The Message

Daryl's POV

I ain't never hated myself more than I do right now.

Ath. My girl. My wife. I left her there.

Every step I took felt like a betrayal. Like I was stompin' on her heart. Her voice was callin' out in my head, tellin' me to keep movin', but I couldn't hardly get my breath. I couldn't stop goddamn cryin'.

She ain't just my wife. She's my warrior. My goddess. Until the kids came along, it felt like she was the only damn reason I breathed, the one person who could save me from all the shit that came before.

Now, she's the mother of my children, the person who gave me the family I never thought I'd have. I'd break if anythin' happened to her. My heart wouldn't be able to keep goin'.

"Ath..." I breathed, like sayin' her name out loud might keep her with me. Might stop the goddamn image of her lyin' there, bleedin' on the floor with no one to hold her hand. No one to tell her she ain't alone.

Leaves were crunchin' underfoot, branches scrapin' my arms, but none of it registered. My legs didn't wanna work right - kept bucklin', like they knew I oughta be headin' back to her, not away. I stumbled over a root and went down hard, palms skinnin' on the ground. I just lay there for a few seconds, breath shakin', stomach twistin'. I thought about not gettin' back up. Thought about turnin' 'round and crawlin' back to her, but I couldn't.

I saw Briar's face. Her sleepy little smile, the way she clutches her bunny like it's the only thing safe in this world. Saw Sawyer runnin' 'round the yard like a maniac. They're my kids. Our kids. And if I don't get to the Kingdom, Alpha might...

I choked on my breath, scrubbed at my eyes with the back of my sleeve. Ain't the time to fall apart again.

I forced myself up, pushin' through the ache in my chest, the guilt sinkin' deep into my gut like a knife. My compass inside - my sense of direction - usually sharp as hell. But now? Nothin' looked familiar. Trees all twistin' the wrong way. Path behind me gone. I was losin' my damn mind. I'd never been lost in the woods before. Not once. Not 'til now.

My brain 'n' body - they ain't workin' right.

I don't even know if she's still alive. She was bleedin' bad, her leg snapped clean, and there wasn't nothin' I could do. I should've stayed. Should've figured a way to carry her. But she told me it'd only kill her faster, and prob'ly get me killed, too. She told me to go - to save our babies. I had to. I knew I had to, but it broke me all the same.

I kept tryna run, legs movin' like they was made of stone, every inch of me still screamin' to turn back, but I couldn't. Not yet. Couldn't let Alpha get her filthy hands on our children. That'd destroy me. Destroy Ath if she made it through this. I had to make sure they were safe. I knew the Kingdom'd be locked down tight, that Merle would die to protect those kids, but it didn't matter. It was my job to keep 'em safe, 'n' I had to get to 'em.

Time passed. I don't know how long. Could've been minutes or hours. I didn't if I was goin' the right way anymore. I dropped to my knees again, breath comin' ragged. Fist slammin' into the dirt.

Fuck Alpha. Fuck her whisperin' freaks. She'll never get her hands on my kids. Never. They already killed Carol's kid. I can't think about that now though, I gotta focus. I gotta get back.

I pushed myself up again, legs shakin'.

"Daddy ain't gonna let nothin' happen to ya." I promised the wind.

And I kept goin'. Even though my heart already felt like it was mournin'. Even though I could still feel the heat of Ath's blood on my hands. I kept movin'.

'Cause that's what she wanted. My brave, beautiful wife.

And I wasn't gonna let her down. I was gonna make damn sure our kids were protected 'n' then I was gonna make it back to her in time. I had to. It didn't end like this.

It couldn't.

~

I found 'em before I made it much further.

Carol. Michonne. Yumiko. Tied up to a tree like goddamn animals. Surrounded.

Alpha.Beta.A whole mess of Whisperers.Too many.

I froze behind a tree, crossbow slippin' a little in my grip, fingers numb. My breath hitched in my throat - 'til this strange damn relief hit me.

If they're here... they ain't at the Kingdom.

Briar 'n' Sawyer. They're safe. God, they gotta be.

Thank fuck.

But then the relief curdled into rage. Hot and thick in my throat.

My wife. My wife's lyin' back in that cabin, hurt 'n' alone - if she's even still breathin'. 'N' these monsters did that to her.

I moved without thinkin', burst from the brush, tryin' to get to Alpha first, but three Whisperers were on me before I could get a clean shot. Fought 'em hard - elbow to the throat, fist to the ribs - almost broke free.

But they swarmed me.

Shit. What was I thinkin'? I was too angry to function properly.

They tied me up like the rest. Rope tight 'round my wrists. I was pantin', sweatin', head swimmin' with fury 'n' what state Ath could be in now.. Carol looked at me, eyes wide, brows scrunched up like she didn't recognize me at first.

I must've looked wrecked. 'Cause I was.

"Daryl?" Michonne rasped.

Couldn't speak. Just kept shakin'. My throat burned from cryin' again already. Couldn't stop.

I turned to Alpha, lip curlin', voice crackin' as I roared.

