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"The Pathway of Fate"
Chapter 4: Missing
Season 2, Episode 1: "What Lies Ahead"
Main Pairing: Kagome Higurashi/Daryl Dixon
Author's Note:
2nd Season Summary: After the CDC blows up, Kagome, Daryl, and the others have to find a new place to settle down and regroup. It's easier said than done. Soon after escaping one dangerous situation, Sophia and Kagome go missing when a herd of Walkers blaze through the highway, Carl ends up critically shot, and Shane is rapidly losing control of his sanity. Arriving at a seemingly peaceful farm, Rick and the others are desperate to stay and most are willing to abide by the new rules. But it's the ones who are not that have to be carefully watched…
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Once the group was far away from the remains of the CDC and relatively clear of wandering Walkers, they pulled over to regroup and basically reaffirm that they were, indeed, alive. The explosion had been a close call, and everyone was still shaken up and in shock. They also needed time to mourn another lost friend, Jacqui.
Kagome hopped out of the passenger seat, while Daryl rounded the front of his truck to stay by her side. Their hands instinctively caught and held each other, both taking comfort from the connection, as they walked forward to join the others in a loose huddle.
Hugs were passed between the women and children, who either clung to their mothers or Kagome. The men, on the other hand, nodded to each other in acknowledgement, their weapons out and eyes scanning their surroundings for any threats.
Lori pulled away from embracing Kagome, her eyes looking over the young Asian woman's face. "How are you feeling, honey?" she asked, concerned. "That was a… pretty hard hit you took." She sent a small reproachful glance in Daryl's direction.
"Woke her up, didn't it?" the hunter defended, scowling. His arm was still a little sore from her sucker punch, but it wasn't like he would admit to it.
Kagome rolled her eyes at him. "I'm fine, Lori. Thank you," she said, smiling.
"What do we do now?" Dale asked, brows furrowed as he glanced around the group. His eyes landed on Andrea, and his lips compressed as he saw the numb state she was in. He would never regret saving her. He just wished she wouldn't give up so easily.
Rick spoke up. "Our options had been either the CDC or Fort Benning. I think it's time we tried the army base, see if they're still up and running."
"Now you're talkin'," Shane agreed, nodding to show his full support for the plan. He'd known going there had been the right decision from the start. People needed to start listening to him again. He knew what he was talking about.
Everyone else seemed to also agree. They broke apart to take stock of their belongings and begin preparing for the journey ahead.
Kagome followed Daryl back to his truck. "What do you think about this plan?" she asked once she knew they were completely alone and wouldn't be overheard.
They stopped near the truck bed, and the hunter began looking through their things. She leaned her arms along the top, watching, knowing he was contemplating how to answer.
"I think it's the only plan we got," he finally said.
She nodded. "Atlanta has been overrun with Walkers for a while. The city is lost. Moving on would be our best bet." Inwardly, however, she didn't think she fully trusted Shane. The man was too confrontational, too temperamental. He seemed very controlling, too. It made her worried. Any plan of his should be taken with a grain of salt. Men like that… Who knew what he was capable of? "What can you tell me about Shane?"
Daryl finally stopped what he was doing to look at Kagome. He raised an eyebrow. "Noticed it too, did you?"
"I'm not an idiot," she replied, a small, unamused smirk appearing on her face. "From what you told me, Shane was the leader of your Quarry group until Rick came back practically from the dead. Though, he didn't give a very good first impression."
"Naw, he didn't." He paused then admitted, "But he was the first to volunteer to go back for Merle. He did right by me." And that spoke of the other man's honor. It was enough for Daryl to consider him a good leader.
Kagome's expression turned serious. "Shane, on the other hand…" she trailed off, knowing nothing else needed to be said. The former deputy had washed his hands of Merle the moment he could justify the action. Back in the Feudal Era, no members of their group had been left behind, no matter the situation.
"Yeah," was all Daryl said in response.
"We don't have to stay," she tried. "Daryl, we could start looking for Merle."
He wanted to do just that, more than anything, but… "Not yet." Grabbing the crossbow bolts she'd found for him, he started checking the arrowheads. They were sharp and clean. There was no doubt Kagome had made sure they'd shoot without any problems.
Her head cocked to one side, like a curious puppy. "Why not?" His answer had actually surprised her, though she knew he had his reasons.
Daryl looked at her with an intensity that had her heart fluttering, breath catching in her lungs. "Jus'… not yet," he repeated. Reaching a hand out, he tucked her hair behind her ear. "We'll wait. We'll wait until we find somewhere safe. Go from there."
"Alright," she softly acquiesced. She rubbed her cheek – the one he'd slapped, ironically, but was no longer red – against his rough palm, taking comfort in the sweet gesture. She smiled, and changed the subject. "Let's get moving. We have to take inventory of what we have, what we'll need."
