Chapter 26

Miya was waiting the next morning on the step talking with Daryl. More like she was talking. The two of them together put a smile on my face. She saw me first and scrambled up, waving excitedly.

"Good morning!" She said with gusto. I exchanged glances with Daryl, who had the ghost of a smile on his face.

"Mornin'."

"I thought I'd come pick you up ." She was grinning from ear to ear, "And Mr. Dixon here was just sitting brooding so I've been talking his ear off. I also brought you a breakfast burrito, if you're hungry…" She tailed off, foil wrapped burrito in hand. I stanched it out of her hand, opened it and took a bite.

"Well, let's go, don't want to keep your mom and sisters waiting." She headed down the steps. I followed, stopping to kiss Daryl, then continued down the street.

"So you hunt primarily with a bow?" Miya inquired when I finished the delicious burrito, poking the end of it with a curious finger.

"My father taught me to hunt. And my mother taught me to fight. And any other hunting questions will have to wait. I don't wanna repeat myself." I said with a grin.

"Um I wanted to talk about last night before we got there," She stopped me before we turned down the street to the armory, "If that's okay?" I nodded, gesturing that she should start, "I don't want you to think that now- that...well," She raised her eyebrows and bit her lip, her gaze faraway. I snapped in front of her face making her jump.

"Focus, hon. We're gonna be late." Her bright red face made me chuckle.

"Sorry, I don't want you to think I'm going to pressure you into anything. I really, really just want to be your friend, and for things to not be awkward."

"We'll that prevents me from having to give you the, 'I only sleep with people once' speech. Well Daryl being the only exception. No, I'd like to be friends." Her arms took a moment to wrap around me, when I hugged her but when they did, they gave me a hearty squeeze.

"Wait, you have a speech? I want to hear it!"

The others were already waiting outside the Pantry chatting with Oliva when we arrived.

"Ah I see my eldest made you late after all." Kari teased.

"Sorry, momma."

"No it's not her fault, I wasn't feeling very good first thing this morning, so I was a little late anyway."

"Well I'll gather your supplies if you want to head in and get your weapons." Oliva said gesturing through the garage door. Kari led the way up to the armory.

I went straight for the Peacemaker holding to my chest and letting out a sigh. Miya snorted.

"I think I might actually be jealous of a gun." I smirked, taking off my jacket so I could get my holster on.

"Sorry, she's my main lady." Luckily they all knew how to use a handgun. Kari, Zoe and Miya were all bowhunters, Helene preferring the silenced rifle. We collected out supplies from Olivia and headed to the gate.

Once on the outside I pulled them off to the left of the gate to an open area beside the wall.

"Okay before we head in, I want to get a feel of how comfortable you are with your weapons." There was a burnt out building with one wall facing us still standing. I walked over to it. Using a marker I drew some targets on the wall, a few for each of them, "Kari, why don't you start." She drew her first arrow, and I could tell she might have had a bit of instruction, and she was decent, hitting four of the five targets within the circle I drew.

Miya was just a bit better then her mom, hit all of her targets, and just a bit closer to the middle. Zoe...well she needed some improvement, given that she hit none of her own targets, managing to almost hit the roof of the building, a couple times. Luckily Helene was decent, since I would be unable to really give her any pointers on how to improve.

I worked for about twenty minutes just with Zoey on her technique, the others looking on correcting their own as well. The next round I had them fire was already ten times better, including Helene. Confident that they would be able to hit a walker if needed as well as a squirrel, I led them into the forest.

They were a captive audience as I taught them how to track, to listen for the slightest sounds, how to tell there was a walker close.

"What are these tracks here?" I asked, coming across small clawed tracks. Miya came up next to me crouching down.

"Mmm, something that lives in a tree I think, too big for a squirrel. A coon?" She looked up at me.

"That'd be my best guess, also could be a possum. Daryl caught a big one outside the gate when we arrived." I stepped back so the others could examine the tracks.

When I spotted the coon, I was about to take it down when another arrow pierced the creature's eye. I didn't have to turn around to know who had shot the arrow, recognizing Daryl's plumage. My group turned around as the hunter came slowly through the trees, his crossbow already on his back to appear less threatening.

"Ladies, this is my husband Daryl."

"The invitation to join ya still open?" He asked the other women more than myself. Kari looked at Miya who nodded in approval.

