Chapter 6: Fortunetelling
...
Eleanor yelped in pain as the bandage was wrapped and tightened around her forearm.
The bruise had soon formed, passing from red to blue, and then to green. She had applied some cream and taken pills for the swelling. However, she hadn't got any pain killers and now she wished she did.
Why did she do that?
Yes, she had been holding a grudge against Ed Peletier since she realized he was abusing his family. Yes, she despised men that hit women. Yes! She wouldn't have lived with herself if she remained still, letting Carol pay for her words. But it could have ended there; instead, she decided to return the punch, to provoke the brute.
She wasn't sure what hurt her the most; the hit... or the fact that Carol stood in his defense, distracting Eleanor and leave her vulnerable to that second punch.
She let out a defeated sigh; the woman didn't do it on purpose. She was scared for her. Her mother explained it to her... those women assumed their situation as deserved, and often thought that their aggressors were too powerful to be stopped.
There were witnesses. Rumors of the incident with Ed Peletier burned like wildfire and put Shane in an undeserved position. Some part of her thought he had gone too far; and the other one knew that if it hadn't been that way, the lesson would have not been learned. Ed Peletier would now think it twice before hitting his wife. Either way, he saved her from a serious head concussion... but she feared people wouldn't look at it like that.
She better leave the moment Rick returns.
"Are you alright?"
She jumped, her arm still half bandaged. Carl's light blue eyes showed concern... there were focused on her arm. Cursing under her breath, Eleanor forced out a smile.
"Hi Carl! I'm cool. I'm great! This is nothing..."
"What happened to your arm?"
"W-well... yesterday I was careless at the pond. I slipped and crashed against a rock! Used my arm so it would not hit my head... silly huh?" She said while guarding her kit and pills inside her bag in haste.
The child frowned, he still looked concerned. He was kneeling now at the entrance, and Eleanor moved to the exit.
"Did Shane scold you for that?"
Right, people were mad or disapproving of Shane's actions, and with so little information, Carl wouldn't have arrived at any other conclusion. She let out another sigh, and loosened out her bun.
"No, no. Shane...," she stopped, and took a deep breath, "Shane is a little stressed lately. Sometimes, where there are many things to do, adults feel that they are overloaded with work, and can become curt and unfriendly... but not intentionally. When that happens, you are not to blame them, and give them some space instead," Eleanor shook her head. "Look, ignore what people are saying, they are misunderstanding everything, Shane didn't scold me and he didn't fight with anyone... okay?"
After a moment of doubt, the child nodded, and Eleanor felt as if she could breath again. This is why she normally didn't like children, she hated to bend the truth for them; she hated to be extra gentle with them as well. She looked around her, and moved to fasten her blade to her waist while taking the spare shirt and hoodie Carol gave her. She turned, and noticed that Carl had his eyes on her waist.
"You know, I promised your mom I wouldn't show them to you," she said and Carl wide eyed at her. Ah... busted. He tugged the side of his shirt, and glared at Eleanor in recrimination. Eleanor couldn't help the grin that formed on her face; any other kid would have ran away scared at that point.
"You are missing one blade,"
"Oh... yeah, I gave one to your dad yesterday," She mentioned with a smile. "That way he will be protected, even if he runs out of bullets... something that I really don't think will happen. It's is a lucky charm," Eleanor explained and put her hands on her hips, "Aren't I super smart?"
Carl didn't look convinced, he raised an eyebrow, folding his arms. Eleanor moved closer to whisper. "Say, I'm going to the stream real quick. I haven't taken a bath in a while and I must look like a mess. If someone asks for me, would you tell them that I'll come back real quick?"
"Why don't you use the lake?" Asked Carl with a frown.
"I like the stream better," she answered, hoping that Carl wouldn't put two and two together. But it happened, Carl wide eyed and he nodded fast before walking away. Eleanor bit down a laugh and made her way back to the course of the stream by foot.
She didn't go all the way to where she and Shane got water for eating. That way she wouldn't have it contaminated by mistake. Instead, she climbed the hill by foot and once she found a spot protected by bushes and trees, she proceeded to pull out a small hotel soap and began washing herself upper half first.
The water was ice cold and she shivered more than once, yet... she was thankful for the opportunity to clean herself. There was no water in Atlanta, and even if she had learned to not think too much about that kind of personal hygiene, that didn't mean she despised it. In fact she missed it, and being in a well dressed and well faring group of people made her madly self-conscious. She took all the time she could, hoping that the longer she was away, the sooner Rick would be found back at camp... the sooner she could leave.