"I'm gonna fuckin' kill ya! I'll rip ya damn throat out for what ya've done!"

She tilted her head, calm as ever, like a goddamn statue wearin' dead skin.

"Ya stay the fuck away from my kids!" I cried.

Alpha blinked, real slow. "I do not know of your children. They do not concern me."

My heart stopped.

It all hit me like a goddamn truck.

Ath had lied.

She knew the only way I'd leave was if I thought our kids were in danger. She made me run. Told me what I needed to hear so I'd go. So I'd live.

And I left her.

I left her to die.

I doubled over, sobs wrackin' through me. Carol's voice was soft, whisperin' my name like she was tryna reach me through the fog.

Michonne's eyes narrowed. I knew she was wonderin' if Ath was alive or dead. Yumiko looked between us all, tense and pale.

But I couldn't speak. Couldn't tell Carol the truth - not yet. Not until she was somewhere safe. She didn't know about Henry. About how he ain't comin' back.

I clenched my jaw and tried to breathe as Alpha walked over and sliced Michonne's bonds loose.

"Come," she said, gripin' her arm and pullin' her away.

They were gone a few minutes. Felt like hours.

When they came back, Michonne was gray in the face. "Her horde." Was all she whispered.

Alpha cut Carol and Yumiko free next. "You'll see my border soon," she said flat. "Keep walkin'. You don't stop, he lives. He'll catch ya up."

Carol hesitated. Looked at me like she wanted to fight it. Like she wouldn't leave me behind, but Michonne took her hand.

Yumiko swallowed hard. Carol gave me a silent look - one I'd remember forever - then they were gone.

Alpha stepped close, breathin' in my ear.

"You thought you could keep my daughter from me. Thought you could hide her. You're lucky I haven't skinned you alive for that."

I clenched my fists. "She dead? Lydia?"

She didn't answer.

Just turned and walked away. One of her lackies cut my bonds.

I wanted to attack her. I wanted to kill all of them, but gettin' back to Ath mattered more right now.

I shoved off the tree the second I was cut loose. I tore after the others, heart poundin'.

I had to get to 'em. I needed 'em to help me save Ath.

I needed to tell Carol about her son.

I saw movement up ahead, edging into a clearing.

Carol, Yumiko, Michonne - and now Siddiq too.

He looked like hell. Face busted up, limpin', but breathin'. My damn heart leapt. He was a doctor. He could help Ath.

But then I saw 'em.

Pikes. Lined in the ground. Heads on 'em.

I knew before I saw it. I felt it. Henry was one of 'em.

"Carol, don't!" I ran hard, but she was already lookin'.

Her scream near broke me.

I caught her, arms wrappin' around her shoulders as she shook, sobbin' like her soul was bein' ripped from her chest.

"Don't look," I whispered. "Just look at me. Look at me."

She was clutchin' at me so hard, but I knew I couldn't stay.

"I'm so sorry," I choked, holdin' her tighter. "I'm so sorry, but I gotta go."

She pulled back, tears cascading. "I don't wanna leave ya. Not now." I told her, already movin'. "But Ath's hurt. Bad."

Michonne followed. "I'll go with you."

Yumiko called after us. "I'll get Carol home."

"Siddiq!" I yelled without looking back. "Ath needs ya. We gotta move - now."

He wiped blood from his face and started tailing us. I knew he was hurt, but I didn't care. He wasn't as hurt as she was.

I ran - the others tryna keep up - heart leadin' me like a compass now. Like she was pullin' me to her.

Sun started peekin' through the trees. I could see my old tracks.

When we finally reached the cabin, breath heavin', I stopped dead - the wind bein' knocked outta me.

The door was wide open.

"No!" I yelled as I ran up the steps, terrified of what I might find. "Ath!"

The armoire she was hidden in had been thrown aside.

There was blood. So much blood.

But no Ath.

I dropped to my knees.

"No- no, no, no."

Then, my roar tore through the woods like an earthquake. I curled forward, fists slammin' the floor, eyes burnin', chest heavin'.

Where the hell was my wife!?

A/N: This is very heavy, so feel free to skip - but I wanted to explain some of the emotions I've tried to get across at the beginning of this chapter.

My lovely partner passed away under sudden, tragic circumstances in 2023 aged just 29.

After a few hours at the hospital, waiting for him to regain consciousness, the doctor eventually had to break the news that there was nothing more they could do. I was told he wouldn't wake up, and that he had hours left at most. My world collapsed.

Despite knowing I had a young son who needed me, I was convinced I wouldn't make it through it his death. I felt like my heart would for sure just give up working when his did.

And when that time finally came, it felt like it had.

I'm telling you this because although Daryl faltering in the way he does at first is out-of-character, it feels realistic to the gravity of the situation. It doesn't stop him needing to save his kids, but grief and anticipatory grief rob you of every part of yourself - making you unable to focus on anything but the pain.

Anyway, sorry for the me talk. It just felt relevant.

Sending love to anybody who's been in a similar situation. It fucking sucks. ❤️