Surviving the Apocalypse

Episode 6

A.N. This episode is super dialogue heavy, just a fair warning! Everyone knows about what happens to Daryl next, in the show. He takes a tumble, gets impaled, hallucinates Merle, and then gets shot. Because we already know what's going to happen (because I won't be changing that) I decided that during the time that he's struggling with running up that hill and making jewelry out of walkers, I will be focusing on our new character Nathan some more.

        Waking up early was a normal occurrence for Daryl, something he had gotten used to as a child. He has been sitting in the tent, waiting patiently for Oliver to wake up, while trying to stay awake himself. He didn't know where Mrs. Elodie was, maybe helping Mrs. Carol with laundry, but she was gone when he woke up. He didn't want to wake Oliver up, knowing sleep was harder to come by these days, but he also knows Rick was planning on dividing everyone up today.

"Daryl," Rick called from outside of the tent, knowing the boy was awake. He could see the shadow of the boy sitting up, moving something around. Probably his crossbow or bolts.

Daryl flinched, caught off guard by the burst of sound. He jumped up, peeking over his shoulder to make sure he didn't disturb Oliver, and then stepped out of the tent. His foot catches on the zipper, causing him to stumble briefly.

The adults watch as the sleep rumpled teenager basically falls out of the tent, his hair standing in all directions, and his eyes squinting due to the harsh sunlight. Daryl was pulling on his flannel when he stumbled, allowing the surrounding adults to see a few scars marking his shoulders.

"You awake?" Rick teases, not mentioning the tumble or mark they had all witnessed. The boy just grumbles and nods, while wiping his face harshly to rid himself of sleep.

"Oliver still asleep?" Shane asks, watching the boy struggle to button up his shirt, his mind still slowly waking.

"Yeah, I didn't want to wake him up." Daryl answers, finally doing the last button on his shirt. He walks back over to the tent, grabbing his crossbow and slinging it over his shoulder, and then tossing his pillow at Oliver's head.

Ignoring his friends grumbles and complaints, Daryl walks back over to the men surrounding the hood of the Cherokee. Andrea walks up on the other side, completing the semi circle. Rick lays out the map, taking the time to put a stick and some rocks to keep it down, as they wait for Oliver.

"Sorry." Oliver mumbled, pulling his t-shirt over his head as he walked up to the group. His hair is still a mess and he has deep red lines across his cheekbone, obvious signs that he had just rolled out of bed.

"Morning, let's get going. We've got a lot of ground to cover." Rick starts, waiting for the teen to get to the truck before he starts explaining the agenda. "Alright, everyone's getting new search grids today. If she made it as far as the farmhouse Daryl and Oliver found, she might have gone further East than we thought."

"I'd like to help." Jimmy interrupted with Nathan standing next to him. Shane shakes his head as he opens the passenger side door, sitting down in the seat. "I know the area pretty well and stuff."

"Hershel's okay with this," Rick looks at Jimmy, and then turns to Nathan, "and Patricia?" Rick had a feeling they might be pulling his leg, but if their parents are okay with it, he'll take all the help he can get.

"Yeah, yeah, he said I should ask you." Jimmy offers, seemingly honest but still nervous.

"I can't go out, but I know the area well enough to help out with the map, if you need it." Nathan explains, knowing better than to sneak off without telling his mom or uncle.

"All right then. Thanks." Rick tells them, giving them each one last look to make sure he wasn't missing any doubt.

"Nothing about what Daryl and Oliver found screams Sophia to me." Shane brings up, looking away from the group as he talks. "Anyone could have been held up in that farmhouse."