Daryl didn't waste any time after Beth had left Alexandria. They needed to keep moving. He spotted Connie and pulled her aside, explaining to her that it was time to go, and she nodded, pointing back to the townhouse where their stuff was, silently saying she'd start packing. Watching her walk away, he headed for the council hall, where he knew Michonne would be talking with Lydia, trying to learn everything she possibly could about the Whisperers. They heard him enter the building, and paused their conversation to glance up at him.

"We gotta get goin'." He stated, gripping the strap of his crossbow that went over his chest. Lydia looked back at Michonne before standing up. "Tell Henry." She acknowledged his request and walked out of the door that Daryl had just come in, leaving him and Michonne alone. Neither of them said anything for a minute, until Daryl got sick of the quiet.

"Sure s'a good idea?" He didn't need to elaborate what he was asking, she knew what he was talking about.

"Best damn idea I've had in a long time." He wondered just how much Michonne believed the words coming out of her own mouth.

"D'ya trust her?" Michonne contemplated her response.

"I don't think we have much of a choice. Do you? Trust her, I mean." Daryl looked into her eyes and pursed his lips.

"I wanna." Michonne gave him a sympathetic smile, understanding in her eyes.

"You never talked about her, after Grady." He huffed, tightening his grip on his crossbow.

"Wasn' much ta say." She tilted her head, doubt marring her features.

"I doubt that. I think you just don't wanna talk about it, and that's fine," Michonne paused, studying Daryl's face. "-but I know you're worried about her, Daryl." He was quick to deny it.

"I ain't worried." He growled, glaring at her through his bangs. Michonne rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, leaning back in her chair.

"I've known you too long, Daryl Dixon. I can smell your bullshit a mile away." She smirked at him, but her expression quickly returned to being serious. "I understand why you're worried, I am too. We thought she was dead, then we get her back, and we immediately sent her back out there…" Michonne was just being honest, but that didn't mean he had to like it. "-but Beth can take care of herself, that's obvious…it doesn't make me any less worried about her, though." Daryl looked down to the floor, unsure how to respond.

He was lying to Michonne and to himself. He was worrying, a lot. He knew Beth could take care of herself, that much had been proven to him by how she'd helped them on multiple occasions, before he'd known who she really was. But he just got her back, and the guilt was eating away in his gut for believing she was dead, when she was just as alive as him. How had she survived those first couple of years alone? In this world, especially. No, Daryl knew that she was strong, he's always known that, but he didn't realize just how strong she'd become.

He didn't really feel up to discussing that with Michonne, though. So, he steered the conversation in another direction.

"How we gonna explain this ta Carol?" He sighed, feeling stressed just thinking about the conversation they'd have to have with the Queen. Michonne could only shrug.

"I think our best bet is to just be honest with her and explain everything that's happened." Daryl just grunted, knowing that when it came to Carol, it was definitely easier to just tell her straight-up rather than try to keep something from her. She'd find out sooner or later anyways, it'd be stupid for them not to tell her about Beth. Hearing Michonne's voice, he stared at her.

"I spoke with Judith this morning, before we met with Beth." Daryl watched her, waiting for her to continue. "We talked about the different communities. I…I told her about Jocelyn." His eyes grew wide, never thinking he'd see the day where Michonne would finally explain to Lil Asskicker the reason she was so cautious with Alexandria. "She shocked me though, because she can actually remember us going after them, remembers what happened," he what she was referring to, he'd never make her say it out loud, "-and yet Judith still wants us to help the other communities. And I think…she's right?" Michonne huffed out a breath and rubbed her eyes. "Beth literally coming back from the dead, it's made me realize something. Most of us, we don't get second chances at this life. If I died tomorrow, I'd have so many regrets, Daryl." She looked up at him, knowing that he was hearing every word she was saying. "The choices I've made, the things I've done to protect us when it was necessary, I won't regret that. But, preventing Alexandria from growing and becoming the best community it can possibly be, just because I'm scared? I don't think I could live with that."