He nodded, a small smile curving his own lips. "The bolts look good," he said, grateful.
Kagome easily shrugged. "I cleaned and sharpened them while I was working on my own arrows. No big deal." She playfully winked, adding, "But you're welcome."
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It was with some regret that Daryl made the hard decision to leave his pickup truck behind. Instead, he'd ride Merle's motorcycle, while the rest of the group would hitch rides in either the RV or Carol's Cherokee. Gas was hard to come by, so limiting the number of vehicles was necessary. Leaving Merle's motorcycle, however, was not.
"At least our stuff can fit into my backpack," Kagome mused. Said yellow pack was strapped securely to the bike, while her messenger bag was slung across her body. Positioning their combined weapons had been more tricky but not undoable. Currently, she and Daryl were giving the truck a once-over to make sure they didn't leave anything valuable behind.
"Your bag is unnatural," the hunter muttered. He checked under the front seat, hand sweeping underneath for any foreign objects. When he brushed against something soft and silky, his brows furrowed in confusion. He grabbed it.
Indignant, Kagome huffed. "My bag is not unnatural," she grumbled. She opened the glove compartment, and a small article of clothing fell to the floorboard. Her brows furrowed and she reached down to pick it up.
Then, as one, they showed their sudden find.
"Panties," Kagome said, blinking rapidly. "Two pairs of… panties." The one Daryl held were cheeky boy shorts that were violet and silky. The pair she held was a fire-engine red thong made of delicate lace.
Her expression abruptly turned deadpanned. "Really, Daryl? Panties? How many are you keeping in here?" she asked.
The smirk he gave her was downright naughty. "I really am gonna miss this truck." He snatched the pair she held and placed both in his back pocket. "I was lookin' for those, by the way."
"Hey, those are mine," she protested, almost hopping across the seats to retrieve them. Daryl was too fast, however, and he retreated a safe distance from her grabby hands. "Daryl!"
All she heard in response were his soft, deep chuckles. She pouted.
"Jerk."
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Her butt was getting numb from the continued vibrations of the motorcycle, but Kagome didn't complain. She just tightened the hold she had around Daryl's waist, snuggling her head between his shoulder blades. The wind whipped around them, warm and dry. She was thankful she'd tied her hair into a high ponytail otherwise the raven colored strands would've lashed her face silly.
At the moment, she was just thankful she could take a moment to enjoy the Sun. Enjoy the Sun with the guy who was beginning to mean everything to her. They might not be able to do the same thing again. Enjoy the little things. She had learned to do that while traveling around Feudal Japan with her companions.
Sometimes, Kagome wished she had done a little more of that instead of constantly fighting for her life. But it hadn't been called the Warring States Era because it was peaceful. And she'd had a duty to fulfill.
Now it was just about survival.
Closing her eyes, she tilted her head back, soaking in the Sun's rays. With the sound of the motorcycle drumming in her ears, with her arms wrapped around the guy she cared deeply about, and with a group of people she was mostly beginning to accept, Kagome let a small smile appear.
Enjoy the little things.
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Daryl knew what Kagome was doing, what she was feeling. Her emotions had always been displayed easily – or at least to him it was. He didn't need to look back to know she was enjoying the sunshine and fresh air. When she was out on her own, her guard had to remain up and alert. She didn't have the luxury of just relaxing and taking a deep breath.
Now that they were together once more, she did. Daryl would make sure Kagome had more moments like these. They were already few and far between. He'd watch her back, make sure she was safe, like he knew she would do for him.
As the miles added up, his thoughts drifted.
At first, he'd wanted to gut Rick. The former Sheriff had admitted to imprisoning Merle on the roof of a building getting swarmed with Walkers. The only protection came in the form of a chained door. Nobody had wanted to save the oldest Dixon either.
But Rick had volunteered to go, like Daryl had pointed out to Kagome. The other man had been reunited with his wife and son against all odds, yet had wanted to go back for a man he clearly didn't like. And all because it had been the right thing to do. Rick had done right by Daryl. He didn't have to do half the things he did, but had. The hunter found that honorable, almost something to admire too.
Maybe, he thought, maybe having a leader like Rick wouldn't be so bad. It was definitely an improvement from how Shane ran things, the controlling bastard. Being a part of a sizeable group was also added protection, extra eyes to keep watch of the surroundings.
It was something to seriously consider, anyway. Daryl now had Kagome to think about. What was best for her? Sure, they could go off on their own to search for Merle. But they didn't have any good, solid leads, and too much time had passed since then and now. It wouldn't be smart, and they – he – had to play it smart. For her. For Kagome.
