#dixon hill deserves to ride again!!!

[mylittleredgirl]

this is what the people want

nutrek writers b like 'if we dont find someone to oppress RIGHT NOW nobody is gonna watch star trek' which fr isnt the case bc if star trek: picard had been about picards life on the vineyard and literally did nothing but be a story about him making the most delicious wines and characters from other treks occasionally visiting him i would have watched the whole damn thing multiple times over

[ajbwasntwriting]

Daughter!Reader X Negan, Reader x Daryl: Chapter 12. Shots Fired

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I’ll only post more chapters if previous chapters get a good reaction so if you enjoy this please heart it, reblog it, and/or reply to it. Interaction inspires.

if you wish to be added to the tag list please dm me. All chapters can be found under the tag AJ’s Negan’s Daughter AU

Everything had started so perfect.

You slept in the tent next to the infirmary in Daryl’s arms through the night and in the morning you helped the crew make breakfast. Rick had rode home to Alexandria and there was news on the walkie that food was coming from the hilltop. You grabbed food for yourself and Aaron and headed back to the infirmary.

Aaron was sitting up and talking with Daryl.

“Morning” You announced as you strode into the tent.

“Morning” Daryl said with a smile.

“I’m not looking,” Aaron joked, covering his eyes with his hand.

“Very funny,” You shoved the plate against Aaron and he took it, setting it down on his lap. “So what’s got you bothering my patient, Mr Dixon.”

“Wanted to see how he was doing before I head out for the day” Daryl spoke.

“You get breakfast yet?” You asked

“I don’t need-” Before he could finish you thrust your plate into his hands.

“Eat up. You’ll need it” You said turning back and leaving the tent to get yourself a new plate.

“You sure know how to pick ‘em” Aaron said through a mouthful of food.

“Yeah” Daryl said, getting into his food.

“How’d you meet?” Aaron pressed. Daryl glanced at him in question. “C’mon everyone’s heard how she appeared from thin air and you jumped to her defence.”

“Ya make it sound like a fairy tale” Daryl commented.

“It is.” Aaron replied. Aaron took a bite of some bread and kept staring at Daryl “C’mon you can tell me.”

Daryl thought back on it for a moment. ‘I tried to kill her’ he thought. Now he couldn’t think of hurting you. “Before the winter, me, Tara, and Rick went into DC. I got hurt. We had to camp for the night in this bank.” Daryl spoke through his food. “She walked in, started pulling the place apart. We said stop. She seen I was hurt and offered to help me.” He lost interest in his food for a moment, thinking back to that little apartment in DC that you had fixed up and made a home for yourself. “She was starving. I couldn’t sit by and do nothing, not after she helped me. At first I just brought her the surplus but she insisted on giving me stuff in return. ‘Not gonna leave you short’ she said.” Daryl stopped when he realised how long he had been talking about you, and the soft look Aaron had listening to him. Daryl went back to his food “Can’t let good people suffer”

“She is good.” Aaron spoke, “You should have brought her home sooner.”

“I tried. She wouldn’t come.” Daryl put down his now empty plate. “She don’t like camps or nothin’”

“So she was somewhere bad before” Aaron mused

“She deserves something good.” Daryl spoke “We all do.”

A sudden unrest erupted outside the tent. Daryl got onto his feet and went to investigate, finding the camp filled with angry saviours

“Guess they're gonna execute every last one of us!” a man yelled out “Just like Justin!”

“Not if we have guns, too.” a women called out

“Hey, hey, you guys!” Laura was in the middle of the crowd trying to calm people. “No no no no! No!”

“Come on guys!” Arat yelled trying to make herself heard.

“Hey knock it off!” You yelled from the front of the group trying to calm them down.

All the calls fell on deaf ears and you found yourself trying to push saviours and members of the other community away from each other. Aldin quickly made a dent in the condensing crowd.

“Hey! Hey! Stop this shit! Stop it! Stop it!” He yelled, the two sides coming apart around him “We're gonna find out who did this, and we're gonna make sure it never happens to us again, all right?”

“Us?” Jed stood out from the crowd of saviours. “You're not one of us anymore.”

“‘Us’ means all of us” Aldin spoke, turning his back on the saviours to speak to the rest. Jed immediately grabbed Aldin, spinned him around and punched”

“Go shovel that horse shit to whoever killed Justin!” He pulled back his fist to go for another hit when Carol stepped in front of him, hand on his chest to stop him and the other on her gun ready to pull it out. You felt yourself hold your breath. “I thought you were supposed to be our leader.” he remarked.

“Enough” Carol spoke firm. “Turn around, all of you.”

“No can do, Cee.” He replied, “Why don't you go ahead and yank that roscoe, pop me right here? It's better than worrying about getting it in the back.”

At that Carol pulled out her gun, as did the others standing behind her. You stepped forward and put yourself between the man and Carol.

“There’s no need for that.” You said, hands up defensively.

“We don't want this.” Laura spoke, rallying to your side. “Hey, we just need to protect ourselves.”

“No guns!” Dary yelled. Everyone turned to look at him standing on top of a hill looking over everything that was happening.

“That 'cause you're the one took out Justin?” DJ yelled out. He was a saviour with long hair and a beard.

“Nah.” Another saviour said lower, eyeing up a woman near the front of the opposing crowd. “My money's on garbage lady.”

“Revenge for Simon's play, sure.” Regina said, stirring more trouble.

“No.” DJ replied, not taking his eyes off Daryl. “It's him. Finishing what he started.” He stepped past you and towards a tree, picking up the axe that sat there. Another man followed after him. A woman went to walk past you to them but you put your hand against her chest, whispering “Don’t” in the most intimidating voice you could muster, making her fall back into line.

Arat ran up and step in front of DJ “Hey, stop. It's gonna go too far.”

“Nah.” Daryl spoke “It won't.” He raised his crossbow and pointed it at DJ. You felt your breath catch in your lungs. You had seen how dangerous Daryl was with that bow and weren’t interested in being at it’s business end.

“Maybe it's both of them. Come on.” The long haired man rallied the saviours around him. You tried to hold them back but you were quickly pushed to the back of the group and landed on the ground. The saviours moved forward with only the priest meeting them halfway, ready for the fight. In the last moment Rick came riding in on horseback and the crowd divided.

“Everyone back off! Right now!” He yelled from atop the animal, waving his revolver over the crowd. Arat moved to disarm one of the saviours and Laura took to the martyr.

“All right, we are not doing this.” She spoke firm to Jed then brought her attention to the wider crowd. “Let it go.”

“I'll talk to Rick.” You heard Aldin speak “I'll try and find a way to make everybody feel safe, all right?” The crowd slowly dispersed.

“Start the redirect.” Rick ordered. “Pair off to work the grid.”

In the moments past you pulled yourself off the ground and started dusting yourself off. Laura came to you and pat your back.

“Thanks for trying to hold them back.” She said, Arat arriving behind her shortly after.

“Didn’t help much.” You replied

“No, it helped.” Arat insisted. “These hot heads need to see more of us working with the others.” Arat let out a sigh, then leaned in close to you “If they knew who you were-” she spoke low.

“No.” You interrupted. “They won’t trust me. Someone needs to be on good terms.”

“They got Aldin for that,” Laura commented. “He’s been playing goodie two shoes since the war.”

“Enough gossip,” Arat said. “Boss says the grid needs work. Later.” She patted your back as she took off.

“What’s on your plate?” Laura asked you.

“Get Aaron on the first trip back to Alexandria. He’s just filling a bed here. You?”

Laura looked around at the grumbling saviours, waving to a small group. “Keeping the peace.” You nodded in acknowledgement and you two parted silently.

After setting Aaron up with a small group that would be journeying back and his bed had been cleared you set out looking for Daryl. He had gotten riled up and you wanted to see how he was. A hilltop man pointed you in the direction he’d taken off in.

When you found him he was talking to Rick. Or rather Rick was talking to him.

“Daryl, I know you don't agree with everything we're doing here. All I ask is that you try. Do it. Let people see it. And maybe everyone moves past what's happened to what could happen and maybe, just maybe, it'd be one of the best decisions you ever made.”

“Like not killing a guy who left your brother on a rooftop to die.” Rick walked past you with a nod. He looked so tired yet determined. You walked up to Daryl, who seemed to be caught a little off guard.

“How much of that did you hear?” He asked nervously.

“About the tail end of what seemed like a speech,  if I’m honest.” You stood in front of him, gently placing your hands to his face to make him look at you. “How are you?”

