His eyes fluttered open slowly. The first thing that he noticed was that it was dark outside of the window to his right. The second thing he took noticed was that his side ache something awful. Reaching his hand up to his ribs he felt bandages and tape. Another thing that came to his attention was a pounding in his temple and with a reach of his hand again he confirmed that he was bandaged. Taking that moment to try and stretch length wise in the bed is when he noticed the last thing.
His sister was laying on her stomach with her arms curled up under her chest. Her mouth hung open slightly and her long red pony tail was hanging off the other side of the bed. Daryl pulled himself further up in bed situating himself painfully in the sitting position. Taking a shaky breath as a stich of pain pieced into his side where the arrow had punched through the skin. Once the pain subsided he glanced back down at his baby sister.
His mind flashed back to when she was little, around the age of four. Just after their mother died he would wake up in the middle of the night to find her curled up at the end of his bed. Daryl had never had the heart to wake her so he always found her blanket and covered her up with it. He smirked a little to himself. She slept just like she did when she was a toddler too. All curled up and on her stomach.
Daryl felt his eyes getting heavy again but with Zoey laying at his feet he wouldn't be able to get comfortable by himself. So with as much strength that he had left in his tired worn out body he tapped the bed with his hand. "Hey, pssst, Zoey wake up a minute." He whispered harshly. His only reply from the red head was a groan as she rolled her head away from the noise. So again but with a little more force, as much as it pained him, he slapped the mattress again and a slightly louder gruff, "HEY". Zoey started and her head flew upward looking around wearily for any signs of danger.
A foggy sleep induced confusion clouded her brain from making any connection to what had woken her. At first she thought she was back in her own room but clearly she could see she wasn't. That's when she heard Daryl whisper from the head of the bed. "Hey, come over 'ere and help me adjust these damn things." Zoey sat up slowly at first and wiped the little trail of drool that and formed in the corner of her mouth whiles she slept. Standing she made a slow approach to the top of the bed grasping Daryl's arm carefully. She helped him sit forward a little and listened to him groan out a few slurred, "son of a bitch." Once he was forward enough she pooled the pillows into a nice puddle that would allow him to lay there in a somewhat sitting up position.
She was quite awake now and didn't know if she would be able to sleep anymore. So she sat down on the chair that Lori had occupied for so long while Carl had been in the room. Once her brother had gotten as comfortable as he was going to get his eyes seemed to collapse on themselves and he was out, snoring slightly. She glanced at the night stand clock confirming that it was still only 4:45 in the morning.
Seeing that Daryl was sleeping again she took this time to go back to camp for a minute. Trotting down the front steps and to the supplies they had collected, she hoped that they still had some coffee and maybe even a little powdered creamer. Sitting on top of the camper was Shane, who nodded to her with a grim look. She lifted her hand in a quick wave as she rummaged through the cans, and quickly found she was in luck. A large can of coffee that they had was still there. It was only about half full but it was better than nothing. Grasping the can in her hands she turned to the utensils and dug for the percolator.
Once the items were found she placed them next to the pit and filled the metal filter with coffee grounds and the bottom with plenty of water. Starting the fire was the hard part, there was nothing left but warm coals that weren't even red at the moment. So she stacked some wood on top of the coals and placed some dried moss in the middle of the pile. Now for the lighting it thing, she patted her clothes down looking for the lighter she had stored away in one of her pockets. Finding the lump in her front pants pocket she pulled it out and flicked it a few times.
Finding that the fuel was low in this lighter she quickly held it to the dry crispy moss watching it catch quickly. Hoping that it would stay lit she pulled some dried grass from behind her and used it to light the other side. Once the flames were sufficiently high and the wood crackling she placed the grate back over the middle and waited for the flames to be low enough not to hurt the coffee pot.
The percolator bubbled and steamed signaling that it was done. Zoey quickly filled her tin cup and set it aside to cool a moment so she wouldn't burn her tongue. She hadn't been able to find any of the powdered creamer, much to her disappointment. So once it was cool enough she sipped on the bitter concoction slowly, hoping it would help her stay awake for the day. It had taken a good hour to get the coffee ready and now the group was emerging from their tents.
Andrea had already taken a cup to the top of the R.V to relieve Shane, who was now sitting by the fire guzzling his cup. Rick was up and helping a tired and sore Carl to the fire so that he could sit and eat the breakfast that Carol was preparing. Lori was the last out of her tent a look of exhaustion was evident with the dark semicircles under her eyes. Carl was sitting next to Zoey calmly eating his share of the newly found powdered eggs, with a silly smile plastered on his face.
Glenn was now standing and pacing silently in front of the group. Zoey kept her eyes on the man and noticed that Dale stood off to the side doing the same. Finally Glenn stilled and turned to the group and with a deep breath he announced. "There are walkers in the barn." The announcement didn't surprise the red head because of her priory knowledge but the rest of the group was now either staring in shock or standing and shouting.
"How long have you known this?" Shane exclaimed as he took a step towards the Asian man. Dale stepped in then in his almost parental manner explained that he had talked to Hershel and that the other older man only saw them as sick. Rick stood and gently pushed Shane back into the group and announced, "I will see what I can do. Talk to Hershel about this, maybe get him to see the truth of the matter." Everyone quieted down at this but were no less uncomfortable about the situation.
When all settled down Zoey took her leave and headed back to the house to check on her brother. She knew he was stubborn so they may need help keeping him down. She smiled the thought of him trying to push his way out of bed was all too amusing to her, but she knew he needed his rest.
