And at last, we have the first chapter to WTAF. Now, I had planned to post this last month but thought it would be better if I instead did it after the mid-season finale which was a smart idea, seeing as how that finale left us with nothing but annoyance and frustrations. So here's a little something to satisfy my fellow fans until February..~Lovely

-Where the Arrow Flies

-Paring(s): Rick Grimes/OC/Daryl Dixon

-Rating: M for gore, language, violence, and adult situations

-TV-based

Disclaimer: I don't own The Walking Dead. The characters belong to their creator Robert Kirkman. I only own the OCs introduced.

Chapter one:

"Not what expected"

Rick didn't anticipate who he encountered. Actually, in all honesty, he really didn't know what to expect after an arrow suddenly came flying out of nowhere. He forgot the world wasn't like it used to be. Some people had to become in tune with their former primal instincts to survive. That's why when he began looking around he thought he'd see a man, not a woman to be honest. He met her steely gaze just as her arm lowered the bow. She stared back quietly, assessing him. And he took the opportunity to do the same.

She was young that much Grimes could tell over the frigid air surrounding her that gave off a mature presence. Not his son's age but younger than he and his wife were. He could also see she'd been through a lot—her rigid stance, the dirt smeared on her face and clothes, and the cold glare of distrust. It made him wonder how long this fellow survivor had been out here. Unlike himself, Rick got lucky to stumble across Morgan and receive his aid. But this woman..she must have had it more rough, having to obviously scrounger through the woods to live on her own. From what he remembered, a full month passed. A month of chaos and only yourself; of course a person would easily harden in that amount of time. Though knowing that, the man began talking to her. He felt a startling need to earn her trust.

"..Hello." Silence; just the unrelenting stare. Even so, he kept speaking. "I don't mean you any harm. I was just looking for more gas." His hand holding the canister lifted to prove his statement.

At that, her expression changed slightly, showing annoyance. 'I know that.' it read as.

He blinked before giving a light chuckle. "Right. Kinda hard to miss, huh?"

A raised eyebrow. 'No duh.'

"But seeing as there isn't any here.." Gaze moving to meet hers again, he paused when seeing her turn her back and step away. Blue eyes lowered with a sigh. What was he doing? This person didn't need his help, sure as hell didn't want it. He guessed the officer in him couldn't help but try. Plus, Grimes had other priorities—like getting to Atlanta quick and finding his family. He didn't have the time or daylight to waste on someone in no mood for sympathy.

With that, he walked back to where his hat lay waiting and returned it to the top of his head where it belong. The officer started to leave when a sharp whistle made him snap his head back around. The woman stood a little further away now. She pointed to his canister and then in the direction she was headed, declaring suddenly in a clear russian accent.

"You want gas? Follow me." Blinking in disbelief for a second, he hurried after her; careful not to jostle his side too much.

Awkward..Awkward..Awk-ward.

That one word kept repeating itself in the young woman's head. It was quiet between the two as they walked side by side. She had waited when he finally followed after her. Also, it wasn't actually smart to have her back facing a complete stranger. That could possibly led to some bad shit she wanted no part of. But just walking next to someone else after being alone was weird for her.

Her gaze eventually drifted to peer at his profile, noticing he was a bit of a looker. He was also taller than her by a few inches, making her feel small which she hated being reminded of. Rick must have felt her staring because he glanced at her and gave a small smile. She looked away, embarrassed. Her eyes closed then and took a calming breath. What the hell was wrong with her? Why was she so self-aware of this man? As she steadied her resolve, the officer chose to speak then.

"Rick Grimes' my name, by the way." he at last introduced, "What's yours?" The survivor said not a word and instead faced straight ahead before walking a bit faster. Believing, the quicker she got back to the car, the more quicker he would be out of her hair.

At last, they arrived after a few minutes of silent walking. Grimes respectfully stopped near the back of the broken down 1970s Buick Station Wagon, trying also not to peer at the covered putrid body beside him. Though the smell made it a bit hard. He silently watched as she opened the driver side door and was attacked by not a walker but her dog, Harley. The sudden impact caused her to fall on her butt, allowing the pup better access to her dirty face. Rick let out a sigh of relief while removing his hand from his gun. Yet another thing he hadn't expected since meeting the solemn young woman..just like the gentle smile that soften her impassive expression as she was given sloppy kisses.

