Throughout that morning, most of Rick's group had come to greet her, nervous smiles plastered over their faces. They weren't used to new people, and for good reason. Kari was amazed that the group had lasted as long as they had. Especially when she spotted a young boy running around the campsite, a sheriff's hat on his head. She tensed up at the sight, realising she hadn't seen a living child since...
"Strange, isn't it?" An older man announced, removing his cap from his balding head.
"What is?" Kari frowned.
"Seeing people like this. Like we used to be. For just a second...well, you could almost things were back to normal, couldn't you?" He continued, making Kari scoff.
"It'll never go back. People aren't the same as they used to be" Kari told him.
"I imagine you've seen the worst kind of things after being out there on your own. Rick tells me you're not planning on staying" The older man murmured, as Kari responded with a half-hearted shrug.
"I get it. You think people keep you safe. That's why you've all grouped together. But it's not. Every person in this camp is a liability" Kari explained, as the man's forehead wrinkled.
"If you give them the chance, you might find people can still surprise you" He informed her.
"What's your name?" Kari asked, causing a small smile to grace his lips, thinking he was warming to her.
"Dale" He answered.
"Well, Dale, I don't think you're gonna' last very long in this new world if that's the way you think" Kari retorted, taking a bite out of the peach in her hand.
The white-haired man's smile instantly fell, appearing more disappointed than anything else. As far as Kari was concerned, he was living in the past and nostalgia got people killed now. Hell, anything could get you killed. The only reason she pushed on, and kept living, was because she had seen the alternative. She had the scars to prove it.
"So be it" Dale mumbled, placing the cap back over his head.
"...You've only got one person on watch?" Kari called out to him, causing Dale to stop in his tracks.
"Yes?" He exclaimed, waiting for her to elaborate.
"What, you think a threat is only gonna' come through those trees? These...'walkers' as you call them, might be dumb, but they'll sneak up on you before you know what's happening. And the people? You might be far out in the country, but do you really think people won't notice the smoke from that fire?" Kari went on, gesturing to the fire they were cooking meat on.
"What do you suggest?" Dale inquired.
"Keep moving. Staying in the same place for more than a couple of days is just asking for trouble" Kari advised.
"Is that what you've been doing?" Dale frowned.
"Something like that" Kari shrugged, rubbing her hands over her aching knees.
"Sounds to me like you've just surviving. Not living" Dale stated, as Kari rolled her eyes.
"I ain't got time for this philosophical bullshit—" Kari announced, standing to her feet as a frisbee whizzed past her head, almost knocking her out.
"Sorry!" A small voice cried, as quick footsteps came rushing her way.
She visibly flinched as Rick's son went dashing past her, toward the frisbee he had thrown which had become burrowed in some soil. She almost had to laugh that out of all the terrifying things in the world, it was a child that truly scared her. With a shake of her head, she turned on her heel and went storming away from the pair, hoping neither would think too much about her reaction.
"You ain't kidding when you said you weren't a people person" A gruff voice huffed from nearby, as Kari looked to her side to see the voice had come from a grey tent.
She peered inside to find Daryl lounging on a camping bed, looking in far better condition than he had mere hours ago. He had cleaned up somewhat, his face free from all the mud and blood smeared over his cheeks the first time they met. Still, dirt clung to his arms and chest, his brown hair plastered against his sweaty forehead. But it was his sharp blue eyes that caught her attention. Missing the harsh edge that glared at her in the forest. She could now see he had the beginnings of a beard, a few moles dotted around his cheeks and chin. His fingers were fidgeting with an arrow bolt in his hands, looking away from her, as if he was wondering himself why he had called out to her.
"They don't exactly seem like your kinda' group" Kari suggested, pushing through the tent flap to step inside the small tent.
"The hell's that supposed to mean?" Daryl asked, clearly offended.
"Well, they look like they've showered this year" Kari answered, with a teasing tone.
"You ain't lookin' your best either" Daryl scoffed, as Kari nodded in agreement.
She had lived off scraps the last few weeks, meaning her collarbones were visible at the top of her shirt, and her cheeks had grown hollow in appearance. Not to mention she hadn't gotten a good night's sleep since the world ended.
"I still think I could win Miss Atlanta" Kari shrugged, striking a pose, making Daryl snort.
