For Daryl Dixon [part 1]

You don't know nothin' (7)

It wasn't but three hours until we saw more people. We were following the railroad tracks in hopes to see someone. Once Daryl saw them he quickly pulled me along side him and into the woods out of site of the others. We watched them quietly together for a moment until I couldn't stand it anymore.

"Are we gonna do somethin'?" I finially whispered to him. He didn't look at me but shook his head no and kept walkin' into the woods and right past them. I followed him but no without stopping first to hear them talking. When Daryl noticed this he came back and waited with me. He knew there was no stoppin' me once I wanted to do somethin'.

"I don't think it will be safe Lana." A man said to a girl about my age.

The girl was tall and thin. She seemed aggravated with the man for speaking to her.

"Those people could be our only hope to survive." She said back. "They had a baby for Christ sakes."

As soon as she said this I felt Daryl move and rush towards the man and woman crossbow up. I quickly followed him, lifting my gun. I knew he wouldn't shoot him but he wanted information.

"Drop your weapons." He said to the strangers and they immediately did as he asked. "The group you saw with the baby, how far away did you see 'em?"

I watched the man twitch his hand towards his gun and Daryl shot an arrow at his feet. I stepped closer to the strangers and tightened my grip on my gun. This could go badly.

"About four miles west." The girl, Lana, pointed the way we were heading before we saw them. "Do you know them?"

I was about to speak when Daryl stepped in front of me and looked at the man. "How many were in the group."

"Two adults, two kids, and a baby." The man said not taking Daryl out of his site. The girl didn't seem on edge but relieved. She probably hadn't seen another human in awhile.

"It was a woman and a man. The two girls were hardly ten years old." The girl added. I felt bad for her. She seemed scared.

"Daryl. Put down your bow." I said and placed my hand on his arm. He kept his aim as it thinking about it. I went to grab their weapons and tossed them behind me. "We can have a conversation without you pointin' that thing at them."

Daryl nodded and took a step back lowering his bow but keeping it at his side. I looked to the girl. "Can you tell us more?"

"The woman seemed in her mid forties, short hair. The man was black and rather strong looking... and tall." She spoke quickly, hoping to gain our trust. "The little girls both had blonde hair and the baby was hardly one year old."

"A sick joke." The man spoke now.

"Russell." The girl said trying to silence him.

"You and I both know you have to be sadistic to bring a child into this hell." He explained.

"You don't know nothin'." Daryl said now aiming his bow at him again.

"Daryl." I said and pushed him back so only he could hear me. "It's Carol and Tyrese. They must have Lizzie and Mika. Judith too."

Daryl said nothing and didn't look away from Russell. I knew he was on guard. You can't trust anyone anymore.

"They were in a cabin." The girl offered, interrupting my thoughts.

"Thank you." I said to the girl and went to grab their weapons.

"What you doin' girl?" Daryl said as I went to hand them to Lana and Russell.

"They told us what you wanted." I said to him and then looked at Lana. "They won't do anything stupid." I waited for her to respond and she quickly nodded as I handed her gun back. "Thank you again." I started towards Daryl and grabbed my pack. He didn't move until Russell did. Russell slowly put his gun in his back pocket and Daryl followed me West. I stopped and turned to them again, "You're welcome to come with us." I could sense Daryl rolling his eyes as I offered. Russell said something to Lana and she just smiled.

"Thanks but were looking for someone too." She said and with that we went our separate ways.

I felt Daryl glance over atme as we headed towards the first glimmer of hope we had. I wasn't sure what he was thinking. Maybe that I was stupid for inviting strangers to come with us but he didn't say anything. Every time I glanced over at him and just looked away and pretended he wasn't. I smiled at this and imagined seeing Carol,Judith, Lizzie, Mika, Tyrese... eventually Maggie? No I couldn't get my hopes up. I would settle for facts. Those people had definitely described Carol and them. I could move forward knowing that.