“I didn’t do it,” he uttered, resting a hand atop of yours.

“I know you didn’t.” You reassured him. His arms came around you so naturally and your hands rested on his shoulders.

“I’m sorry you were in the middle of all that.” he continued, low enough that only you heard. “This crap ain’t your problem.”

“It is now.” you said. “‘Sides, your not the first boyfriend to hold a weapon on me.” You chuckled. He paled drastically.

“I am so sor-” you cut him off with a kiss. He held you as close as he could as he kissed you back. You pulled back and smiled at him sweetly.

“We’ll have plenty of time for sorry later. You have grid work to do”

“Wish I didn’t” he said pulling you into him, making you giggle at the implications.

“Go,” you laughed, punctuating it with a kiss and coming away. “I’ll be here”

Daryl left with the group to check the grid and you returned to camp. Being the doctor everyone wanted you nearby at all times. You mainly cleaned up the areas, helped with food, tended to the occasional cut or burn. You found it all delightfully mundane. It was nearing sunset when Enid showed her face.

“You’re late for work.” You said mockingly.

“Sorry” Enid apologised with a yawning, appearing from the tent next to the infirmary. It was promoted from ‘Saddiq’s Tent’ to ‘Doctor’s Tent’ as you and Enid started working in shifts. “I’m not used to the night shifts yet.”

That made you smirk “Hopefully you never have too” You teased with a laugh. She looked away embarrassed. You patted the spot next to you on the boards the infirmary was built on. “Sit down. We’re not exactly burdened with work.”

“What’re ya doing?” Enid sat down next to you, her leg tucked under her.

“People watching.” You explained. “Me and my old man used to do it all the time.”

Enid looked out at the campsite, “Seems kinda dull,”

“You’re doing it wrong then.” You said then pointed to Regina, a female saviour helping unload a recent delivery. “What do you think her deal is?”

“She’s a saviour” Enid spoke plainly. “Who’s unloading tomatoes”

“Nah, nah.” You leaned back on your elbows “You’re not meant to think about the truth. You’re meant to come up with a story of some kind.”

“A story?” Enid questioned. “Sounds childish”

“That’s what makes it fun.” You reply. You pointed at a table of people playing cards. “What about them. What’s their deal?”

“They’re playing cards.” Enid spoke plainly. So it was up to you to make things interesting.

“Ya see the girl with short hair and the tank top?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s Madam De Tank.” You spoke in a theatrical voice, “She owns most of the land and she’s put it on the table against the guy in the chequer.”

“What’s his name?” Enid pressed

“You tell me.” You shot back

She thought for a moment “Joey...Banks”

“Okay.” you said tongue in cheek. “What’s he put on the table?” Enid sat in silence a moment, then turned to you with a childish smile.

“His first born child!” She announced, equally theatrical. You both chuckled at the absurdity. Laura appeared, dirty from work.

“What’s all the fun?” She asked, taking a seat next to Enid.

“People watching.” Enid replied. “The third guy?”

“That’s Joey Banks’ assistant. He does all the things Joey doesn’t want to do. Like open doors or hold his cup.” You jested

“I hate to break this up but we need to talk.” Laura said to you. Enid went to excuse herself but you sat up and beckoned her to stay.

“Anything you gotta say to me, you can say to Enid.” You said. ‘Because you approached me in front of here and we need to keep a low profile’ you thought.

Laura looked from you to Enid and backed to you, a little unsure. “It’s the saviours,” she ultimately said. “We can’t find Arat.”

You sat forward and turned your body to face Laura, tucking your leg in, “What do you mean? She’s out checking the grids”

“The grid team came back.-”

“Where are they?” You interrupted. Afterall, Daryl and Arat were with the grid team.

“They left again, all quiet like.” Laura explained.

“They’re probably doing the night watch.” Enid interjected. You backed her up, saying it would be logical.

“That’s what I was saying but,” Laura explained then went quiet for a moment. “They think something might have happened. There’s talk of abandoning camp.”

“You can’t do that!” Enid panicked.

“They’re scared, Enid.” You said, her attention flicking back to you. “We have no guns and saviours have been going missing for a month now. At least at sanctuary there’s walls and they know each other.” You looked to Laura seriously “But that’s all we have. There’s no food. No real security and most of the building has been abandoned. It’s a prison.” The last sentence rolled off your tongue before you realised it, but it was no less the truth. “We need this bridge”

“I know,” Laura sighed. “I’m tryna talk to them but…”

The tension hung tight in the air among the three of you. “Sunset’s beautiful” Enid finally broke the silence. You looked over the trees seeing the warm hues sink behind them.

As the last few rays dimmed you stood up. “Guess we just gotta hope.” You said, sounding helpless. You turned to Enid in that moment. “Enid, umm...maybe”

“Not a word,” Enid stood up as the dinner bell rang. “I know.”

“Let’s eat!” Laura announced as she stood up. “I heard we got fresh tomatoes tonight.”

Later that evening Carol and Rick brought back a stabbed man who you stitched up. When questioned how it happened the man gave no reply. You stitched him up in silence then Rick took him out. You stopped Carol before she could leave, pressing for what had happened.

Carol turned back to you. It was just the two of you in the tent and you’d already developed a history together. She sighed through her nose before speaking. “We got jumped. They wanted our guns and were ready to kill us to get them,”

“Maybe if you gave them a couple-” you began

“That’s not happening now.” Carol replied. She turned to leave again and you grabbed her by the arm to stop her.

“Why were you out there?” you questioned. You released her arm once she stopped. “You’re not on night watch and checking the grid doesn’t take all day.”

“Why do you care?” Carol questioned, seeming already tired of the conversation. This did little but anger you.

“Cause these are our people!” You bit back “Remember?”

Carol nodded solemnly. “You know?”

“There’s suspicion.” You explained. “I just wanna know whether or not it’s founded.”

“Arat is missing” Carol finally said. You stepped back, struggling to process this information. You turned away and leaned on a nearby table, your head reeling. “She and Beatrice got jumped and we’re looking for her.”

This was it. The saviours were going to abandon camp. A few weeks ago you wouldn’t have cared but between working in the sanctuary and working out here you’re heart broke. If they left then the deal would be broken and everyone would suffer. But something didn’t sit right though

“Who’s Beatrice?” You asked.

“She’s from Oceanside.” Carol replied.

“And she was fine? When you found her” You asked.

“Yes. Why?” Carol asked, stepping closer to you.

“It’s weird.” You admit, facing Carol. “All the other saviours went missing all together. The first one who isn’t a saviour is left perfectly fine?”

“A lot happened before you showed up, Y/N.” Carol explained. Sounded like pure excuses to you. Through out the entire conversation she had been staring at you with feigned worry, making your blood boil.

“Get out.” You snapped. “I need you out.” Your voice trembled, showing your upset.

That night you could hardly sleep, your mind was reeling. ‘How did dad deal with this bullshit’ you thought to yourself. You quickly stopped that train of thought when you remembered ‘murder’ was the answer.

That morning you were woken by one of the saviours. “C’mon Doc, we’re leaving!” She shook you. You groggily got out of your bed and went to investigate. Outside was the saviours, with half the camp packed up. You locked eyes with Laura across the camp who just shook her head with defeat.

Jed walked up to you and handed you an empty rucksack. “Grab your shit we’re leaving” he said.

“No,” You replied, pushing the bag back. “I’m not.”

Jed looked at you incredulously, then threw the bag to the ground with temper. “You’re gonna stand by these fucking murderers!”

‘Look who’s talking’ you thought to yourself. “We need this deal, Jed!” You yelled back. “We need the food that the other settlements can provide!” Your yelling caught the attention of a couple of saviours. “I ain’t going back to The Sanctuary until that bridge is done!”

Jed pulled a face then spat at your feet. “Suit yourself.” He retorted then left. In about twenty minutes they had all packed up and were marching out.

~Tag List~

@felicismor @bodeckersbitch​ @lauren-novak​ @aestthete

[whirlybirbs]

Promptssss: “you’ve got blood on your shirt.”

— worry.

summary: daryl & aaron go missing. you worry.pairing: daryl dixon x boston!reader, from tenderly ferala/n: i wanna smash these two’s heads together n make ‘em kiss, so have some fluff and feels and mild angst!

Daryl Dixon doesn’t like being fussed over. Hates it.

He supposes, though, in this case he sorta deserves it. 

They’re gone for too long. Three days, to be exact. What was supposed to be a fast run with Aaron had turned into a damn event thanks to a blown back tire, no spare, and run in with one too many walkers. 

