"give me a while and i'll come around." - fog lake

daryl and i hopped off the bike, the engine's rumble fading into the background as we found ourselves in a small clearing deep in the woods. the air was still, thick with the scent of pine and damp earth. as we took in our surroundings, the familiar sound of a walker's groan reached my ears. i quickly pulled out my knives, the cool metal feeling natural in my hands. before i could throw, daryl had already notched an arrow and let it fly, the walker collapsing to the ground with his arrow buried deep in its skull.

"i had that one." i said, my tone playful, though a part of me was genuinely disappointed i didn't get to take the shot. "well, you're supposed to call it." daryl answered, his voice carrying that familiar gruffness as he stepped forward to retrieve his arrow. i couldn't help but roll my eyes, though the gesture was more playful than anything. "you didn't call it." i shot back as we walked up to the now-dead walker. the sound of more growls echoed from the trees, and we both instinctively raised our weapons again.

"don't wanna play with you anymore if you're gonna cheat." daryl chuckled, pulling his arrow from the walker's head. i laughed softly, shaking my head. "i'm not cheating." as if on cue, more walkers stumbled out from the treeline, probably drawn by the sound of the bike. we both moved into action. i watched their hands keeping an eye out for any that might grab or surprise me. i took down a few, the knives finding their marks with precision, but each time a walker fell, i couldn't help but feel a flicker of disappointment. however irrationally, a part of me had hoped that one might be a whisperer, some sign that alpha was nearby. but they were all just regular walkers—lifeless, brainless, and frustratingly ordinary.

after the last one dropped, daryl and i took a moment to catch our breath. the woods around us were quiet again, save for the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze. "ready?" daryl asked, nodding toward the deeper part of the forest where we'd planned to hunt. "always." i replied, adjusting my grip on the knives before following him.

we moved silently through the woods, the only sound the soft crunch of leaves underfoot. after a while, we spotted a deer grazing in a small clearing ahead. daryl raised his crossbow, his movements slow and deliberate, and aimed. the arrow flew true, hitting the deer just behind its shoulder. it bolted, disappearing into the trees, but the blood trail left behind made it easy to follow. we tracked the deer, the trail leading us deeper into the woods until we reached a familiar line. alpha's marked territory. i stumbled slightly as i reached the edge, my eyes narrowing as i spotted the deer just beyond the boundary. it was lying still, the blood loss too much for it to go any further.

"isa, wait." daryl called, his voice tense, but i was already moving toward the boundary. "i can get it from here." i said, holding my knives at the ready, my focus on the deer and the walkers starting to emerge from the other side of the road. it would be quick, in and out, and we wouldn't lose the kill. "stop." daryl's voice was firmer this time, a note of warning in it that made me pause. i glanced back at him, frustration bubbling up inside me. "i'll be quick, we can still get the deer."

"no, it's too late." daryl replied, his gaze shifting from the walkers to me, concern etched into his features. "why are we still respecting borders we never agreed to in the first place?" i snapped, the frustration and anger i'd been holding back starting to spill out. "alpha isn't even here. can't we just forget about them already?" daryl's eyes met mine, and for a moment, neither of us said anything. the walkers were getting closer, their groans filling the air. i lift my knives, fingers tightening around the handles as i aim the walkers. but before i can throw, daryl's voice cuts through the tension, "it's too late."

i watch in frustration as the walkers reach the deer, their rotting hands tearing through its flesh. the animal's once-majestic body is quickly reduced to a mess of blood and gore, and all i can do is sigh in defeat. "that deer could've fed 200 people." i mutter through clenched teeth, turning on my heel and heading back toward the bike. i don't wait for daryl to respond, the anger simmering just below the surface as i move away from the boundary. the walk back is long, the minutes dragging on in silence. neither of us speaks, the weight of the missed opportunity and the growing tension between us hanging heavy in the air. by the time we reach the bike, i can feel the tightness in my chest, the frustration gnawing at me like a festering wound.