The sight caused one to form on his own face; greatly reassured that she wasn't completely alone in this abrupt deranged world. Seeming to forget she had other company, the survivor startled a bit when noticing him standing there with a smile too. The blank look returned, much to Rick's odd disappointment. She then carefully placed the dog down before climbing inside to get something. While she did, the beagle spied the man and trotted over cautiously. He slowly knelt down to not spook the animal and held his hand out for the dog to sniff.

The young woman, having retrieved what she planned to give him, observed the interaction. This was the deciding factor to whether or not she handed over him anything. Harley had reached him and gave his palm a good wet sniff. After a few seconds, he was presented with a lick—meaning he passed—while the opposite was either a bite or a low growl.

"Good, because I really don't want to go to that dark place others have." she thought with a slight grimace, "I'm..not ready for that just yet.."

With gloomy thoughts still in mind, she approached the two who were happily becoming acquainted. Harley now laid on his back while the officer rubbed his belly and called him a good boy; just soaking the granted affection up. Her brow raised to that. It had been a long while since her pet had done such a thing—putting his full trust in an unfamiliar person. Since the Beginning, the duo had only met a few other people who luckily were also decent but still untrustworthy. The young woman was good at reading people but it helped even more having the dog to confirm further her suspicions.

Blue eyes glanced up, seeing the archer standing there with a 20 liter gas canister. She had noticed it that morning but didn't really have any need for it. Walking was better in her opinion since having a car was a sure way to get mugged. Rick gave one last pat to Harley before standing as well. The beagle emitted a whine of disappointment. She handed the canister over without a word. He held it up to morning light and saw it had a decent amount—enough to at least get him half way to Atlanta which was better than nothing.

"Thank you." he smiled gratefully, lowering the can. She nodded once. They stood there quietly for a few moments as if pondering what else to say. He wanted nothing more than to beg her to come along but had a notion she'd strongly refuse and he wasn't about to force her.

Just then, a loud growl was heard between them but it wasn't from the beagle. Hazel eyes widen before closing in embarrassment as she realized the sound came from her empty stomach; mentally cursing it for its' impeccable timing. Grimes stared before letting out a laugh. His laugh was a low, rich tone that the survivor thought was nice and wouldn't mind hearing more of.

"Wait, why the hell would I?" she blinked, surprised by such a random thought. Occupied in her mind, Rick reached into his jacket pocket to pull out a bag of beef jerky he took from the police station back home.

"Here, have this. Think of it as a tradeoff for the gas."

Astonished by his kindness, the archer took the food without dispute and stared at it. The sound of a throat clearing had her look back at the stranger. With a polite tip of his hat, he thanked her again, said to take care of herself and Harley, before walking away. A sudden panic consumed her then. Part of her cried to call him back, that she was tired of being alone but another sedately reminded her of the motto and that she had lost too much already. Her mind had become a tug-of-war and the more the two halves of her being fought for dominance, the farther away Rick got.

—It's for the better..I'll just end up alone again.

Sweaty palms gripped the jerky bag tightly.

—But it's getting harder to fend for myself out here..

Hazel eyes snapped up and focused on his retreating back.

—He could be useful..just for a little while.

Resolute, her chapped lips quickly opened.

"WAIT!" Rick jumped at the shout and hurriedly turned back in the direction of the young woman.

"I'd like to come with you.."

A defeated sigh filled the warm air as yet again Grimes was met with nothing but static over the CB radio. Placing the mic back in its' slot, his gaze peered to the right at the person currently staring out the window in the passenger seat of his patrol car. They had been driving silently for an hour and the whole time she seemed to be fighting sleep. It was apparent she suffered from exhaustion, noted from the slight bags that formed under her eyes. Only she knew how long it had been since she's gotten some decent sleep.

