You don't control me, Dixon

➋ 29- At Least We Know

♤

Daryl, who has been looking at the tracks, looked up at me while chewing on his finger before stating "Couldn't have gone far."

Rick looked over and consoled "Hey, we gonna find her. She'll be tuckered out hiding in a bush somewhere." I nod.

Daryl who was slowly following the trail spoke up and pointed right ahead of him "She was doing fine up till right here. All she had to do was keep going. She veered off that way."

He pointed to away from the path. I walked up beside him and crouched trying to find what he was looking for. Nada.

I huff quietly causing him to look at me with a quirk of a smile.

"What?" the gruffness made me smile as I remember what he called me back on the street.

I look over to him and tease. "Well, one, what on earth do you look for when you track. I'm looking and I can't see shit. Two, what did you call me when you push me under the car. Doll?"

He looked at me then looked back at the ground as he clenches his jaw then sigh as the tension leave his shoulders as he looked back over and teased right back "One, I look at these".

He pointed at the ground where very faint indents are. I nod then look back at him with a smile "And?"

He sighs and looked back at me saying "Ok, it was spur of the moment."

I nodded and looked back at the others who were huddled, then Glenn turned away and asked us "Why would she do that?".

Rick looked around then offered "Maybe she saw something that spooked her, made her run off. A walker?" I looked around and sighed as I stood.

I shrugged and offered "I mean, I told her to not go with anyone that wasn't in our group. Maybe she saw someone in the distance that made her run off. Maybe there's a town around here. I saw a few coves for driveways and around here they might be farms even."

Shane laughed as asked with a tilt of a head "HA a farm? How ya get that?".

I rolled my eyes and answered "The ground, its wet and it's rich. Perfect for farming. No real streets off to cities. Only small two way streets. Small towns. That and you look and there are small trails. Not human. That's how I know they are farms"

Shane kept staring so I kept on as well. I hear soft shuffling behind me and I had no idea who it was until he spoke with his gruff redneck twang, "I didn't see any other footprints. just hers."

I sigh and nod. I capture my lip between my teeth as I think, how can I fix this? Thinking of nothing I sigh and ask "so what do we do?".

Glenn, who looks equally confused, asks "Are we all pressing on?".

Rick seemed to think but quickly dismissed it with a "Nah, you and Shane should get back up to the highway."

I nod quickly and add "People are going to start panicking. Let them know we're doing the best we can. Mostly keep them calm, Glenn, that's your job".

Shane rolled his eyes and assured half-assed "I'll keep them busy scavenging cars. Maybe they can pick up new things like Lucy here."

He pointed to my newest rig but laid off and finished up with "But no, I'll keep them busy with chores. I'll keep them occupied."

He looked turned and gave a Glenn a small pull and worked their way back to the group. I sigh and tuck my hands into the straps on my chest and looked at the others.

Daryl had started moving down the track, Rick and I looked at one another and followed behind.

Daryl looked at the ground almost lazily as he made sure that he wouldn't stray from the path. I look around for any sign, yet I saw none.