A/N: this is the first chapter post group split! As you well know Tyreese is with Pol and the girls and this covers episode 10 since ep9 is Rick centred. I haven't checked ahead but I think there will only be a couple chapters until season 5 because it's from Pols POV. However I may include Rick Grimes snippets.

thanks to all the follows and faves for this story: Heh309, sweetbabyboo, Loki's Aunt, setsuna1415 and animeXvampirefreak3000! Also I am so pleased with the amount of reviews I got on the last chapter thank you all!

Anna: haha I hope you were on the lookout for some walkers! Aww thank you so much I hope you continue to love it!

Gracie miserables: I know! I watch the episodes again as I write the chapters and HershelsH death got me just as much the second time :( sure what's your question about Beth?

Heh309: omg thank you! Badass was exactly what I was going for her she's vulnerable and emotional as well when it calls for it! Haha don't worry he will.

Purplepecky: I know it was intense writing it! Ahh don't worry she will, they will be reunited..

Ryane: yasss! It gonna be lit, we gonna get to season 5 real soon, I'm playing with the idea of having some Rick POV in the chapters.

-Angels and Douchebags

"Mika, for the last time I don't want to play I spy." I said firmly to the young girl who cowered under my glare.

Ordinarily I wouldn't mind the games with her and Lizzie, but Judith bawling her eyes out in the middle of the woods dampened my mood.

"Sweetie I know you're hungry." I rocked her in my arms as she continued to scream.

"We are too." I said glumly.

"Where's Tyreese? He should be back by now." Lizzie said scanning the tree-line.

"I don't fucking know." I said grouchily causing Lizzie to stop talking. I felt guilty immediately, looking at thier downcast faces.

"I'm sorry you guys." I said genuinely as they nodded. I sometimes forgot that they were literally just kids.

"Keep an eye out. I'm sure he'll be back soon." I tried a hopeful tone.

We kept our guards up in the small clearing in the forest, we walked through the dense growth of trees, attempting to find Tyreese. Not long after the large man came through the trees opposite looking out of breath.

"Hey. You alright?" I checked.

"Yeah I'm fine." He said over Judith's cries.

"Judith. Sshhh." I bounced her in my arms as she continued crying. Poor baby like the rest of us were starving, but we had to ration the little we had, otherwise we would starve ourselves.

It had been a few weeks since the events of the prison. Since the Governor brutally murdered Hershel. I could feel the grief wash over me at the thought of the man.

I didn't even know if any of the others were alive. There was no sign of them anywhere. Daryl, Beth, Maggie, Glenn, Sasha, Bob, Carl, Michonne. Rick. My heart cracked slightly at the thought of him. There was a good chance I would never see him again, even if he were alive.

Then there was Carol. I missed that woman like anything, what she did to Karen and David was completely and utterly wrong. But down to her core she wasn't a bad person, I missed talking to her and hoped she was okay.

"Any luck with food?" I asked as he shook his head quietly.

"Great." I muttered under my breath.

Tyreese began walking as I gestured for the girls to follow him. I led the rear of our small group of misfits. He wasn't particularly chatty to begin with, but the day I told him the truth about Carol, it's like he closed up altogether.

Weeks ago

"What?" Tyreese's eyes widened in disbelief.

"It was Carol." I repeated taking in a deep breath.

A mixture of emotions crossed his face, I could see the anger, disappointment, fear and rage expressed all at once as he took in the information.

"But why?" He almost whispered.

"She, well I think she thought that by doing that the infection wouldn't spread." I chose my words carefully, so I wouldn't be defending her.

"Polaris, she murdered them and dragged their bodies out and left them to burn." Tyreese seethed as he began walking towards me. I backed away slightly, afraid of how he would lash out.

Lizzie and Mika watched us fearfully, both of their young eyes widened in surprise unsure of what would happen next.

"I know." I whispered as Judith babbled in my arms. Tyreese backed off slightly as his eyes flitted to Judith than back to me.

"Did you know?" He asked, his voice laced with emotion.

"I only found out when I woke up. Rick was on his way to tell you, when the whole shit went down." I said calmly. But he wasn't looking at me anymore, his eyes were down on the ground, I could see the tears forming in his eyes as he clenched his fists so hard his knuckles turned white.

