The Third Dixon [The walking dead]

Season one, Chapter one

Measi hugged Glenn tightly before finally letting go. He gave her a small, reassuring smile before turning toward the van.

She didn't miss the way Merle watched her—arms crossed, jaw clenched, disappointment etched across his face. Merle hated goodbyes. Hated weakness even more. And in his eyes, hugging people like you needed them was weakness.

The Dixon kids learned early not to rely on anyone.

Measi tightened her grip on the strap of her sniper rifle and dropped her gaze, boots crunching softly against the dirt as she walked toward the others. Carl sat cross-legged near the fire, Sophia close beside him, Lori hovering nearby while Carol lingered just outside her tent. Shane stood a little apart, watchful as ever.

Measi eased herself down between Carl and Lori, her eyes drifting toward Andrea and Amy as they clung to each other. She lifted her hand in a small wave to Andrea—subtle, barely noticeable. Or at least she hoped it was.

Merle noticed anyway.

His glare burned into the side of her face, and she resisted the urge to look back. She wasn't a kid anymore. She didn't need his approval. Still, old habits were hard to kill.

Daryl didn't say goodbye at all.

He disappeared into the trees before anyone could stop him, crossbow slung over his shoulder, hunting again. That left Measi, Shane, and Ed behind to watch the camp while the others—Glenn, Merle, Morales, Andrea, and T-Dog—climbed into the van and drove off in a cloud of dust.

Measi lay prone atop the RV, methodically wiping down her sniper rifle with a cloth. The familiar motions grounded her. Through the scope, the world narrowed into clean lines and quiet distance.

Two walkers shuffled near the treeline—slow, far enough away not to matter.

She scanned the camp instead.

Dale counted supplies with furrowed concentration. Lori corrected Carl's grip on a knife while Sophia watched closely. Amy sat near the water, fishing line steady. And Ed... Ed leaned against a tree, cigarette dangling from his lips like the world hadn't ended.

Figures.

"Hey, Measi."

She looked down to see Shane smiling up at her, a bow resting in his hand. "Ever held one of these?"

She snorted softly and climbed down the ladder. "Once, yeah."

He handed it over, curiosity lighting his face as she examined it. The weight. The tension. Familiar.

"It's been a while, but..." She took an arrow, nocked it smoothly, and drew back. The shot landed dead center in a nearby tree.

Right where she wanted it.

A smirk tugged at her lips as Shane let out a low whistle.

"Impressive," he said. "And here I thought you were only good with that sniper."

"Nah." She shrugged lightly. "Been hunting since I was seven. Knives, guns, bows. Snipers are just my favorite."

Her eyes flicked briefly to the rifle.
"Stealthy. Long distance. Accurate."

Shane nodded, thoughtful, before taking the bow back toward the RV.

Back on the roof, Maesi scanned again—and froze.

Carol stepped out of her tent.

Bright red fingerprints marked her arm. Blue and purple bruises bloomed beneath the fabric of her sleeve. Measi's jaw tightened.

She knew those marks too well.

Her father's voice echoed faintly in her head, sharp and cruel, and she swallowed hard. Her gaze flicked to Shane, searching for any sign he'd noticed.

He hadn't said a word.

Measi looked away before the anger could settle too deep.

The radio crackled.

"Glenn for head camp. Glenn for head camp."

Measi grabbed it instantly. "Hey, Glenn. Measi here."

"Hey! Good to hear from you. We just arrived—should be back before sundown."

"Good." Relief softened her voice. "Be careful. I'll let everyone know."

"Thanks, Measi. See you soon."

She clicked the radio off and exhaled slowly before climbing down to spread the word.

For now, the camp was safe.

For now.

Thank you for reading!

This chapter has been fully edited to make it the best it can be. If you enjoyed it, please leave a vote and/or comment—your support means the world to me! Don't forget to add this book to your reading list so you don't miss the next chapter.

– X, Violet's Library