The woods were silent around them not offering any interruptions to the outpouring of Mac's rage. Daryl already resigned himself to just trailing after his brother and making sure he didn't get himself killed before they went back. Mac was like a force of nature that couldn't be held back and when you threw his anger into the mix he became so much more. Right now the woods alone stood the chance of being leveled and sundered.
"That goddamn thunder cunt." Mac snarled jerking his shirt free of a briar bush.
Daryl shouldered his bow his hand tight around the grip. Eyes sweeping the woods he listened as he always did. Sure Mac was loud but he was also smart enough to not draw attention to them. The woods were peaceful as of right now and Daryl let out a breath.
Eyes cutting to his brother he rubbed his chin. He wasn't sure what to say really. He knew that Hannah and Mac would never work. Hell they never had before and the world ending sure as hell wasn't making those possibilities any easier. They fought. They fought a lot. They were always at each others throats. Mac liked fucking her and she liked getting fucked stupid by him but other than that they only had Brian in common. The only thing. If it wasn't for that boy they'd lost contact years ago. Everyone knew it but for some reason this shit just kept happening. Usually when Hannah felt down or just like manipulating his brother but this was the maddest he'd seen him yet.
"Fuck her." Mac snarled finally freeing himself and almost falling on his ass.
"Brian heard y'all fighting." Daryl's voice was low.
Mac's eyes turned to him and there was a pain there he'd not seen in a while. He hated the thought of Brian being pulled into anything like that with them. He nodded and just stared at the ground dejectedly. Daryl wasn't use to seeing his usually lively brother almost immobile and as lifeless as a fucking walker. It was sickening to know that Hannah had managed to cut him like this.
He wasn't in love with Hannah, no that wasn't it at all, but he did love her. He loved her in the way that she was the mother to his son and nothing more. He'd done what she wanted when they got here. He'd bent over backwards for her because Hannah played the distressed mother card getting under his skin, again. Sometimes he'd like to ring that bitches neck.
"He didn't hear everything." Mac huffed, "She was telling me that I was a piece of shit and that she was better off without me." Mac chuckled darkly and lifted his head looking at Daryl, "Brian was there and neither of us knew it. He slung that goddamn stupid vace she had with the peacock on it into the wall but was gone before she could try to talk to him."
Daryl nodded. He figured as much really because it didn't take long before Brian was in his house barking at him. Sophia was there like a rabid dog around him not even sure why he was upset but hellbent on defending him and then there was Carol. Goddamn he was use to his nephew having a temper like his brothers and himself but seeing him melt for Carol was something else. She'd swooped in a maternal and caring and like that the steam left Brian. He could see the fire in Carol's eyes. She was a mother through and through; seeing Brian so distressed had her ready to sink her claws into anyone who got to close. Sophia was likely going to end up hitting Hannah and honestly he'd like to see that just because it'd be funny.
"You know who?"
Mac snarled something and pushed forward. Daryl followed watching tension leave his brother the more he took his anger out in the open. The more ranted and cussed at Daryl. The more in general it was just the two of them. He wished he could have gotten Merle out here because if there was one thing Merle could it was talk shit about women. It was his and Mac's favorite past time together and it always seemed to make the jackasses feel better when something stupid happened.
"See you're lucky brother when you and Carol have a kid she won't turn into a blood sucking attaching her mouth to every dick in a thirty mile radius." Mac hissed, "She'll only have eyes for you like she does right fucking now. Goddamn it why couldn't Carol ran me over and shit."
"First of all I aint having a goddamn kid, second fuck you, and third why the would you want to be ran over?" Daryl laughed watching a squirrel race of a tree like a little fur tornado.
"First of all you two already have a kid together, second fuck you back, and third because Carol is hot as fuck and clearly rode you into the ground." Mac chuckled.
Daryl huffed and raised his crossbow. He could see a squirrel chittering on a branch. It wasn't really worth shooting as of right now. They had no kills and it'd be the only thing they took back, no it'd be a waste. Mac was watching him his eyes losing some of the heat of his anger.
"My relationship with that fucking woman was like Forrest Gump and Jenny." Mac shook his head and shoved off the tree walking towards him, "I was retarded and she was a whore."
Daryl tried to keep his face straight. He honestly fought to do it but he felt his chest tighten and his face flush. Cracking to sucking in a breath a rolling laugh escaped. After that he couldn't hold it in. He doubled over laughing. Mac punched him in the lower back and walked around him huffing and working up into a fight. Daryl was still laughing but straightened and slid his bow off. If this would get Mac back in the right head space he'd give it to him.
