Look at me updating? Holy shit! I've had absolutely no drive to write at all and haven't been home. I've been on vacation and just got back. As for writing the drive isn't there but the overwhelming amount of ideas is no worries there. Just got to figure out how to get my drive back so I can work on everything and get it marked complete for all you. Thanks for being so forgiving with my flightly indecisive ass and slow updates.

Daryl's eyes were sweeping the ground in rapid succession searching for anything that would allow Sophia to test herself. He could see her in his peripherals watching everything he was doing and looking to the ground searching for what he was seeing. She'd already learned and picked up on the way he walked in the woods when they had been on the move. When they got to Woodbury she spent even more time with him and him teaching her everything he could there.

What few times she'd been outside those walls with him she was with him, Mac, and Brian. Much like now but her mother was also flanking her. He couldn't see his brother or nephew but he could hear them just up ahead. Mac never was the quietest in the woods but he was lethal with any weapon you put in his hands and guaranteed a kill shot. They worked in perfect sync as hunting partners. Now they'd been trying to teach Sophia and Brian to hunt but like them they done better together. Brian moved like Daryl in the woods. He was quick and light on his feet- easily gliding over the forest floor. Sophia wasn't as practiced as them but with time he knew she would get there. But if they taught them like Merle had them then it wouldn't so much matter so long as they worked together. Brian was a quicker and more efficient tracker having a knack for from an early age and having more experience on Sophia. Sophia though was good with a bow where Brian preferred firearms.

They balanced each other out like Daryl and Mac done. He wanted them to be able to hunt without needing the other in case something ever happened. Brian was leading and Sophia was walking on his flank watching everything around them and reading the tracks as they went. She might not be the lead tracker but she was still watching and learning as she went. It was a smart. Brian was speaking low and quiet to her and Daryl knew without asking that he was pointing things out to her that she hadn't seen. Sophia was inquisitive and where most people's patience ran out Brian's was endless.

Mac was off to the side just out of sight much like they hunted but still close enough to each other to act if needed. Carol was with him since she wasn't use to their hunting technique and wasn't as quick as them. She'd stumbled a few times and he refrained from snapping at her like Mac or Merle might have. Carol's face flushed the few times she's stumbled and he'd had to right her. Carol was watching Sophia ahead of them and Brian as her eyes swept around them constantly checking for threats.

It wasn't long before a soft call had him pausing and he watched as the kids did as well. Brian's head turned in that direction and Sophia grinned nocking an arrow. Brian shifted and Sophia moved around in front of him and Carol tensed as her line of sight of her daughter was gone. Daryl's hand shot out gripping her wrist and he shook his head bringing his finger to his lips.

It wasn't long after that the pained bleat and bawl was heard and then Brian turned signaling to him then his father. Mac appeared just ahead of them and Carol smiled broadly at Daryl her near silent little congratulatory whoops only heard by him. She had ahold of his arm and waited till he signaled her it was alright to move before she stood. He stood fluidly as she moved around in front of him and he looked away from the sway of her hips and her perfect heart shaped ass. He looked to make sure she made it to Sophia knowing that they'd be in this spot for a few more minutes giving the deer time to wear itself down before coming up on it. He really didn't feel like tracking miles more from spooking it too soon and Mac seemed of the same mind. Sophia was basking in her first big game kill with Brian.

"Remember that being us." Mac's voice was hushed coming from his right.

Daryl looked over and smiled. Mac was right about that- it was very much a scene that could have easily been from their youth. Merle teaching them to hunt and learning to work together. Learning what each was better at and learning how they could work together. It was something they drilled into both kids heads. They could be an amazing team but needed to know the essentials to hunting alone and as a pair. The world demanded it now it was smart to have a partner.

Daryl looked over, "Was it the buck?"

"Doe."

Daryl nodded his eyes following the distinct track of a buck that had been coming back more and more to this area. "He won't be far from here."

"I know what you're thinking but we can't." Mac warned.

Daryl sighed and rubbed his throat, "We need to though."

"Can't, not with the doe and kids."

Daryl looked to Sophia and Brian and sighed. Carol was listening to both of them talk quietly but animatedly.

"She don't know the area good enough to get them back and with a kill that big. Brian eve if he carried it would need help. He'd need at least one of us." Mac added looking to his brother, "I aint letting you hit the woods alone after that last shit."

Daryl looked over and raised a brow, "I don't remember asking." He moved further into the brush hearing Mac behind him and snorted. "Besides from the look of these tracks he won't have went far."

"No."