"You know, you can take a nap if you need to." he encouraged gently. Alexa, the name she'd hesitantly gave him upon finally introduced, jumped a bit when his voice suddenly filled the once quiet space. Her appearance smoothly resumed its' usual stolid state before speaking.

"I don't need one." came her simple response. Rick rapidly understood she wasn't a conversationalist.

An unconvinced look was thrown her way. "I highly and clearly doubt that. I know we've just met but you don't have to be on your guard at the moment. I'm not gonna do anything and I won't let anything happen to you as long as you're with me."

The archer looked blankly at him then. "You shouldn't." She turned back to window, suddenly haunted. "It's safer if you don't.." The officer wanted to ask what had happen but out of respect and the lack of knowing each other, he decided against it. The silence continued as they headed for Atlanta until the car began to slow on its own and then shut off completely.

"Damn..looks like we're gonna have to walk from here." Blue eyes glared at the blinking fuel light for a second, turning to Alexa with a friendly smile. "Maybe we'll get lucky and—" His lighthearted comment fell short as he met with her back instead as she and her pup exited the dead vehicle. He sighed. Rick didn't know how much more of her anti-social attitude he could take but he wasn't giving up just yet.

"I'll get her to come around sooner or later."

Before leaving also, he opened the sun visor filled with a bundle of old violation tickets and on top was a photo of him and his lost family. Were they even in Atlanta—Georgia much less? Something deep inside him felt they were but the sick little demon named doubt whispered possible lies to counteract his thread of hope. A hard rapping on the windshield brought him out those wicked thoughts.

The young woman looked at him through the dirty glass questioningly, 'You okay in there?' He just tossed her a nod of reassurance. The man quickly removed the picture and hid it in his shirt pocket, finally exiting the car and joining her.

Thankfully, there wasn't much for him to bring during their walk—just his bags of guns and the gas can. While Alexa looked as if she was going hunting with her quiver, bow and almost full backpack. Harley was only one that trotted along carefree, save for the leash tethering him to his master.

It was already midday and the sun practically cooked them. Eventually, the young woman had enough of the heat and needed to stop. Rick agreed, affected also. As they rested along the side of the road, she passed over a Fuji Water which he took a gracious gulp from like the gods had blessed them with sweet nectar. Though, the clear content inside was warm and tasted like regular tap water but it better than nothing. She had another one with a squeeze top which was used for the panting dog.

"Here, there's still some left." he handed the one in his hand back, assuming that it was her only water as well. The young woman shook her head and surprisingly pulled one more from her bag, shaking it at him with a slight smirk before taking a drink. For someone who didn't want to open up, she was very thoughtful of others.

Once done, she removed her jacket, revealing a black racerback tank that read 'Love Your Poison' accompanied by a skull and crossbones. The man beside her raised a brow which she chose to ignore. He was able now to see her fully and noticed right away how skinny her body was. The father in him couldn't help mentally voicing its' concern for her lack of weight. But her arms were amazingly tone—the obvious result from years mastering a bow. With his gaze already focused on her arms, she brushed back her sweaty, tousled blond hair causing him to see the once hidden tattoo—two solid armbands circled her forearm in pitch black ink.

He pointed the bottle in their direction. "Those are interesting." Hazel eyes blinked in confusion so he noted them again with more details. "Your tattoos. They mean anything?" She peered down and brushed a finger along the thinner band.

"..Mourning." she uttered, not meeting his gaze.

"..Ah, sorry."

She looked over from the corner of her eye. "For what?"

"I brought up something painful for you." Grimes stated in a soft voice.

"I-It's fine..it happen long before.." informed the archer with hesitation, "Everything went to hell. I've grown to live with it now."

"Hmm." was all the man said, taking another sip from his bottle. They sat in a comfortable silence for a few moments. "You know, that's the most you've said to me about yourself in the past couple hours." He had already told her about why he was headed to Atlanta, his name, and former profession so far but had only received her and her pet's name. It made him glad to know a little bit about her. Rick telling her that seemed to suddenly unsettle her as a grimace appeared and she abruptly stood, shuffling her stuff back on.

