One Bullet....Two Lives... (A Walking Dead Fanfic)

Nice to Meet You

"I don't want to be afraid of being alive."

Chapter Nine

~Angel's POV~

   I couldn't remember my dream last night, it was peaceful. It was the first night in awhile that I didn't have a nightmare. However, I struggled to stay asleep as the sun started to rise. I softly groaned and forced my eyes to open. I sat up and rubbed my throbbing back. Sleeping on the ground isn't exactly the most comfortable, obviously. The rest of the group was mostly still asleep, but I knew they would wake soon. I looked over to see Carl sleeping next to me, his back facing me. 

   The fire had gone out, only a few bright orange embers glowing in the burnt logs. I bent down and tended to it before I got it going again. I looked around the fences and it seemed like there were more Biters than there were yesterday. I heard mumbling and saw Rick still patrolling the area. I started walking over to him and he looked up as he heard my footsteps. I gave him a half-smile and he smiled back at me, he seemed to enjoy some company.

"I'm going out hunting, just wanted to let you know. Maybe I could find some breakfast for the group." He pursed his lips and looked doubtful. 

"I promise not to go far." He hesitated before nodding.

"I found something before we left the farm, it was lying on the ground in the woods. I think you'll need this for today." 

   With that he laid a bag he was holding on the ground and pulled out my crossbow. I gasped and eagerly grabbed it, inspecting the damage. It was caked with mud and had a few nicks and scratches, but it was still in good shape. I dug around in my backpack for some extra bows and threw the crossbow around my shoulder.

"Thank you, Rick. I'll be back within the hour." 

   I let myself out was able to slip into the woods with few biting obstacles in my way. Once I knew I was far enough from Rick's  gaze, I stopped and pulled out my bow. Today everything seemed loud; all the birds were chirping, the wind was loud and the biters seemed to even have a pep in their step today. This means my job was going to be a lot harder trying to find breakfast in all this noise. I kept my eyes to the trees, in hope of a bushy tail or the two beady eyes of a squirrel. My hopes rose as I saw one scamper across from branch to branch. I raised my bow and took a deep breath. Leading the tip of the arrow with the squirrel, I let my finger fall and the arrow went whistling into the air. Perfect shot.

"Gotcha." I said with a smirk on my face.

    It had fallen behind some trees and bushes a few feet from me. Before I could get too close, I started to hear growling. It was too close for comfort, like it was on the other side of the cluster of thorn bushes. I kept an eye out as I pushed through, wincing as the thorns tore into my skin. I made it out and saw where the Biter had went. It was too busy munching on my breakfast to even notice me. My anger started boiling at this point and a scowl appeared on my face. I quickly walked up to it and before it could turn around, my blade was already embedded in the side of its head. Its hand let the squirrel drop and minutes later he collapsed in front of me. I groaned and kicked the Biter before grabbing the squirrel. The arrow was lost in the leaves and the squirrel's head was chewed off, all that was left was a pile of fur and guts.

   I threw the carcass into the woods and bent down to find my arrow. I sifted through the leaves over and over again, but to no avail. Suddenly, I was pushed to the ground. Adrenaline pumped through my veins as I soon realized it was another Biter. A shiver crawled up my spine as it's groaning tingled my ear. The thought of this bastard biting my ear off gave me the strength to shake it off my back. Before I could get away, it managed to grab my ankle. Crying out, I stumbled and fell back to the forest floor. As my eyes swept over the leaves, I saw something sticking out.