"So wha'? Where ya goin' wit' this, Michonne?" Daryl didn't intend for the words to sound so rough, he was honestly just confused as to what her point was. She regarded him before standing up and taking a step in his direction.

"Where we're going, Daryl." He raised an eyebrow. "Judith and I are going with you and the others to the Kingdom." For the first time in what felt like ages, Daryl's lip quirked into a small grin, and he patted Michonne on the shoulder, no words necessary. He still wasn't entirely sure what she was trying to tell him in her little speech, but the fact that she was clearly trying to let go of the past was good news.

"Well, then we bes' get movin'." Michonne smiled at him, and together they left the council hall and headed for the gates.

As they walked, Daryl felt just a little bit lighter, knowing that Michonne was making peace with her demons. It meant that he might be able to do the same, in regards to Beth. Don't misunderstand, he knew there was still a war ahead of them, but he had a feeling they'd be okay.

He had hope.

Interesting…how such a positive feeling can garner such a negative reaction.

Beth was making her way back to the rendezvous point that she and Beta had agreed upon hours earlier. She had been staking out one of the roads leading to Hilltop with an older woman named Laura, whom Beth couldn't say she cared for. She was short-tempered, moody, and hated that Beth was in a position of power, despite their age difference and Laura's supposed level of 'maturity'.

Yeah, okay.

The road where they'd been watching for travelers was about an hour's walk from the rendezvous point. And it took longer since they traveled slowly, with the dead surrounding them. They were almost to the location when Beth heard Laura hiss something at her.

"I'm not stupid, you know." Beth barely acknowledged her, but Laura continued. "I saw you, that night in the camp." Her blood turned to ice in her veins. She knew where the bitch was going with this, but she decided to try and play it off. She just kept walking, seeing the clearing up ahead.

"And just what did you see?" She whispered, not sparing Laura a glance, forcing herself to be calm. She heard her huff out a humorless laugh.

"You. Helping the boy escape with Lydia." Beth looked over at her, face stoic. "I followed you, when those strangers took you with them out of camp. Heard you tell them to leave, tellin' them you'd buy them some time. I heard it all." Beth had stopped walking, turning to fully-face Laura, and she could see her grinning like a maniac beneath her mask. Beth heaved a sigh, knowing very well what was about to happen.

"You sure about that?" Laura's face faltered, only for a second, before she glared at Beth.

"I know what I saw," she growled, taking a step towards Beth, "-and I should've told Alpha, but then you were gone, and I figured I didn't need to, I could just take your place." Beth looked around, the walkers were still ambling towards the field where they were supposed to meet the others.

"You couldn't handle the responsibility of being Delta." Beth declared, spinning on her heel and continuing in the direction of the field. She didn't get very far though, because Laura yanked her back by the arm, causing Beth to hiss in protest, her body still extremely bruised and sore.

"You're the one who can't handle it! I warned Alpha, warned Beta, that they shouldn't trust you or the bullshit that comes outta your mouth! But they damn-near killed me, because I was going behind your back and against the rules!" She knew, before Laura even said the words, what was going to happen next.

"So I'm challengin' you. Right here, right now." She hissed in Beth's ear, pushing her away from her body and getting into a fighting stance. Beth just rolled her eyes, surprised it took this long for somebody to challenge her position since Gamma died. Looking at Laura now, she could easily pinpoint the weak spots in her stance, and Beth lazily pulled her knife out of the holster on her hip, twirling the blade in her fingers. She stepped forward, watching Laura tense and go for her own knife, an empty smile forming on her face.

"How pathetic," Beth mumbled, cocking her head to the side as she advanced on Laura, "-that you actually believe you can win against me. You think you can beat me? Go ahead, I'll give you the first shot." Beth spread her arms out, but her stance was relaxed, if not a little bored. "But after that? I'll have to kill you." Laura's gaze turned murderous, and she shouted before charging at Beth, knife raised. The scream caught her off-guard, and she actually stumbled when she sidestepped out of the way, giving Laura the chance to slash Beth's right arm, making her grunt at the sudden pain. She took a quick glance at her bicep, and saw the blood seeping through her shirt.