"It would be a pleasure. I've already heard much about you from Miya." Kari told him, which made him raise an eyebrow at Miya.

"Like that you are a badass hunter." Miya clarified, her face red once more.

Really his showing up when he did was perfect because I could show them how to hunt in pairs. They watched as Daryl and I stocked a deer in almost total silence, using whistles and hand motions to talk back and forth. Usually I could tell what he was doing just by looking at him, but I was trying to show them how to communicate well without words, not superhuman senses. He motioned for me to take the shot. I took a deep breath exhaling as I loosed the arrow. The deer fell instantly with a thud.

I turned back to see my class quietly clapping. Daryl snorted when he heard them. I showed them how to tie the kill up high so that walkers couldn't get it, then it was time for them to try.

"Helene go with Daryl and Miya with Zoe and I'll take Kari. Meet back here in two hours okay?" We split up and headed out into the wilderness.

"He is quiet the rugged fellow isn't he?" Kari asked as we followed a small game trail.

"Yeah ya could say that. He's a very complex creature, Daryl."

"He's handsome that's for sure." the older woman chuckled to herself, "You both make a striking pair. Miya told me what you did for her last night." I blushed.

"Well a lot of it was for me too."

"She's been terribly depressed lately, disconnected. Last night when she came home, I hadn't seen her glowing like that for some time. The wonders sex can do for you." We laughed quietly.

"Yeah, for real though. I had a good feeling about her the moment I saw her, which doesn't happen often. I'm looking forward to our friendship."

Kari was able to track and kill a few rabbits. When our time was nearing done we headed back to the deer. It was then a scream penetrated the air. I took off, Kari struggling to keep up.

I heard the walkers before I saw them. A gun went off as I leaped over a fallen log, sliding down a hill into the ravine where Miya and Zoe were trapped. There were walkers on all sides of them. Zoe was the one who fired the gun, Miya was using a machete to hack at the dead.

"Miya!" I yelled, pulling the walkers' attention to me. My knives were in my hands,deadly extensions to my arms as I danced through the small horde. Kari was picking them off from the top of the ravine. An arrow wizzed over our heads into a walker trying to bite Kari. Daryl and Helene had arrived picking off the last of the walkers about to tumble into the pit. Zoe collapsed to the ground in huff, once it was safe, Miya immediately checked her for bites.

"Are you okay?" My adrenaline was still pumping through my veins and Zoe flinched a bit when she saw my elongated fangs. I put my hand over my mouth, "Sorry.."

"It's okay, I was just surprised," She clarified, "I'm okay, Miya got to the walker before it bit me." Miya confirmed with a nod that was the case. Daryl was in the ravine, his eyes relieved.

"What happened?" He questioned.

"Rotters caught a whiff of our kills, chased us, Zoe fell down here and twisted her ankle. They just started to tumble down here so I had to jump in too." Miya explained. Zoe was trying to get back up but she couldn't.

"Don't." Daryl instructed, instead he adjusted his crossbow to the front of his body and crouched down so she could climb on his back, "I'll take her back. Maybe wait till you're back to skin those kills." He advised.

"Okay. Helene, can you go with him?" He just gave me a look, "What?"

"Yeah I'll head back with him. I'll get things ready at the house." Helene started towards home. I kissed Daryl's cheek before he and two of the triplets took off.

Miya was glowering when I turned back.

"What's the matter?" Her mother questioned. Miya groaned letting her head fall back.

"That was so stressful! How did you do that everyday?" she looked back at me, "Constantly fighting to survive...I can barely fight just to live in relative safety."

"I just wanted to live, so I learned. And I had help, I was never alone. Helps to be superhuman too." Her and her mother chuckled, "you were doing pretty good when I showed up. Both of you had already taken down several of them. But let's not tempt fate any longer than we have to."

I collected the deer and led them back to Alexandria.

Rick and Carl were arriving right as we were.

"Gwen!" He greeted me, Carl waving, "Looks like you guys did well."

"Would have had another couple kills if it hadn't been for rotters." Miya complained.

"Rick, this is Kari and Miya. Deanna put me in charge of teaching her and the other two of Miya's sisters to hunt. Zoe twisted her ankle so Daryl was bringing her back-" I was cut off by the sound of Deanna yelling just inside the gate and the sounds of blows landing. Rick took off.

"I said that's enough!"

