Chapter Text
The arrow was poised at aim, ready to fly through its next victim as quick as Daryl could squeeze the bow's trigger. For the past few days, he had been tracking a doe and he had finally found it as the sun began to reach its noon peak, the few rays of light slipping through the foliage to lead the doe's way through the trees. His eyes gently narrowed as his focus stilled on his prey, analyzing each step, each swivel of the animal's head as it moved from one leaf to the next.
With slow deliberation, Daryl raised his bow and aimed. He sat with his bow pointed at target for moments as the animal grazed on the small patch of food it had found on the forest floor. He could feel the relaxation of the forest in his muscles as a small bead of sweat rolled down the back of his neck. His mouth tightened at the feeling of it, fighting his instinct to wipe it away so he could keep shooting composure long enough to properly squeeze the trigger and watch the doe fall with a gentle thump. Finally wiping away the moisture from his skin, Daryl could feel the relaxation of the wood take over him again.
As quickly and calmly as he could, he collected the doe and headed back towards the group with it on his back, rope tugging at his neck with each step he took. Moments like this made him wish he had brought one of the vehicles for the journey back even though he knew it would make his hunting that much harder than it already was. His contempt grew between the alternating bumps of the doe on his back and the squirrels hanging from his back pocket.
The prison was a welcoming site-- a feeling he had yet to get over-- though the scenery was much stranger now that others were now buzzing about the yard with his family. Thoughts like that often struck his hidden heart as flashbacks of Merle's white-washed eyes stared at him hungrily, his brother's body coming closer with intent on eating him. Just as quick as the feeling came, Daryl pushed it down to a place he wouldn't be able to find it again.
Daryl raised his arm and waved to show whoever was on watch that it was just him coming out of the treeline-- that he was still alive and with them. While the food in the prison was still in stock, the new additions were sure to deplete it faster than anticipated; he would have to start teaching some of them how to hunt without being eaten. He would have to teach them-- some from scratch, some of whom were strangers to him-- and he felt the distaste for the work already. He didn't like it, but he would do it because it was the only way it would be done right and he knew that much.
"How'd it go?" Carl asked as he pulled the gate back closed before any of the Walkers were able to get through. Daryl looked at him and then looked at the area where he saw the Woodbury children playing earlier.
He shrugged as he pulled the rope from over his back. "Didn't notice anythin' funny. Not a lot a Walkers out there neither," was all he said, his grunt losing its grit as he felt the doe's weight fall away. He could feel the tension in his back beginning to loosen, a kink revealing itself in his spine. "Anythin' int'restin' happen when I was gone?" Carl shook his head and leaned against the tower, his hat tipping towards his chin as the brim met building.
"I think we should go to Woodbury."
Daryl looked at him, his shock hidden beneath it. "Why you tellin' me?" The answer was harsh, but he knew the kid could handle it. Besides, what was he supposed to do about the kid's request?
"Doesn't it make sense? They had their own town so they must have some food there. They gotta have a few good weapons too, and if they don't have weapons, they may just have ammo. Wouldn't hurt to have it since we need them for the extra bodies."
Carl looked at Daryl, the man's eyes fixated at the dirt as he thought about it. After a few moments, Daryl turned back to the boy. "You brought this up to anyone, yet?" They didn't have to point out that they were thinking about Rick's reaction.
Carl looked out at the huddles of people dotting the front of the prison, some of the other kids running and laughing in play, some of the adults sitting down as they assessed the new situation. "I want back-up when I do. No sense of bringing a stupid idea right now." The older nodded before picking up his catch and bringing it up to the tombs.
That evening, he sat with the baby and watched her sleep, thinking about what Carl had said to him. Rick and Maggie had been off clearing blocks for the newcomers; a couple of the blocks that had already been cleared of Walkers were now being cleared of the dead prisoners who had been laying on the floor-- most of the Woodbury people had been assigned to that. Glenn was on look out and Carol sat below him on the first floor, patching some of the clothes that she had wanted to get to before the weather became cooler.
Would it be necessary to go there? To risk the lives for the chance of bringing back weapons and food? Of course it would be worth it. Who was he kidding? They took off on runs all the time for little shit, so why wouldn't something like this not be worth it? The bus was still in the prison yard and that would be more than enough protection from Walkers, plus plenty of space for a couple people to go along, and bring back a large load of equipment and whatever rations they could find. From what he remembered of the place, it was a nice enough of a fort to at least spend some time scavenging. As he thought about it more and more, the more it made sense for them to go. That is, until he thought about the Governor. Doubt lingered in his thoughts as the idea of another attack on the prison entered his mind.
Judy's gurgle pulled him out of his mind as she cooed for his attention. He smiled down at her, eyes lighting up as she looked up at him. His face collapsed as he finally smelled her diaper. He sighed and took her to the make-shift nursery and took care of the mess before handing her over to Carol and going outside to take over watch. Rick was sitting in the tower, his hands gripping the railing as he scanned the treeline with dead focus. As he heard the metal creak under Daryl's weight, he turned to the hunter. Without saying a word, Rick turned back to the skirts of forest. The two sat in silence, not looking at each other-- just watching without a sound.
"How's the patchwork comin' along?" Daryl finally asked, hoping to ease into the conversation a little more light-hearted so he could get a sense of what the other man was thinking before getting into the harder details.
"It's coming along, somewhat. Need some more materials to really rebuild it though, and I damn well know we ain't gonna find any mortar and bricks to rebuild here." The comment caught Daryl's attention, though he made no move to add on to the conversation. "I'm not sure where we'll really find them. Can't take the chance of searching for them."
The listener nodded before glancing at his knuckles surrounding the rail. His gaze finally shifted back to Rick, the latter filling up the former's peripheral. "The rebuildin' isn't the only thing we gotta worry 'bout. We're gonna run out of food faster."
Rick was silent for a moment before retorting that the group could hunt for deer and squirrel like Daryl had done earlier.
"Would take too long," Daryl shook gingerly, "plus, we don't have enough weapons for all of 'em. Even if we did, we don't have enough ammo." He could see Rick thinking, but he was sure that these thoughts were not new to the sheriff. "What if we have to move on? You saw us dwindle when he had a group only a portion o' this size: what would it be like if we actually had to move with all of 'em?" Rick's eyes met Daryl's with a blank coldness.
"What are you getting at?"
"I just think we need to discuss this stuff, y'know? Kinda prepare for it now that we have a little community growin'." The corner of Rick's mouth pulled back as his head bobbed up and down, his face falling parallel to the ground.
A moment of silence passed between the two. "You're right. We'll have to talk to some of the new guys-- you, me, Glenn, Hershel-- we'll all have to talk to them and see where they're at, mentally. Maybe come up with a couple plans." Rick's head had bobbed up to look at his comrade, the gaze darting between Daryl and the army of trees lit up by the moonlight. "We'll do it tomorrow evening, after supper. I'll talk to the others and tell them to keep their ears open about what they say."