Stop Falling (Rick Grimes Romance)

Chapter 10

Chapter 10..........in a moment

I briefly saw Rick who looked exhausted from being on guard duty all night. No peace was to be found for him as person after person approached him. In fact I didn't even get a chance to get near him. Instead I simply smiled and nodded as Daryl drug me begrudgingly to the back of his bike. Together with Tyres, Carol and a few of the others we left the prison.

We rode for what seemed like forever before pulling off into the trees and hiding both trucks as well as the bike. Other than the sweltering heat and bugs I had to admit the day was pretty cool. They started with the basics of being able to find what direction you were facing. The position of the sun in the sky. What side of the tress moss grew on. What berries were eatable and what plants were poison. The basic outdoor summer camp refresher corse

Then it got extremely interesting as Daryl began to instruct the basics of tracking. Now no doubt it would take years to learn everything he knew and track like him. To note all the fine details and subtleties of the environment around you. To distinguish between intended misleads and true disruptions. Daryl's abilities clearly were a combination of experience and gut instinct. It was extremely impressive to watch how his mind worked.

We passed the occasional walker. Some close enough that we killed while others we simply ignored. At one point Carol hooped the branch rope we had made earlier around a walkers neck. Pulling it back against the tree Carol held the walker in place while Daryl broke its arms. Knocking the walker to the ground he then placed a rock in its mouth. Giving it a swift kick the walkers jaw broke free. Looking in disgusted horror we gapped from each other back to where Daryl and Carol stood by the mangled walker. Without saying so much as a word Carol took the branch rope and lead the walker behind her into the trees towards two other walkers. Calmly and casually as if she was strolling down the mall she walked past the walkers. They didn't lung, bite or even seem to notice her. Amazing I thought. I mean it made sense. I knew if you covered yourself in their guts other walkers couldn't smell you. It never occurred to me that by disabling them they basically masked you. Gruesome and grisly but effective.

By the end of the day I was hot, eaten alive and exhausted. It was near dusk when we passed back through the gates of the prison returning to the place we now called home. To the people who once were strangers but now loved as family. Back to where I was hoping to see my favourite officer.

As luck, fate, coincidence or intention would have it Rick was standing on the concrete pad when we pulled in. Getting off the back of the bike I grabbed my bag swinging it over my shoulder. "How did it go?" Rick asked as he neared us.

Giving Rick a lop sided grin Daryl patted my back, "Your girl did good. She just might have some tracker in her." I instantly blushed at Daryl's off handed comment. Reaching in his saddle bag Daryl grabbed a small leather pouch. "Have you decided when you want to go on the next run?"

"I was thinking tomorrow morning." Rick stopped standing beside me. "We will leave just after sun up."

"Sounds good to me," slinging his crossbow over his shoulder Daryl nodded to Rick as he started to walk away. "I'll let the others know." With a quick wave Daryl carried on falling into step with Carol.

"So how was your day?" Rick asked turning his attention towards me. Standing before me he looked rested, freshly showered and all kinds of yummy.

My nerves were peaking as I nervously played with my strap of my backpack. "Not exactly what I expected but it was good. Hey did you know what Daryl and Carol were going to do to a walker?"

"It was something Michone figured out when she was on her own. " Rick knew instantly what I was talking about. "You have to admit it works. Necessity being the key to invention and all."