She didn't want to, but she knew that she'd have to either way.
Because she had stayed for barely 24 hours and she already got in a fight with someone, resulting in that person almost dying, in their leader looking like someone violent. Insurrection could occur, especially if she asked Shane to stay and this one accepted.
With another defeated sigh, she dried her hair the best she could with her hoodie and then walked down the stream to meet the people at camp. Eleanor was distracted by her thoughts, so it took her a while to recognize the voice of Shane on the background.
She frowned; she couldn't have arrived at the camp so fast, there was still a 10 minute walk from there. Curious, she followed the voices until she reached a clearing. It was another route, the camp wasn't too far away, and this was the hill that usually gave them shadow past midday. Everyone was there, and as Eleanor approximated, she grew more and more restless. The sight was disturbing, leaning against his shovel for support, Jimmy was surrounded by at least 6 holes on the ground. Their forms suggested them to be tombs.
"Why are you diggin'? ... You're- You're heading to China, Jim?" It was Shane, he joked about it.
"What's the matter? I'm not hurting anyone," The man said, still concentrated on his work, almost our of breath. Eleanor walked forward in silence; still, some people noticed she was there. She could feel the gazes of Lori, of Carl and of Carol. She tried to ignore them, not turning around to make sure.
"Yeah... maybe yourself, it's a hundred degrees today!" Dale walked forward "You can't keep this up-"
"Of course I can! Watch me!" Jim said, shoving the tool harder on the ground.
"Maybe the issue it's not if you can keep it up... but what for," Eleanor commented. Shane and Dale turned to look behind them and she slowly walked forward. She strained her mouth to form a thin line and raised her shoulders, "I'm not going to say it out loud; but we all know what those... holes look like," she said vaguely signaling to the ground, "People are scared, I'm scared... I bet the children will be scared too so; ... Why not just st-"
"It wouldn't be like that if you left me alone, right?" he raised and lifted his shovel, Eleanor heard some people gasp, and she could bet they took a step behind, "Specially you! ...He-Hey, Miss. Why don't just leave me the hell alone? Huh? Mind your business for a change," he wheezed a chuckle, swinging the shovel as if it were a toy; then, extending his arms to the people present "Yeah we all know what happened down there, how Ed Peletier's face got all beaten up because of you, and your big mouth!"
"That's enough Jim," Shane stepped in, "You don't know what your are talking about;"
"You come out with a bandaged arm and he can't even stand!" He paced around and glared at Eleanor, "All because you couldn't keep your nose out of other people's business? Huh!"
She couldn't take it any longer. Eleanor stepped forward, and Shane stood beside her with unease.
"Are you listening to yourself right now!"
"Elea-"
"No! I'm done!" She snapped back at the police officer. He looked to the side and raised his hands stepping away, "Do you think Ed Peletier would have stopped if Andrea and the other women weren't there!" Lifting her pullover, she tugged the bandages around her arm until they became undone, "Look at this!? Look at it! This could have been Carol's face! And you dare tell me that I am meddling?! Did you want her to quietly suffer so you can keep on living peacefully!" She turned to look at the people around. "Are you telling me that all this time you knew and you decided to look the other way! Now! When we only have each other!"
"Well if you don't like it Missy then leave!" Jim lifted his shovel again, like a bat. Dale took Eleanor by the shoulder, telling her quietly to keep her distance, but she remained her ground, "Leave the fucking way you came from!"
"Jim just give me the shovel, okay?" Shane stepped forward.
"Or what huh?! Just because She says so you're gonna beat me up too!" Shane stepped forward, but Jim pushed him, the swung the shovel at Shane. This one reduced him to the ground, trying to calm him down, saying that no one was going to hurt him.
Jim's resolve slowly evolved into despair, and he broke. With tears in his eyes, he confessed he also had a family, one that couldn't protect, one that was eaten by the walkers. He looked at the people around him in shame, because he managed to get away only thanks to the fact the walkers were eating his wife and two sons. Eleanor paled, the feelings hitting home. Jim looked her way... as if sensing her turmoil and he rolled his eyes, finally looking away.
The people started dispersing; Dale remained by Eleanor's side with a hand on her shoulder. She religiously avoided to look behind her; she didn't want to meet anyone's gaze... she would only move when they were all gone.
And so, she, Shane, Dale and Jim remained on that hilltop; surrounded by six holes on the ground.
...
~~.~~
Shane walked down camp with one direction... Jim. The man felt exhausted, bothered, and even angry. He spared a look at the new comer, Eleanor, who seemed to be arranging something inside her tent.. probably packing.
