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Daryl

We spent that whole morning prowling through the woods. Beth was insistent we could track the other survivors from the prison. I didn't bother telling her there were a bunch of paths through the woods leading away from the prison and there was no telling which way anyone would have gone, even if they survived. I headed south because that was the way the bus was supposed to go and I didn't have a better idea.

We ended up on the main path south from the prison. It wasn't the best idea since it was also one of the most used paths by Walkers, but people running wouldn't know that. No one but Michonne, Jo and I would know which trails to avoid. I frowned down at the ground in front of me. I knelt and brushed aside the leaves to reveal the soft, moist dirt beneath. There was a set of footprints.

Beth popped over my shoulder cheerfully. "Could be Luke's..." she said positively. "Or Molly's. Whoever they are, it means they're alive."

She was standing too close and it made me shift uncomfortably. She took another step towards me and I stepped away from her.

I didn't look away from the trail as I took a step towards the next prints. "No. This means they were alive four or five hours ago," I said grimly, noting all the fresh Walker tracks.

"They're alive," she snapped testily and took off at a fast walk up the trail. I shouldered my crossbow and sighed as I set off after her.

It wasn't long before we found more tracks. I stepped around Beth so I was on the lead, so she wouldn't muck up the trail.

"They picked up the pace right here," I said, pointing to the ground where the tracks were deeper and they had dropped some wild berries. I glanced at the bushes to the side of the trail. They must have stopped to eat and gotten ambushed by Walkers. "Got out in a hurry," I muttered almost to myself as I moved around the small clearing. "Things went bad."

Beth huffed past me. "Wouldn't kill you to have a little faith," she snapped in a bratty voice as she turned away from me.

I had had about enough of her. All she had done so far was stomp around like a brat. "Yeah, faith," I snorted angrily. "Faith ain't done shit for us. Sure as hell didn't do nothing for your father," I snarled angrily.

When I turned back to look at her she was staring at me like I had hit her. Her eyes were wide and full of unshed tears as she took a step away from me. I mashed my mouth into a hard line and gave her an apologetic look. I was being an asshole and letting my temper get the better of me. She didn't deserve that.

She turned back to the wild berry bushes that lined the path and started pulling berries off by the handful. "They'll be hungry when we find them," she said without looking at me, but her voice was quiet and trembled.

I pulled out my bandana and handed it to her. The only women I spent time around were Jo, Carol and Michonne and they would have all either ignored my temper or told me to shut up. I had no idea what to say to a teenage girl to make her feel better once I hurt her feelings and made her cry.

I waited patiently while she filled the bandana with her back to me. When she was satisfied she turned back to me and nodded. Her eyes were red rimmed but she gave me a smile. "Which way?" she asked with forced cheer.

I jerked my chin in the direction of the tracks and we continued down the trail.

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Jo

I woke to the light streaming through the cell block windows. I was disoriented at first, remembering back to the other morning I woke up in Daryl's bed. But all I had to do was lay there and listen to the quiet to remember all that had happened and that I was alone in the cell block.

I stood and stretched, groaning as my tight muscles moved. It had been a long time since I had fought like I did the night before. I scooped up my supplies, but hesitated before leaving the cell. I glared down at the blanket for a moment before I rolled it up and shoved it on top of the other things in the backpack.

The yard didn't look any better in the light of day, but at least now I was able to see the dozens of walkers milling about. From here I could see the full extent of the damage. I had hoped to run to my tower and gather supplies from there as well, but there was nothing left of it. The top was completely gone.

I winced and turned away, noticing the tank for the first time. I frowned, unable to believe someone had attacked us with a tank. A fricking tank.

I crept out of the door and crouched behind the pallets. I had hoped there was a chance to make some sort of sophisticated plan. But after staring at the large herd of walkers for what felt like an hour I gave up. There was nothing to be done about it. I was just going to have to make a run for it.

Most of the walkers were in the yard, so if I could get through the gate and to the field I would be able to make it to the woods.

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Daryl

I slowed as we came across two dead walkers in the middle of the trail. I frowned down at them and looked around the area. I hesitated and looked down at blood splattered across the leaves. I gently took the leaf in my hand and rubbed the blood between my fingers. I licked my lips and turned back to Beth.

"What?" She asked, looking afraid to hear my answer.

"That ain't walker blood," I said in a quiet voice, rubbing my fingers on my pants. I brought my crossbow around into my hands. The blood and tracks were only an hour or so old now.

"The trail keeps going," she said with forced brightness. "They fought them off," she said with conviction.

I shook my head and kicked around some of the dirt on the trail. "No, there's Walker tracks all up and down here. At least a dozen of them."

I continued to stare down at the trail, looking for any sign of our people. I walked the small area several times looking for any additional clues.

