Sorry for the delay! Hope everyone is enjoying the story thus far! If you feel up to it, shoot me a review to let me know how I'm doing or if you have a critic or anything! THanks!
Ani and Daryl spent the night in their cell, just holding each other. No words were said aside from telling Merle, Carol, Sophia, and Carl that they were okay when they respectively came to check on the pair. The next day, they left the prison just as the sky was beginning to change colors, not wanting to be reminded just yet of what they'd lost. Neither paid much attention to the other as they moved through the woods looking for a trail. Daryl whistled to her when he caught one, Ani walking towards him silently before crouching down beside him. They followed the trail quite a ways into the woods, neither talking to the other or making any sound whatsoever. It took nearly an hour for them to find what lay at the trail's end, but neither made motion to shoot.
In a small clearing next to a giant oak tree, a doe was lying on her side, obviously breathing hard. Daryl pulled Ania to a crouching position so that they could watch. He looked at Ania's face, contorted in confusion, before he whispered to her to just watch. Ani turned her face back to the deer, wondering why Daryl hadn't taken the shot or even made a move to when she noticed something coming out of it.
"Is it givin' birth?!" she whispered excitedly as the deer continued to breath heavily, it's stomach contracting sharply as it pushed the fawn out.
"Yup."
Ani watched in awe as more and more of the fawn came into view. As if it knew it was being watched, the doe stood up, causing Ani to gasp as the fawn all but feel out of her. Daryl assured her it was natural as the doe laid back down next to her fawn, licking it as her breathing picked back up. A little while later, the doe was standing with two fawns cleaned and suckling away while she grazed on the grass. Grabbing Ania's arm, he slowly moved back away from the deer so as to not startle the doe. When they got a safe distance away, he let go of her arm only for her to catch his hand.
"I love ya, D. Ya know that, right?"
"Yeah, I know. I love you too."
"Ya okay?"
"No, but that don't matter much, does it?"
"Does ta me."
"Yeah, I know. You're not doin' much better, though."
"Doin' betta than ya think. I'd ratha take the shot than let 'im suffa through death by bein' eaten alive. Told ya, mercy isn' somethin' that bothas me. Him dyin'...Is it bad that I've gotten used ta the death? That I jus' don' care 'bout it no more? Like, I do. I'd die if it was ya or Merle or ma or the kids or any a the people from our group, the original group from Atlanta. The othas? Jus' faces ta forget once they're gone. I'm goin' ta hell for thinkin' that, but it's true."
"Ain't goin' to hell. Ain't that just how your brain works? Out of sight, out of mind for the people you don't care about?" Daryl commented. "Nothin' wrong with that. Keeps you from bein' burdened by the loss. I'm fine with that."
"D," Ani said, grabbing a hold of his bicep, just a touch of concern in her voice. "I'm scared. I'm scared I'm gonna become too used ta this world. Too used ta the loss. I'm scared a closin' off completely, losin' meself, me emotions, me ability ta feel. Hell, I didn'...I don'...Gods I don' even know how ta say it. I don' wanna lose who I am jus' 'cause me brain shuts off little pieces a itself ta cope."
Daryl pulled Ania into a hug, just holding her as she sighed and calmed down. He could understand her fear in a sense; if Merle had come back his same old self instead of changed, Daryl wanted to think he would keep who he was now, too. But that fear of reverting to who he was, that was a real thing for him, and he never wanted to feel useless or pathetic again. He ran his fingers through the bottom of her hair before tilting her head up. Kissing her softly, he looked straight into her eyes as he spoke.
"You ain't gonna lose yourself. Won't let you."
They made their way back to the prison with a decent string of squirrels, processing them as soon as they got back before handing them to Margaret, one of the ladies who handled the grill. Ani wanted to steal Daryl away and just curl up in bed, but Merle called for her attention. Giving Daryl a kiss on the cheek, she went out into the field where he was waiting for her. Together, they walked down into the field a ways before Merle stopped her and told her to look. What she saw made her smile as she slapped his stomach and continued forward.
"No, your feet have to be like this," Sophia said, kicking Carl's legs out like Merle had her. "Yeah, now you gotta point your toe forward and steady the back foot."
He had her bow in his arms while she was teaching him the proper stance and hold, "Like this?"
"I think so," she said as she looked him over.
