At Alexandria. A few days later.

more and more walkers were showing up throughout the day. It was insane.

Aaron "They keep coming from the direction of the border. Just a constant wave after wave. "

Carol "This is her. "

Michonne "You know your training. Lock it down. "

--

We were at the fence. a herd was coming. We were slowly losing our minds because we were constantly fighting off walkers. Neither of us has slept. At some point my whole body was hurting and i laid down on the street. It was actually really comfortable for my aching body.

Aaron walked past me amused "you good?"

I let out a deep breath "give me 1 minute"

Aaron nodded amused.

Next day. Morning.

We were surrounded by hordes. From every side was a herd on its way.

Michonne "How long till the next wave hits? "

Eugene "One hour from the north, two from the south. Northern wave's thicker than fleas on a farm dog, but the southern's more dispersed. By my estimation, we'll be fighting into the night again. "

Daryl "Yeah, can't push 'em too much further. "

I snapped "I have eyes. "

He raised an eyebrow.

I sighed "Sorry. I'm just tired."

Daryl put a hand on the side of my face and kissed my hair " We all are."

Me "yeah, but i just started acting like a bitch when i am tired"

Daryl nodded "i know"

Then he tensed.

I looked at him confused.

Daryl nodded to the side fence. We walked to her.

Alpha stopped at the other side of the fence " The north border. Now. "

Me " Call off your walkers. "

Alpha shook her head "Not us. "

Daryl scoffed "Yeah, right. "

Alpha "Not. Us. Go to the border, lay down your weapons, and wait. "

Daryl "Wait for what? "

Alpha "Her. "

Then she walked away. Daryl and I looked at each other confused.

In the town hall.

Michonne "All right! Is this your mother?"

Lydia shook her head " No. I don't think it is. "

Daryl "Why's she want to talk with us? "

Lydia "You crossed into her land. Again. You have to answer for that. "

Aaron shook his head "We don't have to do anything. We could just not go. "

Lydia " That's a bad idea. "

Jim " We're already under attack. "

Some of them agreed.

Lydia shook her head " It isn't her. If she wanted you dead, she'd send the horde. All of it, not just a few waves at a time. "

Carol "Maybe she's trying to wear us down first. "

Eugene stood up "Or, as I relayed to you all at the beginning of this meeting, there's plausible reason to believe - that the satellite and fire... "

It was a satellite that had crashed down and started to fire.

Margo yelled " I don't want to hear about the damn satellite anymore, Eugene! "

Eugene sat down.

Margo stood up"My friends died trying to save yours and ended up with their heads on spikes. The Highwaymen want justice! So all I want to hear from you is that you're gonna take a dozen of us to meet these freaks at the border and that we're gonna take that lead bitch's head off! "

Gage yelled "We cut it off! And then we'll put their heads on spikes! "

Siddiq stood up. He was looking sick.

Michonne asked worried "you all right ?"

Siddiq nodded "You all right? Yeah. Yeah, I just need to get some air. "

Then he rushed out.

Michonne stood up " How many walkers did you see in Alpha's horde? "

Daryl shrugged "Tens of thousands. "

Michonne looked at Margo "Ah. So... What's your plan for taking them out? "

no answer.

Michonne "Oh, that wasn't rhetorical."

Margo " I don't have one. "

Michonne nodded "Ah. Does anybody else? If she sends that horde, that's it! Right now, all she wants to do is talk. And we are going to listen. Now, while we are doing that, everyone here needs to focus on what's coming in from the north and the south. We're tired. We are on edge. And it is going to get worse before it gets better. But we aren't gonna get through it at all if we do not act as one."

--

Michonne looked at the map " Three objectives means three groups. Gabriel will take point in guarding the gate from the northern wave... while Aaron will take some troops and handle the southern wave, breaking it up before it hits the wall. That leaves us, and the border. "

Daryl" Unarmed. "

Carol „You're really going in there unarmed? "

Daryl "We got no choice. "

-

Carol, Michonne, Daryl, some others and i walked out of the gates. We were on our way to the border.

Night. At the border

We were at the pikes. i sighed. We all dropped our weapons.

Daryl asked Carol "You all right? "

Carol " I... need a minute. "

We heard growling.

Alpha showed up „There was one rule between our people. One law. Stay where you are. Yet you disobey. "

Daryl "That fire would've destroyed your land."

Alpha „Fire's nature to burn. We have no conflict with nature."

Michonne „It could've wiped out one of our communities. We were not gonna sit back and let that happen. You can understand that. We crossed one time. "

Alpha "Three times. During the fire, you walked my land. And during the winter storm, you walked my land. During your search along the river, you and the man with the metal arm walked my land. That's three times. We are always watching. What did I tell you about crossing my border? You have to be punished. "

The Whisperers behind her took knives out.

Alpha " But... I consider context. There will be no bloodshed this time. "

Michonne "So what do you want? "

Alpha " Land. The creek that winds into the valley. That is your new southern border. We will mark the new border to the north. "

Carol "That'll cut off our hunting grounds. We don't have to stand here and listen to this... "

Michonne snapped "Carol! "

Alpha " "To this"... what? "

Carol " To this bullshit. "

Daryl " That's it. Come on. We're done. "

Alpha shook her head " We're not. Not until this one lowers her eyes to my feet. You should fear me."

Carol " I don't. I look at you and I feel nothing at all. "

Alpha "Is that right? The blonde boy...screamed your name just before we took his head. "

Carol pulled out a gun and aimed it at Alpha but Daryl shoved it down as she pulled the trigger.

Daryl "Stop. Stop! -"

My eyes widened.

Michonne " I apologize...for my friend. We have not slept. And you know what she lost. "

Alpha looked at Carol " I forgive you. Mother to mother. This is my land now. You better run. "

Daryl " Come on. Let's go. "

We all grabbed our shit and walked away.

night. In the woods.

Michonne and i were looking a the campfire when we heard a gunshot. Daryl ran into the woods. I rushed after him.

He looked at Carol "What happened? "

Carol "Whisperers. Three of them. "

Michonne "Walkies on. Split up... north, west. We'll take east. Capture! Do not kill! "

--

We walked to Carol. She was gulping down some pill.

Michonne "No sign of them anywhere. No traces, no tracks, nothing. You're sure you saw three? "

Carol nodded "Yeah. I'm sure. "

Michonne "Carol... how long you been taking those pills for? "

Carol "Since I got back. It's fine. They're like coffee. We can't stay out here. "

Daryl nodded "All right. Find a place with walls, whole up for a little while. Get some sleep."

Carol walked away.

At an academy building.

Daryl opened the door we looked around with our flashlights on. We walked into the main room.

Carol " I'll take first watch. "

I nodded "all right"

--

I was sitting against the wall, leaning my head against the wall.

Suddenly we heard Carol yell. I jumped up and ran into the room. Carol was standing on top of some dead walkers with a bleeding slice on her arm.

At Alexandria. my place

Daryl had carried Carol to the infirmary. I was at Daryl and my place. We moved in next to Michonne. Judith was lying with me in the bed. She was sleeping and i slowly drifting off