Author's Note:

It's that time of the year again people. The sequel is finally here :)

Like the last one, I'll be posting a chapter every weekday around noon-ish my time, leading up to season 4.

What else should be here... oh, right. This fanfic is based mainly on the tv show plot line with additions from the comics, the Telltale video game, and my brain. All the canon characters and plot line's don't belong to me, I'm just borrowing them. Koodos to Robert Kirkman for the awesome comics.

And, like always, I'll give you guys a general warning of language, violence, and adult situations. Other than that, enjoy :)

Shadows of the Forgotten

Chapter 1 - Separation

I had always been someone who put others first, yet I hadn't expected the extent of my generosity. Standing in the middle of a field full of flesh eating corpses wasn't exactly how I had planned the apocalypse to turn out, but there I was, being the hero.

It was a bitter thought, knowing you had finally found people that you've come to love, only for them to be taken away so easily. They had become like a family to me- no, they were family. Rick, Glenn, Andrea, Dale, even Tyreese- all of them were family to me.

Then there was Daryl, the asshole redneck that wouldn't give you the time of day unless you had something worthwhile for him. He had become something more than just family, something more than I would have ever thought possible for someone like him. My raison d'etre.

Before I made the connection with him, I was just surviving, getting through each day without being eaten alive. It wasn't untill he, of all people, told me off, telling me to look on the bright side of things that I finally started living. If I hadn't been there when he said it, I wouldn't have believed it, but it had happened and it had helped more than he would ever know.

Now I had something to fight for- people to live for- and I wasn't going to give up. I may have lost them permanently, but I was damn well going to keep going until I knew for sure.

Even as my legs screamed at me for a break and my arms refused to lift my blades, I still kept running. There were walkers at every turn I made, reaching out with their decomposing arms to grab me and tear into my flesh. For each one I killed, it felt like two more appeared. I kept running though, even as they chased after me hungrily. If not for the walkers' endurance I could have gotten clear of them and rested, but they kept after me relentlessly.

I cursed under my breath as my foot caught on a root and I fell forward into the dirt, one of my blades digging into my side. I didn't move- couldn't move. My body was beyond exhausted and no amount of will could get me up. Maybe this was it. An end to the nightmare we've all been living- a way out. When I looked at it that way, it made things easier. I wouldn't have to run anymore, wouldn't have to fight, and I wouldn't have to mourn the death of my friends as they perished on by one.

The hell'd I say 'bout thinkin' like that, Blondie? Daryl's voice scolded. You best cut that shit out.

I shut my eyes quickly, not wanting to see the image of him my mind wanted so badly to create.

"Stop calling me 'Blondie'," I muttered.

I felt my chest tighten as his chuckling filled my ears. You know I only call you that when others are 'round.

I opened my eyes, checking for anyone, but I was alone. No walkers, no people, just me... And Daryl.

So you're givin' up, huh? He asked, crouching down beside me.

"I'm not..."

Don't gimme that crap, he snapped. You promised, so get off your ass.

With a grunt, I tried to pull myself up, wincing at how sore my muscles were.

Atta girl.

The roads were littered with walkers as the remaining survivors made their way to the highway. They had been separated into different vehicles, going down different roads, but their destinations were all the same. The spot where they had encountered the first horde was a spot everyone knew and that everyone would head to. Rick, Carl, and Hershel had been the first there, but they had no idea if the others would show up or if they were even still alive.

"We have to go back for mom," Carl instructed anxiously. "We can't leave without her."

Looking down at his son, Rick had to push back his desire to agree and hop back into the car. He had seen the other survivors in their vehicles and he knew they were out there somewhere. The only problem was that the odds of finding them weren't looking too good.

"Carl, it's not safe..." Rick explained. "We have to-"

The revving of a motorcycle cut him short and he looked up quickly, watching as Daryl's bike came into view. The three of them exchanged smiles, each one growing wider as more vehicles pulled in behind him, coming to a stop around the trio.

"Mom!"

Carl ran forward and hugged Lori closely as Rick walked forward to join them. Many of the others ran to embrace each other, but there were a few that looked around frantically for their missing friends and family.