The reason of this mess was now tied to a tree. He shouldn't have resolved to use such methods, but there was little to no choice. The man was resting in the shadows, not too many steps away from Lori, Carl and the Peletiers, doing their studies. Shane walked forward, not really needing to look at Lori to know there would be a special look reserved for him. Shane understood why the full situation couldn't come out in the open and it was not the first time he was the target of people's hate, he was used to it. It didn't mean it didn't bother him. Now that the truth was out in the open.
He wondered way Lori would think. That's why he better step away.
Dale walked behind him, and when they reached their destination, Shane kneeled. Jim was looking at empty space, it seemed the shock was still not gone, so he moved to call him and waited for the man to meet his gaze. Slowly, lazily, the man turned.
"You'll take some water Jim?"
"Yeah,"
"Yeah?... alright," Shane said without a smirk. Taking some of the stream water with a metal cup, Shane proceeded to give it to Jim in small sips. The man moved his gaze while he did, and it landed on the children. Shane now, he shouldn't feel protective, but he was still not sure if... once he freed Jim, there wouldn't be another explosion like that.
"Could you pour some on my head?"
"Yeah," Shane said, and he heard steps to his left as he did. He turned his mildly improving humor soured again at the sight of Eleanor, who was walking directly to him. There went nothing, he thought, and Eleanor would ask back her weapons. Restraining a sigh, he stood, an let the metal cup inside the bucket.
"I was hoping to catch you unoccupied," the kid said, tugging her hands on her pants pockets. To him, it looked like she wanted to leave as much as he did; and Shane couldn't help but flash him a smile. Remembering her well composed words back up the stream, he was in for something.
"Hey,"
It was Jim who called, Eleanor turned to him and so did Shane; covered in water, the man looked more pitiful than ever. "Hey, I-I'm sorry. What I said to you... I didn't mean it."
"It's okay, no harsh feelings," She answered in a quiet tone, she smiled... but it was strained.
"You don't have to leave," he added, and Shane let out a sigh. He moved to comment on something, but the girl beat him to it, and stepped over to Jim, kneeling as well.
"I made a promise to Rick. I said I would stay here and protect his family and the camp until he returned, and that's what I'm going to do," She patted her legs as she rose. Her gaze moved to where the children were and then to Shane, she minutely nodded "Whatever happens later, we will discuss it then,"
So she was not leaving... yet. Jim moved to speak again. "And I'm sorry if I scared you! You... you are no longer scared right?" He was referring to the children. Carl answered right back with a no, Sophia took a little longer, but said the same. With that Jim apologized to Lori and Carol next, the first one said something along the lines of Eleanor's words, and the second just remained silent. Shit, he had dealt with this kind of situation before, he was still blaming himself now; because back at King County, Rick would have been having his head for this... police violence... and all that crap. Scratching his head, Shane turned to Eleanor, who was still waiting for him.
"So... if that's not it, what do you want to talk about?"
"It's about the perimeter, and the walker we saw earlier today," She whispered, and turned to the children again, "But maybe it could wait a bit,"
Shane turned around and understood why. Sofia and Carl looked and Eleanor and him with a mix of fear and curiosity. Apparently, the incident with the walker had left many people worried. Also, a good distraction was needed until Jim calmed down, Shane didn't want him spouting nonsense again.
"Welp! Eleanor has gotten a good idea." The young adult frowned almost alarmed and he smirked, "We are going to clean up the fish. You kids wanna tag along with us?"
Carl almost stood immediately and asked for Sophia to come along. Before they could come, Eleanor whispered to him.
"You scared the hell out of me," Shane wheezed a laugh, and started walking himself.
"An eye for an eye,"
"Y-you! When did I-!" She began but stopped when Carl and Sophia were close enough to hear. He snickered once more, and together they moved to the lake shore.
There, Shane moved to grab a bucket, a large man and the line with the fish Andrea and Amy had caught that morning. Eleanor sat opposite to him and Carl and Sophia on the sides between. Then, he pulled out a couple of small knives and Eleanor let out a relieved sigh.
"Ok, that's far better than the blades I've got," she commented and thanked him for the one he offered.
Carl moved to look at Eleanor and Shane; back and forth, and he tugged his shirt. Shane what this was all about, and he eyed over his shoulder praying Lori was not present. Then, he moved to grab the smallest knife and extended it over. Carl moved to take the pocket tool with excitement, but Shane moved it out of his reach.
