Left to Wander • • Daryl Dixon

Chapter Four

I awoke the next morning to light streaming in the window. I rubbed my eyes removing the blurriness of sleep and stretched. I changed into a pair of jeans, seeing as the RV was empty and I walked outside with my gun and knife ready. I glanced around and noticed everybody getting ready to go for a search for Sophia. We headed out immediately and soon found a tent, a revolting smell emmiting from within. Daryl came out with a gun and I assumed another had committed suicide.

Loud bells. Ringing soon could be heard as we ran towards the source finding a church nearby. The bell was nonexistent as it was a timed recording. Many walked in to say a prayer for themselves, others, or just for Sophia. I had lost faith long ago as I waited near the door as Carol prayed for her daughter. Daryl stood on the other side of the door and I glanced over catching his gaze but soon looked back at Carol as she whimpered softly in Lori's arms.

Shane had set up a game play, him and Rick stay around for about another hour and Daryl, Carl, Lori, Andrea, Carol, Glenn and I start searching elsewhere.

"Im going with you dad," Carl interrupted and watched Rick. "She's my friend." That was the boys sole argument and Shane shrugged to which Lori spoke up.

"Just be careful okay?" She asked and the little boy nodded. I smiled happily seeing my brother just a little bit in Carl and I glanced at Daryl.

"Well let's start looking." I said and started walking back to the creek, making the others follow Daryl slowly making his way to the front since he knew where to look. We searched the other side of the river only to hear a lone gunshot interrupt the silence about ten minutes later. We all stopped glancing around making me look at Daryl confused.

"Why'd they only shoot once? Can't they handle one walker?" I asked curious and he shrugged slightly and we stopped for a moment longer to drink some water and eat. I ate a granola bar and broke off a bite offering it to Daryl who didn't bring anything. "A growing boy needs to eat." I teased in front of the others and I noticed the smallest bit of color rise to his cheeks.

"Shut up Ram." He grumbled softly taking the bite, which made me blush slightly myself and laugh. Ram? Did he mean my astrological sign? Guess I have a special nickname now whenever I act like a dick. We had been making our way back before the silence was interrupted by screaming and cries of distress. We glanced around finding it was Andrea. We quickly ran, looking for her before seeing her almost pinned by a walker before a woman on a horse ran by and knocked it off it's feet with a bat. We all stood in shock as she spoke,

"One of you Lori?" She asked, desperation and seriousness in her voice. "That's me." Lori replied simply with confusion as to who the woman is.

"Lori, you have to come with me. There's been an accident, Carls been shot." the woman responded quickly, making Lori climb onto the horse. The mystery woman gave us instructions to go down a ways from the highway to the mailbox with the name Greene. We all looked at each other confused as we made our way back to the highway and Glenn as well as T-Dog left for the farm. They quickly made there way with Andrea leaving Dale, Daryl, Carol, and I to stay and make a sign for Sophia before we left the next day.

Carol had fallen asleep early as Dale stood on top of the RV to keep watch like usual. Daryl and I laid in silence. "Soooo... Ram?" I asked curiously shifting to my side like the night before to look at him.

"Yeah cause you're hard headed like a ram." He replied like that was the most stupid question, looking up at me and I rolled my eyes. I know he saw two of the three tattoos I had and I smirked. "So, got any tattoos yourself?" I asked and I waited patiently and curiously.

"Yeah, but none that you need to know bout or see." He snapped quickly and I flinched slightly at the harsh response. I nodded slightly.

"Okay, okay. I'll leave ya be." I mumbled softly holding my hands up like I was surrendering. I sighed and thought for a moment.

"I mean I do have another tattoo." I said gently looking down at him, his eyes were on me and I obviously had his attention now.

"Damn girl how many you got?" He asked and I giggled softly, trying to not wake Carol.

"Just the three but the third goes from my ribs to my stomach so that's why you haven't seen it." I explained, shrugging slightly, I noticed the slightest color rising to his cheeks again. He quickly turned away from me and grumbled. "Night."

"Good night Daryl." I responded softly as I laid back and closed my eyes. I tried to fall asleep but had a restless night of curiosity.