"Come on, we better get away from here." He said simply and led us away from the prison.

Present

Since that day, Carol's name had not even been mentioned amongst our group. Occasionally Lizzie/Mika would mention her and Tyreese would flinch like the words triggered him. But we had bigger things to worry about than Carol - who knows if she was still even alive.

We were running dangerously low on food with a crying baby. Judith kept her teeth clamped on my thumb, causing me to hiss in pain. I looked at the baby in slight annoyance but her big eyes looked back up to me and my heart melted.

It was astonishing how much she looked like Lori, my dear departed friend. I promised her that day I would take care of her family. I would keep looking for Rick and everyone else because I knew they were out there somewhere, they had to be. But this small bundle in my arms, I would protect her no matter what.

I put Judith in the rucksack and swung it around so it was in front of my chest, I removed my fingers from her mouth as she began to complain, but soon the movement of the rucksack as I walked set her to sleep.

I could hear sobbing coming in front of me and looked at the young girl in sympathy.

"Don't cry." Lizzie's voice was firm as she held the bag.

"I want Carol." Mika spoke sobbing.

My eyes glanced ahead to Tyreese who didn't seem to notice the conversation, I let out a sigh of relief.

"Well she's not here. Put this on your belt." Lizzie handed her the knife.

"But we've got Polaris with us." Lizzie turned around giving me a slight smile as I returned it.

"Sure you wanna put your hope in me?" I offered with an uneasy smile.

"Well you're what we've got. You and Tyreese." she said decidedly.

"It's gonna get dark soon. Where are we going?" She spoke to Tyreese who stopped in his tracks.

"Further. Come on." Tyreese spoke before continuing to walk. Mika caught up walking beside him as Lizzie took her place beside me.

"You know they're not really bad. They're just misguided, it's not their fault they were born from this." Lizzie stated.

"You mean the walkers?"

"Yeah. I think they're just lost." Lizzie responded.

"I guess that makes sense in a way. There is that problem of them wanting to eat us." I quipped to the young girl who looked ahead.

"The things we have to do to survive. That's tough." I said darkly.

"Do you mean what Carol did?" Lizzie's wide eyes looked up to me as I nodded.

Another hour of walking passed and nightfall approached. We set up camp against some trees with thick trunks deep in the forest. I took my place next to Tyreese as the two sisters sat beside each other.

One of his snares had worked and we managed to trap two rabbits that we could use for dinner. But the only problem was starting a fire. It would only attract attention from unsavoury creatures, and low on energy that was the last thing we needed.

I watched Lizzie play with the knife, pointing it towards the rabbits. Mika sat in silence looking sad and hopeless. Judith lying in front of us began fussing and making noise.

"They're going to hear her." Mika exclaimed worriedly.

"Judith baby, please." I pleaded rubbing her stomach, she began crying as Tyreese and I tried to calm her down.

I moved to pick her up into my arms but Tyreese stopped me.

"It's okay, I'll take her, you must be tired." Tyreese gave me a reassuring look as he rocked her in his arms, I nodded to him gratefully.

"We'll find a safe place soon. We will." He said firmly to the two young girls, Judith continued to cry as I retrieved the little baby formula we had left.

"Here." I handed him the bottle with Judith immediately began drinking, quietening her down. Mika looked instantly relieved, as she sat calmly on the log.

"You're good with babies." I smiled at the sight of the large man rocking her.

"I used to baby-sit my cousins kids." Tyreese said suddenly, as I supressed a surprised look.

Did he just share a private piece of information with me? I smiled. I call that progress, it would be much easier if he opened up to me. Over the past couple of weeks I talked his ear off about my childhood, my music tastes and hobbies just for him to respond even a little.

"What?" Tyreese asked watching my face.

"Nothing, I'm just glad you decided to share that with me." I smiled sitting opposite him.

"Yeah well we're stuck together aren't we." Tyreese grunted, but I could see the faint amusement in his eyes. I watched as he tied the piece of material over a large cut on his arm, my eyes were immediately drawn to it as he caught me looking.

"It's not a walker bite." He said immediately defensive.

"I know, just. Are you okay?" I tentatively reached my hand out towards his arm as he moved it away.

"It's fine, just got scratched on a branch." He said dismissively.