They’d been pinned down, stuck in a farmhouse down the road fifteen miles; and now, sans the hatchback, they’re finally home.

They arrive at the Alexandria safe-zone well into the night, shrouded in exhaustion and gore.

He and Aaron are greeted at the gates by Glenn, Michonne, and Eric.

The rabbits slung around his shoulder don’t make up for the lost time – that much is clear from the worry creasing the faces of those around him, all bearing charged flashlights and full packs and loaded weapons. Daryl’s bike cuts short as Aaron parks; their new ride’s brakes squeaking loudly as he does.

As Aaron and Eric embrace, Daryl is slow to lift himself off his bike. 

“You’re okay?” Eric breathes, voice shaking a bit. HIs breath curls in the late, autumn air, “I… We all thought –”

“M’ fine,” Aaron laughs, moving to sweep an apology steeped kiss along his partner’s brow, “Hungry, but fine.”

Glenn’s hand meets Daryl’s arm, giving it a squeeze. The gesture is quickly returned. 

“You had us worried, man,” Glenn gives a light shrug, knocking his shoulder with a light punch, “Had Boston goin’ out of her mind –”

Daryl’s lips quirk a bit at that.

“Nah,” the archer breathes, “Ain’t nothin’–”

He hears your footsteps before he sees you. Suddenly, you’re in his arms; rocketing yourself past Glenn and Michonne and Eric and Aaron. You let the breathe sweep out from your lungs in relief as Daryl grunts and staggers upon impact. Quickly, he realizes who’s clinging to him – his hands settle on your waist as he sets you down from the embrace, not before ducking his nose to the crown of your head and making a small sound of pain.

You pull away, hair wild and eyes even wilder, as your hands grip his shoulders tightly. “Don’t you ever do that again –”

He doesn’t even get a word in when you hug him again; he can feel your heart pounding against the ribs in your chest – but, before Daryl can sort his thoughts out, you’re worriedly checking him up and down with careful hands. Your thumbs skim his cheeks and he winces a bit.

If everyone wasn’t starin’ maybe it woulda been sorta nice.

Then, the flashlights kick up light from the pavement in the dark and he sees the glistening glimmer of tears on your cheeks. 

“There’s blood on your shirt,” you rush out quickly, eyes bounding up to his face in a wild sort of terror that really gives away how your last few days have been.

Absolute hell.

First came the confusion – you couldn’t find Daryl at any of his usual haunts. Eric, too, hadn’t heard anything from Aaron since this morning and… they weren’t back yet? Well, when did they leave? I’m sure it’s just a quick supply run, maybe they found something good. 

Then, the night fell and silence. Eric had come over that night, ate with you all, and you tried to hide your increasing anxiety.

Day came. Then another. And with each passing hour, fear (so gut-wrenching it could make you sick) crept right up into your bones and made a home there. You’d damn near strangled Rick who’d insisted on waiting it out, waiting for them to come back – it wasn’t until you’d gotten Deanna’s blessing that you, Glenn, Michonne and Eric decided you were gonna head out. Sweep the area. Check for the cars. Check for his bike.

(You’d shoved all those emotions down and stomached the crushing worry – decidedly, now was not the time to be parsing through your feelings for Daryl Dixon. Friends. Friends worried over other friends… And he, really, was your only friend. So far. Besides Tara and Noah, and Carol. And Eugene, sort of? The point is, Daryl Dixon meant something to you. So, you worried.)

Then, while you’d doubled back for ammo, the call had come over the walkies that someone was at the gate. Daryl was at the gate. The familiar rumble of his motorcycle gave that away.

“Blew a tire,” Daryl explains roughly, like a peace-offering. His eyes are soft as you swallow and wet your lips, “Got stuck. That red townhouse down Route 16.”

“You’re okay?” you ask quietly, hand lingering by his arm.

“Yeah,” he nods, moving then to snag your shoulder and tug you close, “M’ fine, Boston.”

That damn nickname. You hate it. It’s dumb. But, it’s stuck.

You tuck your chin into his shoulder and exhale – again, you try to shove it all down as you pat his waist and nod. The strap of his crossbow digs into your cheek and he smells like rabbit guts, but he’s warm and alive and your friend. 

“C’mon,” it’s Glenn, “It’s late. Let’s all get some shut eye.”

You all start to disperse, then, and you’re a bit surprised when Daryl lingers behind you. He follows, a bit like a lost dog. The rabbits he caught swing as he walks, eyes trained on your back as you stalk back up the hill away from the gate.

“… Can’t believe you really missed me –” his words are warm with a playful edge.

“Shut up,” you look back at him over your shoulder, lip quirking.

His heart does a flip in his chest. Feels good. Whatever this is… it’s nice.

“– Gettin’ a search party ready, huh?” he mumbles, walking close as you haul your stuff back towards the armory, feeling a bit better than before, “What, like m’ some damsel in distress?”

“Jerk,” you chirp as you make your way inside, placing the rifle back in its rack slot.

Daryl leans in the doorway.

“Bitch.”

After a beat, you both snicker. It settles down differently, though – Daryl can still see the worry sitting deep in your posture. It’s radiating off of you, really, and when you turn back around after hanging up your gear you’d checked out, he sees it on your face too. 

The armory is dark, lit by the casted light of the Monroe’s home next door. It’s a warm light, dancing in across the floorboards in rectilinear shapes – as Daryl steps forward, they illuminate his busted lip and black eye. New injuries. 

“Didn’t mean t’ freak you out.”

“You matter t’ me,” you blurt out, words tangling up on themselves as you speak. Your eyelashes flutter as your voice cracks and you force the feelings out, “I was afraid you were hurt or dyin’ or dead…”

“M’okay,” Daryl says, full of certainty, as he steps forward and out of the light, “M’alive, m’here now. Ain’t no reason to be upset, y’know.”

“Yeah, but – I don’t have people that matter t’ me, Daryl. You’re it. A-And…” 

“Shut up, stop it. C’mere.”

Daryl doesn’t like bein’ fussed over. Neither do you. Maybe that’s what makes it so nice – a silent agreement to let it happen, to get it all out. He sways a bit as he snakes his arms around your shoulders and yours slip beneath his vest. The embrace is sturdy and homely and kind, and it makes you forget whatever you were worried about in the first place.

And Daryl realizes he’s got it bad.

[mycrazystrangeworld]

It has been a long hiatus, though to me it didn’t seem to be one. Time flies. June and July have flied by so fast, and I can’t keep up, shit things happening one after the other, and I’m still coping… But it’s a process. I’m functioning now enough to write and interact on this blog.

As I promised, this first post is a list of June releases (from June 3rd) and the reviews I found about them until now. You’re all welcome to let me know if you have a review that I forgot to add.

Since July is also over, I’m also sharing this month’s books and reviews.

As always, updating is constantly happening, if you know about a book or have a review, just let me know! 😉

Welcome back on Swift Coffee, everyone!

For the newbies (welcome 😘): if you don’t yet know what this is all about: I’m posting a list every Monday of the books that get released during the current week. I also include other people’s reviews about them! I try to do a blog hop from time to time and spread the word about this feature, but I obviously can’t find every review that’s related, so a sign that you have one would be very much appreciated! Every review is eligible that is written about a book published on the week in question, even if it was written before said week!

So… one question remains:

Would you like to join the ride?

It’s very easy!

These are the rules:

To be featured, you don’t have to do anything else, but to leave a comment below this post, or contact me by any other way, and let me know you have a review. A link to it makes it easier, but if you only say your review comes out on x day of the week, that’s okay as well, I’ll watch out for it! Following me is not a must, but I appreciate it very much, if you do! 🙂

I continuously update this post according to your infos/comments, and I share it again every time I’ve made an update.

The book you reviewed don’t have to be from the list here, if it’s not listed, but published this week, I’ll add the book, too!

