The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon finds romance in the woods with fellow survivor Leah, but loses her

Daryl Dixon’s romantic heartbreak with fellow survivor Leah was revealed on Sunday’s episode of The Walking Dead.

The season 10 episode titled Find Me took place around the time Rick Grimes went missing and followed Daryl’s quest to find him.

Deep in the woods, Daryl met Leah (Lynn Collins), a woman who’d suffered her own losses and like him lived alone in the wild.

Love story: Daryl Dixon’s romantic heartbreak with fellow survivor Leah was revealed on Sunday’s episode of The Walking Dead

The two became intimate, but Daryl balked at committing to her—and soon it seemed too late.

Just thinking about Leah again brought Daryl’s current relationship with Carol Pelletier (Melissa McBride) into focus.

On a hunting trip, the two had an argument so devastating it nearly wrecked their friendship.

Carol ended up near tears and wondered if their connection was gone for good.

Living alone: Deep in the woods, Daryl met Leah (Lynn Collins), a woman who'd suffered her own losses and like him lived alone in the wild

Living alone: Deep in the woods, Daryl met Leah (Lynn Collins), a woman who’d suffered her own losses and like him lived alone in the wild

Daryl had originally intended to set out from Alexandria and go hunting alone in the woods.

Much to his dismay, Carol tagged along on the trip, jumping on the back of his motorcycle.

‘I wanna hunt whatever’s still left out there to hunt,’ she said. ‘And you need a good spotter.’

Tagging along: Daryl had originally intended to set out from Alexandria and go hunting alone in the woods, but Carol Pelletier invited herself along

Tagging along: Daryl had originally intended to set out from Alexandria and go hunting alone in the woods, but Carol Pelletier invited herself along

In the forest, the pair walked with Daryl’s dog, Dog, realizing there wasn’t much game where they were.

Down the road, Carol decided to go spear-fishing and amazed Daryl with her skills.

As they fileted fish for dinner, Daryl suggested they try to make camp for the night.

Spear fishing: Down the road, Carol decided to go spear-fishing and amazed Daryl with her skills

Spear fishing: Down the road, Carol decided to go spear-fishing and amazed Daryl with her skills

The mood seemed downbeat, as if they sensed they might not find anywhere to go.

Carol worried that their luck had run out after the Whisperers destroyed Hilltop and Alexandria.

‘It feels different, like everything good in the world is not on our side anymore,’ she told Daryl.

Bad luck: Carol worried that their luck had run out after the Whisperers destroyed Hilltop and Alexandria

Bad luck: Carol worried that their luck had run out after the Whisperers destroyed Hilltop and Alexandria

‘We rebuild,’ Daryl reasoned. ‘We start over.’

‘Until it happens again,’ Carol fretted. ‘We’ve had a good, long run, longer than most. You know this world. The dead. It’s gonna catch up to us eventually.’

‘Only if we let it,’ Daryl said, sliding on his pack and standing up. ‘I ain’t gonna let it.’

Staying positive: 'Only if we let it,' Daryl said of death catching up to them. 'I ain't gonna let it'

Staying positive: ‘Only if we let it,’ Daryl said of death catching up to them. ‘I ain’t gonna let it’

As the pair made to leave, Dog barked loudly and ran off after something in the woods.

They followed him and ended up in front of an abandoned cabin that Daryl knew well.

The episode shifted into flashback, with the screen reading ‘Five years ago.’

Flashback episode: The episode shifted into flashback, with the screen reading 'Five years ago'

Flashback episode: The episode shifted into flashback, with the screen reading ‘Five years ago’

Back then, Daryl was living alone in a camp by the river, looking for his missing ‘brother’ Rick.

Suddenly a puppy ran up to him, and he picked it up, saying, ‘Where’d you come from?’

Walking to the river, he saw Carol, who’d brought him a bag of supplies.

Canine companion: Suddenly a puppy ran up to Daryl, and he picked it up, saying, 'Where'd you come from?'

Canine companion: Suddenly a puppy ran up to Daryl, and he picked it up, saying, ‘Where’d you come from?’

‘Daryl, it’s been two years,’ Carol chided him. ‘How long do you plan to stay out here?’

‘I don’t know,’ Daryl said, thinking of Rick. ‘As long as it takes, I guess.’

Carol said she would have joined him if it weren’t for her partner King Ezekiel and his son Henry, back at the Kingdom.

Headed back: Carol said she would have joined him if it weren't for her partner King Ezekiel and his son Henry, back at the Kingdom

Headed back: Carol said she would have joined him if it weren’t for her partner King Ezekiel and his son Henry, back at the Kingdom

She threw the bag over the river to Daryl and urged him to be careful in the woods.

He struggled; his map got destroyed, his shelter dissolved, and living in the wild was hard.

A year later, Daryl saw Dog again and followed him to a green-colored cabin nearby.

