Hidden Behind Fangs
Daryl Dixon • She/Her Pronouns • Werewolf!Daryl • He will always find a way to keep his secret behind closed doors. Then things changed… • ANGST/SFW • TW: Shifting / Injuries / Anxiety / Nightmares
Requested by: @lazyneonrabbitt (sorry this took forever)
“She hasn’t turned up in a while. She could be—-“
“Nah. I’ve got this” Daryl stated as he picked up his crossbow. “I’m headin’ out there”
Rick only gave Daryl a concerned look before nodding and going toward the gates with Carl to open them for him. Carl didn’t utter his confusion when Daryl didn’t leave with his bike and simply his person, but Rick kept a strong exterior for his son to trust the archer’s decision.
The solo run was supposed to be a week long trip that should’ve been an easy sweep of an outdoor mall Y/N has come across before. It took a lot of convincing for the council to let her go alone. Now there was a lot of regret coursing through her half dead body as she held up in an abandoned church after escaping a group of psychopaths that kept themselves hidden in said outdoor shopping mall.
Y/N was sleeping in the pews, but her body was starting to give up on her that the last time she went to check her entrances/exits. She collapsed in the main isle accepting that she will never see her friends again, or him for that matter.
Then it happened suddenly but her body couldn’t and wouldn’t reach to the sound of scratching on the door she barricaded. She couldn’t tell if it were walkers or an animal of some sorts.
Maybe a dog?
She slipped in and out of consciousness at this point. She didn’t hear the pew she had blocking the door fall over. Couldn’t register the unfamiliar footsteps. Didn’t feel herself rise from the floor. She couldn’t even remember how she got back to the prison.
What she could remember was the sound of something sniffing her and a whine?
A few days passed and Y/N woke in her cell feeling the bandages on her torso but more importantly the pain that came with it. She slowly sat up to see the rest of the damage but nothing some stitches and bandages to do the job.
“Well look who’s awake” Hershel laughs happily bringing himself in as he came initially to change a few bandages while she slept but thank god she’s awake. “You remember what happened and how you got back?”
“Fuck…I got back here?”
“Yeah? Rick and Carol found you outside the gates with your stuff or at least what’s left of it” Hershel helped her sit up in her bed as she noticed how torn her bag was. “You have a large gash in your side so that’s what caused most of the blood loss. A few nasty cuts on your legs and arms. But nothing just a bandage couldn’t help with the healing process. Bruises obviously”
“Obviously” Y/N sighed helping him check the one on her torso by lifting her…whoever’s shirt she was wearing. “Has uhm. Daryl showed up?”
“His bed is currently outside your cell, currently he’s on watch duty but every night since you came back he stayed close” Hershel finished with the bandage letting her fix out the shirt back down. “It’s his shirt by the way. Heat of the moment, couldn’t grab any of yours. He had his at the ready”
“Mmm” Y/N looked down at his shirt moment as Hershel went through his med bag to grab some pain killers. “I’m guessing he’s going to hover for a bit”
“Most likely. Besides, I doubt you’d want to go back out there…” Hershel noticed her tense and grab onto herself. He carefully rested a hand on her for reassurance but she flinched. “What happened out there, hun?”
“Squatters…one too many…” Y/N kept her gaze away from Hershel. “I got chased…then grabbed and…”
As she was telling the old man what had happened, little did she know Daryl was eavesdropping.
She was chased out of the strip mall
Then captured
Tortured
Her saving grace was a herd
“And that’s how I ended up in the church but I guess I build enough strength to get back…”
“That must’ve been scary…I’m really sorry. Wish we went out for yea sooner”
“It’s whatever. Can I like. Get up and walk now? Or am I stuck inside for a while”
“All I’m gonna say is be careful, and you are technically stuck inside for a while. Just within the gates.”
“Figured” Y/N watches Hershel leave her be as she carefully bent down with a groan to get her shoes on.