I was stupid to get so distracted and I didn't hear the Walker until Beth shrieked. I whirled around to face her. The Walker had her by the arm and she was holding a knife, but all she did was try to scramble backwards away from it, crying for help.

I leveled my crossbow but they were too close. Beth was panicked and I couldn't get a clean shot. I threw my crossbow down and jumped forward. I grabbed the walker and jerked it away from her. I stumbled backwards and went down, holding the Walker. She grabbed her knife off the ground and I held the walker while she stabbed it in the head. I tossed aside the dead body and climbed to my feet.

I took a few deep breaths to regain my composure as the true weight of our situation hit me. She was nearly helpless.

I scowled at her and picked up my crossbow. How did she survive while the others didn't? How was that fair?

I instantly hated myself. Beth was a good kid, she couldn't help the situation any more than I could.

"Come on." I called over my shoulder and continued down the trail.

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Jo

I swung Daryl's backpack so it was up on my back and pulled the straps tight. I drew both knives. I was going to make a run for the vehicles. Worst case I could either continue to sprint for the woods or I could climb up on top of one of the trucks.

I breathed deeply for a few minutes, trying to get my lungs ready. I coughed a few times but it was now or never. I took off. Walkers snarled and reached for me but I dodged and darted around them. I wouldn't fight unless I had to. It took all of my willpower to keep moving forward.

I was almost to the dog run when I faltered as I moved to go around a walker. It was a middle aged man of average size wearing military clothes. What captured my attention was the green and white fletching on the arrow lodged in the Walker's heart.

I stuttered a step and nearly tripped and went down. I could hear the other walkers at my back, but I had to do this. I moved in towards the Walker and pulled the bolt as I ran by. I tucked it into my jacket pocket but kept moving. I stumbled into the dog run, the bag throwing my balance off. I slowed to a jog and moved down to the main gate. I slipped out and backtracked towards the vehicles. I found two rifles and plenty of ammo.

I took everything I could but soon my bag and pockets were full. I turned to head into the woods when I froze. Laying in the middle of the field, away from everything was the body of The Governor.

I stood transfixed for several moments. I could hear the growl of the walkers as they shambled towards me, but it was like I had grown roots.

It had been him. I looked back over my shoulder at the ruins of my home. It had been him all along. I closed my eyes against the swell of emotion but the tears still came.

He was dead. It was over and he was dead. And yet somehow he had still managed to take everything from me.

With tears flowing down my face I set off into the woods leaving the ruins behind me. As I walked I reached into my pocket and pulled out the arrow. I gripped it in my fist like a lifeline.

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Daryl

We followed the trail until it opened to a set of train tracks. Beth came up behind me. She let out a small whimper. We stood above, looking down at three walkers who were eating what was left of our people. The kills were fresh and the walkers were still gorging themselves. Dead Walkers littered the area. It looked like our people had at least put up a fight, not that it mattered now. The remaining Walkers were too distracted by the fresh meat to notice us.

Beth stood beside me swaying slightly on her feet. I shook my head and marched towards the three Walkers. I killed two of them with shots from my crossbow and stabbed the last one with a bolt I pulled from its dead companion. I gathered up my bolts and started to walk away down the tracks. I didn't know what to do now. No one was left

Behind me Beth began to cry standing over the bodies.

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Jo

It took me most of the day to get there. I needed some place far enough away from the prison that it would be safe, but still close enough that I would be able to find the others...if there were any others. I needed to regroup and get a handle on everything that had happened. I was still tired and though I was feeling better I still had a cough.

The woods were cool and relatively empty. I was pretty positive every walker in the area was at the prison. I didn't know how to get to the house through the woods so I followed the road. I moved as quickly as possible, sometimes jogging other times walking briskly. I stayed at the edge of the trees, which slowed my pace considerably. It would have been easier on the road but I wasn't comfortable traveling in the open like that.

It had been months since Daryl and I visited the house where we found my kukri. We never went back to get the rest of the supplies from the house. I think we both wanted to keep it as an unspoken back up, in case things ever went south. I think now was about as south as they could go. I remembered the attic above the garage and it would be a good place to spend the night while I figured out what my next move was.

The sun was setting as I approached the property. I tucked the bolt back into my pocket and drew my knives. There was no movement at all. The garage door was closed and when I went in it was still empty. I pulled on the string to lower the ladder and climbed up, pulling it closed behind me. It was cold, but I wrapped myself in his blanket. It still smelled like him and I let that comfort me. I ate some food before I lay down and closed my eyes.

The floor was hard and I rolled around trying to get comfortable. When I was sure I wouldn't be able to sleep I dug into my pocket and pulled out the small key to Daryl's motorcycle. I ran my fingers over the key before I reached under my shirt and pulled out the slim chain I wore around my neck. The original necklace had belonged to Kate. It was a small horse head she had been given by our parents for her sixteenth birthday. Merle had brought it to me after...my wedding ring also hung on the slim chain. I undid the clasp and slid the key on with the rest.

