Chapter 11

Rick's talk with Hershel hadn't gone well. Now Hershel wanted us gone by the end of the week. I didn't want Hershel to know about me. I didn't want any of them to know, except maybe Maggie. So when they decided to go for a supply run I went with them. Maggie was pissed off at Glenn for telling us about the barn. They argued as we entered town. It stopped when we got in the store. Glenn gave Maggie the list.

"You've gotta be kidding." She said.

She walked to the back to look and then I heard her scream. There were 3 walkers in the back.

"Maggie!" Glenn shouted.

I turned and then leapt forward hitting the walker that had her. I killed it and then spun around and pounced the others. Glenn grabbed my Maggie while I finished my work. I turned around and turned back. She looked at me with wide eyes.

"You….you…."

"Yeah. I'm a wolf. Don't know how and I can't get rid of it, but I also can't get infected." I said.

She nodded slowly.

"I need to sit." She said.

Glenn lifted her onto the counter and I leaned against the wall.

"So…..you helped Otis that night?" She asked.

I nodded.

"Yeah. I'm only sorry I couldn't save him." I said.

"Not your fault." she said.

Glenn rubbed her back and then we went back to the house. I had walked now that Maggie knew my secret I just turned and ran back. Maggie was pissed off at Lori. She had a little tantrum and the one thing I didn't miss was that she said abortions pills. I turned back. Before I could say anything Maggie stormed off and Glenn followed. I looked at Lori.

"You're pregnant." I said.

She nodded. I looked at the pills.

"I'm not going to tell you what to do…..but I think Rick needs to know." I said.

She looked at me and then I walked away. Rick was nowhere to be found. I heard some sort of commotion near the house. I saw Shane handing out guns.

"Oh hell no!" I said.

As I was about to run forward someone grabbed me.

"I don't think so."

"Andrea let me go!" I ordered.

I wrestled against her and then shouted. She was strong I'd give the bitch that much. But she was NOT stronger then I. I flipped her over and saw Shane shouting at Rick. He shot a walker. He was about to open the barn. I turned and bolted forward. As he was aiming the gun at the lock I knocked him out of the way.

"Damn it Redcliff!" He snarled.

I growled at him and he aimed his gun at me.

"SHANE THAT"S ENOUGH!" Rick shouted.

"Yeah man. That is enough!"

He fired and I managed to jump out of the way, but not before it grazed my shoulder. I yelped in pain but I was not going to let him open the barn.

"SHANE!"

He didn't lower his gun. I turned back and stared him right in the eye. My shoulder was bleeding but I didn't care. If Lori was pregnant we couldn't afford to leave this farm.

"Stop this Shane! If you don't I'll have no choice!" I warned.

"What're you gonna do?! Kill me?" He snarled.

"I don't want to…..but I will if I have to." I said.

As Shane was about to fire Daryl knocked him to the ground. Shane had gone mad. I saw him about to shoot Daryl.

"NO!"

I ran forward and knocked him back but Shane still fired. I stopped and fell to my knees. I looked down and saw the bullet had gone through my side. I grabbed my side and took a few breaths. I took out a knife and got the bullet out. I struggled to stand but did so. I knew the wound was already starting to heal, but it was slow. I looked at Shane.

"Your insanity puts us in danger. Not a barn full of walkers. And I will never let you hurt Daryl." I said.

He looked at me like I was a ghost.

"If Hershel wants them alive let them live! If Hershel thinks they're sick let him think it! It's not your decision. But make no mistake…..If you ever try to shoot the man I love again…I will destroy you like I did the walkers I saved your ass from! He is the first one to show me that just because I'm different doesn't mean I'm not still Tala Redcliff. The wolf is just as much a part of me as anything. A 14 year old taught me that." I hissed.

I started to feel lightheaded and I knew I was going to fall. And just before I fell I heard a voice on the wind,

"Remember who you are."

Third Person POV

Daryl rushed forward as Tala fell. He picked her up and gave Shane a death glare.

"Soon as I see she's gonna be okay…..it you and me dipshit. Ain't no one gonna shoot my woman without a good ass kicking." Daryl said venomously.