Helping out: Carol threw the bag over the river to Daryl and urged him to be careful in the woods

Helping out: Carol threw the bag over the river to Daryl and urged him to be careful in the woods

Green cabin: A year later, Daryl saw Dog again and followed him to a green-colored cabin nearby

Green cabin: A year later, Daryl saw Dog again and followed him to a green-colored cabin nearby

When he walked in, a woman pointed a 12-gauge shotgun at him and refused to let him leave.

She tied him up, but after hearing Dog whimper for Daryl, cut him loose.

Six months after that, Dog found Daryl again and led him back to the woman’s cabin.

Gun drawn: When he walked in, a woman pointed a 12-gauge shotgun at him and refused to let him leave

Gun drawn: When he walked in, a woman pointed a 12-gauge shotgun at him and refused to let him leave

She told him the animal’s name was Dog, and noted scratches on Daryl’s face.

‘Guess you got the raw end of the deal there,’ she said. ‘It’s not for everyone you know—living out in the wild, facing the dead…’

‘I guess it’ll catch up to all of us one way or another,’ Daryl affirmed.

‘Only if you let it,’ the woman noted.

Simple name: She told him the animal's name was Dog, and noted scratches on Daryl's face

Simple name: She told him the animal’s name was Dog, and noted scratches on Daryl’s face

Arms up: Daryl was held at gunpoint by the woman

Arms up: Daryl was held at gunpoint by the woman

Eight months later, Daryl was surrounded by zombies in the woods, and the woman urged him to run to her.

Hiding behind a tree, they came face-to-face.

‘Name’s Leah,’ the woman said before the zombies dissipated.

Zombies everywhere: Eight months later, Daryl was surrounded by zombies in the woods, and the woman urged him to run to her

Zombies everywhere: Eight months later, Daryl was surrounded by zombies in the woods, and the woman urged him to run to her

Three months later, Daryl found himself in front of Leah’s cabin again.

He threw a fish he’d caught at her front door, as a gift.

Hours later, Leah returned to throw the fish back at his head.

In mourning: Leah mourned the loss of her son on his birthday

In mourning: Leah mourned the loss of her son on his birthday

She said she could catch her own fish, though Daryl said he was just being nice.

‘I don’t need you to be nice,’ she insisted. ‘I don’t need you to be anything. I want to be left the hell alone.’

They resolved to avoid each other, yet couldn’t stop talking.

Leah observed Daryl’s chapped hands and invited him to stay at her cabin.

All alone: Daryl camped alone in the woods while looking for his 'brother' Rick Grimes

All alone: Daryl camped alone in the woods while looking for his ‘brother’ Rick Grimes

That night, he saw her holding a broken frame with a picture of a boy in it.

Leah told Daryl that she’d once been with a tight ‘squad’ of people who felt like family, and that they’d vowed to stay together ‘when the world went to hell.’

She’d tried to remain hopeful for the boy in the photo—Matthew, the son of a late friend, who felt like her own son.

Big storm: A big storm moved in and soaked Daryl out in the woods

Big storm: A big storm moved in and soaked Daryl out in the woods

One day, they came under attack from zombies, with Dog’s pregnant mother lying nearby.

‘There was screaming and so much blood,’ Leah told Daryl, weeping. ‘I was separated from my family, and I ran. I felt like I ran forever. And I ended up here and I saw my boy was bit. I said goodbye to him the same day Dog was born. I haven’t seen another soul out here since.’

As she spoke to Daryl, she buried the picture under a floorboard, where Carol later found it.

Daryl told Leah about Rick, saying he wasn’t sure if he was dead, but he was going to find out.

Long search: Daryl told Leah about Rick, saying he wasn't sure if he was dead, but he was going to find out

Long search: Daryl told Leah about Rick, saying he wasn’t sure if he was dead, but he was going to find out

‘You’re always the hero, huh?’ Leah teased him.

She and Daryl went spearfishing together, looked at an eclipse from inside his tent, and ultimately ended up making love in her cabin.

Ten months later, the two ate dinner as Daryl prepared to search for Rick again.

Fishing date: Leah and Daryl went spearfishing together, looked at an eclipse from inside his tent, and ultimately ended up making love in her cabin

Fishing date: Leah and Daryl went spearfishing together, looked at an eclipse from inside his tent, and ultimately ended up making love in her cabin

That upset Leah, who asked, ‘Where do you belong, Daryl? Out there in the river, looking for your dead brother day after day after day? Or do you belong with the family you left because it was too hard to face what happened? Or do you belong here with me?’

‘I don’t know,’ Daryl said, as Leah walked out and said, ‘Yeah you do. Now choose.’

Daryl visited his tent, where he ran into Carol and said he was moving because there were ‘too many dead around here.’

Good question: Leah asked Daryl where he belonged

Good question: Leah asked Daryl where he belonged

Carol threw him a handknit scarf to replace the ‘ratty’ one he’d been wearing, and told him she might not be back for some time—that she was needed at the Kingdom.

‘You asking my permission?’ Daryl asked. ‘You don’t need to ask my permission to move on with your life.’

‘No,’ Carol said. ‘That’s not what this is about.’

