Make it Till You Don't

Of all Things Holy

We were currently making our way through the woods in search of somewhere to stay, hopefully a place we could stay for a while. A twig snapped to our left, causing all of us to stop in our tracks, pointing our guns, watching as it was just Daryl coming around the tree.

He stopped in his tracks, seeing all the guns pointed at him before he held his arms up, one holding his crossbow and the other some animals he caught. "We surrender."

Relaxing, we all put our weapons down and kept moving as he made his way to Rick at the front. Last night, he and Carol heard something in the woods while on watch and Rick had a feeling it might be someone from Terminus and sent Daryl out this morning to look while hunting.

I watched as Rick stopped walking as Daryl kept forward, letting out a whistle. "Keep close."

I walked up to walk next to Daryl as Rick talked to Abraham. "I don't want to be paranoid, but I have this feeling we're not done with the people from Terminus."

"Yeah, well, even if they are still around, can't be much of 'em left." He replied, ducking under a branch. "Not with how we left the place."

"Fair enough, but I still worry." I sighed, glancing to my right. "Especially being exposed as we are. We don't have any walls to hide behind in the case of an attack." I felt him bump into my arm, causing me to look at him. "But- We are a stubborn group that doesn't know when to quit." I relented.

I watched him smirk at my answer. "Damn right."

"But no one is as stubborn as you." I added, smirking. "I said it once, and I'll say it again. 'Nothing's gonna kill you. Truth is, you're gonna outlive us all.' Even after I am dead and gone, you'll live on."

"You're not gonna die." Daryl spoke up.

I raised an eyebrow at him "Oh yeah? What makes you so confident?"

"Won't let it." Daryl replied, glancing over at me. "Not while I'm around."

...

"What is it with you and cigarettes?" I asked, not bothering to look at who it was, knowing already.

"Why not? Worlds come to an end anyway, doubt I'll die from smoking. Plus it passes the time." Was the response I got, causing me to let out a chuckle. "What's so funny."

"Nothing, I just couldn't help but to imagine the Daryl Dixon, badass of the apocalypse, done in by none other than a cigarette." I waved my hand up as if a banner was in front of me before turning to smirk at him.

"Shut up. Ain't no damn cigarette gonna kill me." He huffed, coming to sit on the steps next to me.

"I know. Nothing's gonna kill you." I concluded, staring back out in front of me. "Truth is, you're gonna outlive us all."

...

"You ain't getting separated from the group."

I raised a brow. "Oh yeah? What makes you so sure about that?" I asked, genuinely curious of his answer. Not getting one, I let out a sigh. "It could happen, you know? It's happened to me three times already."

"Three?" He asked me.

I began counting off my fingers. "Yeah. The first one, obviously, when I got taken from my group after they were killed. The second, when I escaped and was alone in the woods, almost getting myself killed in the process." I paused, holding up a third finger. "When we lost the farm that night."

I took a moment, remembering that night. "Hershel and I were surrounded, all the cars had already left. I truly thought I was gonna die... accepted it, even. If Rick hadn't shown up I wouldn't be here right now."