Irritation spread throughout her body, and Beth dodged another one of Laura's attacks, kicking her knee in as hard as she could, and the older woman let out a cry of pain as she dropped to her knees on the forest floor. Beth stepped behind her and grabbed the arm that was wielding the knife, using her weight to smash Laura's torso onto the ground, the knife falling from her grip, and she then yanked her arm back as fast as she could, hearing the 'pop' of dislocation. She dropped her arm and kneeled over Laura's back, putting her weight on her arms to hold her down, and Laura yelped at the weight on her injured arm. Beth took a firm hold on her skull, and started to smash her face into the ground, anger seeping from her pores. Laura hollered in pain, and Beth was fairly certain she'd broken her nose, but she didn't care. Hearing footsteps, she looked over her shoulder, the walkers they'd been traveling in were drawn to the sounds of their fight and the smell of Beth's blood. They were still a couple of yards away, and Beth had a morbid idea. She ripped the mask off of Laura and lifted her head, whispering into her ear.

"Hope you've said your prayers." The look on Laura's bloodied face was one of confusion, but it quickly changed to fear when she heard the groans and snarls of the dead approaching. She looked at Delta, pleading with her to change her mind and forgive her, but it fell on deaf ears.

Beth continued to hold her down until the walkers were within grabbing distance, then she jumped off of Laura and rolled out of their path. She heard Laura scream as the rotted bodies collapsed on top of her, ripping into her flesh. Her screams died off quickly, passing out from the pain or just from death, who knew.

Beth leapt to her feet quickly, noticing there were a few coming in her direction, smelling the blood running down her arm. Counting four, she was quick to take them down, stabbing each one in the eye socket or the temple and letting their bodies collapse.

Taking a step back, she watched as the rest of the walkers focused on the fresh meal laid out before them. If she was ten years younger, Beth would be disgusted by the scene, even more-so knowing she caused it. But Delta was numb.

"I win."

Her shoulders sagged in exhaustion, but she tensed when she heard twigs snapping. Lifting her head, she relaxed some when she realized it was only Beta returning with three others trailing behind him, the walkers around them heading straight for the dead body on the ground.

Beta was silent as he approached the scene before him, tense and ready to fight if necessary. But whatever had occurred was clearly over now, that was obvious once his eyes found Delta. He stared at the bodies on the ground, then back at the girl covered in blood. Her eyes narrowed as she stood up straighter.

"You're late." Beta almost snorted, but instead he glanced back to the pile of the dead, feasting on something, or someone.

"What happened?" Delta exhaled slowly, sheathing her knife before answering him. She looked up at Beta, staring him directly in the eyes.

"I was challenged."

No other explanation was needed. She had been challenged, and she had won. His eyes were drawn to her right hand, noticing the blood dripping from the tips of her fingers. She followed his gaze and looked down at her arm, as if just remembering she'd been hurt.

"Bitch might've nicked me a little." Beta smirked at her, used to the way she played off her wounds. He lifted her arm, and Delta hardly flinched as he examined the cut. The knife had managed to rip her sleeve wide open, making it easier for him to see how bad the damage was.

"This will possibly need stitches." He rumbled, noticing the cut ran almost the entire length of her upper arm. And while it wasn't deep enough to be a problem, it still needed to be taken care of. Delta groaned in annoyance.

"Alpha's gonna be pissed at me. And it wasn't even worth the fucking trouble. Dumb bitch, dunno what she was thinking." She huffed, watching as Beta ripped a strip of her shirt that was still semi-clean and wrapped it around her arm, wincing a little at the tightness. She was so annoyed right now, he could practically see the tension rolling off of her in waves. He always enjoyed it when she was fired up, made her more aggressive when they had their fun, and just the thought of their past endeavors had him growing stiff. He cast a quick glance over his shoulder at the others that were waiting for them, and nodded his head at them, silently telling them to start back without them.

