- Back at camp -
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the abandoned town, the group made their way back to the rendezvous point. Daryl felt a knot of unease in his stomach—something was off. He turned his head, scanning the group, his heart sinking as he realized you were missing. You were supposed to be right behind him, but in the chaos of the supply run, you had been left behind.
Y/N found herself alone, the eerie silence of the town broken only by the distant groans of walkers. Panic set in as she ducked into an alley, trying to gather her thoughts. She knew Daryl would come for her, but the longer she waited, the more the fear gnawed at her.
Daryl's heart raced as he retraced his steps, cursing himself for losing you. He couldn't shake the image of you, fighting off walkers, alone and scared. His determination fueled him as he navigated the dark streets, every shadow a potential threat.
Finally, he heard it—a muffled cry for help. He followed the sound, finding you cornered by a group of walkers. His crossbow sang, taking down the immediate threats as he fought his way to you.
"Y/N," he breathed, pulling you into a tight embrace. Relief washed over both of you, though the danger was far from over.
"Come on, we gotta move," he whispered, his voice gruff but comforting. With Daryl leading the way, you managed to escape the town, the bond between you stronger than ever.
the others were relieved to see you both return. Daryl's eyes never left you, his protective nature even more pronounced. He had almost lost you, and he wasn't about to let that happen again.
As the camp settled for the night, Daryl pulled you aside. "Don't ever scare me like that again," he murmured, his eyes reflecting the depth of his feelings. You nodded, promising silently that you'd always find your way back to him
In the perilous world you lived in, moments like this reminded you both of what you fought for—each other. And as long as you had each other, you knew you'd survive anything