The area of a truck compound is dimly lit with the silhouette of a few men walking or standing about supposing on guard. Under the cover of darkness, another shadow is lurking about outside the gates of about two dozen eighteen wheeler trucks. There is one way in and out but it is blocked by a military tank along with four parked cars facing outbound of the facility.
A knife stabs into a car tire. Tsssssssh… the sound of air quietly release as the weapon is retreated by an elusive figure sneaking about outside the gates. Undetected by both the living and dead, it creeps around to the small tenant house just outside the lot.
Tessa moves quickly but carefully and crouches against the house. She listens as voices leak from inside the shallow walls. After a moment the flimsy door on the side opens and a man exits walking opposite from Tessa's position. She checks her surroundings whilst creeping to the door to peek inside through the smoggy fiberglass window. As suspected, one other guy is inside.
...
The Man sits at a table with his back to the entrance. Legs crossed, chewing gum, head down doing a cross word puzzle, he his oblivious to his surroundings when suddenly a swift hand cuffs around his mouth and knife slashes across his throat. Leaving him lifeless in the chair, Tessa takes the heavy set of keys off of him then searches around for any valuables. She discovers a half pack of cigarettes, a dull knife and a handgun. She stuffs them in her pack along with the crossword puzzle book.
Tessa turns to leave until something else catches her eye. A concussion hand grenade. Tessa goes over to pick it up and studies it for a moment before stuffing it into the pack too and leaves.
...
Now at the far rear of the compound, Tessa slides through a large enough hole under the fence and heads for the targeted truck. Some of the trucks in the vicinity aren't hooked to trailers but for emergency purposes, others are. She unlocks it with a single key and gets in.
Back at the small tenant house, the Man from before re-enters the shack unaware of what has happened.
"Hey, do you know what the -," starts the man but his words are cut short after discovering the gruesome sight. In a panic, he rushes out to alert the others.
...
The truck's engine roars as the dash panel illuminates with the gas hand on half a tank. Tessa puts it in gear and steps on the gas pedal. She makes her way around to the front gate as the men squabble about in attempts to find the intruder but stop upon seeing the truck turn the corner nearing forty miles an hour.
"Out the way!" shouts the man from before.
With the grenade at hand, Tessa rears out the window and tosses the weapon ahead towards the gates and tank. Just in time the explosion breaks the fence, destroying half the cars even moving the tank a bit. As the few men scurry about to regroup, Tessa goes full throttle and burst clean through the remainder of the fence past the tank and onto the road away from the lot. They fire shots at the vehicle but none are successful.
For the remaining cars, the men attempt to pursue but discovers the slashed tires. Frustrated, they abandon pursue.
The sunlight beam through the open windows where Rick, Michonne and Daryl are around a table reviewing a map of the area.
"This is just about every place we've hit up within twenty miles in either direction," Rick explains.
"Then we just have to go further," says Daryl sitting backwards in a chair.
"That means a lot more resources and people we don't have," says Michonne leaning against the table. "Even if we find places much further there's a chance they've been raided."
"If we don't risk that we risk losing stability here. So, I'll do it. I'll take Abraham and Gabriel on a three week scout," suggested Daryl.
"You and Abraham are half the muscle of this place. Gabriel maybe but I need Abraham here," says Rick.
"What about Tessa? She pretty good out there."
There is a bit of silence as Rick ponders Daryl suggestion.
"I'm not familiar with her skills," says Rick sounding a bit uncertain of approving Tessa for this mission. He looks to Michonne.
"My cousin's a tomboy no doubt-"
"Country girl as she put it," interrupts Daryl.
"That too. But she's also a good strategist and tracker so she might be needed here. So I'll go.:
"Where is she?" ask Rick.
"I saw her a day or so ago," says Daryl.
"I'm sure she's around," says Michonne sounding certain.
"You don't keep tabs on her much do you?"
Michonne looks to Daryl.
"It's hard but I try not to shelter her. I have to remind myself that she's not a little girl anymore. But trust me, she can handle herself. She's has by far."
"Toughness. Runs in the family, huh?"
Michonne flashes Daryl a smile of "You know it."
Suddenly, there are knocks at the door and they rush to open it.
Rick swings open the door to reveal Tessa sweating and out of breath.
"Rick," she starts "You need to come now."
Michonne pushes pass the men to her cousin.
"Tessa, are you okay? What happe-"
"I'm fine," Tessa assures him "But we're going to need about twelve people.
The eighteen wheeler's trailer door opens exposing the supplies to the sunlight. Fifteen miles out from Alexandria, Rick, Michonne, Daryl, Tessa, Abraham, Eugene, and a few other members stand in awe at the gold mine of various supplies on the truck. Everything from hygiene, food, medicine, etc. are just piled in. Rick turns to Tessa.
"Where did you find this?"
"I got lucky," shrugs Tessa moving towards the trailer. "I would have driven it all the way but it ran out of gas."
She gets on the back of the open trailer.
"We leave the truck but get the supplies back quickly."
Already standing on the trailer because he opened the door, Abraham moves in.
"You don't have to tell me twice."
He starts gathering supplies as everyone else joins in. Rick looks to Tessa who just gives him a soft smile then continue her way.
Something feels odd but he drops it and starts helping his group.
A few days later, the community is as lively as ever. It is as if everyone is preparing for a cookout or festivity in these last few days of Summer. In the backyard of Rick and Michonne's house, a grill is smoking as Tessa sits at a patio table doing the crossword puzzle/riddle book taken from the outpost until… SLAM! On the table a dead opossum. She glances at it then turn her attention back to the puzzle.
"I'm not cleaning that," says Tessa nonchalantly with a hint of disgust.
"I didn't ask you too," says Daryl untying a rope around the critter.
"I'm not eating that."
Daryl slightly chuckles.
"Some country girl."
"And as one I will eat raccoon, squirrel, rabbit and deer but I will not eat possum. Its probably 'playing possum.'"
"Naw, It's as good as dead."
Rick steps out onto the deck.
"Hey, Tessa. Come walk with me real quick," says Rick.
Tessa hesitates for a moment but she keeps her cool and closes the book to follow Rick out into the yard. Daryl watches for a bit but goes off to tend to his kill. Rick waits for Tessa to catch up. She stops before him.
"Yeah?" ask Tessa squinting her eyes a bit from the sun.
"I never thanked you for bringing back those supplies," starts Rick. "Guess I was a bit... dumbfounded that you found such needed quantity."
"You're welcome," Tessa says simply. It's seems she just wants to keep it short but Rick wants a bit more.
"You say you got lucky?"
"Yep… I've got a horseshoe up my ass. My only explanation," tease Tessa deflecting with humor. Rick is still suspicious but casually continues.
"Well, how far did you go before you got 'lucky'?"
"Why does that matter?"
"Just curious. Maybe there is more. We can search around for other—"
Tessa coldly interrupts.
"There's not. I checked. Let's leave well enough alone for now. There's enough food to last two maybe three months and hygiene for a while. When that runs out we'll talk."
Rick studies her stand offish expression but nods in agreement.
"Alright."
Tessa silently walks off leaving Rick to his thoughts.