It was meant to be a quick run in a small grocery store in the middle of nowhere, though truthfully it was just Daryl’s way of getting the hell out of Alexandria for a while. He still isn’t used to that community. He’s not even sure he trusts any of those people, with the exception of Aaron. That guy’s got a good head on his shoulders, but Daryl doesn’t know enough about him to truly trust him. Well, that short run has turned into him standing across a walker.

Or at least that’s what he thinks it is.

He had crossed into an aisle and spotted a walker standing there. His crossbow had immediately locked onto them but his finger didn’t press the trigger. Something made him pause. It had turned to look at him but for reasons he doesn’t understand, it didn’t immediately start groaning and coming towards him. Instead it just… stood there. Maybe Daryl’s an idiot but there was something almost human in their eyes as they stared. So he didn’t shoot.

He prodded at it slightly with his crossbow but that just seemed to make the walker’s fascination grow, though not in the typical sense. Instead of trying to dig into his skin and eat his flesh, it stares at him the way a lovesick puppy does. It’s off putting. It’s still off putting as he watches it from where he’s leaning against one of the metal shelves that stores food that’s gone bad a millennia ago.

“Dunno what t’do with ya,” Daryl grumbles, staring at the walker as it absentmindedly looks around. He could kill it or just leave it there but a part of him doesn’t want to leave it to die. Though that would mean taking it back home, and that’s not an option either. The mere thought of trying to explain this to Rick makes him grimace.

It feels so human to him even though there’s a very obvious bite mark on its arm. It’s a walker. No doubt. Perhaps the disease didn’t quite affect all of them though. He swears it can even understand what he’s saying at times. Creepy. “Can’t take ya with me,” he adds, which earns him a glance. Maybe there’s something wrong with him.