feeling well and it made her feel sick even more. Samson got up from his feet, looking at Daryl. Daryl motioned with his hand for him to go to Anna "Don't worry boy, she won't bite..."
Samson crept slowly to Anna, each paw looked like if it was in slow motion. Daryl laughed a little; Samson is the biggest dog he has ever seen in his life and here he was scared of Anna, who is one of the smallest people he has known in his life.
"You eat everything on that plate." Daryl sat down on a log, Anna looked up at him and he pointed at her plate and then her food. "You sick?" he asked.
"Yeah. I will keep up on the water and such to get better. I will be fine" she answered. Wisps of hair fell out of her braid. Daryl suggested it so her long hair wouldn't get caught on anything when she hunted or not give a walker a chance to get her.
Anna could only eat the meat on her plate and a piece of sweet potato before her stomach felt a little funny. "I can't eat anymore Daryl. Not hungry".
Daryl sighed, kept his eyes on her. Her shoulders were slumped, her eyes were closed and her head leaning back over the chair. He got up off his post from the front of their camp and went to her.
"Alright. I will keep it and you can have it later. You go in the tent and have a rest. Won't hurt you to get a good sleep" Warily, he took her plate from her and picked up the bottle of water and handed it to her "at least drink some water to have something in your stomach".
Her shoulders slumped, taking the top of the bottle off and took a good swing of water. "Thank you. I think I am coming down with something". A small sheen of sweat was forming over her skin.
Daryl turned, dunking a clean rag into some water and wiped away the sweat on her face. Sophia was lost today, he won't lose her too "I will wake you up when I want to. You need to start looking after yourself for once and not worry about how others are".
Anna coughed a little, her throat itchy and sore. She took another sip of the water, relieving the fiery itch in her throat. Daryl sighed, looking sideways, put down his knife and got up, picking her up.
'What the hell Daryl?" she coughed.
"You are going to our tent, you are going to have more than eight hours sleep and no one is going to disturb ya" he claimed.
She rolled her eyes as he put her down, unzipping the tent. He pointed his fingers from her to the tent. "Get in now".
"Jesus Christ, you are such a cave man" she replied, hands up in the air in surrender and getting into the tent. "Fine. Fine. I will do what I am told to do".
"Yeah you will" he jokingly threatened.
She took off her shoes, slid off her jacket and pulled the covers back over her. Samson nestled his head right next to her. "I don't know where I would be without my two boys" she whispered. "I would be so lost without you both" her throat felt scratchy, and hoarse.
Daryl stood outside, a sense of pride and protection came over him. He looked for Sophia for every day since she sent missing. Anna, with her family. The guilt tore at him, she could have been looking for her own blood but the whole time she was with him looking for a lost little girl, that wasn't even found in the end.
"Fuck" he growled, picking up his knife, the pieces of wood to make bolts with for the two of them.
Daryl sat down at the base of the tree, carving back the wood when Lori walked up to him. This is the last thing he needed right about now.
"Listen, Beth is in some catatonic shock, we need Anna to have another look at her soon. We need Hershel" she told him.
He pressed harder as he shaved the piece of wood in to a sleek bolt. "So what? Anna is resting up at the moment, think she deserves a rest after what happened today and being sick an all. You aint bothering her. Or me".
Like a mother would to a child, Lori knelt down and looked up to Daryl. It was insulting to him "You and Anna are the best trackers and hunters out there. Anna is a strong woman. You don't have to worry about her".
Daryl's head snapped up, glaring at Lori.
"I would feel much better if you both went out there and brought them back" Lori stated.
He pursed his lips together "Your bitch went window shopping. You want him go and fetch him yourself. We ain't going out there today. Leave us be".
"What is the matter with you? Why are you being so selfish" Lori snapped.
"Listen to me olive oil. I was out there looking for that little girl every day. Anna was out there as well when she could have been looking for her own family! You call us selfish!? I took an arrow! Anna took a bullet to the head and could have died. Don't you talk about us getting our hands dirty. You want to find them, have a nice ride. I am done looking for people" shouted at her.
It was dark now. The crickets were chirping and the air had a chill in it.
