It had been a couple of weeks since that little adventure and the group didn't really trust me. They loved Uncle Big Al but me uh not so much. I was used to it cause everyone in the past has been like that so why sound the world going to shit change that at all. I kept to myself most of the time and stayed in the forest like Daryl most of the time.

Yesterday T-dog, Andrea, Glen, Meryl, Jacqui and Morales went to the city for supplies. Daryl went on a hunt and little old me well I went gallivanting in the woods. I have been here since dawn the day they left for Atlanta. The only reason I figured out about them leaving was because Daryl told me later that night.

Since then I have been running through the woods getting food and killing walkers. I have also been taking the clothes off the walkers and putting them in the large bins of clothes that need to be washed at night.

There were times in the morning when I drop off some of the things to eat I could hear Carol and the others trying to figure out why there were more clothes than usual. I always smirked and hid in the forest.

I was on my way back to the others with a few new friends. I looked down at the ground to see the Dalmatian that rescued me following me while I hopped from tree to tree. Someone my size should be on the ground but where's the fun in that. Once we got within ear shot of the camp I could hear Daryl harpin at Dale.

Old man needed to learn that not everyone needed a father. I climbed down and hid myself in the tree line. Something was off, they all acted guilty. I walked closer to them but stayed out of sight.

"Hey Daryl hold up we gotta talk." Shane said as Daryl started to walk away.

"Bout what?" Asked Daryl.

"It's about Merle." Said Shane still holding the gun.

"He dead?" Daryl asked.

"We are not sure." Said a brown haired man.

"Either he is or he aint." Daryl stated and growled.

I heard something and saw that it was the dog. I patted his head and turned back to my little play. I watched as Daryl threw the squirrels at the two men and charged. Whatever I missed must have pissed him off.

Shane grabbed Daryl in a chock hold. I snapped and showed myself. When they all looked at me they could tell I was pissed. I pointed a gun at Shane and bared my teeth at him.

"Let him go or you lose an eye." I told him and heard a gun being cocked.

"Who are you and what do you want?" Brown hair asked.

"I'm Courtney and I am going to make Goody wanna-be a pirate if he doesn't do as he is told." I said never taking my eye off him.

Brown hair thought for a moment then nodded for Shane to let him go. Once he dropped him Daryl got up and stood next to me with a gleam in his eye. I stared into his eyes and tried to tell him that I would always have his back.

Out of nowhere the Dalmatian came up behind Shane and bit into his ass. He screamed like a little bitch then turned quickly to see a growling dog. I smirked and made a kiss noise to get the dog to walk towards me.

"Ok seriously what is with you and animals? Are you like Dr. Doolittle or something?" Asked Glenn as he stared at the dog.

"Animals have flocked to Courtney since the day she was born. I remember when she was just a few weeks old in her crib. Sleeping like an angel and there was a rattle snake in the corner of her crib. Resting, watching over her. I went to pick her up and the snake never once tried to bite me. Later on her mother tried to get her and the snake bit her. She was not a happy camper having to explain to the hospital that the snake was protecting the baby from her." Uncle Big Al explained and rubbed down Eve.

I smirked and still kept my gun trained on Shane.

"Now are you going to calm down?" Asked Brown hair. I smirked and lowered my gun. He too lowered his and it was his mistake.

I punched him quickly in the jaw and turned in time to punch Shane in the gut. They both fell to the ground and stared at me through their pain.

"Now you two listen to me. Yes we all know Merle doesn't play well with others but that doesn't make you judge and jury. Yes he isn't the nicest person out there but he is someone's family and that means that he matters to someone besides you! If I were Daryl I would kill you both for thinking that because he's not "normal" it's okay to let him die. You two are pathetic and you owe your lives and the lives of those you hold dear to the Dixons cause they are the only ones who can fucking hunt." I growled at them both and turned to Daryl

"Me and you will go get your brother." I told him and walked to my things and grabbed my pack of weapons.

"Why?" Daryl said and I am getting the feeling that he wasn't used to someone giving a damn.

"I have a sense of honor. You two kept us alive and that means when you two need help I will give it freely without question." I explained and stared into his eyes. He was shocked but nodded dumbly.

I smiled and walked to the truck that they brought back. I was putting the weapons into the back and I was about to get into the driver seat until Brown hair stopped me and looked me straight in the eye.

"Look I am going back. You stay here. If you can punch me like that then I need you here to protect my wife and son." He stated. I blinked in confusion who was his family.

"Courtney he's my dad." Carl shouted at me.

I looked at him some more then nodded. I went to the back again and grabbed my weapons back. I opened it and grabbed a few to give to Daryl. I picked up a short blade that my uncle and I made. I walked up to Daryl and pulled him aside.

"This blade is very special. You can stab and extend it." I explained and demonstrated. I whipped around and cut an X into a tree nearby.

"Now grab the handle and press this button and it'll extend. Then roll your wrists to use in combat." I finished the demo and gave it to him.

"This seems a little too good to be true." He said and looked at the weapon.

"Well it was from a game and we wondered if we could make it and here it is." I told him remembering the fun we had with creating it and studying the game to make it perfect.

"Thanks." Daryl said and placed his hand on my shoulder.

"Come back and I'll show you some of my other weapons." I told him and he nodded.

By showing some of the things my Uncle and I made when we had free time. I walked to Big Al and stood next to him. He smirked at me and shook his head.

"Always hittin people huh Court?" He Asked me.

"He started it." I said and gave him a toothy grin. "And I am sure as hell going to finish it." I stated and leaned into him and watched as Daryl, Glenn, Browny and T-dog left to go get Merle. I say Daryl look at me one last time before they shut the door. I raised my hand to wave bye and he did the same.

"That damn cop better bring them all back here safe." I growled and got to work.