"Whoa, whoa! Hey, hey, hey!" I heard Rick yelling. Once I got in the gate I saw several things. First was a tense standoff between my people and some Alexandirians, then Helene and Zoe just past them. Then my gaze found Daryl pinning Nicholas, the guard that was on duty the day we arrived, his hands around his throat. Rick was trying to pull Daryl off, but he wouldn't budge. Finally Rick ripped him off, matching Daryl's pace as he tried to get back at him. Nicholas stood coughing, going to hide behind Deanna.

"That's the salvaging group, Aiden is a real prick, he's Deanna's youngest son." Miya whispered. Glenn, Tara, and Noah had been assigned to the team, and by the looks of this, something had happened during their run.

"I want everyone to hear me, okay?" Deanna spoke up to everyone gathered, "Rick and his people are a part of this community now in all ways equals. Understood?" Then she looked directly at her son, a severe scowl on her face. He shrugged.

"Understood."

"All of you, turn in your weapons, and you two," The community's leader pointed to Aiden and Nicholas, "Come talk with me." She turned away without another word, waiting for them to all leave. I took this as my que to approach, Miya and Kari going over to stand with Zoe and Helene. Daryl was still pacing, his eyes finding mine.

"I told you I had a job for you." Deanna said turning to Rick, "I'd like you to be our constable. That's what you were. That's what you are." Then she turned to Michonne, who was also present, "and you too." Then she looked back at Rick, "Will you accept?"

"Okay."

"Yeah I'm in." Daryl scoffed and started to walk away. He bent down to grab his crossbow, and look back at them before stalking back to Zoe.

"Thank you." I heard Deanna say to Glenn as I walked after Daryl.

"For what?" He asked.

"For knocking him on his ass." Daryl already had Zoe on his back, his head turned away from the others. He started walking as soon as I caught up, following Kari.

"What happened?" I asked him, as we walked. Zoe answered for him.

"We had just got back and Aiden's group was coming in. The Asian guy, and Aiden were arguing, Aiden was saying how they shouldn't be on the team because they don't know what they are doing. Some self serving bull crap that Aiden normally spews. He was being obnoxious and your friend was doing really well keeping his cool. Then Deanna was there, confronting him, Aiden took a swing at Glenn, who ducked and hit him in the face with his forearm. Nicholas charged at Glenn. By that time Daryl had already set me down, and he charged at Nicholas. That's about when you guys showed up." Daryl just continued to stare straight ahead as Keri led us up the stairs to their house.

Daryl went inside to set Zoe down. Kari stayed inside to tend to her while Helene went to the infirmary to get pain killers. Miya showed us to the garage where they usually clean what they find.

"Not that it really could be considered 'clean' when we're done with them. It's pretty sad actually." Daryl was leaning against the outside wall by the door, smoking, "He alright?" She asked softly.

"No, he was already feeling out of place here and now he is the last to get a job. Plus he just got in an altercation and was manhandled by the new 'constable'. He's sore, but he wont stay mad at Rick for long. Glenn, is one of the last of us left from the first camp in Atlanta. We are truely family. He has no blood family left." I sighed rubbing the back of my neck, "Well...he will soon." A grin stretched across her face.

"Damn I almost forgot about that."

"He had to put down his own brother...after he sacrificed himself for us in the early days of the prison."

"That's terrible..my sisters are so precious to me. The thought briefly flashed through my mind that Zoe would get bit and I would have to put her down…"

"But she just twisted her ankle, and that's all, because she has a sister like you." She scoffed, her blush easy to see on her pale skin.

"Okay go ahead and show me what to do, I'll show the others. I know he probably wants to talk with you."

I fastened the deer's back legs together with cords and hung them on the hook. She was big enough that her front hooves touched the ground.

"First you want to drain them of all their blood. I usually start skinning while the deer drains." Laying out a tarp and bucket I slit the deer's throat with my knife, letting the red liquid flow into the bucket, "Next I'll usually sharpen my knife, but I just sharpened them last night." Removing my trench coat, I skinned half the deer, giving Miya step by step instructions. She learnt quickly, taking the knife from me to do the other side. I had to give her little instruction while she worked. Once the skin was freed, I set it aside, wanting to tan it. I finally had a stable enough situation where I could spend the time.

"Next is the yummiest part." I put another bucket beside the first, the blood already just trickle, "The guts." Her nose crinkled when the guts dropped into the bucket.