As she entered his room she noticed that he was awake and Beth, as promised was delivering him some food. Daryl was laying on his back his arms crossed looking highly annoyed. Zoey smiled widely at him when he noticed her. 'Oh don't be a baby.' She signed at him only gaining a glare from him before she changed the subject. 'How did you mess yourself up this time?' her question meant to be humorous but he only snorted. "Fell down a hill looking for something." Once Beth excused herself politely Zoey patted her on the shoulder as she left.
The red head turned her attention back to her surly sibling with a determined look on her face, waiting for him to finish his story. 'Sofia said she lost her doll. I thought I saw it but the only way to get a better look was to climb down this hill. About halfway down I grabbed at a root but behind the damn thing was this big fat snake, and I let go. It was too steep and I lost my footing.' He signed as he turned to face and eye the food with obvious hunger. Zoey walked around the bed and slumped down in the chair putting her feet on the edge of the mattress. 'I landed on one of my arrows.' He said as he pointed to his side. She nodded and then she added for his benefit. 'Then Andrea shot you when she thought you were a walker.' She finished for him. "Stupid bitch.'' He snorted. "Hey hand me that plate while you're sitting there being useless." He said. She slid her feet back to the floor and gently placed the food on his lap.
Once he had finished she took the plate back to the kitchen where Hershel and his family were eating. When the old man noticed her he turned and asked, "Is he still awake I would like to take a look and make sure he is still doing ok?" Zoey nodded with a smile and headed back to her brothers side. Hershel followed behind drying his hands on a towel. "Let's take a look at those wounds and make sure you don't have a concussion." Daryl grumbled and rolled onto his side to give the man a better look at his wound.
With a quick assessment it was announced that he didn't have an infection yet and that there was no concussion. Hershel even announced that he could go back to his tent, as long as he didn't move around too much. So after he left Daryl made Zoey help him back to camp where he laid down and sulked. Zoey left him alone to relax.
The camp was buzzing and everyone was moving around. Even Sofia and Carl were slowly walking around getting used to being up. When it came time for their lessons Zoey sat not far away listening to what Lori was teaching them. Rick had decided that it was time to teach more of the group how to fire a weapon. Zoey didn't need to go so she stayed behind with the children, Daryl and Lori, but everyone including Beth, Jimmy, and Patricia went.
It was quiet without all the voices around to make conversation. It was a surprisingly comfortable silence so much so that Zoey found herself closing her eyes and listening to the soft voices of the lesson. It felt like hours when the group got back, minus Shane and Andrea. Rick had explained that Shane had taken the blond out to see if there was anything of use to be scavenged from the houses not far from the little town, and should be back by sun down.
Beth waved Zoey over with an excited expression, so the red head dragged herself to her feet. When she reached the little blonde she smiled wider. "Daddy said that I can ride for a little bit, I was wondering if you wanted to come." Zoey stared at her a minute before shrugging. 'Don't really know how to ride but sure I will go. I don't have anything else to do.' She signed at Beth who just smiled more. "Don't worry I can show you. It aint hard kinda like riddin' a bike. Only without the pedaling." She grabbed Zoey's arm and drug her in the direction of the stables.
Beth went through the steps of how to saddle and place the bit in the horse's mouth. Even got on her selected horse first and showered her how to rein the horse in whatever directions. So with a deep breath she flung herself up in to the saddle. The horse took a few steps to the side once she was seated causing Zoey to grab onto the horn of the saddle to catch her balance. When the horse relaxed so did Zoey and slowly, once they got moving, a smile spread across her face. Beth had been right wasn't hard at all.
She and Beth rode around for an hour, back into the woods but never out of sight of the house. They even got to go faster than a walk once, which the red head found exhilarating. When they finished and the saddles had been put away Beth put a halter on both and led them out of the stables, confusing Zoey slightly. Beth just smiled and said, "Can't put them away hot. Gotta cool them down so they aint sweating." So Zoey trotted up to her and took the lead rope of the pretty bay she had been riding and walked the animal around, a smile on her face.
Beth had just finish putting her horse in the stall when the cracking of gun shots startled both of them. There were just one then a few second later three in secession. Zoey took off out of the stable and headed in the direction of the barn, where the sound was coming from, Beth close behind her.
Turning the corner the first thing she saw was Rick pulling his gun and shooting what looked like a walker on a leash. The next thing she saw was Shane wildly pulling and breaking the locks on the barn, ultimately releasing the contained walkers from within. Startled she grabbed the blonds arm as the girl made a move to head towards them. Zoey guided her up behind Hershel and Rick out of firing range.
One by one the walkers were pouring out of the barn and everyone was shooting. Even Daryl was out of bed and shooting a 12 gage at the living dead. The sounds seem to go on forever before it stop and a stunned silence hung in the air. Zoey didn't bother to hold back her friend any longer and watched as she headed straight into the group of corpses looking for a particular body. Zoey cover her mouth, making it seem like she was guarding against the smell, but she knew better.
Just as Beth removed a decaying body of a walker from that of another it lunged knocking her over as she let out a scream. Maggie was closest and was attempting to pull her sister from the grips of the dead women, when Andrea flung a scythe and pieced the back of the walkers head. When Zoey got closer she realized that this women in life look a lot like some of the picture on the Greene's fridge. The final understanding set in when Beth stood up and stormed off in the direction of the house. Zoey could hear the girl's sobs echoing in her head.