Between Arrows and Hearts - Daryl Dixon

Pinky promise

The sound of a gunshot echoed through the forest.

"It was a gunshot." Lori said, her voice tight with worry.

Daryl responded without a hint of concern. "We all heard it."

"Why one?" Lori glanced tensely at the group, concern etched on her face. "Why just one shot?"

"Maybe they took down a walker." Daryl shrugged.

"Please don't patronize me." Lori replied, her tone sharpening. "You know Rick wouldn't risk a gunshot to put down one walker. Or Shane. They'd do it quietly."

"Shouldn't they have caught up to us by now?" Carol added.

"Nothin' we can do 'bout it anyway." Daryl replied. "Can't run around these woods chasin' echoes." 

"So what do we do?" Lori asked, her worry showing.

"Same as we've been." Daryl replied, laying out the plan. "Beat the bush for Sophia, work our way back to the highway."

"Rick and Shane know what they're doing," Cass said, moving to Lori's side. "Carl's safe with them. You have nothing to worry about."

Lori's gaze lingered on the forest around them, as if hoping Rick or Carl would suddenly appear.

Nearby, Andrea began speaking to Carol, her voice low. "I'm sorry for what you're going through. I know how you feel."

Cass doubted Andrea fully understood. The bond of a sister was different from that of a mother, and mourning was different from living with constant, gnawing worry. Wondering if the people you loved were alright. Cass knew that feeling too well.

"Thank you," Carol whispered, her voice wavering. "The thought of her out here all alone..."

"It's the not knowing." Cass said, eyes fixed on the ground. "Living with that constant wondering. That's the hardest part." Her voice was soft, stripped of her usual cheer.

Carol choked back a sob. "I keep hoping and praying she doesn't end up like Amy."

Cass's eyes widened at Carol's words.

Realizing what she'd said, Carol covered her mouth, horrified. "Oh God, that's the worst thing I've ever said."

Andrea swallowed, clearly pained by the comparison but held herself together. "We're all hoping and praying with you, for what it's worth."

"I'll tell you what that's worth," Daryl interrupted, striding up to them with an edge in his tone. "Not a damn thing. It's a waste of time all this hoping and praying." He locked his gaze on Andrea, then on Carol. "'Cause we're gonna locate that lil' girl, and she's gonna be jus' fine. Am I the only one zen around here? Good lord!"

Cass let out a genuine laugh, caught off guard by Daryl's rough way of saying something so unexpectedly sweet.

Everyone else fought back their own smiles, the tension slowly breaking.

"What's so funny?" Daryl turned toward her, his tone playfully threatening.

"Nothing," Cass replied, biting her lip to stifle another laugh. "But you're right. She'll be fine. Maybe we just need to learn from you. You know, be more 'zen'." Her grin grew wider as she spoke.

Daryl scoffed, and with that, they continued down the trail.

Cass felt her legs burning. The entire group —except Daryl— seemed exhausted. They walked slower than they had at the start, their heavy breathing audible with each step.

"How much farther?" Lori asked, her voice laced with fatigue.

"Not much," Daryl replied, scanning the area to gauge the distance. "Maybe a hundred yards as the crow flies."