Healing Broken Wings [Daryl Dixon] The Walking Dead

Two| Staying For Awhile

🌱Kristina🌱

"C'mon, Kris, keep up!" Daryl calls back to me and I jog to catch up, nearly tripping three times on tree roots. "I'm trying, Daryl, but you have longer legs than me!" I hear him laugh and I glare at the back of his head.

I grab a small pebble and throw it at him. It hits the back of his head, clattering to the forest floor. Daryl readjusts the crossbow on his back before turning around to face me. "What are you, 12?" I smile, pretending to adjust my pistol in my holster. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Whatever, c'mon short round, or I'll leave you behind." I follow quickly behind him, staying quiet for the rest of the time. Daryl's tracking a deer, he's teaching me how to track as well. I've been with Daryl for a few days now, recovering from my.....ordeal.

I've grown to enjoy his company, he seems like a real jerk sometimes, but he has a soft side. Now his brother Merle is the complete opposite, he's a total jackass. Every time Merle comes too close to me, Daryl would always pull me away, causing Merle to give him that 'I'm not going to do anything' look.

I don't believe him, I find him staring at me all the time and he creeps me out. Daryl may not say it, but he doesn't trust Merle around me either, his actions and the way he goes out of his way to help me avoid Merle, tells me. And he never leaves us alone, not even if it was for a second.

Daryl stops and crouches low to the ground, beckoning me to do the same. I crouch down beside him and follow where he points his bolt. I see a young doe, grazing in the tall grass. I gaze up at Daryl and he nods, pulling his crossbow from his back. I watch him notch his bolt. He holds up the crossbow, I watch him take a deep breath before letting loose.

I watch it hit the deer in the side, probably piercing its lung. I watch a little sadly as the deer falls to the ground. Daryl stands up and I stand with him. I follow him over to the deer. He crouches down and pulls his arrow out. He slips it back into his quiver.

"Help me carry it back?" I nod and together we pick up our dinner. As we start our trek we hear snarling. Daryl freezes, peering around, he's highly alert now. "Geeks, we need to hurry," he says and I nod, picking up our pace. Before long we reach the house.

I help Daryl carry the deer inside. "Merle! Get your ugly ass out here!" I flinch as Daryl raises his voice and he flashes me an apologetic look. We set the deer on the table, already covered in plastic. "Merle!" Daryl calls again, but still no reply.

"Where the hell has he gone now!" If we're lucky this time he'll disappear for a week. I don't say it out loud, he may be a dick, but Daryl still loves him, no matter how much trouble Merle drags him into. Daryl sighs, and I gaze at him in sorrow, I feel that Daryl feels slightly abandoned every time Merle up and leaves.

Daryl disappears down the hall, entering Merle's room. I wait for a few minutes and Daryl returns, looking slightly downcast. "Is he gone again?" I ask and Daryl shrugs. "Who can tell with that asshole. He could have just gone out for a few hours, he'll be back for food." I look at him skeptically. "So since Merle isn't here, can I help with dinner?" I ask pulling myself up to sit on the edge of the table.

Daryl looks up at me and gives me a small smile. "Do you know how to cook?" I nod, picking at the dirt under my nails. "My mom was a chef, she taught me a few things before...."

"We promised not to talk about that anymore, it upsets you too much."

"I know, sorry," I say softly, I told Daryl the story of how I lost my family. Mom was attacked by a walker, we didn't know that's how they can infect you. We just thought she was sick. My dad was tending to her when she turned. She bit into his throat, ripping it out.

All I could do is cover my 10-year-old sister's eyes. I grabbed my father's gun before racing outside with my sister. Then after a month surviving on our own, we were searching for supplies in a convenient store, I didn't notice her heading for the bathroom, I was just turning to her, saying we should go when I heard her scream.

When she had turned the handle, the walkers inside heard her, they rushed toward the door. They knocked her to the ground. Three were on top of her, I rushed forward pulling out my gun. I shot them all in the head, but not before all of them had already bitten her. 

I remember her crying silently, telling me how much pain she was in. I held her as she cried. She whispered about how she didn't want to turn into a monster like mommy. I stroked her head telling her that it was going to be alright. I leave her there and search the aisles for sleeping medicine.

I find one that's fast-acting. I go back to her and have her take it. I hold her in my arms, singing her an old lullaby Mom used to sing to us. When I realized she's asleep I cried even harder, I knew what I had to do, I couldn't let her turn into one of those things. I kissed her forehead before laying her down. I remember my heartbreaking as I lifted up my gun, I aimed at my little sister's head and pulled the trigger.

The sound was deafening, my ears were ringing for so long. I'm snapped out of my memory by Daryl's hand on my shoulder. I look at him, eyes wide. "You okay, Kris?" I run my hand through my hair taking small, but deep breaths. "I'm fine."

"You sure?"

"Yeah," I say slipping off the table. "You cut, I'll cook." The southern man nods and begins pulling out knives. I go over to the chimney and start placing coal inside, not the best way to cook, but it's all we've got.

"Kris?" I look over at my new friend and raise my eyebrow at him. "Can I ask you a question?"

"You just did," I say teasingly and he rolls his eyes. "I'm serious." At that, I stand up and go over to him. "Sure, what is it?"

"Since....since you don't have anyone to go back to, and with Merle disappearing all the time, I... I was wondering if maybe you'd like to stay. Here." I sit down in one of the chairs, gazing up at him.

"Well, I guess it would be nice to have someone to talk to. Even though you can be very crabby at times," I say and he gives me a half-smile. "I guess I'll stay, but I'd like to return to my camp and grab all my stuff."

Daryl nods and even though his expression doesn't show it, his eyes are bright and happy, he seems to need someone to talk to as well. I watch him cut up the deer, glad that I won't just have my thoughts to keep me company anymore.

After dinner is cooked and we eat. I help Daryl put the meat away after coating it in salt to keep it fresh. Daryl and I were just about to go around snuffing out the lights when the doorknob rattles. Out of fear, I grab ahold of Daryl's arm. "Merle?" I whisper to him and he shakes his head. "He would be yelling through the door. Snuff the lights, quickly."

I dim the lanterns and Daryl takes care of the candles. Daryl grabs his crossbow and inches toward the boarded-up windows. He peeks out. "It's a geek, he won't get in, I'll dispatch him in the morning. C'mon, let's get to bed."

He gently grabs my arm and I follow him back to his room. He's been sleeping out in the living room I've felt bad about taking his room, but he won't let me try and give it back. I enter the room and sit down on the edge of his bed. "What if it gets in?"

"It won't, I promise. Try to get some sleep, Kris." I nod and lay down, Daryl blows out the candle in the room, plunging it into darkness. I sigh and my mind travels back to my sister's fate and tears come to my eyes. I sniffle and wipe my eyes, refusing to let my tears fall.

I'm startled as a hand slips into mine, gripping my hand. I notice his outline, he's sitting on the floor. I realize that he had not left, but sat down on the carpet, resting his back against the bed. I swipe at my eyes again, squeezing his hand. "Thank you," I whisper to him and his response is squeezing my hand back.