"Look, I'm not a doctor but Hershel taught me a few things." I said reassuringly, but I felt my heart crack at the mention of the vet. That seemed like a lifetime ago now, but that didn't mean I didn't miss his presence.

"Please Tyreese." I pleaded with him as he reluctantly brought his arm forwards.

I gently removed the material seeing the cut. It wasn't two deep, but it was fresh judging by the blood still dripping from it. The gash extended the good length of his forearm. I wrapped the material more tightly around his arm to stop the bleeding and allow it to heal.

"The good thing, is that it's not infected. Should heal within a few days." I explained.

"Thanks." Tyreese nodded making eye contact with me.

"No problem, makes me feel like I'm useful." I cracked a smile at him.

Unfortunately our bonding was cut off by twigs snapping from behind us.

"Walkers!" Mika whispered worriedly.

"It's alright." I calmed her, reaching to grab the bag.

"Come on, let's go." Tyreese instructed, and we were off on our feet again.

We picked up the rabbit meat Tyreese had killed and moved to another spot with denser trees. I skinned the rabbits, removing the internal organs and we started a small fire, with Tyreese keeping watch. It was a risky move, but we needed to cook the meat, I wouldn't have the girls eat raw meat, they were going to get one decent meal at least out of this.

As soon as it was cooked we sat around the log eating it.

"Wow, this tastes like chicken." Mika ate hungrily smiling into her food.

"This is good Pol." Tyreese nodded in approval as I smiled at him, pleased we were getting a decent meal.

I bet into the cooked rabbit, and after weeks of skimping food on the road, it tasted good and I was damn well going to treasure it. After we finished dinner, Judith had fallen asleep as well as Lizzie and Mika.

"I'll keep watch, you sleep." Tyreese gestured to the place beside Judith, who was laid down on a mat.

"But-" I was silenced by a harsh look from Tyreese.

"I'll wake you in a few hours."

...

True to his word he woke me up at almost dawn, I desperately craved more sleep but as soon as I looked in Tyreese's eyes and the multitudes of bags underneath them I sobered up and took watch.

It was fairly uneventful save for a few stragglers that ventured close to camp. I could hear the snarling and heavy footsteps from a while away. I saved the bullets for my colt as Tyreese kept the ones for his rifle. It was precious ammunition for dire situations and we couldn't afford to waste it.

I stared at one of the walkers who reached his arm out towards me, dirty decaying fingers with the festering flesh trying to reach me. I sighed and took my machete, chopping the head off the walker as it slumped to the ground.

Walking the short distance back to our camp, I sat against the tree-stump. The sun was beginning to rise which meant it was soon time for us to set off again. We had no direction, we didn't know where we were going, we only knew that we had to survive and find a safe place.

I wonder what Glenn and Maggie are doing right now? I hoped they were safe and with each other. If Sasha, Bob and Beth were also together and not alone. If Daryl was by himself I knew he'd survive, he would be able to handle it I just knew it.

Maybe Michonne had found Rick, I knew she would take care of him for me. And for Carl, he was getting extremely fond of her too. And Carol. Where was she?

But of course I didn't know any of that, they may not have been alive even. No. I couldn't think like that. It was the only thing that kept me going through the long weary days, the endless silences between us, the unspoken worries and concerns.

I didn't even have my leather journal on me, I couldn't read or recount any of the events that had happened. All the books were sitting back in my cell, along with my clothes. Funnily enough I had my CD player, with the one CD I was listening to that day the prison got taken.

It had about five songs on it, but I knew the batteries on it would soon need changing, however stuck in this godforsaken forest we couldn't find food or even water let alone batteries. I still couldn't bring myself to throw away the extra weight of it, it was one thing that had stayed with me through the beginning of this whole damn apocalypse and I used it as a reminder of how we used to live.

I settled for practising my shadow boxing. Since I had oodles of spare time, I might as well perfect it to the best of my ability as there was no telling when I may need to use it. I focused on my breathing technique and allowed myself to become immersed in the fighting.

A few hours later, I roused the other members of our group and we began the long march again. The forest looked the same from every direction, but I noticed the trees became less dense and the green foliage of bushes began appearing around.

"This might be a good sign." I walked by Tyreese who held Judith.