"I want you to be careful okay?" he said and Carl nodded, the man relented. "I don't want your mother scolding me later because you got cut,"
"Maybe if they just skinned the scales away that will never happen," Eleanor commented, and moved to grab a fish. With one swift move, she pierced the blade under the head and slid it across the belly. With a dulled sound, the bladed exited by the tail and she moved to cut the sides of the gills to open the fish.
The guts busted open and she moved to toss them to the bucket. The action was accompanied by the disgusted expressions and yelps of Carl and Sophia and Shane barked a laugh. With a giggle, the woman moved to thug the ones that stuck to the skin and wash it with some water. Then, she passed the fish to Carl. This one cringed and moved away.
"Why are you giving me that?!"
"It's your turn to work young man! You've got to skin the scales," She stretched the fish over a rock. Putting her blade on opposite sense of the scales, she slid forward and the scales came out almost jumping to the ground. "See, like this,"
Carl was never one to cower from work, Shane knew, and the boy moved fast to repeat the action. At first, his movements were too vertical and he ended up cutting the skin instead; but then, thanks to Eleanor's patient instructions, he started skinning the fish easily. The boy ad a little smile on his face and Shane couldn't help his own. Sophia was looking at the process but was more reluctant when Shane passed his own cut fish to her. Noticing, Eleanor kneeled beside Sophia and taught her with more care.
That's a female for ya.
"You're good," he praised and the young woman looked his way, giving him a pretty smile.
"I've done this a lot of times before,"
"You fish too?"
"...No, but I loved to prepare them once dad fished them out," she commented. "I can't fish, I'm too impatient,"
"How does that work, for a hunter?" Shane said with a frowned eyebrow. Eleanor shrugged, not giving more explanations, and once Sophia got the hang of it, she sat on her rock once more.
.
.
"Eleanor?"
"Hm? Carl? What is it? you cut yourself?" Shane moved to look at the boy alarmed, but he was not injured.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure... Anything" she said still focused on her work.
"Why did you lie about your arm?"
Both adults lifted their surprised gazed at the boy. Carl was no longer skinning the fish; he was intently looking at Eleanor instead.
"You said you slipped and hit a rock; but someone punched you," Carl sounded even more annoyed. She blinked confused, and opened her mouth repeatedly but said nothing.
It was almost as if he was scolding her too. Shane had a mixture of feelings; Carl shouldn't talk to her and he feared the woman would shrug him off rudely. He was also annoyed, because he had heard enough recriminations for a lifetime. He moved to scold the young boy, but Eleanor let out an audible sigh and that distracted him.
"Look, you didn't need to know about it at that moment, alright? Things had already defused, and I thought it was better to not speak about it,"
"I'm sorry my dad hit you," tempted Sophia with an embarrassed expression. It almost made Shane's blood boil. Eleanor wide eyed, and she knelt before the little girl.
"No, no... sweetie. It's alright! You don't have to apologize in his behalf, it doesn't even hurt me, see? It was just one big accident," She assured the child and Shane could almost swear he heard a sniff. Eleanor sighed again, and hugged the girl.
"Is my dad a bad person?"
"No, he is not a bad person Sophia," Eleanor said without a moment of hesitation. Shane glared at the young adult, who only shared a conflicted look at him, "Sometimes... adults have a hard time controlling their emotions. Maybe, maybe your dad hasn't had a simple childhood, and that affects him. That doesn't stop him from loving you or your mother, he just needs a moment for himself to... cool down," and Ellie turned at her with a smile, "So when that happens, all you need to do is give him a lot of space and come tell us he's having trouble. Will you do that?"
Was she serious? How did that even work. Sophia nodded and Eleanor made her promise she would tell them, THEM specifically, if Ed Peletier was about to beat Carol again. The moment passed as if nothing had happened, and Sophia even looked more relieved. Shane wasn't sure if it was for the best, but he couldn't help but set his gaze on Eleanor's scalp. The young adult didn't make a move to lift her head.
"Does that mean you won't lie again?"
Eleanor turned surprised to Carl once more. She huffed "I'm sorry I kept this from you... I won't lie to you again, okay?" but Carl wouldn't buy it, or was not interested. He kept on glaring and the woman smiled and extended her pinkie.
"What's that?"
"What! This is a pinkie-promise! Hasn't your mom taught you what a pinkie promise is?"
"That's for girls, Eleanor," Shane commented, trying hard to not laugh at it.
"Who says! Thomas Bradford's Ladies etiquette?!" she commented outraged and he barked a laugh.
