Daryl couched close to the ground. His ears tuned into the sounds of the forest. The winter's cold was finally starting to ease off and he could travel without the poncho that had been necessary to fight off the chill that could easily seep into his body during the days. The nights were still frigid enough that he used it while on watch but during the day the sunlight warmed his bones and he was able to keep going.
Daryl closed his eyes and inhaled heavily. He could smell animal droppings, the cold ground, and even a walker several miles away. Essence of walker was something that lingered and lingered. Daryl could easily track down walkers not that he'd ever felt the need to. But none of those were the smell he was searching for. Suddenly the wind shifted slightly and he caught the scent on the breeze. The scent was faint certainly, but it was present enough to give him a starting point.
Merle had always made fun of Daryl's unnatural senses. Saying that he was more an animal than a man.
"Ma ain' yer ma. Yer ma was a bloodhound explains the smell too." Daryl pushed Merle in the creek the first time he said that to him. Got a wicked black eye from his brother but damn, it was worth it to see him spitting out water and muck.
Merle had continued to tease Daryl often about his senses trying to mess with him as often as he could. The 'can you hear the Lagunas (the retired eighty plus couple mind you) having sex down the road?' those jokes got old fast. Same with the 'tell me what I ate for lunch by smelling my farts.' It came to a point that Daryl longed to have just normal senses. Hell to just be normal. But he was always the odd one, in a family that redefined insanity in the first place.
It took many years but he eventually realized that his senses could be an asset if he let them. Sure not many places would hire a guy who could smell exactly where all the customers were sitting and where they had come from. (And yes he could sometimes tell what they had eaten earlier.) Nor would they look for a guy who could hear every piece of gossip inside and outside the building. But he'd figured out how to apply his abilities to hunting. Being able to hear and smell game was almost as good as having heat vision.
The one skill that Daryl actually had and enjoyed having was only benefited by his weird traits. His mother had once told him that 'All traits no matter how strange have a purpose. It's our job to find out what the purpose is and how we can help those around us with our traits.' She said that right before his father came in and beat her face in for not getting the beer he wanted. Most of Daryl's memories seemed to end that way, in blood, violence, and death.
Daryl slowly moved through the forest, taking quiet measured steps. He moved in a way that seemed like he was gliding over the ground instead of walking. He broke no branches or rustled any leaves.
"A ghost in the forest always catches his prey." Merle had said once when Daryl was still young and first learning how to hunt. Daryl froze when the wind shifted again and the smell evaporated on the breeze. It was carried away from him like the wind was trying to screw with the hunter. He could move but the knowledge that the wind would carry Daryl's scent to his prey bothered him. Even though he knew there was no reason to worry, his prey wasn't nearly as adapt at this as Daryl.
The hunter closed his eyes and focused deeply. He listened again. This time he was close enough to hear something that didn't belong in the forest. A soft crunching of rubber on still frozen ground. It wasn't much a slight shift of weight but that shift sounded like a gunshot in Daryl's focused ears. He opened his eyes and let the focus drain out of him.
Daryl had the tough lesson of learning that his hearing and sense of smell could also be a painful hindrance. In school, he'd nearly driven himself nuts on a daily basis listening and smelling everything all at once. Part of Daryl's constant absenteeism came from the splitting headaches the congested hallways created. Daryl eventually realized the only way to survive around others (so to speak) was to learn how to tune down his senses to a more manageable level. It had taken a long time but after years of practice, he could get through most crowds without too much trouble. He went through most of life at the tuned down level (only in the woods did he feel safe enough from the chaos of human life to let his natural senses filter back in) but even at the tuned down level his senses were still better than everyone around him.
Daryl didn't feel the need to explain any of this to the others, but part of his tracking skills came from his ability to hyper focus his senses to their sharpest level. With the focus gone, Daryl opened his eyes and knew exactly where to go. He crept slowly moving through the brush until he could see the back of his target. Daryl's target was trying very hard not to move at all but the man radiated energy that practically made the man's body twitch. Daryl noticed he even breathed loud enough for the hunter to be able to pick him out from several yards away.
Daryl rolled his eyes and wanted to scoff but wouldn't risk any noise. It was almost sad how easy this is, he thought. With a slow tug, his hunting knife was pulled from its sheath. Carefully sliding forward Daryl stepped up to his targets back. The man didn't even realize Daryl was on him until it was too late. Daryl pushed the blade against the man's throat and whispered.
"Found ya. Ya lose."
"Damn it." Rick hissed letting his hand drop from the holster on his hip. Daryl smirked at Rick as he pulled his knife away from the man's neck and put it back. "I thought for sure you wouldn't find me this time."
"Told ya, can' breathe or move. Ya make too much noise."
"I didn't move." Rick grumbled cracking his neck out. "I did know you were there though."