After getting her shoes on and starting to walk to prison grounds, Y/N could feel the stares coming from her family and the Woodbury folk as the anxiety started to eat at her from it. Practically came back half dead. There was also more to it that started to come clear the more she breathes.
“You doing alright?”
The retired sheriff’s voice pulled her out of her thoughts as she quickly noticed the worry now in his expression as well.
“You were out a bit but we knew you’d pull through”
“Uhm. Can I ask you something? It’s going to sound very stupid once it leaves my mouth”
“Anything”
“Do you believe in the supernatural? Because I’m starting to get this weird feeling that I didn’t get myself back here” Y/N frowns, feeling the tense feeling return in her back as her anxiety did its best to present itself. “I doubt walkers would regain consciousness but there’s much more to just them evolving. There’s other things in the supernatural”
“It would definitely be an odd one but Hershel kind of…confirmed in a way that you got there on your own because you looked at if you’ve been walking for days”
“Anybody who looks weak can be that way for many reasons. It’s not just one thing…and with the blood I’ve lost, I should’ve been eaten out there”
“Y/N…what exactly could you be getting at?”
Would it be weird to tell him exactly what you remember? Y/N thought as she continued to stare at him and the blankness that meant nothing only drew more of his concern out.
“Y/N?”
“I uhm. Forget it, Rick. I’m getting exhausted…” then she didn’t wait for him to get a word in, but right when she left and turned back to him…Daryl had approached with something urgent by the looks of it on his face.
When night came around, Y/N couldn’t sit with her thoughts inside the prison as she sat on the steps into their cellblock. She flinched to the sudden appearance and feel of a blanket draping over her shoulders. Carol making herself known with a soft smile as she sat beside her friend.
“Rick wanted me to check up on you” Carol never lied to Y/N, and she appreciated that. “Said you were a bit on the squirrel-y side. You wanna talk about it?”
“You’re only going to think I’m crazy”
“Well. I stayed with a horrible man for years while he mistreated me and my daughter. I think we’re both crazy…and even then, you’re probably less”
Y/N frowns giving her friend a concerned look but she shook it off. It was in the past, doesn’t mean she doesn’t worry. She took a deep breath before admitting.
“There was…a big dog. Or a wolf. Or whatever. When I was held up in the chapel it sounded like walkers were trying to get in. But I went out for a second that when I opened my eyes, I was like…face to face with a snout. A big ass dog.”
“Probably a wolf. Given these parts.”
“You don’t think it’s weird?”
“That it didn’t eat you? Yeah. But you’re just saying you encountered it. Then you brought yourself back”
“That’s the thing…you guys just saw me at the gates on the ground. I had no strength to get back here…that..wolf dog…it dragged me.” Y/N frowns watching her friend’s concern grow but he couldn’t tell if it’s from what she said or something else. “The last thing I remember was being dragged by the wolf dog.”
“Hm”
“You think I’m crazy”
“I once thought walkers wouldn’t ever happen but yet here we are. Anything is possible” Carol reassures resting her hand on Y/N’s shoulder giving it a squeeze before getting up. “Don’t stay out too much longer”
Y/N nodded watching her head back inside and when she turned toward the gates of the prison she noticed the eyeshine of an animal. The animal slowly approached the gate which drew her to lift herself discarding the blanket as she approached with caution.
The hesitation the animal had when getting closer only made Y/N bring herself up to the gate. The smallest gesture led it to finally come into the light the watchtower emitted.
A wolf… Y/N stares at the creature watching it bring itself up close sniffing her. But when she reached her hand through, it stepped away quickly.
The wolf ran back into the woods still within view for Y/N to see. It gave a quick glance at her before turning back toward the darkness and rising on its hind legs. It turned back to her a last time as all she saw was a silhouette and the eyeshine.
It’s been a few weeks since that event and Y/N couldn’t stop thinking about it. What was it? was the big question in the front of her mind because no wolf can stand on its hind legs like how a human stands.
