Last One Standing ~ TWD Daryl Dixon

67

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Jo

We had been on the road for weeks now and things were going from bad to worse. Much worse. We had run out of gas a few days ago and were now traveling on foot. Rick had chosen Washington as our destination. He believed that even though Eugene had lied about being a scientist there might be a decent argument for civilization to have survived in the capitol. 

Food stores were nearly exhausted and we hadn't found any decent places to raid since we left what was left Noah's family compound. It was high summer and hot and we seemed to be in a drought in Virginia. Water stores were running dangerously low now. I managed to find a new backpack along the way, though it only carried my empty water bottle and jacket. 

Daryl wasn't helping matters either. He disappeared every morning and ranged through the woods until we made camp at night. He would reappear out of the dark, sometimes with something he had hunted, sometimes with nothing. I think that was weighing on him as well. He had always been able to provide for the group and now there was nothing. He would sleep by himself away from the fire and took more watches than anyone else. Once it was dawn he was up again disappearing as soon as it was light enough for him to see. It had been ever a week since he last spoke to me for sure. Probably nearly as long for anyone but Rick. Whatever he was going through I didn't know how to help him. He was running himself to exhaustion. I was starting to worry about him going off by himself. 

We were stopped on the side of the road resting. With so little water left we were taking more breaks than usual to preserve our energy. If this continued on for another day I planned to talk to Rick about starting to travel at night. It would make it difficult to see but it would hold dehydration at bay a little longer. 

Daryl stood and stretched and turned towards the woods. "You going for water?" Rick asked, from his place on the ground. 

Daryl nodded but didn't speak. 

"Take some back up with you," Rick's eyes flickered to me but I tried not to notice. Daryl hadn't wanted me around him in a long time. "You'll cover more ground that way." 

Daryl frowned at Rick but finally nodded. 

"I'll come," Maggie offered and Sasha climbed to her feet beside her. 

"Me too," Sasha said, swinging her rifle over her shoulder.

I sat staring at him, silently willing him to give me some indication he wanted me with him. He met my gaze for only a second then he turned and headed into the forest. I shook my head and looked back down at my hands. 

"You coming little sister?" Abraham called to me. He startled me out of my dark thoughts and I looked up in surprise to see him and Rosita standing over me. They had their weapons up and looked like they were also going looking for water as well. They went out of their way to include me whenever they could. It was obvious to everyone Daryl and I were on the outs.

I nodded and climbed to my feet. My ribs would still tweak a little if I twisted a certain way but otherwise I was healed up and able to help out. My torso was a light yellow color now and I knew it would soon fade. I followed Abraham and Rosita silently through the forest. We traveled for nearly an hour before we were forced to return to the group empty handed. 

It had been two days since we found fresh water. We had only two bottles left and with so many people it wouldn't last us another full day. I glanced up at the sun that was beating down overhead. In this heat we wouldn't last two days without water.