It had been about two months since the prison fell apart, the screams and the blood was all I remembered from that day. The group got split up and we all had to go our separate ways, from what I could see everyone split off with someone from the group, unfortunately I had nobody to go with so now I was left to survive by myself … and protect mine and Daryl’s baby that I was carrying. I had such high hopes of being reunited with the group and with Daryl especially but now with each moment passing I was completely loosing hope.
I gripped my stomach as I felt my baby stir and kick harshly. “Jesus, you’re one strong kid, take after your father.” I whispered to myself smiling as I continued on the main road heading to god knows where. I kept my gun raised at all times always on alert, I’d occasionally hear noises in the bushes hoping Daryl would step out but usually it’ll be a walker or some animal. I stopped and drank the last bit of my water making a mental note to get more. I heard another rustle in the bushes and turned around with my gun raised at the noise, “Hello? Daryl?” I said. ‘Don’t be stupid Y/N, Daryl isn’t there.’ I kept telling myself. I wiped the tear that I didn’t know fell and picked up my bag to carry on walking north.
For hours I kept thinking about Daryl, I was scared I’d forget what he looked like after so long, I kept the same image in my head of his face. His rare but beautiful smile he only showed me.
After a few hours I came across a little village that I hoped was abandoned so I could do a quick supply run. I saw a small grocery store on the corner and walked stealthily towards it, “Pray that no walkers are in there kiddo.” I said rubbing my stomach. With my gun pointing in front of me I quietly opened the door and briefly inspected the surrounding area. It all looked fairly normal for now. “Okay, water.” I whispered to myself as I saw a few bottles on the floor and packed them in my bag. I already had enough food so I continued looking for batteries and such.
I heard a massive bang from behind me and before I knew it I was being pulled down by my shoulders, a heavy weight was weighing them down followed by a sharp growling noise. I tried to grab my gun that fell on the floor but I couldn’t. “Help!” I screamed. The walker kept trying to take a chunk out of my neck, I used my hand and pushed its forehead back til I heard its neck snap and bend backwards. I gagged at the sight but carried on, its head fell on the floor still snapping it’s teeth.
I put my hands on my knees and took a deep breath then I heard a gunshot and the walkers head stopped snapping. I quickly drew my gun at the person who shot the walker and he raised his hands in defense.
“Woah, Woah.” The man said stepping back. “Who’re you?” I whispered, my voice still shaky. “My names Aaron, look I mean you or your baby no harm at all. I see you’ve been struggling, I want to help you out. I live in a community safe zone called Alexandria, please come back with me and all of us can take care of you and your baby.” Aaron said, I couldn’t tell if he was lying or not, his eyes seemed so genuine and harmless but you can’t trust people nowadays, Daryl always told me that. “You could be lying.” I bluntly replied. Aaron nodded, “I could be, but I’m not, I wouldn’t come out all this way out of Virginia to look for survivors in need of help. Please come back with me.” Aaron pleaded, I knew I shouldn’t trust him but I did, he looked harmless and so eager to help a pregnant woman so I decided to go with him, what else have I got to lose?
~~Months into Alexandria~~
“Whats mommy got? Is this your favorite little bunny?” I said playing with my baby girl. I shook the bunny in front of her and watched her crystal blue eyes light up with joy. She was beautiful, she had Daryl’s blue eyes and his nose, she had my face shape and my mouth.
I stroked her soft skin thinking about Daryl, will I ever see the love of my life again? or any of the group for that matter, I hoped and prayed Judith was okay.
I heard a gentle knock on my bedroom door and invited the person in. “Hello sweetheart, hows the little one?” Deanna whispered smiling down at my baby. “Shes okay, spent the last hour staring at her eyes, there like his.” I said a tear threatening to fall. Deanna placed a hand on my shoulder and squeezed. “Shes beautiful you know. We’ll find Daryl, I promise.” She said. “We have new guests arriving here, would it be too much to ask if I asked you to greet them and show them round?” Deanna asked me. I shook my head and stood up, Deanna told me she’d look after my baby whilst I went to greet everybody.
I left my house and started walking towards the main gate to greet the new people. I squinted and saw in the distance Aaron talking to them … then I saw … no … what?
Aaron turned around and smiled at me, I put my hand over my mouth as the tears from all those months came crashing back. “Daryl!” I screamed. I saw him turn around, he instantly dropped everything even his crossbow and sprinted towards me. “Y/N!” He shouted. We both ran as fast as possible and met in the middle where he picked me up by the waist and brought me into a crashing hug.
“My girl … god I missed ya’” He whispered in my ear, his voice shaking. “I missed you too baby.” I said back crying. The rest of the group surrounded us and engulfed me in a massive hug. “I can’t believe this.” I whispered.
