Daryl's Precious Gem: Iridescent (Daryl Dixon/ Negan Fanfiction)

21: Hearts Still Beating

Exhausted. Overwhelmed. Drained.

Those were a few descriptions I could think of as our group first marched into the camp. We all had made it safely but everyone was tired and hungry. As co-leader I stepped up helping everyone adjust to their new lives. For the first two days I brought in water from the spillway, fished and hunted while Dad taught the others how to set snares and how to survive in this camp.

It was a brutal first few days on me doing a lot of work but it paid off. Everyone looked up to my father and I as leaders. They respected us and trusted our ways. As the days went on Dad took a few men and built watch towers by the front gate. And then moved onto making watch towers in the trees just in case any unwanted visitors came wandering in. While Dad was busy doing that I taught the others how to fish and hunt. As the group members became more experienced I began teaching them how to smoke fish and meat from the game we caught. My father and I taught them that every part of the animal was essential—from the fur to its bones.

The one sunny day a group of us took a break from the heat and cooled off in the pool by the falls. I sat on the shore, drying off as I watched over everyone having fun. A smile formed on my face as I felt at peace.

"Seems like not that long ago it was you and your brother in there trying to drown each other." Dad chuckled as he sat beside me.

"I remember it as if it were yesterday." I giggled at the memory.

"This suits you—leadership."

"They didn't just teach us how to hunt and woo people in the course I took." I smirked.

Dad chuckled, "Sounds like you took a really good course."

"I wish I could've finished it before this outbreak. There was one last chapter I was working on."

"What was that?"

"People skills and psychology."

"By the looks of it you already have it figured out."

"Took me four hellish years of this to figure it out." I sighed. "Look where it's gotten me."

"Don't be so hard on yourself." Dad rubbed my back. "You've come a long way!"

"Thanks." I smiled lightly, watching the kids splash each other.

"Since you're my co-leader, how about we figure out a name for this group. What do you think of The Fallen?"

"No." I scrunched my nose.

"The Unburnt?"

"Nah."

"The Unbroken?"

"No way!" I laughed, "We want to sound tough and mighty, right?"

"What do you have in mind?" Dad chuckled.

"The Coalition." I sat up straighter. "We may not be a big group or a form of government but we are people coming together for the same purpose. And eventually we will take down The Saviors."

"For now we don't have to worry about that." Dad patted my shoulder. "I like that name. The Coalition."

"Do you think they're ready to go beyond the wall and scavenge?"

Dad shook his head, "Not yet but soon."

"How soon? We need to plan ahead. This winter could be worse than the previous. We need to be ready!"

"We will be." My dad assured. "Let's focus on building up their strength and confidence before sending them out into the world, okay?"

"Okay." I agreed. Father and I watched as the others laughed, playing in the water. This was our home and our fortress. We would survive.