"We've got company!" Glenn yelled down from atop the RV and kept his binoculars trained on the approaching figure.

Dale climbed up the ladder of the RV to join Glenn. "A walker?"

"I don't think so. I think they're riding a bicycle. Walkers don't ride bikes right?"

"Not as far as we know son, though I don't rule much out these days."

Glenn handed the binoculars to Dale and shouted down to Rick and Shane who were looking expectantly up at him. "Doesn't look like a walker guys. I think it's a woman. Looks like she has a dog with her."

Rick and Shane took off to meet the woman. They jogged with their weapons in their hands, just in case. The woman saw them coming, dismounted from the bike and began to walk it alongside her. A large German Shepherd tailed her.

The woman stopped a few feet from Rick and Shane and held up her hands defensively. The dog stepped in front of her and stood protectively between her and the strangers. "Hey, hey. I'm human."

Rick nodded but kept his grip on his gun. "We can see that. Are you with other people?"

The woman shook her head. "Nope. I was with a few people, in the beginning, but they were bitten and...well...I've been out on my own. You're the first people I've seen in weeks."

Shane squinted at the woman suspiciously. "How'd you find us?"

"I heard the shooting coming from this direction a few days back. I figured that it had to mean people, maybe a safe place. Were you attacked?"

"Something like that" Shane murmured and spat on the ground next to him.

"You bit?" he demanded.

"No. I'm fine."

Rick nodded. "Looks like it, though I hope you won't take offense to us asking one of the women in camp to verify it. Can't be too safe these days."

"No problem. I understand."

Rick clicked the safety back on and tucked the gun into his belt. He took a step towards her and the dog growled. The woman held up her hand to Rick to signal him to wait. "Emily. Sit."

She patted the dog's neck and spoke quietly to the dog. "Good girl. It's okay" She looked up at Rick and smiled. "Sorry about that. She's protective."

"Smart dog" Rick held out his hand. "Rick Grimes. This here is Shane Walsh."

She took Rick's hand and shook it. "Jane March." Shane stepped up to offer his hand and she shook it as well. She patted the side of the dog. "This beast is Emily."

"Nice to meet you both" said Rick. "Would you like to come meet the rest of the group? You arrived during lunch and we've got some food to spare if you're hungry."

Jane's face lit up but she quickly bit back her smile. "I could eat" she said nonchalantly. She patted Emily and the dog stood. Rick and Shane began to walk back towards the RV and Jane fell in step with them, walking the bike as Emily trailed behind at her heels.

'Is this your place?" Jane asked.

Rick answered in his calm southern drawl. "This farm belongs to a man named Hershel and his family. They're letting us stay here for a bit. The area is pretty free of walkers. Safest place we've been since this started."

"What was all the shooting the other day then? Roamers?"

Shane snorted. "Kind of. Hershel had walkers in his barn, his people. He thought they were sick and was waitin' on a cure. We had to deal with the situation. Wasn't pretty."

"Jesus" Jane shuddered. "Living that close to walkers..."

They walked past a few parked vehicles and reached the RV and a circle of tents underneath a cluster of trees. Jane laid her bike down on its side. The other members of Rick and Shane's group were all standing around nervously.

Jane felt her stomach clench. She always hated meeting new people, and since the world had gone to hell strangers brought a new level of uncertainty. She'd mostly opted to steer clear of other folks since this started, hiding when she heard voices or cars on the road. She took a deep breath and ran through her options, a calming technique she used when she was scared and needed to focus. She had could run or she could fight if things didn't go well. She had weapons and Emily but she knew she was still at a disadvantage.

Emily. That brought Jane out of her thoughts. This many people would overwhelm Emily. Jane grabbed Emily's collar and leaned close to the dog's erect ear. "It's okay baby girl. We're okay. Sit." The dog obeyed, but maintained an upright stance and kept her eyes on the strangers. Jane felt a surge of love for this dog, her companion and protector.

Rick spoke. "This is Jane March. She's on her own. She heard..." He lowered his head for a beat and then went on. "She heard the shooting from the barn and found us."

An older man with bushy eyebrows wearing a bucket hat stepped forward first and offered his hand. "I'm Dale. It's nice to meet someone new. Welcome."

An Asian boy who looked to be in his mid-twenties was next. He was wearing a faded baseball cap and had an eager face. He shook Jane's hand gently but firmly. "Glenn."

"Nice to meet you Glenn."

A tall thin woman with brown hair stood with her arms over the shoulders of a small boy wearing a sheriff's hat that fell into his eyes. "I'm Lori, Rick's wife, and this is our son Carl." Jane smiled and nodded. "Hello."

The blond woman standing next to Lori didn't offer her hand. "I'm Andrea." The man pacing behind Andrea met Jane's eyes briefly and mumbled. "Daryl."

Okay, Jane thought, those two aren't interested in making friends. Fair enough.

Rick cleared his throat. "There's also Carol. She's inside the house. Her...her daughter was...missing and the other day...in the barn." He swallowed hard and looked down. Lori moved to his side and took his hand. She looked at Carl and then met Jane's eyes. "She's no longer with us."

Jane put her hand to her mouth and looked towards the large farmhouse. "Oh God" she whispered. "I'm so sorry." There was a long solemn silence.

Carl interrupted the stillness with his small voice. "Is that your dog?"

Jane leaned down and put her hand on the dog's head. "This is Emily. We found each other in Atlanta. She's not exactly my dog but we stick together. You can pet her if you want."

Carl looked up at Lori. "Mom?"

Lori smiled. "Go ahead. Just listen to Jane if she tells you not to do something. Be gentle."

Jane smiled at the boy. "Hold out your hand first so she can smell you." Carl held his hand out and Emily licked it gently. He grinned and rubbed his hand in the dog's neck fur. Shane spoke in a gruff voice. "That dog make a lot of noise? Not a good idea to let her stay here if she does."

Jane shook her head. "No. She rarely barks. She can smell walkers long before I can hear them. She's smart and a good guard dog. She looks out for me."

"Lori" Rick asked. "Do we have any lunch left? I promised Jane some food."