"What do you mean?" He asked, the baby was still in his arms.

"Less trees, more bushes. We might be approaching some sort of civilisation?" I suggested.

"Maybe." Tyreese said unsure.

Judith began fussing which I knew was the beginning of her crying. She let out whimpers before screaming in terror once more in Tyreese's arms.

"Sshh, it's ok." Tyreese said bouncing her.

"Look, grapes!" Mika exclaimed happily as the two girls ran over to the bush.

"Can we eat them?" She asked us.

"Yeah they're good." Tyreese approved as I nodded.

"Shall I make some more milk?" I asked, watching helplessly as she settled down to crying.

"It might be something else." Tyreese lifted her up.

"Here Lizzie. Have some." Mika gave it to the girl as they ate the grapes happily.

"Pol, Tyreese." Mika handed us some grapes as I smiled at her. I ate the grapes hungrily, relishing in how sweet they were. My throat burned slightly as the taste of the sickly sweet fruit trickled down.

"Sshh baby girl." Tyreese whispered comfortingly.

I sniffed, smelling a bad odour in the air. More walkers. I was on alert as I scanned the trees.

"What's that smell?" My eyes landed in Judith as Tyreese smelled her.

"Lizzie, hand me a diaper." I stated.

We sat her down on the mat, as Judith was crying and Tyreese began to change her.

"Hang on, stay with me Judith." Tyreese said calmly as she took her baby grow off.

"Let me, I've changed her a few times." I nudged Tyreese who moved to the side.

"Nearly there Judith." I took off the dirty diaper throwing it away, before placing the new one on her. I unfolded the sticky tabs and stuck the diaper down so it was secure, putting Judith's leggings back on proved to be difficult, but we managed it.

"They're gonna hear her." Mika said worriedly.

Tyreese picked up the baby as she continued to cry wildly and even louder than before. Mika was right, something or someone was going to hear and then we would be in trouble.

"All right, what do you want?" Tyreese faced her towards him in his arms.

"Come on." Tyreese shushed and rubbed her neck as I packed the things in the bag. I looked around in the small clearing we were in, searching for any threats around us.

"They're coming!" Mika scratched Tyreese's arm straight onto his cut causing him to cry out in pain.

"I heard it Mika!" He said frustrated.

"Don't yell at her! She doesn't understand Walkers!" Lizzie snapped at him as Judith's crying only intensified.

"This isn't helping guys." I whined taking the baby from Tyreese.

"Take care of her a minute." He took his knife out and reached towards the bush were the sound was coming from. A bunch of crows flew out of the bush, causing Mika to take off into the woods.

"Mika come back!" I called out worriedly to the girl.

The three of us with Judith took off, running after her hoping she hadn't gotten too far.

"Mika!" Tyreese called out as we stopped in the trees.

"You yelled at her, now she's gone!" Lizzie complained.

"Hey, we'll find her." I said gently squeezing her hand.

We walked forward once more as Mika revealed herself from behind the tree trunk. She walked towards us, her eyes downcast.

"Oh Mika, you're okay." I hugged the girl who wrapped her arms around me tightly.

"It's okay." I rubbed her back soothingly.

"Are you okay?" Tyreese asked concerned.

"I got scared." Mika looked at the ground.

"You did the right thing running." Tyreese bent down to her.

"When you see or hear a Walker you run." Tyreese said to both of them.

"But when you're in a group, you gotta try and stay close to them. Okay?" he checked as Mika smiled.

Judith babbled in agreement causing the four of us to smile, she was no longer crying and rested quietly in my arms. Mika touched Tyreese's hand.

"You're bleeding, did I hurt your arm bad?" Mika asked fearfully.

"It was a lot worse earlier on. But Pol fixed me up. No big." He shrugged it off smiling at me.

"I'm sorry, I know I'm not like Lizzie." Mika said sadly.

"Don't be sorry. You each do things your own way, but you both get it done." Tyreese said gently.

"Don't ever apologise for being you. That's who you are, and I think who you are is amazing." I handed Judith to Tyreese, smiling down at Mica.

"Am I like you and Sasha?" She asked Tyreese.

"You're not like Sasha." Lizzie spoke up.

"Why not?"

