Chapter 1-Meeting the group

Negan's P.O.V

Negan Smith walked through the woods with his two companies. Laura, and Franklin. Negan was a tall, muscular man with black hair and a greying beard. He had a fair complexion. Negan was wearing a black leather jacket and a black T-shirt. He had on black pants and combat boots. He wore black gloves. Negan had a gun and knife at his side and his baseball bat on his back. Laura had white skin. She was just above average height with a slim build. She had long blond hair and blue eyes.

She wore a blue T-shirt and blue jeans. She had on black combat boots. She had a handgun and a bowie knife. Franklin was a tall black man with short black hair and a beard. He had black eyes and a machete and a handgun. He wore a blue coat with a white T-shirt, blue jeans, and brown boots. "How long has it been since we crossed the Georgia state line?" Laura asks them.

"A day," Negan says after a moment. "We'll need to refill on water soon."

"Let's keep our eyes out for a river," Franklin says. The two of them nod and continue to walk for about ten minutes before coming across a river. Laura grabs the water bottles out of their bags and walks down to the water. "We barely survived the winter, Negan," Franklin says as Laura refills the water bottles.

"I know, Franklin," Negan says.

"We need to find people or somewhere to settle down," Franklin says.

Before Negan could reply, they heard a branch break behind him. Negan grabs for his gun. "I wouldn't do that," A voice says from behind him. Negan stops. "Hands up, and then turn around slowly," The man says. Franklin and Negan raise their hands and turn around. Laura did the same. The man standing in front of them was holding a crossbow. He had three other people with him, a woman and two men.

"We don't want any trouble," Franklin says.

"Daryl," The younger man says as he lays his hand on Daryl's crossbow. Daryl slowly lowers it. "I'm Glenn, that's Maggie, T-dog, and this is Daryl,"

Daryl was a tall man with a muscular build. He had brown hair that just went past his ears. He had a fair complexion. He wore a black vest with angel wings on the back. He had on a black T-shirt under it and black pants with boots on. He had a knife, handgun, and crossbow. Glenn was a man of average height with black and dark brown eyes. He had an athletic build. He had tan skin. He had on a white shirt, blue jeans, and tennis shoes. He had a machete and a handgun. T-dog was a tall, muscular man with a bald head and black eyes. He had on a brown T-shirt, brown jeans, and tennis shoes. He had a handgun and a fire poker. Maggie had brown hair and green eyes. She had an athletic build. She was of average height. She had tan skin and wore a blue coat with a white T-shirt under it. She had on black jeans and brown boots. She had a knife and a handgun. "Daryl isn't the most trusting person," T-dog says.

"I can see that," Negan says. "I'm Negan, that's Franklin, and the woman is Laura."

"Are you guys alone?" Franklin asks.

Daryl and Glenn share a glance, and Glenn nods. "We got a group," Daryl says.

"You taking in people?" Franklin asks.

"Ain't our choice," Daryl says. He walks past them and towards the water.

Everybody stays silent as Daryl and Maggie fill up the water bottles. The air around them was tense as Daryl and Maggie walked back. "We can't take the chance," Daryl says. "Good luck."

They watch them as they turn around and start to walk back towards their camp. "Franklin's a doctor," Negan says, causing them to stop and look at them.

"That true?" T-dog asks.

"It is," Franklin says. Negan watches as Glenn whispers something to Daryl, who nods.

"Come on."

Rick's P.O.V

Rick Grimes sat on the steps of the house they were staying at. They had it the day before, and he knew it wouldn't be long before they had to leave again. Rick was tall with light brown hair and blue eyes. He had white skin and a beard. He wore a brown button-up shirt and black jeans with black boots on. He had his colt phyton and a knife at his hip. He looked around the group that was loading things into the cars. His son Carl had short brown hair and green eyes. He was of average height for his age and had a fit figure. He wore his sheriff hat, a brown coat, and a grey T-shirt. He had brown pants on and tennis shoes. He had a gun and a knife at his hip. There was Hershel. Hershel was the father of Maggie and Beth. He was a tall man with a fit build, long grey hair, and a grey beard. He had on a brown shirt and pants with brown boots. He had a gun and knife at his hip. Beth had a slim build and was a little shorter than Maggie. She had long golden blond hair and blue eyes. There was Carol. She had short grey hair and blue eyes. She was of average height with a slim build. She had on a red tank top and blue jeans. She had on black tennis shoes. The final person was his wife, Lori was a woman of average height, and before she got pregnant, she had an athletic build. She had long brown hair and hazel eyes. Lori wore a purple and white striped shirt and blue jeans with boots on. She had a knife and a snub-nobbed revolver.

