A/N: Today a little shorter, but trust me, it lead to an awsome (in my humble opinion) chapter, which will begin season 5. So read, and review, tell me your opinions. Is there something you want to see Elena do in the future? Let me know!

Cheers :)


Day 487

The morning after the fall of the prison was cold and foggy. According to my calculations, it was mid-October by now, and nights were getting colder. That's something we will have to think about; Oscar and Lucy were the only ones with warmer clothes on, while Merle and I had only thin shirts on. Plus, Dixon's was in terrible condition with holes and cuts all over it.

Last night we decided that we would leave tomorrow if no one else shows up; we would check surrounding towns and find the bus and others. We tried for hours to use radios and our usual channel, but there was no reply. Finally, Merle said we should conserve battery and keep it off unless we split up on a run or hunt.

I woke up when Lucy steered beside me, and since then, I couldn't go back to sleep, even though it was still very early. Quietly I left the room, stepping over snoring Merle, who layed on the floor, one arm over his face, and the other under his head. I stifled a giggle, realizing how similar the two Dixons were.

Yawning, I made my way to the main room, silently waving at Oscar, who sat in the chair, by the window, weapon in his lap. I placed my reigns on and put dirty flannel over it, shivering at the thought of going outside without a jacket, but we didn't have any other choice. I strapped the machete to my belt and checked that Glock is loaded before putting my shoes on. I really needed a new pair, but first, we had to find clothes for Lucy, to make sure she won't get ill.

"I'm going to the stream and check if I can find any tracks," I announced quietly, checking the meat that I took out of the freezer last night and mixed with several herbs that were left in the cabin.

"You sure it's safe, Boss?" Oscar asked me, and I smiled at him reassuringly.

"I did it many times. Plus, I got a radio. If somethings wrong, I'll call you guys." With that, I opened the doors quietly and stepped into a chilly October morning. I walked quickly over to the car and took a big milk container out of the trank.

Luckily the stream wasn't that far away, about twenty minutes walk from the hunting cabin, and I made it in good time. When the clearing came into view, I stopped in my steps, crouching behind the bushes, my eyes searching for any signs of other people. I couldn't see any tracks on the way here, no animals, no humans or walkers, but that didn't mean anything.

Slowly I took my blade and Glock out, making sure that my steps are silent when I approached three Winnebagos. They were parked close to each other, empty washing line between them. I couldn't hear anyone, but it didn't mean shit nowadays.

I walked around them, ensuring that, indeed, there were no people around. Then, I banged on the doors one by one, quickly inspecting the insides of the first two vehicles. It seemed like whoever was here left in a hurry.

Stepping outside, I looked around more, on the dirt road that leads to the west, and found tire tracks. They looked relatively fresh, but it was the long, wide tracks that made my veins boil. The prison was to the west of here, and that looked suspiciously like a caterpillar trail.

My knuckles turned white, I was gripping to my weapons so tightly, trying to contain my anger and inner pain. Fucker.

I turned around swiftly and marched to the last RV, pushing the door open, raising my gun in case there was anyone there, but just like the others, it was empty. I checked the small kitchen and peeked into some of the cabinets before my eyes landed on a square table by the window.

A small black book layed there, the only item on the metal surface, and I reached for it, my hands shaking violently. I opened it carefully, and my eyes teared up when I saw neat writing on the bottom of the opening page. Hershel Greene.

It was where fucking Governor made his camp. Where he kept Michonne and Hershel before bringing them with him as a bargaining chip.

Swallowing my tears, I unclipped the walkie-talkie from the belt and pressed the button. "Oscar, do you copy?"

I didn't want to risk anyone else to find this place, or worse, Governor's people coming back in here and taking it away. Though, I had serious doubts that any of them survived or that they knew the area enough to follow back without vehicles.

"Copy. Are you alright?" Oscar's deep baritone came through the radio, and I replied immediately.

"Yes, I'm fine. Listen, is Merle awake?"

After a few more seconds of silence, a different, more ruff voice answered me. "I'm now, Doll."

"I found a place. It has supplies, gas, and a new, better ride."

"What about others?"

"I know, Hook. My idea is I stay here overnight, prep the place, rearrange things and make sure we can move out when you get here tomorrow," I told him, and it took few minutes for him to reply.

"Ya sure it's safe?"

"I'll make it so. You remember stream about a mile out north-east? It's literally here."

"Yeah, I do."

"Great. That meat on the counter? I wanted to do jerky from it, do you know how to do it?"

"Is a day of insultin' me, or somethin'? I've been huntin' since I was 'lil grasshopper. Of fuckin' course, I know how to make damn jerky!"

I chuckled to myself and didn't hide it when I pressed the button again. "Just testing you, Hook. It would be great if you'd make it. Pack any warmer clothes you find in the cabin and food, blankets. I'll go through everything tomorrow."

