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The Hunter Within

Chupacabra

Daryl paced the campsite impatiently. The sun had been up for hours and the group was wasting time. He watched some of the women doing the laundry and rolled his eyes. Sophia was missing and the extent of Carol’s help was making sure everyone’s underwear was clean. Chewing at his lip, Daryl’s eyes brushed over Sophie. She was sitting off alone, sharpening the knife that was secured to the end of her staff.
They hadn’t spoke since the farmhouse yesterday. Daryl had let her head back to the camp alone, continuing on by himself. He spent more time worrying about whether or not she had made it back safely than the actual task ahead. Although, the time out in the forest unaccompanied had given him a moment to consider that he might have been a little harsh and upon returning to the camp, he took Carol the flower, hoping that Sophie saw.
Although Daryl knew she was right, he wasn’t about to admit it. It had felt good to see Carol’s own spirits uplifted by the story, but his kind mood didn’t span as far as actually apologizing to Sophie. Baby steps, he had told himself as he marched to his tent, trying to avoid the campfire where she was eating an early dinner.
“Morning, guys.” Rick called and everyone appeared from their respected areas. He motioned for everyone to join him at the truck, laying out the same map as yesterday for everyone to see. “We’ve got a lot of ground to cover today. Everyone’s getting new search grids today. If she made it as far as the farmhouse that Daryl and Sophie found, she might have gone even further east that we thought.”
One of the kids from Hershel’s group piped up, asking for Rick’s attention and Daryl glanced back at Sophie, still sharpening. He chewed at his lip, wondering if she was coming out today. It doesn’t matter, he tried to tell himself, you don’t need to be watching out for some fragile city girl.
“Nothing about what Daryl found screams out Sophia to me.” Shane mocked and Daryl’s attention snapped back onto the conversation in front of him and to where the man sat, his back to the group. “It could’ve been anyone holed up in that farmhouse.”
“Anyone includes her, right?” Andrea offered and the others looked to Daryl.
“Whoever slept in that cupboard was no bigger than yay high.” He nodded, raising his arm as an example as he cocked an eyebrow, daring Shane to protest.
“It’s a good lead.”
“Maybe we’ll pick up her trail again.” Rick nodded, providing Daryl with backup.
“Ain’t no maybe about it. I’m going to borrow a horse, head up to this ridge over here and take a bird’s eye view of the whole grid.” He pointed out the spot on the map, chewing his lip as he observed all the dark green shades of forest that she could be hiding in. “If she’s up there, I’ll spot her.” He added, more as a reassurance to himself than anybody else.
“Good idea.” T nodded, a smile playing on his lips. Daryl narrowed his eyes at the man as he did. “Maybe you’ll see your Chupacabra up there.”
“Chewbacca?” Sophie laughed from her new position, lent up against the hood of the truck, a teasing smile playing on her face. Daryl hadn’t even heard her approach.
Chupacabra.” He corrected, not letting himself make eye contact with her. His arms automatically crossed against his chest, ready for the remarks to come.
“You never heard that story?” Dale piped up as he set down the bag of guns. “First night in camp, Daryl tells us that the whole thing reminds him of a time when he went squirrel hunting and he saw a chupacabra.”
Daryl turned to the sound of a muffled laugh, his eyes catching on the new kid trying to hide a smirk. “What are you brayin’ at, jackass?”
“You believe in a blood sucking dog?” The kid laughed and Daryl heard Sophie adjust her stance from beside him.
“You believe in dead people walking around?” She teased almost light heartedly before Daryl could say something along those lines, except with a much angrier tone. He glanced down at the younger girl to find her smiling innocently, like nothing had happened between the two. Daryl wondered if she was just putting on a face for the others. He wondered if she was still rightfully angry with him and despite his better intentions, he hoped that she wasn’t.
“Hey, hey.” Rick scoffed as Daryl turned away from Sophie. The kid had his hands on one of the guns, smiling smugly to himself. Rick took the gun from his hands, discarding in the bag. “Ever fire one of these before?”
“Well, if I’m going out, I want one.”
“Yeah.” Daryl almost laughed, turning on his feet in search of the stables. “An’ people in hell want slurpees.”
