The ashes of the mass walker kill lingered and death loomed over what was ultimately a mass grave. The forest had burned for acres along with any living things that might have been taking refuge - that or they were forced out of their homes like the community that attacked the Manor."
"Holy shit." Sarah exited the truck and slammed the door behind her as Negan killed the engine.
"Yeah." He shoved open the door and walked around the side of the truck so the two of them stood side by side overlooking the ruins.
"All the walkers went down into it?"
"I love of them." Negan looked at the remnants of the fire clearly for the first time. "Shit..."
Sarah looked at him. "What?"
He shook his head. "That's some serious shit." Negan reached into his pocket for a cigarette and then thought better of it, noting what Sarah's reaction would likely be.
"Do you really think we can make peace with these people?"
He took a deep breath and glanced over as the rest of their people pulled vehicles up to join them. "Well... peace has never been my fuckin' strong point. But we're going to fuckin' try."
"I think it's worth it," Sarah told him.
"Where do we start?" Vince asked aloud as he approached them with Matt.
Jack exited a third vehicle and Negan let out a short chuckle when Jane hopped out of the passenger side followed closely by another woman with long, wavy dark hair; Missy.
"They wanted to come," Matt said, already knowing what Negan was thinking.
"Do they even know how to fight?" he put a hand out.
"We're hoping they can be of persuasion for the opposite of that."
"But what if things don't go our way?"
"Where to?" Jack slapped his hands together and then looked at Negan with a smirk as Jane and Missy walked up beside him.
"Negan," Jane said casually, raising her eyebrows at him.
"Hi," he said and then glanced over to her left.
"This is Missy," Jane informed him. "My partner."
Negan grinned a little wider when Missy sized him up. "Well this is about as comfortable as fuckin' kick to the balls."
Jane turned to Missy upon his comment and her partner's mouth slowly curled up into a smile.
Sarah looked at the two of them and then to Negan. "Am I missing something?"
"Yes," the three of them said at the same time.
"We've crossed paths a number of times but we haven't formally met." Negan extended his hand toward Missy. "I'm-
"Negan," she finished, "I know."
"I'd never the two of you were..." He didn't finish his sentence.
"What exactly should a lesbian couple look like?" Jane asked him.
Negan's expression twisted in thought and it was almost as if everyone around them could see what he was imagining. "Not like the fuckin' two of you... at least from what I..." He stopped and saw an amused glare on Missy's face. "Never mind."
"That's a smart answer," Missy told him with a nod. "We worked on the wall all night... and we're here so."
"I would never say there is anything wrong with the love you two fuckin' share. It's fuckin' beautiful really." He grinned wide and motioned with his hands at the two of them. "Just fuckin' beautiful."
"That kick to the balls might be coming sooner than later," Missy informed him.
"Negan... shut up," Sarah said to him, shaking her head.
Jane and Missy laughed at the same time. "Listen to the kid," Jane told him.
"This could end up getting fuckin' hostile," Negan said, changing the subject to what they were about to do. "With these people." He put on a more serious expression. "I don't want to see anything bad happen. You're both comfortable with all of this?"
The two of them nodded and he nodded back.
"We're hoping things can be solved through a talk," Matt intervened. "This was all a mistake what happened with them... a big mistake but not malicious. We want them to see that."
"Are we just going to go hiking around through the woods looking for them?" Jack asked, looking around.
Matt exchanged glances with Negan and then Vince before looking back to Jack and nodding. "Yeah."
"Oh... okay." He shrugged.
"And if we find them?" Missy asked.
"If we find them then we're going to offer to patch up some of the other homes on the outside of the walls of the Manor. There are a number of them and the walkers are minimal now. We might be able to find them new homes... better homes."
"How do we find them?"
"Luck," Negan responded. "They may not even be around anymore... but if any of them are then you all can go at it with the peace offering."
"You all?" Jane asked, "What about you?"
"That's not my specialty."
"So what are you here for?"
"Protection." He looked at her more directly and then to Sarah.
"Trust me," Sarah told them, "You wouldn't want anyone else but him for that."
"This your daughter?" Missy asked.
Negan and Sarah looked at one another and shared a small smile before he nodded. "More or less."
"Yes," Sarah said with a nod.
"Are you here for the peace offering?" Jane asked.
"I'm here to protect," she replied.
"She's here for the peace offering," Negan countered.
"And for protection." Sarah looked up at him and mumbled loudly. "I've saved your life multiple times."
"She has?" Missy asked, looking at Negan again.
"She has," he confirmed with a nod. "Tough fuckin' kid." Negan nudged her with his elbow.
Sarah shrugged modestly with a smile.
"Well, we've got quite a group," Vince pointed out with a laugh.
"We should get moving," Matt suggested, "Burning daylight."
"I have to get back for dinner," Negan joked.
"And he cooks too," Missy shot at him.
"You should see the fuckin' tricks I have up my sleeve Missy." He grinned, "I'd have you batting for the other fuckin' team in no time."
She laughed out loud, "I'm fine with the team I'm on. Thanks."
"Suit yourself."
"Wait until I tell Alex how you're talking," Sarah said quietly.
Negan rolled his eyes and Missy looked at Sarah with a nod.
"Please do," she told her, still grinning. "Sounds like your woman deserves a medal."
"That I can agree with," Negan agreed with a nod.
"I like her," Jane said and looked at Missy, "She was ready to beat his ass the other day."
"So was I," Missy admitted. She looked back to Negan, who let out a hearty laugh.
"God, I miss the days of women fighting over me," he said, folding his arms across his chest.
"Don't flatter yourself," Jane told him, putting a hand out.
Matt cleared his throat and looked at the three of them. "Are we ready?"
"We're ready," Missy confirmed. "I'll just have to hit the ignore button on our hike."
"Oh honey you couldn't ignore me if you fuckin' tried." Negan winked and waved Sarah a step ahead of them. He was pleased when he saw Missy fight off a small smile and then patted Matt on the back. "Don't stress yourself out boss."
"I'm not," he said tightly. "But this could still end badly."
"I think I'm numb to it... that or I just have a good fuckin' feeling." Negan looked down at the ruins as they began to walk the woods that were still standing and bordered the fire trial. "Let's fuckin' hope it's the latter."