Mac took a swing at him and Daryl side stepped him catching him in the ribs below his thrown arm. He grunted at the impact but Daryl hadn't hit to hurt him. It was more of understanding. Mac spun and Daryl's knees buckled suddenly and he fell hard to his back before Mac was over him. He was flipped onto his stomach with his arms wrenched backwards keeping his upper body bowed and tight.
Panting as he fought to break Mac's hold he heard real laughter escaping his brother. Daryl dropped dead weight and Mac let him up by dropping next to him in the leaves. Both laying there Daryl rolled over onto his back and stared at the clouds that were moving in. He wouldn't be able to keep them out here long. Mac knew it. The woods were moving around them and Daryl listened closely for the sounds of walkers. He could hear the faint chittering and barking of squirrels close by they'd disturbed.
"Gotta start heading back."
Mac let out a breath, "Brian's at your place."
"I know." Mac's breath wheezed out of him and Daryl elbowed him, "Sophia packed your pink blanket from Hannah's I bet."
Mac looked over at him and smiled. "She's a little shit you know. How the fuck a kid you didn't father came out the perfect mix between her mother and you I'm not sure. Unless you fucked that woman all those years ago and didn't tell anyone." Mac set up and looked down at him, "You her scandalous and secret baby's daddy?"
"Hardly."
Daryl started to set up but paused mid motion. There was movement but it was faint. That wasn't what alerted him because he'd been hearing it for a while. It was moving around like it was an animal grazing. It was the snapping of a stick and the immediate dying off all movement. Had it been a deer or coyote they'd not paused but kept up their movements. No, this was something that recognized its mistake.
Mac's eyes were alert on him having not heard it. Daryl's eyes shifted all around them and then his eyes shot to the bow. It was a good few feet from him. He cursed himself for letting his guard down enough caught like this. Mac shifted and was up like a shot but it seemed natural to his energy. Daryl was sure they'd been watched. How long now he wasn't sure because whoever it was could move and knew how to in the woods without being heard.
He raised up just as easily but they both knew that whoever it was knew they knew. Daryl shouldered his bow and Mac shifted next to him. Daryl's eyes swept out over the woods again but nothing was there. No movement- nothing.
His eyes snapped over though when he heard a disgruntled squirrel barking a few meters off. Daryl smiled. He'd always enjoyed deer hunting when the deer walked too close to a squirrel and where they were pilfering nuts. They'd bark at the deer from the safety of the tree as they passed.
Daryl elbowed Mac and they shifted. The person came into view and Daryl eyed her. She stood tall and stoic in front of them. Her cloak billowed in the wind and Mac shifted on his feet. She pushed her heavy hood from her head and her dark eyes took them in before she sheathed her weapon. Neither Daryl or Mac had drawn theirs on her.
"You alone?" Mac questioned.
Her eyes never wavered and her brow arched. "Are you?"
Mac grinned maniacally at her and Daryl watched her coil like a snake. It was slight but it was there. She was dangerous.
"I'm just passing through here." Her voice was clear and held a warning.
What kind of men were she running into that she thought they'd hurt her? Daryl scowled at his own thoughts. Of course men were turning into even bigger pieces of shit out there. It was why he was so desperate to teach Sophia to kick ass and not ask questions. He loathed the thought of some man getting ahold of her and her unable to ever fight back. This world was different and unrestrained.
Dark eyes locked on him and Daryl cleared his throat and his face. He knew she'd seen his face while he'd ran through his thoughts. Mac shifted in front of him ever so slightly. Him and Merle had always shielded him from perceived threats. It was something they'd done since they were younger and more often than not it made things worse. They seen danger sometimes when there was none.
"We aren't going to stop you." Daryl's voice was even as he caught Mac's bicep and shifted him over. "We're leaving as it is."
She nodded as she already knew. Her face was just a tad softer as she looked at him. Daryl studied her and then small things were starting to show. He could tell she was fatigued and wearing down. She wouldn't make it much longer. He mentally ran through how far the nearest supply of water was and grimaced. He swung his pack around and started digging.
"Here." He didn't make a move towards her but instead tossed her his water bottles.
She caught them her mask slipping. She hadn't expected anything. Mac moved suddenly and removed one of his packs and pulled his shit from it. He tossed the jerky and other things Carol packed for them from both packs into it and tied it off. He tossed it to her as well. Neither were willing to watch her wither and waste away but Daryl had a feeling she wouldn't take to the idea of them trying to lead her back to the town. How would that go anyways? In his head it just came out as a bad start to a porn.
She held them and then eyed them, "I'm not having sex with you for these."
"His ass has a wife waiting on him and I'm not interested." Mac said cooly, "Besides you don't pay a whore before you get your goods." His laugh turned roguish before he elbowed Daryl.