"We need to get to Atlanta while there's still daylight." Alexa deadpanned, distant once more. He nodded, sighing. One foot in the door only to be slammed shut on..

Why couldn't he just leave her alone? Why couldn't they just travel together without trying to bond? The archer was starting to regret her decision to come along. It was bad enough she acted on the selfish desire in the first place.

'Well, you can just leave if it's too much.' reminded a voice in her head.

"True..but Rick doesn't know what he's getting into going back home." she told, "I..need to at least warn him."

'Oh, you're calling him by his name now?' The voice tutted disapprovingly. 'Already becoming attached. How troubling.'

"Shut up! You have no right to scold me anymore." Alexa barked, "..You're dead."

'..And where you'll be if you keep this up.'

"Hey, there's a house up ahead." Rick declared, bringing her out of her deranged thoughts. She grunted in response, tired of being haunted by ghosts. Plus, it was another reason she didn't want to get close.

"I don't want him or anyone to treat me like I'm crazy.."

World-weary hazel orbs stared at the place they stumbled upon. A white farmhouse that was in desperate need of a paint job. Spotting a dented mailbox, the name Siggard had been written in paint. But it looked as if the Siggard family had long abandoned their home, though that didn't stop the officer from calling out.

"Hello?" he said, dropping his things and heading towards the quiet home. "Police officer out here. Can I borrow some gas?" The young woman rolled her eyes in annoyance. Did he have no idea that a person's voice could be their biggest downfall nowadays? She gave a quick command to Harley in russian to stay put before hurrying after him. He made it to the front door when she finally caught up, grabbing his arm hard.

"Did you forget that easily how the world is now?" she reprimanded harshly, "The people who once lived here could be roaming around as unfriendlies and you just notified them of us."

He gently patted her hand, saying smoothly. "Calm down. If they are, we'll deal with them. Simple as that."

His hand was pushed away then before the young woman stormed passed him. She armed herself with one of her arrows, keeping it clutched tight as her wary gaze peered into each of the three windows. At the last one, her body froze. Inside was a gruesome scene involving the owners and it caused flashbacks to invade Alexa's mind of a similar incident not long ago. She became hard from it, pushing people out and staying alone as a result, but the pain it caused never went away no matter how much she tried. Close to the point of hyperventilating, her vision was suddenly blackout by something soft yet warm. Trembling fingers reached up to grasp the obstruction, feeling the familiar texture of a man's hand.

"Don't look at that anymore." Grimes' voice then filled her pounding ears. His voice attempted to sound strong but even she could spy the falter as he no doubt stared inside and was deeply affected as well. After a moment, he lead them away; only removing his hand when they were off the porch. The unlikely companions separated then, both feeling awkward. The survivor opened her mouth to say something before deciding against it and heading back to Harley who waited patiently with a wag of his tail.

Rick, on the other hand, had to take a seat and recollect himself all while fighting back the urge to vomit. He now fully comprehended the gravity of his situation. Those people inside saw the world was ending and saw no other way out. Who knew how many other had done the same? While others like himself barely scratched the surface of survival. Weary blue eyes shifted over to the archer. Then there were ones similar to Alexa and Morgan who stared tragedy in the face and kept going, haunted and solemn—a fragile shell of their former self.

He watched as she petted the beagle with a sad smile. His heart went out for her. When he saw her tense and on the brick of a breakdown, it was first time the man saw how delicate she really was beneath that tough act. With everything like it was, her demeanor was understandable. Such weaknesses could get a person killed or worse, used. Alexa soon came back to join him, silently sitting beside him on the stone bench. Harley, sensing his somber mood, propped himself up on the officer's leg with a whine.

"So.." began the young woman slowly, "You know how to hot wire a car?" She jerked her thumb to the pick up behind them.

"No," he answered, giving her a somewhat disapproving look. She rolled her eyes. "So let's hope there's keys." He stood then and went to check with Alexa trailing behind, disinterested. Unfortunately, luck still seemed not on their side that day. It looked like they had no choice but to at last enter the godforsaken house.

