AMBER | Daryl Dixon

His Reaping

Daryl's POV

"Dad! Look! I hit the tree! I hit it!" She exclaimed very cheerfully.

"Yes, you hit the tree, but you missed the target," I then pointed to the target, being hung up by a nail and a string.

"Aww..." She pouted, letting her shoulders droop. I smiled.

"Alright. Come on, let's try again. This time, focus on the target and nothing else." She nodded and then aimed the gun back toward the tree. She let out a deep breath and closed one eye.

"Now all you gotta do is hit it." She let out another breath and pulled the trigger, sending the bullet toward the target.

Her face lit up as she realized that she had finally hit the target. My eyes grew wide as I cheered myself.

"Daddy! I hit it! I hit the target!" She smiled wide.

"Yes, you did!" I picked her up and hugged her.

"Merle! Your princess here finally hit the target!" I said with a smile. Merle smirked and nodded with a single cigarette in his mouth.

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"Daddy, do you know if my friends back at the orphanage are -"

"They are doing just fine. You don't need to worry about them anymore." I said, cutting her sentence short.

We were sitting on the steps of the back porch, cleaning my crossbow, just talking back and forth, just getting to know my daughter more. It has only been a couple of weeks, but she seems to be getting used to the place.

"But what about the disease that people keep talking about?" I looked up at her.

"It's all over the news, radio stations. Even people at the grocery store whisper about it." I sighed.

"I'm sure they'll be taken care of. Just trust me, okay? Now hand me that rag." With a sigh, she nodded, turning behind her to grab the red rag that hung over the railing.

"How are you so calm about all of this, dad? I would be freaking out." She then smiled, settling back against the wooden beam.

"Let's just say I'm cool that way," I replied, having her laugh as she rolled her eyes, leaning forward to watch me clean my bow.

Deep down, I don't want her to see me afraid. She doesn't need to be afraid, not anymore. I gotta be strong for her, I gotta protect her. Regardless if what is happening is true, I'll always be by her side to protect her, always.

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I chuckled as I thought back to when I first took her shooting to that sad promise I made to myself, only to have her slip through my fingers days after. I just continued to think of all my first with my daughter when suddenly, I heard some shuffling and a deep breath being released. I opened my eyes and looked through my fingers to find Amber's eyes opening.