"Because you're still here and Sasha isn't." Lizzie said, my eyes inadvertently flitted to Tyreese, whose face changed at the mention of his sister.

But before we had the chance to respond, there was screaming coming off from different directions. That was no walker or animal. That sounded human. Tyreese faced Lizzie and Mica back to back, handing Judith off to Lizzie.

"What are you doing?" Lizzie asked fearfully.

"I'm making sure you can see in both directions. You stay like this and you keep watch." He said to the sisters.

"Where are you going?" I placed a hand on his forearm, pulling out my machete.

"Whoever that is, they may be from the prison, I need to help them." He emphasised.

"You keep an eye on them and let me go see, I know that cut is bothering you." I argued, as another faint scream could be seen.

"No, you need to protect the girls. Please Pol, you've always been better at it than me. I know you can do it." Tyreese pleaded quietly looking into my eyes.

"Fine. But I don't like it." I relented as I stood guard around them.

"Mika, tuck your shirt behind your knife, so it's easier to grab." Lizzie instructed her calmly.

Tyreese and I both looked at her incredulously.

"We'll be okay." She said reassuringly, Tyreese handed the gun over to Mica as she held it fearfully.

"When the Walkers come, Pol don't be a hero. You run, together and towards me." Tyreese said.

"Yeah, yeah I hear you." I replied.

"But I'm glad you think of me as a hero." I winked causing Tyreese to shake his head.

"Girls listen to Pol. Only fire if you have to, otherwise stay right here until I get back." He commanded.

"Please don't go." Mika whimpered.

"Mika, look at me. You can handle this, you're tough." Tyreese nodded at her before he took off in the woods.

Judith was quiet in Lizzie's arms, she barely moved and made no noises, she was happy being held. Content. Well that made one of us. Taking down walkers I had no problem with, but I was by myself in the wild with three young, scare children. I had to focus and concentrate.

"Will he come back?" Mica asked.

"He will." I reassured her, scanning the woods for zombies.

"You don't know that. He might not." Lizzie stated.

"He will." I said firmly. I had to believe it.

After a short while, the baby was off again crying loudly.

"They're gonna hear us!" Mica whined.

"Lizzie do something." Mica complained her gun out in front of her. Lizzie placed her hand over Judith's nose and mouth, there was a certain concentration and frustration to her movements. Suddenly there was a snapping sound coming from the twigs in the trees beyond us.

"Lizzie, no she can't breath." I said to the young girl.

I looked around at the trees, seeing no walkers yet but Judith's cries were still muffled. Lizzie was putting pressure in her hands, as if she was intentionally trying to stop Judith breathing.

"Lizzie no." I said angrily as I removed her hand from Judith's face forcefully, my eyes looking at her in concern. What was that? I'm sure it was a mistake, I shrugged but watched her more carefully nonetheless.

Two walkers stumbled out of the forest clearing straight in front of Lizzie. I took out the machete and made quick work of them, their heads rolled on the ground lifeless. Two more walkers appeared in front of Mica who took the safety of.

"Mica no!" But she had already pressed the trigger, and the loud gunshot echoed in the trees around us. The bullet hit the shoulder of the walker as they continued stumbling towards us.

All of a sudden we were surrounded and even I couldn't handle cutting down that many walkers at once.

"Take Judith and run!" I shouted at them, slashing through the walkers that were coming towards us.

"He told us to stick together!" Mica cried.

Suddenly I could hear a knife slashing through Walker flesh as I looked around. The walkers around us were being cut down as they all fell to the ground one by one.

"No." I whispered in shock, at the woman in front of me.

"Carol?" I ran towards her, overcome with emotion enveloping her with a hug. Carol wrapped her arms around me.

...

"But how?" I asked her as we walked through the woods in the direction Tyreese had gone.

"I've been living out here, surviving." She replied. Both Lizzie and Mica were even happier to see their surrogate mother, now calm and feeling protected.

"You-you killed Karen and David." I said suddenly taking a few steps away from her with Judith in my arms.

"Pol, you have to understand why I did it." Carol stopped walking as her kind eyes washed over me.

"I was trying to protect you all." She said defensively.

"By killing two of our own?" I exclaimed.

"I'm not proud of it. But it had to be done." She said firmly and walked through the trees.