"I can't imagine how bad that smells to you with your nose."

"Actually this smell is making my stomach rumble." The admission made me blush in embarrassment, "It's the wolf in me."

"Wolf? Oh as in what you were spliced and diced with?"

"Yeah well. It's usually easier to think of me as a werewolf, given that I was bitten and infected with something that changed my DNA. But I don't sprout fur, or howl at the moon."

"Don't let her fool ya Miya, she most definitely howls at the moon." Daryl commented coming in from outside, the scent of cigarettes lingering on his vest. Fuck, I wanted one…

Daryl helped me show her how to cut up the animal, then gave her a quick tutorial on skinning smaller game. By the end Daryl was itching to leave. I hugged Miya and called through the house to the others, their goodbyes returning to me. Daryl slung the bag full of wrapped venison cuts over his shoulder, the skin also in there and a tupperware a few choice organs. We left half of the deer for them and left them all the game they caught. Daryl totting the unskinned racoon as well.

Daryl and I were walking slowly back home, and I could tell his meandering pace was because he was thinking.

"Ya might as well just say what's on yer mind, love. Ya keep thinkin' that hard, smoke'll come out yer ears." I playfully pulled on the lobe of his ear. He caught my hand, kissing it quickly before pushing it away from him, "I know why you were put out with the others. Rick and Michonne, and I know you probably aren't anymore huh?" He huffed.

"No, just..." He was struggling for the right word.

"Jealous? You act tough but I know you really just want to be accepted. Yer frustrated because you are the last one."

"Sometimes I really do wonder if mind reading is one of yer powers." I just rolled my eyes.

"Daryl, everyone says you are the quietest, the most aloof. But you speak volumes, they just don't know how to read you."

"So what are ya? The Daryl Whisperer or some shit?" He scoffed, pinching my side.

"I'd like to think so. Plus, genetically I just have the upperhand on all those other thirsty hoes, like Fiona." Who was walking this way, and right into the armory where we were headed.

"Don't start anything." Daryl warned.

"I won't if she doesn't." Luckily Olivia was the first who saw us.

"Oh Gwen! Did you catch something?!" Her bubbly nature was proving to be infectious. Until I heard her voice.

"What about Gwen? Oh I know such a fucking cunt. Damn strumpet thinks that she can get in my way, I'll kick her damn teeth i-" She came around the corner and abruptly stopped when she saw me standing there. Daryl came up right behind me.

"Ya better choose yer next words well. That's my wife yer talkin' bout. I have no qualms with hitting a woman to defend her." He growled, his anger actually making me oddly horney. I lifted my left hand wiggling my fingers, giving her a smile just as fake as the one she gave me. Olivia was trying to contain her laughter, and she probably would have failed if she had seen Fiona's face. The woman stormed past us out of the pantry.

"God she has been bitching and moaning to me about that since yesterday. That one is crazy." Oliva let out a bark of laughter.

"But in answer to your question, yes we did. Actually, one of the things I needed to get from you was some salt."

"I've been curing meat in my basement for years! Would you like me to cure some for you?" She was so excited I couldn't tell her no. I gave her a large round cut, and a couple steaks as payment.

Olivia chuckled at my face as I handed Peacemaker over.

"Don't worry it will be safe here." I wasn't worried about the gun, I was worried about my sleep. Losing that familiar weight on my leg was already making me restless. Daryl handed over his own side arm. We bid her goodnight escaping into the fading light.

"Carol will be excited about this." I patted the game bag, as we headed home. Daryl stopped, looking ahead. I stopped as well looking where he was, seeing nothing. I looked back at him only to find he was right up in my face, his free hand cupping the back of my neck so he could kiss me, right there in the middle of the street.

"What's that fer?"

"I got to call ya my wife." His voice was low, thick with emotion. I smiled, nuzzling the end of his nose, "Makes me want to fuck ya right here in the street." he conitued the emotion swinging heavily towards lust. I shivered.

"Have one threesome, and he becomes an exobitionest." I teased him, "Don't tempt me, but I'm more hungry for food right now." He huffed kissing me again quickly before he started towards home again.

"So who is she?" Michonne questioned as soon as she saw we were back.

"Oh hell nah, I ain't gonna talk to you about this." Daryl walked away, cheeks red.

