Surviving the Apocalypse

Episode 3

       Growing up, Daryl was taught to hate cops of any kind, it didn't matter if they were the best of the best carrying a shield and headgear, or if they only had a team of less than ten men. Daryl had lied to many cops as a child, Merle and his dad made sure to let him know they couldn't be trusted.

Merle was in and out of Juvie for a while until he served, which is the weirdest thing to Daryl. We can't like the people that 'protect' us in our hometown, but we can honor some random dudes across the country that fight in wars they don't even teach in school. The cops in Daryl's old neighborhood were okay in his opinion, but in order to keep the Dixon name alive he couldn't let them know that.

(A.N. I just wanted to say very quickly, that this is a thought of a fifteen year old boy who has been emotionally, verbally, and physically abused his whole life. I do not agree with the whole cop and veterans thing, it just fits Daryl's character for him to say something like this. If you or someone you know has fought for this country, served in any branch of the military, or risk their lives as a cop, thank you or them for everything! Just wanted to clear that up.)

If someone would have told him a year ago that he would be walking through the woods with a cop, to help find a lost little girl, and he was able to lead the search, he probably would have punched them and called them a liar. However, that is exactly what he was doing, because apparently if you act 'mature' enough with your weapon, and you have the skills, then you can be classified as an adult just long enough to find said missing girl.

Daryl and Rick have been walking for a little while, and even though Daryl was supposed to hate cops, he still felt bad for his comment earlier. It was true that they needed to get off the highway, and that it would take too long to teach Rick about tracking, but maybe he shouldn't have been so sassy. The man was just trying to learn an important skill, and Daryl just had to screw it up just like everything else.

Daryl broke his trail of thoughts when the sound of leaves rustling broke out somewhere near him and Rick. The both crouched down, looking through the trees trying to spot whatever made the noise. Rick motioned that they needed to move forward, so Daryl lifted his crossbow and walked in a low crouch behind the deputy.

Just over the bend, a walker was strolling around not having noticed them yet. Daryl pointed to Rick to go left, and he would go right, ending with a small wink. He waited until Rick nodded and went his way, before he started creeping to the right so that he was behind the ugly man.

Rick ran in front of the geek to get his attention, and as soon as the blonde man let out a screechy roar, a bolt slid right through his forehead. When the body dropped, Daryl was standing on the other side, looking right in his element with his crossbow still raised. Rick raised his eyebrows, giving the boy a small smile in praised, before jogging closer to the dead carcass.

"Sophia!" Daryl hollered, after yanking his bolt out of the walker head. Rick was crouched over the body putting a pair of gloves on. Where the hell did he get gloves, Daryl wondered silently. The teenager looked around some more, and when he looked back at the man he was examining the hands of the dead man. "What are you looking for?"

"Skin under the fingernails." Rick explained, showing his observation to the kid. He pulled the jaws open, looking through its teeth. "It fed recently."

Briefly, Daryl had a moment of panic that the man had gone insane. Why else would he willingly go near the mouth of one of those dead freaks? What if a tooth nicked his finger, would he turn? Would that count as a bite?

Daryl leaned down to get a closer look, without actually touching the body. If this man wanted to play operation with this walker's mouth he could, but Daryl wouldn't risk getting near those pointy teeth. His breath caught in his throat when Rick placed almost his whole hand in the mouth, wiggling his finger around with a grimace.