He released one of the motorcycle's handlebars to place his hand over her clasped ones around his waist. She turned one enough to link their fingers, and he smiled.
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"This doesn't look good," Kagome murmured, eyes focused on the traffic problem laid out in front of them. Daryl carefully maneuvered the bike around the abandoned cars along the interstate as the others followed behind. The scent of rotting corpses had her nose scrunching in disgust but it was, unfortunately, not unfamiliar to her.
Daryl kept his gaze focused on their surroundings. "Yeah," he gruffly agreed. "Gonna be a bitch getting through this, especially with that RV." There were too many places for Walkers to be hiding, waiting for unsuspecting prey. Riding through all of it made him edgy.
Kagome released her hold on him to grab her bow, notching an arrow in preparation. She knew Daryl would have a hard time aiming his crossbow while steering, so it was up to her to keep them safe as they navigated through the wreckage.
It wasn't long, however, before they noticed the RV smoking and coming to a complete stop. Kagome patted Daryl's shoulder, and he pulled over to see what happened.
"Now what?" he muttered, impatient. The longer they stayed on the highway, the more exposed they became.
Dale came out of the RV, cursing and waving his hat to clear the smoke. "Damn it," he said, frustrated. "Damn it. I knew it. I knew this would happen sooner than later. Dead in the water, I tell you."
Rick came up as everyone gathered around the RV. "What's the problem, Dale?" he asked.
"Radiator hose burst again. Where the hell am I gonna find another one?"
Shane gestured to the abandoned vehicles surrounding them. "If you can't find a radiator hose here…"
"We could scavenge supplies," Kagome said, shrugging. "We could at least check it out while we're looking for parts." Everyone seemed to agree, finding merit behind the suggestion.
"We could siphon more fuel from these cars, for a start," T-Dog said.
Carol added, "Maybe some water?"
Lori seemed to be the only one with a problem with the plan. "It's like a graveyard," she slowly said, clearly uncomfortable. "I don't know how I feel about this."
"We're going to need the supplies if we want to keep going," Kagome gently pointed out. She could understand the reluctance, but survival was paramount. "And if not us, someone else certainly will."
Shane called out, "You heard her. Gather what you can, y'all."
Kagome watched as Dale enlisted Glenn to help with the RV. "Sometimes, the points get corroded," the older man explained. He handed the Korean male a screwdriver. "Radiator hose clamp is always a flat-head."
Rick took up watch with a rifle behind the RV, while Dale climbed to his post on the roof.
Her eyes eventually landed on Andrea, the quiet blonde woman who hadn't spoken much at the CDC. She had obviously gone through something traumatic, and Kagome couldn't blame her time of mourning… However, she makes it obvious she doesn't like doing the mundane. Andrea was doing a half-assed job looking through the cars. And when she gave up searching altogether to go back into the RV, Kagome softly snorted through her nose.
"Somethin' wrong?" Daryl asked, coming up from behind. He'd seen the same thing as Kagome, and mentally rolled his eyes. Andrea was going to be a problem, at least until she got her head out of her ass.
"Nothing that won't correct itself in time," she responded. She turned a smile onto the hunter. "Weren't you going to get fuel with T-Dog?"
He grunted as his affirmative. "Stay close to me."
"After I check those cars." With that, Kagome walked away to thoroughly search the cars that Andrea previously had. Unlike the blonde woman, she knew any supplies were important for the whole of the group, not just the individual.
Daryl rolled his eyes but joined her.
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With Kagome
"What are we looking for, Miss Gome?" Sophia curiously asked, watching the young Asian woman look through the contents of a car trunk. The little girl was happy Kagome had made it out of the CDC safely and was now part of their group. She had been so scared when facing the possibility of getting blown up, but Kagome had faced the danger with calm and poise. She'd even been able to talk Doctor Jenner into letting them live. Sophia had found that inspiring and brave.
Kagome hummed, eyes scanning the clothes she'd found. It needed a good washing but it was otherwise fine. If no one could wear it, they'd make good rags and impromptu bandages.
"We're just looking for anything that can be used. Food would be good, and water. Medical supplies would be great."
Carol approached, curious. She smiled as she picked up a red top, holding it up to her chest. "Ed never let me wear nice things like this," she said. She showed the find to Lori, who still looked unnerved about what they were doing.
"Keep it, then," Kagome said, smiling at Carol.
"Oh, no, I couldn't," the older woman instantly protested. "I mean – Where would I even wear it to? It's silly and not practical at all."
Kagome scoffed good-naturedly. "Carol, come on. I'd kill for chocolate. Wouldn't you call that silly and not practical?"
Lori's expression seemed to lighten at the comment. She even chuckled. "Honey, that's just called being a sane woman." From her side, Carl wrinkled his nose, not understanding what one had to do with the other.
