Finally reunited, the prison group were eating dinner together. The subject came up about the people they had lost.
Sasha said somberly, "I'm going to miss Carol so much. I didn't see her get bitten. Is she buried somewhere, or did we have to leave her?"
Rick said, a little hesitantly, "Well, uh, I actually **cough cough** left her behind during a supply run **cough cough**."
The group looked at him, stunned.
Tyreese said, "Why exactly would you do that?"
Rick said, "She was the one who killed Karen and that other guy. She said they were dying anyway, and she wanted to protect the group. I couldn't have cold-blooded murder in my camp."
"Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute," Beth said, "She's getting thrown out because she killed people to protect us?"
Tyreese said, "Was this because you thought I was going to kill her? I've calmed down a lot since then. Maybe. But then I'm kind of a loose cannon anyway. You probably guessed."
Daryl said, "I don't want to point fingers, but she ain't the only one who's killed people to protect us."
Rick said, "Yeah, but these people could have could have LIVED. They COULD have lived." He continued to repeat the sentence, putting the emphasis on different words each time. The group waited patiently. They were used to it.
Carl, "Well, the guy I shot in the chest at close range might have been genuinely surrendering, too. Everyone who knew him at Woodbury said he was a really honest, decent guy, and I blew a hole in him."
Daryl said, "I was preparing to kill Randall back at the farm, and then something interrupted me."
Michonne said, "One time on a run I killed someone who was looting a store because she had taken the last box of Splenda."
Tyreese said, "Before I was with this group, I pushed someone off a cliff because he told me he was a Libertarian."
Beth said, "My guitar case is full of the skulls of people who criticized my singing." She looked sad for a moment. "My Daddy expressed gentle disappointment in me for doing that."
Sasha put a comforting hand on Beth's arm. "We know, honey, we know. He was the moral compass of our group."
Michonne said, "He talked to me soberly but compassionately after the Splenda incident."
Carl sighed. "There was a note of loving reprimand in his voice when he talked to me about shooting that guy."
They were all silent and sad together for a moment.
Glenn spoke for all of them when he said, "He was a world class chider."
Daryl glared at Rick. "And you've abandoned the only person who could have taken on that role. Group needs a loving chider."
Rick glared back at him. "Are you crazy? She was a merciless psychopath."
Maggie spoke for the first time. "No, she wasn't, Rick. She had a code. She was pragmatic, but loving. She had learned how to survive in this world."
Bob looked squarely at Rick. "Like you."
Rick ignored Bob and turned to Maggie. "Maybe so, but I don't see how you go from Compassionate Killer to Moral Compass. That's a big role shift. Even for a woman in this camp."
Michonne looked at him scornfully. "Puh-lease, Rick. Women in this camp can turn on a dime, personality-wise. You know that."
Sasha nodded. "I was planning on becoming obsessed with decorating."
Michone said, "Ooh. So was I. Remember that cat? I was trying to foreshadow that a bit."
Sasha said, "Oh, well if you've already laid the groundwork, I'll rethink that." She paused. "Were you by any chance planning to cut your hair dramatically? I thought I could telegraph my personality change by hacking it off dramatically, maybe with a knife."
Maggie made a tutting sound. "Don't cut your hair. It is awesome. Besides, Daryl is doing the dramatic hair thing already."
Daryl scowled. "First, I ain't a woman. Second, I don't know what the hell you're talking about. My hair is just my hair."
Bob said, "You mean that isn't statement hair?"
Daryl looked at him like he was crazy.
Bob huffed, "Don't look at me like that. I can't be the only one who assumed your hairstyle was supposed to be a reflection of your worldview. I'm not THAT drunk." There were nods all around.
Beth said comfortingly to Daryl, "I knew it wasn't statement hair."
Daryl looked at her warily."Thanks."
She continued, "I know you already have plenty of statements going on. The arms, the poncho, the vest with the wings, the motorcycle..."
Glenn saw the increasingly angry look on Daryl's face and stepped in. "We are getting way off track here. Am I getting that we think it was a bad idea to exile Carol? Let's go around the table."
A series of yeses followed until they got to Rick. He sighed and said, "I guess I blew it. Let's go get her."
He stepped away to get the car.
After he was gone, Michonne turned to Daryl. "Is HE going to make it back to camp after we find her?"
Daryl looked glum, "Don't think so. I mean, it seems fitting somehow."
Tyreese said, "Maybe, but it's a little too neatly resolved that way, isn't it?"
Maggie's brow furrowed. "Shouldn't we be trying to be forgiving or something, in memory of Daddy?"
Sasha shook her head, "I feel like we are trying to tie too much significance to this decision anyway. I don't know if it's a turning point for the group, or simply a way to backtrack after a terrible decision."
Michonne looked thoughtful. "I just don't know."
Daryl said, "We can figure it out in the car."
Bob said, "Wait! I have a better idea. Let's ask Carol when we find her."
Glenn brightened. "Yes, I think she'll have some words of wisdom that will make it all clear for us."
Daryl said, "She better."
Michonne said, "Should we tell her that she's filling this role now, or is that something she should just sense?"
Tyreese said, "I feel like we are cheating if we just flat-out tell her that she's the Moral Compass."
Maggie objected, "Aren't we setting her up for failure if we don't?"
Glenn smiled. "Another question for Carol to resolve, I think."
Rick arrived with the car, and they piled in. They drove off in silence.
Daryl smiled to himself. He was so happy they were going to get Carol. He had missed her so much - she was his best friend. He thought to himself that the first thing he did when he saw her was to give her a big hug, even though that wasn't his style.
The second thing he was going to do was to ask her about his hair. He didn't know if that was part of the Moral Compass job or not, but he felt a bit conspicuous now. Carol would know what was right.