"She's uh...well the job Deanna gave me was to teach the Underwoods to hunt well. They've been trying but never get much. I met them yesterday and it was like an immediate connection. She chased after me to walk me home and asked me out. Instead I invited her to smoke with Daryl and I but it really was just code for sex." She snorted, amused as always at my bluntness, "And guess what, there are two other, triplets. One in each color.'' I waved the end of my braid at her, "And their mother-damn. They just have good jeans."

"And Daryl was down with that?" There was little she could do to hide her shock.

"Well I thought I was gonna have to convince him, but he just said 'Better roll two of them joints' and told me if I was going to be doing 'drugs' with my 'friends' I had to take a nap." The samurai cracked up, which made me laugh too.

"So how was it?" She held up a hand in instant regret, "You can spare me the nitty gritty."

"It was really really hot. And really nice. She's a fantastic kisser, god and so beautiful. Like from a lovers point of view and from an artist's. I would love to draw her."

Carol returned just before dark, starting dinner for all of us, using the meat we brought her.

"As to be expected from the hunter duo." Tara praised as food was divided up. A gentle murmur fell over the house as people dug in. Daryl headed out to the porch, plate in hand. I followed him out, closing the door behind me.

"God that woman can cook." I moaned as I inhaled my dinner, which made Daryl chuckle.

"Careful, ya might choke." Which I did. After I was done dying he just shook his head and went back to his food.

"I'm okay now." I assured him, making him snort.

"Mmhmm, you are." I whacked his arm and went back to scarfing my food.

Night had fallen and with our meals finished, I sat on the railing my back against the pole where Daryl stood smoking a cigarette. The sound of boots on the patio turned my head. Rick had changed into his new constable uniform. I was thrown back to the first days I was with the group at the quarry, when Rick still wore his Sheriff's uniform.

"We good?" Rick asked Daryl, referring to today's earlier scuffle.

"Yeah." He replied as Carol came out the front door to join us, "You a cop again?" Our leader let out a heavy sigh.

"I'm trying it on for size."

"So we're staying?" Carol questioned. Rick looked at her.

"I think we can start sleeping in our own homes. Settle in." Carol did not look convinced with that decision.

"If we get comfortable here, we let our guard down- this place is going to make us weak." Daryl and I exchanged glances, a similar conversation held between us last night.

"Carl said that." Rick told her, "But it's not gonna happen." He walked over to the railing, standing by my feet, looking over the street. Daryl turned to face him leaning his shoulder against mine, "We won't get weak. That's not in us anymore. We'll make it work. And if they can't make it…" He turned back around to look at the three of us, "Then we'll just take this place." The four of us looked at each other, agreement on our faces.

Don't get me wrong, I wanted this to work out smoothly, but after two days there were serious issues here that needed to be rectified. Like in a fashion that I am blown away they have lived this long.

Rick went back in to sit with Carl and check on Judith.

"So earlier when you were inside I caught sight of a very interesting thing." Carol said, a grin starting on her face. She crossed the porch and snagged my left hand, looking closely at my rings, "Beautiful." She grabbed Daryl's hand as well looking at his band, "Safe to assume we have another Dixon in our ranks now?" She raised her eyebrows referring not only to me but the future Dixon as well.

"Yup, said she wouldn't mind." Daryl , turned his head and kissed my temple. Happy tears were gathered in Carol's eyes

"I'm so happy for you both."She hugged Daryl and then me, taking my hand back to look at the rings again, "Where the heck did you find them?"

"Joel." Daryl answered, "Gave Gwen a package to give to me when we were in Atlanta. Came with a note and his blessing. They were Joel and Norah's rings." Her smile was sad but I knew it was because Joel couldn't be here with us now.

"Well tomorrow is another busy day." She scoffed, "Gossiping and making cookies." I snorted at the mental image of Carol clucking with a bunch of hens.

"It's so you but so not at the same time." I told her.

Carol insisted on being the one to announce it to everyone. Probably one of the most comical things our group witnessed. She made Daryl and I, two of the most socially awkward people, stand in front of everyone while she made the announcement. Both of our faces were bright red as everyone cheered. Daryl at least got to escape after, I got pulled in by Michonne and had to answer everyone's questions myself.

