Field Trip
Carol and Daryl had never planned a run so thoroughly; they wanted to take Ariel on her first run to Trinity formerly known as the Girl's Day Out town. Ashton and Jo reluctantly agreed and then they recruited team members. The team consisted of Ariel, Caleb, Carol, Daryl, Michonne, Tyreese, Sam, and Dave. They were taking the Suburban, a truck with a trailer, and a box truck.
Ariel and Caleb were riding in the Suburban with Carol and Daryl. They left before dawn so that they would have as much daylight as possible. Ariel was too excited to sleep much the night before and was up early and was waiting by the gate with her dad when they pulled up. He kissed his baby girl goodbye and Carol promised him that they would do everything they could to keep her safe. The unbidden image of Sophia scrambling over the guard rail into oblivion came to Carol, but she pushed it back. This trip was to ensure that Ariel was never defenseless in this dangerous world.
The trip in was uneventful. Ariel was fascinated by the world outside of her mountain and the little town. Daryl had found that there were two small towns fairly close to Trinity, and he thought that they might be able to scavenge through all three places today. Carol kept glancing back to check on Ariel and Caleb. They were checking and rechecking their weapons and she could tell that both of them were a little wound up. She understood that because she was too.
Daryl was leading the way; he had been through Trinity before and he had chosen the route by the pharmacy that they had been looting when the walkers showed up. He parked on the parking lot with the big vehicle turned so that it could exit in more than one direction. Sam parked behind him and Tyreese off to the side. Everyone had parked so that they could see in all directions. Everyone hopped out, keys in ignition, and assembled on the lot. Carol, Ariel, Daryl, and Michonne were going in and Tyreese, Sam, and Dave were on guard. Daryl entered first and then Michonne. They had left the door shut and it was still closed. Daryl and Michonne checked the store out and then they nodded. Carol went back to the pharmacy section to see if anything important had been left. There wasn't much left, but she got everything she could find and moved over to the shelves of over the counter medicines. Ariel and Daryl loaded up on alcohol products: they were good for bartering and home consumption. It wasn't long before they were back in the vehicles. Daryl wanted to see if he could find another pharmacy and he found one on the road headed to the next town. This one looked looted and they decided to push on to the next town. Ariel was watching the walkers; they seemed to be shuffling along everywhere and she could see why they were so cautious.
The next town had a chain superstore, but it looked looted and there were walkers all over the lot so they went on by. They found another pharmacy within a mile of the chain store and they pulled off. Daryl used the pry bar to get it open and he, Caleb, Michonne, and Tyreese went in. Carol, Sam, Dave and Ariel waited outside and watched the landscape. There was an occasional walker and Caleb and Ariel worked together to dispatch them while the others watched. Michonne came out and Carol went into the pharmacy and checked out the medicines. She divided things into two piles. Carol put aside some antibiotics and painkillers for her family, and then put everything else in boxes to go to the hospital.
Daryl and Tyreese had been collecting things from the other sections boxing them up. Sam and Dave began to collect from another aisle. Everyone began carrying things to the box truck while Carol made a final check of the place. She found a pistol near the counter with another loaded clip beside of it and she put it in her bag. Carol heard the car horn and she hurried out with her weapon handy. Daryl met her at the door and secured it behind her. There was a herd of walkers headed their way and they ran to the car. Carol noticed that there were many more walkers lying around so she knew than Ariel and Caleb must have been busy.
Daryl saw a large church with a huge empty parking lot off and pulled over. Everyone trooped out and had an early lunch. Carol and Michonne ate together on the bed of the trailer and compared notes on how Ariel was doing. Michonne said, "Ariel fights like you quiet and stealthy, Caleb is more aggressive and bold and she has his back. Cariel is a good fighting team".
Carol was more concerned about Ariel's ability to defend herself and asked, "What if she is by herself?"
Michonne laughed, "She will do fine. Ariel went somewhere else and somebody else took over when she got started with walkers. I am not saying this because we both love her; she is some Viking throwback or something. She kicks ass and doesn't bother to take names because she has moved on and kicked some more ass".
Carol looked over at Ariel who was eating lunch with Caleb and looking more like a girl hanging out with her "boo" than a Viking warrior. Ariel must be made of the right stuff if Michonne said that; Michonne did not sugar coat anything.
Daryl came over and sat down beside Carol and Michonne, "What do you think we should do now? Go home or keep looking?"
Michonne answered, "We could get more food. The hospital will need it this winter. More warm clothes would be good. Let's stay here; there haven't been a lot of trees down here. We have been able to move through the streets without getting blocked in. That could be deadly if we run into a herd."
Carol nodded, "We need to think of the winter coming up. We could always use more medicines, food, clothing, and weapons. We should go home with as much as possible. Let's just look around here. We know that we have a clear road back to the highway."
Daryl nodded and soon they were back in the vehicles and Ariel remembered being here with her mother years ago on a shopping trip. She directed them left at the next light and they drove less than a hundred yards to a long strip mall with a grocery store at one end and a chain outdoor life store at the other. Daryl chuckled, "Good call Ariel."
The men wanted to go to the outdoor life store first. The women all rolled their eyes but agreed. The parking lot had some cars in it and that set off alarms for Carol. It was also a large store which meant more places for walkers to lurk. Carol, Michonne, and Ariel took watch while the men went in cautiously.
