The night is calm and the temperature mild. Tessa sits in the dark guard tower alone observing the few Walkers outside the gates but she dare not waist bullets. She just watches them with empty emotions as they mindlessly stagger about. A moment pass until something in the distant trees catches her attention. Curiously, she gets up and goes to the opposite window to better view the faint, red light eerily flowing through the woods like a beacon. Her breathing quickens with nervous energy and she lifts the rifle to look through the scope. The light passes between the trees.
Now she sees it… now she don't until suddenly... it stops and hovers in one spot.
Tessa is tempted to squeeze the trigger but at such a range she knows she won't make the shot.
Then, just as it appeared, the red light vanishes back into thin air and the woods goes completely dark.
{FADE IN WALKING DEAD THEME MUSIC}
Tessa is shaken but keeps her weapon aimed. She scans the area in view but after seeing no additional signs, she lowers the rifle. This will not be good.
OPENING CREDITS...
At the first break of light, Tessa walks towards the gates armed with her Recurve bow over her shoulders. Like a man on a mission, she is focused on her task ahead. Rosita, who is now manning the entrance, watches as Tessa approaches.
"Hey. What's up? It's pretty early." ask Rosita
"Just heading out," says Tessa trying not to engage to much in conversation. Rosita looks to her.
"You know," starts Rosita. "You should chill. The last few days you've done more than all of us combined. You deserve a break already."
"I'm not going out for supplies. Just taking a walk."
"It's not exactly a walk in the park out there. A lot of us aren't pulling serious shifts. Ask someone to go with you. "
Rosita is now pretty concerned and unwilling to just let Tessa go. To her, there seems to be something "off" about Tessa today.
" I'll be fine, Rosita. I'm a big girl," smiles Tessa politely to assure Rosita.
Rosita looks at her for a moment but slight nods and proceeds to open the gate.
"Alright."
The gate opens and Tessa continues through with her mind focused on her agenda ahead. Rosita calls out to her.
"Hey…"
Tessa turns to her.
"Everyone really appreciates what you did. Just… be careful out there."
She closes the gates. Tessa hesitantly turns away. She knows she is appreciated but that will change if she fails at one thing. Tessa walks on.
The day is in full swing approximately twelve noon. On his new bike, Daryl rides up to the gates and stop. He expects Rosita, who's shift should have ended by now, to open them. She doesn't. Instead, she goes over to him.
"Going anywhere particular?" she ask.
"Naw," says Daryl shutting of the engine. "Just got done fixing on my bike. I'm gone take it out for a spin. Why?"
Rosita pause for a moment. It should be nothing to be concerned about yet she says something anyway.
"Tessa's out there."
Daryl pauses for a moment, sensing her growing concern.
"Okay… She alright?"
"She seemed a bit on edge about something. Just... keep an eye out for her."
Daryl nods.
"Alright," nods Daryl. "If I come across her I'll see what's up."
Rosita goes back to the gates and opens them for Daryl to proceeded forward. After cranking his vehicle he rides out a bit puzzled to what that was about. Knowing Tessa, she could handle herself so safety probably isn't the thing that has Rosita concerned for why Tessa is out alone. Whatever it is he may find out soon enough.
Like a tigress on the prowl, Tessa moves through the thick, lush green forest examining every possible sign for what she had seen last night. Nothing… but she feels she is close and walks on deeper into the woods.
Meanwhile, Daryl rides down the road until something on the side catches his eye. He brings the bike to a halt next to the object and looks at it before picking it up.
Tessa.
He looks around in either direction for additional signs of her, gets off his bike and walks to the side where the object was lying. In the moist soil, a slight skid mark as if someone lost footing a bit going down the slope into the woods. The tracks recover and continue as faint footprints.
Taking his bike by the handles, Daryl walks it over to the less steep slope and into the woods.
He covers the last of his vehicle with loose branches and foliage before scanning the area for any additional signs he may have missed. To be sure, he starts a few tracks back and works his way from there. Daryl paces just a few feet before noticing the tracks getting scarce. One foot print here, another one there, until eventually they become almost non existing. Confusion is his expression. Surprisingly, Daryl Dixon is having trouble reading Tessa's tracks. They are so lightly imprinted in the soil there are barely any tracks at all.
As he continues, Daryl eventually notices a pattern. Of the tracks he could see, are around fallen leaves and sticks with only half a footprint embedded next to the forest debris. That's when Daryl realizes, Tessa is using the pine needles, sticks and leaves as a tarp to step on and cover her tracks. Daryl thinks to himself "Clever chick but why the trouble?" and continue forward.
Hours pass. Tessa snoops around an area she has discovered as a hot spot for the mysterious light. There are no legible footprints but the soil has been disturbed. A few feet from her in the dirt, Tessa uncovers a glass beer bottle. She crotches to pick it up and tilts the bottle towards her noise to catch a whiff of the scent. It's fresh. Fairly fresh. Possibly within the same hours when she saw the light. Tessa glances around for any additional signs. Nothing.
Just as she is about to head off, she is shaken by a shuffling noise that rattles through the trees.