"When did ya realize that? When I had my knife to yer throat?" Daryl rolled his eyes at Rick.
"No about three seconds before you put your knife to my throat, that's why I was going for my gun."
"Gettin' better at noticin' at least. That's good. Means yer more observant of the surroundin'."
"I thought for sure I'd have you this time." Rick bumped his head against the tree trunk.
"Yer gettin' better but not enough to fool me."
"Maybe I should blindfold you next time." Rick muttered.
"That would just make it easier for me." Daryl scoffed. Rick still didn't get that Daryl didn't need his eyes to track. They just made it more efficient.
"Admit it I'm never going to be good enough to go hunting with you. That's why you're playing this annoying hide and seek game with me."
"Nah." Daryl shrugged. "I'm tryin' to teach ya that huntin' requires silence. Ya need to be totally silent to hunt the right way. Once ya learn that the rest is easier."
"Yeah yeah. That's what you keep telling me." Rick sighed and stood up straight. "So what's next. I go hide again so you can creep up on me?" Daryl glanced up at Rick and saw that the man looked frustrated and borderline annoyed. They'd been at the 'hiding and seeking game' as Rick called it for a few hours and there still wasn't much progress. Though if Daryl was honest Rick hadn't progressed much in the last month they'd been working on his skills. It wasn't that Rick wasn't trying, the man had amazing dedication. When he put his mind to something he went at it with everything he had.
But Daryl had the feeling that it was Rick himself that was the problem. It was something that Rick probably wasn't even aware of but the man walked with purpose, strength, authority, and leadership. Something he'd probably had his whole life that only grew stronger when he became an officer of the law and finally leader of their band of survivors. While Daryl had learned at a young age that walking quietly made you a smaller less noticeable target, Rick never had that problem. Now they were trying to turn around a whole lifetime of personality traits. Daryl hadn't told Rick his theory (only because it wasn't something the man could just turn off once he realized it) the only thing he could do was try to help Rick add a quieter step to his confident gait.
"Maybe we should take a break." Daryl suggested fingering his crossbow. The string was starting to wear a bit. He'd either need to replace it or find a new bow (like he could just stroll into a mall and say 'New crossbow please! Also your finest hamburger!')
"Let's face it Daryl." Rick sighed. "I suck. I'll never get this." Daryl looked up to see Rick eyes were downfallen and disappointed.
"Yer tryin' to learn what took me years in a few weeks. Takes time." Daryl tried to encourage him. But Rick's blue eyes were still clouded with self-disappointment. Daryl sighed and slung his crossbow back on his shoulder. "Let's head back. I left some tracks so we'll do a quick lesson in trackin' again." Rick nodded but he couldn't bring himself to respond.
The walk back to the house was quiet. The silence was only broken on the occasion that Daryl pointed out an obvious track to Rick such as broken branches or scuffs on the dirt. Rick nodded when Daryl pointed things out but otherwise didn't talk or move outside of walking forwarded in his defeated manner. When they reached the edge of the forest and started coming up through the dog park Daryl paid more attention to their surroundings.
The forest was one thing for lessons. But here closer to the neighborhoods they could never be too careful. The herds often seemed to stick to the suburbs and cities during the winter. They'd been lucky none had wondered through their current area. The last house they'd been in for less than a day before having to pack up and leave. Through the harshest part of winter, the group had been extremely lucky Daryl realized. They'd managed to survive for a long time in that house before having to move on for more food and supplies. This current house they'd been in for five days and so far things had been going okay. It wasn't as big as the last but it was close to several other houses they could easily loot for supplies. Plus the easy access to the woods through the nearby dog park was a bonus in Daryl's book.
Daryl paused at the edge of the adjoining neighborhood and checked for the all clear sign. The group had come up with several ways to communicate without words over the winter and this one would let whoever was out getting supplies or in Daryl and Rick's case training that the house was still safe and the group hadn't moved on to one of the meeting spots because of a herd. Sure enough Daryl saw no dropped balls or red colored dresses tossed out of car windows. Meaning the group was still at the house.
"Looks like things are okay." Rick whispered at Daryl's side. Daryl glanced around and listened hard. He didn't hear any shuffling or moaning. With a sniff he confirmed no rotten flesh and putrid blood either. Daryl nodded back to Rick giving his approval. The two started to cautiously walk towards the house slipping through back alleys and yards (just in case walkers or worse other survivors were around.) Rick paused after a moment his eyes lingering on the large house to their right. "We haven't been through here." Daryl paused and stared at it as well.