"Sure thing, Boss," Oscar took over the radio, and I knew he will get things going. "We should turn off walkies and check in again later. Midday, okay?"

"Yeah, sounds good. Oh, Oscar?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't forget my bags, please."

"Wouldn't dream of it, Boss, I like myself alive," The man jocked, and after that, I switched off the radio, clipping it back to my belt.

Right, time to do things around here.


The first thing I did was to inspect the engines to the best of my knowledge. I checked the oil and made sure that nothing looks out of place, but I was no mechanic even with all Daryl's lessons.

I picked the RV, which looked the most functional, and then fixed a quick walker alert system, using a washing line and some pans, tying them to the trees around me. I used the remaining string and connected it in the middle, leading it through Winnebago's window, securing few forks to its end. Now I can stay inside for the night, and even if some walkers came in, I would be alerted.

I collected all the supplies together, some canned food, and a few water bottles. There were three first aid kits all together, and I placed them next to each other. Few clothing pieces, mainly women, but I found a red jumper, something maybe Merle could wear. There were many blankets and sheets, so at least we will be warm during the nights. There was some booze in one of the cupboards, and I made a mental note to hide it from Merle, at least until we find some kind of safe spot.

I siphoned gas from other RV's and even found some sewing kit. If anyone else will arrive at the cabin, we will have comfortable, stocked transport to get us going for a while. Before it got dark, I filled the tank with water, so we could wash up and boiled water over a small campfire I made between vehicles. I rathered not to waste gas canister for those purposes, we would need it more on the road.

I checked the alerting lines and retired after checking with guys for the last time when the sun hid behind the horizon. I didn't dare to leave any light or candles on, making myself comfortable on a small sofa, staring at the cream ceiling.

The decor of the RV was reasonably straightforward. Whoever owned it before took care of it even during the apocalypse, cabinets and surfaces were relatively clean, and there was no dust around. There were doors and a square metal table with benches on either side with a small window next to it. It was covered with ugly, flowery curtains. Further in, narrow doors were leading to a tiny bathroom, top of the toilet was moving, allowing more space when not in use. The shower would fit one person, barely, but it was something, and I wasn't about to complain about it.

The other side had a small cream couch I was currently lying on and a small kitchenette with a couple cupboards and a stove. A medium-sized gas canister was hidden under it, and from what I could tell, it still had some inside it.

Further into the vehicle, at the back, there was a queen-sized bed with covers and sleeping bags on it. That's where I placed all the clothes I found and into overhead cabinets.

It wasn't the biggest or most spacious RV, but it would do us fine, even if more people from the prison would find us. My heart started beating a little bit faster when I remembered that Oscar said nobody shown up. If that's still the case tomorrow, we will go ahead with the plan. Drive to the nearest town and search for any trails of others. I tried to think where they would go, and I was positive that Rick, Maggie, and Sasha would try for some secure building. Something visible and easy to defend or escape from.

I wasn't sure about the others, and if Daryl was alone, he would probably try to stay hidden in the woods. But if he ends up with someone else, he would try to keep them safe, and the open forest wasn't the place. I groaned lowly, and my eyes landed on rings that decorated my left hand. I couldn't understand why he didn't go to the cabin. He knew exactly where it was, and even on foot, it didn't take that long to reach it.

I layed there for hours before I fell into a restless sleep, dreaming about blood, smoke, and Hershel's blood on my hands when I tried to stop the bleeding.


Day 489

Alright, so plans are great as long as nothing gets in the way. We didn't leave the campsite as planned.

When Merle, Oscar, and Lucy pulled over and parked next to one of the RVs, I immediately noticed Dixon's pale and sweaty forehead. No, he wasn't bitten, luckily, but figures that his bullet wound started being infected.

Before I could explain to them what this place was, I urged them inside the chosen camper and stripped Merle of his dirty, rugged shirt. You know when he's in bad shape when he doesn't even try to make sexual innuendo in a situation like that.

The wound was oozing pass and was red around the edges when I peeled off the previous bandage. Oscar admitted that Dixon didn't let him check on it and became sicker overnight, not being able to stay on watch. I sent the Black man to bed, tired he was no help to anybody, and he needed to take care of himself as well.

With Lucy's help, making it into a game, I cleared Merle's wound, pouring alcohol over it and applying antiseptic cream on both sides of his shoulder. Luckily it was through and through, no need to dig the bullet out. I gave Merle some painkillers and antibiotics from the first aid kits, counting how many we had and how long we could go without looking for more.

That was yesterday. Today we finally hit the road. Last night alongside Oscar, we scanned one of the old maps I had in my backpack, and we pinpointed a few small towns in a vicinity where others could hole up.