Daryl knew Riley wouldn't be there, yet he couldn't help the feeling of loss and anger. He had left her there alone, waiting to die at the hands of the walkers and he was pissed at himself for letting that happen.

"Where's Riley?"

Aleah's question made Daryl's body tense and he gripped onto the strap of his crossbow.

"She stayed behind so Daryl and I could escape," Carol sobbed, holding Sophia in her arms.

Aleah's gaze immediately turned to Daryl, her eyes narrowing. "You left her there? What the hell's wrong with you?"

It took all of his willpower not to yell at her or start a fight.

"And Andrea?" Glenn piped up.

The sounds of their voices fell faint as Daryl stood there, his hands in tight fists. It was his fault she wasn't here, his fault she was probably dead. He should have let her and Carol on the bike and stayed there instead. She was the only one who made him feel like more than a useless no good. She was the only one that loved him and more than that, she was the only one that he loved.

Without a word, he marched back to his bike, intent on going back for her.

"Daryl, what are you-"

Rick had taken a step infront of Daryl, but the southerner just pushed him to the side.

"She's still out there," he growled as he turned his bike around. "I'm goin' back."

"You can't, it's not safe," Carol pleaded.

"So we jus' leave 'er there?" He shouted, turning to point an accusing finger at the woman. "She threw 'er life on the line for us and you expect me to jus' leave 'er there?!"

Carol immediately backed down, leaving Daryl to mount his bike.

"Daryl, you're not going," Rick ordered firmly.

The comment earned a glare from Daryl, but he didn't get off the bike.

"Daryl."

As soon as the engine revved, Tyreese stepped forward and grabbed Daryl by the collar before throwing him off the bike. Daryl was quick to retaliate and threw a punch across Tyreese's face. Within moments, the two were in a full out fist fight. Punches were thrown an received by both before Rick could even step forward and pull Daryl back.

"That's enough, Daryl!" Rick shouted. "She's either somewhere else or she's dead! Andrea too. Going back won't help."

Daryl pulled free of his hold and glared at Rick, fighting to control his anger. First, he had lost his brother in this mess and now Riley. What's more, he didn't know where either of them were or if they were even still alive. He had to stop looking for Merle because of the group, and now he wouldn't even have the chance to look for Riley. Just thinking about it was pushing him over the edge.

With a frustrated shout, he kicked a nearby car and stormed off with his crossbow. He couldn't take it anymore. How could they just give up on her like that? His brother, he understood, but Riley, why the hell wouldn't they go looking for her?

"Daryl...?"

He didn't turn around as Aleah followed behind him, her limp evident in the sounds of her footsteps. He didn't want to talk to anyone and he certainly didn't want to see the accusing look in her eyes.

"Hey, I'm sorry for yelling at you. It's not your fault," she told him, her voice low. "I know how she gets and she wouldn't have let it happen any other way."

He stayed quiet, his breath heavy and his fists tight.

"It's not your fau-"

"The hell it isn't!" He shot back at her.

He spun around and closed the distance between them, hoping to scare her off. "You heard Carol, we left 'er there to get killed so we could survive! She's fuckin' gone!"

Aleah flinched back slightly, watching cautiously as Daryl's shoulders raised and lowered with each ragged breath. She knew he cared for her and he wouldn't have wanted to leave her, but she also knew that her best friend wouldn't have allowed Daryl to die before her.

Tears started forming in her eyes as they stood there in silence. She knew how he felt- they both lost someone that they cared for, someone that they both loved.

Daryl turned away suddenly, but she had seen it. His eyes were red and as hard as he tried to hide it, she had seen the tear that streaked down his cheek.

Without a word, Aleah stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Daryl's waist. He had tensed instantly at the contact, but he hadn't spun around to retaliate as she had expected. It was obvious Daryl wouldn't talk things out, or ask for comfort, but she knew he was hurting and that he needed this. Hell, she needed it too.

Footnote:

Man, it feels good to be back :P

Hopefully everyone enjoyed the first chapter. It's a little on the short side, but they'll get longer as I go. Let me know how you liked it and let me know who's back. I miss hearing from everyone :)