The word “safe haven” was just a myth to Daryl Dixon after what had just happened. It was just too much for him to take in at one time. Loss, devastation, turmoil… all of these words described what had just transpired. Firstly, seeing that Randall had become a walker without being bitten or scratched was unnerving. It did not make the slightest bit of sense, but, when did anything make sense now? Recalling the final events at the farmhouse, there must have been thousands of the walking dead roaming around the place. Rick and Carl did not understand what they had brought upon the group with one single gunshot. The situation was made even worse when the old man at the farm, Hershel Greene, seemed to dissent their idea of leaving and claimed that it was his farm and that he would die on it. Daryl was the only one who could stay calm enough to think. He was happy with that attribute he had- the ability to stay calm in a volatile situation.
The first order of business was rescuing Carl and Rick from the barn. Daryl led on his motorcycle and saw that the barn had went up in flames. It was definitely something of Rick’s doings. Even worse, Daryl felt like Jimmy’s death was on his head. He sent the young boy into Dale’s RV to try and save Rick but the sheriff and his son were able to jump on top of the RV and into the hunter Otis’ truck. Jimmy did not have the same fate, however, as the walkers broke through and killed the poor boy.
Daryl can’t quite recall how many different vehicles were used to escape the farm and he wasn’t even sure who had made it off until a while down the road. Carol had hitched a ride with him on his motorcycle and Daryl wasn’t hesitant at all on leaving the farm. Everything seemed so corrupt now and there were so many questions to be answered. Hell, he didn’t know if they had answers at all. Survival was the only thing that was important now, though, and the need to survive has driven him so far and it’s worked.
The reunion of the group somewhere along the highway was rather bittersweet. He found out that Shane, Jimmy, and Patricia were no longer alive. Carol, however, did say that there’s a chance that Andrea was alive. Even though that Daryl was probably the most distant member of the group, he was the first to volunteer to go look for her but Rick stopped him, telling him there was no way to find her. Reluctantly, he did not go because he knew that the man was right.
Later on, down some old country rode, the caravan was out of gas. Acting as the leader still, Rick said that they’d camp out along the road and scavenge in the morning. After some arguing – they always argue over something – it was finally agreed to do just that. A deep, dark secret though was revealed when Randall turning without being bitten or scratched was brought up. At the CDC, Dr. Jenner had told Rick that everyone is infected and everyone will turn unless the brain is destroyed.
That news about put Daryl over the edge. Even worse, Rick had not told anyone and the results could have been worse. Around the campfire, questions about Rick’s leadership lead to more arguments and hostility. Carol wanted Daryl to lead them as a “man of honor” but Daryl knew he was no leader, he just did his own thing, normally. Another secret was shown to the group, having heard that Shane staged the incident with Randall in an attempt to kill Rick, therefore, the sheriff had no choice. Following that, (surprise), more arguments, shouting, and just hostility in the group was seen on display. The group was in such turmoil. Rick offered anyone who wanted to leave to go on ahead and do so but there were no takers. After claiming that it was no longer a democracy, Rick walked off to do whatever it is that Rick does in his alone time. A bit later, Rick called Daryl over. Shane was dead now and that meant Rick needed another right-hand man. Daryl was the best suited for this job and gave him a curt nod. Rick confided in him that a structure was looming in the distance, a prison it seemed. It could be beneficial but before he moved his people, he wanted Daryl to check out the surroundings in the woods. It was just about to get dark so he needed to hurry and make sure they were not being watched.
Daryl soon started walking, deeper and deeper into the woods. He got a head count of everyone in his mind, just to keep track of everything and everyone. It was him, Rick, Lori, Carl, Glenn, Carol, T-Dog, Maggie, Hershel, and Beth. Ten survivors. Maybe eleven, Andrea was pending. It seemed like so much less though, it was a very difficult time for them.
Personally, he hated doing this but it was for the best. If there was some threat, he could warn his group. Like it had been noted by everyone, Daryl was the most distant person of the entire group of ten people, but he probably cared the most about every single person. He felt awful about the loss of the four, perhaps five people they suffered earlier that day. He did not know a couple of them for long at all, it had only been over a week since arriving to the farm.
The crunches of leaves and branches on his way was annoying him, thinking of how easy he could be spotted. Thankfully, he took slow and careful steps and was able to hear a commotion before anyone noticed him. Crouching against a tree that hid him with its limbs, he was able to see such a terrible sight. A blonde woman was laying on the ground with her hands tied and her feet tied. Her shirt was ripped open and she appeared to be bleeding around her face. He watched as one of the three men straddled her and pulled down her pants after seeing him unzip his own pants.
Daryl wanted to find a way out of this and help the woman. He noted the only weapon that was visible was a machete that was on the ground. The men were paying no attention to it though, all too focused on the sick “fun” they were having. Surprisingly selfless, Daryl would never leave a stranger to this kind of harm. He had to be one of the nicest people around the world now it seemed. People did awful things when faced with the task of survival.
Slowly moving to the edge of the tree line that hid him, he angled it perfectly and quickly stepped out right at the machete, stomping his foot on it so no one other than himself could retrieve it. His crossbow was loaded and aimed at the man’s skull whom was on the woman.
“You’ve got three seconds to get out of here or I will put an arrow in between your eyes.”
The hick looked quite intimidating to the man as he stood in the shadows. His hair was getting longer and his gruff beard was starting to show in patches on his face. Daryl was serious about this, too, and the look in his eyes showed it.
Of course, he didn’t want to kill anyone, but anyone who thinks raping is okay to do if there’s no laws stopping them deserved to be shot in his opinion. What if it was one of his members in the same situation? He would want someone to help.
“Who the hell is this?”
The fatter man snapped and looked at Daryl as the skinniest man that was pinning down the woman had now stood up. To show that there was no playing going on here, Daryl turned his crossbow on the fatter man and released it, hitting him in his left shoulder, right where he aimed it. His accuracy with that weapon was so deadly.
“What the fuck?!”
He shouted, doubled over in pain.
“I’m being generous. Leave now or the next one goes into your skull. All of you.”
Daryl spat back at them and watched them slowly back away, hands up as to show they had no weapons. Soon enough, the men disappeared into the trees and the shadows and the night engulfed them. Daryl stood there cautiously another few moments to make sure that they didn’t try anything slick or try to come back.
Once that was taken care of, he looked at the woman and laid down his crossbow.
“I’m not going to hurt you…”
The hick said in a surprising soft, caressing voice. That voice is something that no one would normally suspect to come from him. It was at the opposite end of the spectrum compared to the tone he just had with the men. Slowly, to show that he wasn’t going to hurt her, he knelt by the woman and took out his knife, cutting the ropes at her hands and then at her feet. He watched her for a moment before removing his own shirt and holding it out to her.
“Here…”
He commented simply, seeing that her shirt was ruined and knowing she would want to be covered, especially after this that just happened.