"We should toast!" Glenn said, "Where'd Daryl go?" I looked at Michonne shaking my head. I was handed a beer anyway, and suddenly people were cheering. I put the beer to my lips and pretended to take a drink. It took several minutes, but I finally managed to slip away, handing my beer off to Michonne covertly. She whacked my butt as I walked up the stairs. I scoffed at her, she just raised the beer bottle and shook it, to which my answer was to stomp up the stairs as she laughed.

When I got in the room, I shut the door leaning against it.

"On a scale from zero to awkward, I'd say it was mortifying." I told the ceiling. The silence of the room brought my gaze down. Daryl wasn't here and the window was open. I huffed, sitting on the ledge.

"Typical alley cat, slipping out the window." I wanted to talk to him, I needed to tell him. Accepting that wasn't going to happen tonight, I got ready for bed.

Nightmares plagued my sleep; dreaming of my years of imprisonment. Screaming myself awake, I sat there my entire body shaking, sweet drenching the sheets. The door burst open a few moments later, making me scream again. Michonne was there with her katana in hand. I could see Carol and Carl behind her.

"Sorry…" I apologized, tears welling up in my eyes, "I'm safe...just nightmares..." I hastily whipped my tears trying in vain to calm down. Carol and Carl departed leaving Michonne, who was looking around.

"Where's Daryl?" I shook my head.

"He snuck out of the window earlier, he hasn't been back." She came the rest of the way into the room shutting the door behind her. Coming to sit on the bed, she put her hand on my shoulder.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I shook my head, leaning over and resting my head on her leg.

"Can you just stay here for a little?" She started to pet my hair.

"Yeah I'll stay." Eventually the tears died up and I fell back to a dreamless sleep.

It was dawn when I woke again. Michonne had gone and I was alone again. The window creaked open and Daryl climbed in. He froze when he saw me sitting up.

"Shit Gwen, ya look like hell." Angry tears welled up in my eyes.

"This is how I normally look after I scream myself awake 'cause of nightmares. Then I have to rely on Michonne to sit with me so I can go back to sleep." He sat down on the sill, maybe not sure if he should stay or run the opposite direction. I appreciated his caution.

"Sorry…" He finally said. I whipped my tears away.

"Why'd you run away?" I asked him, looking down at my hands in my lap, looking up at him again from under my hair. He shrugged in response. I pursed my lips, then fell back on the bed with a huff. He eventually decided it was safe to enter the room, but he didn't stay. He crossed to the bed touching my forehead with his hand. He left a kiss there and left again. Probably the closest we were getting to an apology. Not that it was his fault I was having nightmares, or that he was feeling out of place here. I was only able to blame him for my raised hormones. Maybe it was because I still had not told him, that these particular nightmares had returned.

After he left, I rolled out of bed, and slid on my sweatpants. After I pulled my hair up into a bun, I headed downstairs. Several people were already awake and moving their things into the other house. I didn't miss the looks from the others. They looked worried. Damn, I must look awful.

I found some tea in the cupboard and started heating a kettle of water on the stove.

"Whats this?" Daryl came up behind me and snatched the tea leaf strainer from me.

"Tea." I curtly answered. He snorted at me.

"Ya mad?"

"Yeah, but not necessarily at you. Just mad." I answered, taking my tea back and putting it in the mug. When the kettle whistled I poured the hot water over the leaves, watching as they unfurled.

"Do ya wanna talk about the dream?" He leaned against the counter next to me.

"Not much to talk about, it was just warped memories. Three years of hell, just floating back to the surface. It's been some time though since I've screamed myself awake like that." I pinched the bridge of my nose, a headache racking my brain, "The first year I screamed myself awake every night. It got less frequent the longer I was working with Norah."

"Why now?" I just shrugged.

"Haven't figured it out yet. Still not one hundred percent awake yet." He took my tone as a sign to just leave me be.

"Maybe you should take the day off." Carol told me after I came back down the stairs after showering and getting ready for my class.

"I thought I looked better." I grumbled.

"Yes you do, but you still look like a pouty thundercloud. I'd offer to have you come with me but I doubt you would be able to handle housewives in your given state." She winced mockingly at my glower, "Like little grumpy lightning bolts." She teased, "Put something cool on your eyes, it'll help."

As Carol left, Miya walked in, the two women nodding curtly. The redhead halted when she saw my face.

"Thought you said you were a werewolf not a vampire." My half hearted glare was met with her bubbly laughter. Her face became more serious, worried, like the others, "Nightmares?"