You can also send me a review for next week, because these posts are scheduled! 😉

Books Published in June:

‘After the End’ by Clare Mackintosh mystery/thriller

‘All the Missing Girls’ by Megan Miranda mystery

‘A Merciful Promise’ by Kendra Elliot mystery/romantic suspense

‘A Nearly Normal Family’ by M.T. Edvardsson, Rachel Willson-Broyles (Translation) mystery/thriller

‘Ayesha at Last’ by Uzma Jalaluddin romance

‘Beyond Āsanas: The Myths and Legends behind Yogic Postures’ by Pragya Bhatt, Joel Koechlin (Photographer)

‘Bound to the Battle God’ by Ruby Dixon fantasy/romance

‘Briar and Rose and Jack’ by Katherine Coville middle grade

‘Bunny’ by Mona Awad horror

‘City of Girls’ by Elizabeth Gilbert historical fiction

‘Close to Home’ by Cate Ashwood M M romance

‘Dear Wife’ by Kimberly Belle mystery/thriller

‘Dissenter on the Bench: Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Life and Work’ by Victoria Ortiz non-fiction/middle grade

‘Fleishman Is in Trouble’ by Taffy Brodesser-Akner contemporary

‘Five Midnights’ by Ann Dávila Cardinal horror

‘Fix Her Up’ by Tessa Bailey romance

‘Fixing the Fates: A Memoir’ by Diane Dewey non-fiction

‘Ghosts of the Shadow Market’ YA fantasy

‘Gun Island’ by Amitav Ghosh cultural/India/historical fiction

‘If Only’ by Melanie Murphy

‘Just One Bite’ by Jack Heath mystery/thriller

‘Like a Love Story’ by Abdi Nazemian YA/LGBT

‘Magic for Liars’ by Sarah Gailey fantasy/mystery

‘More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say)’ by Elaine Welteroth non-fiction

‘Mrs. Everything’ by Jennifer Weiner historical fiction

‘Mostly Dead Things’ by Kristen Arnett contemporary/LGBT

‘Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune’ by Roselle Lim contemporary/romance

‘On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous’ by Ocean Vuong poetry

‘Rapture’ by Lauren Kate YA fantasy

‘Recursion’ by Blake Crouch science fiction

‘Searching for Sylvie Lee’ by Jean Kwok mystery

‘Somewhere Close to Happy’ by Lia Louis romance

‘Sorcery of Thorns’ by Margaret Rogerson fantasy

‘Storm and Fury’ by Jennifer L. Armentrout fantasy

‘Summer of ’69’ by Elin Hilderbrand historical fiction

‘Sweet Tea and Secrets’ by Joy Avon cozy mystery

‘Teeth in the Mist’ by Dawn Kurtagich horror

‘The Accidental Girlfriend’ by Emma Hart romance

‘The Bookshop on the Shore’ by Jenny Colgan contemporary/women’s fiction

‘The First Mistake’ by Sandie Jones thriller

‘The Friends We Keep’ by Jane Green women’s fiction

‘The Friend Zone’ by Abby Jimenez contemporary/romance

‘The Girl in Red’ by Christina Henry fantasy/horror

‘The Haunted’ by Danielle Vega horror

‘The Holiday’ by T.M. Logan

‘The July Girls’ by Phoebe Locke mystery/thriller

‘The Last House Guest’ by Megan Miranda mystery/thriller

‘The Most Fun We Ever Had’ by Claire Lombardo contemporary/literary fiction

‘The New Achilles’ by Christian Cameron historical fiction

‘The Red Labyrinth’ by Meredith Tate fantasy

‘The Resurrectionists’ by Michael Patrick Hicks horror

‘The Rest of the Story’ by Sarah Dessen YA contemporary/romance

‘Ollie Oxley and the Ghost: The Search for Lost Gold’ by Lisa Schmid middle grade

‘The Space Between Time’ by Charlie Laidlaw

‘The Stationery Shop’ by Marjan Kamali historical fiction

‘The Summer Country’ by Lauren Willig historical fiction

‘They Called Me Wyatt’ by Natasha Tynes mystery

‘This Might Hurt a Bit’ by Doogie Horner YA

‘Time After Time’ by Lisa Grunwald historical/science fiction

‘Waiting for Tom Hanks’ by Kerry Winfrey contemporary/romance

‘We Have Always Been Here: A Queer Muslim Memoir’ by Samra Habib non-fiction

‘We Were Killers Once’ by Becky Masterman mystery/thriller

‘Where The Story Starts’ by Imogen Clark women’s fiction

‘Wicked Fox’ by Kat Cho YA fantasy

‘Wild and Crooked’ by Leah Thomas YA contemporary/LGBT

‘Wolf Rain’ by Nalini Singh paranormal romance

Reviews:

‘Sorcery of Thorns’ by Stephanie at Between Folded Pages

‘The Rapture’ at Book Bound

‘The Resurrectionists’ by Jen at Shit Reviews of Books

‘The Haunted’ by Kris at Boston Book Reader

‘The Friends We Keep’ by Vicky at Women in Trouble Book Blog

‘This Might Hurt a Bit’ by Amanda at Between the Shelves

‘Wild and Crooked’ by Amanda at Between the Shelves

‘The Haunted’ by Mandy at Book Princess Reviews

‘We Were Killers Once’ by Vicky at Women in Trouble Book Blog

‘Five Midnights’ by Sian at Sci-fi & Scary

‘Wolf Rain’ by Corina at Book Twins Reviews

‘Just One Bite’ by Berit at Audio Killed the Bookmark

‘Where the Story Starts’ by Anjana at Superfluous Reading

‘The Red Labyrinth’ by Anjana at Superfluous Reading

‘Fixing the Fates’ by Anjana at Superfluous Reading

‘Gun Island’ by Anjana at Superfluous Reading

‘If Only’ by Anjana at Superfluous Reading

‘Sweet Tea and Secrets’ by Rekha at The Book Decoder

‘Storm and Fury’ by Claire at bookscoffeeandrepeat

‘The New Achilles’ by Zoé at Zooloo’s Book Diary

‘Time After Time’ by Ashley at Ashes Books and Bobs

‘Recursion’ by Lilyn G at Sci-fi & Scary

‘The Space Between Time’ by Rekha at The Book Decoder

‘The Rumor’ by Vicky at Women in Trouble Book Blog

‘The Search for the Lost Gold’ by Lilyn G at Sci-fi & Scary

‘They Call Me Wyatt’ by Jen at Shit Reviews of Books

‘After the End’ by Linda at Linda’s Book Bag

‘Beyond Asanas’ by Shashank at Wonder’s Book Blog

‘The July Girls’ by Nicola at Short Book and Scribes

‘We Have Always Been Here’ by Kristin at Kristin Kraves Books

‘Close to Home’ by T. J. Fox

‘Dissenter on the Bench’ by Taylor at Tays Infinite Thoughts

‘Bound to the Battle God’ by Corina at Book Twins Reviews

‘Briar and Rose and Jack’ by Briana at Pages Unbound

‘Teeth in the Mist’ at Lori’s Bookshelf Reads

‘All the Missing Girls’ by Celine at Celinelingg

‘The Holiday’ by Zoe at Zooloo’s Book Diary

‘The July Girls’ by Joanna at Over the Rainbow Book Blog

‘More Than Enough’ by Jessica at Jess Just Reads

‘Somewhere Close to Happy’ at Jess Just Reads

‘The Accidental Girlfriend’ by Tijuana at Book Twins Reviews

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Books Published in July:

