It was just another day in this Godforsaken world. Just another day to meander around in the woods hoping to not stumble upon one of those... those things, or better yet someone with worse intentions than to eat me. At least I had the woods. In the woods I had shelter, hiding places, food, I had everything. The woods were mine. Of course, I had to share parts with the dead but these days they were few and far between these days.

"Hold it right there." A deep, commanding voice declared. I was of course too wrapped up in my affinity for the woods to be observant. I usually didn't need to be this deep into the forest.

"Look, I don't have any more food, I don't have any weapons; I'm not dangerous." I threw up my hands and turned around slowly in the direction of the voice.

"Then what the hell are you doing out here all by yourself?" he mumbled and walked toward me, a crossbow pointed directly at the center of my forehead and blocking his face from my view.

"Surviving." I peeked around the crossbow to at least get a glimpse of him. My efforts proved mute and only seemed to irritate him.

"Stand still." he barked and walked a few steps toward me. "Who are you with?"

At this point I was starting to just get irritated. "Look dude, I'm not with anyone. I'm not bit. I'm just in the woods because it's the only place I can be on defense for once. If you're going to take what little shit I have, then go for it. If you're going to kill me then just get it done. If not, let me get on my merry way."

He dropped the crossbow and sighed, finally giving me a view of his rather handsome face. "Look, I'm sorry. These days you just gotta be careful, you know?" His hair was kind of ratty and his face was scruffy; overall he looked like a total badass. And a total hottie. "I'm Daryl."

"Jemma." I nodded and visibly checked him out. Hell, if anything comes of this encounter it might as well be a little bit of fun. It's not like he's going to post about the girl he hooked up with in the woods on Facebook or anything.

He returned the wanting gaze and half smiled. "Look, if you're tired of being alone you can stay with us. It's safe, we're kind of the good guys."

"You don't really look like a good guy." I walked toward him until there was almost no space in between us.

"Why don't you find out for yourself?" he began to lower his crossbow fully until it was just about to touch the ground.

"Daryl!" a voice shouted from a few yards back. "Find anything?"

"Shit." He mumbled. "Yeah, I found a girl." With a wink he gestured for me to follow him. "No walkers but no deer either. I guess I'll have to go out later."

As we cleared past the sea of trees, we found the source of the voice. It was a boy, probably about fourteen. He had on what looks like a sheriff's hat and in his hand was a pistol. "Are you sure she's not with Negan? You know we can't just trust people, Daryl."

"Carl, I'm not stupid." Daryl said as he walked right past him. "Of course I did." With a glance back to make sure either I was still behind him or that this little guy wasn't about to blow my head off with the pistol he shouldn't even have, he gestured for me to keep pace with him. This kid must be psycho, but this world could turn even the most even minded people into complete forces to be reckoned with.

"So we're just going to take her back, no questions asked?"

"The questions were already asked, Carl."

Carl grunted and followed until we reached a giant gated fence, which actually wasn't too far away from where Daryl came upon me, or almost did if Carl hadn't of ruined it.

"Daryl! Anything good?" Another gruff man pushed the gate open and smiled at the guys and gave me a curious glance.

"Actually," Daryl glanced at me with a half-smile, "no food though."

"Well we'll send out a party in a few days, we've got some time." The man sighed. "I'm Rick, welcome to Alexandria."

"Alexandria? You have a name for this place?" I asked and looked at the massive fence.

"Come in and you'll see why." Rick put a cautious arm around my shoulder and led me forward.

I glanced back at Daryl who nodded and stayed close to my back. For some reason I got the feeling it was because he wanted to be there and not because he didn't distrust these people.

The inside of the fence looked to be an established community. There were people walking freely in the streets, gardens outside of houses, and what looked like happiness. "We'll find you a place," Rick said as we walked down what looked like a main road, "and then we'll give you a tour."

"She can stay with me." Daryl said. "We all have these big houses and I'm really the only one with no housemate."

Rick turned around to give him what I call the "bro look". You know the look guys give each other when they know the other is getting themselves into something- or someone- bad, but in a good way. "Since when are you the welcome wagon?"

"Always. Come on now, I'm right up here." Daryl said as we walked up the little road. "If that's okay with you."

I nodded. At this point, shelter is shelter. If Daryl was there that was just a plus.