"Rick," Beth says, making him look at her. "They're back," Beth pauses for a second. "They have guests."

Rick stands up and walks towards the woods as Daryl, Glenn, T-dog, Maggie, Negan, Laura, and Franklin come out. "Seems you found some people," Rick says.

"Found 'em by the river," Daryl says. "Give us a second," He says to the three who nod as Rick follows Daryl, Glenn, and T-dog away from the three of them.

"We've done pretty well by ourselves. We don't know these people," Rick growls.

"That guy, Franklin, he's a doctor. He delivered babies before, Rick," Glenn says. "He could help with Lori."

"That main guy, Negan, seems like he knows what he is doing, so does the woman. Rick, we're low on people. If we have more people, we could clear places easier," Glenn says.

"You three going to vouch for them?" Rick asks. T-dog and Glenn nod and Rick looks at Daryl.

"You're the one who said don't bring people. This ain't a dictatorship anymore, you make the decision," Daryl says to Rick.

"Rick, he is a real doctor, not a vet like Hershel. He could deliver the baby," Glenn argues.

"Fine, they can stay," Rick says before he walks away.

Daryl's P.O.V

Daryl sat on the porch by himself after getting everybody settled into the house. He was skinning rabbits. He looks at the door as it opens, and Lori steps outside. "Should you be walking?" Daryl asks her without looking up from his rabbit.

"The sun is good for the baby," Lori says. "Mind if I sit?"

"Be my guest," Daryl says as he moves over a little so Lori can sit beside him. "Franklin look at you?"

"He said from what he could tell that the baby was healthy," Lori says with a small smile.

"That's good," Daryl says as he throws the guts onto the ground. He starts to cut the meat out. The two sat in silence until Daryl got the meat off the rabbit into a bucket.

"I'll take that in," Lori says as she grabs the bucket and goes inside. Daryl looks up at sees a walker coming towards the house. He pulls his crossbow out and shoots the walker through the head.

Negan's P.O.V

The group sat in silence that night eating rabbit stew. "Any of you know how to hunt?" Rick asks Negan, Laura, and Franklin.

"I know a little," Laura says. "Not much. We usually just scavenge."

Rick nods, and Negan looks around. "Have you all been together since the start?"

"Most of us have. We've lost some people," Glenn says. "Good people."

"We know the feeling," Negan says after a moment. "I can take first watch tonight."

Everybody nods as Negan walks outside. The night air was cold as Negan watched the woods and road. He looks at Rick as he walks outside. "So, what was your tragic lost?" Negan asks Rick, who looks at him confused. "We've all lost someone that changed us, made us killers. If Franklin wasn't a doctor, I have a feeling you would have sent us on our way or kill us."

"A man from my past," Rick says flatly. "What about you?"

"My wife," Negan says flatly. "I killed a man after she died. I beat him to death with my bat here."

"I killed two guys in a bar," Rick says. He turns and faces Negan. "I'm willing to give you a chance, but I'm going to warn you if you try anything, and I mean anything, I'll kill you," Rick says in a calm voice.

"Got it," Negan says. "Can I give you some advice?"

"Sure," Rick says.

"You're in a dead marriage," Negan says. "I've seen plenty of them in my day."

Rick stays silent for a moment before he punches Negan, who smiles. "Glenn will relieve you in a few hours," Rick walks inside, leaving Negan to the silence of the night.

"He knows I'm right," Negan says to himself.

Thanks for reading, this is an idea I got from a friend, and I wanted to give it a try. I don't have a lot of plans, but I'm excited to see where it will go. As always, suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.