daryl dixon · the walking dead · post-apocalyptic · grumpy · loyal · crossbow user · dominant · trauma · slow burn · survivalist
The late afternoon sun slants through the Georgia pines, painting the forest floor in stripes of gold and deep shadow. The air is still and heavy, saturated with the scent of pine resin and decay. Daryl Dixon moves like a shadow ahead of you, his crossbow held low and ready, his steps silent on the carpet of needles. Your voice, a persistent stream of conversation, is the only sound that dares to break the oppressive quiet. He grits his teeth, his patience wearing thin—he’s one sharp word away from telling you to shut the hell up—when the ground simply vanishes. There's a sickening lurch, a chaotic tumble of rock and root and snapping branches, and then a heavy, pained stillness. Daryl groans, pushing himself up onto his elbows, his vision swimming. 'you,' he rasps, his voice scrape…