Chapter 5-Fighting

Shane's P.O.V

Shane runs through the woods, and he can hear Rick behind him as he runs, watching Sophia as she runs and the two walkers chase her. Shane gets in front of the girl and then runs onto the path she was on, catching her as she runs into his arms as Rick comes out of the woods. "Shoot them," Sophia cries as she grabs for Shane's gun.

"No, we can't," Shane tells her. "If we do, that herd on the highway will hear it, and they will come after all of us. I'm going to keep you safe. Come on," Shane says as he picks her up and runs with Rick behind him. They get to a river and step into the water. "In there," Shane says as he puts Sophia in the hole with branches covering it. "Rick, you think you'll be okay to lead them away?" Shane asks his former partner, who nods. "Try to use your knife. Once you get them away, I'll get Sophia back to the highway."

"Keep her safe, brother."

"You got it," Shane says as he gets in the hole with Sophia as the walkers get to the river.

"COME ON! YOU UGLY SONS OF BITCHES," Rick shouts as he splashes water toward the walkers. They growl at the man as one falls into the river, and Rick runs away, and they follow him. After a moment, Shane climbs out of the hole and grabs Sophia.

"Come on, sweetie," Shane says as he picks her up and gets her above the river before he climbs up and picks her up. He starts to run back towards the highways when he hears three growls in front of him. They are cut off by walkers. "Shit," She says as he turns and starts to run through the woods.

Merle's P.O.V

Merle stood by Carol as they heard footsteps and saw Rick come out of the woods without Sophia and Shane. "Where are they?" Carol asks him.

"They're not back?" Rick asks as he climbs over the guardrail.

"No," Glenn answers. "What happened?"

"Shane kept Sophia safe while I led the walkers away," Rick explains. "He said he'd bring her back."

"T-dog, Freya, Daryl, Glenn. You're with me, come on," Merle says as he looks at Carol. "I'm going to fine them, I swear to god. Take us where you last saw them," Merle tells Rick, who nods as he leads them into the woods, and Carol watches.

Blaire's P.O.V

Blaire and Jenner stop the car in the woods and help Jackson over to his camp. "Sweetie, It's Noah and me. We have some guests," Jackson says as they enter the camp and see a woman holding a shotgun and two boys standing behind her. "This is my wife, Ivy, and my sons, Ryder and Evan. This is Edwin Jenner and his daughter Blaire."

"What happened?" Ivy asks.

"I got attacked. They helped us," Jackson says as they set him down in a chair. "You guys are welcomed to stay with us for the night, and if you wish, we can travel together."

Blaire looks at her father, who nods. "We'd like that."

Shane's P.O.V

Shane ran through the woods with Sophia in his arm. He could hear at least two walkers behind him. He ran past a tree as a walker grabbed his ankle, causing him to fall to the ground and roll down a hill.

Sophia's P.O.V

Sophia laid on the forest floor and pulled herself up as the two walkers got closer. She looked at the bottom of the hill where Shane laid on the ground. She ran down the hill and fell down beside the man. "Shane, Shane," Sophia says as her voice breaks. "Wake up, please," She pleads as Shane opens his eyes and looks at the girl.

"Run, Sophia," Shane tells the girl. "Hide," He growls. "NOW," Sophia nods as she runs over to a tree as the walkers fall down the hill and start to pull themself up. Shane gets on his knees and slowly pulls himself up and lets out a grunt of pain as his legs buck, and he falls back on his knees. Shane grabbed the first walker by its arm as it came towards him and threw it on the ground. He pulled his knife out and slammed it into the back of the walker's head as the other walker grabbed him and took him to the ground. Shane held the walker up as Sophia grabbed the knife on her hip. She came out from behind the tree and went behind the walker. She stabs the walker in the back of the head, and it slumps as Sophia stares at the body.

"Are you okay?" Sophia asks softly.

"I'm alright," Shane says as he looks at the walker Sophia killed. "Good job, kid," Shane says as he pulls Sophia's knife out and hands it to her before he pulls his own out.

"Your head," Sophia says. Shane reaches up to his forehead and feels blood. Shane looks at his side and sees blood on his shirt. He lifts his shirt and sees that his side is cut open, and a small piece of wood is in it. Shane looks at Sophia.

"Hey," They turn around as a man comes out of the woods. "Are you okay?"

"No," Shane says.

"I wanna help, but I need you to put your weapons down."

"It's okay," Shane says as he sets his knife and gun down, and Sophia does the same. The man comes up to them and looks at Shane.

"Were you a bit?"

"No, got a stick in my side," Shane says. "Pretty sure my ankle might be sprained or broken."

