Crossbow Lovers

The First Battle

The group of four found their way to the road. It was quiet except for the song of the birds. They traveled down the road for while, searching for the one thing that always found them before.

"You wouldn't think this would take that long," Tegan sighed, kicking a stone down the pavement. Daryl glanced at her with a nod. It wasn't much longer until they found what they needed. 

They lined up four heads on the ground. All older men with grey hair and a balding spot on top. Tegan searched between them, taking her time to look at each one. When she was done she spun on her heel towards Daryl.

"The third one," she nodded confidently. "The only problem is the nose. None of them have his nose."

"I'll handle that," Daryl mumbled. He marched over to the third head and picked it up by its hair. Before anyone could ask what he was doing he drew back his fist and smashed it into the head repeatedly.

"Now it looks like he fought back," Tegan agreed with Daryl's decision.

"Looks good to me," Maggie said with a grin. 

"Let's head back. I'm hungry," Glenn said. They all laughed at Glenn starting to make their way back to the Hilltop. They traveled through the woods keeping as quiet as they could. Glenn and Maggie walked ahead of Daryl and Tegan, whispering quietly to themselves.

"Daryl?" Tegan whispered.

"Yeah," he grunted.

"I can't stop thinking about tonight. What if..." she trailed off, not even wanting to finish this sentence.

"What if what?" he asked side stepping closer to her as they walked.

"What if I lose you?" she asked this time looking up into his blue eyes. 

"Didn't we go over this, this morning? You ain't losing me and I ain't losing you. It's that simple," he said. Tegan looked at the ground as she continued to walk forward. "Hey, I promise I will do everything in my power to protect you." He grabbed her hand and folded his fingers around it.

"It's not me I'm worried about. I just said that," she argued with him.

"Okay, fine. I will do everything in my power to protect both of us. Is that better?" he asked her.

"I need you to do one thing for me. Keep yourself alive. No matter what. Keep yourself alive. For me," she begged starring back up at him. Daryl nodded at her without another word.

They all made it back into the walls with enough time to grab some food before they had to leave. After they were done eating they gathered into an SUV. Maggie and Glenn in the front while Jesus, Daryl, and Tegan were in the back seat huddle together. Tegan sat in the middle of the boys, watching out the front window. 

"Pull over here. This is where I told them to meet us," Jesus mentioned to Glenn who was driving. Glenn listened to his navigator and the gray vehicle to the side of the road. Daryl held the head of the walker in a box on his lap. 

It wasn't long until they saw the RV and a silver jeep pull up towards them. The whole group got out of the vehicles and met in the middle of the road. Daryl handed Rick the box. 

"This it?" Rick asked as he took it.

"Yeah," Daryl grunted. Rick pulled the head out of the box by it's hair.

"Perfect. Alright, here Heath. You bring this up to the two men at the gates and tell them you are from the Hilltop. Daryl, Abraham, you both go around the back, there's no lookouts back there. When Heath gives you the signal you strike. You know what to do from there. Tegan, Carol, and Maggie. You stay back in the woods in case anything happens. If Negan is in there we will bring him out to you. Jesus will be coming in with us," Rick gave everyone their tasks. 

"I want her with me," Daryl told him.

"It's safer for her out here," the dread locked man said to Daryl.

"Heath is right. We need her out here," Rick said to his friend.

"Dare, it will be okay. We will meet up afterwords, right?" Tegan said touching Daryl's arm.

"Fine, but be careful. Stay alive," he whispered as he pulled her into a hug. She gripped him tightly taking in his musky scent.

"Let's go," Rick said starting to walk in the direction of the building.

"I love you," Daryl said placing a gentle kiss on the girls lips. 

"I love you, too," she said as he pulled away.

"Daryl!" Rick called to his archer. Daryl turned on his heels and ran towards the group.

"Tegan, come on," Carol said softly to the girl. The women made their way into the woods to go up behind the building in case there was an issue. The building was fenced off, but they could see and hear everything that was happening on the other side. For a while it was quiet. 

"How long do you think this will take?" Maggie asked the other two. Tegan held onto the fence, shoving her fingers through the holes.

"Jesus wasn't sure exactly how many were in there," Tegan told her.

"At least they are doing it quietly," Carol said keeping her head towards the woods. It was then the gunshots started ringing out. Blasts came through the air like a knife through Tegan's chest.

"What's happening? Can anyone see anything?" Maggie asked, nervous about Glenn.

"I can't see anything," Tegan said, eyes straining to see through the covered windows. The gunfire lasted a lot longer than the women would've liked. When it finally ceased they watched a group of people come out the back door of the large white building. 

"Thank god," Maggie sighed as she saw Glenn and the rest walk out.

"Put your guns down!" A strong feminine voice came from behind the girls. Carol spun holding her gun in the air. "Guns down or I will shoot you all!" Tegan and Maggie faced the voice. She was a younger woman with auburn hair. 

"Okay, okay. Carol just lower your gun," Tegan said lowering her gun as she spoke. There were three other people with the woman. Maggie and Carol followed Tegan's lead. 

The rev of a motorcycle came as the sound of a garage door opened. Before the guy could get far, Daryl ran and tackled the man off the bike. Rick ran up to the man and placed a foot on his chest. 

"Where's Negan?" Rick snarled at the fallen man.

"I am Negan," the man spat blood at Rick. A walkie on the mans belt clicked right before Rick fired his gun. 

"You with the cold Python. Yeah, you. Lower it," a voice came over the walkie. Daryl's eyes searched the woods not finding anything or anyone.