"Want me to get T-Dog and Carl?" They'd all gotten very good at looting and clearing houses of walkers. Regardless of it being one, they were going to stay in or just one they wanted to take supplies from. But T-Dog and Carl worked well together. Glenn and Maggie were still taking a breather from their last supply run (something that the group started doing after Daryl had fainted nearly a month ago. Everyone got a break after supply runs or clearing houses it helped to keep everyone's morale up. Which kept them healthier.) Rick stared at the house long and hard before starting up the path.
"I think we can handle it right?" Rick pulled his gun from its holster. Daryl quickly shrugged his crossbow off and moved to Rick's side. Normally they'd wait but the discouragement from early was clearly weighing on Rick's mind. Daryl noticed that Rick looked almost excited. Killing walkers was something he was good (almost unnaturally good) at which would be a boost to the man's pride. But that didn't mean Daryl would let Rick's pride to get in the way of his safety.
To prove this point, Daryl eased the door open and took the first wide sweep into the house. Seeing nothing, he moved in enough for Rick to follow. Rick started off towards the right and Daryl pulled his knife out quickly trailing behind Rick. They crept through the house together. Deliberately and judiciously checking each room thoroughly. The house was nearly untouched a few blood stains but no walkers in sight.
The pair breathed a sigh of relief before starting to search through the cupboards and drawers.
"Found some knives." Daryl mumbled checking each one thoroughly; only worse thing than having no knives was having knives that broke after one use.
"Food too." Rick said from the pantry. "Not much we can use but better than nothing." When they'd cleaned out the kitchen they started upstairs. Daryl automatically made his way to the study. The walls were covered in dusty tomes of all shapes and sizes. He put the books that looked helpful into his bag. The medical textbooks Hershel had were invaluable to the group and he always kept his eyes peeled for any other useful books. There was only a few that looked helpful, some about garden, basic first aid, and a few cookbooks. But Daryl grabbed a few of the heavier tomes as well knowing that if worse came to worse they could use the paper to start a fire. Though if he was honest with himself he loathed that idea, books were some of the few things they could still enjoy from the old world and unlike food they didn't expire. "Books?" Rick asked from the doorway. Daryl shrugged.
"Why not? Thought we could use more."
"You're going to have a library soon." Rick smiled. It was a well-known 'secret' amongst the group that Daryl had a small collection of books that he moved with him when they went from house to house during the winter. These books had nothing to do with hunting or any kind of a survival skill however. The useful books like Hershel's medical books were passed around the group and everyone took care of them but Daryl's collection was full of mostly fictions.
The group would on occasion surprise him with a new book they'd scavenged from a house or on a supply run into town. "Here," Rick said tossing him a bag. "That one looks strong enough for your books." Daryl started to pile his books into the bag and secured them on his back. "Glad you found some new ones. Now we can start fighting over something new to read."
"What I don' get to read them first?" Daryl asked looking up. Rick chuckled.
"You always share with the group first. Though if you wanted first crack at them I'm sure they wouldn't mind." Daryl shrugged, Rick was right. He didn't see the point in keeping them for himself. He didn't get the books for his pleasure alone. He wanted to give the group something to look forward to. Something of the old world to treasure. Daryl often wondered when he got the books how Dale would have felt about his choices. The old man surely would have known which of the books would be the best and most uplifting for their struggling group. But Daryl himself wasn't as well read as he would have liked. So he could only guess and hope the books would be ones that Dale would have picked himself.
"Ya find anythin'?"
"Some clothes. Few medical supplies in the bathroom." Rick smirked at Daryl. "Playboy hidden under a mattress." Daryl chuckled.
"Ya brin' that yer carryin' it."
"Relax. I left it. Not exactly what I'd want to have at the end of the world anyway." Rick sighed. "I think this place was pretty worked over before we got here."
"Yeah but at least they didn' take ever'thin'."
"We got lucky." Rick agreed.
"Let's check outside." Daryl suggested as he adjusted his bags on his shoulders. The bag full of books was the heaviest but he was willing to deal with the discomfort. Realistically Daryl knew that if the books ever became a hindrance to the group's constant moving he'd have to leave them behind but for the time being he could keep manage moving them from house to house. "Might get lucky."
"Yeah last time that chainsaw blade worked wonders." Rick nodded following behind Daryl.
"There was that one house with gas cans in the garage should check there too."
"I looked it over nothing in there expect a bike and some skateboards."
"Damn." They opened the door to the back and saw a very messy yard. A few months without lawn care made the houses look jungle like.
"Would hate to mow this." Rick whistled. Daryl was about to agree when something caught his eye. A giant clear building pushed towards the side of the yard. Daryl moved quickly towards it wanting to be right. "Daryl?" Rick called softly when the man didn't slow down, he rushed after him.
"It's a greenhouse." Daryl said pulling hard on the doors.
"So?"
"So…" Daryl growled tugging at the handles. "Some people grow plants or vegetables. Hell some people have medicinal gardens." The doors screeched open and Daryl slipped inside the warm room. Rick followed closely behind.