‘Along the Broken Bay’ by Flora J. Solomon historical fiction

‘A Stranger on the Beach’ by Michele Campbell mystery/thriller

‘A Whisker In The Dark’ by Leighann Dobbs cozy mystery

‘Dark Age’ by Pierce Brown science fiction

‘Depraved’ by Trilina Pucci romance/erotica

‘Deserve to Die’ by Miranda Rijks thriller

‘Drummer Girl’ by Ginger Scott YA romance

‘False Step’ by Victoria Helen Stone mystery/thriller

‘Girls Like Us’ by Cristina Alger mystery/thriller

‘Gods of Jade and Shadow’ by Silvia Moreno-Garcia fantasy/historical fiction

‘Good Guy’ by Kate Meader romance

‘Gore in the Garden’ by Colleen J. Shogan cozy mystery

‘How to Hack a Heartbreak’ by Kristin Rockaway romance

‘Last Summer’ by Kerry Lonsdale contemporary

‘Life Ruins’ by Danuta Kot audiobook/mystery

‘Lock Every Door’ by Riley Sager mystery/thriller

‘Maybe This Time’ by Kasie West contemporary

‘Never Have I Ever’ by Joshilyn Jackson mystery/thriller

‘Never Look Back’ by Alison Gaylin mystery/thriller

‘Nightingale Point’ by Luan Goldie

‘Reclaimed by Her Rebel Knight’ by Jenni Fletcher historical romance

‘Resist’ by K. Bromberg romance

‘Salvation Day’ by Kali Wallace science fiction

‘Season of the Witch’ by Sarah Rees Brennan YA fantasy

‘Sisters of Willow House’ by Susanne O’Leary

‘Spin the Dawn’ by Elizabeth Lim fantasy

‘That Long Lost Summer’ by Minna Howard

‘The Betrayed Wife’ by Kevin O’Brien mystery/thriller

‘The Bookish Life of Nina Hill’ by Abbi Waxman contemporary/romance

‘The Chain’ by Adrian McKinty thriller

‘The Gifted School’ by Bruce Holsinger contemporary fiction

‘The Golden Hour’ by Beatriz Williams historical fiction

‘The Guy on the Right’ by Kate Stewart NA romance

‘The Last Book Party’ by Karen Dukess historical fiction

‘The Marriage Trap’ by Sheryl Browne thriller

‘The Merciful Crow’ by Margaret Owen fantasy

‘The Miraculous’ by Jess Redman middle grade

‘The Need’ by Helen Phillips horror/thriller

‘The Nickel Boys’ by Colson Whitehead historical fiction

‘The Rogue King’ by Abigail Owen paranormal romance

‘The Seekers’ by Heather Graham mystery

‘The Silent Ones’ by K.L. Slater thriller

‘The Storm Crow’ by Kalyn Josephson fantasy

‘The Wedding Party’ by Jasmine Guillory romance

‘Three Women’ by Lisa Taddeo non-fiction/feminism

‘To Be Devoured’ by Sara Tantlinger horror

‘Truly Madly Royally’ by Debbie Rigaud YA romance

‘Under Currents’ by Nora Roberts romance

‘War’ by Laura Thalassa fantasy/romance

‘Whisper Network’ by Chandler Baker mystery/thriller

‘Wilder Girls’ by Rory Power YA horror/mystery

A fantastic review of…

‘Reclaimed by her Rebel Knight’ by Demetra at Demi Reads

‘The Merciful Crow’ by Clarissa at Clarissa Reads It All

‘The Bookish Life of Nina Hill’ at Flavia the Bibliophile

‘The Merciful Crow’ by Kaleena at Reader Voracious

‘The Guy On the Right’ by Astrid at The Bookish Sweet Tooth

‘False Step’ by Jordann at The Book Blog Life

‘The Guy On the Right’ by Angela at Reading Frenzy Book Blog

‘Reclaimed by Her Rebel Knight’ by Joules at Northern Reader

‘Depraved’ by Demetra at Demi Reads

‘Never Have I Ever’ by Steph AT Steph’s Book Blog

‘Reclaimed by Her Rebel Knight’ by Jennifer C. Wilson

‘That Long Lost Summer’ by Shalini at Shalini’s Books and Reviews

‘Sisters of Willow House’ by Joanne at Portobello Book Blog

‘A Whisker in the Dark’ by Berit at Audio Killed the Bookmark

‘The Rouge King’ by Ashley at Falling Down the Book Hole

‘Good Guy’ by Astrid at The Bookish Sweet Tooth

‘Drummer Girl’ by Astrid at The Bookish Sweet Tooth

‘The Need’ by T. J. Fox

‘The Seekers’ by Shalini at Shalini’s Books and Reviews

‘The Silent Ones’ by Steph at StefLoz Book Blog

‘Resist’ by Tijuana at Book Twins Reviews

‘Reclaimed by Her Rebel Knight’ by Jess Bookish Life

‘Sisters of Willow House’ by Joanna at Over the Rainbow Book Blog

‘How To Hack a Heartbreak’ by Corina at Book Twins Reviews

‘Somebody Else’s Baby’ by Shalini at Shalini’s Books and Reviews

‘Life Ruins’ by Amanda at mybookishblogspot

‘The Miraculous’ by Chris at Plucked from the Stacks

‘The Betrayed Wife’ by Shalini at Shalini’s Books and Reviews

‘Salvation Day’ by Lilyn G at Sci-fi & Scary

‘The Marriage Trap’ by Shalini at Shalini’s Books and Reviews

‘The Chain’ at Jess Just Reads

‘To Be Devoured’ by Sam and Gracie at Sci-fi & Scary

‘Truly Madly Royally’ by Olivia at The Candid Cover

‘Season of the Witch’ by Jill at Jill’s Book Blog

‘Gore in the Garden’ by Rekha at The Book Decoder

‘Never Look Back’ by Berit at Audio Killed the Bookmark

‘Wilder Girls’ by Kathy at Pages Below the Vaulted Sky

‘Deserve to Die’ by Shalini at Shalini’s Books and Reviews

‘Sisters of Willow House’ by Shalini at Shalini’s Books and Reviews

‘Sisters of Willow House’ by Berit at Audio Killed the Bookmark

‘Nightingale Point’ by Amanda at mybookishblogspot

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See these beautiful covers? *.*

Which are your favorites?

I’m so happy to be here with you bookish guys again!!

Don’t forget to let me know if you have a review!

Oh, and in the near future comes another post with the releases of the beginning of August! You can send me reviews for that post, as well.

Have a wonderful time!

Hugs 🙂

I’m back! – A Master List of Book Releases of June and July + Reviews! It has been a long hiatus, though to me it didn't seem to be one. Time flies.

[daleisgreat]

Star Trek: The Next Generation: Season Four

-Welcome back to my semi-annual Star Trek: The Next Generation coverage! I need to get better at watching only one episode a week so I can make better progress than only two seasons a year. Today I am covering season four (trailer) of the BluRay collection I am gradually marching through. To catch up on my entries on the first three seasons, click here! Yes, all these photos for this entry were taken via outdated smartphone, so apologies for the lack of quality, but I felt it was worth it for some of the captions! -Continuing the trend in past entries let us kick off with notable cast changes for season four. The most noteworthy one is Mr. Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) finally landing that spot in Starfleet Academy and departing the show a third of the way into the season. He had a great sendoff episode where Wesley and Picard (Patrick Stewart) go on one last adventure and he winds up saving Picard and the two have a couple emotional final exchanges I could not help but get wrapped up in. I thought Wesley was finally coming into his own the last dozen or so episodes he was on, but in the extra feature interviews he stated he was displeased by how we was treated by the producers in his final year on the show and did not want to pass up other acting opportunities for being the two main reasons he departed. I believe we get a couple more guest appearances from him in the remaining seasons, and for the rest of season four there is a rotating non-essential crew member every couple episodes filling in at the helm.

-If you recall the previous entry, season three wrapped with the critically acclaimed Best of Both Worlds cliffhanger where Picard became assimilated by the Borg. The season four opener wraps up that arc in a gratifying manner in how the crew rescues Picard from the Borg threat and restore him back to his original form. I want to emphasize again how important this episode was in terms of gripping narrative, near theatrical quality special effects and CG and how it was the catalyst for TNG finally being accepted by ardent fans of The Original Series and managing to overcome that show’s huge shadow. It was so groundbreaking that the two-part special eventually got its own special home video release. -The follow-up second episode of the season proved to be the quintessential ‘calm-down’ episode after the intense season opener. Picard takes some much deserved shore leave and visits his family back on Earth and we get to see them reconcile their differences when Picard’s brother gets him to break down his emotions from his Borg assimilation in a moving scene that will always stay with me. The secondary plot of that episode focuses on being introduced to the adoptive human parents of Worf (Michael Dorn) and how Worf overcomes the embarrassment of his loving family and they all wind up embracing each other. Normally, getting all wrapped up in an overly ‘lovey-dubby’ episode can be overkill for me, but I cannot think of a series that captured the perfect moment for it any better after the thrill-ride of the season opener.

-Speaking of Worf, season four proves to be a showcase season for everyone’s favorite Klingon. Aside from meeting his human step-parents, he later on becomes a sudden grieving widow in the same episode he meets the son he never knew he had. Season four finale is another two-part cliffhanger called Redemption and the first part that ends this season is all about Worf finally acting on Picard’s pleas to win back his family’s honor from the Klingon race after the big episode in season three where he covered up a Klingon controversy by taking a fall for a crime his family did not commit and being ex-communicated from the Klingons. The aftermath from that over the next year and a half was constantly referenced every couple episodes as a reminder from the consequences Worf had to live with so it felt like a justifiably big deal when Worf finally stepped up to overcome the shame cast upon his family name. Season four felt like a breakthrough season for Worf where his episodes no longer felt like ‘another Klingon episode’ to tolerate and I am now on board with all the way. -The holo-deck use seemed more dialed back this season. There is a fun mini-Dixon Hill excursion with Picard and Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg) which regrettably gets put to a halt early on. Picard shows off some funky laser racquetball skills, and Worf duels with Guinan in a laser-target shootout I never caught the name of. Also dialed back this season was the poker games which I only think appeared in one or two episodes this season and one poker scene wound up on the cutting room floor in the deleted scenes. I hope to see both of these fun distractions become more featured in the proceeding seasons. The Ten-Forward tavern scenes continue to impress however as much needed breather scenes where Guinan offers her sage bartender wisdom like only she can and she even gets to put a badass halt to a stereotypical barfight that erupts!