He took his leave then, headed in the direction that he had heard the whinnying of horses the night before. Footsteps followed behind and he didn’t need to look back to know that it was Sophie. With Andrea heading out with T-Dog and Rick and Shane no doubt buddying up, she would be in search of her own partner.
“You ain’t coming.” He warned as he passed through the barn, keeping his eyes occupied on the first horse he came across.
“I am.” She laughed, making no move to turn around as he collected a single saddle. “I want to help out. Everyone still looks at me as if I’m just tagging along.”
Daryl stopped what he was doing to take in the almost sad look on Sophie’s face. She chewed at her lip as her eyes shone with tears. He could understand exactly where she was coming from; there was no denying that. By tracking down this girl, he to hoped that the others would look at him differently. How can you possibly deny her that? “No they don’t, you’re being stupid.”
Stupid?” She laughed at his choice of words before wiping at her eyes and turning to face him square on. Her moment of sadness had been pushed aside and determination replaced it. “Besides, my daddy did buy me a pony after all… So I know how to ride.”
He could hear the joking tone in her voice, but the words sent blood rushing to his cheeks, embarrassed that he had actually said that. She thankfully took no notice of his burning red cheeks and lifted the saddle in a much more efficient tactic than Daryl had lugged it over with. The horse shifted under the weight of the saddle and Sophie worked to tighten it. She eyed Daryl off as he watched her work with ease, a little relieved that she had taken over. He had almost no idea what he was doing and certainly did not want to admit that.
“My daddy owned a farm… A lot like this one, actually.” She smiled sadly, offering the information that she knew Daryl wouldn’t ask for. “I didn’t own a pony growing up, but I did have a horse.”
Daryl couldn’t help feel like an ass. His whole argument yesterday was constructed on the idea that Andrea had planted in his mind; that she had grown up in a tiny fenced yard. Cut from the same mould as Rick and Shane. In reality, she was more like Hershel and his own daughters. He hadn’t seen much of them, but he could now see that the older one was made out of the stuff Sophie was. Looking down at his booted feet, Daryl felt Sophie’s eyes resting on him. He chewed at the inside of his cheeks and did something he never intended to do. Apologize.
“It’s okay.” Sophie smiled genuinely, shrugging it off. “It’s something the others all do to you, so it’s only natural that you would do it to others.”
“That doesn’t make it okay.” He shook his head, reliving the way he had blown up at her for no reason. She was the only one trying to get to know him; the only person that had ever tried to get to know him and Daryl’s first instinct was to push her away. How can someone be this nice?
“At the time I was really upset. This sadness just overcame me and I felt this…” She pulled up short, taking a step closer to him. “But on my way back, I realised that it wasn’t a personal attack and I shouldn’t have acted the way I did. The world is a lonely place, Daryl, I don’t have to tell you that. I’m just looking for a friend and I’m sorry if you really feel like I’m following you around.”
Daryl’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion, his mind scattered as he tried not to concentrate on her body, inches from his own. As she leaned in to hug him, a motion that appeared natural for her, Daryl’s whole body stiffened under her touch. Keeping his hands glued to his side, he breathed in deeply to clear his mind, regretting it instantly as he was consumed with her scent. It was intoxicating. It’s like… mowed grass, freshly baked cookies and mint toothpaste rolled into one.
Almost too soon Daryl found himself being pulled back into the real world as she stepped away, her arms untangling from his waist. Her absence left him to breath the plain, stable air around him. “Naw, it’s cool.” Daryl managed through a shaky voice.
“I’m going to go make sure Hershel is fine with us borrowing the horses. Saddle one for me?” She smiled softly, tucking a strand of white hair behind her ear as she turned. Daryl watched her go, completely dumbfounded with what had just happened. Ain’t got time to run off into the sunset, the world is ending. He sighed and turned to the next stable, looking at the horse with consideration. Not that she would ever run off with you. She said it herself; she’s just looking for a friend.
He ducked his head out of the stables to make sure that Sophie was out of sight before rushing back to the horse and pulling himself up into the saddle. Daryl shifted his weight and clicked the horse into gear, heading out the far side of the stable alone.