Though she is already well camouflaged with her golden tan skin reflecting with the sunlight beaming through the canopy and natural colored clothes, Tessa takes extra precaution and dashes for cover behind a large tree. Her breathing quickens but she takes a few deep ones to calm her nerves as she calmly places an arrow on the bow's arrow rest and clips it on the drawstring. Rearing against the tree, Tessa listens to the footprints close in from behind.
The footprints stumble closer and closer. Walker?... No. The sound is too controlled. Tessa feels her heart sprinting in her chest, so she inhales another breath of courage before readying her weapon. The noise is now close enough.
With fierceness in every muscle of her body, Tessa leaps out from behind the tree. Arrow aimed, ready for release- she fires but immediately jerks her forward hand down tipping the arrow off balance. It strikes the ground just missing the intruder's feet. Tessa completely freezes upon seeing another arrow aimed at her. Seconds later, Tessa releases the remainder of her nervous energy and lowers her weapon as did the other archer who collects the arrow at his feet. Tension in her blood, Tessa rushes over to him.
"Daryl, what are you do- I could have killed you!" she growls snatching the arrow from him.
"Same here," says Daryl. He is upset but remains calm.
"Stop stalking me!"
"Stop leaving your bread crumbs," says Daryl hastily tossing the object from the side of the road at her.
She flinches but she catches it giving him an annoyed yet frustrated glare before walking off in the opposite direction.
Daryl looks on after her before noticing the empty bottle on the ground. He kicks it over to see the fresh beer label. Curious yet suspicious, he looks in the direction of Tessa who is walking off in the distance.
"This bottle is pretty fresh. Is this hers?... Nah, she don't look like she's been drinking. If not, who's is it? And is she looking for 'em? Or maybe she just happen to find this… I'll just keep and eye on her."
Taking another glance around, Daryl heads in the direction of Tessa.
Tessa is in lead, taking large enough steps as if trying to put enough distances between herself and the other archer. Apparently, they've been walking in silence for a while scanning the area for additional signs but Daryl studies her from behind.
"You should really try staying put sometime," starts Daryl. "Always seems like you've got a whole lot of nothing to do."
Tessa remains silent and continues to walk.
"You know, you're being just like your cousin. She was always running off when we were at-"
Tessa immediately stops and turns to him.
" I'm gonna stop you right there. I admire her but we're not the same. I'm not… running off."
"Then what you getting defensive for?
Tessa glares at him with frustration as she sucks her teeth to hold back some words.
"Go back or keep up," she says firmly and turns away. Daryl stands looking on after her with suspicion as she heads off. "Yeah, I know." He follows.
After walking the woods for sometime, Daryl and Tessa are heading back in the direction of the road. They haven't said much to each other all this time but and in a sense, that's okay with Daryl. Through the silence, he can tell this is a woman of action. Whatever she sets her focus on Tessa is going after it. Yet, just looking at her and making speculations isn't going to tell him everything he needs to know. Time to start fishing around.
"Maybe not just like Michonne but there is a pattern," starts Daryl following up behind.
Tessa sighs calmly but continues along.
"We're at this again huh?"
"Yeah…. You're looking for something."
"Maybe I'm just looking for a piece of mind."
"Well you ain't gone find it out here."
"You think you've got me figured out, don't you?"
"I do."
"Alright. Shoot."
"Ya' do a good deed then pull away because you're still not sure if you fit here. Either that or you're afraid of something."
Tessa remains quiet at his chatter but tries to compose her feelings. "What's is he getting at?"
She thinks as Daryl resume chatter.
"But what you said before about not being with a group... I don't believe you."
"...Well, you don't have to," defends Tessa. "But you can believe this. After what happened… I know I can't sta—"
Tessa's words are cut short as she discovers A FOOT PRINT IN A SHALLOW WATERY PUDDLE going in the direction in which they just came. She stops.
"Hold up," she says.
Daryl stops and walks over to see what is puzzling her. A sense of suspense fills the air as they view the unknown print.
"Did you do thi- no..."
She stops her herself after glancing at Daryl's feet.
"It's barely your size… and the sole pattern isn't mine."
"Yeah..." says Daryl examing the track. "It's too perfect to be a Walker and its fresh, too. Somebody's following us," says Daryl who is now on edge.
"Or tracking us," mumbles Tessa too low for Daryl to hear. A worried expression fills her face as she ponders more on the matter.
Suddenly, crackling is heard in the distance. Through the trees, a figure moves close enough to be seen by The Archers but far enough not to see them. It's not a Walker but a large man walking away from their position as if creeping through stalking something unseen. He wears neutral clothing and seems to be holding something that neither of them could make out. Most likely a weapon. Tessa starts in the opposite direction but Daryl, now on defense with his crossbow aimed, moves towards the figure ready to investigate. Tessa steps to him making direct eye contact yet he is still focusing on the figure ahead.
" Let's go," whispers Tessa firmly.
"No. We can't run," says Daryl pushing past her.
"They haven't spotted us so we still have the advantage."
