Authors Note- This is my first FanFic. It is a Daryl/ OC story so if you don't like Daryl with OC DONT READ! ENJOY! R & R XX

Chapter One-

She seemed to glide as she walked over the dead leaves, she was graceful, deadly. Joelle looked at the sun setting quickly over the horizon, she quickened her pace. A rustle in a nearby bush caused her to stop and draw her dual swords. "If you're human come out and if you're dead, come out anyway" Joelle said, confidence rang in her voice.

Slowly a little blonde girl appeared out of the bushes, timid she walked closer to Joelle. Seeing it was only a child Joelle sheathed her swords "Are you bit or scratched?" the girl shook her head. Calmer now that she wouldn't have to put down the girl she moved on to the next question "Honey, where is your family?" but before she could reply a series of moans rang out.

Looking towards the sound Joelle saw roughly a dozen of the walking dead shambling towards them. On her own she could take them but not while protecting this little girl. "Come on we need to run!" taking the small girls hands they ran deeper into the forest.

After what was seemingly hours of running they came to a small hunting cottage with the windows boarded up. "Be quiet and stay behind me, okay?" keeping her eyes peeled for any signs of movement, Joelle entered the cottage with the girl right behind her. After finding nothing they shut the door and put the cupboard in front of it.

Leading the girl to the bed Joelle handed her a granola bar(she always kept one on her) "Eat up, then rest we can talk in the morning." The young girl had barley put her head on the pillow when sleep took her.

When the break out began Joelle Grimes was more than ready. Learning how to track and hunt while she was a scout and medic in the Army had given her huge advantage against the Walkers. Having also worked as a nurse at her local hospital for over last three years had also greatly increased her chances of survival. Over the months after the outbreak Joelle had acquired a number of weapons; three handguns, over a dozen knives and a pair of blue steel dual swords not to mention the bag of ammo, rifles and machine guns.

Joelle had missed people especially her family, she missed her older brothers Rick and Lucas she missed her twin sister Justine. God she missed her sister, who had been away with her fiancé traveling the country. She'd been looking for her since this whole thing started and had barley found a trace.

She'd left mostly all her supplies in her truck (on the highway) and with her bike, which was away from the highway and camouflaged but still the thought of someone getting their hands on her bike was terrifying, she'd go back there with the girl check out the truck and see if there was anyone there for that little girl.

The light filtered through the crack in the boarded up windows, waking Joelle from her light sleep, moving to sit up she realized she was being held down by a warm weight on her side. It took her a second to realize that it was the girl she'd found yesterday in the woods.

The girl stirred at Joelle's movement before clutching her tighter, "Mama!" she screeched crying out in her sleep. Clamping her hand over the girls mouth to keep her quiet, Joelle struggled to wake her up. "Come on now Sweetie wake up, please we have to go before more walkers come!"

That got the girl up, her big blue eyes opened wide "Do you remember me sweetie I saved you in the woods, my names Joelle. What's your name?"

"S-Sophia, my n-name is S-Sophia" she stumbled through the sentence.

Joelle couldn't help but smile at the girls innocence "Well Sophia I am going to help you find your people and I am going to keep you safe that is my promise. I give you my word."

It took them three days to make it back to the highway and it wasn't without trouble. With the growing number of walkers survival was becoming increasingly more difficult. However the more walkers the easier practice was to find for Sophia. They had practiced constantly both on real walkers and wooden targets (trees). By the time they reached the blocked highway Sophia was an excellent shot and didn't shy away from knives, she was no longer the defenseless little girl Joelle had found cowering in the trees.

The two made their way through the wreckages easily, when they came to the markers that Joelle had left she pulled Sophia closer to her side. Following the trail she had left herself Joelle and Sophia came to a black clearing no signs of the truck anywhere. "Shit, where the hell is it!" Joelle mumbled a string of curses she hoped Sophia didn't hear. Lucky I hid the ammo and my bike somewhere else Joelle thought.

They then headed in the direction of the bike and were happy to find the bike and some of the supplies, clothes, weapons and ammo hidden under the tarp. Taking the clothes Joelle sorted through until she found what she was looking for a pair of skinny jeans, a pair of black boots and a checkered shirt all in Sophia's size. "Here Honey, your clothes are getting a bit dirty. These ones will protect you better and will keep you warmer."

Sophia changed quickly and Joelle gave her a hair tie to pull her short golden locks into a small ponytail. Looking around Joelle thought for a short second before looking up. "Sophia, sweetheart we're going to have to sleep in the trees tonight is that okay?"

Sophia nodded, and started to climb a sturdy looking tree Joelle climbing up after her a large bundle of rope in her arms. Once they were both comfortable Joelle tied them to the tree's trunk before falling into a restless sleep.

Hands ripped through her clothing, bruising her, pulling her to pieces. A cold blade pressed to her the skin at her shoulders before tearing through the thin flesh. She tried to scream but the gag around her mouth made breathing near impossible let alone screaming.

She could feel and the man entered her ripping up her core, scarring her. Then he was gone and she looking into familiar cold blue eyes, he gave her a smile. "Sorry it took so long to save you. Remember your promise Little Firecracker"

With a gasp Joelle woke from her nightmare, she was cold and realized she was dripping with sweat, "Joelle are you okay? You kept crying no, no, no in your sleep." Sophia's soft voice whispered.

Shit Sophia had heard that. "I'm okay sweetheart just a bad dream. Come on lets go find your group"