My Hunter || D. Dixon (On Hold)

Thirty-Three - Don't Panic

As usual when something goes wrong everyone has an opinion on it. It turned into everyone arguing on rather we should leave or not. Then it all fell silent, it was nice until something in the woods cracked. Some of us flinched.

I glance around my right arm now in a makeshift sling thanks to Daryl and the use of an extra flannel that I had. "Don't...panic," Herschel says in a hushed voice.

"I'm not waiting here for another herd to come through. We need to move!" Maggie insists,

I shake my head. "We aren't going anywhere," Rick growls.

"Do something!" Carol demands.

"I am doing something! I'm keeping this group together, alive! I've been doing that all along, no matter what." He snaps. "I didn't ask for this! I killed my best friend for you people, for Christ's sake!"

My gaze goes around the group then it lands on him, their faces become shocked, their mouths frozen open in gaping stares.

"You saw what he was like. How he pushed me, compromised us, threatened us." He says, his eyes darting to me for a moment. "He staged the whole Randall thing. Led me out to put a bullet in my back, He was holding a gun to Luna's, ready to pull the trigger. What was I supposed to do?" My gaze went to the floor, feeling everyone looking at me. "He gave me no choice. He was my friend, but he came after me. He was ready to kill me, my hands are clean."

Carl bursts into tears and Lori hugs him, soothing him softly. No sounds are made by anyone else. "Maybe you people are better off without me. Go ahead." Rick points to the woods.

I look back up at him, Daryl's hand now on my back as I lean against him, head on his shoulder. "Rick, we would never leave you," I say desperately.

Rick shakes his head. "I say there's a place for us, maybe. . .maybe it's another pipe dream. Maybe I'm fooling myself again. Why don't you go and find out yourself? Send me a postcard. Go on, there's the door. You can do better? Let's see how far you get."

"Rick, none of us are leaving." I snap. Everyone stares at me, including Rick. "If you're gonna be our leader, I'm fine with that. Hell, it's not like anyone else has taken the initiative. I don't know about everyone else, but I'm staying, and I'll follow you." I cross my arms.

"Anyone else wanna leave?" Rick asks. No one moves. "No takers? Fine, but know this. If you're staying, this isn't a democracy anymore." He walks away, and everyone continues to stay quiet.

"I'll take first watch," I muttered, knowing I wouldn't be able to sleep tonight at all. Standing up, I hold my bow in my left hand and walk off to take a look around.

A few minutes after I leave the group Rick comes up to me and we start to chat for a bit. "I wanted to say thank you." He said, making me look from the woods to him with a confused look on my face.

"For what?" I asked him, tilting my head a bit out of habit.

"For everything. Forgetting the group out, for waiting and getting Herschel, for sticking with me." He said, making me smile and shake my head, looking to the woods.

"What can I say? I know a good guy when I see one. And I believe that you'll beat this world, Rick, you and that kid of yours." I said, glancing to him then to the darkness of the unknown.

"You will too. We all will." He said before walking off. Though I know that he was just saying that to bring hopes up.

Daryl takes his place not to long after, standing with me. "I thought I lost you." He says after a moment, making me look to him with a frown. "Then I saw you with Rick and Herschel, Carl. I've never been so damn happy." He says and I lower my bow, turning and looking towards him.

Daryl walks to stand in front of me. "You want the truth? I thought you were alive, I knew you were alive. After all that I thought you'd leave, try your chances out on the road." I say and he lowers his crossbow, setting it on the ground before moving my bow from my hand.

His hands sit on my waist locking eyes with me. "I'm never gonna leave you. Now now. Not ever." He says, pulling me to him, pressing his lips against mine. "I love you." He says against my lips.

I smile, my left hand falling on her shoulder. "I love you too."