I was woken up the next morning to the sound of the noise makers rustling outside. When i had arrived back to the tent he was already asleep inside the sleeping bag, his back facing me. Just a kiss, just something close, that was i needed from him. He did want to kiss me, i was almost certain of it. But Daryl would never admit that, he would never even think of the idea of that being true in fear that some emotion would reveal it self. It was then that i got into my own sleeping bag and curled up against the tent, staying away from him as much as i could.

But, when i woke up the next morning, we had both rolled into the middle of the tent, and when i opened my eyes all i saw was his face. He was so calm and peaceful when he was asleep. I wished he would feel as relaxed in the day with me like he was when he dreaming. His eyes flickered behind his lids, lost in another world that i probably had no place in. I longed to touch him, to wake him up with a soft kiss on his lips. But i knew he wouldn't appreciate it, even if he did secretly want it himself. I slowly and quietly climbed out of the sleeping bag so i could deal with the Walker myself, so that he could sleep in a little longer. I was too good to him, i thought, especially after how he reacted towards me yesterday.
-

I stepped out from the mostly warm tent caused by our breathing and into the freezing cold morning air. The grass crunched under my feet from the cold frost that had grew on the grass over night. Shivering i tucked my knife into my belt before wrapping my arms around myself, and then i slowly began walking towards the noise makers to check the area. It was going to be an extra cold day, i could feel it already. I was surprised i slept aswell as i did last night with how cold it was. I must have been shattered. Or, just trying to escape my embarrassment, either one.

I neared the noise makers and scanned around the area, circling our camp to see exactly where the walker had came from. It didn't take long to find him.

A body was led over the top of the noise makers. The string probably tripped the walker up and now it lay on the floor. I wondered about Daryl again as i neared the Walker. What he said to me last night, how my body felt with him pressing me against the tree. I couldn't help but feel all spiny again at remembering the scene. I knelt down by the walker and reached out... And just as my hand grabbed the back of its hair to pull his head up so i could slide my blade into it brain, i noticed something that was odd. It's clothes were clean, not ripped or dirty. Just as i touched the nape it neck, it's head shot back to look at me, his face was normal. He had no teeth snarling for my flesh. What greeted me wasn't a face of a walker, but a face of a man. "Hello there." He said and gave me a toothy grin. I stumbled back but felt hands on me almost immediately, gripping me tight to them.

What the hell was this, who were they. Fuck. Why did i always end up in trouble, why did i always get chosen. Probably cause i was the weakest of Daryl and I. I scowled and tried to hide my fear behind that scowl.

"You ain't going anywhere darlin'." The man said behind me and sniffed my hair. I cringed away. "Such a pretty little thing aren't ya?" His voice was horrible, a voice you would imagine in nightmares.

I gulped away the tight knot in my throat. I needed to scream, needed to do something. Before he put his hands over my mouth, i finally found my voice. "Daryl!" I screamed, hoping it was loud enough to wake him up. God i hoped it was.

Was these the men from last night, most probably. Why had they set such a scene, they could have grabbed us both while we was asleep. All these thoughts ran through my mind as the men dragged me towards the tent by my hair. It was painful, but the thought of Daryl being ready was what occupied me, taking my mind off it.

I dug my heels into the dirt, trying to make them slow down their walk to the tent to give Daryl more time. But once the men caught on what i was doing, a boy grabbed my feet and they carried me there. I kicked as hard as i could, but nothing really made a difference. Soon enough, we was back at the tent.

One man opened the tent and groaned, spitting onto the ground. "Come on out, we know you're out there."

"Let her go first." Said a voice. We looked behind, the route we just came and there stood Daryl. His bow resting on one arm and a gun in the other. I wondered where he got that gun from. But that didn't matter, all that mattered was that he had it now, pointing straight at his head.

The main man chuckled. "No need for that son, set you're weapons down."

"Let her go." Daryls voice was harsher now, a meaner tone to it. The main man tilted his head, examining Daryl first before raising his hand and clicking his fingers. Almost instantly all the men in the group raised their guns and pointed them at Daryl. I watched him as he scanned the barrels pointing at him. His gun may be fast, but all of their guns was faster.

"No." I breathed and stared at him. He glanced at me, anger and sorrow in his eyes.

"Don't be stupid, put your weapons down." The man said again and walked ahead of me. He was an oldish man with a beard as white a snow.

Daryl spat and slowly, lowered his guns. The other men did the same. The main man walked up to Daryl and took his weapons from him before slapping him on the back. "Welcome to The Claimers." He said, as if he was letting Daryl into his family.

Daryl glared at him. "I'm apart of your group, oright?" He shrugged his hand off and walked straight to me. His eyes were on mine, his stare hard and needy. He looked at me exactly the same way i felt for him, a need for him to be near me. The men that was holding me, dropped me and i fell to the ground with a hard thud. I groaned at the impact and tried to to hide how much it hurt. Daryl hands reached my arms, and i suddenly felt more safe. Even though we was weaponless, just having him near me made me feel more protected. He helped me to my feet and checked me over before turning to face the group of men staring at us, all of their eyes mostly at me. It made me feel itchy, the way their eyes traveled over me like i was a piece of meat. I glanced to the floor.

"What do you want?" Daryl asked.

The leader paced for a moment. "I'm gathering people, i need a stronger and larger group for what i'm about to do." His voice made it clear that he had a plan. I just didn't want to be apart of it, no matter how great it was or convincing. I could sense these men were going to be hard work, and i knew Daryl wouldn't be able to protect me forever. I looked up at him, his jaw was tight as he stared at the men.

Daryl gripped me into him when he noticed the way the men were looking at me. I glanced back to look at the man who seemed like he was in charge.

"Which is?" Daryl questioned, he portrayed nothing in his voice, no emotion. But i knew by his tight grip on me that he was nervous, and that made me petrified. Daryl Dixon was never scared. Strangely, i had a feeling he was more scared for me than himself, which was worse.

The leader, who's name i still didn't know gave a small grin. "We're going to take over Terminus."