Author's note

Hi guys! Thanks for reading, follows and favs – it's really nice that I'm not the only one reading this story :) I'm sorry for bad English and lacks of descriptions, English isn't my native language but I'm working hard to make it better. I have few ideas for the story, I'll stick with the show events but some things may differ and I'll add my ideas along the way. I'll try to update as much as I can

Stay tuned!

Mika

'How long was I sleeping?' I asked Amy when we left RV.

'Around 2 days. We thought you died or something but you were just sleeping' she laughed.

Two days… I felt better. Still weak but long sleep and a meal helped me a lot.

I looked around the camp with curiosity. Near RV was fire place with some camping chairs, now empty. Few cars were parked around and near the tree line stood tents. Not so impressive but it was something. There weren't much people around. Shane was talking rather angrily to a pretty, tall woman with long, brown hair. Guess he was the type – always pissed. I touched my lips when looked at him. The place where he hit me still hurt me a little.

In front of one car stood pretty blonde woman. She looked in my direction with a worried face. Amy saw her and waved her hand.

'That's my older sister Andrea. C'mon I'll introduce you.' She said and walked over to her.

'Andrea, this is Maya. She's finally awake' she said cheerfully.

Andrea looked at me for a second with suspicious gaze but after a while she nodded at me.

'Nice to meet you' she said.

'Likewise' I smiled.

'I'm gonna show her the lake so she can clean herself'

' That's a good idea' Andrea chuckled looking at my clothes covered in blood. 'How did you manage to get so… bloody?'

'The usual I guess'

'Walkers?'

I nodded. Walkers, huh? That's a good name for them.

'We don't see many in here' she said with worry.

'They probably still in Atlanta but I met quite few in the woods' I said.

'Yeah, we were on our way to Atlanta when all this started. We were looking for a shelter like news said. What about you?' Andrea asked with suspicions. She was smart. Didn't trust so easy. I liked it.

'Actually I was on my way outside Atlanta. It was mess there…'

We fell silent for a minute, caught in our own thoughts.

'Do you have a swim suit?' Amy asked suddenly.

I shook my head.

'Then I'll give you one of mines' she went to the back of the car and started to search for it.

'Here' she gave me green swim suit. 'It should suit you' she smiled.

'Thanks' I muttered.

'Go change into RV.'

I did as she said not sure why but I was pretty desperate to finally clean myself. After I changed I put on my dirty clothes. I didn't want to just show my body in front of whole camp.

Amy and Andrea took me to a small lake nearby camp. Amy was talking cheerfully all way. Andrea on the other hand was looking at me with curiosity.

When we got there I saw other women. They were making laundry.

'This is Carol and Jacquie' Amy pointed at two women. 'And this is Maya' she said to them.

'It's nice to see you awake' Carol said.

'Thanks' I was feeling a bit uncomfortable. I never liked people and this group was certainly a big one. But I couldn't spot other men except for Shane and Dale.

'How many are you in group?' I asked with hesitation.

'Well, Lori was talking to Shane but she'll come here later. Daryl and Merle are on hunting trip' Amy counted. 'But you met already Daryl. Glen and T-Dog are on a run in Atlanta. There's Carl and Sophia' she pointed in direction of two kids playing in water.

' Ed, my husband, is probably still sleeping' Carol said quietly with apology. I didn't like something in her voice. It sounded too familiar. But I didn't said anything. It's none of my business and I wasn't even sure if I'll stay with these people.

'C'mon let's go to the water! I have a soap and a shampoo' she handed me two things and started to undress herself.

'Thanks'. I went closer to shore, undressed myself and went into water. I cleaned myself and swam for a while. It was good to finally not be covered in blood and dirt and to actually move. Amy joined me after few minutes but she took her distance. Although when she saw that I'm leaving she went after me.

'Wow!' I heard behind me. 'That's so cool!'

I looked back at her.