Sophie crept through the forest as silently as she could. The natural paths formed by animals were covered in leaves and fallen logs, making each step sound like she was an elephant. She was looking for Daryl, who had disappeared by the time that Sophie had found Hershel earlier. Granted, it did take her longer than expected, but she still didn’t understand why he couldn’t wait.
Hershel had been happy to let them borrow the horses, thanking for her taking the time to ask. He had mumbled something about the group making themselves at home and that it was nice to have someone actually ask. As Sophie walked away, tears welling up in her eyes at the strong reminder Hershel was of her own father, he had called out and warned against using the horse in the first stall. Nervous Nelly, he had named the animal.
Sophie had groaned internally at the thought of having to unsaddle the horse that she had just prepared for the ride, but when she had rounded the corner to complain to Daryl, both of them were gone. By no means was Sophie able to track, but she was able to follow the hoof prints in the soft ground around the stable and search for the hill Daryl spoke of from there.
The forest was quiet again today. Not the kind of quiet that she had noticed the last time she had been out with Daryl, this time it was silent. Sophie knew that there was a reason that the animals were hiding and though she was yet to come across something dead, she knew it wouldn’t be too long until she did. Her hands clenched tighter around the familiar wood of her staff. Sophie twist it in her hands nervously, a habit she had begun to form. You’ll get a splinter one of these days.
A distance moan snapped Sophie back to attention, calling out from the creek bed. She snuck along the riverbed, listening out for the hungry moans. Paying close attention to the wind direction, the corners of her mouth turning down as Sophie realised that there was no way that it could have smelt her, let alone see her from where she crept.
A whiny broke Sophie from her crouched position. Shooting up to search for Daryl, she could only see the rotter staggering away, towards the sound. As the smell of decay began to subside, Sophie leapt from her position towards the noise. As she neared the dead figure, she pulled back her arm, letting the staff fly through the forest air. It connected with the rotting back flesh and straight through the chest, pinning the mindless form to the soft ground.
Sophie couldn’t help but smile smugly to herself as she approached the rotter from behind, pulling out her knife to piece the brain up through the delicate skin on the back of the neck. By placing a booted foot on the soft shoulder, Sophie was able to wrench her staff free, almost choking on the smell of rotten innards that came with the release.
“Daryl.” She whispered into the trees, her brows pulling together with worry. With no reply, Sophie followed the footsteps up the path, her heart beating quickly as she tried not to worry. Why did he just leave it to follow him? She questioned, something just not sitting right with her.
Why Daryl had even left without her in the first place was something Sophie hadn’t let herself think into. As she had left the stable so sure that everything had been smoothed out between them. He had been the one to apologize and as looked back at him, there was no anger evident in his blue eyes. Sophie hadn’t known him all that long really, but she had learnt quickly that his eyes would tell you everything that he wouldn’t; all you had to do was look.
She whistled out into the silence only to be met with a desperate moan. Sighing, Sophie readied her staff for the attack, anticipating the attack from her left. As the rotter moaned again, she swung the staff around with all the strength she could muster. The wooden end hit the brittle skull with such force that it gave way, spilling brain matter out onto the forest floor and splattering Sophie as it did. As she took a moment to assess the situation with disgust, a hand reached out and grabbed at her shoulder, earning a frightened gasp from Sophie.
She could hear chomping in her ear as she tried to step away, only pulling the body with her. Sophie reached for her knife, stabbing blindly behind her shoulder, trying to make connection with the brain. Her heart raced quickly as she struggled under the spine tingling touch of the dead.
Finally, her knife pierced a rotting eye, goo oozing down her hand as Sophie twisted it, putting an end to the hungry moans and desperate struggle. She sunk down to her knees, breath laboured as the body slumped to the ground behind her.
A whiny beckoned for Sophie’s attention, her head snapping up to the sound. With a moan of her own, she pulled herself up onto shaken feet, ignoring the aches and pains as she chased the noise. The sound of movement put a smile onto her face as she rounded a bend, only for it to disappear just as quickly as Sophie took in the riderless horse before her.
“Hey…” She whispered softly, approaching the timid animal. “Hey, you’re alright.” Sophie worked over the horse, checking for any potential injuries or signs of an injured rider. When she finished, evidence free, Sophie nervously scanned the area around her before turning back to the now settled horse. “Where did you leave him?”

