Daryl

Right as Beth and I reach the gate, Carl calls after Beth askin' for help with Lil Asskicker. Figures. Some time away with just us sounded too good to be true. She gives me an apologetic smile. I give her a nod tellin' her it's okay. I tell her I'll see her later and head out.

As soon as I set foot outside the gate, it feels like a damn weight is lifted off of me. Out here it's just me and nature. No eyes lingerin', watchin' me. I can just be. I ain't gotta watch my back out here. Well I do but not in the same way. Not five minutes out here and I already feel better. Beth was right. As always.

Since when did my girlfriend, shit, no, fiance, become such a hot commodity that she is constantly needed? I feel like I've barely seen her since we got here. But I know part of that is my own damn fault. I ain't use to openin' up. I've always had to deal with e'erything myself, alone. I'm grateful that doesn't bother her. It ain't like I'm purposely tryin' to shut her out. I'm just dealin' with it all the only way I know how. After talkin' to her about it all I feel better. She called me out on my shit and made me realize there are other ways of handlin' stuff. It ain't just me anymore. It's us. Her and I against the world. The thought makes me smile.

There's a rustle of leaves not far from me. My attention immediately is focused in on the sound. I hear it again. It's definitely a person. The steps are too steady and sure. I draw my bow. "Come on out!"

A figure steps out from behind the brush with it's hands up. I drop my bow when I realize it's Aaron. What the hell is he doing out here? I give him a once over. He's got a rifle and a backpack strapped to his back. He must be out here huntin'. Although I don't know how he hunts anything, being so damn noisy.

He lowers his hands. "You can tell the difference between walkers and humans by sound?"

You can't? How the hell have these people lasted so long? I keep my thoughts to myself. Unlike Merle I know when to keep my mouth shut.

Aaron fidgets, uncomfortable with the silence. "Can you tell the difference between a good guy and a bad guy? Rick doesn't seem much of an expert on that."

The mention of Rick pisses me off. "Ain't much of a difference anymore."

"Is that how you feel about your people?"

I ain't got time for this shit. "Why you followin' me?"

He looks confused. "I didn't know I was. I came out here to hunt rabbits. I know why you're out here…"

You don't know shit.

"...Mind if I join?"

Beth said to try. Fine, I'll try. I turn away from him and keep trackin'. I call over my shoulder. "Keep up. And keep quiet."

Aaron says he was gonna hunt rabbits, so I start looking for rabbit tracks. There ain't many. I keep searchin' to see what I can see. I start to pick up horse tracks. They are fresh. Real fresh.

Aaron stays silent and follows my every move. Eventually though he breaks and starts to talk. "I know you feel like an outsider. It's not your fault, you know. They don't understand your relationship with Beth. Some of them wouldn't know true love if cupid himself shot them with his arrow. Eric and I, we're still looked at as outsiders in a lot of ways. We've heard our fair share of well meaning but hilariously offensive things from some otherwise really nice people. People are people. The more afraid they get, the more stupid they get. Fear shrinks the brain. They're scared of you and me for different reasons. They're less scared of me, because they know me. It's less and less everyday. So let them get to know you."

This guy sounds like Beth.

"Are you going to Deanna's party tonight?" Aaron asks.

I huff, "I ain't got nothin' to prove." That ain't true. I do, just to Beth, not to these people. I push past the brush and there is a field ahead. There is the horse I've been trackin'. It's a nice lookin' healthy horse. Aaron and I both stop when we see it.

"Buttons." Aaron says. I look at him, confused. "We've seen him before. One of the kids saw him and said he looked like a Buttons. Eric and I have been trying to catch him for months. He gets spooked anytime we get close. It's been a while since I've seen him. I was starting to think the worst." He digs in his backpack and pulls out a rope.

I put my crossbow on my back, nudge him and gesture for him to hand me the rope. "Have you done this before?" He asks as he hands it over.

"My group did. But they weren't out there that long. The longer they are out there, the more they become what they really are."

I wrap the rope how I need it and put it on my shoulder. Slowly and quietly I begin to walk toward the horse. He's all black and his mane is overgrown. He notices me but keeps eatin' grass. "I ain't gonna hurt ya." I say gently. I doubt I will be able to get him myself but we will see. "That's it, keep on eating." I say as I inch closer and closer. He lets me get really close. "You used ta be somebody's huh?" I bend down trying to get the rope in place. "Now you're just yours."