The woman reached for Carl's hand and Shane eyed with a little satisfaction; he knew the child would yank it away -he hated when people did that- but instead...
He didn't.
Eleanor lopped her pinkie around his and shook it and said "I promise I won't lie to anything you ask me, Okay?" She said with determination. To that, Carl frowned, and repeated the shaking motion she did.
"Fine," he said and Shane caught a little smirk that formed on his face before the child returned to his labor.
.
What'd just happened?
Shane had watched the exchange with a mix of amusement and confusion. He couldn't remember if Carl had ever been this demanding, or mischievous with him, and he has known the little devil since before he was born.
"You might want to rethink that promise Elle," he teased Eleanor "He's going to milk it,"
"Too late, she already pinkie-promised," Carl stated, you could hear the satisfaction in his voice.
The young woman couldn't help a laugh and Shane smirked... even if he still was a little confused. There was a pattern, even if it was weird. At first, he was skeptical Rick would get attached to her so easily, but now Carl was at ease around her too...
"I'll go check on Jim, untie him... Maybe he's already cooled down," he got up.
"Oh! I'll take the fish to Carol, if we want them done by dinner we better start now," Eleanor commented animated, She stood too. "So, who's going with me?"
"And who's going with me," Added Shane. Sophia decided to tag along with the young woman. Shane was more interested in the boy's reaction. Carl got up, but made no move to walk either way; he gazed at Eleanor, a silent question in his eyes. He smirked; he was right, Carl grew attached to her, record time.
"It's okay, you go with Shane, just remember to be safe. See each other at dinner," The woman waved and Sophia copied it.
.
"So you like her uh?" Shane couldn't help but tease. Carl turned to him surprised and then shrugged.
"Yeah, she's cool,"
Right, because that display of weapons had not impressed the boy at all. Lori was still pissed off about it, but Shane couldn't shake away the fact that Rick had taken away the people that knew to handle some kind of weapon. If she had been so many months on her own, regardless of the fact that she had saved Rick or not, he needed her around, at least until they returned.
Maybe it was not a bad thing to trust her, the kids seemed to like her. But they were just kids.
.
.
"It's been killing me man, and I've been wanting to ask you about..." Morales began, and signaled to Dale. "That watch,"
Eleanor looked up, she was too engrossed on eating her fish that she could barely follow the conversation. Confused, Dale looked around him "What's wrong with my watch?"
"Every morning you wind up that thing as a preacher goes saying mass on the mornings!" There were collective agreements. Eleanor frowned, still not following. What was wrong about keeping certain habits?
She looked down, thinking if she had kept any habits of her own. Dale went on explaining that time was something you always wanted to keep track of... even at the end of times. Some where skeptical, like Jacquie, who was certain that there was no point. Eleanor thought for herself that... just like trying to find a bed to sleep in or, keep on using a fork to eat, those were things that defined civilization... once they were lost, humanity will be lost forever. To Dale, as his story continued, it meant that knowing time was there would give him relief, that there was no need to worry about it if you knew it was there... on your wrist. Eleanor smiled, and then couldn't help but wheeze a giggle.
"You don't agree with me Eleanor?" and just like that, all eyes were on her. She looked up, realizing she had actually done that, and smiled.
"I just thought... It was a beautiful way to put it,"
"Put what?" It was Shane who asked this time around.
Not certain why, she turned her gaze to Carl and Sophia. One was more concentrated on the flames and her food, Carol was trying to distract her of something. On the other hand, Carl looked at her intently. She let out a sigh.
"For humans, certain possessions hold a meaning, just like habits. The things that we carry, the ones that gives us peace of mind... it's come to this for us to realize that in some way they define our identity, our humanity... our..." but Eleanor stopped. Her amazed expression soon turned to unease.
Dale, who was smirking, soon showed the same concern. Eleanor could not say it out loud... what she had thought, what the others completed in their minds. Sanity, what more did they had to loose once they loosed their lives... because there was nothing sane about the walkers.
.
"You are both so weird" interjected Amy. There was a collective laugh, the tension around the air dissipated and Eleanor had a little smile. It was the second time she had strained the atmosphere in this group. For her, all she had left to wonder was when Rick would come back.
"Where are you going?" asked Andrea; Amy was getting up and ready to walk away.
"I have to pee... geez, trying to be discrete around here" she complained and giggles were heard around the group again. With a sigh and a pat on her legs, Eleanor also moved to stand.
"Thank you for the food Carol, It was delicious," She complimented and the woman nodded with a smile. Eleanor then turned to Shane, who got straight, "Shane..."
