Beth breathed an inaudible sigh of relief, it wasn't Daryl. It was only a kid, a boy. She hadn't managed to get a name out of him, and unlike Alpha or Beta, she preferred not to resort to questionable methods.
"What do we do, Delta?" Another of her group asked, stepping up behind Beth so she could hear them speak.
"Send word to Beta," She answered, regarding the boy they had tied to a tree, "-if anybody will be able to get answers, it'll be him." Turning away from the boy and a few of her people, she headed back to her sleeping pack and began rolling it up. "Pack up your things. We're heading back for the main camp now."
"But you said…"
"What did I say?" Turning a sharp glare to Amos, who'd been silent since he woke her, she dared him to question her judgement. When she was met with silence, Beth put her things on her back, wielding her old knife in her hand. "You all have five minutes. Be ready, or be left behind."
"Where are we going?" Beth's head snapped to the boy tied to the tree, mildly surprised he actually spoke. She studied him for a moment, taking a few silent strides towards him, and he immediately tensed. Good, she thought, he should be nervous.
"We're going home."
It was daylight by the time they were almost to the main camp. When they reached the field outside their borders, they were greeted by Beta and two more scouts. Beth walked ahead of her group to meet them, sheathing her knife into the holster on her hip.
"Delta." Beta greeted her in a low, deep voice. He was an incredibly large man, standing at around six-foot, five inches, with wide shoulders and long facial hair that hung below his mask. He was easily a foot taller than her, and anybody else would be extremely intimidated by him, but not Beth. He knew what she was capable of, had proven her strength and determination to him in the past, and for that he respected her, even if she was a lower rank than him.
"Beta." They grabbed each other's forearms, rather than a handshake, as a sign of loyalty. Beta glanced over her head, and immediately noticed the fresh-faced boy amongst them.
"Who have you brought with you?" Beth turned her body to the side and gave a sidelong glance at the blonde-haired boy that was being held by Amos.
"Two of my scouts found him lurking outside our camp," she said softly, "-according to them, he comes from the settlement where Alpha's daughter was being held."
"And why does he still live?" He asked her, weapon clutched tightly in one hand, "You know the rules."
"I couldn't get answers from him," she answered, "-you've always done a better job at getting them to talk." Beta snorted and studied the shorter woman in front of him.
"Flattery is unbecoming of you." She smirked at him and put her hands on her hips.
"Just as modesty doesn't suit you." He finally cracked a grin, turning to the two scouts behind him.
"Take him to Alpha." The two behind him nodded, and begin walking to grab the boy from the others. He then looked back to Beth stepping to her side and gesturing ahead with his arm. Taking the hint, she began walking beside him across the field, the rest of their people following behind.
"Welcome home, Delta."
Daryl stuck his head back around the shrubs, watching them. He could see Henry a few feet back, arms held behind his back by one of them. He looked off to the right and saw two of them, a large man and what he assumed was a woman by their size, communicating. Though what they were saying, he didn't know. He watched them grasp each other's forearms, and their gestures towards Henry. Worry etched into his face, he wasn't sure what to do at the moment. Feeling a tap on his shoulder, he turned his head back towards Connie, and saw her holding up her little notebook.
Let's wait until dark.
Daryl regarded her, before nodding in agreement. Slowly, they backed away from the field and headed into the forest, putting distance between them and the enemy. They backtracked almost a mile, finding the small campsite they set up, Dog curled up beside the dying embers from the fire they'd made the night before.
Dropping down onto the dirt, Daryl sat with his legs propped up, elbows resting on his knees, trying to come up with a plan of action. He could see Connie out of the corner of his eye, petting Dog on the top of the head. He didn't know how long he sat there lost in thought, he just knew he snapped out of it when Connie threw a stick at him and he glared at her, before noticing the small notebook held up in the air. Squinting his eyes, he read the small print.
I have a crazy idea, but I think it'll work.
He studied her face, noting the determination set in her eyes, the confidence in her body language. Well, if she thinks it'll work, what do they have to lose?
"Wha' is it?" Connie offered him a small smile and grabbed a stick, beginning to draw in the dirt. He managed to follow along, though there was some difficulty. He agreed with her, her plan was crazy, but it could definitely work if they were careful. He looked up and met her gaze, mouthing his words as good as he could.
"We go a' dusk."
"Well, well, well…what have we here?" Just hearing her voice alone made Beth's posture go rigid, whether it was out of fear or respect, she was never sure. Beta stepped away from her and towards the source of the voice.
"Alpha." He addressed her, even bowing his head some, acknowledging her authority. Beth looked back behind Alpha, she could see Lydia beginning to stand, mask in her hands rather than on her face. And the concern on the teen's face was obvious when she saw the blonde boy that they brought. It was clear to her then.
She recognized him. Interesting…What else had Lydia not told her?
"Delta." Alpha was addressing her now. "Who is the boy?"
"He's one of them." Beta answered for her, and Alpha turned her head to the large man, regarding him.
"I don't believe I was asking you, Beta." Quickly realizing his error, he submitted and stepped back behind Alpha, forever her shadow. Barely sparing him a second glance, Alpha returned her gaze to Beth, and she stepped forward.
"Two of my scouts found him, he followed us from the community that had Lydia." She began explaining, gesturing to the boy behind her, "-he wouldn't answer any of my questions, and I thought it better to bring him here than just kill him." Despite the mask over her face, Beth could see that Alpha didn't seem too impressed with her going against their rules.
"So instead of following the rules, you brought him here." Alpha crossed her arms and walked closer to Beth, circling around her, but Beth knew better than to back down.
No emotion. No weakness. No emotion. No weakness. No emotion. No weakness.
"If he followed us, that means somebody will be coming for him eventually." Beth stated, forcing herself to be confident, "We have a bargaining chip. And in the meantime, we question him and learn what we can." Alpha stopped her circling, and stood directly in front of Beth, staring her down.
"It is so rare that a judgement call is a good one..." Alpha began, and Beth felt her heart freeze, "-but in this case, you made a smart decision by bringing the boy to us, Delta. Good work." Alpha patted her mask covered face, a small and yet disturbing smile beginning to form. Beth noticed as the older woman pulled her hand away, the fresh blood covering her skin, that she was certain now was on her mask as well.
Someone challenged her. She thought to herself.
They lost.
Well, that would explain the walkers that seemed to be in a slight frenzy when she'd arrived. She was brought back to reality when she heard Alpha summon Beta to follow her, and Beth released a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. Glancing back at Lydia once more, she made eye contact with her, and doing a quick scan of the others around them, Beth tilted her head towards the forest's edge, knowing Lydia understood the gesture.
We need to talk.
The brunette girl nodded and held up three fingers, indicating how many hours until she'd be able to meet. Beth looked towards the sky and held three fingers below the sun, before nodding back to Lydia in confirmation.
They'd talk at dusk.
A/N: Well that's the end of that chapter! Connie and Daryl are planning to go after Henry at dusk...Beth and Lydia are going to have a serious chat at dusk...wonder what's gonna happen? Guess we'll just have to wait and see! Thank you for reading, reviews and constructive criticism always welcome!
-Taylor Catherine