"Fair enough," she laughed.
Still fingering the fabric, Carol smiled down at it. The company she kept was good too. Lori had been the best friend she'd needed, and Kagome was sweet and kind. Sophia also adored her, which was always a plus to Carol.
Sophia lightly tugged on her mother's shirt sleeve. When her mother glanced in her direction, she gave a small, timid smile. "You should keep it, Mama," she encouraged. "It'll look nice on you."
"You think so?" Surprise colored her expression, not expecting her daughter to say something like that. But Carol had also noticed that Sophia had been opening up more and more since Ed's death. It was nice to see. It gave Carol hope for a better tomorrow.
Sophia nodded happily. "I do. Like Miss Gome said, keep it."
"Well, alright then," she chuckled. "I will. We should find something for you, too, Sophia."
"Okay," the little girl enthused.
Glenn suddenly hollered for joy, which caught everyone's attention. Kagome smiled, seeing the Korean male celebrate his and Shane's find.
"Looks like we solved our water problem," she said, pleased.
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Kagome had left Lori and Carol with the children to search for Daryl when her senses started tingling in an alarming way. She instantly stopped where she was, focusing, amethyst eyes sharpening as she took in the surroundings. The hand that held her bow tightened.
The air had suddenly stilled, and the sounds of birds were gone. She couldn't even hear insects chirping. Everything went eerily quiet. Each puff of breath she released felt like a mini explosion in the deafening silence. The very atmosphere crackled with anticipation.
Walkers, her mind supplied. Her eyes narrowed, concentrating. A big group of them. And they were headed straight for their scattered people. There was no way of alerting them all at once without creating too much attention and noise.
"Get under the car," Daryl hissed quietly from behind.
Kagome didn't startle, didn't take a step to do as he ordered. She looked at the hunter from over her shoulder. "What about the others?" she hissed back. She was mostly referring to Sophia and Carl and their mothers. The others she wasn't too concerned about. They knew how to defend themselves.
"Rick's got'em," Daryl answered. From his height advantage, he was able to see farther than she, and he checked the progress of the incoming herd. He cursed under his breath when he saw a struggling T-Dog. "Get under the car. I gotta help T-Dog."
"I can help, too," she protested.
Daryl used one hand to grip her elbow, his crystal blue eyes direct and piercing. "Kags, don't argue with me right now. That herd's not waitin' for anyone, so you need to hide. Alright?"
Kagome bit her lip. She could just disobey Daryl, but he looked so serious and determined. Her priestess powers might solve the entire Walker problem, but… but it would only take her missing one. Just one overlooked Walker and they could lose someone, anyone. It was safer to let the herd pass them quietly. If things went according to plan, this dangerously terrifying experience would be over in minutes.
Sighing, she nodded. "Okay. But be safe, Daryl."
He smirked and pecked her on the lips. "Always. Now, get under the car. They're comin'."
"I'll be fine. Go help T-Dog." By the time she bellied under the nearest car, palms heating against the hot asphalt, Daryl was already gone and on his way to assist the other man. Kagome wiggled and squirmed into place and, when she figured she was in the perfect position, she pulled a hunting knife from a hidden sheath.
She was as ready as she could be to face the passing herd of Walkers. She just hoped everyone else made it out okay.
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With Daryl
He couldn't believe he was doing this. He couldn't believe he was actually trying to save the one partially responsible for abandoning Merle on a rooftop. But what choice did Daryl have? Like Rick, T-Dog had tried to do right by the younger Dixon brother. He had gone back for a man who would've beaten him black-and-blue if given the chance. And, in retrospect, he had chained the door to prevent Walkers from getting to Merle. Daryl supposed all of that had to be worth something, especially since anyone else – like Shane – would've left Merle with nothing. Would have maybe even killed him in an act of 'mercy.' T-Dog's actions had at least given the older Dixon a fighting chance.
Gritting his teeth, crossbow aimed and ready, Daryl swiftly yet silently made his way to T-Dog. The struggling male was losing blood fast, his shirt stained with the crimson liquid. It was attracting unwanted attention, and Daryl would have to think fast.
Shit. There was no way either man would have time to climb under a car to get away from the herd. They needed a Plan B.
T-Dog's eyes widened when he caught sight of Daryl, but was smart enough not to make a noise. Instead, his eyes darted around frantically, trying to figure out a way to get out of their current mess. One hand was clamped over his bleeding wound, the cut deep and stinging like Hell's fire. The flow of blood didn't appear as though it would slow anytime soon either, each spurt matching every beat of his racing heart.