He wanted a moment alone with Delta.

Beta watched them leave, pleased when they managed to get the dead to trail after them by whistling. Once they were out of sight he looked down at Delta.

She was so caught up in her thoughts that she was barely aware of what was going on around her, until Beta was pushing her backwards and she had to make a conscious step. Delta looked up at him, her blue eyes curious as to what he was doing, but he just continued to push her backwards until her back connected with tree bark. When she was leaning back against the tree, he reached behind her head for the laces to her mask, pulling them loose enough to lift it away. Beta would never say it out loud, to her or to himself, but he quite enjoyed her natural face, without the dead flesh she hid behind.

"What are you doing?" She questioned Beta, although deep in her gut she knew exactly what he was doing, knew exactly where this was headed. And for the first time, since they started this…whatever you'd call this thing, she wasn't sure if she wanted to.

"You, in a moment." He growled, his voice husky and low. She lifted her head and met his eyes, seeing the lust in them, and she didn't know what to do. If she stopped him, he'd question her as to why, seeing how she's never done so before, and she wasn't sure she could come up with a plausible lie. Being injured was no excuse, they've had sex before when they bothwere damn-near crippled by injuries. He wouldn't believe that for a minute. And her menstrual cycle? Well…let's just say Beta is used to the sight of blood.

Fuck.

She let out a gasp when Beta lifted her into the air. Her legs automatically wrapped around his waist, with her good hand gripping his shoulder, and her other hand pressed against his chest. Beta dipped his head down, and his mouth claimed hers in a greedy kiss, swallowing the involuntary moan that escaped her throat. She could feel his grin in their kiss, and his hands squeezed her ass. She felt like her skin would catch fire from the heat radiating off his body, and it made her moan again.

Beth could've cursed her body for responding so readily to him, when her mind was indecisive. Did she want this? Instinctually, yes. But mentally? She wasn't sure.

Beta moved his mouth along the side of her jaw that wasn't bruised, biting onto her ear, causing shivers down her body. She was so dazed that she almost missed it when he spoke.

"Your mind wanders." She forcefully exhaled a lungful of oxygen, shaking her head no, that her mind hadn't wandered, but he didn't believe her. "It does. Don't worry, I can redirect your attentions." With a speed she didn't know he had, he forced his hand down her pants and in between her legs. His growl of approval when he discovered she was responding to his touch had her reeling. Her mind became muddled, and her earlier internal conflicts faded from her thoughts.

Beth supposed she wasn't as conflicted as she originally believed.

She'd deal with the guilt later.

The sun was beginning to set when Beta and Delta wandered back into camp. Some people glanced up at them, but nobody said anything. It was no secret amongst the Whisperers that two of Alpha's commanders had an…arrangement, so nobody questioned it when they came back to camp together.

Alpha spotted Beta's large figure first, then noticed Delta walking alongside him. She wasn't stupid, she knew why they had fallen behind the others. She had no problem with them using each other as stress relief, so long as it didn't disrupt or distract them from their jobs.

Upon further inspection, Alpha noticed Delta's right side had blood everywhere, and that her right arm was wrapped in a makeshift bandage. Narrowing her eyes, she stood up and made her way to her second and third in command. They both stood still when they saw Alpha coming towards them.

"I want answers." She spoke directly to Delta, and the young woman gave her a serious expression.

"I was challenged."

"By who?"

"Laura." This wasn't a surprise to Alpha, she knew Laura had objections to Delta's rank, but she didn't actually think the dumb woman had it in her to challenge her.

"And she's dead." This wasn't a question, it was Alpha stating the obvious. Delta nodded, her gaze unwavering.

"Yes." Delta didn't elaborate further, knowing Alpha didn't care about the details. She won, that was all that mattered. Alpha held out her hand and she gazed at her leader with a confused tilt of her head.