"Few walkers out there probably give ya' a run for ya' money" Daryl stated, as she gave him a scandalised look.
"You're all charm, Dixon" Kari mumbled, watching as Daryl's eyes narrowed.
"How'd you know my last name?" He frowned, as she gestured to his crossbow by his side.
"You carved Dixon into the bow. I put two and two together" Kari explained.
"...What's the deal with that bald guy? Shane?" Kari blurted out, the earlier encounter having been playing on her mind.
"Why? He bothering you?" Daryl guessed, causing her brows to knit together.
"That the kinda' thing he does?" Kari pushed.
"The guy's an asshole, s'all" Daryl shrugged, as Kari quirked an eyebrow.
"Sounds like there's more to it than that" Kari pointed out, as Daryl pursed his lips.
"He's fucking his best friend's wife. That kinda' thing" Daryl retorted, as Kari's mouth went slack.
"Okay, wasn't expecting that one. Rick know about that?" Kari asked, as Daryl shook his head.
"You didn't hear it from me, alright? Don't want you starting shit" Daryl insisted, as Kari held her hands up in mock defence.
"As if I would" Kari replied, with a slight smirk.
A moment later, she was chucking her half-eaten peach toward Daryl, who caught the fruit in the blink of an eye. He didn't think twice before biting into the peach, clearly just as hungry as Kari was. He'd have to keep his strength up if he had any hope of healing from his arrow wound. Kari groaned inwardly at her thoughts, realising she was reverting to her nursing mindset of taking care of people. That wasn't who she was anymore. It couldn't be.
"Why'd you freak out when the kid ran past you earlier?" Daryl asked, surprising Kari.
"You watching me now?" Kari frowned.
"I ain't exactly got cable to watch, have I?" Daryl snorted.
"I don't like kids" Kari shrugged.
"Why? They ain't no bother" Daryl insisted, with an almost defensive tone to his voice.
She didn't know the man well, but she could guess his protectiveness nature toward children had something to do with his own childhood. Not wanting a kid to end up dealing with the same shit he had. Kari could understand that.
"If you want more food, your buddy Glenn is handing em' out" Kari announced, turning away from him.
"That a suggestion or an order?" Daryl huffed.
"I'll let you take a guess..." Kari trailed off, shooting him a smirk before she exited his tent.
"You can pick out any you like. I think we're about the same size" The blonde beside her commented, in a sweet tone.
Beth was Hershel's youngest daughter and looked like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. She had no issue with giving up her room to Kari the night before, nor sharing any of her clothes. Beth didn't even appear concerned about being in a room with a complete stranger, all smiles and kind words.
"You were still in High School before all this?" Kari guessed, pulling out a pair of jeans.
"Yeah. I'm sixteen. Well, seventeen soon" Beth replied.
"Jesus, I'm sorry. I can't imagine being so young with all this shit going on" Kari murmured, taking a closer look at the jeans to find they were a few sizes too small for her.
"Daddy doesn't like that kind of language in the house" Beth told her, with a scandalised look.
"Well, I won't tell if you won't" Kari grinned at her, spotting a plaid shirt further to the back of her closet.
"It suits you" Beth nodded, as Kari placed the shirt against her chest.
"And what's this?" Kari announced, in a teasing tone, pulling out a crop top that had been hidden away.
"I was gonna' wear it to a party...but I chickened out" Beth shrugged.
"Your dad wouldn't have approved?" Kari asked, earning a slow nod.
"And my mom..." Beth trailed off, biting her bottom lip as tears started to well in her eyes.
"I haven't seen her around the farm" Kari pointed out.
"She got sick" Beth answered, causing Kari to frown for a moment.
She assumed Beth meant her mother had become infected, but it was still an odd choice of words. She then noticed the teenager's eyes had drifted down to one of the daggers hanging on her jean pocket, her big blue eyes as wide as they could get.
"You want to hold it?" Kari inquired.
"I, uh...I shouldn't. Daddy wouldn't—" Beth started, as Kari cut her off.
"Like it? Well, you're gonna' be eighteen pretty soon, Beth. Gonna' have to start making your own decisions sooner or later" Kari explained, pulling the dagger away from her jeans and holding it out to the blonde.