Daryl held up a finger to his lips, the universal sign for 'quiet.' Slinging his crossbow around to lay across his back, he grabbed T-Dog and urged him to lie down on the hot asphalt. He only had precious few seconds to do what he needed to, so he worked fast.
Without hesitating, he dragged a corpse out of one of the nearby abandoned cars. He placed it over T-Dog, who was giving him an incredulous look. Daryl ignored him, and easily dragged over two more corpses, his eyes darting back to keep track of the approaching herd.
The first wave of Walkers was too close for comfort. Cursing under his breath, the hunter dragged one more corpse out of a car. Using the pile he'd placed over T-Dog, Daryl laid down next to it and pulled the body over his. He hoped the number of dead bodies were enough to camouflage the scent of fresh blood and their own living scent.
As the herd began walking passed their position, Daryl tensed, holding his breath. His only comfort came from the knowledge that Kagome was as well-hidden as she could be.
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With Kagome
The sheer amount of Walkers had her reconsidering her earlier thoughts. Maybe using her priestess powers would've been the better option. Although, it would mean exposing she had powers. Daryl didn't even know about them, let alone her adventures through time.
Kagome bit her bottom lip, fingers tightening on the handle of the knife. Her palm was beginning to sweat but her grip was sure, solid. Despite her thoughts, she knew it wouldn't be smart to expose herself now. The herd was almost completely passed her and the group. Hiding had definitely been the best choice, especially since she wasn't prepared to talk about her past and her special abilities.
For one thing, there would be a lot of questions she didn't want to answer yet. And second – the most important reason – she didn't trust Shane. The former deputy was becoming unhinged, and that made him dangerous and unpredictable.
Kagome took a deep, silent breath then released it slowly. Thinking about someone's mental instability could wait. She had more important issues to worry about, like wondering if Daryl and T-Dog were okay.
When the end of the herd passed, she waited a few extra moments, knowing stragglers could still be wandering around. It would just take one spotting her to rally multiple, so the raven haired beauty had to be cautious.
However, Kagome threw that thought immediately out the window when she heard a frightened scream.
Sophia!
Without a second thought, she rolled out from under the vehicle, knife poised and fluidly thrusting into the brain of one Walker that was a little too close. Kagome turned, eyes tracking, until she spotted the fleeing little girl, then she was running too. Heart in her throat, she helplessly watched as two Walkers chased Sophia down into a ditch and into the surrounding forest. The only shred of comfort Kagome felt was watching Rick also give chase.
Seconds later, Kagome disappeared into the woods, too.
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With Daryl
Standing on the roof of a car, the hunter used a hand to shade his eyes from the burning Sun. His crystal blue gaze trailed along the forest line, hoping to see Kagome, Sophia, and/or Rick. The former Sheriff had followed the little girl after a couple of Walkers had found her, and Kagome had followed the two.
Daryl scowled. I'm gonna put a leash on that woman, he mentally swore. He was getting a little tired of losing track of the raven haired beauty. First, at the beginning of the Walker invasion, then at the CDC, and now this.
Despite his feelings, however, he didn't run after Kagome or the others. Right now, the best option was to stay with the group. The last thing anyone needed was everyone taking off and getting lost in the woods or just passing each other without realizing it.
He hated it, but Daryl had to wait. Besides, he trusted Kagome to know what she was doing, and Rick, too. If Sophia stood a chance out there, it would be with both or either of them.
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With Sophia
She had tried to stay on the correct course. She had done her best to follow Mr. Grimes's instructions. They had been clear and precise, despite his focus being split between her and the approaching Walkers. She had wanted Mr. Grimes to shoot them, but his explanation for why not made sense. The last thing she wanted was to attract more danger.
Most of all, Sophia had tried to be brave.
But it was so hard. When you were frightened all the time, it was extremely hard to be brave. Sophia had no idea what to do, how to change. Her father had been scary, even scarier than the Walkers most days. But when he'd died, she'd been relieved. Her mama had grieved, for many reasons, but Sophia had been relieved. Walkers always tried to attack and eat them, but everyone understood and could prepare. Her father? She was never sure what he would do next. And that had frightened her, a lot.
What would Miss Gome do? She wondered, even as she struggled to stay on the right path Mr. Grimes had laid out.
A branch snapping had Sophia abruptly stopping in her tracks, holding her doll tightly to her chest. Eyes wide in panic, she stopped breathing. Staying quiet was the key to not attracting unwanted attention, had steered multiple Walkers away before.
But what if it didn't work this time? Her mind supplied, obviously scared and irrational. She couldn't just stand there. Mr. Grimes was taking care of the two from the highway; she was on her own. I don't want to die!
Veering to the side, desperate to hide, to escape, Sophia started running.
