Ride the lightning

Ch. 5

Daryl panted watching the fire spread to the walkers that moved closer to the barn than was safe. His eyes were harsh as they swept for his brother, he knew Mac well enough to know his ass was likely out there. Mac wouldn't leave unless he knew Daryl was on the move and away from here. Mac would fight every last person and thing here to get to him, he'd follow him through hell if he had too.

Daryl set down heavily on the bike letting it idle before turning and disappearing down the back road that led away from the farm. He had one thing working on his side and that was Kira. Hopefully she was able to get him to see through the haze that was getting ready to paint Mac's world black and crimson and get him to focus. If not Daryl knew he'd come up on the group dead and Mac searching for him. He was going to take it personally the way this shit was happening.

Daryl growled maneuvering the bike around a group of stragglers and gunning it down the road. His chest tightened as he thought of Mac's anger that was going to be directed at him. Mac wasn't one to listen to reason when his mind was made and he'd see Daryl hitting the road after things went south in direct conflict in what he would have done. Mac would have carved a path of righteous hell fire through the rings of hell like Dante over Daryl, he'd never slow down knowing his brother was waiting on him. He never did in all the years they'd known each other and if anything Mac had only got more protective over him. There was no other option though and that was something Mac and Kira were going to have to swallow down.

Daryl came to a stop standing over the bike stretching his back, the sounds of the farm burning and walkers a long forgotten memory on a long hard road. Feeling his back crack and pop with him he groaned and begrudgingly set down taking off again. He was ready to catch the group, he was going to make Mac drive the bike. Daryl was ready to set the fuck down and not have to worry about if he was getting to tired to keep his balance. His entire body ached with the fight he'd been through and the amount of running he'd done, he was ready to sleep this shit off.

Daryl blew out a breath coming to a stop in the center of the road his eyes on the spot the group should be at. It had taken him longer than he had hoped having to take back roads and double back with the way the herd was moving. It was mid-day after everything had happened surely to fuck they hadn't just given up. Stepping off his bike and walking forward he surveyed the area his breath coming faster seeing no sign of anyone from the group. No sign of Mac, no sign of Kira. Bracing his hand on a car beside him his head hung and his breath abandoned him just as surely as the group had.

Daryl righted himself and let his eyes flash around one last time. Stalling out when he seen the lighter setting on top of the car that they had left the supplies on for Sophia. He walked quickly towards it his hand closing over the familiar Zippo, it had aged over the years and lost some of its detail but that stupid fucking camo still showed. He'd hated the goddamn thing from the moment Mac bought it all the way till now, he knew that was the main reason his brother even still carried it. That and it reminded them both of the first time Mac had ever been hunting with him, Daryl snorted at the memory and let the Zippo fall in his pocket like a lead weight.

Daryl scuffed his boots through the leaves littering the ground so thickly that if felt like you were walking on cushions. The fall of the year always gave everything extra padding and made it even fucking harder to find shit if you lost it. Daryl lifted his head and glared at his older brother's back, he didn't know what to think of him. It was common fucking knowledge you didn't smoke when hunting the scent would drive any game away that was in the area, so why he felt the need to bring his cigarettes to begin with him baffled him.

"Told you a buying that thing was a mistake." Daryl snapped. He felt the second Mac's eyes landed on him but didn't look at him instead his eyes kept scanning the forest floor.