There was small coughing coming from the tent. Anna must have run out of water, Daryl sighed getting up off his seat and picking up a bottle of water. He got in to the tent, she was sitting up and patting Samson's head. "I can't believe I slept so long. You could have woken me up. You could have had a rest yourself or something."
Her skin looked a little damp, nose a little red and her eyes blood shot. Daryl sat down opposite her. "They must need me to look at Beth again. Where is my jumper and jacket?" she asked, looking around to find her medical bag.
"You aren't going anywhere" he said taking the jumper and throwing it into the corner of the tent. "For once in your life, you are going to be selfish and do something to look after yourself. Don't you give a damn what other people say or think of you either. Don't listen to that big voice in your head either, listen to me".
Samson stretched out his legs, getting up and shaking. Anna pulled on her leather jacket over her hooded jumper and stepped out of the tent. The air was a little chilly for her. She turned back to the tent and wrapped a scarf around her neck. Her nose was a little blocked and her throat felt itchy enough she wanted to scratch it.
Daryl had a small fire crackling away, up on a piece of rope he had a line of squirrels tired up and the necklace of walker's ears. "Finally got a decent fire going. Can cook some meat I got today. You need to get some protein in ya to keep your energy up. And you need to keep warm, so you keep those jackets on and that scarf around your neck and sit by the fire." he sternly told her, poking at the fire to make it bigger.
Anna warily sat down on the log, looking at Daryl. Anna put her cold hands out to the fire, rubbing them together. "It is just a little cold Daryl".
"A little cold in a world like this can turn into something more. I'm not going to have that" he muttered.
Samson stood up from his spot, whining and wagging his tail. Anna looked up and saw Carol running to them. "We can't find Lori. And the others aren't back yet either".
"That dumb bitch must have gone out looking for him" Daryl replied, poking the fire more.
Anna's head snapped up at him, staring him down and he had to look away from her. "What you knew? You didn't do anything about it? Daryl!"
"She asked both of us to go. I told her you were sick and I was done being every one's errand boy". He still stared down at the fire, too afraid to look at either of the women.
"Sorry" Anna mouthed. Guilt filled her, knowing Lori was pregnant and out there all alone with no protection. Anna knew she had to do something about it, her conscience wouldn't have it.
Carol came back, grasping at what hope she had "Please don't do this. I have already lost my little girl".
"Yeah well. That wasn't my problem either. I am going to go and check the snare traps" Daryl bit back, getting up off his seat and storming in to the woods. "Anna, you stay there and keep warm or you are going to catch your death" he called out to her.
"Anna?" she whispered, looking at her concerned and pulling her jacket tighter around her.
"Don't worry about me" she coughed, covering her mouth a little to hide it. "I will go after him. Someone has to get through him when he is in moods like this and it seems that only person is me"
Carol gave her a hug, pulling back, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. "You sure are something good. Now go and get that red neck before he even thinks of something stupid of himself. Be careful out here".
Anna picked up her cross bow, whistling to Samson and went out to the woods. Daryl was easy enough to find, sitting by the small bustling stream. He looked behind his shoulder, stood up and stared her down, his posture hard "What are you doing out here? Your cold is going to turn into a flu if you aren't careful".
She sighed, nodding to let Samson go forward to Daryl and put her cross bow back onto her back. "It is nothing I can't handle. I got to keep my eye on you" she sighed, eyeing him off and keeping her breathing steady. Her chest was rattling a little bit, feeling tight as she got to Daryl.
Daryl could hear it and he scoffed at her, walking one way and the next, pacing like a caged animal stuck in a corner "Aren't you a peach Anna!" His body was tense, taught as if ready for an attack. "I can take care of myself. I don't need you looking out for me".
Anna held up her cross bow, shooting a bolt behind his head. Daryl's head turned, seeing a walker now with an arrow through its eye and stuck to a tree. Anna put her cross bow down, putting her foot in the stirrup and reloaded it. Now came the tough part, pulling the draw back with her blistered and bloody hands. "I know you can take care of yourself, but that doesn't mean you can't have your own backup".