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She didn't know how long she ran for, but Sophia was beginning to tire. The uneven terrain was making her legs feel heavy, her feet weighing down more and more with each step. She knew holding the doll was also slowing her down, making her arm feel stiff, but there was no way she was letting it go. It was her lifeline.
Suddenly, the familiar shuffling and groaning of a Walker had Sophia pausing, her breath stuttering in her lungs. She looked frantically around for it, wanting it in her sights versus having it sneak up on her.
It didn't take long. The Walker, male, was heading straight towards her. The sheer focus and bloodlust she could see in his eyes was terrifying. For something supposedly dead, it had a surprising amount of conscience.
"Sophia, get down," Kagome's voice called out from somewhere behind the little girl.
Sophia dropped down in a crouch without thinking about it, relieved that someone – Miss Gome, in particular – had been the one to find her. Her arms came up to shield her head, the doll pressed comfortingly to her temple. She closed her eyes.
Kagome caught the attention of the Walker, and narrowed her eyes on the target. The string of her bow pulled tight, she released the arrow in the next second. Her aim was true, and the Walker fell with her arrow lodged dead-center in its forehead.
The thump of the body hitting the ground had Sophia opening her eyes. Not wanting to see the corpse, she turned to face Kagome, who was scanning their surroundings with a critical eye. Another arrow was already loaded and ready.
"Miss-Miss Gome," Sophia said.
The raven haired beauty smiled reassuringly. "We've been looking for you, Sophia," she said in greeting. Deeming the area safe for now, she shouldered her bow. Not wanting the little girl to think about it too much, Kagome pulled the arrow out of the Walker, trying her best to block the gruesome view. "Come on. We should start heading back to the others." She softly frowned, checking the position of the Sun then looking around the forest. "We're a bit far. I don't think we're going to make it back before sunset."
"How-How did you find me?" Sophia asked. With the hand not holding her precious doll, she gripped one of Kagome's hands, making sure it wasn't her dominant one. If another Walker showed up, Sophia didn't want to be a burden when Kagome tried to pull out her knife and couldn't.
The two started walking, Kagome squeezing the younger girl's hand soothingly. "I tracked you," she answered, not exactly lying. She may not have the tracking skills that Daryl possessed but she could still use her priestess abilities to find a lost girl in the forest. "Are you okay? You're not hurt, are you?"
Sophia shook her head. "No. Mr. Grimes made sure those Walkers didn't get me. And you got rid of that one." She tilted her head back to indicate the corpse. "Thank you," she gratefully said.
Kagome smiled. "No problem." Glancing around where they were again, she softly sighed. "We should find shelter somewhere. It'll be dark before you know it, and we don't want to be stumbling around out here when that happens."
"Okay."
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With Daryl & Rick
He could tell that Sophia had followed Rick's directions just fine. Why she veered off the path, Daryl couldn't begin to guess, but the most likely answer was simple: She'd been scared out of her mind. If she heard even a slight rustle in the bushes, she would've taken off in the opposite direction. It was the only explanation. It was logical and rational and, quite frankly, Daryl wouldn't have blamed her.
The hunter listened as Rick instructed Shane and Glenn to go back to the others. It made sense. The others would be worrying, especially Carol, and Daryl didn't feel like tracking any more people through the woods when he already had Sophia and Kagome to look for. He wasn't worried about the latter, but the former didn't have experience to survive out in the open like this.
"You ready?" Rick inquired, gaze steady. Guilt obviously plagued the man for leaving Sophia alone but he was maintaining his composure, because he needed to. He was trying to make things right by doing everything necessary to find the little girl.
Daryl nodded. "Let's do this." He hoisted his crossbow up to lay against his shoulder. With that, the two men continued trekking through the forest.
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After taking down a Walker, Daryl watched as Rick started examining it. "What the Hell are you doin'?" he asked.
"I'm checking under its fingernails for flesh," the former Sheriff answered, resigned but determined to get the job done. "Gotta check the teeth, too, in case…" He trailed off, not wanting to finish but knowing it didn't need to be said.
Daryl scoffed. "If Kagome's found her, Sophia will be just fine," he firmly stated.
"But what if Kagome hasn't found her?" Rick replied. He shook his head. "I'm not taking the chance." Using his gloved hands, he pulled the Walker's jaw down. "It ate recently."
Daryl leaned closer to take a look. "Pretty big meal, too," he reluctantly agreed.
A piece of meat was removed from the teeth, and the two men examined it.
"What kind of flesh do you think this is?" Rick questioned.
"Only one way to find out," was the response.
They traded disgusted but determined glances.
"So," Rick said, "between you and me, who do you think has the sharper knife?"