"They'll just track us back to the community. I'm going to shadow 'em now and find out who he's with."
Tessa stomps directly in his path as serious as before.
"No!" protest Tessa. Her whisper having a hint of aggression this time. "If there are others we will be outnumbered."
Daryl tries moving past her but this girl is persistent.
"We'll throw them off for a chase. Confuse our tracks long enough to put some distance between us if that's what it takes."
Wanting to push past again, Daryl instead finds himself in conflict with her words. He glances to the distant intruder but ends up locking eyes with Tessa. Seeing his demeanor change, Tessa tries to reason.
"Daryl, sometimes to win you have to do the smart thing not always the brave. Running doesn't make you coward no more than confronting them makes you a man. Believe me…. not this time."
Now, voices are heard. Sounds like three men. He glances in the direction then back to Tessa. She's right. As tough as he may be, Daryl alone is no match for three men particularly ones he know nothing about. How big they are, how strong, what they're capable of...? Also, there is Tessa's safety to be concerned with. Eventually, Daryl gives in.
"C'mon," he nods putting his crossbow back over his shoulders. Daryl nudges Tessa in front of him and they run in the opposite direction from the potential threats.
Tessa hops about in the clay like mud making multiple tracks. She then trails off into the brush in either direction. Daryl just stands back observing her behavior. He gets what she is trying to accomplish but to what purpose.
"This should keep 'em busy," says Tessa stopping next to him.
Daryl just looks at the mess of tracks she created.
"Your turn."
"This is stupid," says Daryl bluntly.
"Well, I don't see you coming up with anything."
"That ain't gone do much. If they're good they'll catch on and pick up on the strongest end."
"Yes but like I said, the confusion will slow them down. By then, let's hope to be inside Alexandria. Until then, we should be conscience of where we step."
Daryl looks at Tessa. It is apparent to him that she has had to do this before. But he sighs plays along stepping around a few times in the clay. When he finish, they dart off in a different direction off the woodland trail.
Now back at the roadside where Daryl found the object, they rip the natural covering of branches and leaves off the bike and walks it up the slope onto the road. Just as the two step on pavement, a Walker appears close by between them and the way to Alexandria. It growls and limps towards them. Daryl pops the bike's kickstand and loads his crossbow.
"I got 'em," he says aiming for it but Tessa rushes over to him. She reaches out and lower his weapon.
"Leave it."
Confused Daryl looks to her.
"What the f- Why?"
"You shouldn't leave bread crumbs," says Tessa in regards of what he told her earlier. She digs through her backpack and pulls out a medium length rope. Tessa tosses one end to him. Daryl catches the rope and tightens his grip on it.
"Plus, there's more than one way to skin a cat."
They starts towards the Walker. The middle of the rope snags it's midsection and staggers it backwards. Keeping the rope tight, they push it off the roadside sending it rolling down the slope. Tessa recollects the rope as they rush back to the bike. Daryl cranks it up as Tessa gets on behind him and settles in the seat. He shuffles a bit at the gentle placements of her hands wrapping around him. Her left across his midsection and her right covering his heart. He nearly freezes completely after feeling her body press slightly against his back but he snaps out of it and gently places her right hand to his waist.
"Relax a bit," he says. "Hang on."
"I won't let go."
He ruts the engine and takes off down the road towards Alexandria.
Its early evening when the motorcycle reaches the gates of the community. It comes to a halt for the guards to open. Awaiting their arrival, Sasha and Abraham opens them and Daryl rides through but he doesn't stop. Instead, he continues through the community as the two look on after them then closes the gates.
Daryl brings the bike to a halt in front of the house of Rick and Michonne. He shuts off the engine as Tessa gets off.
"Thanks," she says.
"Yeah."
Michonne exits the house. Tessa turns back to Daryl.
"We keep our encounter on the low," says Tessa swiftly turning away.
Still on his bike, Daryl curiously looks on after her. What they saw could mean the safety of the community and she wants to keep it a secret? This pushes his suspicion over the edge but he remains quiet.
"Hey," greets Michonne reaching to hug Tessa. "What are ya'll up to?"
Daryl watches as they break the bond. Particularly Tessa. She's acting completely calm as if they just went to the park or something.
"Nothing," reply Tessa. "We were just out and about. Daryl was teaching me more about tracking."
Michonne flashes a smile his way. Hesitantly, Daryl just balls his lips rears his head up in agreement. She turns back to Tessa.
"If you hungry I managed to make something I think you'd like."
"Hungry not the word. I could eat whatever moves right now."
Tessa heads up the steps to the door.
"Come on in. I made plenty," calls Michonne to Daryl.
"Thanks but nah. I'm gone finish working on this bike before it gets to dark."
"Well, I'll put a plate up for you. Come by and get it when you're done."
Daryl gives a nod and starts his bike as Michonne heads up the steps. Tessa leans against the frame with the door half open watching as he gives her one more glance before riding off. Her eyes trailing him as he go. Michonne stands next to Tessa and watches her watching Daryl.
"Thought you already knew how to track?"
"….There's always something to learn."
She heads inside with Michonne following.