We walked quietly while Daryl looked for any targets and I looked for walkers. Every so often Daryl would catch a squirrel, but we didn't really find much else.
"Come on Daryl, it's been hours and all we have are about fourteen squirrels. Let just go ba-" I was saying, but he cut me off by covering my mouth. He took his hand back to prepair is bow and stalk forward. I stayed back and watched knowing I would get in the way if I followed. Daryl was getting pretty far, so I started following, keeping my distance. As I got closer I caught a glimpse of what Daryl was hunting: deer. I watched as Daryl pulled the arrow in the crossbow and shot it into the trees. There was a thump as the deer fell, clearly dead. Daryl turned to me and grinned then started walking towards supper.
We walked through the heavy forest only to find the group surrounding the deer, which was being eaten by a walker.
"Think we could cut around it?" Daryl asked.
"Wouldn't chance it." Shane said before walking back to the RV.
"Well, so much for that. Damn walker." I said as Daryl and I walked back to camp. "Who's that guy with Lori?" I asked Daryl.
"No idea, but I'ma find out." He said walking up to the RV where everyone was. "Who's this?" He said looking at everyone.
"This is Rick, he helped everyone get back from Atlanta and he's Lori's husband." Shane said.
Looking around, Daryl asked "Where's Merle?".
"Yea, I gotta have a word with him" I said, remembering how he left without saying anything to us.
"Well, you see," Rick started. "Your brother was a danger to the whole group so I hand cuffed him to a roof and the key was dropped."
"You locked Merle to a roof and left him there?!" Daryl yelled.
"What the hell is wrong with you? Just walk in here and take charge? No way in hell!" I yelled at him, then noticed Daryl from the corner of my eye. He was looking around then he suddenly took the squirrels from the hunt and chucked them at Rick who swiftly dodged them. It took T-Dog, Shane and Dale to hold Daryl back from beating Rick. I, on the other hand was being towed away by Andrea and Lori before I could do anything.
"Just let me go! I won't touch your precious husband. God!" I said, struggling in their grip as they brought my to my tent.
"It's just safer for you if you stay here for a while, we don't need you getting hurt." Lori said calmly.
"HA! It's Rick who's gonna get hurt!" I spat in her face. I finally broke out of their grips and stomped into my tent. I know Merle isn't the greatest, but seriously. Who locks a man on a roof then leaves him to die?
"Assholes." I said to myself. "Bunch of fucking assholes."
I layed back on the sleeping bag and stared at the top for a long time. No one came to check on me, but it was weird that Daryl didn't get stuck in here too. He probably went for a walk like he usually does. I turned on my side and grabbed Daryl's knife that I'd been using earlier. I looked at the blade and the dirt on it. Probably blood from walkers or maybe people who deserved it. I was twirling it in my hands when I heard the zipper on the tent open. I quickly put it down and watched to see who it was.
Daryl walked into the tent and sat on Merle's sleeping bad. He looked around and went through Merle's stuff, guns, knives, drugs and who knows what else. I sighed and turned over, figuring Daryl didn't want to talk. I was watching the light come through tiny holes in the screen when I heard a sniffle. I whipped my head around to see Daryl crying. I sat up quickly and went to sit by him.
"Bunch of assholes." He said, wiping his nose.
"Hey, Merle's one tough son of a bitch. He's gonna get out of there and he's gonna be just fine." I said, as I watched him. He leaned forward, letting his head fall. We sat like that for a while. Just sitting beside each other in complete silence until Daryl spoke.
"I'm going to look for him." He said, looking at me.
"But he probably won't even be on that roof by now." I said back, trying to convince him to stay.
"He's my bother, I ain't leavin' him to die like that." he said, getting up to grab some gear.
"Well I'll go with you. To help." I said as I stood up.
"No way. Last thing I need is for you t' go missin' too. You're stayin' here." He said as he grabbed some arrows for his crossbow.
"Common, I can help. You know I'm good with a knife." I pleaded, not wanting to be alone with these people or lose him.
"Ya you are, thats why you need to stay here." He said. "They need someone who can keep them safe."
"Fine. I'll stay here and do nothing. But you better come back." I said looking down.
"I'll be fine and you know it." He laughed.
"Ya. Just promise you'll come back tonight." I said quietly, as I felt the embarassment spread across my face.
"Whatever. Promise." He said as he grabbed the rest of his gear and walked to leave the tent. I let out a sigh and followed him to the camp, seeing that everyone was still talking.