-For the rest of crew, Data (Brent Spiner) has a memorable episode where he plays three characters at once that sees the return of Lore and after a few teases finally seeing the on-screen debut of his creator, Dr. Soong. I usually am a fan of Geordi (LeVar Burton) centric episodes, but his season four episodes where he is brainwashed by Romulans and infected by an alien race were more headscratchers that did not have me quite invested. The same can be said for Dr. Crusher (Gates McFadden) with her big episode where she is romantically involved with a symbiote who needs to constantly change hosts that proves to be too much for her. I will recognize however season four for her emerging as a competent doctor for a change and finally saving some lives! Transporter Chief O’Brien (Colm Meaney) gets a first name this season, and more importantly gets married too! Like last season, the use of telepathy from Troi (Marina Sirtis) is sparingly used, but whenever implemented it is noteworthy and actually helpful. The use of Ryker (Jonathan Frakes) as a key crew member also seemed a little more toned down this season, with him only having larger roles in a couple episodes. -Season four I will chalk up as a win for recurring once-annual recurring characters for TNG. I was delighted to see Picard’s treasure hunter partner Vash (Jennifer Hetrick) return in the Q (John DeLancie) episode this season that has Q whisk away the Enterprise crew for a memorable mission in the Robin Hood universe where Patrick Stewart shines as the ‘Prince of Thieves.’ I will also mark season four as the first time the annual episode with Troi’s mother, Lwaxana (Majel Barrett) as a legitimate entertaining episode. I previously could not stand her, but in season four she stood out in imploring an ambassador she fell for to go against his culture’s protocol of mandated suicide at age 60. I liked the ways to get Tasha Yar (Denise Crosby) involved in the show again via estranged family members and more alternate dimension cliffhangers to wrap up this season. Props to them bringing back Reginald Barclay (Dwight Shultz) as a recurring crew member and his episode this season cracked me up where a cosmic blast leads to him overcoming his SAD to becoming overwhelmingly brilliant.

-Like previous seasons, I could not help but take notice of a couple episodes of TNG in season four I saw Seth McFarlane pay homage to in his current sci-fi show, The Orville. First Contact (yes a TV episode shares the same name as the eighth Star Trek film) establishes the rules for when the Federation of Planets recognizes the right time to well, establish official first contact with a new race, but only to see it be too much for the race to take in. Orville puts a twist on its first contact rules, but sees their own entertaining dilemma pan out when their cultures clash. In Theory has Data attempt to get involved in a romantic relationship with a crew member and that was replicated on McFarlane’s show when Isaac tries to maintain a relationship with that vessel’s doctor. Click or press here to see how the two shows contrast from each other with their respective androids trying to get romantically involved. -Like the previous seasons, Paramount does not disappoint on the extra features. Besides recycling past DVD extras, there are all new HD bonuses for the BluRay. Excluding a handful of commentaries, according to my notes I tallied up about four and a half hours of behind-the-scenes interviews. Yes, I watched them all for you dear readers! I will once again try to highlight the standout extras. Being a fan of Wesley and Picard’s father/son relationship I like how that is dissected in Selected Crew Analysis. Chronicles of Final Frontier and Homecoming provide valuable insight at the injection of new life a stable writing staff brought onto the show this season. Departmental Briefing indicate how Frakes and Stewart made the move to directing episodes starting this season, with Frakes especially getting more out of it and how it lead to him eventually directing a couple Trek films.

The showcase new HD extra is In Conversation: Star Trek’s Art Department which gathers several of TNG’s CG and special effect artists as they talk shop on how they were brought onto the show and share some of their favorite anecdotes for a little over an hour. I will admit some of it goes over my head, but it was mostly fun being a fly on the wall seeing these colleagues reunite and celebrate their favorite war stories. Random factoid I will forever remember from this was the artist’s disappointing writers for forcing them to tone down amount of phaser blasts they requested because they cost approximately $2000 to produce per individual blast at the time. -Damn, I babbled on for incredibly longer than I wanted to once again, but season four was a damn good season that warranted it. As breakthrough of a great year season three was for The Next Generation, I have to give credit where it is due for season four somehow surpassing it with a better overall quality of episodes. There are landmark moments for most of the crew throughout the season, and once again there is another two-part cliffhanger that has me anxiously awaiting to dive into the following season. Hopefully I will be back sooner than later this time…..no promises!

Past TV/Web Series Blogs 2013-14 TV Season Recap 2014-15 TV Season Recap 2015-16 TV Season Recap 2016-17 TV Season Recap 2017-18 TV Season Recap 2018-19 TV Season Recap Adventures of Briscoe County Jr: The Complete Series Baseball: A Ken Burns series Angry Videogame Nerd Home Video Collections Mortal Kombat: Legacy - Season 1 | Season 2 OJ: Made in America: 30 for 30 RedvsBlue - Seasons 1-13 Roseanne – Seasons 1-9 Seinfeld Final Season Star Trek: Next Generation – Seasons 1-7 Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle Superheroes: Pioneers of Television The Vietnam War: A Ken Burns series X-Men – The Animated Series: Volumes 4-5

[thewalkingdeadfanfictions]

T, the Mute, Meets Daryl, the Stupid Redneck Chapter 3 - He Your Brother?

****T's POV****

"Whoohoo!" Glenn screamed as we passed the cube van that held the others. ‘I hope T-Dog unlocked Dixon. No one deserves to die like that.’ I thought to myself as we pass the van. I shake my head as Glenn smiles at me. We had sort of became friends during the ride though it’s almost like we’re siblings, he reminds me of Yori in the way that he acts so I guess that’s why we became such quick friends. He told me about his life before the world took a shit and asked me yes or no questions about mine to which I would answer with a nod or shake of my head. He also had me show a few signs like run, hide, search, and stop. As we were now on a dirt road he started to explain the people in his group that I didn't meet yet "There's Amy, Andrea's sister I'd say she's about the same age as you maybe little younger. Since it’s hard to tell how old you are. Jim, a tall and skinny guy who was a mechanic. Lori, long brown hair and the mother of Carl, boy about 12 years old. Dale, old grandfather type. Shane, big guy who was a cop. Carol, short grayish hair, mother of Sophia, girl about 12 years old, wife of Ed, I suggest you stay away from him he has a very bad temper. Morales's wife, Miranda, and his 2 kids, Eliza and Louis, about 12 and 11. Then there's Daryl, Merle's brother, and a few others." I nod as we pull up next to other cars and people run to the car.

He parks the car getting out as someone yells "Holy Crap. Turn that damn thing off!" "I don’t know how." Glenn says laughing as I reach over and pop the hood just as someone starts to tell him to do it. I get out and grab (now) my bow and the arrows, as someone tries to disconnect the battery and a girl I assume is Amy bombards Glenn with questions "Is she okay? Is she alright?” “She’s okay! She’s okay!” he replies so she asks, more distraught “Is she coming back? Why isn’t she with you? Where is she? She’s Okay?" "Yes! Yeah, fine. Everybody is. Well, Merle not so much." Glen answers as someone disconnects the battery. “Are you crazy, driving this wailing bastard up here? Are you trying to draw every walker for miles?” a guy who I assume is Shane, as he talks like Rick, asks Glenn so a guy that has to be Dale says “I think we’re okay.” “You call being stupid okay?” Shane asks so Dale explains “Well, the alarm was echoing all over these hills. Hard to pinpoint the source. I’m not arguing. I’m just saying. It wouldn’t hurt you to think a little more carefully next time, would it?” “Sorry. Got a cool car.” Glenn says and at that I smack my forehead as Dale nods reluctantly. It’s then that the cube van pulls up.

Andrea jumps out and runs to Amy, and Morales goes to his wife and kids saying "I told you I'd be back, didn’t I?" I walk over to the van, slinging my bow and the quiver over my shoulder to get my bag that I left in the van. I see Rick in the front and he shakes his head at me so I check the back of the van for Merle and my bag. He’s not there so I grab my bag and make a mental note to ask Rick about Merle as Morales yells "Hey, Helicopter boy and quiet kid! Come say hello." I assume quiet kid is me so I follow Rick a few feet before he stops looking at a woman and a boy, who seem like who Glenn described as Lori and Carl then I think ‘Wait Carl is Rick’s sons name and they look like the people in his picture’. My thoughts were confirmed as Rick says “Oh my God” as the kid ran to him yelling "Dad! Dad!" Rick met Carl half way as Lori looked at the two shocked for a moment before she comes over and hugs both of them. I stand back and watch the happy family and looked around the group hoping for a familiar face. Glenn looks at me and I shake my head and turn to walk towards the van thinking ‘My brothers not here, not that I thought he’d be but it would have been nice.’

