Walking the through the woods Merle and Daryl kept their necks on a swivel. It wasn't long ago that a herd was out here when they'd found Michonne. They got lucky being ahead of the bulk of them but they still needed to check things out. Merle was rigorous about keeping the integrity of the wall. He had Carter and Rick walking the woods on the other side dividing the work.

"Brian awake when you left?"

Daryl cleared his throat, "Yea, Andrea was forcing him to eat."

Merle snorted and they started up the incline to where him and Mac lingered that day. When they crested the hill Merle circled the plateau and then turned back to him. Daryl was looking out over the woods. He could hear something but wasn't sure exactly what it was.

"Did you say that Carter was taking Rick on around to check the woods east of us?"

"You know I did." Merle eyed him, "What is it?"

Daryl brought his finger to his lips and slipped down the side of the hill taking them further into the woods. Merle was right behind him like he knew he would be. He didn't wait for him but instead stepped over a log. He paused seeing a buck downed and mauled. Kneeling down by he touched the stomach where there were marks from something. It was still slightly warm. Daryl looked to Merle and he was looking around them. Daryl stood and stepped back surveying the ground. There were clear signs of a fight.

"Fuck." Merle growled, "Just what we need."

Daryl stared at the buck until he turned and followed the sounds that were louder but still slight. The sounds were on the path of the tracks that left from the buck. Merle was bitching at him but he didn't bother to consider it. Pulling his bow around as Merle readied his own weapon he stepped down over the edge of the incline and his boot thudded into the low creek. It was just there and his eyes widened.

"Well fuck me runnin'." Merle swore, "You heard this all the way back there? What the fuck is Carol doing to you in that room?"

"Fuck you Merle."

Walking over carefully he circled the downed animal. He could see the slight rise and fall of the chest. Being cautious he squatted down close but not so close to be in danger. Feral eyes came to his own and he could see the dulling there. Running his eyes over the animal he seen the problem. It might have been a young buck the bobcat took on but it was still old enough to have antlers. When times were desperate he knew that bobcats would try to take on bigger prey if they really needed it. Daryl sighed and looked further down it's body. With a yowl and hiss he was met with the young eyes of a kitten.

Daryl's eyes shot back to the dying bobcat and his eyes settled on the puncture wound in the chest. The kitten was pressing into it's mother and crying loudly now. Daryl took a chance and moved closer. Merle tried to grab him but he dodged his brother and got a slap to the back of the head for it.

"Your ass is going to get mauled and then Carol's going to maul my ass." Merle growled, "Should have brought Rick with us and used him as a human shield."

Daryl barked out a laugh startling the mother and she hissed trying to pull herself up. Daryl shifted then and steadied himself. She was watching him closely. Merle got quiet then because Daryl's knees were almost touching the cat. He could very well get hurt bad. Eyes going to the kittens though before he looked back at the chest wound on the mother. He moved slow and brought his hand close to the wound. Eyes that were predatory and guarded watched him while he parted the fur. Blood and air bubbled at the surface and he swore under his breath. The cat didn't move but instead grew still under his hand.

"Lungs." Daryl's voice was low.

Merle moved then and they looked at her eyes and face. She had blood around her lips and coating her canines. It was more than what could have been from a fresh kill. To new and tacky.

Merle pulled his knife free and Daryl met his eyes. It'd be a mercy rather than letting her drown in her own blood. He moved quick and killed the cat while the kitten cried out again inching closer to Daryl. Daryl scooped it up and tiny claws slapped out at him catching his shirt and cutting his chest. He locked his hands around it's chest and paws keeping himself safe as he inspected it. It was a tiny thing and would never survive out here on it's own.

"Your ass ain't keeping that." Merle pointed, "Every time you've ever had an animal I get pissed on or attacked. "

Daryl grinned up at him and shrugged, "How can you say no to this face?"

He looked back down at the fluffy little killing machine in his arms and snorted. It's distinctive black-tipped, ruffed ears with white patches sticking up proudly as it gazed back at him. Daryl stood fluidly. He couldn't damn well leave it here to die. He wasn't a heartless bastard.

"I can say it easily." Merle moved closer and looked over his shoulder down at the kitten. "No."

