Breathe Princess (Daryl Dixon Love Story)

Chapter Fifteen

We packed up earlier that morning and I simply changed into a plain white shirt and my denim shorts, leaving everything pretty much as it was. Everyone was waiting for me round the front of the RV. We were all heading down to the 'Greene' farm house where the woman on the horse had told us to go. I was practically jumping at the chance to go considering Carl was the one that was in trouble and now we no longer had phones, there was no way to get a hold of Rick or Lori to see whether or not he was alright. Glenn and T-Dogg were currently there, T-Dogg having injured his arm whilst the hoard of walkers passed through here and he needed to be stitched up. Glenn had gone with him and obviously Lori had hightailed it out of here leaving the rest of us to wait until the next morning to see if we could find Sophia.

Finally, we were on the road again.

We followed Dale and the RV down the road to where the woman on the horse had told us she was going to be, I myself was shoved onto the back of Daryl's bike, my arms wrapped tightly around his waist until we saw the farm come into sight and we slowed, myself jumping off the bike and running right up Rick, engulfing him into a hug, asking him how Carl was doing.

"He'll pull through. Thanks to Herschel and his people." Lori smiled at me as I pulled back from Rick and pulled her into a hug.

"And Shane, we'd have lost Carl if it weren't for him." Rick added on to the statement as a shaven headed Shane appeared from behind him. I ran to him and pulled him into a hug, thanking him for saving Carl's life and pulled away as the others greeted each other.

"How'd it happen?" Dale asked as he walked up to Rick.

"A hunting accident, just a stupid accident." Rick replied, his hand resting on Lori's hip. Shane shifted uncomfortably at the mention of a man named Otis, someone who had apparently died on the run out to get the equipment to save Carl.

We were introduced to everyone at the farm. Herschel was an aging man, white hair tied a little on the back of his head. His two daughters lived with him. Maggie, the one who had come to get Lori back in the forest, considering now she wasn't riding high on a horse, I could see just how stunningly beautiful she was short brown hair, green eyes and was a your typical farmers daughter. I felt a little self conscious but around pretty much anyone in this group I felt a little like that. Beth was the younger of the two, only about 17 years old. She was just as beautiful, long blonde hair in waves and blue eyes that sparkled. Everyone on the farm was surprisingly nice. Herschel didn't want us there for very long, just until Carl was fit enough to leave. I liked it here. It was out of the way, so there weren't going to be a lot of people coming around here when they weren't needed, not to mention it was free from walkers as far as we could tell and that was what I needed, at least for now. To not be running from walkers for my whole life. Just somewhere I could sit and relax. 

 
We set up our tents and walked back around to where the Greene's were gathered, having a small ceremony for Otis. I never liked funerals, always so sad and depressing. The school they went to was over run by walkers, Otis gave his life for Shane to be able to get back so that Carl could live.

We eventually walked away, Daryl and I heading back to the tent we were sharing, although we were going to be sleeping on complete opposite sides.

Rick called Daryl and I over to where he and the others were stood looking at the hood of a car where he was looking out onto a map.
"This is perfect, we can finally get this thing organized, grid a whole area; start a search team." Rick was taking instant control of the situation, making sure everyone knew what their jobs were was something Rick had taken upon himself even when we first met.

"Not you," Herschel interrupted, "Not today. You gave three units of blood. You wouldn't be hiking five minutes in this heat before passin' out." Herschel informed as I played with the hem of my shirt, although listening intently. "And you," He turned his attention now to Shane who I was standing next to. "your ankle? Push it now and you'll be laid out a month, be no good to anybody."

"Guess it's just me, I'mma head back to the creek, work back from there." Daryl stepped forwards, indicating his route on the map. Did I like the thought of Daryl going off into the woods on his own? No, but there was no way that I was going to be able to stop Daryl Dixon from doing something he'd already put his mind to.

"I can still be useful," I knew Shane didn't like being left on the side lines, he always had to be doing something to help. "Drive up the interstate, see if Sophia wandered back."

"Take Annora with you, I don't want her left on her own." Daryl instructed. I liked that he was looking out for me but I didn't like him treating me like I was made of glass.

"Tomorrow, we'll start doin' this right." Rick continued.

"That means we can't just have our people out there with just knives," Shane interjected. "we need the gun trainin' we've been promised."

"I'd prefer you not carryin' guns on my property, we've managed this far without turning this into an armed camp." I was with Herschel on this one, I could see why he'd rather not have guns lying around whilst there were animals on the land and also Beth, who quite clearly didn't know how to handle a gun. Not that I did, but she was a lot younger than me, she shouldn't need to know.

"With all due respect, what if a group of 'em wanders in here?" Shane spoke up, referring to what we'd already experienced on the high way. I stayed silent the whole time, knowing Shane had a very valid point but I wasn't going to voice my opinion, it wasn't our farm.

"We're guests here," Rick started, turning his attention to Herschel. "This is your property and we will respect that." He pulled out his gun from the holster and placed it on top of the hood of the car, Shane doing the same thing with his gun before all eyes fell onto me.

"What?" I asked, raising my eye brows at the two of them.

"We know you have a gun Annora, just hand it over." Rick leant against the car and gave me the 'do as I say' look. I shrugged and dumped my gun on the hood of the car, not that I would do anything with it, I don't know how to properly use one

"Right, first thing's first, set up camp; find Sophia."

"Daryl, wait up!" I called as I followed him a few layers of trees thick into the woods, hidden from the farm by foliage.
"What?"

"You sure you're gonna be alright on your own? I can ditch Shane and help you?" I questioned, my hands resting on my hips.

"You need to quit worryin' about me, I work better on my own." He pulled his cross bow off his back and loaded it up with an arrow.

"I can't help but worry. When people I care about head off into the woods on their own, it gives me cause for concern." I shrugged

"I'll be back before dark, 'lright?" I nodded and smiled as he gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and walked further into the woods.