"Would it really survive without water?" Daryl pointed to a line running through the roof of the greenhouse.
"See that? It's a water line probably separate from the house. These plants actually look pretty healthy all things considered." He said looking closer at the foliage. Some of the plants were yellow and brown clearly dead but a good number of them were alive.
"I don't see anything that could help us out." Rick said with a sigh.
"Nah ya just don' know what to look for." Daryl corrected working his way through the stacks of plants. There weren't any vegetables that he could see. But a few of the plants had seeds that humans could eat. They were bitter as hell but edible. There was also a few plants they could use to heal burns and stuffy noses. Daryl started grabbing leaves and roots from the ones that could help but left enough so the plant wouldn't die. If they ended up staying in the area long enough they might need the supplies again he reasoned.
"Do you really know what all of this stuff is?" Daryl nodded.
"Most of it."
"When we were running out of medical supplies a while back you went out and brought us herbs. How did you learn about them?" Rick asked watching Daryl closely as he added different plants to his bag.
"Merle taught me a little. Though he only knew a few of the plants and their uses. Some I figured out on my own or read about in Hershel's book." Daryl rested on his heels and looked up at Rick as he spoke. "Sometimes the only thin' I had to treat wounds were plants. Learned pretty quick which ones helped and which ones made it worse." Daryl clambered to his feet and checked around the other side. It was full of mostly exotic plants like Orchids and some plants that Daryl had only seen in books. There was even a large Bird of Paradise in one corner.
"You know a lot don't you?"
"Hershel probably knows more." Daryl shrugged. He set his bag down on the edge of the shelf while he examined the plants closely.
"Why do you do that?" Rick sighed. His blue eyes were sharp watching Daryl closely.
"Do what?" Daryl ran his fingers over the Bird of Paradise. It looked like it was doing incredibly well all things considered.
"Brush off your accomplishments and skills like they don't mean anything."
"Cause they don'."
"But you-"
"Look ya could be the strongest, smartest guy alive and still get bit. Skills don' matter anymore."
"You're right. It's good to be cautious and being overconfident can get you killed. But I feel like that's not the case with you. That you slight yourself because you really don't think the things you do are impressive or worthy of praise at all." Rick said moving closer to Daryl. His eyes were burning into the man.
"How I feel 'bout myself doesn' mean shit 'specially not now." Daryl growled trying to move past Rick who had started to close in on Daryl as an argument started to build between them.
"It does! Every time anyone tries to thank you, you brush us off! You're a part of this group but you always keep yourself away from us." Daryl felt his heart rate increase as Rick pressed in closer. The walls seemed to be closing in on him and Rick was blocking the only escape he had. Daryl wanted to pull away, he didn't want to talk about any of this. He didn't want to be surrounded and backed into a corner like he was. Rick moved in pinning Daryl against the shelf. The metal dug into his back as he tried to gain as much space as he could. There was barely any room for him to breathe. Things were getting too tight. "Daryl this group needs you. You're important to us." Daryl couldn't hear outside of the roaring in his ears. Trapped trapped trapped. His eyes kept looking frantically for a way out. The room was collapsing in on him.
"Ya are a useless little fuck. Don' forget that boy. Ya are worth less than the air ya breathe." Daryl could feel his father's hand on his scalp pulling him up. He could feel his father twist his arm and twist until it snapped. Daryl could feel the agony of his father's hunting knife digging into his shoulder blade.
"Daryl?" Rick asked from somewhere far away. Daryl's body was trembling and his breathing was coming out in strangled little gasps like someone had his fingers around the hunter's windpipe and was squeezing it tightly. Rick noticed that Daryl's eyes had a slightly glazed almost glassy look to them as they darted all over the room. It looked like he wasn't really aware of where he was. "Daryl?" Rick called softly trying to draw the man back to him.
Daryl was mumbling something quietly, too quiet for Rick to understand but he could see the hunter's chapped lips moving rapidly. Rick slowly and gently reached out to touch Daryl's shoulder where he could hopefully snap him out whatever he'd fallen into. The second Rick's fingers brushed against Daryl's vest the man went rigid and everything stopped. Rick worried that Daryl was going to pass out because he had stopped breathing. Rick went to apply more pressure so he'd be able to catch Daryl if he fell again. He was so focused on looking for a sign of Daryl's body collapsing again. There was no warning. Everything was frozen almost timeless one second and the next the world exploded.
Well that's another chapter done! I don't usually like cliff hangers and don't usually leave things on them. But it was either that or combine this chapter 7 and 8 and that would make it really really long. So enjoy the cliff hanger (I know no one enjoys those! So I'm kidding about enjoying it.) Review if you can and again thanks for all the reviews and favorites so far! They really make me super happy.
