Cowboy

28) Better Than Some

Eight months later

Rick kicked through the door, taking out a walker while T-Dog took out the other. Daryl and Alicia walked in together, Carl trailing after them.

Rick, T-dog, Carl, and Daryl went into separate rooms. Alicia walked into the living room of the house, her gun raised.

She looked around, making sure the area was clear before moving on. She met Daryl at the staircase, his crossbow raised.

She nodded her head in the direction of upstairs, signaling for him to follow her. He shook his head, stepping in front of her so he was in the first line of danger if something happened.

She sighed, following close behind him. She jumped, feeling T-Dog behind her. "Sorry." He whispered. She shook her head, flipping him off with a grin.

She walked with Daryl into a room upstairs, the only thing in there being an owl. She watched as he lined up the sights on his bow, firing at the bird.

"Supper." He grinned, picking it up and shoving it towards her face.

She rolled her eyes. "Delightful."

They walked back down stairs, Daryl plucking feathers off the owl as they went. She sighed, taking the owl from him seeing as he was struggling.

"Let the woman do it." She tutted, sitting down in a chair, continuing to pluck off feathers, much faster.

He rolled his eyes, sitting down beside her. "Give me my damn owl." He took it from her, sticking his tongue out in the process.

Lori walked into the living room, sitting down on the floor before opening a jar of peanut butter. "You ok?" Alicia asked.

"Yeah." She breathed.

Alicia offered her a smile before turning back to Daryl, watching him continue to struggle with the owl.

Pretty soon everyone had made their way into the house, all gathered in the living room. Carl sat down, two cans of something in his hands.

She watched as he began to open them. Before he could get the first one all the way open Rick walked over, taking it from him.

He walked towards the fireplace, chucking the can. Daryl jumped as it clanged against the floor. "Damn." Alicia muttered.

Rick looked around at the group, almost like he was waiting for someone to speak against his actions. No one did.

They sat in silence for a few moments, everyone looking around the room at each other. T-Dog looked out the window, signaling to everyone that walkers were outside.

They grabbed their things, running out the back door. Alicia looked back, waiting for them to get all their stuff in their cars before jumping onto the back of Daryl's motorcycle.

"Here we go." She sighed, wrapping her arms around Daryl as he sped off.

—————
The group had stopped, everyone getting out of their cars. Rick walked ahead, checking out the area before putting Carl on guard duty.

He walked back over the group, everyone looking at a map Maggie had spread out over the hood of a car.

"We've got no place left to go." T-Dog pointed out.

"When this herd meets up with this one, we'll be cut off, we'll never make it south." Maggie agreed, pointing at places on the map.

"What do say, it's about a hundred and fifty head?" Daryl asked.

Glenn shook his head. "That was last week. Could be twice that now."

"This river could have delayed them. If we move fast, we might have a shot to tear right through this." Hershel suggested.

T-Dog furrowed his brows. "Yeah, but if this group joins with that one, they could spill out this way."

Maggie scoffed. "So we're blocked."

"Only thing to do is double back at 27th and swing towards Greenville." Rick looked around at the group, watching for any complaints.

Alicia shook her head, pointing on the map. "We picked through that already, it's like we spent the winter going in circles."

"Yeah, I know. I know. At Newnan we'll push west. Haven't been through the area. We can't keep going house to house. He looks at Lori in the car We need to find some place to hold up for a few weeks." Rick looked to Lory who still sat in the truck.

T-Doh nodded. "Alright. Is it cool if we get to the creek before we head out? It won't take long. We gotta fill up on water, we can boil it later."

"Knock yourself out."

Alicia walked over to Daryl, smiling as he got his bow ready. "Going hunting? That owl wasn't good enough for you?"

He smirked. "Naw."

She sighed, looking over to Beth. "I'm gonna stay here with Beth. You be careful." She stood on her tiptoes, pecking his lips.

"You too." He pointed. "Keep an eye out."

"Will do." She said, mock saluting him as she walked backwards before turning around. "Hey." She smiled, walking to stand beside Beth.

"Hey." Beth smiled back. "How you holding up?"

Alicia nodded, putting her thumbs in the belt loops of her jeans. "Better than most people out here I guess." She looked back at Daryl as he walked away with Rick. "Course I got Daryl."

"You two are cute." Beth smiled, nudging her shoulder. "You make him less..."

"Redneck?" Alicia laughed. "Yeah... guess that's a good thing." She looked to Beth grinning at her. "Although sometimes that rugged charm comes in handy." She wiggled her eyebrows.

"Ew!" Beth grimaced, shoving her shoulder. "I don't need to know that."

Alicia laughed, putting her arm around Beth. "How are you holding up?"

Beth nodded. "Better than some people out here I guess."