She nervously picked up the dagger, running her finger along the sharp blade, shocked by how heavy the weapon felt. Kari noticed Beth grew pale when she spotted dried blood on the handle of the dagger, her hands beginning to shake a little.
"Have you ever...killed anyone?" Beth asked, in a small voice.
"Depends on what you count as anyone" Kari muttered, as Beth held the dagger out for her to take.
"I'll grab you a towel. You can have a shower here, the water's cold but still" Beth suggested, as Kari gave her a grateful smile.
"I appreciate the tact when telling me that I stink" Kari smirked, making Beth giggle timidly.
Kari shivered as a cold stream of water ran down her body, causing goosebumps to rise over her skin, but it was still the best thing that had happened to her in weeks. Dirt, blood and God only knew what else dripped off her body, as she ran her hands over her face. She hadn't thought she'd ever get the opportunity to enjoy something as simple as a shower again. Grabbing the soap Beth had given her, she began to clean her body as thoroughly as she could, leaving her stomach to the end. The moment her fingers ran over the scarred flesh of her abdomen, she felt like a spell had been broken. She remembered exactly where she was and why. Pulling back the shower curtain, she stepped out of the bathtub and reached out for the towel Beth had left for her. She wrung her dripping wet hair out above the basin, as water dripped down the plughole. Reaching up, she wiped away some of the condensation on the bathroom mirror above the basin, her eyes widening when she saw the bathroom door was now open. A startled gasp left her lips when she spotted Shane standing in the doorway of the bathroom, causing her to grip the towel covering her body, pulling it further up over her chest.
"What the actual fuck are you doing?" Kari cried, from where Shane was still lounging against the doorframe, without a care in the world.
"You didn't come to the shooting range" Shane announced, as she gave him a look of disbelief.
She had heard most of the group were driving off that morning to practice with guns, something she could have certainly benefited from, but with the state of her shoulder, it had seemed like a waste of time for her. Kari had no idea why Shane would have expected her of all people to come along.
"And you couldn't wait until I finished my shower to point that out?" Kari huffed.
"Didn't come in till' I heard the water stop, did I?" Shane retorted, as Kari pursed her lips.
"If you've got a problem with me, Shane, just come out and say it" Kari insisted, as the older man took a step into the bathroom, watching as she backed up a pace in response.
"Just want to keep my eye on you, that's all" Shane informed her.
"Yeah, I can see that" Kari muttered, crossing her arms over her chest, trying to cover herself up as much as possible.
"Don't flatter yourself" Shane scoffed, despite the way his gaze drifted down her body for a moment.
"Tomorrow. You should come out to the lake. I'll teach ya' how to shoot" Shane pushed, as Kari's eyes narrowed.
Being on her own, miles from anyone else with the man in front of her seemed like a terrible idea...but learning the basics when it came to guns was important. Growing up outside America meant that a couple of months before she had never even held a gun.
"Fine. As long as Carol can come along. She needs to learn too, right?" Kari suggested, thinking quickly on her feet.
"...You sure she'll be up for that?" Shane retorted, placing a hand on his hip.
"Well, I'll go and find out if you'd fuck off and let me get changed" Kari pointed out, as Shane shook his head in disbelief, before turning on his heel to leave the room.
Letting out a shaky breath once he was gone, Kari slammed the door shut and bolted it. Ever since the world had gone to shit, she felt as if she couldn't read people as well as she used to. Kari didn't know what Shane's intentions were, but she doubted they were anything good.
Early the next morning, Kari was sitting around the stove with the rest of the group, as Carol passed out bacon and scrambled eggs. Kari smiled at her as she placed a second helping onto her plate, which she demolished in a matter of seconds. God, she was going to miss the food she had enjoyed the past couple of days. Daryl let out a snort from beside her as he watched her scrape away at crumbs left on her plate.
"You better eat your bacon quick or I'll be coming for that too" Kari informed him.
"You best not try" Daryl told her, as a grin spread across her lips.
"Hey, Carol. We still on for later?" Kari asked, reaching up to place her hand on the older woman's arm.
"If you're sure...but why do you want me there? I'm not a very good shot" Carol murmured, as Kari shrugged.
"I just fancied some company. Besides, I'm sure you'll be better than me" Kari suggested, as Carol gave a quick nod before handing out the rest of the food to the group.