“Wheres our baby?” Daryl said holding my hand as he placed a kiss on my lips, the kiss i’ve been craving. “Right here.” A voice said, we both turned around and saw Deanna holding our baby, I smiled as Daryl took her from her hands and cradled our little blessing. “What’d you call er’?” He asked looking down at her. I paused for a bit and looked up at Carol. “Sophia.”
What really killed me about this was the babies name. Been bawlin my eyes out for 5 minutes now.
The Plains warbonnet is not a Cherokee thing. It is not a Navajo thing. It is not an Indian thing. It is a Plains thing.
Stop calling every silly thing you draw that even vaguely resembles a native “Cherokee” or “Navajo” or “Aztec.”
Stop drawing the warbonnet everywhere as the apparently definitive native thing. It isn’t part of all of our 600+ cultures.
Same goes for the tipi, not part of every one of the 600+ indigenous cultures.
Stop thinking that if a native person doesn’t have dark, “mahogany” skin, that their heritage is invalid. Even without admixture, we actually do have varying skin tones.
Stop wearing crappy fake warbonnets.
Stop wearing redface.
Stop using us as your silly mascots. We are people.
Stop saying “spirit animal.” It’s derived from a New Age bastardization of a something that actually exists in some of our cultures.
Don’t smudge. Cleanse all you like, that’s fine, but don’t smudge.
Don’t call us “Indians.” “Native American” isn’t great either, it is not our name, but it’s slightly better than “Indian.” “Indigenous” is also fine.
Don’t use NDN/ndn. That is ours.
Step off about our hair. If you meet a long-haired native, admire it if you like, maybe even ask them about it (RESPECTFULLY), but do not touch. The same applies for someone with short hair, but additionally for those with short hair, don’t say things like “oh you’d look more native/Indian/etc if your hair was long.” We didn’t all traditionally have long, flowing hair. Believe it or not, there are actually different haircuts existing in our various cultures, and aside from that ultimately it’s a personal choice, one does not need to have long hair if they don’t want to. Doesn’t make them any less native to have short hair.
Don’t pray to our spirits/gods/energies. Native spiritualities are closed, they are not for outsiders.
Don’t say “The Native Americans believed…” Firstly, the past tense is silly, we still exist and do things. Secondly, we are NOT A MONOLITH. As I mentioned before, there are upwards of 600 different Native American cultures.
Don’t ask about someone’s “Indian name.” That’s not only insensitive, the name you are referring to in that instance is something sacred, and might not be something that person wants to share with you.
Don’t call yourself silly crap like “howling wolf” or “flying eagle.” That’s also racist and insensitive.
Regardless of whatever you might think you’re doing, or what your intentions may be, if a native person tells you that what you’re doing is disrespectful, STOP DOING IT.
You aren’t honoring us. You’re just mocking us further, demonstrating your continued ability to treat us like shit and get away with it even now, centuries after our colonization began. Your feelings are not more important than our history and survival.
To those doing your best as allies, thank you, keep doing what you do. HOWEVER, don’t let opportunities to educate others escape you. By letting them continue to be ignorant, you are failing. Spread the message.
There will be no “please.” It’s been more than 500 years, and we still are made to be invisible in our homelands. Still we are treated like less. Some even think we all died long ago.
Why would there be a bottle of wine on the stove?!
WTF Barbie you can’t use a cutting board for a bulletin board
BARBIE! you should know better than to leave a cheese grater on the edge of the fridge! someone could get hurt!
Um, okay, DOES NO ONE REALIZE THAT BARBIE is cleaning her kitchen floor with a garden hose? Get it together, Barbie.
OH MY GOD BARBIE! ARE YOU JUST GOING TO LEAVE THOSE DIRTY DISHES IN YOUR SINK? SERIOUSLY GET IT TOGETHER BARBIE!
…Seriously?
People. Wow. Open your EYES.
Is NOBODY going to point out how Barbie is CLEANING HER FLOOR
IN
WHITE
PANTS???
CLOSE THE DAMN REFRIGERATOR! YOUR LETTING ALL THGE COLD OUT!
Barbie, seriously? The blender on top of the fridge? You could get hurt!!1
Guys for the love of god how can you not notice the freaking rat next to the fridge?! WTF Barbie? Clean your house more often, would ya?
Barbie, who the hell puts a calculator on their fridge. COME ON! GET WITH THE TIMES!
I love how everyone pretends not to notice the toaster next to the sink. BARBIE! YOU COULD GET ELECTROCUTED IF THAT FELL IN! GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER GURL!
what the hell is wrong with you people???!?!?!
omfg how can you not notice the fact the fridge has three layers of drawers on the bottom? what the fuck?? barbie fridges dont work that way im sorry
SERIOUSLY?!! YOU PEOPLE ARE SICK! CAN YOU SEE THAT A SERIOUS CRIME HAS BEEN COMMITTED HERE?!!
THAT WALLPAPER! IT’S HIDEOUS! Get a freakin’ sense of style, woman!
