One more step

Unexpected

Elli had become accustomed to Merle's mood swings. He could be an ass but over the past month she had learned to read what kind of mood he was in and when it was safe to interject. He hadn't had another outburst like at the cabin. Merle had become accustomed to her being there. He had even acted protective over their little scraggler when coming up on other groups. They never stayed moving on quickly. Merle said they would all get them killed. They had been sleeping in make shift camps. Normally ending up with two sleeping in the truck, while the third would stand watch. She was comfortable with Daryl. When Merle was on watch Daryl would kick his feet up on the dash while Elli would use his chest as a pillow and kick her feet up on the seat. She missed the warmth when Daryl had to swap with Merle and she would move over to the passenger seat and try to sleep in much less space while he snored. Elli pushed forward as they were walking through the woods. They had hidden the truck and motorcycle in the woods and were hunting. Food had run out two weeks ago. Daryl had squirrels hanging about him. She held up the crossbow looking forward. Daryl was teaching her to track. She was following deer tracks. She walked ahead out of the woods. Merle and Daryl hung back about 20 feet or so letting her try to learn. She was standing out in some thick brush looking at her ground when Merle stopped suddenly and whistled out to her. she snapped her head up there were men approaching quickly. Rifles and shotguns in hand yelling. She didn't have time to retreat she lifted the crossbow. A large black man, an Asian and an older man in a fishing cap approached guns raised.

Merle rushed forward gun drawn knife in other hand. Ready to defend their girl. That's what she was in his eyes, 'theirs'. Daryl slinked out carefully putting himself in front of her taking the crossbow. She stood behind him immediately taking the hand gun from the back of his pants.

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Shane and Rick hurried towards their guys who were now face to face with the strangers. Andrea laid on top of the RV. "I can hit em, Rick just tell me when". Rick threw his hand up to her, "Dont we don't know what we dealing with!" Shane yelled once more at her as he and Rick tore off down the embankment "just let us handle this!"

By the time they reached their guys there was a screaming match between them and the two other men. It was so tense Rick didn't notice the small blonde woman behind them. But Shane did. "Rick..." Rick ignored him trying to calm Tdog down and seperate him and the older redneck who was screaming racist slurs. The blonde was staring at Rick and Daryl realized who he was. Rick still didn't notice. shane couldn't stop staring at her as he called out again "RICK!!!" Everyone shut up and looked at Shane. Ricks confused gaze followed Shane's until his eyes fell on her. He couldn't breath, "Elli..." a gunshot rang out and Elli's head spun violently to the left. Daryl, Rick and Shane all screamed no at the same time running towards her limp body on the ground. Merle's gun now cocked and pointed at the others "I'm gonna kill every last one of you!" Rick was sobbing trying to grab at her looking for the wound. "Oh God! No no no no...." Daryl interrupted him jerking her body up. "She's breathing where's ya camp?!" Rick took off running "This way!" Shane convinced all the men to drop their weapons and follow him after Daryl and Rick who ran with Elli up the embankment towards an RV.

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