"Let me see your arm, Delta." Delta hesitated for half a second before slowly lifting her injured arm, Alpha grabbing her elbow to hold it up. She took a step closer, unwrapping the bloodied bandage and dropping it to the ground. The cut was long, but it wasn't deep. Stitches probably weren't necessary. Alpha looked at Delta's face, watching for any signs of pain. Alpha was pleased by her lack of reaction to her arm, which she was certain must hurt. Delta was strong.

"I was going to take her to get it cleaned and stitched." Beta murmured, and Alpha shook her head.

"Stitches aren't necessary. I'll take care of it, Beta." Delta and Beta both were momentarily shocked when Alpha decided to clean her wound, but they quickly recovered when she continued speaking. "I need you to gather a few people and go back to the road leading to Hilltop. One of the scouts said they overheard some people getting ready to leave. When they do, I want you to kill them. Discreetly. Hide the bodies and whatever they have with them. I'll be there when I hear word that the job is done." Beta bowed his head, quickly taking his leave and heading further into camp. Alpha looked at Delta's face, and they stared at each other for a few moments.

"Let's go get this cleaned up." Alpha declared with a wink of her eye.

What the hell? Was the entire camp on drugs or something? First Beta acting strange, now Alpha?

Beth was feeling more than a bit confused, but she quickly followed Alpha as she headed off in the direction of the stream, stopping to grab a first-aid kit while they walked. She walked slightly behind her, unsure why Alpha offered her assistance. There had to be an ulterior motive.

When they reached the stream, Alpha pointed her to a nearby tree root, telling her to sit down. She did so without asking questions, watching Alpha's back as her leader knelt down by the stream, soaking a cloth in cold water. This was extremely out of character, so something had to be going on. Alpha didn't just 'help' her people with an injury. She glanced towards the stream as Alpha turned around and strode towards her, acting as if she hadn't been burning holes in her back.

"I plan on sneaking into that festival tomorrow." Well, this was news to Beth.

"How?" She asked, curious as to what Alpha has planned. She bit back a hiss when Alpha started wiping away the blood from her arm.

"Never you mind how. I have a job for you." She waited for Alpha to elaborate, but she just continued to wipe the blood from Beth's arm. She tossed the cloth to the side and reached for the first-aid kit, popping the lid open. "There's a barn, about two miles west. Have you seen it?" She confirmed that she had. "Tomorrow night, when the moon is at it's peak, I want you to be there waiting with Beta and a couple others. You'll know why soon enough. It's time we stake a claim on our land, don't you agree?" Beth could only nod. She was puzzled, what was Alpha planning? She wanted to ask her, but it was terribly unwise to question Alpha. She would take it as a challenge against her authority.

But what the hell did she mean, 'stake a claim on our land'? The Whisperers didn't have land, they were wanderers. They never stayed in one place for more than a couple weeks. Was it because of the approaching winter? Did Alpha want them to settle in for the time being? But why would she do that? They always traveled further south during the winter months. So what the hell was she going to do? Beth was drawn back to reality when Alpha finished wrapping a clean bandage around her arm, tying it in a tight knot so it'd stay put.

Alpha looked up at her, her face serene and free of emotion, like always. "All done." She said, before standing back up and glancing down at Beth. "When we get back to camp, get some rest. And then, when you wake up, the fun will begin." She had a confident look in her eyes, and for some reason that terrified Beth.

She still had no idea what was going to happen, but she had a horrible feeling in her gut. She needed to warn Daryl, or Michonne. But she couldn't just leave camp, not without a good reason, and she had none.

She was well and truly fucked, completely and utterly on her own this time.

Son of a bitch.

A/N: Thank you for reading! Leave a comment, let me know what you thought! Also, I need opinions for the next chapter, which will be brutal and there will be death. Who do you NOT want to die? Let me know your thoughts and opinions, I read every comment and take your suggestions seriously! I'll be back in a few days after I work through some writer's block and handle some personal stuff.

Thank you!

-Taylor Catherine