We’re above the ground but under the stars
She certainly had no plans of it either. Carol could see him fighting with himself. It may not have been too obvious, but even just the simple fact that Daryl wasn’t walking away right now, well, it meant a world of difference. He could have left at any moment. He had every opportunity to. Yet, he hadn’t, not yet anyway. He stayed to explain himself, as best as Daryl could considering how difficult it was for most of them to talk emotion after everything. And his reasoning, he couldn’t be blamed for. She felt the same too. Every trivial and useless conversation she had with the other housewives just made the fact that no one was prepared more and more prominent. One break in those walls they trusted so much and they all would fall. No one wanted to see that.
However, that problem was not for now. The wall would hold. They would be safe. Daryl being alone was the bigger problem. Not that he couldn’t handle himself or survive. Carol was certain he’d be fine. However, what was the point of surviving, just for the sake of surviving? It had molded and twisted the people in their group already, so that when they tried to fit back in to a proper society, fit in to Alexandria, it was like fitting a bunch of square pegs into a round hole. Eventually, their rougher angles were chipped down, but it took time, it took work.
Daryl was so close. Carol could see it. Somehow, Eric and Aaron had helped, managed to find a crack that everyone had overlooked and split him open a bit. Now, seeing him walk away, it would undo it. He’d close right back up and this time, no one would be able to get in. So, as Carol saw it, there was only one choice.
“Don’t you think for one moment I’m letting you go alone, Daryl Dixon,” she said in a hard and determined tone. Quickly, she knelt slightly, reaching into her boot and drawing out her knife. Her fingers worked into the brace knuckles, the cold metal welcoming her back. No hesitation was had in Carol as she walked forward and bumped Daryl’s shoulder playfully. “Think you can keep up?”
She took the lead now. She followed the trail he had set, going the direction he had picked, with only one slight trail off to a tree. There was nothing to special about it, just a random tree out in the woods. The only things that set it apart were the X carved low into the trunk and one particularly low branch. Carol put her foot up on that branch and pulled herself up by stabbing her blade into the tree trunk. It took a moment, before she managed to pull down a large backpack, letting it drop to the ground. She stepped down quickly and stooped to rummage through it, speaking out her plan as she did. “This should get us by for the first week. Maybe a little more if we space it out right, but she ,” she answered as she pulled the zipper back and fished a small pistol out of a front pocket.
As Carol slipped the gun into the back of her belt, she straightened and faced Daryl full on. “You’re not going anywhere alone. I’ve been keeping this little nest egg just in case something should come up. Looks like now is the time to use it. But the only way you’re getting these supplies is if I go with you. And you’re going to want what I packed.” She stooped one last time, digging in a side pocket and pulling out a lighter and a lone pack of cigarettes. She flashed it to him, before slipping it back in.
“So, what do you say? We leaving this place? Or are you?”
She uses his full name with force and he just watches her - admires her really - and huffs the slightest when she bumps into his shoulder. Still, Daryl is thankful for the night that she can’t see his lips turn into a smile. “Yes ma’am,” he mocks, but is soon to follow quickly behind her as she leads them down a path ( the way he wanted to go ) and stops at a tree. He should have known she’d be ready for a time like this, and when the bag falls from the branch he just shakes his head. Perhaps Alexandria wasn’t home to her after all.
He finds the item she shows to him, a pack of smokes and a light, and he reaches down and grabs one with a nod. “I should’a figured you’d be ready to leave this place.” He takes the cigarette from his pack and puts it between his lips, tastes it, before placing it back into it’s box and into the pocket of his vest. He mutters a thank you, offers a hand to carry the bag.
“Well I don’t think I really go’ a choice in the matter. We’re leaving this place.” There’s a slight pause. “Together.” When Carol keeps hold of the bag, he just brushes passed her lightly and begins to follow the trail where he had planned. Up town a few ways, restless from that place. A moment passes and he genuinely worries about the others but know they can fend for themselves... he just cant’t let himself go. She understands better than anyone.
“How long you think we got until they realize we’re missing?” It’s not really a concern, and he already knows the answer himself. He’s just making a bit of small talk as they travel down the path, though still listening to the sound of walkers or human feet all around. He figures they’d miss Carol first, her witty conversations with the housewives and the cooking ideas she’d pass. They’d probably suspect him to be out doing his thing or maybe with Aaron ( and sadly, it’ll probably be Aaron to know he’s missing. ) Who’d look for them? Or would they let them be.