First stop - Molena.

The town was tiny. I wasn't even sure if it was big enough to call it that; maybe a better description would be a village. Merle was still weak, though his fever gave up late last night, and now Lucy was playing nurse with him, providing him water and food, checking his forehead like I did yesterday. The way he answered her and how gentle he tried to be with the girl made me smile for the majority of the short trip to our destination.

When we arrived, it was like a ghost town, there were few old houses and shops, but most of them had broken windows and doors. I didn't feel comfortable leaving Merle alone with Lucy, and Oscar insisted on going with me, so we decided to take it slow, one by one.

I parked RV in front of every building, leaving Merle the gun and keys if he would have to leave quickly. In the meantime, Oscar and I swept through the abandoned houses, not finding any traces of our family. There wasn't any food we could scavenge either, and I was even more grateful for finding Governor's campsite.

We did scavenge some more clothes, something for Merle and Oscar, and I managed to get a leather jacket from one of the last buildings. It was slightly too big, but it would stop the wind and protect my arms from potential scratches.

Lack of significant amounts of walkers indicated that someone was here, not that long ago, and after a short conversation with men, we agreed to move on to the next place.

It was bigger, Zebulon. Still a town but definitely for Georgia's wealthier population, buildings were more modern, and there was a golfing club just a few miles west of it.

I drove slowly through the streets, looking for any signs of people or walkers, but except for a few strangles, it was empty as well. It was late afternoon, and I wasn't comfortable driving during the night, so I was also looking for a secluded area to park the RV.

Slowly I drove past the tipped down bus, not the one we had in prison, and decided it would be a good idea to stop somewhere around here. It was on the town's outskirts, few stories brick building on the side, but besides that, there was just one old looking house and train tracks, which led north.

"Stop!" Oscar's urgent yell made me flinch, and automatically I pressed the brakes, stopping RV violently. I snapped my head to the man next to me, furrowing my brows because there was nothing around us and no other people. "There."

I looked over in the direction he pointed, and my heart started to beat faster, a small amount of hope creeping inside it.

"Stay here, sweety, look after Merle," I told Lucy gently, and she nodded.

"OK, mama." The girl turned around and jumped on the bed next to Dixon, who groaned, awaken by sudden movements.

"We going to check something, will be back in a few," I told him, and he groaned in confirmation.

I turned off the engine and opened the doors as quietly as possible, stepping onto the road, my eyes scanning the area for any dangers. With Oscar by my side, we made our way to the intersection, where rail tracks split into three different directions. Blinking few times, I read it over and over again, finally facing Oscar and grinning like an idiot.

"They're alive, at least some of them," I said lowly, my throat feeling suddenly dry, and I looked over the sign once more.

It was a makeshift sign, with a map of Georgia and roads marked in black, with a star in the middle. All that was wrapped in clean foil and nailed to the tall spike buried in the ground. But that's not what made us so happy. It was writing, presumably in blood, below the map.

'GLENN GO TO TERMINUS, MAGGIE'

That's when something clicked, and I remembered the morning before our home was blown to pieces, conversation with Daryl and what he told me.

"They would go there," I said confidently and stood closer, analyzing the paper and memorizing it so we can place it on our own map.

"You certain?" Oscar asked, and I nodded without paying attention.

"When Daryl went to get meds, with others. They heard something on the radio. Broadcasts about that place. So at least Daryl, Michonne, Bob, and Tyreese know about it. I don't know why they didn't show up at the cabin, but that seems like the place to go."

"And if it's a lie?" I scoffed but couldn't disagree with Oscar. After all, we have just been attacked, trusting strangers won't be easy, not that it was before.

"Then we move on. But we should check. Maggie is obviously separated from others, but at least she's going in that direction. If Glenn's alive, he'll go as soon as he sees it, so would the others. Those tracks are all around, and it seems as all roads lead to that place. No matter where others are, they should see some other signs."

"If there are other signs," The man told me skeptically, but I shook my head. I traced one of the black lines and tapped it, glancing at Oscar.

"We are here. That's about seventy miles from Terminus. They wouldn't go through all the trouble of coming out here without leaving other signs along the way."

"As long as you're sure, Boss. You know I trust your judgment, and Dixon will follow you wherever you go."

I cocked my eyebrows at that statement, and Oscar chuckled before explaining further. "If Daryl's alive and we find him, and he finds out that Merle left your side, he would track him down and stuck an arrow in his ass."

We both laughed at that and started back towards the RV.

That was hope, something to look forward to. And I pushed aside grim thoughts of not finding anyone at the end of the road because that was not an option. I had to stay strong and positive for others to keep them going. I knew that Oscar wasn't leader material, and Merle could easily slip back to his old habits if I wouldn't keep an eye on him.