Authors Note: This is back to present time this is when things will definitely start to diverge further from the plot. Thanks for reading. Sorry it took long to update this chapter is in the third pov due to how many people are constantly speaking and interacting. I found it easier to keep track. I will write if the pov planes on switching back to first person and vice versa.

(Present day)

As Daryl stopped thinking about what led to him being here he stopped hearing the shuffling of walkers passing. He poked his head pout slightly and didn't see anything so began to shuffle rest of the group started to crawl out of their various hiding spots in turn when a scream ripped across the air. Everybody rushed out from under the cars and turned to see what's going on. Only to see Sophia and Carl running into the forest with a few walkers running after them. Immediately Rick, Glenn and Daryl took after them. However, they never found them nor the walkers it was like they all up and disappeared. It didn't help it wasn't getting dark either and no matter how good of a tracker Daryl was even he couldn't track successfully in the dark.

They picked up the search the next day walking through the forest almost felt like a horror film. Daryl knew it was honestly just a little to quite. He could also see signs that somebody else had come through this forest hunting. The trees every once and awhile had the pock marks of an arrow that didn't hit it's mark and was proceeded to be pulled out of the bark. Daryl thought to say something but at the end of the day there was no evidence of wether or not these marks were fresh. That didn't mean he didn't keep an eye out. As they walked deeper into the forest they found their first sign of life or rather dead life.

Unfortunately he wasn't the one that found it but it was Carol. All he heard was a scream.

"Ahhh! Oh god. There's a body just hanging there. God do yo think that Carl and Sophia came across this?" Carol stated.

"I'm not sure hopefully not. Maybe you ladies should go back to the R.V with T-Dog, Amy and Dale. I mean Lori I really don't want you out here plus what if the kids circle back somehow it would be great if you and were Carol were there waiting for them right?" Rick said

Lori looked like she was about to argue but Carol immediately agreed so possibly out of solidarity she decided to agree as well. Daryl didn't bother to speculate.

"Well who's gonna walk them back? They shouldn't be alone not till they have a chance for us to teach the how to defend themselves" Shane said. Daryl couldn't help but notice how intense he was looking at Lori while speaking. However, not his circus so he wasn't gonna make a fuss but he knew it was only a matter of time till that whole situation blew up.

"Well why don't you go with them since your so concerned about them walking around by themselves" Andrea retorted. Daryl heard Glenn snort in the background.

"Look Andrea, you're a lady you should be going back with them as well. Wouldn't want to mess that face plus you know somewhat how to guide yourself through the forest right. After all when we back in the quarry you said you Daddy taught you how to fish so I'm sure he taught you other things so go on now well the men look for the kids." Shane said while smirking at her.

Daryl couldn't help but laugh internally he knew Andrea's type a spitfire that wouldn't put up for any shit just like his wife. He couldn't help but smirk and wait for her come back.

"You know what my Daddy did teach me a lot. One of the things he taught me was to take this Ladysmith and put a bullet between the legs of any men that was being disrespectful. So, fuck you and your misogyntic bullshit Shane now fuck off before I shoot off your dick. Either you walk them or choose someelse but it ain't gonna be me." Andrea calm said to Shane while smiling at him.

Shane got red in the face and started to storm over to her while Rick tried top hold him back. While that was going down Daryl took the chance to look around and make sure nothing snuck up on them. He saw a church in the distance while looking around and cut them off before they continued.

"Hey! Why don't we had to that church before we figure out who's definitely going where and with whom. Ya sound good great lets go." Daryl said before he started to walk off toward the church. It's best not to give them the chance to argue and hey maybe being at a church might cool this down. As they got the church he saw a bunch of graves and could't help to do the sign of the cross out of respect he may not be the most church going man but he had faith. Gotta believe in something went right to the church doors to push them open.

