Unearthed ↦ Daryl Dixon

2.4

Morning came quickly, despite your mostly sleepless night. You'd been in and out on the rocking chair on the porch, every small sound shaking you awake. When a few of the others had gone off to collect stones for Otis' funeral, you'd wasted no time in joining them. It wasn't long before you spotted Daryl and the others arriving. You all met up at the front of the farmhouse.

Dale approached Rick. "How is he?"

Lori smiled beside her husband. "He'll pull through. Thanks to Hershel and his people."

"And Shane." Rick added. "We'd have lost Carl if not for him."

You kicked lightly at the grass beneath your feet. As much as Rick was right, you hated standing by while he praised a traitor. Having known Shane most of your life, you felt beyond betrayed by what he had done and you couldn't imagine how much it would hurt Rick. They were never just best friends; more like brothers. Hell, Shane was like your brother too, until recently.

"Thank god," Carol said, hugging Lori. "We were so worried."

"How did it happen?" Dale asked.

"A hunting accident. That's allâ€" just a stupid accident."

Moments later you would all gather around an old tree, where Patricia had decided to keep a memorial for Otis. Everyone began stacking rocks in the spot as Hershel spoke of God, Otis and the legacy he left behind.

You had come to know what happened in the woods, Otis accidentally shooting Carl. As angry as you were, you had to admire that the man had risked his life to try and save your nephew.

"Shane, will you speak for Otis?" Hershel asked.

You looked to Shane, who was pale as a ghost.

"I'm not good at it." Shane responded. "I'm sorry."

"You were the last one with him." Patricia spoke up. "You shared his final moments. Please. I need to know his death had meaning."

"Okay." Shane whispered, his eyes shifting to the ground for a moment. "We were about done, almost out of ammo. We were down to pistols by then. I was limping real bad. Ankle all swollen up. 'We've got to save the boy', see, that's what he said. He gave me his backpack and shoved me ahead. Said to run and that he'd cover me. When I looked back…" Shane took a deep breath. "If not for Otis, I'd have never made it out alive and that goes for Carl too. It was Otis. He saved us both. If any death ever had meaning, it was his."

Patricia smiled, nodding as tears fell down her cheeks. Shane turned to the pile of rocks, placing another one on top. You watched him closely, noticing his hands shaking ever so slightly. Daryl had been watching him too, your eyes connecting with a shared confusion. Whatever had happened with Otis, Shane was not himself.

…

"How long has this girl been lost?" Hershel asked.

"This'll be day there." Rick responded.

Maggie hurried over with a map, laying it across the hood of the car you were gathered around. "County survey map. Shows terrain and elevations."

"This is perfect. We can finally get this thing organized." Rick spoke. "We'll grid the whole area and start searching in teams."

"Not you. Not today." Hershel said. "You gave three units of blood. You wouldn't be hiking five minutes in this heat before passing out." He then turned to Shane. "And your ankle… Push it now, you'll be laid up for a month, no good to anybody."

"Guess it's just me." Daryl sighed. "I'm gonna head back to the creek, work my way from there."

"I'll join you." You spoke, earning a nod from him.