Daryl smirked, knowing the former Sheriff was trying to lighten the mood with a bit of dark humor. Sometimes, crude and inappropriate jokes were the only way for cops to last as long as they did in their careers; otherwise they burned out too soon.
"Me," the hunter smugly answered. "Mine's bigger, too."
In response, Rick let a small grin curve his mouth up. It wasn't like he was going to fight with the other man for the impromptu autopsy. He liked to believe he was smarter than that.
TPoF*TPoF*TPoF
Daryl was more frustrated than anything when he and Rick had no choice but to stop searching and go back to the highway. The Sun was setting, and both knew it wouldn't be smart to stumble around in the dark. Walkers could sneak up on them; someone could trip and get hurt… There were too many variables, too many risks involved. It would be better if they waited for proper sunlight and a better plan.
"You didn't find anything?" Carol cried, shaking hands covering her mouth.
Rick tried to calm the distraught mother, though knew it would be worthless. "The trail went cold," he explained. "But we're going to go back out there in the morning. We'll find her, Carol."
"No," she said, head moving side-to-side adamantly. "No. I can't leave my little girl out there, alone. She's only twelve! She can't be out there by herself – Not all night!"
Daryl stepped forward. He could understand her worry – any good parent would be in this situation – but there were some things he wouldn't stay quiet about. "Hunting in the dark's no good," he said. "And Sophia isn't the only one out there. If Kagome hasn't come back by now, there's a good chance they're together."
"Would she have gotten lost out there?" Dale asked, worried about both females. Sophia was the bigger concern since she was just a little girl, but that didn't make Kagome any less a part of their group. They had to watch out for each other.
"Naw," the hunter answered, voice confident and self-assured. "Kagome knows her way around a forest. And even if she didn't, she knows how to survive." His eyes locked with Carol's. "She'd keep Sophia safe."
Rick cut back into the conversation. "We'll pick up the search again tomorrow at first light," he promised. "It'll be more organized, and everyone will help out. We'll find both of them."
Carol still didn't look convinced, her gaze trailing to the forest, as if hoping Sophia would magically appear. When she didn't, Carol nearly whimpered and let her eyes drop. At that moment, she noticed the dark stains on Daryl's jeans. "Is… Is that blood?" she asked, horrified.
Daryl didn't say anything, not sure what was safe to say, for one thing.
Rick saved him by answering, "We found a Walker." When Carol made a distressed noise, most likely thinking the worst, he added, "It didn't get Sophia. We checked."
Andrea frowned, perplexed and confused. "What does that mean?"
"We gutted it. What else?" Daryl gruffly answered this time. Not wanting to get into anymore details and wanting to get the blood-encrusted jeans off, he pushed passed the group to change. From behind, he could hear the accusation in Carol's voice as she snapped at Rick, demanding to know why he left her little girl alone in the woods in the first place. Why she blamed the former Sheriff, Daryl wasn't entirely sure, but it wasn't his problem. Being worried and scared was a dangerous combination, and the older woman obviously needed an outlet. It was better to take it out on the one she deemed responsible instead of wallowing in her grief.
Daryl could understand. Not long ago, he'd wanted to kill Rick (and T-Dog) for what had happened to Merle. And later, when Carol cooled off and Sophia was found, she'd realize – just like Daryl eventually did – that Rick had tried to do right by her.
In the meantime, however, he needed to get cleaned up and figure out what he needed to do for the next day. As far as he knew, Kagome didn't have anything on her except her weapons, so that meant she and Sophia didn't have food, water, or any other supplies. Kagome had even left her messenger bag on his motorcycle, having thought she wouldn't need it while they searched the abandoned vehicles.
Placing his hand on the bag, Daryl deeply frowned. For all the worry that woman was putting him through, he figured he should start seriously thinking about that leash. Before, he'd been joking and just frustrated but, after the day's search, he was starting to think the idea had merit.
Shaking his head, he rummaged through the big yellow backpack that also held his few possessions. He needed to change, then he needed to figure out what to bring. If he let his worry for Kagome consume his every thought, he wouldn't get anything done. And, right now, she needed him to get things done.
TPoF*TPoF*TPoF
With Kagome & Sophia
Kagome had stashed the little girl in a cupboard in the abandoned house they'd found just as night had fallen upon them. A thin pillow and blanket had been added for comfort, but Sophia hated the enclosed space. It was dusty and smelled pretty terrible. But she had to stay where she was. Kagome was checking the rest of the house for Walkers, and Sophia hadn't wanted to get in the way – or come face-to-face with another walking corpse.
An ominous creak had her head snapping up, and she pulled her knees closer to her chest to become smaller in the hopes of camouflaging with the darkness. One hand covered her mouth, not wanting to release the whimpers and screams that threatened to escape. She had to be quiet.