"Need to raise your arms a little more, son, and bring that elbow up," Merle called out, startling the kids and making Carl drop the bow. "Now, that there's a foul. Pick it up, boy."
Ani watched as Carl picked up the bow and resumed his stance, Merle going over and correcting his stance and form. Sophia walked up to her and stood next to her, Ani placing an arm on the girl's shoulders. The girl put her arm around Ani's waist as they watched Carl go in and out of the proper hold on Merle's orders. She had to admit, she was impressed by the kids' tenacity and ability to learn.
"So, who started this?"
"Carl asked if I could show him, but I'm not very good at it," Sophia admitted.
"Well, it's good 'e wants ta learn," Ani told her. "And ya did a mighty fine job a tryin' ta teach 'im. Merle's only made some adjustments and 'e's 'oldin' the bow jus' fine. Ya did good work. Jus' gotta get another bow, now."
"So you're not mad?"
"Now, why would I be mad at ya kids teachin' each otha how ta savive?" Ani asked. "Don' ya eva feel guilty for learnin' how ta savive or showin' othas how ta. Jus' don' be stupid 'bout it, eitha. Same rules apply for 'im as they do for ya."
"I figured, so I told him the rules before hand. Basically said no duh afterwards," Sophia said, sounding a little disheartened. "Kinda felt like an idiot for telling him."
"Hey now, neva feel like an idiot for bein' precocious. Betta safe than sorry, every time, no exceptions."
"So, if I told you Lizzie is naming the walkers?"
"Does that worry ya?" Ani asked the girl, thoroughly confused by the admission; Sophia just nodded her head. "Why?"
"She said one of the walkers had a name tag, so she had the other kids naming the ones lined up at the fence."
"Did anythin' else happen?" Ani pressed, becoming slightly concerned.
"Well, Carl and I tried telling her they were dead, and she said they weren't. She says they're just different," Sophia told her honestly. "I'm worried about her making the other kids think like that, that she's going to make it seem like the walkers aren't dangerous. I don't want anyone to get hurt because she's confused."
"I'll talk ta her. Thanks for tellin' me. That's important, and it's betta ta get ahead a this 'fore somethin' bad happens," Ani said before she ruffled the girl's hair and headed back up towards the courtyard, stopping to see Rick along the way. "If ya lookin' for Carl, 'e's out in the field with Merle and Phia. Searched 'em out ta learn the bow."
"He's not going to need that," Rick said.
"Rick, ya know I love ya like a brotha, so I'm gonna lay somethin' out on the line here. Ya can' keep 'im from weapons more'n knives foreva. He hasn' forgotten what 'e learned ova the winta. He's the same boy-turnin'-man as eva. Let 'im learn how ta defend 'imself when we're outta bullets and arrows are all we got left. I know ya wanna be a farma, but ya can' make 'im jus' be a farma too. The boy needs more'n that. Elsewise 'e's gonna get as reckless and restless as Phia did 'fore I had Merle teach 'er the bow. I ain' sayin' we gotta send 'im out, though it might not hurt. Gonna need the meat soon 'nough."
Rick took a deep breath and sighed, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose, "Yeah, maybe. I don't like it. But maybe."
Ani put her hand on Rick's shoulder, "Ya couldn' stop me from teachin' 'im back at the farm, ya can' stop Merle from teachin' 'im now. It's betta for 'im. Ain' 'bout what ya want, it's 'bout what'll keep 'im alive."
"You're right," Rick said nodding his head. "You're right. It's a good thing. Thank you."
"Not a problem," Ani told him. "Do ya know where Lizzie went?"
"No, I don't. Why are you lookin' for her?"
"Jus' wanted ta talk ta her," Ani said before clearing her throat. "Daryl inside?"
"Yeah, in your cell, waiting for you, I think."
"Prolly. I did mention the want ta take a nap earlia."
She left Rick to go tend to the pigs as she headed towards the commons. Ani barely got in the door before she was grabbed by semi-rough hands and hauled off her feet. She forced herself to relax, having memorized his grip from the first time he'd done this. Daryl, at her request, had begun to randomly grab her like this after she'd put him in a wrist bar the first time. At first, he'd called to her right before he grabbed her; this was only the second time he'd grabbed her without warning. Merle had tried it only once but Tyreese and Sasha were both in on it so that she could maintain her reflexes when she was grabbed, though.
