Surviving. (Book Two.)

Chapter Sixteen.

*Sarah's POV*

Zeus tagged along and I was somewhat glad. I don't really know how much he understands but I didn't like the idea of him watching members of his own species being cut up for food. Nor was I too fond of the fact that he was probably going to be eating them soon. 

"Ye' didn't actually have to pee, did ye'?" Daryl asked when we were a fair distance from the rest of them. 

"No." I whispered, looking at my feet, "I couldn't watch. Daryl, I don't think I can eat it." 

"Ye' can." he interrupted, "Ye' have to or I'm gonna have to force ye' to. Jus' don't think 'bout it." 

I opened my mouth to ask him about what was up with him recently but a walker grabbed me from within the trees, catching me off guard and I fell to the ground with it on top of me. 

When I couldn't even push it off me, I realised how weak and tired I actually was and was relieved when Daryl pulled it off of me, taking care of it while I lay there and tried to catch my breath. 

"Ye' alrigh'?" he asked, watching as I sat up.

"Yeah," I breathed, "It just caught me off guard is all."

He pulled me up effortlessly, tucking some of my hair behind my ear, "Tha's why ye' need to eat. 'kay? So tha' don't happen." 

Knowing that he was right, I nodded, "You're right." 

He pulled his knife from the walker's head, "Ain't ye' glad I came now?"

Letting out a weak laugh, I nodded again, "Yeah. Very glad." 

"So are ye' gonna eat?" 

"Yeah," I mumbled, "I'm gonna eat." 

We returned to the group, seeing that Rick and others had taken care of preparing the animals and Carl gave me a pretty good sized piece, "Here you go. You have a leaf in your hair by the way." 

I shrugged, inspecting the chunk of meat in my hands and a decided to suck it up and take a bite. 

It's a small bite but thankfully, it doesn't taste that bad and after a few more bites, my hunger took over and I practically started inhaling the meat, feeling Daryl's eyes on me and I was a little self conscious that he was seeing me like this but I pushed it out of my head. It feels too good to have something in my stomach, the hunger pains diminishing dramatically. 

"Get some rest," Rick said when we were all finished, "We'll start out again at first light." 

Everyone lay down and got comfortable except Rick and Carl who were taking watch. 

"It's okay," he told me, "I'll sleep in a little bit." 

"Okay," I whispered, "I'm sure that Zeus will keep you company." 

Daryl lay down beside me and I looked up at him before moving closer to him, resting my head on his arm. 

"Ye' feelin' any better?" he asked.

"Yep. Much better." 

"Good," he hummed and I felt him press the lightest of kisses to my forehead, "Now sleep." 

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*Daryl's POV*

The sun was still beating down on us the next day and although it was still early, it was still hot and we had completely ran out of water. 

Although we had eaten last night, the lack of water was taking its toll on us again and Sarah had pretty much lost all of her focus and I don't know how many times I had stopped her from tripping over her own feet.