Daryl opened his eyes to the bright, afternoon sun. He squinted at the exposure as he collected his bearings, vaguely remembering the horse throwing him and the arrow that pierced his side. His whole body ached from the fall and Daryl wasn’t sure if he could move. Even if I wanted too.
“Why don’t you pull that arrow out, dummy?” Someone spoke, their voice cutting through the silence and pulling Daryl from his wallowing. “You could bind your wound better.”
Blinking again, Daryl noticed an all too familiar figure standing over the top of him, peering down with judgement. “Merle?” He moaned, his head thumping something terrible. There was no way that his brother was going to make his situation any better.
“What’s going on here?” He laughed tauntingly, smirking to himself. “You taking a siesta or something?”
“Shitty day, bro.”
Merle huffed, the grin still playing at the corners of his mouth. “Want me to get you a pillow? Maybe rub your feet for you?”
“Screw you.” Daryl managed, making an attempt to move, only to be met with shooting pains. He winced at the feeling, regretting it instantly as Merle looked on.
“You’re that one screwed by the looks of it, baby brother.” He laughed and Daryl rolled his eyes. The fact that Sophie had influenced him enough to do so annoyed him almost as much as Merle calling him baby brother. “All them years I spent trying to make a man of you and this it what I get? Look at you. Lying in the dirt like a used rubber.”
The two brothers fell silent as Merle waited eagerly for more of reaction. Instead, Daryl worked to sit himself up, ignoring his brother’s expectant stare. He examined the arrow sticking from his side, biting back a cry as he touched it.
“You’re gonna die out here, brother. “ Daryl looked to his brother, detecting a hint of sadness in his rough voice. “And for what?”
Daryl took in a deep breath, his blinks becoming heavier as he worked to stay awake. The forest floor in the middle of the apocalypse was no place to be taking a nap. He considered Merle’s question as a distraction, hoping that it would save him from falling asleep. “A girl. They lost a little girl.”
“You got a thing for little girls now?” His brother laughed without missing a beat.
“Shut up.”
“Naw.” He laughed again, kneeling down beside Daryl’s aching body. “You have found yourself a new type though. Went got yourself a real piece of tail. Too bad ole Merle had her first.”
“Shut up.” He repeated, his mind instantly going to Sophie and the bruise that had begun to make itself at home on her face they day they met. They found her dazed and out of sorts in the same room Merle had escaped through.
“I treated her real kind for you.” He laughed, fuelling anger deep within Daryl’s aching body. “Left her with a memento and everything. True gentleman.”
“Shut up.” Daryl repeated, shoving the idea out of his mind. Sophie is way to pure for someone like Merle, he decided with confidence, before having it fizzle as he came to realise he was someone like Merle.
“I notice you ain’t out lookin’ for old Merle no more.” He switched back to the theme of missing things. Daryl peaked through a tired eye at his brother, frustration bubbling inside of him. Won’t he just let off, Daryl moaned internally, despite knowing how terrible that idea would be.
“Tried like hell to find you bro.” He mumbled, frowning to himself. “You split, man.”
“Lit out first chance you got.”
“You lit out.” Daryl’s eyes snapped open, hearing the accusing tone in Merle’s voice. He almost felt offended that his brother would think that he just left. “All you had to do was wait. We went back for you. Rick and I, we did right by you.”
“This the same Rick that cuffed me to the rooftop in the first place? Forced me to cut off my own hand?” In his dazed state, Daryl looked to the arm, frowning when he found both hands attached. “This him we’re talking about here? You his bitch now?”
“I ain’t nobody’s bitch.”
“You’re a joke, that’s what you are.” Merle scoffed. “Playing errand boy to a bunch of pansy-asses, niggers, democrats and a girl with a pretty face.”
“Sophie is tough, she is-”
“You’re nothing but a freak to her. To them.” Merle cut him off, his rough voice filled with conviction. “Redneck trash. That’s all you are. Bet she’s laughing at you behind your back. You know that, don’t cha?”
“She ain’t like that.” Daryl defended himself, or maybe ever her, maybe even the both of them. “She’s kind.”
“Kind.” Merle laughed, as if it were a joke. “I got a little news for you, son. One day, she’s gonna scrape you off her heels like you was dog shit. Girl like her ain’t got business with you. She ain’t your kin; your blood.”
“No.” The simple word cracked under the pain. Daryl wasn’t sure if it was the physical pain or the pain that Merle’s words held that did it, but nonetheless, it was there.
“Hell, if you had any damn nuts in that sack of yours, you’d go back there and take her. Show her who you really are.” His laugh made Daryl cringe, disgusted by the very thought of treating someone like her that way. That’s the Merle way, possibly even the old Daryl way to an extent. The Dixon way. He felt the warmth of Merle’s hand against his face, too exhausted to do anything about it.“Shoot your pal Rick in the face for me while you’re at it.” He paused again for the longest time as Daryl drifted in and out of conscious. “You know nobody ever gonna care about you except me, little brother. Nobody ever will.”
“That’s a lie.”
“No it ain’t.” Merle stood, stepping back to grab at Daryl’s limp foot. “Now, come on. Get up onto your feet before I have to kick your teeth in.”
The tugging was infuriating. Daryl grew increasingly annoyed with the constant jarring of his body as he tried to rest. Opening his weary eyes, he realised that it was no longer Merle encouraging him to get up, but a geek trying to chew through his boot.
With a panicked cry, Daryl tried to push himself away, kicking at the decaying body with urgency. He scrambled for his crossbow, reaching out almost blindly for the weapon. With no luck, he turned to his hunting knife for help, stabbing it in the side more out of habit than anything. He knew that it would do nothing. After delivering some weak blows to the rotting face, Daryl managed to get the upper hand and roll onto of the foul body for a moment before being pushed away. His tired body complained at the movement as Daryl grabbed a near by stick, as solid as Sophie’s staff and pushed the walker to the ground. As another approached the commotion, Daryl slammed the wood against the face of the Merle impersonator, watching cautiously as the other approached.
After a few frustrated blows to the face, Daryl discarded the walker and pulled at the arrow embedded in his side. He cried out in pain as the feathers passed through his body, tearing the flesh even more. Once the bolt was removed, he pushed aside the screaming pain and picked up the crossbow, setting it just in time to shoot the new comer up through the forehead.
Exhausted and numb with pain, Daryl rest his head against the damp ground and tried to catch his breath. Merle’s words playing through his head as his eyes slowly closed, his body begging for a chance to rest. Redneck trash, that’s all you are.