The kitten looked up and hissed at him. Daryl barked out a laugh again the sound rumbling in his chest and a purr started. Merle pointed at him shaking his head. "NO goddamn you. See it's already an asshole."

"So are you but we keep you." Daryl goaded.

Merle stared at him for a second before a big smile cracked across his face. Daryl eyed him and didn't trust the smile.

"Just for that your ass is getting a new partner on the wall when it's your turn." Merle crooned. "I hope you and Rick Grimes get real cozy up there on that wall. Cuddling and whatnot."

Daryl stared at him but refused give him a reaction. He checked around the mother again and Merle loaded her up. The death was clean. The puncture came nowhere near anything to ruin the meat and they needed every little thing they could get. Seeing that there was only one kitten Daryl zipped up his leather jacket as the wind picked up and tucked the kitten in against his chest keeping it warm. Despite Merle's icy attitude towards the newest Dixon he knew his brother was going to end up warming up to it. He always did- getting pissed on or not.

Following Merle he quickly dispatched anything that came in their path if Daryl wasn't able to. They worked together fluidly and checked the wall at the same time. When they got around towards the back gate they were met with Rick and Carter just coming around. Carter was a ball of energy and Rick looked tired. He would feel bad for the man but then he remembered he didn't like the motherfucker. Carter didn't either and Daryl hid his smile.

"All clear my Lord Dixon." Carter cheered while saluting.

Merle scowled at him but nodded. Rick was shifting trying to catch his eyes but he refused to look at him. He might be able to put shit behind him but he damn well wasn't ready to forgive Rick. Not today. Carter turned towards him and Daryl grimaced when his eyes lit up evilly.

"What happened to your fucking neck?" Carter danced closer, "You get fucking mauled out there?"

"Blow me." Daryl shifted rolling his shoulder wishing his jacket would cover the marks on his throat. In Carol's attempt to wear him down last night her nails left places one side of his throat and he had a bite mark to go along with it on the other.

"Jesus if you ever fuck up and Carol leaves you I swear I'll marry that woman." Carter waggled his eyebrows.

Merle guffawed and Martinez pulled the gate open for them. Daryl made a mental note to train this kitten to piss on Carter when it seen him. Bastard. He walked away while Merle spoke with everyone else. Merle was scowling at him though and Daryl pulled a tiny paw from inside his coat and waved goodbye getting a one finger salute from his brother. Yeah he'd have it piss on him too, assholes.

He was up the steps and into the house before anyone could stop him. Good fucking luck to because he seen Hannah making a beeline for him. He wasn't in the mood to deal with that harpy. If she said something he was just going to tell her to eat a dick. Eat a dick and fuck off somewhere that wasn't around him.

Stepping into the living room he felt the kitten starting to wake up. "Mac!"

Feet hit the floor and Mac appeared in the hall. "What no honey I'm home? Just going to scream for me like a kid?"

His hair was sticking up everywhere and he was only in flannel sleep pants. What the fuck. Daryl stared at him raising a brow and Mac grinned. He coughed and then rubbed his chest before his face paled.

Daryl backed up, "Are you contagious?" '

Mac stepped towards him and grinned, "What you don't want to kiss me now?"

Daryl scowled at him. Mac laughed but is dissolved into him coughing and he growled before straightening up. "Just a cold, you're fucking fine. What the hell you in here yelling about?"

Daryl grabbed his bow and pulled it off and went for his zipper. He grabbed the kitten as the jacket fell open and shrugged out of it. The tiny bundle curled back up against his chest and Daryl raised his brows. Mac moved then and he grinned at Daryl.

"Where the fuck you find a kitten at?"

Daryl followed him into the house more and set on the living room floor. Sophia was asleep and so was Brian from the looks of things. All they done was sleep since he got sick. Then to Sophia set up all night with Andrea trying to mother Brian.

"Found the mom downed in the woods. Antlers punched through hitting the lungs."

Mac set in front of him and Daryl let the little beast on the floor. "You know we'll have to watch them around it. This isn't like a regular kitten."

"I know." Daryl looked up at him, "I couldn't leave it."

"That's why you're the sweet one. Rescuing little babes in the woods."