"You're not even remotely sorry?" I asked incredulously.

"Of course I am, it was the hardest thing I had to do. We've all done things we're not proud of." Carol looked at me pointedly, referring to the incident with Shane and Otis.

"That's not fair Carol." I said angrily. "But you're right to an extent."

"I know, I'm sorry. I know what I did was wrong. I stand by my decision." Carol decided.

"Tyreese knows. He's with us, I told him. I couldn't keep it a secret." I said glancing at her.

"I saw it coming." Carol nodded, but I could detect the glimmer of fear in her eyes.

"Why are you all out here? What happened to everyone and the prison?" She changed subject.

"The Governor. He led a full on attack, he murdered Hershel." I said darkly, the tears threatening to spill over again.

"Oh God. I'm sorry." She apologised as I shook my head.

"After that, we all got separated. Been on our own for a few weeks." I explained.

"Look Carol, I'm not saying what you did was right. It was completely wrong by my account, but I'm in no position to judge you. I am glad to see you and I love you. I hope you know that." I squeezed her hand as she gave me a faint smile.

"But I can't tell you, how Tyreese is gonna react."

...

We came out into a clearing in the forest, and found Tyreese standing on some railway tracks. There were dead walkers littered around, as his axe was bloody and filled with decaying flesh.

"Oh you're safe. I heard a gunshot." Tyreese sighed in relief seeing the three of us. I stepped aside to reveal Carol who looked apprehensively at the large man.

A range of emotions contorted across his face as he watched Carol. I could see him shaking from the anger and fury, he clenched and unclenched his fists.

"What are you doing here?" He asked quietly.

"I-I heard the gunshot, thought somebody was in trouble. So I helped." Carol stuttered, she was looking nervous and there was emotion in her eyes.

"We wouldn't be standing here without her." I added, hoping it would help her case.

Tyreese looked at us and without another word walked forwards, I sighed deeply in relief that he hadn't killed her. But the tensions between them would be innumerably high for a while, I had to stay vigilant, I was still in two minds about letting her stay but this was Carol. I didn't think she would harm us. We walked towards the bloody man who was knelt down.

"Stay on the tracks." he said, his eyes filled with pain, there was a large bite on the side of his neck, he was a goner.

"Out on the tracks we're exposed." I said.

"The woods have more cover." Carol took Judith from me, holding her in her arms.

"No. You don't understand, there's a place up the tracks. It's safe, you can- you can take the children there." The man shook his head.

Lizzie and Mica looked at each other hopefully as I glanced with disbelief at Carol and Tyreese. Knowing our luck, we'd never find it. But we had to take the chance of a good safe place, we needed it.

"Trust me. Please follow the tracks." The man whimpered.

We turned around and began walking down the tracks, away from the death. Mica was holding Tyreese's hands, who hadn't said a word to any of us least of all Carol who had the good sense to walk behind us.

"I didn't leave Lizzie." Mica told him.

"See now? Tough little lady." Tyreese smiled down at her. I held Judith in my arms as Carol passed me catching up to Tyreese.

"Hey, there's some water in there and some food." She shrugged off the backpack as Tyreese reluctantly took it off her. He grunted in response and took the rucksack, walking far ahead of her.

I looked at Carol and I could see now the deep regret and guilt in her eyes. It would take a long time for Tyreese to forgive her, if he ever did.

"Well you're on the right track to gaining his forgiveness." I nudged her, as her eyes were tinged with sadness.

"I knew you'd come back." Lizzie smiled at Carol, as Carol placed a hand on her face.

"How did you find us anyhow?" I asked her.

"I saw the end, when the prison was on fire. I saw you run off into the woods, then I lost you." Carol said.

"You've found us now." I said firmly.

She had done some bad things. But she was still the Carol I loved, that didn't mean I condoned what she did. But we all did desperate things to survive. Lizzie walked ahead and held hands with her sister, until we came to an overhead bridge and a large signpost.

"Look." Lizzie said.

The five of us with Judith gathered around.

"Sanctuary for all, community for all. Those who arrive, survive." Lizzie smiled hopefully.

Tyreese looked at me with a small smile as I returned it. There was a large map with different thick black lines converging on one spot.

Terminus.

A/N: ooof We're gonna get to it now!