Moving on: 'You asking my permission?' Daryl asked. 'You don't need to ask my permission to move on with your life'

Moving on: ‘You asking my permission?’ Daryl asked. ‘You don’t need to ask my permission to move on with your life’

‘You want me to move on with mine, right?’ Daryl responded.

‘I want you to find some peace,’ Carol offered. ‘I don’t want to lose you out here, okay? I don’t want to lose you because you can’t figure out when to stop.’

‘I’m glad you found your peace,’ Daryl said. ‘You ain’t gonna lose me, alright? I’ve just got stuff to do.’

Got stuff: 'I'm glad you found your peace,' Daryl said. 'You ain't gonna lose me, alright? I've just got stuff to do'

Got stuff: ‘I’m glad you found your peace,’ Daryl said. ‘You ain’t gonna lose me, alright? I’ve just got stuff to do’

He decided to move downriver and visited Leah’s cabin to tell her.

Not finding her home, Daryl left a note that detailed his camping spot and said, ‘I belong with you. FIND ME.’

He placed it in a box under the floorboards, then walked along the river with Dog, saying, ‘C’mon here boy. We’re gonna get her back.’

Love letter: Not finding her home, Daryl left a note that detailed his camping spot and said, 'I belong with you. FIND ME'

Love letter: Not finding her home, Daryl left a note that detailed his camping spot and said, ‘I belong with you. FIND ME’

In the present, Carol and Daryl stood on the ruined cabin’s porch, looking to the woods.

Carol asked Daryl if he thought Leah was alive, or if maybe she just left.

‘No,’ he replied. ‘I walked away.’

Location unknown: Carol asked Daryl if he thought Leah was alive, or if maybe she just left

Location unknown: Carol asked Daryl if he thought Leah was alive, or if maybe she just left

‘You didn’t walk away, Daryl,’ Carol reminded him. ‘Stop thinking every time you lose someone it’s because of you—something you did wrong.’

‘I made a mistake,’ Daryl insisted.

‘We all make mistakes,’ Carol said. ‘Losing Leah, that’s not on you. Neither is Rick. Or Connie.’

Made mistakes: 'We all make mistakes,' Carol said. 'Losing Leah, that's not on you. Neither is Rick. Or Connie'

Made mistakes: ‘We all make mistakes,’ Carol said. ‘Losing Leah, that’s not on you. Neither is Rick. Or Connie’

Their friend Connie had gone missing after Carol aggressively pursued Alpha, the leader of the Whisperers, and accidentally triggered a cave collapse.

‘No that’s on you,’ Daryl reminded her. ‘Cause you never know when to stop.’

‘I’m sorry for Connie,’ Carol admitted. ‘But I’m not sorry for going after the horde and making Alpha pay for killing Henry, ’cause I was right.’

Placing blame:  'No that's on you,' Daryl reminded her. 'Cause you never know when to stop'

Placing blame:  ‘No that’s on you,’ Daryl reminded her. ‘Cause you never know when to stop’

‘And that’s all that matters, you being right, huh?’ Daryl asked.

‘This isn’t just about Leah, or Connie, or anyone else is it?’ Carol said. ‘Why don’t you just say what you want to say.’

Daryl finally accused Carol of coming on the trip because she wanted to run away.

Harsh claim: Daryl finally accused Carol of coming on the trip because she wanted to run away.

Harsh claim: Daryl finally accused Carol of coming on the trip because she wanted to run away.

‘Alexandria, what the skins did—you couldn’t deal with the guilt,’ he said, referring to the Whisperers. ‘So you made it my problem.’

‘Your only problem is thinking you need to save everybody,’ Carol retorted. ‘I don’t need a savior, Daryl, and I don’t need a martyr. I just need a friend.’

‘Friends don’t have the same damn conversation over and over again,’ Daryl noted. ‘I’m sick of it.’

Same conversation: 'Friends don't have the same damn conversation over and over again,' Daryl noted. 'I'm sick of it'

Same conversation: ‘Friends don’t have the same damn conversation over and over again,’ Daryl noted. ‘I’m sick of it’

‘Well, then you should have just let me get back on the boat,’ Carol said, referring to the time she’d sailed away alone after Henry died.

‘I should have,’ Daryl said, nodding. ‘I stopped you from running, and I shouldn’t have. Want to run? Run. I know where I’m supposed to be. I won’t stop you this time.’

Carol’s face trembled and she said, ‘I was right. Our luck’s run out, you and me.’

Luck over: Carol's face trembled and she said, 'I was right. Our luck's run out, you and me'

Luck over: Carol’s face trembled and she said, ‘I was right. Our luck’s run out, you and me’

‘It’s gonna be dark soon,’ she added. ‘I’m gonna fix the door.’

The sound of hammering filled the air as Daryl stared into the woods.

The Walking Dead will return next week on AMC.

Keeping busy: 'It's gonna be dark soon,' Carol said  after their tense talk. 'I'm gonna fix the door'

Keeping busy: ‘It’s gonna be dark soon,’ Carol said  after their tense talk. ‘I’m gonna fix the door’