"Hey, Dale you don't happen to have a notebook and pen for T?" Glenn asks causing me to stop and look at him and Dale to ask "Why?" "He's mute and he dropped his back in the city." “I'll go look for one for you." Dale, Lori, and Miranda told me so I nodded and went and got on top of the van. A few minutes later Dale comes over to the van holding a large notebook. I take it from him as I nod at him in thanks and open the notebook to the first page and started to write simple responses and questions that I would need commonly. “Dinner will be ready in an hour or so.” He tells be before going back to the group. I start to clean the bow and the few arrows that I had making a mental note to make better ones or ask Glenn to go on a run with me to get some. It was dark by the time I finished sharpening the arrows as they were dull, that was the death of the walker I got them from. I hopped off the van and joined Rick and the others around the fire at the same time as Shane. I didn’t like the vibe the Shane gave off most of the time so I waited for him to sit down before sitting down myself, next to Glenn. Suddenly Dale asks Rick “Have you given any thought to Daryl Dixon? He won’t be happy to hear his brother was left behind.” “I’ll tell him. I dropped the key. It’s on me.” T-Dog says. ‘So he’s still alive. I’ll ask Rick in the morning if we’re going back to get him.’ I think to myself as Rick says “I cuffed him. That makes it mine.” “Guys, it’s not a competition. I don’t mean to bring race into this but it might sound better coming from a white guy.” Glenn says so T-Dog says “I did what I did. Hell if I’m gonna hide from him.” “We could lie.” Amy suggests causing Andrea to say “Or tell the truth. Merle was out of control. Something had to be done or he’d have gotten us killed. Your husband did what was necessary. And if Merle got left behind, it is nobody’s fault but Merle’s.” “And that’s what we tell Daryl? I don’t see a rational discussion to be had from that, do you?” Dale asks Andrea before looking around at the others and adds “Word to the wise…..We’re gonna have our hands full when he gets back from his hunt.” Glenn looks at me but I shake my head so he doesn’t say anything. “I was scared and I ran. I’m not ashamed of it.” T-Dog says causing Andrea to ask “We were all scared. We all ran. What’s your point?” “I stopped long enough to chain that door. Staircase is narrow. Maybe half a dozen geeks can squeeze against it at any one time. It’s not enough to break through that-not that chain, not that padlock. My point, Dixon’s alive and he’s still up there, handcuffed on that roof. That’s on us.” T-Dog says getting up and leaving. Slowly the others left to go to their beds, leaving me alone with Glenn. “You could share my tent. So you don’t have to sleep on the ground or on top of that van.” Glenn tells me. I sigh as I watch the embers of the fire start to go out and hear thunder in the distance before nodding.

****time skip till morning****

I was cleaning my bow on top of the van again as it was a good vantage point to watch the group do their chores. Glenn was upset that Dale and Jim took apart the sports car for parts and gas so he wasn’t doing much but watch them take it apart. Shane had just come back with the water when a woman screamed followed by the kids screaming for their parents, I quickly grabbed an arrow and jumped off the van running towards the screams. I got there as Jacqui pulled them back from the walker eating a deer that had arrows sticking out of it and led them away. I notched my arrow and aimed it at the walker as the guys ran up, finally, and made a semi-circle around it. I stepped back as they started to beat it so I didn’t get caught in the crossfire, with their stupidity it was a possibility, but kept my bow ready and aimed if needed. Dale decapitated it with an ax and says “It’s the first one we’ve had up here. They never come this far up the mountain.” “Well, they’re running out of food in the city, that’s what.” Jim says before a branch snaps and there’s a rustle in the bushes so everyone aims their weapons at the spot ready for whatever it was. A few moments later a guy with a crossbow comes out saying “Son of a bitch. That’s my deer! Look at it. All gnawed on by this…” as he walks over to the walker and starts to kick it adding “Filthy, disease-bearing, motherless proxy bastard!” “Calm down, son. That’s not helping.” Dale says so the guy who I assume is Daryl then says, while striding towards him “What do you know about it, old man? Why don’t you take that stupid hat and go back to On Golden Pond?” he turns away and starts to pull out his arrows adding “I’ve been tracking this deer for miles. Gonna drag it back to camp, cook us up some venison. What do you think? Do you think we can cut around this chewed up part right here?” I turn and start walking away as Shane says “I would not risk that.” Daryl then sighs and says “That’s a damn shame. I got some squirrel, about a dozen or so. That’ll have to do.” But then I hear the walker opens its mouth so I quickly spin around and shoot it in the head at the same time as the guy does as he asks "Come on, people. What the hell? It’s gotta be the brain. Don’t y’all know nothing?” Without noticing I did so he goes to get his arrow but pauses seeing mine as well. Glenn then looks at me and cheers “T one, walker head zero! T the one stop shop of awesomeness has done it again! If he can’t do it no one can!” I glare at him as the others look at me like I grew another head. As I walk forward to get my arrow back Daryl pulls his and my arrow from the head, wipes them on the ground, and holds mine out to me. I nod as I take it from him and inspect it as it didn’t fly like I wanted. “That was a nice shot. Considering your arrows not the best.” He tells me quietly before walking off towards camp yelling for Merle. ‘Well that went well. But now all hell’s about to break lose.’ I think to myself as I follow the others towards camp.

****Daryl's POV****

While tracking the deer I heard the kids’ screams from camp and picked up my pace, I didn’t care about the others but kids were a different matter. I reach a clearing with everyone pointing their weapon in my direction, a guy I haven't seen before aiming an arrow, that wasn’t the best quality, at me a few feet away from the group but in front of the kids causing something to start to stir in the back of my mind. I then see my deer and a decapitated Walker. “Son of a bitch. That’s my deer! Look at it. All gnawed on by this…” I yell walking over to the walker and start kicking it adding “Filthy, disease-bearing, motherless proxy bastard!” “Calm down, son. That’s not helping.” Dale tells me so I approach him saying “What do you know about it, old man? Why don’t you take that stupid hat and go back to On Golden Pond?” turning away I start to pull out my arrows adding “I’ve been tracking this deer for miles. Gonna drag it back to camp, cook us up some venison. What do you think? Do you think we can cut around this chewed up part right here?” The guy with the bow turns and starts walking away as Shane says “I would not risk that.” I sigh and tell them “That’s a damn shame. I got some squirrel, about a dozen or so. That’ll have to do.” But then I hear the walker opens its mouth so I shoot it in the head as I say "Come on, people. What the hell? It’s gotta be the brain. Don’t y’all know nothing?” I go to get my arrow put pause seeing another arrow in the walkers head. All of a sudden Glenn cheers “T one, walker head zero! T the one stop shop of awesomeness has done it again! If he can’t do it no one can!” while looking at the guy who is now glaring at him. As he walks forward to get his arrow back I pull both his and my arrow from the head, wipe them on the ground, and holds his out for him. He nods taking it from me and inspects it. ‘He makes a successful shot with a poor arrow. He might be useful for future hunts.’ I think to myself before telling him, quietly so only he could hear, “That was a nice shot. Considering your arrows not the best.”

I then walking off towards camp yelling “Merle! Merle! Get your ugly ass out here! I got us some squirrel! Let’s stew ‘em up.” “Daryl, just slow up a bit I need to talk to you.” Shane says so I stop and ask “About what?” “About Merle. There was a-There was a problem in Atlanta.” He tells me walking in front of me so I look between him and another new guy twice before asking “He dead?” “We’re not sure.” Shane answers so being angry now I yell “He either is or he ain’t!” New guy then walks up to us and says “No easy way to say this, so I’ll just say it.” “Who are you?" I ask/yell at him whipping around causing him to pause before saying "Rick Grimes." "Rick Grimes, you got something you want to tell me?” I ask him causing him to tell me “Your brother was a danger to us all, so I handcuffed him on a roof, hooked him to a piece of metal. He’s still there.” “Hold on. Let me process this. You’re saying you handcuffed my brother to a roof and you left him there?!” I ask/yell. I see red as he just answers “Yeah.” So I throw the squirrels at him and go to punch him but Shane pushes me down. I pull out my knife and T-Dog yells “Watch the Knife!” I stand up and try to stab Rick but before I know it I'm on the ground with T on top of my chest, his legs on either side of me keeping me in place, my knife in his hands barely touching my neck, and his silver eyes watching my face calmly.

