Authors Note –
I haven't updated in such a long time, and considering season 4 is about to begin,
I thought it was time. I hope you all enjoy it.

Chapter 19

Everything had happened to dam fast, Sam didn't have enough time to comprehend it. She'd never seen anything like it and that's saying a lot since the world ended. She was facing death straight in the eye and it didn't really surprise her that this could happen to animals.

Its mouth opened wide, bearing its yellow teeth, growling with an unnatural tone. Sam knew it was the end but didn't regret what she had done to get into this position; she had saved someone she loved.

Earlier that day…

Sam awoke with a strange feeling, she felt slightly happy. Not happy, happy like she was on top of the world, but more so happy within herself, pleased for the way she had given Shane a piece of her mind the night before – this was going to be a good day.

When she had made her way into the lounge room, she was greeted by a squealing young blonde girl who jumped up into Sam's arms. She cringed as the stitches on her stomach were kicked by Claire accidently, whom was beaming at her
"Uncle Daryl's back!"
Sam nearly dropped Claire out of her arms, but composed herself even though her heart began to race. Sam looked to Maggie for reassurance and she nodded, nodding in the direction of the dining room. Claire hopped out of Sam's arms once breakfast had been called, and Sam lightly touched the stitches which had just been irritated – remembering how she had been stabbed by Dave with one of Daryl's arrows.

Sam took in a deep breath before entering the dining room where everyone had sat down to have a breakfast together which Carol and Lori along with Danielle and Elyse had cooked up. Rick was sitting at the head of the table with Kym next to him and Glenn on the other side while Daryl stood behind Rick, pointing down at a map on the table. Sam and Daryl's eyes met once the others had looked up when she had walked in and everyone could sense the tension in the air. Daryl straightened up as he eyed Sam, his jaw tightening. Sam hesitated for a second before asking to speak with him outside and as he followed out after her, Rick stood up.
"Remember what we spoke about before" he said under his breath so no one would hear. Daryl nodded and walked out to find Sam in the lobby area of the motel with her arms crossed over her chest, staring at her feet.

"Are you okay?" she asked once he was a few metres away from her. He shrugged aimlessly "You were gone for three days; I am allowed to be concerned aren't I?" She asked rhetorically. Daryl knew he shouldn't have stayed away for that long, he knew she'd worry about him... but he needed space to think about what had happened with Shane.
"What were you doing out there?" her voice interrupted his thoughts "Hunting and thinking..." he replied.
Sam couldn't help but scoff at his blunt reply "For three days?!" Daryl let his anger get the best of him and punched the wall next to him, making his knuckles bleed. Sam automatically took his hand in hers and studied the grazes. After a few seconds, she held onto his injured hand and looked up into his eyes, wanting to know what he was feeling.
"Look I saw you and Shane talking last night..." Sam went to speak but Daryl continued "and when I saw that, I was ready to give up on us and beat the crap out of him. Luckily, Rick found me and had heard what you'd said to Shane..."
Daryl put his uninjured hand over Sams and half smiled "I can put this behind us, but you have to promise me that you will stay away from Shane".
Sam felt tears swelling up in her eyes and she locked her arms around his neck tightly "I'll do whatever it takes, I love you."

After breakfast the men were talking amongst themselves "What are they going on about?" Carol asked Lori as the women sat with the kids. Lori told the women that while Daryl had been out hunting in the bushland, he'd found some weird tracks and a lot of animal carcases but they weren't from Walkers.
"Somethin' is migrating towards the towns before Winter arrives" Daryl concluded "Definitely some type of animal, too big to be a dog and too small for a bear, but whatever it is... it's getting closer to the motel".

As night began to set, everyone was on edge about what was out in the bushland – it was bad enough trying to survive against Walkers but now there was another threat. Sam sat on the edge of her bed, silently watching as Daryl got ready to go on watch with Rick into the bushland while the others stayed on watch at the motel.
"You be safe out there" She warned Daryl as he was about to leave "I'll be back in a few hours, see you soon".
A few hours had passed but Sam hadn't had a wink of sleep meanwhile downstairs Carol was trying to get Claire to sleep by reading her a book but had began drifting off herself.
"OOOOO A PUPPY!"
Carol awoke suddenly, seeing Claire by the window all excited. Carol jumped to her feet, running to the little girl's side. Carol covered her mouth and Claire's as she stared out the window to a whole new scenario.

There was a loud bang on the door, making Sam shoot up from the bed as the door swung open "WOLVES OUTSIDE, WALKER INFECTED WOLVES!" Beth squealed and ran to her sister and Glenn's room which was directly across. Sam ran to the window, and couldn't believe her eyes – it was a pack of wolves – 8 or so and they're eyes were glassy and their mouths were drenched with blood. Then there was a huge smashing noise of a window, followed by screams. Sam ran to the end of the hallway, looking down the stairs and saw Carol running up towards her with Claire in her arms as Danielle was on the ground, being eaten alive by 2 wolves. Elyse screamed to her friend as Dino tried to run down stairs but Sam stopped him "It's too late, NOW RUN!"