Samson whined beside her, looking between Daryl and Anna and sensing the tension between the two. "I am not going to let you pull away from your group. They are your family! You have earned your place with them. You have worked far too hard to just throw it all away, just like that!" she croaked.
He was seething, pointing his finger at her "You know what" You should just mind your own business girly! If you had have done so, you could been out there looking for your own damn family. You could have found them and they could have been alive! You ain't my problem! Sophia wasn't mine!"
"Say what you want. If you don't have hope, what is the point of living? You aren't the only out here that is sick and tired of losing people. Throw away that god damn stubborn nature of yours".
"You know what? You just go!" he growled, waving his arm about "I don't want you here anymore." he stalked to her, pointing to her face "You are a real piece of work little lady. Are you going to make it about some daddy issues or some crap like that? You don't know jack. You are afraid because you are all alone. You got no father, no brother! You don't know what to do with yourself. Sophia wasn't my problem. You aint my problem! All you have to do is stay alive but all you seem do is always almost die saving other peoples' lives and not your own!"
He got right in to Anna's face, she flinched back, turning her face away from him. "If that is what you want?" she croaked. He didn't know what to do, he studied her face was blank and her eyes didn't lie, Anna was hurt. She turned. Samson going to follow her but she put her hand up at him to stay with Daryl. Samson was whining, wanting to go with Anna.
Anna went straight to the tent, taking out her back pack and her medical bag. She untucked her St Jude's necklace Daryl gave her, folding it in her hands and setting it down on his pillow. Anna did tell him she would never take it off. This way he would know she would be back. She knew he would angry, but she had to go out there and to get Rick, Hershel and Glenn back. Shifting under the pillows, she found her small leather gloves Daryl had found on a run for her. He just hated it when Anna would randomly go up to him and stick her cold hands down his neck. So he found her these. She slipped them on, pulling off her ratty black vans and putting on her leather lace up boots. It was her original clothing she had worn before the farm. Last things were her hand pistol and her father's sniper rifle. "I will be back".
Taking a big deep breath, she stepped out of her tent. Her breath white from the cold air, she coughed a little, wrapping her scarf tighter around her neck. The itchy throat was driving her crazy. She now had to find a way to get off the farm without getting attention from people or walkers. Quietly, she ran to the barn, remembering there was a quick but quiet motor bike in the barn. She opened the barn door, where all of the walkers had come out before. Looking at it, no key "Damn it" she whispered. Reaching in to her pocket, she picked out her picking wires and put them in to her mouth, wheeling the bike out to the edge of the woods. Getting on the bike, she hot-wired it and went on her way through the main roads of town. Up ahead she saw a car turned upside down, she stopped, getting off her bike. Getting closer she could see it was one of the cars from the farm. "Lori" she whispered to herself, stopping the bike and running to the wreck of the car.
She skidded to a stop, her cross bow ready to fire. There was a walker stuck in the window, another three laying around the car. "Oh thank god" she whispered, wiping her hand through her hair. Anna looked around, finding Lori's tracks not far and finding she was picked up by someone, Shane by the looks of the boot print.
"Now to find Rick" she whispered, covering the bike with some branches and over grown weeds.
Anna walked through the forest, the last time she was out in the land by herself it was a whole other matter. But it wouldn't be that way this time. She stealthy hid and walked her way through the small one street city center. She saw the bar, with a truck out front. "Shit" she whispered.
Her eyes looked around finding a high advantage directly across the street, she ran across the street. Whistling at the front of the door waiting for any walkers, there were two but easily taken out with a knife to the head. She ran up the stairs and to a window when she got a direct view of what was going on. Ricks posture was stiff, just like Daryl's. There were two strange men. Her view point wasn't good with her sniper rifle, so she made her way down again. Holding her breath as she looked out, only finding a few walkers and no back up of the men.
"Here I go" she encouraged herself.
She sneaked across the street, hopping over a fence and going around the back of the bar. She heard some arguing. Anna stuck her head around the corner of the bar. Hershel's eyes balked a little bit, regaining his composure quickly.
"I hear Nebraska is nice" the man said.
The man was reaching for a gun underneath the bar. Anna quickly got up, shooting him in the head and the body. Then saw the fat man, she stepped forward, shooting him in the head.