“You’d best let me go!” I yell at him as a feeling I haven’t felt before, but showed up when I first saw him, made itself known in the back of my mind again. He shakes his head and Rick comes over and says “I’d like to have a calm discussion on this topic. Do you think we can manage that?” I don’t reply so he asks again “Do you think we can manage that?” looking at T now, who nods. Rick then says “Yeah.” So T scoots down to where he’s sitting in my lap as I sit up keeping me from getting up to kick Rick’s ass. “What I did was not on a whim. Your brother does not work and play well with others.” Rick says but then T-Dog says “It’s not Rick’s fault. I had the key. I dropped it.” “You couldn’t pick it up?” I asked angry. “Well, I dropped it down a drain.” He says and at this T gets up and offers me a hand. “If that’s supposed to make me feel better it don’t.” I say as I get up on my own and start walking towards my tent. I stop when T-Dog says “Well, maybe this will. Look I chained the door to the roof so the geeks couldn’t get at him. With a padlock.” “It’s gotta count for something.” Rick says so I look around at everyone, except for T as he’s no longer where he was, and say “Hell with all y’all! Just tell me where he is. So’s I can go get him.” “He’ll show you.” Lori says and we all look at her as she adds “Isn’t that right.” Rick nods and says “I’m going back.” I look at him a moment before going to start skinning the squirrels as I wait for him. I then remember that T still had by knife so I look around and I see him on top of the van messing with his arrows. When he sees me coming he jumps off and holds out my knife to me handle first. I take it from him and walk away.

****T’s POV****

I had just gotten back on the top of the truck when Glenn runs past Daryl towards me with my notebook that now had a piece of rope on it making it into a sort of necklace and the words "MUTE, CAN NOT SPEAK" on the cover in big letters. I just stay sitting on the van when Glenn says “Hey, I customized your notebook so you don’t have to carry it and now people will know you don���t speak.” As he waved the thing above his head. I sling my bow and the quiver over my shoulder before I hop off the van. I land next to him and he quickly puts it around my neck and takes off running back to the others before I could hit him. I walk up and stand next to Glenn, smacking the back of his head, just as Shane asks Rick “Why would you risk your life for a douche bag like merle Dixon?” right in front of Daryl who says “Hey, Choose your words more carefully.” “No, I did. Douche bag’s what I meant. Merle Dixon, the guy wouldn’t give you a glass of water if you were dying of thirst.” Shane said and at that point I wanted to punch Shane in the face myself when Rick said the words I was thinking “What he would or wouldn’t do doesn’t interest me. I can’t let a man die of thirst, me. Thirst and exposure. We left him like an animal caught in a trap. That’s no way for anything to die, let alone a human being." “So you and Daryl, that’s your big plan?” Lori asks. Rick turns to look at Glenn and I asking with his face. I nod but Glenn says “Oh, come on.” Rick then convinces Glenn by saying “You know the way. You’ve been there before, in and out, no problem. You said so yourself. It’s not fair of me to ask, I know that, but I’d feel a lot better with you along. I know she would too.” Motioning to Lori. “That’s just great. Now you’re gonna risk four men, huh?” Shane asks but T-Dog says “Five.” At this Daryl huffs and says “My day just gets better and better, don’t it?” T-Dog counters by saying “You see anybody else here stepping up to save your brother’s cracker ass?” “Why you?” Daryl asks so T-Dog answers “You wouldn’t even begin to understand. You don’t speak my language.” “That’s five.” Dale says but Shane jumps in and says “It’s not just five. You’re putting every single one of us at risk. Just know that, Rick. Come on, you saw that walker. It was here. It was in camp. They’re moving out of the cities. They come back, we need every able body we’ve got. We need ‘em here. We need ‘em to protect camp.”

Rick finally showing some smarts says “It seems to me what you really need most here…are more guns.” “Right, the guns.” Glenn says before Shane asks “Wait. What guns?” “Six shotguns, two high-powered rifles, over a dozen handguns. I cleaned out the cage back at the station before I left. I dropped the bag in Atlanta when we got swarmed. It’s just sitting there on the street, waiting to be picked up.” Rick says so Shane asks “Ammo?” “700 rounds, assorted.” Rick replies. “You went through hell to find us. You just got here and you’re gonna turn around and leave?” Lori says while Carl says “Dad, I don’t want you to go.” “To hell with the guns. Shane is right. Merle Dixon? He’s not worth one of your lives, even with guns thrown in. Tell me. Make me understand.” Lori says standing up so Rick walks towards her saying “I owe a debt to a man I met and his little boy. Lori, if they hadn’t taken me in, I’d have died. It’s because of them and T that I made it back to you at all. They said they’d follow us to Atlanta. They'll walk into the same trap we did if I don’t warn him.” “What’s stopping you?” she asks so Rick replies “The walkie-talkie, the one in the bag I dropped. He’s got the other one. Our plan was to connect when they got closer.” “These are our walkies?” Shane asks so Rick replies “Yeah…” trailing off. “So use the C.B. What’s wrong with that?” Andrea asks so Shane explains “The C.B.’s fine. It’s the walkies that suck to crap. Date back to the ‘70s, don’t match any other bandwidth not even the scanners in our cars.” Lori looks at the ground then back at Rick as he says “I need that bag.” Before walking over and kneeling in front of Carl adding “Okay?” Carl nods so Rick says “All right.” And pats him on the head. I then went with Glenn and Daryl to back up the van. Glenn drove as Daryl and I were in the back. After the van stopped Daryl started pacing back and forth so much that I thought about tripping him but I decide against it and started drawing a picture of Yori to show people when I asked about him, ignoring the conversation going on outside the van. Daryl then honked the horn with his foot and yelled “Come on, let’s go!” As T-Dog is climbing in the van Shane says “Five men, five rounds. What are the odds, huh? Let’s just hope that five is your lucky number, okay?” “God dammit! Stop jinxing me fuckers!’ I yell in my head at them as I glare at them.

After everyone was in the van, T-Dog shut the back as Glenn started driving. A few minutes go by of T-Dog watching me draw before he asks “What are you drawing?” Rick looks back at us and says “I want to know to.” I sigh and flip my half-finished drawing for them to see. Daryl is the first one to speak as he asks “He your brother?” There was a hint of something in his voice that I couldn’t identify so I just nod and T-Dog asks “Where is he?” I look down as Rick says “He doesn’t know for sure. Last he heard he was at the CDC.” “Oh, sorry-“T-Dog start before being cut off by Glenn saying “We’ll find him. Even if we have to walk there.” I was expecting Daryl to say something mean at this as his brother is also missing, well…chained to a roof, so I look up at him but he just looks away from me. We get closer to the city and I’m now half-finished with my drawing of Merle, I figured it would be useful if somehow he wasn’t there anymore, as Daryl looks at T-Dog and says “He better be okay. It’s my only word on the matter.” “I told you the geeks can’t get at him. The only thing that’s gonna get through that door is us.” T-Dog says before Glenn stops the van and says “We walk from here.” So we all get out and start to jog towards the city. When we go through an opening in a fence Rick asks “Merle first, or guns?” I point to Daryl who says “Merle! We ain’t even having this conversation.” As I nod in agreement. “We are. You know the geography. It’s your call.” Rick tells Glenn who says “Merle’s closest. The guns would mean doubling back. Merle first.” We then start jogging again.

*****Time skip*****

           We’re in the department store again sticking close together and watching for walkers. Rick’s leading and puts a hand up to stop us then signals for me to take out the walker as my bow is slightly quieter than Daryl’s crossbow. I notch an arrow as I walk in front of him and aim. As Daryl says “Damn. It’s one ugly skank.” I shoot it in the head. I go to get my arrow but Daryl blocks me as a walker comes around the corner and he shoot it in the head. He then nods at me and we go get our arrows and wipe them off, him on his pants me on one of the shirts in the store. We don’t encounter any more walkers as we make our way to the roof. When we get to the top of the stairway T-Dog breaks the lock with bolt cutters and Daryl kicks the door open yelling “Merle! Merle!” as he runs onto the roof but we don’t find Merle only his sawed off hand as Daryl yells “No!” “Well shit.” I write in my notebook and turn it around.