Ruins

9

I turned into the woods behind the group to start tying the cans up.

I could already hear the crunching deeper in the woods, and regretted not bringing a flashlight.

"Heads up." Daryl grumbled behind me, shining his light in front of us. A couple yards before us stood a walker with twigs growing out of it's neck and shoulders.

"I heard it." I assured, tugging my blade from my thigh. He held the light over the walker and let it get a little closer before I swung my blade, hacking across it's face.

"How much longer til DC, you think?" I asked, twisting the line around another tree.

"Weeks, at least." He sighed.

"Maybe we should just... find another place. Maybe DC should wait until we're..." I paused, and let out a large breath. "Better situated, and prepared."

"Yeah, and where you suppose we wait until then? Side of the road? So we could get mauled by some rabid dogs?" Daryl let out a sigh.

"I don't know, maybe the next place we find... we just hunker down and build up our strength." I shrugged, tying the line to another tree.

Daryl was quiet for a while until I cleared my throat, guiding his light to where I was waiting at the next tree.

"Maybe you're right." He spoke, making a small grin tug at my lips.

"I usually am." I smirked, turning and recoiling, finding him closer than I expected. I opened my mouth to speak, until he flicked his light off. "What if -"

"I'll hear it." He muttered, He was so close to me his warm breath, fanned over my neck. His hand crawled up my arm and over my shoulder to hold my jaw.

A nervous flutter bubbled in my stomach, as we stepped back, leaning against a tree. I took it upon myself to follow through this time, since he seemed to make a move but not follow through.

I used my toes to push me up enough to reach his lips. I felt his breathing halt as my lips caught his. I could tell he felt taken aback, but stayed where he was.

He let out a hum as we parted. I almost giggled, until he leaned in again, holding the sides of my face.

I was letting myself fall into him, and his touch until he ripped away quickly.

"Shit." He muttered. "I dropped the flashlight."

I heard him kneel to the ground, but I couldn't see anything through the thick darkness.

"Daryl." I warned, hearing a steady crunching creeping closer.

"I can't find it." He groaned.

"Come on-" I gasped, a light flicked on in front of us. Daryl covered his eyes and smacked his lips.

"Rick?" Daryl questioned.

"Y'all alright out here?" Rick almost looked amused. I looked to the ground where I could see the flashlight now. "You know those work a little better when you turn 'em on."

"Shut up." Daryl muttered, turning and grabbing the rest of the stringed up cans that I had dropped. "Let's do the other side." Daryl pointed, letting me follow passed Rick.

We strung up the other side of the road and joined the group.

"Y'all right?" Maggie's asked as I sat down.

"Yeah, exhausted." I nodded, pulling my blanket from my bag. I kicked some leaves together to sleep on.

Daryl usually slept on the opposite side of the road from everyone, but tonight he made a pad of leaves, beside me.