"I still hate it when ya do this."
"Wouldn't if you didn't ask me too," he gruffed in her ear.
"I know, but that don' mean I gotta like it," she complained as he let go of her.
"Well, you asked for it, so stop bitchin'."
"Yes, sir," she said cheekily.
"Shut it."
He led her through the commons and into the cell block straight up to their cell. They got comfortable, Daryl laying on his back with a book while Ani curled into his side. It didn't take her long to fall asleep, snuggling closer to Daryl as she dreamed. A couple hours later, he put his pillow in her arms and left the bed. Heading into the commons, he grabbed a cup and poured a glass of water before taking it back up to the cell and leaving it on a chair. He bent over and gave her a kiss on the forehead and then left the cell and block completely. Once he was outside, he lit his last cigarette and sat on the bleachers looking out at the field. At the moment, he wished he had his Ania's brain.
Losing Zack was hitting him pretty damn hard, but he didn't want Ania to know, so he'd kept it pushed down. She'd picked up on it anyway, but she hadn't pressed it, too caught up in her own mind again. A part of him loved that about her; she wasn't always able to put aside her own issues, which allowed him a pass at his. He didn't want to tell her how he was feeling when she'd asked if he was okay, so he'd tried to change the topic, put it back to her and it worked. In fact, it worked so well that she actually opened up about what she was feeling instead of hiding it away. He couldn't help the rueful scoff he gave when he thought about that; it wasn't like he didn't hide it away either. Daryl's eyes were transfixed on the fences when he heard a click followed by the whining of a Polaroid camera.
Snapping his eyes to the direction the sound came from, he caught Ania with the device in her hand, picture already being shaken in the other one to quicken development, "Sorry, when I saw one in Glenn's cart, I asked 'im ta grab me one too. Came out nice."
"Huh-uh," he said dismissively.
"What? Ya can use it too. Not like I jus' got it for me."
"What good are pictures?" he asked. "Got you right here."
"Keepsakes, love. The world might a gone ta hell, but even the cavemen had drawin's. I won' take any more a ya if ya don' want, but please, D, let me have this one," she begged coming up beside him on the bleachers.
"S'fine. Just don't like my picture bein' taken s'all," he told her.
"Well, I think ya could be a damn model," Ani said while looking at the picture; it really did capture his essence quite nicely. "Whachya doin' out 'ere anyway?"
"Thinkin'."
"'Bout what."
"About you."
"That's corny," she replied with a teasing smile.
"About what you said earlier," he corrected with a sigh.
"Ah," she said, sobered. "What about it?"
"Just that it's the first time you didn't hide."
"Yeah, I guess. Jus' didn' want ya thinkin' I'm havin' a rough time with what I've done. I'm not. Jus', don' like how comfortable I'm gettin' with it s'all."
"Think it's a good thing. In this world, a girl like you. Be better to shoot first, ask questions later and not think about it," he told her honestly.
"Maybe. Come on," she said, grabbing his hand and dragging him back towards the dining area of the courtyard. "Let's get some grub."
They ate their dinner before Ani went on her rounds to check in on the Council members and deal with any other business that needed seeing to. Glenn was wanting to go on another scouting trip to see what they could find and Carol had made mention of how they needed more people on the fence to deal with the walkers. She smiled when she saw Tyreese and Karen in the library, giving them a small wave before picking out a new book and heading back to the cell block. Checking in on Beth, Carl, Sophia, and Judith, she told the kids they needed to read more than just comic books. Of course, that didn't stop her from grabbing a couple from the stack herself before she headed up to her cell. Daryl was in Merle's cell, talking to him about the bike. She just waved to them both as she passed, entering her own cell and setting the books on the bed. Taking off her boots, she laid back and picked up the book, having brought the comics in for Daryl. When he came in a while later, she was so caught up in her book that she barely acknowledged his presence until he sat down next to her and put his arm around her. She read out loud for a little while before yawning, Daryl taking the book from her hand and shutting off the light. They got comfortable and fell into a deep sleep while listening to the evening routines of their family and friends.
