bound by fate

Part IX

I woke up,warm breaths on the back of my neck.I can feel someone's big arms wrapped around my chest.I've never felt safer.I start to wriggle around a little bit,feeling some rocks from under the tent digging into my ribs."Shhh.Stop moving."A raspy voice calls from behind me.I gulp,suddenly realising what was actually happening.I went stiff,not even blinking and barely breathing so I wouldn't irritate him."Damn girl.Ya gotta breathe."The voice said again.The arms that were once wrapped around me,left my body.I suddenly felt cold and empty.Then I got flipped over and I was met with Daryl's sleepy eyes.His fingers traced over my neck,it hurting as he did so."Sorry.Ya got bruising on your neck and a black eye."He whispered."I should've got there earlier.I could've stopped all of this from happening."He said,sounding mad at himself."No,it's okay.It's not your fault."I managed to croak out,my voice box damaged.Daryl himself didn't look too good.His face was covered with little cuts and bruises,and his knuckles were all cut up."What happened?Where did you get all of this from?"I questioned.He shrugged it off,breaking eye contact."Daryl,come on.Tell me."I pleaded."I dealt with Shane the way someone shoulda awhile ago."I looked at him,curious.But I didn't push any farther.Daryl slowly sat up,rubbing his head,where he had a dark purple bruise forming."You okay?Looks like it hurts."I said.He looked at me,"I'm fine."He got up,and walked out of the tent.I got up,following after him.He turned around,"go back in."I shook my head."Ya need to go back in,and get some rest.Come on,make this easier for me.Don't make me drag ya back in."He said,a slight smile creeping onto his face then disappearing as quickly as it came.I walked up to him,"I'm okay,please.I just want to go and have some food."I whispered.He looked at me,guilty as he realised how bad my voice actually is.He nodded,putting his hand on my back,taking me towards camp.When we got there,everyone was surrounding the fire.All heads turned to look at me and Daryl.Sophia ran to me,jumping into my arms."Hi rosa!!"She smiled at me.I smiled back to her."Hey Sophia,she might not be able t' talk too much.She has a poorly neck."He pointed at my bruise.She nodded,getting down and going back to Carol and Ed.Carol smiled at me.I returned the smile,and followed Daryl to where he was sitting at the fire.I sat next to him.He was on my left.Lori,Rick and Carl was somewhere to my right.Shane was nowhere to be seen as of right now.Andrea,Amy and Dale was to the left of Daryl.Everyone else was doing their own thing.We then heard a voice,"Guys!Jims gone crazy."Shane.I latched onto Daryl's arm from instinct,flinching from hearing his voice.Daryl looked down at me,then returned to looking at Shane."What do you mean?"Rick asked,starting to stand."He's digging,man.And I mean digging."Everyone looked at eachother,confused.We all followed Shane,me still holding Daryl's right arm.He turned to look at me ever so often,then looked away when I caught him.When we got to Jim,he was digging about ten six ft deep holes."Hey Jim.Whatcha doing buddy?"Rick asked.Jim had no reply.We all tried convincing Jim to stop digging for a while until we gave up.We then heard screams from somewhere else in the forest.Sophia and Carl.We left them with Andrea and Amy.What's happening?We all ran back to camp,heading towards the screams.We see a walker approaching them.Daryl immediately released an arrow,it hitting the walker straight between the eyes.Everyone looked at eachother,afraid.The walkers have started to breach the camp.We walked back to camp,all sat around the fire.I'm still next to Daryl,attached to his arm.We're all discussing the Jim and walker situation.At the end,we come to the conclusion of hoping it was just a singular wanderer.Daryl takes me back to the tent when the discussion ends.We fall asleep,his arm draped over my chest.