"What was that about?" Daryl inquired, not looking up from his food.
"Shane's gonna' teach me and Carol how to shoot" Kari replied, watching as Daryl's face contorted in confusion.
"The hell you want him to—" Daryl began, when Glenn suddenly stood up, grabbing both their attention.
He sucked in a deep breath, before looking toward Dale who gave him a subtle nod. Kari waited impatiently for him to say whatever was so important it needed to interrupt her eating breakfast.
"So...the barn is full of walkers" Glenn announced, as Kari almost spit her food out.
Before anyone could say a word, Shane was on his feet, racing toward the barn with Rick quick on his heels. The others followed suit, with Glenn staying at the back, a conflicted expression on his face. Kari watched as Dale placed his hand on Glenn's shoulder, giving him a comforting squeeze for support.
"No wonder you were acting so shifty yesterday" Kari huffed, as Glenn hung his head in shame.
"I didn't want to cause more problems between the group and Hershel. For Maggie's sake" Glenn sighed, as Kari's forehead wrinkled.
"Why would you...oh, shit. Are you fucking the farmer's daughter?" Kari gaped, as she heard a scandalised cough from behind her.
Lori was further on ahead, now with her hands over her son's ears, whose jaw had dropped open. Kari winced as she turned back to an unamused Glenn, whose secret she had unwittingly just revealed to the entire group.
"My bad" Kari mumbled.
"You cannot tell me you're all right with this!" She could hear Shane cry in the distance, always one step from flying off the handle.
"No I'm not, but we're guests here. This isn't our land" Rick retorted.
"This is our lives!" Shane insisted, pacing around angrily.
"Lower your voice" Glenn pleaded, worried about what the group would do next.
"Okay, we've either got to go in there, we've got to make things right or we've just got to go. Now we have been talking about Fort Benning for a long time" Shane announced, as Kari crossed her arms over her chest.
It seemed like the group would be leaving the farm before she did. She couldn't hide the disappointment from her face. She knew it couldn't last, but having running water and food had almost been enough for her to go back on her plans and stay with the group. Maybe she needed the rude awakening. Any day she could wake up and find herself changing into one of the things in the barn.
"We can't go" Rick told him.
"Why, Rick? Why?" Shane exclaimed.
"Because my daughter is still out there" Carol pointed out, as Shane ran his hands over his face.
"Okay, I think it's time that we all start to just consider the other possibility" Shane began, as Kari could see Daryl take a step forward out of the corner of her eye.
"We're not leaving Sophia behind" Rick stated, firmly.
"I'm close to finding this girl. Kari just found her damn doll two days ago" Daryl protested, walking over to where Shane was pacing.
"She found her doll, Daryl. That's what she did. She found a doll" Shane huffed, as Daryl's face started to turn red.
"You don't know what the hell you're talking about!" Daryl spat out, throwing his arm out, looking as if he was seconds from knocking Shane out.
"I'm just saying what needs to be said. You get a good lead, it's in the first 48 hours—" Shane started, as Kari cut him off this time.
"So, what? You're just gonna' give up on her? What if that was your daughter?" Kari pushed, watching as Lori turned away from the scene, her hand flying to her stomach.
"Shane, just stop" Rick urged, reaching out for his friend's arm.
"Let me tell you something else, man. If she was alive out there and saw you coming all methed out with your buck knife and blood on your face, she would run in the other direction—" Shane said, as Daryl finally had enough and went to lunge for him.
Rick placed himself in between the two shouting men, who were both pushing against him, desperate to get the first swing in. Kari was quick to react, grabbing Daryl's shirt and trying to haul him backwards before things could get out of hand. His hands were balled into fists by his side, as Shane continued yelling at him, all but goading him to fight.
"Daryl. Daryl, stop!" Kari exclaimed, placing both her hands on his chest to stop him from going after Shane.
"I'll beat your ass! You don't come at me, man!" Shane bellowed, as Daryl glared at the other man, his chest rising and falling quickly out of anger.
"Just lemme' go" Daryl muttered, brushing her hands away from his chest.
"Not until you calm the fuck down. C'mon, let's just go" Kari insisted, grabbing his arm and all but trying to drag him away.
"She's right. Leave them to it" Carol nodded, as both women started to herd him away from where Shane was still huffing and puffing.