"You too?" She nodded.

"Watched my girlfriend be devoured in front of me."

"When did that happen?" My voice was just above a whisper.

"About six months ago. It was before we came here."

"What was her name?"

"Jenna Peabody." I lifted my mug.

"To Jenna."

"What are yours about?"

"The three years I spent in my own personal hell…" She didn't press and for that I was grateful.

"Well I was coming by to see if you had plans, but I'm thinking you should rest. Stress is bad for um...your skin." There were still people coming in and out of the house.

"My skin will be fine. What were you thinking?"

"Can you and I, like go hunting, by ourselves? Just for like a couple hours? I think there's something happening tonight and Deanna wants us all back here." I furrowed my brow wondering what Deanna was up to.

"I mean if you don't want to-" I looked up waving my hand.

"No, I mean yes! I want to go. I was just thinking about what Deanna was up to." Rick had already left for patrol with Michonne. She was probably with them.

"Are you already ready to go?" I asked her.

"No but I can be in like twenty minutes." I nodded.

"Meet me at the armory. I have to find Rick first."

Once she was gone I downed the rest of my tea and headed for the stairs.

I was right in thinking Deanna would be with them. They were talking with Sasha about patrols when I reached them.

"Gwen!" Deanna greeted, "Oh honey. Did you get any sleep?" Her tone held concern.

"Gwen had a particularly bad nightmare last night. Screamed herself awake. Woke the entire house." Michonne came over to me and pulled my head to her shoulder, I was glowering like the little thunder cloud that I was, not particularly happy that she shared this.

"Lingering PTSD." I explained to Deanna, her eyes held understanding rather than pity, which broke up the storm clouds a bit.

"Well I want you to go home and get some rest. We are having a party this evening to welcome you all. I want to see you there. See if you can bring your-well i guess he's you're husband now." I crinkled my brow.

"How…?"

"Oh sorry that was my fault." Michonne admitted, "We were talking about it and Deanna overheard."

"Oh...okay. Well Imma actually going to go hunt, get my mind off it. It's just for a couple hours. I'll get some rest after." Michonned released me and I headed towards the armory.

A party? Really? Great idea to have a sleep deprived werewolf in a house with a lot of strangers. Miya was waiting outside when I got there.

"Are you sure you're up to this?" She asked, when she saw that I was probably in a worse mood than earlier.

"Yeah let's just get our stuff and go."

The woman standing guard at the gate looked incredibly bored. She just nodded to us and pulled open the gate enough for me to squeeze through, then shut it again after Miya.

"Those guards are going to be in for a rude awakening now that Rick is incharge of security." I commented to Miya when we were inside the tree line.

Most of the trip was Miya watching me closely, either out of idleness or when I was tracking.

"Miya, I ain't gonna fall over, ya can stop worrying, it's making my nose twitch." The other woman almost ran into me when I suddenly stopped. I turned to look at her. My companion let out a huff.

"Sorry, I can't help it. You aren't as sure on your feet as you were yesterday. I can see it." I let out a frustrated sigh.

"Miya. I'm fine. So please just relax and focus on tracking." I turned back and started to head out.

"But are you sure?" Rolling my eyes, I turned back to her to give her some smart comment when I saw the walker barring down on her.

"Miya!" I yelled leaping forward and pushing her out of the way. I didn't have time to raise my arms to stop the walker from biting down on my shoulder. I screamed in agony as I drove my knife into its skull.

"Oh no! Gwen!" Miya wailed from the ground. I fell to my knees, my heart squeezing painfully. This wasn't happening...it couldn't be happening. Tears were running down my face.

I wonder if you would be immune to all this. Jenner's voice echoed in my mind. Well, I guess we were about to find out.

Miya was holding me to her chest, tears silently streaming down her face.

"I'm so sorry…" She whispered for the millionth time.

"Stop….apologizing." The sun had gone down hours ago, "I wonder if Daryl's wondered where I've gone…" I wish I could see him, say goodbye, if this really was the end, "Ya...ya promised...not to kill my brain until after...will ya…"

"Yes" She held my hand to her lips.

"If- if Jenner… if that doctor was wrong...can you please tell Daryl? Tell him about the baby?" She nodded. My strength was leaving me face, my vision getting very dark, "This is goodbye for now Miya…" I whispered before I faded to darkness.

(⊙＿⊙')