Chapter 24
A month later and a scouting group from Alexandria stood in the lobby of what had formerly been the main check in lodge for the Skyline resort. It had been decided that Aaron, Rick, Daryl, Paul, Denise and Tara would go up to the resort and take a look around -see what buildings were intact, habitable and defendable.
They had found the majority of the cabins and condos still in good shape, with signs there had been some people camping there sometime recent, by Daryl's estimates within the last four months or so. Whether the squatters had been scared off or just left for other areas was unknown. There was a main resort building, which they were gathered in now, as well as various cabins and hotels and lodgings scattered around the area. Daryl had pointed out the lake and woods would keep their group well stocked with fresh fish and meat. The lodge was elevated and situated in such a way that they could easily spot anyone coming up the trails toward the lodge as well as the location enabling them to more easily defend their camp from intruders. Although the winter would be colder than most of them had previously experienced, there were fireplaces in most rooms and in the main lobby as well.
Rick had pointed out that the way the lodge had been designed, they could easily seal off one section of the lodge for themselves and camp there in that section until they had more securely fortified the area. They all agreed there were plenty of materials available within the lodge they could use to supplement their dwindling supplies.
As they all looked around and at each other, seeking either agreement or denial that this would be a place for them to settle, Paul pointed to the large, faded and dusty painting over the fireplace. "This is the place for me, and that's my sign right there," he said quietly. They all gazed up and saw the painting was in fact one of those old fashioned scenes out of Greek or Roman mythology-Diana with her bow arched, running with her hounds. Denise smiled softly at Paul and nodded in agreement. Daryl flushed and nodded quietly as well.
Rick gazed at the three and nodded once. He knew that no matter what anyone else chose to do, these three were settling here. Now all he had to do was convince as many of his original people and some of the Alexandrians to settle up here as well. From what he could see, he didn't think he'd have too many arguments against a move. This resort and it's lodgings would be far safer this winter than Alexandria would be-and that was really the only thing that mattered now. They couldn't go through another siege or encounter with a group like Negan. They were all exhausted and hurting and needed a place to rest and get their strength back.
"Well, if we're going to do this we need to get a move on," Rick said suddenly. "Winter is coming and we need to be up here and settled in when the first snows hit," and with that he strode out of the lodge and toward the vehicles they had ridden up in.