A stern finger was pointed at Rick's apathetic companion. "I'll head inside the house. You—" The nickering of a horse had him paused. Two pairs of eyes glanced to the right and sure enough, a neglected brown and white horse stood grazing alone in an enclosure. Grimes raised a brow then, an apparent idea forming in his head. The survivor quickly caught on, eyes widening.

She didn't like this. Sure, they needed to get to Atlanta quickly but riding there on horseback. Hell. No. One, Alexa had a terrible fear of horses—all due to falling off and breaking her right arm during lessons as a child. She still had the long scar to prove it. And two, a big animal like that in a most definitely overrun zombie city was like waving food in front of a starving man. They'd practically be walking bait. But Rick Grimes enjoyed going by his own agenda. So now, the young woman—who currently leaned causal against a fence post—and her pet could only watch as he literally tried negotiating with the wary beast.

"Easy. Easy now. I'm not gonna hurt you. Nothing like that." he calmly told it, "More like a proposal. Atlanta's just down the road a ways. It's safe there—food, shelter, people."

"Wrong. Wrong. And wrong!" Alexa almost blurted but managed to hold back.

'You really shouldn't. Now is a pretty time to.'

She inwardly groaned. "Ugh, you're back."

'I'm never really gone, you know that. I only choose when to pop up.'

"Well, I wished you'd disappear and I'm gonna tell him once he gets done befriending that crafty beast."

'You and your fear of horses, haha.'

"Fuck you." she muttered aloud.

"Uh..you say something?" The archer jumped. Her male companion stared at her curiously. Though he asked, it was apparent he heard her. Blonde-haired head shook no with an embarrassed blush.

"Well, she's willing to come with us." the man said, smiling as he patted the horse's side. Realizing how close she was to it, she stepped back a few steps.

"Uh-huh.." remarked the survivor, eying their new friend warily.

"Wait..are you scared of her?"

Hazel eyes glared. "So what if I am?" Fully expecting him to make fun of her, he instead just smiled kindly.

"I'll get her ready and then we'll deal with that fear of yours." he informed before walking by, leaving her staring dumbfounded. Regaining her composure, the young woman followed but stayed at a safe distance in the entrance of the barn. Grimes managed to find the reins and saddle fairly quickly, placing them on the animal knowingly. Without realizing, she began worrying her bottom lip. It was time to speak up before he got himself killed.

Ignoring her fear, Alexa approached him and began rambling. "Look, there's something you need to know. Before I left Atlanta..the place was becoming a war zone. Unfriendlies were starting to outnumber the living and the army seemed to be losing." He opened his mouth to speak but didn't let him as she continued. "So if you still plan on going after knowing this, I'll..get you as far as you need to. After that, you're on your own." Nothing but the buzzing of bugs surrounded them once she finished; the two just standing there in the stifling Georgia heat.

"..I figured as much." was what came out of the officer; his determined blue eyes resting on her. "But I have to find my family and I won't stop until I do. So, yes, I'm still going."

The survivor looked away with a miffed tsk, running a hand through her hair. She then turned and walked out of the barn, tossing over her shoulder. "Fine. Let's get this pony on the road, Cowboy."

He blinked after her before repeating flatly, "Cowboy?"

If you wanted to see Alexa's complete outfit and tattoo, check the link under Where the Arrow Flies visuals in my bio. Also, give a little listen to the playlist I made the story(Link's also in bio)!

Lovely's Honorable Mentions:

sousie, Esm3rald, Nanda21, Jeirinxoxo, MrsBennyLafitte, SmillyReaper, belladu57, CrystalVixen93, MisstyxTB, I Love Calamity, Times eternal servant, animemangaobsessed, nathaliedew98, WalkingSaint18, blondmage, Romance123, goldenemu, Bucky Bae Barne, RiverWinchester, Moony and Pads, Ivorywhite1434, MLGJessica, nathaliedew98, Squishy97, Cooky Crumbla, Comidia Del Arte, mayasquared, deadartssociety, Aristanae1864, ImaBiteChu, Enora of Kaneda, NightStalkerblade, lynn2008

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