Daryl circled around the entire area and watched the woods. He felt eyes on him and knew it was all of them. Brian would know already what he was doing and likely Sophia. Mac was leaned against a tree when he whistled and motioned for them to follow him. He'd found the blood trail and they quickly fell into step with some how Carol ending up behind him again. He needed to stay focused but she was one of the only people he knew that just disregarded his savage glares and peoples warning about his personal space. How many times had her hands been on him already? And not the fucking way he wanted either. Fuck he was starting to sound like his brothers.

"Mom did you see?" Sophia whispered. "Dad did you?"

Daryl looked over his shoulder and shook his head. "Seen you." He knew his face was red but was so used to it by now that he no longer gave a shit.

Sophia still beamed at his words. He wasn't sure what she was going to call him half the time. Sometimes the his name came out, dad, and sometimes she called him an asshole. It was no telling what he was going to get from her and each tended to hit with different moods she was in.

Getting to the doe Daryl's eyes scanned the ground again and he sighed at the signs of the buck again. These were fresher. He'd ran with the doe that was a for sure. Lifting his eyes he seen Carol watching him and she walked over and raised a brow at him silently waiting on him to explain. Could she read him that easy? He felt fucking restless and she was picking up on it.

"Brian quit your fucking shit." Mac snarled.

Both kids dropped their antics and silently started following Mac's command without question. Daryl smirked but felt Carol waiting still and he huffed at her. She was just as pushy as her fucking daughter. The fucking difference was he couldn't tell her to fuck off and go do kid shit. He was pretty sure this woman would slap the fuck out of him for that.

"Buck."

Carol raised a brow at his low voice and he motioned to the ground and the heavy distinct print.

"He's close."

Carol looked to him and only him, "Are we going for him too?"

"I want to." He sounded annoyed to his own ears.

Carol raised a brow, "So why aren't we?"

"Because Mac is a bitch."

Carol smiled at him and looked over while Daryl caught Mac's glare. He clearly heard him and Daryl didn't back down.

"Told you goddamn it we need Merle or Martinez."

"I hunt all the goddamn time by myself!" Daryl snapped.

Brian raised a brow, "Why does he need either of them? He's never needed you all before."

Mac shot a withering look to Sophia and Brian as they agreed with Daryl but Sophia sneered. "Daryl isn't a kid Mac stop trying to mother him." She crossed her arms her hip cocking out, "We can all get this back and he can track the buck and be back by tonight- right Daryl?"

Daryl looked at her and Mac gave him a triumphant smile. He wasn't sure if it'd be tonight or the morning that he got back. Sophia wasn't going to be okay with him being gone.

"Well if Mac can get the doe back and you all make sure that nothing happens on the way then possibly."

Mac's dumbfounded look along with Sophia and Brian's landed on Carol. Her words were loud in his ears. He didn't say shit about taking her. Sophia was going to have a shit fit with the both of them going and she already looked to be gearing up for it. Mac went from dumbfounded to lewd to triumphant again in mere seconds. He wanted to hit him. Brian just didn't give a shit.

Sophia walked over and nodded her head her face pensive. She looked between them and nodded again before just turning to Mac, "Okay we let Merle and Andrea know where they are so they don't both cry."

"What? You have got to be fucking shitting me?" Mac snapped.

Daryl was staring down at her and Carol didn't seem a bit surprised. Goddamn he didn't understand women. He didn't need to be alone with this woman even if the hunt was going to be a distraction from her ass and legs.

"No Mac I can assure I'm not shitting you." Sophia sighed like she was suffering immensely, "Daryl would never let anything happen to my mom and same goes for her. They'd have each others back out there better than anyone."

"Well that's a crock of shit." Mac shook his head, "Ain't no one ever watched his back like me you little shit."

"Well you can't go can you? Besides while he hunts she can make sure nothing sneaks up on him." Sophia argued, "You're being petulant."

"You're a goddamn brat." Mac snapped. "You fuckin' ruined her." He pointed hoisting the deer up suddenly, "When you fuckers get back don't expect me to be waiting up."

"Yes dad." They said in unison.

Brian barked out a laugh and covered his mouth his eyes wide. The look Mac shot the pair of them was enough to have a full smile bloom across his face but he didn't linger. Daryl ignored them and forced himself to turn hitting the most recent tracks. Carol was near silent behind him and he could faintly hear Sophia cussing at Brian. Looking over his shoulder making sure she was there Carol grinned up at him her eyes bright and he shook his head. It was going to be a long day and it was really just starting for him.