i throw my bag onto the bike, ready to be done with this whole mess. but daryl, always the one to try and smooth things over, breaks the silence. "i'm sorry i pissed you off." i stop, turning to face him. "i'm sorry you pissed me off too." he lets out a small chuckle, shaking his head. "well, there's no reason to start shit if we don't gotta." he says, his voice softer now, as if trying to diffuse the situation. i roll my eyes, the frustration still lingering. "maybe then it's good i leave." i say, the words slipping out before i can stop them. i see the surprise in his eyes; he didn't think i was serious the first time, but now he's realizing i just might be.

"yeah, i've been thinkin' about that," he replies, sighing deeply. "why don't you stay?" "i'm venturesome, man. would you get off my ass before i put you on yours?" i shoot back, a playful smirk tugging at my lips despite the tension. "sorry if i don't want my best friend to leave high and dry, spend her whole life runnin'." he says, and there's something in his tone that makes me pause. i laugh, trying to lighten the mood. "best friend? what are you—ten?" "whatever." he grumbles, looking away. "should we have matching bracelets now?" i tease, glancing over at him, watching as he rolls his eyes.

"oh, god, forget it." he mutters. "no, i could make some with fisherman twine. decorate 'em. it'll be really cute with tiny seashells and beads." i say, barely holding back my laughter. "oh my god, i take it back." daryl groans, but there's a hint of a smile on his lips. "no, what's your favourite color? blue? green? black. definitely black." i continue, pointing at his fully black outfit, the amusement clear in my voice. "i got an idea. what if we sit here and not talk?" daryl suggests, and i can't help but smile at the exasperation in his tone.

i nod slightly, and for a moment, the woods fall silent around us. the tension eases just a bit, the peace of the forest seeping into the cracks between us. "should we make a matching collar for dog?" i ask, breaking the silence with a laugh. daryl looks over at me, smirking, and shakes his head. he plays around with the grass and twine in his hand, the small, thoughtful gesture pulling at something deep inside me. the quiet returns, more comfortable this time, and i find myself sighing, the weight of everything pressing down once again.

"daryl?" i ask, my voice softer now. "hmm?" he responds, a noncommittal sound that tells me he's listening, even if he doesn't want to admit it. "you ever wonder if this is all we got? just run into people, kill each other until whoever's left says enough?" i ask, the question hanging heavy in the air. "sometimes i think we're just survivin' one fight to the next." he answers, his voice low, thoughtful. i pause, the idea that's been festering in the back of my mind pushing its way to the front. "leave with me."

daryl looks at me, surprised by the suggestion. "just run away together?" he asks, a slight scoff in his voice, like he can't believe i'm serious. "be adventurous, hell yeah." i say, a small smile creeping onto my lips. "new mexico." he says after a moment, the words rolling off his tongue like a half-formed thought. i raise an eyebrow. "what the hell's in new mexico?" "people who weave bracelets." daryl answers with a straight face, and i can't help but laugh, playfully hitting his shoulder.

"no more fighting. just get on the bike and go." he says, and to my surprise, he hands me a small bracelet twisted together from the grass and twine he'd been fiddling with. it's simple, but there's something about it that tugs at my heart. "sounds good to me." i reply, slipping the bracelet onto my wrist.

before the moment can settle, the woods are shattered by a deafening explosion. the ground shakes beneath us, and the sky is lit up with a fiery glow in the distance. the shockwave hits, sending a flock of birds screeching into the sky, and all i can think is that whatever just happened, it's going to change everything. "what the hell was that?" i shout over the ringing in my ears, my heart pounding in my chest.

he's already on his feet, scanning the horizon, his face set in grim determination. "we need to go back, now." he says, grabbing my arm and pulling me toward the bike. as we race back to the bike, the adrenaline surges through my veins, the fear and uncertainty gnawing at my insides. whatever just exploded out there, it's bad. really bad.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

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