A New Reason (Shane Walsh Love Story)

Chapter 1: New Discoveries

"Rick, we can't keep searching like this. It's a lost cause." I tried to reason with my best friend, but he wouldn't listen.

"Shane! Enough! I'm done with you right now. First you sleep with my wife now you're saying we should abandon a little girl."

I shook my head. "I DID NOT sleep with Lori! I'd never do that to ya. And we're not abandoning Sofia if we know she's dead."

"No." Rick and I both turned to the voice to see the whole group. Carol was the one who spoke. "We are not leaving my Sofia."

Rick held up his hands to try and calm Carol down. "Don't worry. We won't."

I huffed. "We won't find her. And if we do it'll be her remains!"

Carol burst into tears and everyone looked at me with disapproval. I shrugged. "I'm only speaking the truth."

"You know what Shane?" Rick got in my face. "You need to go. Just leave and don't come back until you get some sense in that thick skull of yours."

I stared at him. My best friend was forcing me to walk away. Fine then. I held my hands up. "Alright. I'll go."

Then I turned and walked away. I could feel the shock of the group as I left. Probably surprised that I didn't say nothing back and was easy to agree.

Truth be told, I wasn't sure if I wanted to go back to the group. I may be better on my own. Hell, I was before.

After about 25 minutes or so, I stopped at a creek. It was nice and clear. Peaceful, almost. I almost forgot about everything until-

I heard a whine. I looked to my side and there stood a dog. It was a redish-brown color with a spotted pattern. Slim and tall, built for speed and strength. I recognized it as a Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog. A some-what rare breed. It whined again and barked.

"What are you doin out here?" I kneeled down to it's level and he trotted up to me. Started licking my neck. I chuckled. "Alright, alright. Stop it. Where'd you come from?"

Suddenly, the dog bolted back where he stood. He looked at me and barked. Guess he wants me to follow, so I did.

I ran just behind the dog for about a minute. Then he just froze in place, looking at a bush and growling. I pointed my shotgun where he was pointing and stalked towards the vegetation cautiously.

"GRAAHG!" I walker fucking steamed as it tackled me to the ground!

"ARRGH!" I struggled against the walker. I couldn't use my gun because that was the only thing keeping it from biting me.

To my surprise, the walker was being pulled away from me. I got up to see that the dog was tugging on the walker's leg. I took this chance to use my gun and slam the butt against it's skull. The walker fell with a thud, no longer moving.

I kneeled and the dog trotted up to me with a happy look on his face. I chuckled. "Thanks boy. Now, let's keep going."

After a few more minutes of running, we came to a small pond. I stopped at the edge, but the dog kept running to the other side where a cliff was. He stopped to look at me and barked.

I became confused but jogged over to him. Then realization dawned on me when I saw he was standing above a body... and Sofia.

My eyes widened. "Sofia!" I ran over and kneeled next to her. Sofia was crouching near the woman. When she saw me relief was written all over her.

"Shane!" She hugged me when I got close and I squeezed her back.

I pulled away to look over her. "Ya alright? What happened?"

"I was hiding where Rick told me to, but then a walker found me, so I ran. And I bumped into her. She helped me, but when we got to the cliff the walkers surrounded us. She wrapped herself around me and jumped off the cliff. Now she's hurt."

I kneeled next to the woman. She had black, curly hair, tan skin, and many bruises and scratches on her.

I pat the dog's head. "Good boy." Then I lift the woman in my arms. Her head rested on my chest and I could hear her groan. I stood and told the dog to find the highway where the group was.

"Sofia, I want you to hold onto my belt. Okay?"

Sofia nodded and grabbed my belt. We then both followed the dog

I knew I had to hurry. She hit her head pretty hard and was losing blood.

"Is she going to be okay?" Sofia asked.

I looked down to the woman. "Hopefully."

After about a half hour, we finally reached the highway borders. I had Sofia stay in front of me for the rest of the way.

We soon saw the RV within the traffic jam. I saw that Dale was on top of the RV in his lawn chair, looking for any danger.

"Hey!! Hey!!" I shouted as I ran towards them. Sofia and the dog following.

The whole group stepped towards me as I ran to Dale. "She's been hurt. She needs help, now!"

Dale opened the door to the RV. "Lay her down on the bed. Andrea, I'll need you."

I walked in and set the girl on the small bed. "Will she be alright?" I asked.

"I'll do everything I can for her. But I need you to leave."

I nodded and shut the door behind me. I then saw Sofia and Carol hugging and crying. "Oh my baby. I'm so glad you're safe."

I smiled at the scene when Rick walked up to me. "How'd you find her?"

"The dog led me to both of them." I said as I pat the dog's head. He licked my hand in return.

Rick chuckled. "Good dog."

I sighed. "Better go talk to Carol." Carol turned to me as I walked up to them. "Listen, Carol, I'm sorry for what I said, ya know, earlier. There's no excuse for that."

Carol smiled at me. "You brought my baby back. All is forgiven."

I smiled and nodded. "Welcome back Sofia."

"Thank you Shane."

I walked away from the reunited mother and daughter towards some shade under a car. I sat down and rubbed my head. It's been a long day.

The dog came by to lay down next to me. I pat his head and turned to the RV. Hoping that the woman would be okay.