Author Note: This is my first fanfic ever, so here goes nothing! Hope ya'll enjoy it :] Based off of the song 'Breath of Life' by Florence and the Machine!

Chapter 1
"I was looking for a breath of life"

The gunfire could be heard from a far distance outside of the small town, Woodbury. It was the sound of two opposites colliding which could be heard in the woods. A group of three people could hear it in that distance. Just as quick as it had started, the gunfire was over. The group of three moved closer to the town, slowly hearing the chants of what sounded like a huge group of people banded together. The group consisted of a woman that appeared to be in her early 30's. She wore her dark brown hair up in a ponytail. As for her attire, a dark black tanktop clung to her body from the night heat in Georgia. It was obvious that the tanktop had seen better days for it was ripped a bit on the edges, covered with dry blood spots. Clinging to her legs was a pair of black pants, covered with rips and dried blood. In her hands was a bow, her choice of weapon. On her back was a small backpack along with a case of arrows.

"Ava, why are we heading there? You know the gunfire will attract walkers.."

The voice that questioned the girl came from a young 17 year old boy. He had dark red hair which looked freshly cut despite their conditions. Clung to his body was a pair of blue jeans and a dark blue shirt, both having seen better days. His voice showed fear of the idea of heading into the town. In his hands was a small pistol that they had picked up from a group of people that had succumbed to the outbreak quite early. That group having been his family, all of whom had to be put down by Ava and the man standing next to the boy.

"Kyle is right, Ava. We have already had to take down 5 walkers passing near this place. Who knows how many more will show up due to that ruckus."

The man next to the boy was in his early 30's as well. He was well built in the sense that he did not look like someone that worked out at the gym constantly. He had dirty blonde hair that curled around his ears, as if hiding them since he had not cut it for quite some time. The man's dark blue eyes appeared black in the dark night considering no moon was out to bright up some of the woods. Around his waist, there was a hunting knife along with two guns. He wore a dark green shirt which had the sleeves torn off along with a pair of khakis which had plenty of pockets. Though some of the pockets were ripped to shreds. His face had some dark scruff from not being shaved despite the hair always being slow to grow.

"Jeff, we need to go there. Don't ask me why, but I have a feeling that something is there for us, " said Ava. Her own blue eyes focused on the dirt trail ahead of them. Tire tracks clearly led the direction.

The sound of growling could be heard nearby. Ava lifted the bow off of her arm, pulling out an arrow from the case on her back. Having acquired some things from fallen folks, Jeff lifted a flashlight in the direction of the growling. While not showing much of the walker, the light showcased the slight limp that the walker had. Pointing the bow in the direction of the walker, Ava loaded the arrow and let go without a second thought. The sound of the walker falling was enough for Ava to confirm that she had hit her target right in the skull.

"Got the bloody bastard right in the skull," said Ava with a triumphant smile on her face. Jeff replied, "Yes well done, but we need to get out of here..." Ava said,"Live a little. I promise you, Jeff. Something is there for us in that town with flames blazing. If a herd comes through, we know how to handle it. Don't you agree, Kyle?" Kyle looked between the two adults, unsure of what to think of them. He said, "I think we should go, looking from this distance, it appears to be safe, look." Pointing ahead, it was visible. There was a barricade of sorts filled with tires and wood, preventing anything from entering the town.

Jeff looked from the two, both gleaming with delight over the fact that there was possibly a safe place to stay. He shrugged his shoulders which was proceeded by his eyes rolling. He said, "Fine children, we will go to this town. I just don't expect a happy welcome party for us when we arrive there." His hearing wasn't off, he could hear the sounds of what seemed to be an angry mob.

The three had kept moving towards the town, stopping an abandoned pickup truck. They could clearly hear the mob now, full of anger and wanting blood, it seemed. From the corner of his eye, Kyle could see someone limping followed by others. He pointed the shotgun in the direction of the person limping though didn't fire. Ava and Jeff had their attention on the guards on top of the wall.

Getting closer, the sounds of growling could be heard getting closer. The stench of dead approaching closer to him. Kyle closed his eyes, finger on the trigger. Despite everything in his body telling him to shoot, he didn't. Instead, his gun was shoved down. No one attacked him, instead a voice was heard.

"Boy, you should know better than to point your gun at someone with a sword..."

He opened his eyes, believing himself to be lucky that he didn't actually trigger the gun or his foot would've been blown off. In front of him stood a tall dark skinned woman with a sword in her hand. She was the one that had been limping. Ava and Jeff immediately turned around, surprised to catch sight of the woman.

Ava's POV

Jeff and I had been watching the guards on top of the wall, evaluating the situation. It wasn't until the sound of a woman's voice that I turned around. I was surprised that she was outside the wall. Some blood was on her face as if she had just fought off someone.

"Care to tell us your name before you threaten my boy," I asked. Kyle wasn't related to her in any way, but she had grown to view him as a younger brother. Judging from his scared expression, she could tell that he must have frozen up again. She didn't blame him considering everything that he had gone through during this outbreak. Despite his past, she knew she had to eventually stop making excuses for him or he'd get killed.

"My name is not of importance right now. However, I believe that you are seeking a way into this town. Am I correct?"

I could tell from her voice of tone that she was no ordinary woman. Perhaps, only one that people would read about in books. All of the women that we had met so far on our journey, depended on men to keep them safe. They had no skill with swords, guns, or anything except the ways of former living. I didn't hold a high level of respect for women in general. We just didn't have a high reputation in general, ya know? I always read about weak women in fairytale books, women that I would never want to be like.