Daryl was just waking up the next morning when Ani kissed his cheek and told him she was heading to D block and she'd be back. She walked past Rick and Beth, who was taking Judith from the man so he could go out to the courtyard. Giving both girls a once over before leaning in and kissing Judith on the forehead, Ani grabbed a cup of water and drank it before leaving the block. She made her way through the prison with the intention of finding Lizzie first thing this morning before the little girl had a chance to slip away. People were just starting to get up and moving when she walked in, quickly grabbing Mika and kicking a walker away.
"Run! Get Rick and the othas!" she told her and Lizzie, pushing them behind her as chaos broke out around her.
~x~
"I'll be back in a bit," Ania said as he cracked an eye to look at her. "Headin' ta D block. Still need ta talk ta Lizzie. Love ya."
She kissed his cheek as he turned onto his back and watched her walk out. Rubbing a hand down his face before sighing, he sat up and swung his legs off the bed, reaching down and grabbing his boots. He pulled them on before standing up and stretching, trying to fully wake up. Grabbing his vest and throwing it on, he picked up his crossbow and left the cell with the intention of going to watch with Glenn. That didn't happen as a gunshot echoed through the prison, causing him and Sasha both to run out of C block to figure out what was happening. Several more shots rang out before they could even exit the building, Rick running up from the field.
"Walkers in D!" Daryl heard Glenn shout, his mind racing at the thought of Ania being in the block.
"What about C?!" Rick asked.
"Clear. We locked the gates to the tombs," Sasha informed him. "Hershel's on guard."
"It ain't a breach," Daryl told them. "And Ania's in D!"
"We followed the plan!" Sasha insisted.
They all started running as fast as they could to get into the cell block. When they arrived, they walked into a nightmare. Ania was trying to get people to safety at the same time as she was killing walkers. Everyone who wasn't bit she was trying to get into the cells, behind closed doors. Those who were, well, she wasn't letting them suffer. Daryl picked up one of the kids and took him to a cell where Karen was trying her hardest to corral the children. There were three already in there and Ania had taken post close to it to keep the walkers away. If there hadn't have been so much chaos surrounding the walker attack, she probably would have been able to deal with it on her own. Daryl looked at her as he passed her, catching her eyes and seeing how there was nothing behind them.
"It'll be alright, Ania," he gruffed, before moving on.
Ani followed Daryl upstairs, where Glenn was checking the cells. She wasn't feeling too happy about having killed three walkers with faces of people she'd talked to yesterday. It was even worse when she'd also given a merciful end to five others. A part of her knew she should feel bad, but the larger part of her thought that this was what the world was now. She either had to kill to survive, kill in mercy, or kill to keep those she cared about safe. There was no diplomatic solution with the dead. There was no saving everyone they came across because some people were never going to be worth saving. And no matter how much she prepared her people, she was always going to lose them. Ani was lost in her own mind when she heard Glenn struggling behind her.
"Down!" Daryl called before she could even fully turn around.
Ducking as she turned, she saw Glenn move at the same time she was, an arrow going through the head of the walker about to take a bite out of the man. Rick came up the stairs after double checking the downstairs was clear. Following behind him, Ani and Daryl made their way over to the cell the walker had come out of. She stood behind Rick as he opened the curtain and looked in, the sight making her curse and turn around.
"Oh, it's Patrick," Daryl said, realizing who the walker he'd shot was before looking around. "That's all of 'em."
The group walked around, ensuring a final end to their fallen comrades, working in silence as people mourned for their loved ones. Eventually the random sounds of the crying got to Ani, causing her to punch the wall beside her, busting open her knuckles. Glenn had been the closest to her and called out when she'd done it. She just glared at him, listening as Daryl walked down to talk to Hershel and Dr. S. Walking over to him, she followed the trio up to where Rick was kneeling next to a walker.
"No bites. No wounds," he told them as they walked in. "I think he just died."
"Horribly, too," Dr S told them. "Pleurisy aspiration."
"Choked to death on his own blood," Hershel said, clearing up what the doctor had meant. "Caused those trails down his face."
"I've seen it before," Rick informed them, "on a walker outside the fences."
"I saw 'em on Patrick, too," Daryl agreed.
"They're from the internal lung pressure buildin' up, like if you shake a soda and pop the top," Dr. S explained. "Only imagine your eyes, ears, nose and throat are the top."
"It's a sickness? From the walkers?" Bob asked, having some medical knowledge himself.