Carol and Michonne took Ariel on a tour of the parking lot. There were a few walkers inside their cars and too far gone by being baked in their car ovens for two summers to be too dangerous but they dispatched them anyway. They looked around to see if there were any ankle biters around under the cars. They found weapons and supplies in the cars which they loaded into the truck. Apparently some shoppers had never gotten off the parking lot.
They finished checking out the cars and helped the men load what they were bringing out. The place had walkers inside and they had had to stay close together to clean them out. There were bows and arrows, but not too many guns. They did find knives, boots, and warm clothing and they loaded up the box truck.
Walkers were starting to move their way and the women began to clear them out. Michonne was in the middle and Carol and Ariel on either side. It wasn't overwhelming but it was constant and there wasn't time to do anything but move onto the next set of walkers their way. Carol spotted a large group headed toward them and hit the car horn. Within seconds they were joined by the others and a decision to stay and take down the herd was made. They formed a line and let the herd come to them.
Carol and Daryl were side by side and Daryl nodded to her and she smiled at him. Carol knew that she had to let go of herself and let the warrior take over. She and Zak were one and they worked together to do what must be done. Carol used her strength economically and efficiently; there was no need for dramatic kills. No one had time to give feedback because yet another walker was headed your way.
It was soon over and Carol was glad. It had been a gamble to fight instead of run and Daryl took her inside to show her why they had stayed. They had found a storeroom of weapons and ammo and had been in the midst of moving it when the herd came up. That was soon loaded up and the women started shopping. Carol found a section with water purifiers, sleeping bags, camp stoves, and other survival equipment. Michonne loaded up on knives, sharpeners, and warm clothing. Ariel went for clothing and boots. She was wearing a pair of Carol's combat boots and she loaded up on clothing for women and children. The box truck was full and Daryl came to the door and hollered for them to come. They grabbed the last of their loot and took off for the vehicles. The next herd was larger than the last and they were glad enough to run this time.
Daryl took the Suburban and moved slowly toward the herd with his old country songs blasting and most of the herd followed him. Carol, Caleb, and Ariel joined Michonne and Tyreese in the truck and they waited until the herd moved on in pursuit of Daryl and his music. Tyreese drove over to the grocery store and Sam and Dave took watch while they went in.
The management must have closed the store when the news hit. There were walkers inside but they were able to clear the place out well enough and to fill the trailer with food. They secured the door and knew that they would be back to finish.
Daryl pulled up as they were getting ready to go. He had led the herd away and then came back to help. He hugged Carol and then helped secure the load. It was time to go and they headed back to the highway.
Daryl stopped without being asked at a rest area. The women took their weapons and toilet paper to the rest room which was clear of walkers and not too awful. Carol handed out hand sanitizers on the way out. Ariel laughed, "It is now an official field trip, are you going to take roll now?"
Carol laughed, "I never leave anyone behind on a field trip. Are you going to fall asleep on the way home?"
Ariel said, "I don't think so, I am still on this adrenaline rush. I don't think I will sleep for a week".
Carol knew how these scary outings affected her and wondered if her sweet innocent niece was having the same reaction. She winced; she was bringing Ashton's baby girl home but she couldn't promise that she wouldn't make a move on Caleb. The McAllister women might all have a weakness for Dixon men; Ariel was a McAllister and Caleb a Dixon. She would dance at that wedding with her own Dixon and know that Ariel could find happiness in even this new world.
Caleb was waiting for Ariel at the curb to show her some fall flowers that he had found. Carol knew it started with showing you flowers and they hooked you before you knew it. She wanted to yell, "Don't go out of sight", but sighed. They were going to do more than look at flowers, she just hoped Ariel didn't come back deflowered. The girl deserved more than that, but it was Ariel's field trip.
Daryl's was standing with his arms crossed and watching the two teens scamper off together. He was frowning, "That boy is up to no good. You should go break that up before something happens. She is your niece." Daryl's frown turned in to panic, "Your niece, go stop your niece right now. She's just a kid".
Carol laughed, "Now what are you implying about me and my niece?"
Daryl laughed, "Not implying, I know about you McAllister women and how you get after scary shit happens. Now both of us are going to go check out those flowers. If it's going to happen, let it be back on McAllister Mountain. Those kids can go take a hike to the cemetery this evening and I will wish them well. Just don't want things to get interesting between the two of them and then a walker bites poor Caleb on his ass or something. Grab your weapon and let's go delay the inevitable."
Carol walked with him and they broke up nothing more than a passionate kiss. They herded them back to the truck and drove back to McAllister Mountain. They drove into Ashton's driveway and divided up the supplies giving Ariel her share as a member of the team. Sam and Dave took their and the greatest share went to the town and the hospital. Carol and Daryl took the leftover food and the medicines and went back to their place. Caleb stayed behind and said that he would walk back after he helped get Ariel's share inside.
Carol and Daryl laughed together as soon as they cleared the driveway, "Do you think they will make it until dark?" Daryl asked.
Carol answered, "Let's go get Canary and take him for a walk up to the cemetery after we unload."
"That concrete bench is cold, Carol."
"It's cool out, bring a jacket. Don't take all day. Ashton and Jo will keep them occupied for a while."
"Carol, would you like to look for some flowers this afternoon? We need to take a walk and stretch our legs after the long drive and have Glenn and Carl unload for us."
"I'll take a shower while you get them moving and then you can shower while I show them where to put the food and medicines".
"I do appreciate a woman who knows what she wants".
