𝕃𝕠𝕧𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝔽𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 | Daryl Dixon

11 | FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS

"Everybody takes a weapon," Rick said as he unveiled a whole case of hatchets, blades, and other tools.

It was early the next morning, and the entire group was getting ready to head out on the search to find Sophia. The only ones staying behind were Dale and T-Dog, the latter still suffering pain from the deep laceration on his arm.

Tori stepped forward first, picking up a large knife. The blade was almost the same length as her forearm, and the black metal was sleek and sharp. A small section of the edge was serrated, and the tip of the blade was slightly curved, kind of like a small sword. Perfect for trapsing around in the unfamiliar woods. She glanced over to Glenn, who had picked up a different weapon, looking at it like it was the coolest thing he'd ever seen.

"These aren't the kind of weapons we need," Andrea frowned, her hand on her hip. "What about the guns?"

Dale had chosen to take hold of Andrea's gun as well as Tori's since the CDC. Where Tori had accepted the situation, Andrea was more than unhappy, wanting her weapon back, and making that point very clear to everyone.

"Ain't we been over that?" Shane raised an eyebrow at the blonde. "Daryl, Rick, and I are carrying. Can't have people poppin' off rounds every time a tree rustles."

"It's not the trees I'm worried about," Andrea mumbled under her breath.

Bored of the conversation, Shane spoke louder. "Say, somebody fires at the wrong moment, herd happens to be passin' by. See, then it's game over for all of us. So, you need to get over it."

Andrea glared at him, rolling her eyes, and admitting defeat as she took a weapon from the car hood.

"The idea is to take the creek up about five miles," Daryl went over the plan. "Then turn around, come back down the other side. Chances are, she'll be by the creek. That's her only landmark."

"Stay quiet, stay sharp," Rick spoke up. "Keep space between you but always stay within sight of each other."

With a few of the others, Tori went over the inventory of food supplies they had set up, taking a couple of things to put in her rucksack. She took a full water bottle and a couple of snacks, only taking the bare minimum she may need. She tucked the blade of her new knife into the side pocket of her bag, cutting a hole in the fabric, so the blade would sit in it comfortably and be easy to grab.

As they were about to leave, everyone was suddenly silent apart from Andrea, who was talking to Dale with a whimper in her voice, hurt and anger behind her tearful eyes.

"If I decided I had nothing left to live for, who the hell are you to tell me otherwise?" she snapped. "To force my hand like that. I wanted to die my way. Not torn apart by drooling freaks – that was my choice. You took that from me." Dale was pleading with her, but she went on, holding back tears as she argued with him.

Tori was too busy listening to Andrea to notice that there was a set of steel blue eyes watching the back of her head. Daryl perched on the hood of the car as he stared at the brunette, Andrea's words hitting a nerve with him. The cases were a little different – Dale refused to leave the CDC unless Andrea did, whilst Daryl convinced Tori into changing her mind.

He didn't regret going back for her, and he knew she'd told him that she was grateful. He had to wonder if Tori felt any resentment for what he did, going back for her, taking her choice away the way Dale had done to Andrea.

Andrea walked away from Dale once she'd said all she had to say, leaving the older man close to crying as she stormed off ahead of the others. Tori had to wipe her eyes, not even realising she'd teared up before following after the blonde, the rest of the group right behind her.