"No, these things happened before they were around," Dr. S denied. "Could be pneumococcal. Most likely an aggressive flu strain."
"Someone locked him in just in time," Hershel commented about the walker Rick had killed.
"No, man. Charlie used to sleep walk. Locked himself in," Daryl informed him. "Hell, he was just eating barbecue yesterday. How could somebody die in a day just from a cold?"
"I had a sick pig," Rick told him. "Died quick. Saw a sick boar in the woods."
"Don' explain how someone died ova night when they were jus' fine yestaday. Can the flu really kill that fast?" Ani asked.
"Depends on the strain," Hershel told her. "Pigs and birds. That's how these things spread in the past. We need to do something about those hogs."
"Maybe we got lucky. Maybe these two cases are it."
"Maybe, but highly unlikely. Patrick, Charlie, they both had these marks and they were both around plenty a othas yestaday. This shite's gonna spread like wildfire, and we gotta get me tonic distributed. Glad I made so much a it. We're gonna be usin' the supply right up," Ani said, effectively destroying the doctor's hope.
"She's right," Bob said. "Haven't seen anybody get lucky in a long time. Bugs like to run through close quarters. It doesn't get any closer than this."
"All of us in here, we've all been exposed," Hershel said causing everyone to shift uncomfortably.
"You're bleeding," Dr. S said, taking notice of Ani's hand.
"It's nothin'," she said as Daryl turned her around and grabbed her hand. "Punched the wall."
"Why'd you do that?" he asked.
"'Twas too much," she said quietly, looking down in shame.
Daryl didn't do much other than pull her into a hug. He and Rick shared a look, the man putting a comforting hand on Ani's back before leaving the cell. Together with Dr. S, Daryl took Ani to the infirmary to get her hand dealt with. While there, she insisted that they each took a dose of her tonic, the three of them grimacing at the bitter and astringent taste of the stuff.
"Thought you said you found honey," Daryl complained.
"Don' mean it takes the nasty out," Ani defended herself. "The honey ain' for flava, it's for the benefits it gives the tonic. Trust me, there's no way ta make it tasty in this day and age. Jus' gonna have ta force it down."
They left the infirmary after Ani gave Dr. S specific instructions on how much to give each person and to get to it. As they walked to the library where they held their council meetings, Ani handed a jar over to Hershel and told him to make sure the kids get it when they were done. She wasn't taking any chances with anyone. Everyone was going to get a dose and keep it. They'd just lost enough people from this damn disease. After everyone else took the tonic she'd brought with her, she finally let them sit down and start discussing the matter.
"Patrick was fine yesterday, and he died overnight," Carol reiterated, trying to wrap her head around it. "Two people died that quick? We'll have to separate everyone that's been exposed."
"That's everyone in that cell block," Daryl said as Ani paled. "That's all of us. Maybe more."
"There's no way ta separate, not really. We've all been around each otha and Patrick and Charlie. We've all been exposed. The best thing ta do now is take me tonic and wait."
"We know that this sickness can be lethal," Hershel said. "We don't know how easily it spreads. Is anyone else showing symptoms that we know of?"
"We can't just wait and see. There's children," Carol argued. "It isn't just the illness. People die and they become a threat."
"That's dangarous thinkin', me. People might not die and we can easily contain the threat by makin' sure the sick stay in a locked cell," Ani said.
"We need a place for them to go," Hershel said, changing the topic. "They can't stay in D. We can't risk going in there to clean it up."
"We can use cell block A," Carol suggested.
"Death row?" Glenn asked. "I'm not sure that's much of an upgrade."
"Well it's clean," Daryl argued as Ani cleared her throat. "That's an upgrade. Think that'll work for Dr. S?"
"I'll help Caleb get it set up," Hershel told him while looking at Ani, who just stared back at him stone-faced.
The sound of a woman coughing drew all their attention. Slowly standing up, she, Carol, and Daryl were the first to make it to the door. Tyreese and Karen were passing by, Karen coughing quite a bit. She said she was fine when he asked her, but Ani couldn't help but stop them.
"Ya don' really sound fine," she said.
"I'm just taking her back to my cell so she can rest," Tyreese told her with a small smile.
"Tyreese," Hershel called. "I don't think that is such a good idea."
"Why? What's going on now?" Karen asked.