'Your tattoo.' She said. 'Andrea! Come look at it!'

She took my elbow and walked me to other women. They were watching us with curiosity. Lori joined them, Carol was now washing my old clothes. I blushed a little at that view. I wasn't sure why they're so nice to me.

'Look at that' Amy turned me around and I heard screams of surprise. I was feeling uncomfortable but I guess I couldn't avoid it with my big dragon tattoo on my back. Sam did it for me on my 21st birthdays. Dragon covered nearly all my back and one arm. It was quite the masterpiece.

'That must hurt like hell' Andrea said impressed.

'Only a little' I answered.

'Mom, that' so cool!' I heard Carl behind my back. 'Can I have one too?'

'I don't think you'll find a place to do that now.' Amy laughed.

'Why did you do that?' Lori asked. She couldn't hide that she's not approving it. 'I'm Lori by the way. We didn't have a chance to get a proper introduction.'

I shook her hand.

'Maya.' I didn't want to tell them the real reason behind giant tattoo. 'My best friend was a tattoo artist and she had to practice on someone' it was half true.

Lori nodded.

'Was?' Lori looked at me concerned. I quickly averted my gaze. 'She was quite talented. I'm not the biggest fan of that but yours pretty impressive' she said.

'Thanks. I'm gonna put on some clean clothes now'

'Do that in RV' Amy told me with a smile. 'You don't want to get your clothes wet.'

I headed back to the camp. First thing I noticed was a man sitting on a chair near a fire spot. He was skinning an animal from the look of it. I immediately felt on alert. He wasn't looking like a good guy at all rather like ex convict – I've seen those a lot to recognize one.

'Well, aren't ya a cute little thing?' he said with a smirk when I came closer. 'Now I get why my baby brother brought ya back.'

So that's man was Daryl's brother. He didn't look alike and he was definitely older.

'I'm Merle. What's your name, hun?'

'Maya' I said watching him carefully.

'Don't be scared. Good ol' Merle won't hurt a pretty head like ya' he chuckled. I didn't like him but I felt that his more talk than danger. It was reassuring.

'Who said I'm scared?' I challenged him and walked past.

I was almost at RV door when I heard his whistle.

'Oh, my!' I turned around. 'That's pretty nice' he pointed at my back. 'Daryl come 'ere for a sec.'

' What?' I saw Daryl coming from inside of tent.

'Look at that' Merle pointed at my back. 'Lil' girl ain't so nice' he chuckled.

Daryl came closer looking carefully at me but I saw curiosity in his eyes when he noticed my dragon.

'You're awake' he said when he was in front of me.

'Don't just chit-chat lovebirds. Look at her back. You like that stuff' Merle said amused.

Daryl was staring at me. I sighed and turned my back at him so he could see a tattoo. I guess he's not much a talk. When he saw a dragon he exhale loudly.

'Wow' I heard him whisper. I smiled a bit. He made a step closer and I felt a bit uncomfortable for him staying so close to me.

'You rescued yourself pretty nice chick lil' brother' Merle laughed.

'Thank for that' I turned my head to look in Daryl's eyes. I didn't know why he brought me here but he saved my life. His eyes met mine for a second. I couldn't read his gaze. He stopped his eyes on my cut lips, looked at bruise at my arm. I saw a glimpse of anger on his face.

Then he raised his hand and he touched one of my scars under the big tattoo with his index finger. I froze in place. How could he saw those? That was the real reason why I made that tattoo. My back was covered in scars made by my father, few from my fosters families. I was never undressing myself in front of people because of that but then Sam saw them and she suggested a tattoo.

My eyes widened in shock. He looked once more at me. I had no idea what he was thinking. Then he just turned around and went to take a seat next to Merle. I was glad that he didn't make any comment but still… what the fuck was that just now? I took few steps and went inside RV. I wanted to hide myself. My heart was beating fast and I was breathing loudly. What the fuck was that?