Y/N currently lays in the grass of the prison after spending a few hours taking care of the garden. Even harvesting some vegetables. She stares up at the sky still thinking about that night when she heard footsteps approaching, only to find Daryl carrying dinner for the both of them.
That was another thing. Daryl has changed since she came back from her attack. He’s grown more…attached to her. Their relationship is complicated. More on the side of friends who can confine in each other, while one has feelings for the other. Little did she know. But ever since the accident, he’s done his best to always be there. Even ditch runs to spend time with her on her watch.
“You almost missed dinner”
“Guess I got too lost in my thoughts that I forgot” Y/N slowly sat up taking the bowl given to her, watching Daryl sit with her. “How was the run?”
“Long” Daryl sighs leaning back on his hands after setting his bowl in his lap. “Didn’t find what I needed”
“What was it that you were looking for?” She asks while taking a bite and when she noticed the annoyance grow on his expression. She choked a bit to get her words out. “Sorry if I—-“
“Nah it’s fine. Needed new parts for my bike” Daryl stated while he picked at his dinner as Y/N sets her finished bowl beside her. “Uhm. You ever wanna go on a ride…with me on my bike?”
The heat instantly reached her cheeks which lead for his blush to appear raging on his ears. Y/N couldn’t help her smile though.
“I’d love to”
“How about tomorrow? I’ve got watch in a bit”
“Perfect”
Tomorrow never came. The outbreak had to happen and people were starting to get sick…
People like Y/N…
But…when the few that were assigned to get the medicine, something more happened aside from Bob’s drinking habits almost costing lives. Something more on a divine scale.
When Y/N woke after receiving the medicine, she felt a hand squeeze hers as she quickly glanced to the archer who has seen better days by the looks of it.
“Are you okay?” She rasped out, receiving a scoff as if a ‘seriously?’ from Daryl.
“I’m okay…got uh. Stuck in a pickle” Daryl frowns feeling her squeeze his hand. “You gotta…you gotta stop leaving me”
Y/N brought his hand to her lips gaining some confidence in that moment to display that small form of affection by kissing the back of his hand.
“Stay with me”
Y/N hated how her own words rung in her head when she stared at the prison engulfed in flames. Alone in this hell again only brought back pain and anger. She needed to find her family or him and she won’t hesitate to continue spreading the fire in order for such to happen.
When the night crawled in and the prison was back to state it was in before they moved in…the beast from that night approached the prison in a hurry as if it were looking for her. Something was off with it that it didn’t hesitate to rip apart every walker that came in its way, the growling gave away its hidden feelings about the event…he experienced.
As much as the prison was in ruin, he destroyed the place when he caught onto a familiar scent that was driving him nuts if it meant she was under it all. The growling grew louder with frustration but he finally caught onto where the scent was coming from.
Blood. But no body. She got out.
Even with relief the wolf was still enraged.
She was out there and so are the monsters that hurt her
The news of this Sanctuary reached everyone from her family that when Y/N came across it, she thought it was a safe bet to head in that direction to reunite with them.
When she found herself in a ruined neighborhood, she half expected walkers instead of people when she went to check the noise coming from one of the homes. Thankfully, Carl lowered his readied gun partially dropping it before hugging Y/N. Michonne following his lead on the affection.
“God I’m lucky I found you” Y/N smiles, on the verge of tears which led her smile to quickly fade to an unwelcome thought. “Have you—-“
“We haven’t see anybody else. But there are signs for this sanctuary. They might be there” Michonne reassures as she brought Y/N into another hug.
There seemed to be a trend of bad things occurring and running into…an old group of squatters, hell a few of them were psychopaths had caught them on the road to the sanctuary. The leader had already ordered a few to grab Carl and Michonne while he had his grasp on Rick. He gave Y/N a look while Billy, one of the Claimers are what they’re called, grabbed her harshly pinning her against the car.