Sam, Glenn, Maggie, Beth, Carol, Claire, Dino and Elyse all ran to the other end of the hallway, barricading themselves in the room that was further away. Glenn eyed the window, and gave everyone some form of weapon which he had managed to pick up.
"We all need to jump and make a run for it" he said looking out the window again "Head towards the watch area, we can hop the fence onto the other side of the property".
Everyone nodded in unison, no one else had any ideas so one after another, and they climbed down a neighbouring tree and made a run for it. As this happened, guns were a blazing and Sam heard Daryl yelling for her and he finally came into view, quickly handing her a gun.
"Where are the others?!" Maggie yelled as everyone ran across the motels yard, trying to dodge the wolves.
"Ricks with Lori and Carl..." was all he said until a huge grey and white wolf came out from nowhere, jumping towards Beth. The wolf had no chance against Daryl's crossbow and its heavy body fell on top of Beth.
"We need to split up! There are too many of them and we need to draw them out. The big group is too easy of target for them" Glenn yelled at Daryl as he pulled out the arrow, not bothering to wipe the blood.

So Glenn, Maggie, Beth and Elyse headed in one direction, while Sam, Carol, Dino, Elyse and Daryl in the other – saying they'd meet up on the other side of the fence. They had finally made it to the fence which was s good 4 metres tall, keeping the motel separate from the bushland.
As Daryl made a box step for them to stand over to hop over the fence, Sam stood with Dino on watch for any wolves coming their way. The growls were getting closer and Daryl told them to hurry up. Daryl was yelling at Elyse to pull herself over the fence and no one had seen it coming until it was too late.
A huge brown scruffy wolf, leapt out and bit into little Claire as Dino held onto her hand "NOOOOOO!" he yelled but the wolf had ripped Claire from his grasp and now it was chomping into her neck.
Sam pulled Dino behind her, running towards Daryl as he hopped over the fence next, to help the others back over. As Carol made her way over, Sam pushed Dino over next who was sobbing. With one last look to her left, Sam saw the brown wolf finishing his meal and look up at her.

In her panicked mode, she slipped on the boxes on the ground, falling and breaking them and it began closing on her. "SAM!" Daryl yelled over the fence, finally getting up on the other side seeing his girl's predicament.
"JUST GO!" she yelled up at him "I'll be fine!" Sam yelled again, trying to reinsure the others who were screaming at her. "I've got ammo, you go! I'll run" she yelled again. Sam knew more would come running once they had heard the yells, it was better for them to get clear out of there. The truth was, she only had her knife, she had dropped her gun pulling Dino away - she was pretty sure wouldn't be able to take down this monster staring at her. Unlike the Walkers, these things were different; they seemed more intact with what was happening.

"WHAT THE HELLL!?" Daryl screamed and popped his head over the fence again, taking out his arm "GRAB MY HAND! HURRY!"
Sam took a leap of faith and jumped knowing time was precious, the wolf was being cunning and was slowing the torture down. Their hands met, and they began struggling over the fence as the dog nipped at her feet. But it was no use; the sweat was making it so hard to keep their grip.
Sam heard the other wolves coming for them and she smiled sweetly at Daryl; he knew what she was going to do
"NO!" he yelled at her but she shook her head "I'll be okay." Then she let go, hitting the ground with a thud. Daryl had lost his balance when she had let go and fell on his back yelping with pain. Sam turned instinctively at the jaws roaring towards her and shut her eyes, trying to block out the sight of death coming for her.

"BANG!"
She should have felt the teeth in her flesh by now, but there was nothing. Shane had come out of nowhere, with his gun still aimed at the motionless wolf's body. He pulled the trigger again; making sure it was safe to pass. "C'mon let's go!" he pulled Sam to her feet and yelled over the fence "We'll meet you on the other side!"

They ran until they found somewhere to hide, trying to figure out their next move – "I haven't got much AMO left, what bout' you? Shane said checking his gun and looked to Sam "Only my knife"
"That won't do much against these things; they bite you before you got close enough to stab them."
Sam nodded, she gathered that much "Where have you been anyway? Did you see if the others got out alright?"Shane looked around the corner of the motel
"I got here just in time to see Kym's miss's being dinner, then I was a bit pre occupied taking them out in the motel" he replied breathlessly. Shane gestured in a break in the fence "There's our way out" he said turning suddenly as howls got closer and closer. They stared at each other for a second and knew it was no or never and ran for it.
They were half away to the break in the fence when Sam heard a wolf on their tail, and she lost her footing and fell hard on the ground, letting go of her knife. Shane turned around as the wolf ran at her, hesitating for a second to go back after her.

Sam shrilled with fear and put her arms up defensively – like that was going to do much against this thing. BANG BANG – Shane had shot the wolf but not in the head and it got back up, having another go at Sam. Shane pushed her away and felt the teeth bite into his arm. Sam found her knife and stuck it in the back of the wolf's head and shoved it off Shane who was cradling his arm. Their eyes met and they both knew they could do nothing. More howls echo and Shane winced in pain
"You need to go, before more come this way..."
Sam shook her head looking down at Shane who smiled his usual cocky grin "Oh so now you want to stay with me?" he tried to joke but he turned serious "I've still got some ammo, you take it and I will slow them down". He said pressing his gun against Sam's free hand.
"You're a good person Sam, I'm not... I don't deserve to live after all I've done. It's time for me to do the right thing... and let you go."

Sam got up from the ground, with both Shane's gun and Daryl's knife and with one last glance at Shane, she ran for it. One thing and one thing only was on her mind, get back to Daryl.

To be continued...

Authors note - Please review! love to hear what you thought about Shane & keen to see what you think will happen. I'll try to update in afew days.