Sophie was met with the cold stares of Rick and Hershel as she led the horse through the paddock. She had walked the river with no luck and turned for home, hoping that Daryl had already beat her there.
She swallowed a lump in her throat as she crossed the yard towards the two men. Their stares followed her the whole way, both showing differing versions of concern. Rick studied her body, worried for her safety while Hershel’s eyes were on the horse behind her.
“Have you seen Daryl?” She huffed before either man had the chance to ask any questions.
Rick glanced back in the direction of the house for a moment before slowly shaking his head; dread creeping onto his features as he took in Sophie’s concerned expression.
“I told you not to take her out.” Hershel moaned matter of factly and Sophie almost shrugged it off, not really in the mood to flesh out the how.
“Daryl had already left by the time I got back.” Sophie spoke vaguely, handing over the reins to the older man’s expecting hand.
She went in search of the camp, hoping that maybe Rick had been too busy to notice that he had snuck back. As she approached the camp, Sophie noticed that those who were there had got themselves into a bit of a panic. Andrea was searching for something in the distance through binoculars, yelling something about a single walker. Sophie almost rolled her eyes at the older woman, a little embarrassed at her reaction. Although, she would have been if it weren’t for the small crowd of testosterone fuelled men gathering their assorted weapons as if they were headed out on some sort of witch-hunt. Now she was just embarrassed for them all.
“Put the gun down.” Shane huffed, puffing up his chest like he was some kind of animal. “You’d best let us handle this.”
“Shane.” Rick warned as he approached the group, his tone hurried. “Shane, just hold up. Hershel wants to deal with the walkers.”
Shane brushed off their hosts request, continuing on his path to destruction as the rest of the men followed suit, Rick included. You would think they were off to war, Sophie rolled her eyes at the dramatics. Andrea was peering through the sight of Dale’s gun, keeping the single rotter with the crosshairs. There would be no use wasting ammunition on a single walker, not when the small army can deal it with.
“Andrea, don’t.” Sophie warned, stepping closer to the RV, her eyes on the men approaching the threat. She hadn’t seen Andrea shoot and it would be too dangerous to take aim at something so close to the living.
“Back off, Sophie.” She scoffed, lowering herself down onto the RV’s roof. “You’re not the only woman that gets to skip out on laundry anymore.”
“Excellent.” Sophie almost laughed at the childishness. “But put the gun down.”
“Andrea, listen.” Dale stepped in.
“You too, Dale.” Andrea’s eyes flickered from the sight to the old man for a moment. “Back off.”
Sophie turned back to the group, watching as they all paused around the threat. Rick had is gun trailed on the rotters head. She reached out to Dale, silently asking for the binoculars. Looking through, Sophie saw Rick lower his weapon, the rest of the men following suit. As she watched the exchange, a smile crept onto her face as she realised that it was neither a threat, nor dead.
“Andrea-” Sophie turned to the woman, biting down on her lip with overwhelming joy. Her words of reassurance were lost to the loud release of a bullet, leaving Sophie to only call out in horror as she watched the body fall to the ground. She turned to the smug woman with wide eyes and a cry on her lips as she heard Rick’s desperate yelling from down the paddock.
The blood ran from Andrea’s face as she scrambled down the RV, taking off down the paddock with Dale at her heels. Time moved in slow motion as the group dragged the limp body towards the house, Sophie anchored to where she was, much to terrified to make a move. No matter how hard she tried, her eyes kept snapping back to the lifeless body that hung over Rick and Shane’s shoulder.
The others began to rush over at the sound of a gunshot, their voices questioning and their eyes panicked. Sophie couldn’t bring herself to tell them what had happened, as if saying it would at to the reality.
As the men approached, Sophie felt Rick’s eyes glued on her shaken figure as she took in Daryl’s beaten body, blood staining his face and clothes. Her breath caught in her throat as Rick reached out and clutched her arm, pulling her towards the house with them.
“He’s alive.” Rick spoke softly, squeezing Sophie’s arm for support. She wasn’t sure if he was talking to her or Hershel, but she was thankful for them nonetheless. “It grazed the side of his head. He is bleeding out from his side.”
Hershel started barking hurried orders at his daughters. All around her, Sophie could hear the frantic voices of the group. Andrea was profusely apologizing to no one in particular, Dale trying just as desperately to calm her down. Carol was by Sophie’s side, asking the same question over and over again, clutching at the doll that T had handed her. As they entered the house and followed Hershel down the hallway, Sophie couldn’t help but feel consumed by panic and fear.
Her hands began to get clammy and her heart raced in her chest. Sophie began fidgeting with her fingernails as Rick let her go to lower Daryl’s limp body down onto the bed with all the care in the world. She couldn’t help but be pushed towards the back of the surge of people surrounding the bed. Sophie squeezed her eyes closed as Hershel yelled out to his daughters and Rick begged people to give the man space to work. The small room was crowded, her head swimming with voices and panic as her breathing quickened.
