The Wolf You Feed

Chapter 97

Carol boosted herself up into the ceiling tiles, trying her hardest not to think about her companions. The ones that were just mercilessly gunned down outside this place. Lightly guarded my ass. To the best of her knowledge, this was now a solo mission. One that still needed to be completed.

After the small group of soldiers passed by under her, Carol swung down from her hiding place as silently as she could. She waited for the perfect opportunity. Since she knew that once she started firing her gun, she would lose the element of surprise. Once the men gathered together to speak, she knew that was the best shot she was going to get. Carol fired, killing the entire group. Then she moved. Quickly swinging back up into the ceiling before more soldiers came.

The next group of them arrived quickly. They looked over their fallen comrades with some concern. But they didn't stop for long, passing through the room before Carol had a chance to take them out. She couldn't see much from her limited vantage point. But she could tell the men were carrying something bulky and extremely heavy. Something that took the strength of all four of them to move. Rick thought the big guns were at the other outpost. If she was right about what she suspected was in the large wooden box, Carol knew she couldn't let the soldiers leave with it. If they got a large gatling gun back to the Sanctuary, they could gun down that entire herd of walkers and free their fellow soldiers. And having Negan escape that place before they were done taking out all his outposts was not part of the plan. That would ruin everything.

Carol swung down from the ceiling once more, following after the men as quickly and quietly as she could. They made it outside before she caught up to them. Carol managed to gun a few of them down while they loaded the heavy box into a truck. But she wasn't able to get all of them. Now they had her pinned down behind a car. She didn't want to expose herself and risk being shot. But she couldn't let them leave with the guns.

"Shit," Carol cursed. She was hoping these soldiers would stay and try to take her out. At least that would buy her a little more time to figure out what to do. But they were backing towards their vehicle, clearly intent on making a run for it. Carol moved, darting closer and hiding behind another car. One of the men fired at her. But the bullets only ricocheted off the vehicle. Carol turned. If she wriggled under the car, she could get a clear shot. Then she could roll behind the tire and block their return fire. Sometimes being a petite woman had its advantages.

Carol stopped, whipping her head in the other direction. She heard someone call for help. Carol cursed under her breath. Grey Wolf was with Ezekiel and another man. They were pinned against the fence. An impossibly large herd of walkers was advancing on them. They were fighting them off. But Carol could tell that they were going to be overrun at any moment. She looked back towards the truck with the large wooden box in it. And for a moment she considered going after the guns and leaving the three men to their fate. It was her personal feelings for one of the men in particular that sent her flying across the lot in the opposite direction of the guns they came here to secure.

Carol fumbled through the ring of keys she took off one of the dead men inside, trying to figure out which key fit the large metal padlock. She got it right on the third try. The three men nearly bowled her over in their hurry to get through. Carol was quick to push the gate shut behind them and rescue the lock. The walkers piled up against the gate, moaning and reaching for the men. And especially Grey Wolf, who was bleeding heavily from a bullet wound he took to the leg. But the gate was made with a herd of walkers in mind. It held them back. Carol turned, cursing under her breath as she watched the truck full of guns disappear from her line of sight.

"We just lost the guns," she said, exhaling a heavy sigh.

"Don't be so sure," Grey Wolf said, his face lighting up in a huge grin. Carol narrowed her eyes at him, thinking like she often did that the man was crazier than he had any business being. But a moment later she heard the noise herself. It was the sound of a motorcycle.

"You think that's really…" Carol started. She cut her question short when the source of the noise became visible. Not only was it Daryl. Rick and Tony were behind him in a jeep. And all of them were flying down the road after the truck and the guns in the back of it.

Daryl moved his bike to the side and slowed down slightly, letting Rick get in front of him with the jeep. He had to down his bike once. And Tony got winged when a bullet slashed by, cutting his arm. But after a moving shootout, they were alive and the saviors were dead. Daryl opened his bag and began to fill it with explosives from the downed truck.

"I'm gonna blast in the walls and let the walkers inside," he said. "We can force them to surrender faster that way."

"That's not the plan," Rick argued. He wanted this to be over as much as Daryl did. But they wanted to do it right. And that meant taking out all the outposts before they went after Negan. Rick didn't want the man to have any place to regroup. Taking out Negan's army before they went after him would ensure their victory. Doing it any other way was a gamble.

"Fuck yer plan," Daryl cursed. "If it was Michonne that pervert was in there fuckin' you'd be the first one in line to blow the place wide open." Rick cringed at the thought. He didn't want Rowan to stay in that place any longer than necessary. Especially after her display of loyalty to them during their attack on the place. But this was about more than just saving her. This was about ensuring a future for all of them.

"This is about more than just Rowan," Rick said. "We have a plan and we have to stick to it."

When Daryl still showed no inclination of listening, Rick grabbed for the bag full of explosives in Daryl's hands. Daryl let go of the bag. Maybe a little too easily. Because the next thing Rick knew he was being punched in the face. Then Daryl tackled him to the ground. They started rolling around in the grass, struggling and fighting with each other.

"Stop!," Tony ordered. "This won't help anything!"

Tony grabbed the men, attempting to separate them. But he only got himself hit in the arm he was just shot in. He stumbled back, holding his injury and cursing at both Rick and Daryl. The engine of the truck was on fire. And if they didn't get what they came for and get the hell back, they were all going to be blown into pieces. Daryl got behind Rick and snatched him up into a choke hold, holding on until he knew the man was close to losing consciousness. Then he let go. Rick collapsed on the ground, coughing and sputtering. Daryl turned to Tony, glancing at the bag of explosives he had in his hands.

"You gonna give me some bullshit about a plan too?," Daryl asked. Tony shook his head, holding the bag out for Daryl to take.

"Go get Hekaza," Tony said, placing his hand over the scar on his forehead. "We need her if we want to win this war." Daryl felt the emotions surge inside him. He knew Tony's belief that Rowan was some sort of good luck charm bordered on religious devotion. Daryl placed his hand on Tony's shoulder, leaning forward until their foreheads were touching.

"Wastee oomani," Daryl whispered. Tony repeated the phrase, which to the wolves meant good journey, good luck, and we'll meet again soon.

"Fight like a wolf," Tony told him. Daryl smiled as he tossed the bag over his shoulder and headed for his bike.

"That's the only way I know how to fight," Daryl said. With that he swung his leg over his bike and fired up the engine.