"We are. I believe something is in there for us to find, any chance you know how to get in there, almighty sword warrior," I said with a hint of sarcasm.

Her dark eyes showed anger in them when I said that in a sassy tone. Though her anger wasn't fooling anyone. I could see desperation behind her eyes. She needed help with something. Just the cuts on her face told me this.

"Michonne, who are these people," asked a man followed by two other people. The man looked like someone that I had seen before. He looked a bit stressed, as if something terribly wrong had just happened. His light eyes showed that he was looking for help just like Michonne. Though his desperation was more clear to me along with sadness and anger. What an interesting combination. The two people following was a woman, who reminded me of a younger version of myself in terms of looks. The man with his arm wrapped around her neck had on a prisoner jacket. He sported a bruised eye along with blood on his mouth and nose as if he had gone through some torture. If I had my history correct, he must have been Korean. Don't ask how I know this, I just do from studying other heritages in my school classes.

Michonne spoke, "They're looking for a way into the town. I believe they could be of use to us." I said, "I'm not being used for anyone. As far as I am concerned..." I was interrupted by Jeff, who had whispered, 'Shut up' to me. He had been busy, looking at the dark haired man. It was quite creepy for him to have stared at the men with conflicted thoughts. Atleast in my opinion, it was.

Jeff asked, "What are all of your names?" He had asked for the three names though it appeared that he only cared to hear the name of the dark haired man. I said, "Jeff, staring isn't nice you know?" He looked at me with a glare in his eyes. Never had I been so confused by his actions.

The dark haired man said,"My name is Rick, these two are Glenn and Maggie." Jeff's face lit up just a little. It was evident then that he knew Rick, perhaps more than just from this little conversation. Then it clicked in my head. I asked, "Rick Grimes?"

Now, it was Rick's turn to feel a bit confused. Why did people know who he was? That was probably the thought running through his head. Rick asked, "How do you know my last name, have we met before?" I said, "No, but you and Jeff sure have."

A look of recognition appeared in Rick's eyes as he looked at Jeff. I could only sit there and wonder what was with these brothers staring at each other. Was it a family trait to greet a long lost one by staring? In Rick's case, I believe he was looking at Jeff as if it was a lie. Rick and Jeff embraced then in a hug. I could only smirk at the thought of two men in dirty clothing, hugging. Excuse my mind, it sometimes could end up in the gutter. Not that I'm not sorry at all, given the circumstances of everything in this world.

Kyle addressed the rest of the group, introducing himself. Kyle and Glenn found themselves in a small conversation. I could already tell that the two would hit it off as friends. On a serious note, I cleared my throat just a little. I hated being the ruiner of such good moments, but it had to be done. I asked, "Do you folks need to go in there or something? I think we can all help each other out."

Jeff and Rick had been in a conversation though stopped along with everyone else when I spoke. Maggie asked, "What's your name and why are you heading in there?" Right and straight to the point, she was. I could tell if we stayed with this group, I could easily become best friends with her. I said, "My name is Ava. We were heading in there, hoping to find something there."

Glenn said, "There is nothing to be found in there. Not what you think. It may appear safe and sound from walkers, but it isn't safe. Trust me, this is why I look the way that I am, at the moment." Curious. From the looks of him, I could think of him as being a weakling. Someone that could easily get attacked by walkers. Though something in his eyes when he spoke of the place in front of us, proved me wrong.

I asked, "So, you guys went in to save..I am presuming Glenn and Maggie. Why else would you possibly need to go in there for?" I had lost my reason to go in there, if it was true. The town was not safe as Jeff and I had hoped when we approached it. Glenn's face showed there was much worse things going on. The abuse from humans rather than being put through the hell of dealing with walkers.

Rick looked at the ground for a second as if he didn't want to say what he was about to say. Something had gone wrong in this rescue mission. I could tell from his face that he perhaps did not suspect it to happen out of all the things that they had gone through. He said, "We need to go back in there for Daryl." Daryl?

My heart sunk a little bit and I didn't know what to think. I had been left with the ideas that he along with Merle had been lost in this world of hell despite the two of them being the toughest sons of bitches that I had the pleasure of knowing. Michonne must have been the first to pick up on my silence. Kyle and Jeff both knew about Daryl and Merle from stories that I had told them. Michonne asked, "You know Daryl?"

I said, "No, I don't just know him..." I could hear it then. The sounds of the angry chanting, they wanted blood. The sounds became words in my mind slowly as I listened closely. It wasn't just an angry mob asking for blood. No, they were asking for death even in these circumstances of death becoming a vile way to live.

"Kill them! Kill them!" I could hear it in my head over and over again. All I could imagine was Daryl's face, if it was him that they were referencing. He was perhaps ready to take them all on. However, the word 'them' was something to consider. Merle had to have been with him. No way could one of them be gone without the other. I pictured the two together. Daryl's face perhaps full of pain, looking to his older brother for help.

Rick put a hand on my shoulder and asked, "How do you know Daryl?" I looked into his light blue eyes and said, "My name is Ava...he's my brother." With that final statement, the world became black as the words of "Kill them! Kill them!" could still be heard in the dark night.

Author's Note: I hope you enjoyed this so far and please review. I'd love some thoughts on the first chapter. Thank ya'll! :]