"I know... right away," he said and stood too.
"Wait, Eleanor, where are you going?"
It was Carl who asked. The child moved to stand, but was stopped by his mother. Lori Grimes shot a questioning gaze at Shane, who tried to hide a little smirk.
.
"She volunteered to take first watch today" commented Shane with a little smirk, then he signaled to Eleanor "But I want the guns back by the end of your shift, Are we clear?"
"Sir, yes Sir!" She mocked, raising her arm like the military. Shane rolled his eyes and patted her shoulder for them to also go to the RV.
Eleanor gave one last look to Carl, and the child still seemed restless... suspicious. She smiled and winked at him and the boy blinked surprised, sitting down once again. Eleanor would have been contented with that exchange but... His other gave her a glare.
Okay, then.
"Are you sure you want to take watch child?" Before they could be too far away, Dale asked in concern "It's only been your second night... you could use it,"
"I'll rest better if I make sure no walkers got close over the day. Like I said, they almost never move individually-"
But she was cut off by a piercing scream. Eleanor turned and she watched in horror how a walker, God only knows from where he had got in, but it was biting Amy by the arm.
Screams ensued, people got up front their fires, Andrea screamed in pain for Amy; Shane made a mad run to his pick-up and Eleanor could barely register Lori hugging Carl, and Carol crying over Sophia. Only the screams of help from Amy, who now fell to the ground in pain and fear, tried to get away from the three walkers that were surrounding her.
Eleanor jumped forward out of instinct.
Her blade swung in the air to cut the nape of a walker, and she shoulder pushed to other one, making it rest against the RV and piercing it's temple just as fast. Amy rested petrified, and the last walker fell on top of her. She screamed and cried, and Eleanor moved to grab the creature by the shirt collar and pull it backwards, also disposing of him as fast as possible.
Eleanor barely spared a moment to look at the bloody arm of the girl. She shared a look of pity, before helping her to her feet.
"It hurts!" she complained, but Eleanor pushed her inside the car. She knew what would come later.
"Get inside the RV," She urged and the girl obeyed. Once it was done, Eleanor looked to the sides and noticed the people running in all directions, being attacked, not knowing what to do. Any of them had weapons, they had no place for refuge, the walkers were everywhere to be seen...
.
"Lori! Lori!" She moved back to the fire and started calling for her. The screams of Carl alerted her to their presence, and another walker was looming over them.
This time around, Lori was the one to scream in horror, when a clean cut to the neck had the walker's head falling and bouncing beside them. She hugged her child in fear, and as Eleanor walked forward and grabbed her arm, the woman fought to break free.
"Snap out of it!?" Eleanor screamed and the woman stood frozen, she looked at Eleanor as if she had never seen her, and the young woman took that chance to move her behind her. "Where is Carol?"
"She... s-she was with us," she stuttered. Eleanor looked around her and spotted the woman not too far away.
"Stay behind me,"
Lori nodded, and together the advanced in direction of Carol. The woman was as shaken and as lost. With another forceful shove, she pulled the woman to her feet and made her rest beside Lori. The vulnerable ones were building up behind her... and that Eleanor restless. It was at that moment that Shane returned, he began firing his shotgun and Eleanor called out to him.
.
"Lori, Carl! Are you alright?!"
"Shane, there's no place to run. We need to make a protecting circle for those who are unprotected and hold on until we reach the cars,"
He turned to look at her, and nodded. With his potent force, he called for Morales, for Jim, and for Dale. They gathered around Lori and Carol, Morales urging his own family inside the circle; and Jackie moving Andrea along. This one protested, but Eleanor had no time to explain what has happened; Shane gave her one of the handguns, and she lighter her flashlight and used it to aim better.
Thanks to Shane's instructions, the circle moved like a whole to reach the pick-up and other vehicles. The rounds on Eleanor's gun soon ended, and she recurred once again to her blades. She thought that the number of walkers was decreasing, that's when Rick and the others arrived.
They appearance was like a balm to open wounds. The new rounds of bullets helped to kill all the walkers for good, and she felt the most relieved when Rick reached out to hug his family.
Eleanor was distracted by Andrea opening the door to the RV when she felt someone pulling her into a hug.
It was Rick, but because she still had her blades on her hands she couldn't answer. The sheriff parted from her and she stood frozen, taking in her situation. She was covered in blood, her hands trembled, feeling like she was not done. Even if Rick was thanking her for protecting his family...
More than before, she wanted to go.