Tears gathered in my eyes. It felt like I was saying goodbye.

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Daryl

We made a fire again that night, even if it was a bad idea. I didn't know what else to do to make her feel better. It took our last match but we didn't have anything else. There was no food and no shelter and judging by the feel in the air a storm was coming. We sat together in the dark around the small fire.

I don't know how long we were there. Beth was sleeping and I was dozing, keeping watch. I heard the first snarl. I jerked awake and jumped to my feet, ready to kill the Walker that had stumbled on us. I heard the thunder tumble far off and when the lightning flashed I could see dozens of Walkers in the trees. I jumped over the campfire and grabbed Beth. She came awake gasping but didn't hesitate to follow when I started running.

We couldn't lose them. I weaved us through the forest but no matter which way I went it was like they were there. The herd had to be huge.

We burst through the trees out onto a road. There was a car directly in front of us.

"Come on!" I said, in a quiet, measured voice. I was trying not to scare her. The herd was coming and we needed to keep moving. They were closing the distance on us. There was just too many.

I walked around the car, sighting down the bolt in my crossbow while Beth climbed into the car. She turned the key, but nothing happened. I felt my heart drop as the snarls came closer. I looked up and down the road, uncertain which way to go now. I couldn't tell which way the herd was coming from and it made our position dangerous.

I ran over to the trunk of the car and pulled it open. "Get in," I ordered.

Beth didn't hesitate or argue, her fear was written all over her face. I climbed in after her, and the herd was on top of us. I pulled the truck closed, behind me. I wrapped my bandana around the latch and tied it shut to keep it from latching completely. I kept my crossbow pointed at the small gap and my finger on the trigger.

The storm unleashed outside. Rain pounded and thunder rumbled making the sound of them pounding on the trunk seem somehow louder.

Beth whimper next to me as she realized the full horror of the night. She held her knife in her small hands and shook with the stress.

I didn't say anything. There was nothing to say. Either we would live or we would die.

We stayed until long after the walkers left and the sun rose. Sweat beaded on my skin, but I didn't move. I stayed ready to defend us both. Finally, she couldn't take anymore. She reached out and opened the trunk.

There was nothing to see but the tracks and handprints on the car. Nothing to show of the horrific night we spent in the trunk. I found a garbage bag in the back of the car and started raiding the car for anything we could use. Beth helped, but her movements were slow. She was exhausted and looked shell shocked. I didn't say anything to her. I didn't know what to say.

When we took everything of use I nodded to her and started walking off down the road, the garbage bag thrown over one shoulder and my crossbow in the other. I didn't bother to turn around, after a minute I heard her tired footsteps behind me.

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Jo

I woke the next day before dawn. I squinted out the window, seeing the eastern sky begin to lighten. I ate a small amount of food and then went through a sequence of stretches. Once I did that I put myself through my old workout from Woodbury. I went through it three times. When I was done my muscles were tired and I was soaked with sweat. I stretched again, scooped up my belongings and left.

I went back into the house and raided what else I could. I dug out some more essentials and more food. The pantry here was still stocked and there was a substantial amount left even after I took all I could carry. I looked at the stash thoughtfully. I wasn't going to stay here, I had to go out and see if anyone else had made it out alive, but I could always come back.

I returned to my the garage attic, dumped out the large plastic totes full of Christmas decorations and hauled them back into the kitchen. I filled four of them with every piece of nonperishable food in the place. I hauled the heavy tote back up into the attic for safe keeping. I closed the stairs to the attic and the door to the garage.

I felt better. I felt like I had some semblance of a plan. If I didn't find anyone I could always come back here and there was enough food to last me a couple months if I really rationed it.

I went into the kitchen and started pulling open drawers until I found what I was looking for. There were eighteen of them. They must have liked to entertain. I wrapped the other seventeen in a towel and stowed them in my bag. I took the last in my hand and returned to the front door. I pulled the door closed behind me, and slammed the steak knife into the door frame near the handle. If he came here, he would know I had been here.

There was a small break in the trees beyond the house so I headed in that direction hoping it was a stream or creek. Our people would need water and I would stand a better chance of finding them along a body of water. It wasn't a steam however, I frowned as I stepped out onto the train tracks. Who would build such a nice house near train tracks?

I shook off the entirely useless thought and looked up and down the tracks. Where would Daryl go? Where would any of them go? I ran a hand over my eyes and let out a sigh. It was a wild goose chase. If I was smart I would go back to that attic and set up camp. This was a great spot. It was easily defensible. Someone could come in and raid the house and they would never even know I was there. I would be left alone.

Alone.

I sighed loudly and started south along the tracks.

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