04: Wake Up Call

[dirtyredneck]

THEY'RE IN THE CITY!

[Daryl didn't bother lowering his voice at first. This was something people needed to hear. After that quick shout came the sound of Daryl panting for breath and, somewhat distantly, his feet pounding alternately on pavement and mud. Static scrambled the feed for a second here and there when he had to duck under some overgrown plants while he ran. Eventually the sound of something sliding across gravel came and then all that could be heard was Daryl sucking a in a breath before he held it.

The silence that followed was broken by the groans and odd high-pitched whines of walkers converging on his location. Seconds stretched into minutes and Daryl barely allowed himself to breathe just to keep from making a sound. Only when the walkers had finally passed and were long gone did he speak again. This time in a hushed, cautious whisper.]

Not sure how they got in, but I found them in the south-west corner of the city. Near the wall. Didn't see any holes nearby, but I know there are some. Not sure I can make it back to the warehouse 'fore it gets dark, neither. Not without drawing them the-

[Daryl's voice cut off at the sound of glass breaking very close by. A muttered 'shit' was the last thing he said before he was once again off and running.]

Comments

[dirtyredneck]

[There's more scuffling and another hissed 'fucking shit!' before a loud grunt - like someone hitting the ground could be heard. And then Daryl was panting into the mic once again, his feet pounding the pavement as he huffed out in ragged bursts:]

Yeah. Trying to lose them. Got three runners on my ass.

[kickingand]

You need a hand?

[ Even if the answer is no, the answer is actually yes in Dean's mind. He's incapable of sitting on his ass while someone's getting hunted and if the most he can do is involve himself, then that's what he's gonna do. ]

[dirtyredneck]

[A year ago, Daryl might have said no. Now?]

You got anything you can peg them at distance with?

[He'd rather no one have to get up close and personal to help him deal with them, but he's not going to turn down help when he wasn't in a completely desperate situation. Yet.]

[kickingand]

What, you think I picked up a shotgun? [ Now really isn't the time for reeking of sarcasm, but bad habits are hard to break. ]

I've got fuck all except for a blade.

[dirtyredneck]

What, you cain't pick up a rock?

[Yes, hello, sarcasm. Meet sarcasm. Daryl kind of hates that he appreciates that levity at the moment. Why did he have to go and let himself like you again?]

Fine, get your ass down here. Where you coming from?

[Because unfortunately the majority of street signs had not survived. Cannibalized early on for weapons, probably. A lot of the posts were still around, but the signs themselves - hell anything that would make figuring out where they were - had gotten stripped away.]

Gonna try and get to a roof.

[kickingand]

[ Because he's just a likeable guy, obviously.

Dean would laugh if he was, y'know, not in the middle of booking it. He's not Cas and making it down the steps is a pain in the ass, but he's eventually out of the hotel, hitting the streets and.. not having a clue where he's supposed to go. ]

Good of a plan as any.

[ Give him a second to remember he's supposed to tell you where he is. Because, right okay, a little too focused on zombie lookout. ] I'm at the hotel- gimmie an idea of where i'm going, here.

[dirtyredneck]

Head toward the- hold on.

[Sorry for cutting it short, but Daryl kind of needs to slide across a car hood, get on the remains of a dumpster, and make a jump for an old rusted fire escape. The runners, fortunately, do not have quite the coordination needed to also slide across the hood. That gave Daryl about three more seconds than he'd otherwise have. Which gave him the time to get a hold of the fire escape and haul himself up. Because rusted and crusted with age as it was, that ladder was not going down to meet him.

He caught his breath on the first landing. It wasn't exactly trust worthy to hold him for long, but the runners couldn't get to him or the ladder. Not easily. They were trying to make the jump, though.]

Get to the warehouse and take a left at the first cross street right in front of the gates. Follow that road until you get to a five car pile up. It's past the three car one by about two blocks. Turn right and follow that street up four blocks, then take another left. There's an old fountain plaza. Tell me when you get there. I should be able to see you once I get to higher ground.

[kickingand]

[ Daryl, there is only so long that Dean can hold on for. He has the impatience of a small gnat - especially when bad shit's going down - and he can't exactly stand here and jump about. Though that's exactly what he does, starting to pace frantically while he 'holds on,' even if he understands entirely why he's waiting. Not like he hasn't put other people in the same exact position.

But oh, thank god, you've come back. With a rather impressively mapped out plan of where the hell he's supposed to be, leaving Dean slightly taken aback for a second at the specificity of it before he starts moving again. ]

Warehouse, left at first Cross street- you got it. Give me a couple minutes, i'll be there with the rocks.

[ See, he's funny, too. And on his way. ]

[dirtyredneck]

[The man is observant and has a good memory. Comes in handy with all the tracking and hunting he does. And, you know, making sure he knows his friends from his enemies.]

You got three. Unless I can get this fire escape to go crashing down.

[There's the distinct sound of metal straining from the weight on it.]

...not with me on it.

[He wants to rush on the climb further up, but he knows that will just make things worse. Unfortunately the runners are still trying for the bottom of the ladder and the last jump actually had their fingers touch the bar. Grip wasn't secure, but that was a bad sign all the same.]