"I'm Otis," He says.

"Shane, this is Sophia."

"You two alone?" Otis asks.

"We got a group back on the highway."

"I got a farm, a man there who can patch you up. Let me get you there, talk with Hershel, and your group can stay with us for a little while."

"Thank you," Sophia says.

"Hershel won't send kids back out there," Otis says as he helps Shane stand up.

"How far is this farm?" Shane asks.

"A mile," Otis tells him. Shane nods as they start to walk.

"It's going to be dark soon," Sophia says as she looks at the sun as it is set.

"If we have to, we'll wait until tomorrow," Shane tells Sophia, who nods.

Merle's P.O.V

Merle and Daryl walked through the woods after telling the group to head back to the highway. "Too many damn tracks, man," Daryl says. "We gotta get back, it will be dark soon, and then we'll be stepping on each other."

"You suggest that we leave them in the woods?" Merle asks.

"Shane's smart. If we stay out here, we'll get lost as well," Daryl tells his brother. "We gotta be smart about this."

"Alright," Merle says.

The highway

Daryl and Merle walk back onto the highway. "You didn't find them?" Carol asks with tears in her eyes.

"No, there were too many tracks. They could have been cut off by some walkers. Shane could be hiding with her and coming back in the morning. We have to be smart about this," Merle says. "Tomorrow, we'll eat and set up a search grid. Some of us will go after Sophia and Shane, and the rest will stay here and finish clearing the highway.

"My daughter shouldn't be sleeping in the woods," Sophia says.

"She won't be alone," Daryl says. "We'll find them tomorrow; Merle's probably right. There were a lot of walkers out there. Shane probably just found somewhere to lie low for the night."

Carol doesn't say anything as she walks away from the group.

Shane's P.O.V

Shane, Otis, and Sophia shut the gate as they see a man and woman come out of the house. "Otis, you okay?" The woman asks.

"I'm okay," Otis says. "Our friend here isn't."

"What happened?" The older man asks.

"I ran from some of the dead and fell down a hill," Shane answers. Hershel looks at Otis.

"He's got a kid, Hershel."

"Bring him inside," Hershel says after a moment of silence. Otis nods as he helps Shane inside the house. They take him to Hershel's room and lay him on the bed. "Otis, go find him some new clothes."

Otis nods as he leaves the room, and Shane pulls his shirt off so Hershel can look at his side. "I'll have to take this out and stitch it up."

"Alright," Shane says. Hershel pulls the stick out and presses cloth against the wound.

"Is she your daughter?" Hershel asks as he looks at Sophia, who is sitting in a chair.

"No, she's part of our group. Her mother and the rest of our group are on the highway."

"You have a group?" Hershel asks Shane, who nods. "How many?"

"Twenty," Shane answers.

"How many children?" Hershel asks.

"Four," Shane answers. "Otis said you would offer us a place to stay."

"My family has been shielded from the horrors out there. You are asking me to let twenty strangers onto my property," Hershel tells him.

"I'm asking you to save the lives of twenty people," Shane says. "For a couple of days, maybe weeks, one of our group members has a farm, but it will take us days to get there; if you let us stay here, we can send a small group to check it out, and our children will be safe, we can help each other, we have supplies, we can show you how to survive."

"You're their leader?" Hershel asks.

"One of them, another man leads. His name is Merle," Shane says. "You can save some lives. All I'm asking is for a chance."

"That is asking a lot these days," Hershel tells him.

"I know."

"You're not going anywhere with your wounds as it is, I will allow your group to stay here until you figure out more about this farm, but there are some rules you'll have to follow."

"What are they?"

"We'll talk about them more tomorrow after the other man gets her. I'll get you some water and food," Hershel says as he leaves the room. A couple of minutes later, Hershel comes in with two plates of food and sets them down as Otis hands them water. "Tomorrow, you two will ride out with Otis to get your group. After that, you are on bed rest," Hershel tells Shane, who nods. "Alright, get some sleep," Hershel says before he leaves the room with Otis. Shutting the door behind him. Shane eats and looks at Sophia.

"You okay?"

"I need to wash my doll," Sophia says as she shows him the doll, and Shane laughs.

"I bet your Mama will help you tomorrow," Shane says as he sets his plate on the nightstand.

"Can I sleep with you?" Sophia asks after a moment of silence, and Shane nods as the girl climbs into the bed, and they slowly fall asleep.

Thanks for reading. Next chapter, the group arrives at the farm and makes their next move. Carol thanks Shane for saving his daughter, and Daryl starts to form a bond with the farmer's daughter. As always, suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.