"Yeah, you run! You better run!" Shane called out, as Kari simply raised her middle finger toward him, and continued pushing Daryl away.
Kari had thought it was a little too easy to pull Daryl away from the fight and quickly realised why that was when she spotted him headed toward the stables not long after. It had only been a few days since he was quite literally impaled, and he was already planning to run off into the woods.
"You can't" Carol announced, from where she stood beside Kari.
"M'fine" Daryl retorted, picking up a saddle from one side of the stables and hauling it over to a nearby saddle rack.
Kari could see how he was all but limping, knowing that his side must have been screaming in pain at the action. There was no doubt that he would rupture his stitches if he hadn't managed to already. She wouldn't be surprised if he couldn't even get on the damn horse.
"You can barely even walk ten metres without wincing. You're pretty fucking far from fine" Kari insisted.
"Hershel said you need to heal" Carol pointed out.
"Yeah, I don't care" Daryl huffed, picking up a horse's muzzle and opening the stable door.
"Well, I do. Rick's going out later to follow the trail" Carol pushed, as Daryl paid her little mind.
"Yeah well, I ain't gonna sit around and do nothing" Daryl retorted, reaching out for the horse in front of him, trying to calm the animal.
"And how is getting yourself killed gonna' help anything?" Kari argued.
"We don't know if we're gonna find her, Daryl" Carol announced, as both Kari and Daryl whipped around to face her.
It was a truth they both knew, but they had never expected Carol to be the one to speak the words. Tears welled in her eyes, threatening to spill as she tried to find her words once more.
"We don't...I don't" Carol confessed, as Daryl took a step toward her.
"What?" He frowned.
"Can't lose you too" Carol said, in a timid voice, as a tear rolled down her cheek.
Daryl looked at her in confusion for a few moments, his eyes narrowed as if he couldn't understand why anyone would care what happened to him. Kari looked toward her feet, feeling as if she had accidentally invaded a private moment between the pair. It seemed like they were closer than Daryl had let on. With a shake of his head, Daryl marched over to where the saddle lay and threw it toward the ground with a yell, not knowing how else to let his emotions out. He doubled over in pain as he felt something snap in his abdomen, causing Carol to come rushing over to him.
"Are you alright?" She cried, in a panic.
"Just leave me be! Stupid bitch" Daryl muttered, shoving her away from him.
Biting her lip, Carol wiped away the tears that were spilling over her cheeks and rushed off out of the stables. Daryl grimaced as he watched her disappear in the distance, feeling guilt almost immediately. His eyes flickered over to Kari, who was glaring at him, her eyebrows raised expectantly.
"You can go on and leave too" Daryl huffed, as Kari shook her head in annoyance.
"Look, I get it, okay? You're hurting and...and maybe you don't know how to deal with someone actually giving a crap about you, but don't you dare take it out on her. She's lost her child!" Kari spat out, watching as Daryl practically flinched at her raised voice.
"You heard her. She don't even believe I'll find the kid" Daryl muttered.
"That's cause sometimes hoping for something hurts more. Expect the worst and you can never get hurt, right?" Kari exclaimed, as the pair's eyes connected for a moment.
"She knows I didn't mean it" Daryl shrugged.
"Oh, does she now? You go and apologise to her, Dixon" Kari insisted, as Daryl let out a scoff.
"...Once I get back to searching for Sophia" Daryl suggested, as Kari let out a groan.
"Fine. Which horse am I having?" Kari asked.
"What? You ain't coming" Daryl pointed out, as if it was obvious.
"Either I come with you or you're not going," Kari told him, firmly.
"You can't even hold onto the damn horse's rein with your arm" Daryl insisted, as Kari stood her ground.
The pair stayed where they were, waiting to see who was going to break first. As stubborn as he was, with a huff Daryl mumbled something about waiting until the next day before he went storming off. Kari couldn't keep the slight smirk off her lips as he walked away, glad he had finally seen sense. She reached out to close the stable gates when the horse inside let out a panicked noise and backed up toward the back of its enclosure. She raised her hands to try to calm the animal but that only seemed to send it into even more of a frenzy. Jumping backwards, she slammed the stable door shut as quickly as she could and started to stumble away from the terrified horse. She wondered if it could tell.
If it knew that there was something wrong with her.