Sophie opened her eyes to watch Maggie push through the bodies, grasping at her fathers medical kit, Beth following behind closely. She lowered herself down into an empty seat and hugged her knees close, trying to drown out the noises as she watched the experienced vet cut through the thin material of Daryl torn and bloody shirt. His dirty and bloody figure looking out of place in the clean, well kept room that surrounded him.
Her stomach was already too uneasy to face looking at any open wound, Sophie turned herself to the concentrated look on the older man’s face as he tore away the fabric. His hands hovering over Daryl’s body for a moment before folding the material back over the skin and scanning the faces before him.
“Everyone out. I need space to breath.” He ordered, raising his voice to put an end to the desperate chatter. The sudden silence settled in as everyone’s eyes brushed over their host and his patient before doing as they were asked. As Sophie watched the bodies pass her, she observed Rick being beckoned to stay. She let her booted feet touch the wooden floor, chewing at her lip as she stood and started for the door, trying to ignore the quiet deliberation between Rick and Hershel.
“You can stay.” Rick almost whispered, gesturing at the bowl of water sitting on the nightstand opposite to the men. Sophie tried to ignore the questioning look that Hershel shot Rick as she reached for it with a shaky hand.
Rick nodded to the older man reassuringly and he in turn fold back down the tattered remains of Daryl’s shirt. Sophie almost expected to find a bite there, after seeing the pained look in both of the men’s eyes. Instead, what she finds is equally as horrifying in its own regard.
Sophie’s breath caught in her throat as they roll Daryl onto his side, stripping his back of all clothing to reveal an array of purples and deep, angry red lines decorating the soft, pale skin of his back. Her eyes flickered to Rick for a moment, seeing his jaw lock into place as he observed what she did. Sophie turned back to the scars, varying in size, shape and colour. She wanted to be sick, imagining the pain that Daryl had carried with him for months, or even years as some of the wounds had refused to heal properly, leaving him with the angry marks he was forced to carry each and every day.
She forced herself to take a deep breath to clear her head and shove them out of her mind as Hershel begun working on the wound that pierced his side. Sophie turned her attention back to the bowl of water and the rag swimming on top of it. Wringing it out, she pressed it against the wound on his head, pressuring the blood to clot. To stop her eyes from wondering back to the scars on his back, Sophie opted to study his smoothed out face as Hershel worked.
“Thank you.” Sophie spoke softly as she looked up to the older man, his bloody fingers hovering over his work as she spoke. She knew exactly how everyone would have looked at him if they knew and she was well aware that something like that would only push him further into the corners of his own mind. “He will never tell you, but I know that he would appreciate that you did that for him.”
Hershel just nodded and Rick’s eyes brushed back over the array of scars. Sophie allowed herself another peak, feeling guilty as she did. There was no way that Daryl would ever be happy with her looking at them and the less she did, the less likely that he would see it in her face every time she looked at him.
“Puts everything into perspective though.” Rick murmured. Sophie considered his words, nodding as she realised the truth behind them. She suddenly felt awful for pressing conversation of his past. Sophie chewed her lip as she turned back to inspect the wound on his head, the bleeding now subsided. She pondered his closed off nature and the way he would shy away from her touch. Guilt seeped in, settling in her bones as she wondered how much pain she had unwillingly subjected him too.
Sophie was still working on cleaning his face of the filth and blood that had seemingly settled in for good as Daryl began to stir. His fingers gripped at the bed sheets, leaving dirty finger prints as his brows furrowed together. Hershel continued working and Sophie rung the rag out into the spare dish, watching the mixture of dirt and blood splash against the perfectly clean bowl.
She chewed her lip again with consideration as Hershel turned to dig through his kit, searching for some thread to close up the wound. Daryl’s movements became much more deliberate, his face pinching together with discomfort as he began to come too. Sophie knew that if she wanted to save any shred of their friendship, she would have to make herself scarce. The last thing Daryl wanted to be pinned as was weak and although Sophie saw nothing but strength in the man, she knew deep down that he would not see her concerned looks that way.
With much more steady feet, Sophie forced herself from the side of the bed and extended the rag to Rick with a pleading look. He nodded knowingly as he took the material in his own hands and worked at dabbing it against Daryl’s mattered hair. Sophie brushed a soft finger down his cheek before taking her leave, pausing at the door for a moment to watch Daryl’s blue eyes flutter open and take in the world around him.