"We think it's some kind of flu or something. It's how Patrick died," Glenn informed her.
"Judith is in that cell block," Hershel told them. "She's vulnerable. Anyone that may be sick or even exposed should stay away."
"It killed Patrick?" Karen asked, unable to believe it.
"She's gonna be okay," Tyreese told them. "Now that we know what Patrick died from we can treat it, right?"
"Ya should take this," Ani said, handing the woman a dose of tonic.
"Don't panic," Hershel told them. "We're going to figure this out. But we should keep you separated in the meantime. We'll have Caleb take a look at you. Take Ani's tonic. I'll see what we have in the way of medications."
"Me tonic's not perfect, but it'll help with the symptoms at the very least. Give ya a betta chance at fightin' it off," Ani told her.
"David, from the Decatur group, he's been coughing too. And you Ani," Karen said.
"Yeah, but me coughin' and clearin' me throat is from post-nasal drip due ta allagies," Ani told her. "Ya can ask Dr. S if ya don' believe me. Was dragged there last week by someone I won't name," she coughed, clearly saying Daryl's name, "'cause they were worried 'bout me bein' sick."
"Shut it," he told her, nudging her with his elbow.
"I'll get David," Glenn offered. "There's some empty, clean cells in the tombs, right?"
"Yeah, we'll meet you there," Sasha told them, eyeing Ani. "Come on, let's get you settled.
"We'll have to call another meeting later," Hershel told them.
"Alright," Daryl said. "I'll get to buryin' the dead ones."
"Wear gloves and a mask," Ani told him, Hershel quickly agreeing. "Don' want ya riskin' any more'n ya have ta. I'm gonna go and make sure David and Karen have a supply a tonic in their rooms and know how ta take it. I'll come out and help once I'm done."
"Be safe," he told her.
"You too."
They both started walking off in opposite directions before noticing Carol wasn't moving. At the same time, they turned back around to her. Ani was concerned about Carol as she'd been spending less and less time with Sophia as the girl spent more and more time with Merle and Carl. Instead, Carol had taken to Mika and Lizzie and had apparently promised their dad she would look after them as if they were her own. But she was right back to not looking after her own now that somebody else was doing the majority of it for her. Ani knew there was something deeper going on, but she wasn't sure what. She knew Sophia hadn't told her everything about her life before, and Ani couldn't help but wonder if it had something to do with that that Sophia looked to others to rely on instead of her mother and her mother looked to other little girls to protect. She sighed and pushed the thoughts to the side as Daryl spoke up.
"You alright?"
"I'm worried about Lizzie and Mika," she said. "They were around Patrick."
"We all were, even Phia and Carl," Ani said. "Shite, I gotta tell Phia. She and Patrick, they were makin' their way towards somethin'."
"Karen and David are gonna be separated 'til they feel better," Daryl assured her.
"You're right," Carol said a little too quickly. "Are you okay?"
Daryl made an exaggerated movement of his head while chewing his bottom lip before he said, "Mmhmm. Gotta be."
"What about you, Ani? Are you alright."
"Like Daryl said, gotta be."
They both walked away, Ani making her way down into the tombs after stopping at the infirmary for more tonic. She was thankful she'd had the foresight to go back to that cabin several times with Daryl and then began hoarding all the high quality gin and vodka she could find. It all went into making various kinds of tonics, She watched as Glenn brought David down along with blankets and pillows. She gave Karen a small jar of the tonic and told her she could take a sip of it every so often, when the cough became bad, but only a sip. It might be medicine, but it was still made with strong liquor. The entire time she was talking to Karen and David, Sasha and Glenn were watching her like hawks, counting every time she cleared her throat or sniffled Ani was sure.
"Are you sure it's nothing?" Sasha asked her.
"Sure as shite stinks," Ani responded. "I can hock a loogie right now if ya like ta prove it just from clearin' me throat, if ya like."
"Please don't," Sasha told her, looking a bit disgusted before both women chuckled and the three made their way out of the tombs.
"Been like this for a week, Sash," Ani told the woman honestly. "Ain' no damn illness. Jus' stupid fuckin' allagies."
