A hierarchy of needs.
Psychologist Abraham Maslow developed his theory of the hierarchy of needs in 1943. This theory, often portrayed in the shape of a pyramid, claims that a human being must fulfil certain needs first before he can long and move on the next layer.
This story is based on this theory.
I set the story a while after Coda. The group is travelling and it's close to winter.
First layer; psysiological needs.
As Rick lead the group away from the church a sense of despair caught Carol. On the road, again. Desperate for food, shelter, medicine, again.
She could already see it affected the whole group as well. They all grew quiet and people started taking shelter with each other walking close together. Daryl walked with her. Of course, she would like to add. She was healed well enough since the fire engine had finally broken down, but still Daryl insisted in carrying her bag. Carol exclaimed he couldn't hunt along the way with two bags, but Daryl had proven her wrong looking at the string of rabbits and squirrels. "Alright then," she thought. Despite the half empty bag wasn't heavy at all, she was glad he took over.
Michonne had been scouting in front when she came back with a wide grin on her face. "Ladies and gentlemen," she announced "tonight we eat and sleep with a roof over our heads." The group cheered out silently not to alarm possible nearby walkers and picked up their pace following Michonne onto a trail leading into the forest.
What she'd found turned out to be an hotel built as a huge log cabin. She group awed at the sight of it. "Careful now" Rick insisted "we check it out first, Come on Daryl." Daryl glanced at Carol for half a second. She nodded her head and gestured to leave their bags with her. The two men sneaked towards the building. Examining a possible shelter for dangers had become second nature. After they declared the building safe they gathered their stuff and went in.
The building was surprisingly untouched. Once it was a place for a romantic getaway for lovers or adulterers and in the wake of the end of the world apparently no one thought of happy love filled weekends. Not even to hide from flesh-eating walkers.
The storerooms were filled with canned foods and dry ware like rice, and pasta. Even beer, wine and spirits were in stock. "hey Rhee," Daryl teased "care for a drink". He grabbed a random bottle from the shelf an pretended to throw it at Glenn. But only that he realized there were only 5 left from the group that went hideously drunk at the CDC, he went quiet. He put the bottle don with a angry grunt "why does it have to be damn peach schnapps too?"
"No drunkenness, " Rick decided. "It's okay to have one or two drinks at dinner, but no loud parties, okay?" "Can't imagine anyone wants to party today", Tara muttered. All agreed in silence.
That night they had rabbit stew, various canned vegetables and rice for dinner and they shared a glass of wine in the memory of the ones they loved and lost along the way.
As Rick went to put Judith to sleep, the lot gathered in the bar to enjoy a game of pool and darts. Carol on the other hand grabbed her bag. As Daryl was constant aware of her he noticed that she was leaving the room. "Going to sleep?" he asked. "Yes, I'm exhausted. Besides, I'm really no good at pool." she smiled. "Lemme help you with your bag." Daryl took the handle of her bag and the carried it upstairs together.
While Carol drew the curtains Daryl stood in the doorway." 'kay, goodnight then." and he started to turn around. "Wait," Carol said in a soft voice. "Can you please stay? I don't want to be alone."
Note: The first layer is all about psysiological needs like food and shelter. Basically the things your instincts tell you to get. Sex can be considered a part of this, but only for procreational purposes.