The peaceful moment between Connie and Daryl came to a sudden end. Connie ran off to wake Lydia and Henry, but both of them were already up, along with Dog who was barking at one of the walkers. Three walkers had already made their way into the little camp. The group killed them all and after that there was a strange silence and everything was calm again. Daryl saw something flashing on the ground and when he came closer he shuddered. One of the dead walkers was holding a knife.
They found us! The thought struck him like a lightning
"We have to move on, now!" He shouted to the others, who instantly understood. They quickly grabbed whatever they could get and ran off. And then everything became even worse. More and more walkers were coming after them. It was dark, almost too dark to see anything, but nevertheless the group members ran as fast as they could. Breathing heavily, tripping, trudging through branches. Henry held Lydia by the hand and Daryl held Connie's hand, so they wouldn't get separated. Dog was running in front of them. The group couldn't take all the walkers and Whisperers, it was too dark and there were too many of them. They came like a big wave over the little group. Daryl's heart was beating fast, adrenaline rushing through his veins, blood pounding in his temples. He was trying to figure out how to get rid of the walkers and the Whisperers. Now and then he and Connie stopped and aimed at those, who were getting too close. After shooting them, they immediately continued to run. But there were still so many of them and it seemed like they were coming from every direction now. The group had to change its path so often, even Daryl was about to lose his sense of orientation. He had to figure something out, quickly. He knew, they had to get out of the woods because they were at disadvantage there.
Luckily they were faster than the walkers and they finally succeeded to shake them off for the moment. They all crouched under some bushes and Daryl was hoping the moonlight would be bright enough, so Connie would be able to read his lips.
"Okay, we shook 'em off, but that's certainly not for long," he said.
"Listen, we have to separate."
Connie shook her head disapprovingly.
"Yes, we do," Daryl responded with a nod.
"I'll distract them. I've this one." He got out the gun from the farmhouse and showed it to them.
"It's loud, so I might be able to redirect them and you all can escape." Connie still didn't approve that.
She was already writing something and Daryl sighed.
We stay together! She wrote. And then: We're only strong together!
"Look, we don't have a choice," Daryl tried to explain, but Connie showed him the note with We stay together again and he knew it had no use to argue, when he saw the determined look on her face.
Daryl tried to come up with another idea and he suddenly remembered that the Sanctuary wasn't far away. Probably it was their best shot. They could hide there and it was a better environment to fight, if the Whisperers caught them again.
Daryl made a sign for the others to follow him and all of them did so this time.
Their legs were hardly carrying them and the sun was beginning to rise as they finally arrived at the gates of the Sanctuary. They went through the gates with caution and Daryl couldn't believe he was there again. He didn't see the place for a long time and he was glad about it. It was the place where he was tortured once, the place where he tried so hard to be a good leader, the place that was doomed no matter what. Connie and him were walking in front of Lydia, Henry and Dog, when he suddenly saw a group of people. Instantly Daryl pressed his back against a wall and pulled Connie close to him, so she wouldn't walk in their field of view. He put a finger against his mouth as a signal to be quiet and everyone understood. The kids hid against a wall too, Henry was holding Dog back.
Daryl tried to focus, but he couldn't ignore the fact that he was holding Connie close in his arms, her hand pressed against his chest and he was sure she could feel how fast his heart was beating. Being close to her intensified his heart rate, but at least there was a good excuse for his pounding heart, since they ran a lot and now they had to hide from a potential threat.
Daryl took a peek at the silhouettes. Who were those people? He couldn't see them clearly. Were those some of the Saviors who ran away? But Carol told him she took care of them. Maybe a new threat? For sure they weren't Whisperers.
Daryl heard horses approaching and two more men came along, who caught sight of Daryl and the others.
"Shit," Daryl murmured and told the others to run, but the man on the horse stopped them.
He was dressed like a cowboy and had a shotgun in his hands. Daryl thought he looked odd.
"I wouldn't do that," he told Daryl, who sneakily tried to retrieve his gun.
"Who are you?" Daryl asked angrily. The other men came closing in on Daryl's group and Dog started to bark.
"We are the Highwaymen," the horseman said and Daryl and Connie exchanged a skeptical look.
"And you are Daryl, I suppose?" The man continued and Daryl was more than surprised, the cowboy knew his name.
"How..." he started, but the man interrupted him.
"The Kingdom sent us to find you and your group. We will escort you there."
"We can't go there, there are people following us," Henry told the man and Daryl gave him a stern look. He still didn't trust the man.
"We'll take care of them," the cowboy told them confidently and Daryl made scoffing noise.
Nevertheless he let the Highwaymen lead his group inside the Sanctuary. Some of the men were guarding the entrances, while Daryl filled their leader in about everything they need to know.
"Okay, so these Whisperers are following you, that's why you don't want to go to the Kingdom," the leader concluded and Daryl nodded. He sat on the floor glancing suspiciously at the man in the hat.
"Then we should probably arrange a gathering for you and your people elsewhere," the man suggested.
"Would be the best idea," Daryl said and couldn't hide the annoyance in his voice as he saw how the man was eyeing Connie, who was sitting next to Daryl.
"Fine, I will take some of my men back and tell the King and Queen where to meet you."
Connie stood up and pointed at herself and then at the leader.
"You want to come with us?" The delight in the man's voice made Daryl angry all of the sudden.
"We will be more than pleased to escort you there" the man said. Then he took off his hat and bowed in Connie's direction.
That was enough, Daryl jumped up.
"There's no way in hell you're going to the Kingdom with Lucky Luke here," he told Connie furiously pointing at the surprised man. Connie was surprised too.
"We still don't know if we can trust them," Daryl explained then.
"But Daryl, they know everything about the Kingdom and it doesn't sound like they're lying," Henry said.
When Daryl looked around he saw that everyone was on Henry's side. Even Connie who he considered to be good in reading people.
"Fine." Daryl sighed. "But we arrange a meeting point. They go to the Kingdom and will bring Carol and Ezekiel there," Daryl said. "And your sister." He added glancing at Connie.
It's was not the safest plan but at least they weren't endangering the Kingdom and the Fair that way. Everyone agreed.
The leader of the Highwayman left with his men but not before he took his hat off once again and bowed to Connie, who nodded and smiled.
Daryl rolled his eyes. What a jerk, he thought.
It was decided they would meet the people from the Kingdom in the evening, so the little group took some rest, guarded by the rest of the Highwaymen, who stayed with them.
Daryl was sitting with his back against the wall, thinking. He didn't like the plan, not at all. He didn't like those wannabe-cowboys and as sure as hell he didn't like their leader. Who was that jerk thinking he was? With that ridiculous hat and that oozy smile. Daryl also didn't like how he looked at Connie and how friendly Connie was towards him. Daryl hit his fist angrily against the wall behind him. No, he didn't like anything about the Highwaymen, but unfortunately they needed them right now.