paradisalogs | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Who: Daryl Dixon (

squirrelhunter), Carol Peletier (

losteveryone), Katniss Everdeen (

the_effect_she_has)
What: Finding a missing redneck
When: 3rd.
Where: Deep in the forest.
Rating: Certificate 15 for swearing.

Daryl Dixon hasn't been seen since the night he accidentally shot Katniss, and he was last seen disappearing into the forest. His camp is deserted, the fire burned out and the trash cleaned up, but there's no sign of Daryl.

A talented hunter would be able to follow the trail, but it's clear that he doesn't want to be found. His tracks are expertly hidden, and there's barely any signs

...Good luck.

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Now isn't it a lucky thing that Katniss Everdeen is a talented hunter?

She'd gotten out of the hospital, her shoulder all but completely healed thanks to Ino, and went to find Daryl as soon as she could talk everyone into letting her out. Daryl was her ... whatever-he-was.

Eh. They'd worry about the emotional stuff later.

She was more worried the idiot had drank himself into a stupor.

So there she was at his camp, carefully going around the sight, until she found a trod patch of grass -- boot-sized - about half a dozen meters from his actual site.

Then she started really tracking.

Carol on the other hand isn't exactly the best tracker in the world. Okay, she's completely terrible and has no experience in the slightest. She been busy the last few days with her new job at the candy store and everything that she hadn't gotten a proper chance to go and visit Daryl.

She had heard about the incident in the woods with Katniss though. She doesn't know Katniss but she does know Daryl and she's worried about the same thing Katniss is. That Daryl had gone through all the alcohol she had supplied him with not too long ago.

So, she heads to his camp to look for him because where else would he be but by his tree. She frowns though as she finds the camp deserted and she looks around for him. She wanders, calling his name though she doesn't move far from the camp since mentioned before she's not exactly the best hunter. She wouldn't even know where to start.

"Daryl? Daryl are you around here?"

Katniss drew an arrow and her bow without even thinking about it when she heard someone calling out Daryl's name behind her. She crouched into the woods, moving slowly through the brush until ...

Well. Until she saw someone who looked like a mom. A real mom, not like hers tried to be. Worn with care, warm with feeling, soft and a little unsure of herself.

Hellfire, what the hell was this woman doing out in the woods alone?

Katniss purposefully stepped on a branch, to make her presence known, before stepping out into the open where the woman could see her. "Who are you, and what do you want with Daryl?"

Hearing no answer from anyone she's starting to feel a little more anxious. She takes a deep breath and stops moving, simply talking to herself and trying to reassure herself that everything's okay. Of course it is. This is Daryl we're talking about, he can take care of himself.

She hears the branch snap under someone's foot and her heart leaps in her chest. She turns quickly towards the sound, wondering who it could be and hoping that it's Daryl and she doesn't have to search anymore.

...No, it's definitely not Daryl. It's a young woman holding a bow and arrow. When she speaks her voice is quiet and wary.

"My name is Carol. I'm a....friend of Daryl's from our home. I came to see if he was okay but his camp's deserted. Do you have any idea where he is?"

"Oh." She muttered, lowing her arrow and shooting arm, before she shook her head, giving another look around. "I came out to make sure he was all right. I'm Katniss."

She eyed the woods around him again, before looking back at Carol. "You can come with me, if you want. I was just starting to track him."

She relaxes a little when she lowers her arrow and nods her head at Katniss' words. She had heard but...oh, does that mean this is the girl that Daryl shot by accident? At least she's coming out here to see if he's okay. Carol will eye the woods too and nod her head.

"I'll come with you, if you don't mind. Thought unfortunately I'm no good at tracking so I'll be no help there." A pause, "So, it was you that Daryl hit by accident? How are you feeling?"

"I don't mind. I figure these woods are always safer in numbers." Twice as many watchers, after all. Katniss nods her head in the direction she was going. "I tracked him this way."

She paused, before entering the brush, to nod her head. "Yeah ...I snuck up on him because he pissed me off and scared off the game."