Soon after the creak sounded, there was a muffled crash, a wet slash, and a thump that made Sophia flinch with every sound. Then a voice, indistinct, sounded like they were cursing.
"Miss Gome?" she whispered.
"Don't come out, Sophia," Kagome instructed. There was an odd note to her tone, but the little girl obeyed. "It's a mess out here. I'll clean it up. Why don't you try to get some sleep?"
"Are… Are you sure?"
"Yes, sweetie. Get some sleep. We're going to try to find your mom and the others tomorrow." There was a pause that worried Sophia for some reason she couldn't explain. Kagome continued speaking. "Your mom is going to be so happy to see you. Just think about that, and nothing else. Okay? Everything will be alright. I promise."
Sophia shifted where she sat. "Is-Is everything okay, Miss Gome? You… don't sound like yourself." She nibbled her bottom lip. She wanted to come out of the cupboard, wanted to see for herself that Kagome was okay. But she didn't. An unknown fear had settled within her chest, and some things just couldn't be unseen. Remaining ignorant seemed to be her best option, though she hated how that made her feel like a coward.
Kagome's voice was soft and sweet, a balm Sophia hadn't known she'd needed until that moment. "Everything's fine. Go to sleep, sweetie."
"Okay. Goodnight, Miss Gome," she relented.
Kagome listened as the younger girl shifted in the makeshift bed, settling in for the night. Her lips pressed firmly together, becoming a pale, thin line.
Eyes watering, the raven haired beauty looked down at the bite mark on her forearm. Everything wasn't okay – it wasn't okay, at all.
*Special Thanks to: Thornado, masterbroly, daisynaruto909, chibi-Char, Tubafox, XXkagomeX, Angel4EverLostInLife, YoungWhiteyWolf, save the sharks, kakashixangela, Bunny.W.K, Scarlatta Rain, Guest, SugaryAnarchy, bloodmoon25, Munyue, Vertigo Venom, 917brat, and MOONWOLF1234
*Thornado: I'm glad Kagome's with the group, too! I love her and Daryl (:
*masterbroly: I've got plans for this story, and I'm hoping Sophia will be a part of it ;)
*daisynaturo909: So happy about them being reunited too!
*chibi-Char: Me too! And I think it'll be interesting to see what happens in the future :P
*Tubafox: Lol, your comment made me seriously smile (: I can't wait to see how Kagome interacts with the others as well!
*XXkagomeX: Thank you so much for your kind words! I appreciate it :D
*Angel4EverLostInLife: Here's the next chapter! Hope you liked it (even though it's shorter, haha) :D
*YingWhiteyWolf: Thanks, and thank you for reviewing (: I really appreciate it!
*save the sharks: In the TV series, I was bummed when Sophia died, so I can't wait to see how everything works out in the end :P I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
*kakashixangela: Oh gosh, I'm totally blushing from your review! It's so sweet of you to say, thank you! :D I love Kagome/Daryl fics, so I'm really excited about this – if you couldn't tell, haha! Thank you again for reviewing! (: It's highly appreciated! Also, I totally loved writing that shower scene, too ;)
*Bunny.W.K: I can completely relate! I got back into the series around the time season 7 first started airing and, thankfully, I started the plot for this story a while back. It just took some refining and finally typing it out :P I'm so happy everyone seems to be enjoying it so far! And yes, every moment I get to type involving Kagome and Daryl is the fun part ;) haha!
*Scarlatta Rain: Thank you for your review! And yes, we'll see how that works out in the future (:
*Guest: Sorry this update didn't happen as fast as I wanted, but here it is! Hope you enjoyed it! (:
*SugaryAnarchy: The example was just that, an example :P But we'll see what changes are made in future chapters, especially since Kagome is now in the picture ;)
*bloodmoon25: Thank you so much for your review! It made me smile (: I like how I started this too, it was different and I get to play around with the original plot of the series ;) As for other Inuyasha characters… I won't answer that now, haha! You just never know what will happen, and neither do I (yet) :P but that's the exciting part!
*Munyue: Thank you so much for your kind words! I truly appreciate it (:
*Vertigo Venom: Everyone seems to want Sophia to live (which I totally understand), so I was pleasantly surprised you mentioned Merle :D Thanks for that! I hated how he died in the series.
*917brat: Thank you for reviewing! Here's the next update, so I hope you enjoyed it (: I appreciate the kind words!
*MOONWOLF1234: Aw shucks, thanks! To be honest, I've reread it too :D mostly to make sure I was making sense, LOL! Thank you again for reviewing! (:
Last but not least, THANK YOU to everyone who followed and added this story to their favorites list! Also, check out my series of one-shots: "Random Subject Prompts" :D Don't forget to review at the bottom! Thank you again!