Mac was completely unfazed by this woman. Something about her was almost familiar in how she carried herself and her standoffishness. She was a lot like him and the thought made his nort and she raised a brow at him. Daryl nodded to her before they both backed away and started down the other side of the incline. They'd been up on a small hill when they'd rested. The sun was relentless today and they'd needed a break.
Mac kept quiet but looked over at him and grinned. HE was back to himself, he'd hold that anger but he wasn't going to let Hannah bring him down. Though when he found out what man it was he was likely going to me merciless. Daryl didn't blame him. You don't fuck with a man's family or woman. That shit was never okay.
Daryl could hear the slight sweep of her cloak now that he knew to listen for it. She was following them at a distance. Whether she was aware they knew or not he didn't care. He didn't think she knew. She seemed like she was ready to drop from exhaustion and they'd seemed friendly enough. Mac mentioning him having a wife had her eyes widening and then she'd really eyed them then. If she thought she could trust them she might take a chance and look for a place with the group. Maybe.
"She isn't my wife." Daryl muttered.
Mac guffawed uncaring how loud he was. "Like hell."
Daryl scowled and the slight groan off the right had Mac whipping his knife from a sheath that'd been hidden and he spun. He took it down quickly. He rifled through the pockets and then stared down at the man.
"You know it really is bullshit. A lot of good people died so assholes like Karen could live." Mac sneered and look up at his brother. "I really hate her."
"I think everyone does."
"Hannah didn't." Mac grimaced, "I think she was the one who put it in her head that she should go after you. I asked but she denied it."
Daryl made a face and Mac stood. They were walking again and Daryl watched Mac twirl the knife before wiping it off and sliding it onto himself.
"How many?"
Mac grinned and looked at him, "How many you think?"
"At the least five." Daryl shrugged.
"I got ten."
Daryl looked him over silently looking for the hidden knives and sheaths tucked around him. He made a few but the others were well and truly hidden. Mac grinned and waggled his eyebrows at him.
"You staying at the house or with Merle?"
"Casa de Carol." Mac sing songed and gave him a shark like grin, "It's where the foods at. The edible food."
Daryl hummed and didn't speak listening to their silent edition to the group. She was closer and her steps were hitched. It struck Daryl she was hurt. Mac raised his brow at him and Daryl understood what he was doing. He was intentionally talking about Carol and other things to make her more comfortable.
"Brian and Sophia are likely waiting up." Daryl chuckled.
Mac's face changed and he nodded, "That boy is too much like me at times."
"He's his father's son."
"She's her father's daughter." Mac shot back.
They got quiet and Daryl heard her stumble. Both paused and turned. She came around the tree a few seconds later startled to see them there. Both waited and she walked closer. Daryl watched as her steps started to falter but Mac caught her before she could fall. She stiffened in his arms but when he made no move to hurt her she relaxed.
"Are you bit?" Daryl asked quietly. His voice was reserved.
She shook her head and met his eyes, "Got cut on a fence getting away from a group of them."
"How long ago?" Mac asked taking most of her weight.
She let out a breath when her weight leaned into him fully and Mac didn't even seemed fazed. "A day or so." Her voice was raw. "I think I have a fever."
Daryl nodded at her and met Mac's eyes. Neither were willing to leave a woman in the woods and especially one who couldn't stand alone. If Rick Grimes got to come into the town then this woman could.
"We have a place. Someone there could help you." Daryl spoke just as quietly. His eyes were sweeping the woods again, "We need to move through a storm is going to hit soon."
She nodded and they started. She was breathing harshly and Daryl had both packs now. Mac was moving easy with her weight but her faltering steps were slowing them down. The woods were getting dark and he could hear thunder rolling. It was going to get bad before they got back. Lightning flashed and Daryl heard a groan. Mac shifted suddenly and brought her in closer to him and Daryl's eyes swept tracking the sound.
"Mac move. Get her to the town." Daryl ordered.
Mac shot him a look but was unable to do much with her almost passing out now on him. Her head lolled against him and Mac growled. His eyes never left Daryl before he bent at the knees and lifted her easily in his arms. She looked so slight against him that Daryl felt sorry for her. Mac moved quick and precise his eyes having adjusted to the night.
The groans were closer now and Daryl took down the first walker with a bolt. The next was there before he could reload and he pulled his knife. Mac didn't slow knowing that if he did he'd just be a liability with her. Daryl brought the next down with a slam of the knife through the temple. A third slammed into him grappling for his arm but he brought it down. An explosion of blood cascaded across his jaw and down his throat onto his shirt. He let it drop and jerked his bow back up reloading. The woods were quiet now and he spun moving for his brother at a dead run.