Then she steps into the bushes, leading herself and Carol down the path.

She starts to follow Katniss through the woods, keeping her eyes and ears open. Watching she can handle. She's certainly gotten used to watching her back and others that are with her. "These woods seem pretty safe to me...but then I guess that no where is really safe."

She nods at Katniss' story and she can only imagine how both of them must be feeling right now. "Yeah, he doesn't like people sneaking up on him that's for sure...as long as you're okay though that's what matters. And that we find Daryl."

"Not here. Never let your guard down here - not for a second." Katniss stated firmly, as she ducked low to peer at the ground. Yeah, that was a scuff mark from one of Daryl's boots. She nodded her head, "This way."

"Well, I don't like people scaring the game or shooting me - so we're even." She responded dryly, even though she felt that faint shift of embarrassment again. "I'm okay. I'm more worried about the stupid lunk."

"So I've been told by quite a few people actually." Daryl being one of them. She still has such a hard time believing that this place is such a threat, at least compared to what she had to deal with back in her own world. One day she will understand the gravity of her situation though. One day. Carol nods, "I'm glad to see he has people worrying about him."

There's a pause before Carol speaks again, "You seem to know a good bit about tracking. Did someone teach you?"

"Yeah, well, good lesson is always worth repeating."

She paused briefly at Carol's question, her lips pressing together briefly before she spoke quietly, "My father taught me when I was a girl - and then I learned from my friend Gale the finer points. I've been doing this since I was eight ... and I'm seventeen now."

She shrugged, standing up and leading the way through the brush. "Just seems like breathing now."

"I'll be sure to keep it in mind. I'm used to having to look out for myself and others."

She can tell that this girl isn't exactly used to opening up to people which she can understand so she's actually kind of grateful she managed to get this much out of her. Of course she won't ask any more questions about it though. "Wow, so it's kind of in your blood then. I wouldn't mind learning a little myself."

That's not her asking to be taught, it's just her expressing an interest.

She looked over at her, her gaze thoughtful.

"Yeah, you look like someone who has given time to other people." She hooked the bow over her shoulder, heading further into the forest. "I guess. I mean, my mother and my sister were healers, my father and I were hunters. Blood to blood, one way or the other."

Carol is finding it a little difficult to keep up with Katniss' pace but she's just about managing it. Damn, she needs to exercise more, she feels so unfit. She just hopes they find Daryl soon.

"Do I? In that case I match my appearance. Not sure if that's entirely a good thing though." She's joking of course, she likes to give her time to helping people among other things. "Both good skills to have. I have some skills in health care myself. I'm not an expert but I know enough."

Katniss slowed again to track the footsteps, kneeling down, brushing off dirt from a tree trunk to see the scuff marks there. She sighed, and shook her head. "I'm thinking he wasn't drinking, but he wasn't paying attention."

"You look like you're someone who cares. That means something, to the right people." She said quietly, and seriously. "So you know how to patch people up? He might need it."

Carol looks around the forest floor at the details that Katniss seems to be looking at and knows immediately she could never have those skills. It's clearly just not her. "Sounds plausible..." She's pretty sure he hadn't had alcohol since she brought him that whiskey but it's not like she keeps tabs on him all the time, he could have.

She nods her head but frowns a little at Katniss' comment, "Yeah, I can patch people up. I was taught a little on a farm I was staying at before coming here. Let's hope he doesn't need it..."

"I don't know what happened, but he's not steady on his feet, and he's not watching where he's stepping." Katniss pulled herself to her feet, and started walking deeper into the woods.

"I have a feeling he might need some patching. He's not bleeding, so that's good." She stated, glancing behind her. "Daryl doesn't talk much about his world, what you've had to face"

There's some rustling in the brush before, lo and behold, there is Daryl Dixon. He has his crossbow up, raised, but is only holding it in one hand, so the aim is unsteady.

There's an unsightly lump hanging about his shoulder and neck, where his collarbone is.

"Oh. It's you two." And he lowers his crossbow.

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