Your Crying Shoulder

Little Sister

Rick's pov

What started off as a beautiful and innocent moment went down hill drastically. Seeing Carl and the deer stare back at each other was a beautiful sight. I was unfortunately brought back into the sick reality we really live in when Mae yelled,

"Carl!"

At first I was shocked she had said anything since she hadn't said one word since the CDC. As I watched the young girl push Carl out of the way, my heart shattered when a loud gunshot went off and Mae crashed to the floor.

"Mae!" Carl yelled.

My body started to shake as I see her lay lifeless on the floor. Finally finding the control of my body, I ran to her side with Shane behind me. Tears of worry filled my eyes as I felt for a pulse. It was faint, but it was there.

"Mae!" I cried.

Hearing footsteps, we all looked up and noticed a heavy set man with a rifle run out of the woods frantically. Feeling like I was going to hyperventilate, I just glared at the man. Shane raised his weapon at the frantic man,

"Who are you!"

"I'm sorry I didn't see her!" He cried out.

Ignoring Shane and the man, I looked back down at Mae who's skin was now pale as ice and she was barely breathing. The blood from the gunshot to her abdomen was bleeding through her sweatshirt. Looking down at her, I didn't see the 23 year old Mae, it was like her body transformed into that 10 year old scared little girl that came into the station. The 10 year old little girl I swore I would protect till the day I died. Growing frustrated I cried,

"We have to help her! Please! Please!"

"Take her to Herschel! He'll know what to do! Follow me!"

Nodding, I fought the tears that were fogging my vision and slipped my arms under and picked her up. Her limp, lifeless body dangled in my grasp and I just wanted to scream.

"Hang on Mae" I whispered as we started sprinting off.

Daryl's pov

That gunshot echoed in my mind as I lead the group back to highway. These people were really gettin on my nerves. Why can't they just be damn quiet and stop complainin?! Damn! If Mae were here, she'd understand the need to stay focused, but no those idiots wanted her with them. I didn't want her with em, she needed to be where I could keep an eye on er. Hell did Rick even realize she wasn't talkin? Wasn't eatin? Shaking my head of the thoughts, I tried to remain focused on the task at hand. Getting these idiots to the highway and finding Sophia.

"Why one-- Why just one gunshot? " Lori asked.

"Maybe they took down a walker." Andrea said.

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

Rolling my eyes, I growled to myself. Even though I couldn't stand her, the bitch was right. Rick and Shane were smarter than that. Something happened and that is what bothered me.

" Shouldn't they have caught up with us by now?" Carol asked.

" There's nothing we can do about it, anyway. Can't run around these woods chasing echoes." I growled.

"So, what do we do?" Carol asked.

"Same as we've been. Beat the bush for Sophia, work our way back to the highway" I growled.

The women continued bantering some more which really annoyed me to the point I cut in,

"I'll tell ya what it's worth-- Not a damn thing. It's a waste of time, all this hopin' and prayin'. We're gonna locate that little girl. She's gonna be just fine. Am I the only one zen around here? Good lord."