"Oooh snap!" T-dog said.

Daryl carried Tala away and into his tent. He had no idea how to try and help her. That was when Patricia came in.

"Let me help." She said.

Daryl nodded and Patricia lifted Tala's shirt and gasped.

"What!?"

"Come see for yourself." She said.

The wound was basically healed. Daryl smiled and so did Patricia. She left the tent and Daryl remembered Shane.

"I'ma fuck him up." He hissed.

He left the tent and walked back towards the barn. He approached Shane and then punched him hard in the face. Rick didn't even try to stop him. Andrea came forward but Maggie stopped her.

"He's got a good reason! He shot Tala!"

"What?!"

"She pushed Daryl outta the way. Took a bullet for him." Maggie said.

Andrea looked at Shane in disbelief. Even she wouldn't have been able to do it. Daryl threw Shane to the ground and ignored the pain in his side.

"Don'tcha ever come near her!" he growled.

"You're doing all this for a wolf!? She's a damn animal man!"

"Ya best shut the hell up! She's ain't no animal! She's…YER THE ANIMAL JACKASS!"

"OH YEAH WELL YOU CAN…"

Shane stopped dead.

"Oh please continue. Give me another reason to kill you. Apart from shooting me."

Tala's POV

I held Shane's gaze and I refused to stand down. Shane walked off and I looked at Daryl.

"You defended me." I said.

"What else am I gonna do?"

I walked forward and kissed him. When I pulled away I touched his face.

"I love you."

He smiled and hugged me. Maggie came over to us.

"Tala…I need you to do something for me." She said.

I looked at her. She took a deep breath and said,

"I need you to kill them."

"Are you sure?" I asked.

She nodded.

"They aren't the people I once knew." She said.

I nodded and hugged her. I looked at Rick. He nodded and walked forward. He shot the lock off and pulled the chains off. I drew my dual blades and stood ready. Daryl was at my side. Glenn, Andrea, T-dog, Rick and Dale also stood with me. They came out and I went forward. I killed them as cleanly as I could. When they were all gone I lowered my head. I closed my eyes and let a few tears fall. I felt a hand on my shoulder and I turned to see Dale. I hugged him and held back tears.

"MOMMA!"

My heart broke. Beth ran forward and knelt down beside what used to be her mother. Another memory flashed through me.

"Mommy no! Mommy wake up! Please wake up!"

I clung to Dale and sobbed.

"Tala it's okay." Dale said softly.

I shook my head and pulled away. I ran off towards the lake Daryl had shown me and fell to my knees.

"Why?! Why did you leave me!? I was just a child!" I cried.

"We never left you."

I looked around. I didn't see anyone. I stood up and took my bow and notched an arrow.

"I told you we would always be with you. My beautiful little Cherokee Rose."

I gasped and my eyes widened.

*"e do da?"

No one but my father had ever called me their Cherokee Rose.

"Yes. We never left you Tala. I wish we could have stayed to help you….with your gift."

"This isn't a gift! It's a curse! I have no choice but to change at night and if it weren't for the talisman I would be a monster." I cried.

"My sweet little Tala. You could never be a monster. You have a heart of gold and nothing could ever change that. You were born this way and for a reason."

That was the voice of my mother.

*"e tsi….. I begged you to wake up. Why me? Why was I born like this?" I asked.

"Oh Tala…..there is much you still have to understand. You are the pride of our people, the protector. Just like your e do di."

"What? Grandfather was like me?" I asked.

"Yes and his father before him. We don't choose this…we are chosen. You would not have been chosen if you couldn't handle it. You are a strong women. Stronger then I ever was. I wasn't chosen because I wasn't strong enough. You have a choice to change or not, no matter what time."

"How?!"

"Remember who you are! *do na da' go hv i wa-hya U-we-tsi-a-ge-ya."

"No! Wait! Please don't leave me! I still need you!" I cried out.

"We will always be there. We love you Tala."

I looked down and cried. I knew I couldn't have them back…but I still wished it.

*"Do na da' go hv i. gv-ge-yu-hi." I whispered.

*Father

*Mother

*Good-bye wolf daughter

*Good-bye. I love you.