An Arrow Dipped in Ink

Chapter 5

Rayne stirred and rolled over to find the space where Daryl was sleeping empty. She opened up her eyes to make sure that he was really gone. The tent was still filled with his smell. It was a musky scent with something else that she couldn't place. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. She figured since Daryl was no where to be found that he had gone to bed after she fell asleep. She stood up and stretched since sleeping in her car and on the ground wasn't helping her back. She stuck her head of of the tent. The sun was just starting to rise. The faint light of dawn was enough for her to see that people were still sleeping and Dale was on watch again. He looked over in her direction nodding 'hello' and giving her a wink. She wasn't sure what that was about but she shrugged it off. She saw Daryl over by his tent helping Merle pack his stuff. He was up early today. It seemed unlike Merle to get up that early but he must be itching to get out of camp. She walked back in her tent to change. She figured that when Daryl was done helping Merle that he would want to go out hunting like normal. The days were getting hotter so she dug in her bag for a pair of shorts. All she could find was a pair of jeans that she had cut really short. Maybe they were a little too short for the end of the world but who cares, its hot as hell out in the woods. She found a black halter top that had 'Slayer' written across it. She emerged from the tent with her boots in hand. She nodded to Daryl and Merle as she walked over to Daryl's tail gate.

Merle said to Daryl, “I sure am gonna miss tha' ass while I'm gone.”

Daryl just shook his head. Rayne tied up her boots and walked over to the Dixon boys.

“G'mornin darlin'.” said Merle.

“Good Morning Merle. Be careful out there alright.” she said to him with a smile.

“Don't worry darlin' ain’t not fucking walker gonna get me.”

Daryl looked over to Rayne and said, “Make sure you got a blanket and enough supplies to stay in the woods at night.”

“What?! We are sleeping out in the woods tonight?”

“Ya damn right we are, girl. I ain’t coming back without that deer.”

She walked back to her tent and grabbed her back pack. She put a blanket and other supplies into it. Rayne walked out of the tent and over to Dale. Who had climbed down from the RV.

“Hey Dale”

“Hello Rayne. What can I do ya for?”

“Daryl and I are going out again. He doesn't want to come back without a deer we have been tracking so don't go sending a search party out if we don't come back tonight.”

“You think that's a wise idea? Being alone in the woods with Daryl Dixon?”

“He isn't as bad as everyone thinks he is, Dale. Don't be so quick to judge. If I didn't think I was safe then I wouldn't be going out there with him. Just don't worry too much old man ya might give yourself a stroke.”

Dale chuckled and gave her a hug goodbye reminding her to be careful. Rayne headed back to the Dixon boys. She gave Merle a quick hug goodbye and he grabbed at her ass while she did.

She pushed him away, “Your such a fucking pig, Merle”

“Oink oink baby doll.”

Daryl nodded to his brother as him and Rayne disappeared into the woods. Daryl watched Rayne walking in front of him admiring her tiny, cut up shorts.

He almost walked into her as she bent down and picked up fresh deer tracks, “These are fresh tracks.”

“Well then, let's go kill us a deer, Jersey.”