~x~
Daryl had gloves on and a black bandana wrapped around his mouth and nose. He was working on digging the graves, Merle right beside him similarly covered. They worked in silence, the overall gravity of the situation weighing each man down in different ways as Sophia stood in the distance practicing her bow. He had to admit, the girl was tenacious about keeping up with practicing. Ani had mentioned how if it were in the before times, the girl might have a chance at Olympic medals with how good she'd gotten. He had the better part of one grave dug before he noticed Rick walking up to him.
"Glad you were in there," Daryl told him.
"Wasn't much use without my gun," Rick countered.
"Naw, you were," Daryl insisted. "All this time you've been taking off? You earned it. We wouldn't be hear without you and Ania."
"No, it was all of us, but mostly Ani," Rick denied.
"Naw, it was you first. Ania took over later," Daryl told him. "You gonna help us figure this out?"
"I screwed up too many times," Rick told him. "Kicked Tyreese and Sasha out, brought Chrystal back, almost got Ani killed. Those calls you gotta make, I start down that road...I almost lost myself, who I am. Whatever else this place needs, I'm here for it."
"Like I said, you earned it," Daryl reiterated. "But for what it's worth, you see mistakes. I see when shit hits, you're standing there with a shovel. Ania can't do it alone this time. It hit her hard. She won't say anything, but her eyes, they were dead in that block. She can't take much more makin' the calls either."
"She'll be fine, boy, don't you worry none," Merle told his brother, seeing Ani coming out of the commons.
"Rick! Merle! Daryl!" Maggie called to them, pointing to the fence.
"Oh shit," Rick said before he took off running.
Ani was running as she saw it too. A horde of the dead were pressing themselves against the fence so bad that there was no stopping them from bending the fence inward. Running at top speed, she caught up to the men as they reached the dog walk.
"The noise drew 'em out and now this part is starting to give!" Maggie yelled at them as she tried to kill the walkers through the fence.
"There's too many!" Ani said. "We'll neva take care a it like this!"
It didn't matter because they had to try. But for every walker they put down, two more took it's place. Side by side, she, Merle, Daryl, Maggie, Glenn, Sasha, and Tyreese were doing their best to curb the flow of the walkers, but nothing they did helped. If anything, their appearance along the fence just aggravated the walkers further, making them push themselves even harder into the fence. Maggie fell down, causing both Glenn and Ani to fret over her, but the woman maintained that they needed to keep their distance. Ani kept moving, coming to stand next to Tyreese as Sasha quit working the fence, moving to look at something on the ground.
"Are you seeing this?" she asked Ani, pointing towards the ground.
"The fuck is that?" Ani said as she looked at the pile of half eaten rats on the ground.
"Is someone feeding these thing?" Sasha asked.
"Sure looks like it," Ani answered as the others came to look at what they were.
The momentary lapse in concentration cost them as the fence began to bend inward, Daryl shouting, "Head's up!" to get the group's attention.
"This part of the fence, now!" Maggie said as they all congregated where the walkers were forcing the fence down.
They struggled to get the thing up before backing off for a second. One look was all it took for them all to start struggling to get the fence upright, Daryl and Glenn both yelling about the fence giving way. When one of the walkers literally was being pushed through the fence, Ani damn near puked. Daryl pulled her back as he assessed the situation.
"Alright, everybody back! Everybody get back now!" he yelled at them.
"The fence keeps bending in like that, those walkers are coming over it!" Sasha said worriedly.
Daryl could hear Ani's slight wheeze as he looked back at her while she was looking at the fence trying to figure out what to do. Rick was looking back at the pig pen before he looked at the ground and then back to the fence. With a sigh, he told them the plan.
"Daryl, get the truck. I know what to do. Ani, come help me."
They went together to the pig pen, rounding the piglets up in a corner as Daryl pulled up with the truck. Rick jumped up on it and Ani handed him piglet after piglet until they were all loaded. It was a damn shame, and she and Daryl had worked their asses off to get that damn pig back to the prison. Now, the piglets that were supposed to grow to feed the occupants were heading to the slaughter to lead the walkers away. Ani watched as the plan worked, listening to the squeals of the pigs as she got to work helping Sasha and Glenn fix the fence. When they were done and the piglets were all gone, she watched Daryl pull the truck back into the prison. Walking back up to the courtyard, she just looked at Daryl who shook his head. Silently, they made their way into the cell block and to their cell. They both just wanted to sleep.