Chapter 2

-It's not all moose and maple syrup -

The moon was high and everyone appeared to be sleeping soundly aside from herself and the two on watch. The Asian fellow was on the other side of the clearing. Daryl had taken up a position on the next tree over from her, leaning against it with crossbow in hand. He peered out into the darkness.

"Can you at least turn me around?" She asked. He looked at her and scowled. When he didn't respond she sighed. "I'm not trying to get away or anything. I've been perfectly well behaved. I just don't want my back to the woods. I'd rather not have a dead guy sneak up behind me."

He didn't look at her this time. She guessed he wasn't the chatty type.

"You're Daryl, right?" He continued to ignore her. She frowned. She was cold and tired which was a bad combination for her. She could feel the earth leeching away her body heat. "You don't talk much do you t?"

Still nothing.

Undeterred, she continued. In the very least it kept her from thinking about what could be concealed in the darkness behind her. "You do have a bit of an accent. So does that Rick guy. I can't quite place it though. Your bunch isn't from around here. Where are you from?"

She looked at him in the moonlight. He was dressed in a leather coat that was a size too big. Most likely something grabbed on the run to compensate for the cold weather. She tried to remember what the others in the group were wearing. They had some cold weather clothing but it wasn't really good stuff.

"You're from the south, right?" Yeah, that got her a scowl. "Well Welcome to Canada y'all!" She said in the most bastardized southern drawl she could muster. "Didja come from Al-ah-bah-mah? Are ye he-ar from Tex-ass?" She frowned, trying to remember other southern states that might sound red-necky. "Mayhap yer here from Miss-iss-ippy?"

"Shut up."

His answer was terse. She was annoying him. Well, she had nothing else to do. "It speaks!" She smiled. She tucked her legs up close to her body, feet flat on the ground, trying to preserve some body heat. "So am I right? Do I get a prize?"

"You'll get a smack if ya keep at it."

Definitely southern USA, they were american and far from home. "You know, we have this thing called winter here." She cast him a sideways glance, he had returned his attention to the crossbow. She shivered and was reminded of a poem.

Archer sighed and spoke quietly. "This is a country where a man can die, simply by being caught outside."

That got his attention. "Yer pretty brave ta threaten' when yer hogtied."

She rolled her eyes. "It's part of a poem by a man named Nowlan, not a threat. They had it plastered all over the subways and buses back in Toronto. I think it was some kind of effort to celebrate Canadian culture, or something."

"Ain't that all Moose meat an' maple syrup?"

She raised an eyebrow. "You ever seen a moose?"

"What's there to see? Just a horse with antlers."

"Huh." It was her turn to laugh. "If you like, I can point you in their general direction during mating season. Should be g-good t-times." Her teeth chattered on that one. She was shivering now.

He frowned, picking up his bow and walking back towards the campfire. She probably pushed him too hard. She hadn't realized how much safer she felt with him standing guard. She craned her neck to look behind her, unsure of what she would do if she saw something.

"Lift your butt up." Daryl commanded. She looked back to see him standing there with a bedroll. She did as she was bid and he slipped it under her. He folded it around her, tucking it behind her shoulders and arms.

"Th-th-thank you." She chattered, surprised at the act of kindness.

"All that talk 'bout winter and yer the one whose shiverin'" He smirked. He was kinda cute, for a red-neck.

"Yeah but I'm just a city slicker. We didn't get much snow in the city."

"So how'd a city girl like you end up out here?"

"Long story." She yawned. The sleeping bag insulated her from the cold of the ground. Archer was warmer now, but still so damn tired. "We'll go for coffee some day. I'll tell you all about it." She blinked hard, willing herself to stay awake. "That's a very nice crossbow you have. Good thing to have these days. Quiet and the arrows are reusable, provided you have the leisure to retrieve them." He didn't answer.

She continued undaunted. "Been in Canada long? See any sights? I highly recommend Vancouver. It's warmer there. Bit of a hike though, what with all the pesky mountains in the way."

"You talk too much."

"So I've been told." That earned her a grunt. "You're wrong about the moose meat and maple syrup though."

"Sure."

Her eyes were drooping. "It's more like rye and ketchup chips."

She fell asleep to the sound of his soft chuckling.