Suddenly a twig snaps and walkers appear. Buttons neighs in distress. "Shit."

I drop the rope and grab my crossbow. The walkers get closer causing Buttons to spook. He rares up and takes off once all four feet hit the ground. Aaron and I dispense of the walkers and clear the field but Buttons is nowhere to be seen. Aaron says, "We need more people."

I shake my head. "We need Beth." The only way we was able to get the horses at the prison was because Beth has a way with horses. "And Maggie. Go back and get Beth, Maggie, Rick and Glenn. We will catch 'im."

Aaron nods but looks confused by the request. "How will we find you?"

"Beth can track us down." He nods and takes off toward Alexandria. I turn and start tracking Buttons again. It takes me fifteen minutes to catch up to him. He found himself another field. It is somewhat fenced in which is good. He has a little protection from the fence and now I am here to make sure the walkers don't get him before the others can arrive. I place myself in the broken part of the fence and keep watch. Buttons watches me carefully at first but once he sees I ain't a threat he goes back to eatin' his grass.

A walker shows up but I make quick work of puttin' it down so Buttons doesn't spook again. Five more walkers and another half hour later, Beth emerges from the woods with Aaron, Maggie, Rick, Glenn, some random dude and Deanna. Why the boss lady is here, I ain't gotta clue. Ain't like she is gonna be much help. Whatever, maybe she wanted to watch. The other guy is younger and has a beard. Man's push up bra.

"Hey." Beth says quietly to me. "Did he come here on his own or did you coax him here?"

"It was all him." I tell her.

She nods then addresses the others. "Alright just like the prison. Daryl, Rick, Glenn, and Spencer y'all circle around him. It'll help keep him contained and y'all can watch for walkers. "Maggie stay here with Deanna."

Watchin' my girl take charge is kinda hot. She is fierce and lots of people underestimate her. Since Grady, our group is finally takin' notice of what a badass she truly is. Rick especially. Her takin' lead on this proves that. We all get in position. I post up close to Maggie and Deanna. Beth enters the gated area cautiously.

She is slow and deliberate with each step. I can hear her talkin' to Buttons. Her voice is so calm and soothin'. "Hey there beautiful boy." Buttons stops eatin' and looks at Beth. She stops walkin'.

"Hi handsome." She says softly, smilin' at the animal. "It's gonna be alright."

Buttons stares at her for a moment longer but he relaxes after a minute. Beth begins to walk closer to him. When she gets almost close enough to reach, Buttons bucks and kicks. I flinch and raise my crossbow. Maggie must'a saw cause she whispers to me. "She's got it. He ain't chagrin' her, she's alright." I know she's right. But still my knuckles turn white with how tightly I am grippin' my bow. If anythin' happens to her… I don't know what I'd do.

Beth remains calm as Buttons shakes his head and neighs angrily at her. She shushs him and he begins to calm. She backed away from him the moment he started actin' out. I glance around to check for walkers. Nothin'. He just must be really scared. Beth coos some soothin' words to him and finally he stills. She doesn't move any closer. She remains where she is. Five minutes in, Beth squats down. After about ten minutes of neither movin' I hear Deanna ask Maggie. "What is she doing?"

"Waiting." Maggie says.

"For what?" I roll my eyes at the dumb question. Maggie has more patience than me because the look on her face is one of understandin'.

"For him to come to her." Maggie answers.

Deanna's eyebrows furrow. "How long is that gonna take?"

Maggie shrugs. "As long as it takes."

Twenty minutes pass before the horse takes a step toward her. As soon as he does, Beth praises him. "Good job, brave boy. Why don't ya come closer." Two minutes later, he inches toward her again. Then again and again until he is close enough for Beth to touch. She reaches her hand out and rubs his snout. The horse nickers in delight at the affection. Beth pets him for a minute more then asks him, "Remember this?" She holds the rope up for the horse to see. She gently places it around his neck and slowly stands. "Let's go home." She starts to walk but the horse doesn't move at first. She pets him again and clicks her tongue pulling him gently to get him to move. Thankfully he complies and starts walking beside her. She smiles at all of us. "Keep your distance. I'm afraid he will freak out if you get too close." We all nod and follow her and Buttons home.