Notes

Pushed through some writers block to bring out this chapter for margurita and S_____. because they took the time out of their day to tell me that they love my story. It's so nice to hear things like that, so you guys are angels. Thanks to those who have subscribed and voted. I'm on break for a little, so does anyone have any stories for me to read!? Hope you enjoy this (extremely long) chapter x

Comments

Who's here on 2020 for a re-read? :D

Tee- Tee-
4/17/20

@QueenUchi

New readers make my heart sing, especially when they start this journey ten months after I ended it (abit abruptly but we won’t get into that because it’ll make me sad again).

Thank you you so much for leaving a comment. Nothing is more motivating for the unmotivated than a little bit of love. Whenever I get a comment from someone new all I find myself wanting to sit down and grill them with a million different questions.

If youre chasing updates about any eventual stories I write, please follow me on instagram @ sophyl_

Thanks a million again!! xx

aryaaa aryaaa
11/28/18

thank you @sanders151 for recomending me this fanfic

Your fanfic has been in the center of my life for the whole month November. Let me just tell you that im in love with everything about this story. Im even at loss of words about how amazing this journey has been.

There have been moments when i actually had to get up and calm down from all the feelings may they be joy sadness or just extreme suffering. Ive been cheering, i've been crying to the point of ugly sobbing, ive been screaming while reading this all.

I dont even know how to tell you how i feel about this fanfic there arent any words for it so ima just AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH about it cause thats the closets that i can think off "insert all the feelings i cant express here"

I am just so thank full for all your time and effort and everything youve put into this story. Cause WOW youre an amazing writer and when you do make your original story please do know that I WOULD LOVE TO READ THAT TOO.

This journey has ended but it will forever be in my heart.

QueenUchi QueenUchi
11/27/18

@Sanders151

I was so surprised to see a new notification on this story after all these months. Thank you so much for taking the time
to comment, I hope you’ve enjoyed what you’ve read since. Please feel free to leave me updated on your thoughts xx

aryaaa aryaaa
11/25/18

Hello,

It's been a looong time since i've read this story. Life got busy and i totally forgot to finish it.

SO i decided to reread everything and lemme tell you...I STILL LOVE IT AS MUCH AS THE FIRST TIME.
Im currently at chapter 62 (right after fort hill) and i can't wait for what is to come.


Sanders151 Sanders151
11/15/18