Before the whole world went to hell all the way to bumfuck shit. Daryl and Merle used to be among the rougher crowd in life. Merle since he was five would randomly start fights with anyone that angered him. Daryl would mostly be his shadow but try keeping him out of stuff or he would end up dead in a ditch. Which in highschool Merle did get hospitilized for randomly starting a fight. After he was found half dead in a ditch with a broken arm and ribs by Daryl.
When time came for them to graduate highschool, Merle partied a little to hard the night before. In turn puking all over the school principal Mrs. Franal the next day. Daryl however, joined the army after highschool at nineteen years old. Leaving Merle to their dad for a while to try straightening him out hopefully. After spending about four years in the army before being discharged.
Daryl came out having some tricks as pointman from the army. He was discharged for occasionally going rogue during missions suddenly. Along with the final straw being when he beat his co after a mission. In which was him being ordered to shoot a woman wearing a bomb vest. That just couldnt be removed no matter what they did to get it off of her. Which after he did beat his for that, it earned him a few months of federal prison before being set loose.
while Daryl spent his time serving and in federal jail. Merle joined a biker gang that did some shady stuff. They sometimes bought drugs from a bald man who called everyone bitch. While his assistant Jessie usually delivered them their drugs. When Daryl got out their dad had invited Merle to come hunting with him and Daryl. Merle didn't go with but stayed with the gang.
Where in the gang hangout after trying of some of the blue meth they had bought. From the usual bitch caller and Jessie, some of the members turned into walkers. While Merle was killing his old gang members to live as the city outside turned. Meanwhile out hunting with their dad Daryl had to watch some of his dads friends. Get jumped and eaten by walkers in the woods that used to be campers.
As Daryl traveled through infested towns to find Merle. Merle was skulking and occasionally taking on a couple walkers. That when Daryl had found him Merle was sitting on a lawn chair drinking beer. As a bloody cleaver sat in his lap, and corpses were strewn about on the ground. They hugged each other when Merle saw who just came up to him.
Soon both of them got some old choppers from the old gang members. Where they soon drove around from place to place dodging hordes along the way. Till eventually they arrived in Atlanta meeting other members of the future cast.