“Remember Len? The one that wanted to do all kinds of things to your sweet little ass?” Joe laughs. “He’s a non-issue…but knowing you’re part of his crowd? Oh we’re gonna do all kinds of things once we’re done with boss man here”
Y/N couldn’t help the tears as it was clear to Michonne and Rick that these were the men that harmed her a while back. Michonne tried to rush to her when Billy forced her on the ground and pinned her there but Tony had his gun readied at Michonne’s head that there wasn’t a window.
Until he made himself known.
“Joe…what the hell are you doing?”
“This is the guy that killed Lou, Daryl…he shall pay for what he’s done” Joe stated and Daryl was going to say more on why they shouldn’t but noticed finally who Billy was pinning to the ground.
Daryl had enough. He had enough.
The archer dropped his crossbow and slowly made his way toward the leader but when one tried to intervene…all hell broke loose.
One of the claimers went to grab Daryl when he forcefully grabbed his wrist, snapping his arm with an unexplainable strength that soon made sense when the man started to shift. The wolf…werewolf from before was Daryl and the only few that knew were Rick and Carol, Michonne when he went full beast during the medicine run, and now Carl…and now her.
Y/N stayed in her place as she felt the man pinning her suddenly lift off of her and torn in half by Daryl biting down on his upper half. Then the bottom being practically torn off the upper from the throw.
“Son of a—-“ Joe couldn’t even finish his sentence before Rick got to end his life with a bite that does compared to the wolfman’s.
Daryl lunged at the man towering Carl after grabbing Tony and practically throwing him into a tree, giving Michonne her window to grab the boy keeping him out of harms way. Y/N was frozen in place for a moment while the wolf, her wolf, took out most of the claimers with either his teeth or his claws.
His ears twitched when he heard her scream from the remaining Claimer grabbing her and using her as a shield to get out of there. But as he approached the two on all fours watching the knife the Claimer wield press itself into her neck. Y/N instantly stomped on the guy’s foot causing him to release temporarily but enough for her to duck when Daryl ran on all fours jumping the man not even hesitating to rip him in pieces.
Once Rick made sure his son and Michonne were okay, he quickly went to check on Y/N who simply watched Daryl do his thing and sniff out for anymore claimers. She didn’t radiate any fear toward this form and that surprised the retired sheriff.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It’s not my secret.”
“…is that why he left on all those runs? To find them, avenge me?” Y/N frowns watching him step into the woods. “There’s so much explaining he has to do”
“You know he’d never lie to you. He cares about you…in his own way”
Y/N gave Rick a quick look as he understood which led him to go back to his family while she went after Daryl.
Daryl had only stepped away to shift back and let the pain of shifting back causing him to stumble. Eventually falling onto his knees expecting no one to have followed him because hell, who would want to see him that way? He flinched to the sudden touch on his shoulder which led to a quick knife draw but he stopped himself when he noticed it was Y/N. He dropped his knife and quickly scrambled to his feet circling her person to make sure she was okay but she was getting overwhelmed by his action that she quickly took a hold of his hand making him stop.
“Daryl…why didn’t…why didn’t you just tell me? Or show me that night weeks ago…”
“I didn’t want to scare you off…” Daryl hung his head down feeling her arms snake around him as she slotted herself in his embrace because he instinctively brought his arms around her. “Y/N…I…I don’t want this to change anything”
“It doesn’t. All it does is make me worry for you…” She frowns looking him in the eye as confusion written itself on his face toward her worry. “I don’t want you to get hurt”
“I won’t, sunshine. It’ll take a lot to get me down”
“Daryl…”
“I’ll always come back to you. One way or another”
Y/N held onto him for a little while longer until they regrouped with the others for the night. Even then, he kept close to her not wanting anything to happen to her during the night.
He’s never letting another person lay their hands on her. Unless they’re asking to be bitten.