"Hey, wait let's make sure there's nothing in there first. We can carol them with the small space in this courtyard yeah?" Glenn said before looking for some agreement rick nodded toward him so taking the gas agreement. Glenn waited for Shane to go buy on the doors before taking a nice sized rock and tossing it toward the bell. The ring of the church bell went off and with it there couldn't hear the small roars of what sounded like a few walkers echoing from inside the church. Shane ripped open the door as Rick stood to the side braced with a knife. As the walkers came through he stabbed each one in the head. It was clear that the knife being sharp aided in making sure it was able to come in and out of the skulls. Black ooze started to cling to the knife by the time he was done.

"I wonder why they were so softish. Not saying you don't have skills but wasn't that a little easy. You known?" Glenn voiced out softly

"Well, we are in Georgia it's hot almost all the time we are still technically in the hot season. They have been trapped in a church with nothing to eat decaying day by day so it makes sense that their skulls would be soft in turn. Making it easy for the knife to glide in and out of each ones head." Days answered absentminded while taking the chance to examine the bodies.

He looked up to see the search group looking at hime incredulously.

"What?'' Daryl said gruffly. Feeling the eyes on him.

"Well I mean we all realized you got something going on under all that dirt and grim hunting crap but that was some really smart shit you just said.I honestly wouldn't have expected that out of you" Andrea replied

"Well that's why your not supposed to judge based off first look" Daryl replied before stomping toward the walkers left on the ground. He started to grab one and haul it off without looking back duping it just outside the heard the rest of them do the same and turned around to back to the church door as the others passed him. Walking in he looked through each pew and behind the stand before sitting down at the second pew to take a second to pray.

He heard the others shuffle in and sit down. It was just a moment of peace but it was nice in all the chaos. Daryl stood up and walked back to the door to keep look out. He couldn't help but wonder were the kids were. Had they come across the church and kept going. Out of th corner of his eye he saw Shane come up on his left leaning against the other door frame. Not even bothering to acknowledge him he stepped out to start looking for signs that the kids were around. Most likely if they had found this they either walked in the little grave yard or stopped right outside the fence. Walking along the small graveyard he looked for any sign stopping everyone in awhile to examine cloth. Daryl was so focused that he didn't realize how much time was passing.

"Hey, you find anything? A piece of cloth or something?" Yelled out Rick

"Nah, I haven't seen nothing yet but their might be something eventually. It's gonna be getting dark in a few hours so lets discuss how we want to move forward for the next few hours. What's the plan" Daryl said while standing up.

Daryl turned to Rick and saw the rest of the search group had all left eh church and were now waiting in front if just watching him. He walked over and stopped in front of them waiting for somebody to say something cause he had no input that wasn't his kid they recently loss so he was up for whatever one of the parents thought was best.

"Well I think we should keep moving forward like I said said Andrea with Carol and Lori back to the R.V and than we split up. Rick and me while Daryl and Glenn go look in another area." Shane said before throwing a smirk toward Andrea.

"Why I oughta!" Andrea shouted reaching for the gun in her belt but Rick stopped her.

"Look Shane stop enough and Andrea don't go threading group members" Rick said

"Well he needs to stop being an asshole and maybe I wouldn't be tempted to shoot him down right here right now" Andrea stated.

"Look everybody needs to stop its clear emotions are running high. We haven't eaten anything its already past mid-day and we've made no progress in finding the kids. Only a lot of places they aren't Maybe we should take this as a sign that we all should go back to the R.V rest up and figure out another direction they may have gone while running." Glenn said clearly trying to mediate.

"Yeah, kids right maybe start back where we last saw footprints and go in the other direction that we didn't explore today." Daryl said putting his thumb between his teeth and biting. He was ready to go back and figure out a new plan cause it was clear this wasn't working. The group is too large and he feels like they're making matters worse.

"Alright, lets head back than and come up with a new plan" Rick said.\

So, the group trudged back weary from all that occurred and worried about what this meant for the group with two kids missing and clear animosity overcoming within Shane all of the sudden. Only time would tell. Daryl couldn't help but worry though about how he hand't seen a single animal so far while being within the woods it honestly didn't bode well.