6.
The RV stopped once again, although Ana figured it was for a different reason this time. She rose from her small bed with curiosity, and watched as everyone started unloading from the vehicle. Without question, she followed them. Her dirty sneakers were met with the familiar sound of wet mud. It sloshed up to her ankles as she silently cursed and walked out of it, shaking her feet as she made her way to the front of the RV.
"That's us," Jesus said lightly, "that's the hilltop."
Ana looked up a saw a mess of wooden beams standing completely vertical in order to make an uneven wall across a series of small hills. She figured it must be pretty safe, given Jesus's condition, and the fact that there were supposedly a lot of people living there.
Ana followed the group as they walked along a slightly muddy path to the front gates. She stayed near the back of the group, walking in the grass and dragging her shoes across it to get rid of the mud. Abraham was eyeing her curiously. They made eye contact when Ana realized she should explain herself. She walked back onto the dirt road, striding at the same rate he was.
"My shoes are dirty," she said, "I stepped straight into the mud."
"I can see that," the ginger said with a small chuckle. She never talked to Abraham, although they had found each other's eyes from time to time. He seemed nice enough despite his intimidating exterior. She knew he was sleeping with Rosita, and had been for a long time. But, she also knew how he acted around Sasha. She kept this fact to herself.
"Stop right there!"
Ana's eyes were brought towards a large gate made of metal sheets. Two guys stood on either side of it, holding spears in their hands and aiming it towards the group. All at once, the group raised their guns, aiming them at either guy. Michonne started to remove her Katana from its sheath.
"Woah," Jesus turned around, raising his arms in defense.
"You gon' make us?" Daryl questioned. Ana frowned, realizing this was no way to get off to a good start.
"Jesus what the hell is this?" a man with short black hair asked.
"Open the gate, Kal," Jesus demanded, "Freddie's hurt." He paused before turning to the group. "Sorry about these guys, they get antsy standing up there all day doing nothing." It seemed like a friendly insult to Ana, whose frown was lifted when she realized they were most likely out of danger.
"Then give up the weapons. Then we'll open the gate," one of the guys said.
"Why don' you come down 'ere and get 'em?" Daryl questioned. He seemed adamant on pissing the people of the Hilltop off, something that wasn't exactly wise of him to do.
"Gentlemen," someone from the group said. Ana recognized him as one of the people they had rescued from the building, but was unsure of his name. "Look we vouch for these people." He was talking to Kal and the other guy on top of the gate. "Alright they saved us out there! Lower the spears!"
Rick took this opportunity to voice his own opinion. "Look, I'm not taking any chances. Tell your guy Gregory to come out here."
From Ana's position, she wasn't able to hear what Jesus said next. The next thing she saw was the metal sheets opening and giving way to a large house situated on top of a hill. She followed the group as they started forwards, eyeing the inside of the compound. There were small shacks made of wood and metal to the left of her, and trailers to the right. It looked like something from the 1700s.
She noticed a few people walking animals such as cows and pigs with leads to different locations. There was a small chicken coop with a small family of black chickens. A woman in boots was in the coop, throwing food to them. Herbs and crops were growing along the wall, providing yet another food source.
At least they had their own sustenance.
Ana noticed a smelting area with a large anvil in front of an outdoor fireplace, as well as a small shack with a large blade. She assumed it was for cutting wood, and instantly walked over to inspect it. The group continued on as she spent time discovering the different places outside of the big brick house. She hardly noticed the group disappearing inside the building as she bent down besides the chicken coop.
One black chicken ran over to her, eager to see if there was any food.
"Sorry buddy, I don't have any," she whispered lightly, deciding not to stick her fingers through the chicken fence. For a few moments she stayed here, observing life aside from humans until her feet became sore of holding her body up. She strolled around the place, looking down at the dirt path and wondering how they would handle a flood. She made her way to the trailers, observing as one of the woman she saved washed her clothes on a washboard.
"Who are you?" someone asked, stepping in front of her. She looked up to see a man, a heavy-set man with a long beard that reached down past his chest. He wore a gray shirt with a pair of jeans that looked a bit too tight. She forced a smile, extending her hand.
"Ana," she said.
"What are you doing here Ana?" He seemed pretty determined to make her feel uneasy. He wasn't that tall, but towered a few inches above her. A few inches was enough to make her seem as small as the chicken she was just talking to.
"I'm with my group," she slightly turned toward the house, pointing at it with her hand. "They're in there."
The man was about to say something else when the gates suddenly opened. Ana looked with curiosity, seeing three people walk through the gates with solemn faces. A man, with another bushy beard, similar to Jesus' walked in front, his stride calculated and unwavering. Behind him stood a woman, and another man. They continued walking forward as the front doors of the large house opened. Ana's group exited, allowing her to sigh in relief. In front of them was a nicely dressed man with graying hair and a stubborn face, as well as beard. Everyone here seemed to have beards. She was too far to hear their conversation, and was starting in their direction when the man with the bushy beard stepped forward and stabbed the old man in the stomach. He fell to the ground, Ana's group instantly rushing to his side. She stopped in her tracks, bringing her hand to her mouth as she watched Rick attack the stabber.
"Get off of me!" he yelled at Rick, swinging an unsuccessful punch at him. "I have to!" Rick brought his knee into the man's stomach. He fell, and Rick climbed on top of him, continually punching him until the other man from the group tried to tackle Rick.
Ana watched in horror as the scene unfolded. She watched as Daryl broke the arm of the guy choking Abraham on the ground, and watched as the stabber got on top of Rick, holding a shard of something to his throat.
"Stay back!" he yelled as Glenn neared him. Ana's bottom lip quivered, although she realized that Rick knew how to take care of himself.
"Drop it," came Michonne's voice, her hand on her katana. Her face was strong, pestered by the actions of these men.
Suddenly, the man on top of Rick fell over, blood gushing from his neck. Rick had stabbed him with something, piercing his carotid artery instantly. Blood poured down onto Rick's neck until he pushed the man off of him and stood up. He was greeted with faces of disgust and horror. He turned towards everyone, the bottom half of his face covered in another man's blood.
"What?" he asked, irritated.
"You killed him!" the man with the broken arm yelled.
"Well he tried to kill Gregory, then me," Rick said as a woman ran towards him crying. She raised her fist and punched him square in the face. Rick fell to the ground, as Michonne came and took the woman off her feet.
"Don't," she mumbled.
The men previously on the wall had come down with their spears, although Ana hadn't noticed.
"Drop it now!" one man yelled, the spear lifted in front of him. Rick had scrambled to his feet, gun in his hands as he pointed it towards anyone who tried to come near him. Jesus ran from his position at Gregory's side to stand in front of Rick.
"I don't think I will," Rick said.
"Everyone! This is over!" Jesus said. "It's over."
"Ethan was our friend, but let's not pretend he was anything more than a coward who attacked us. He did this…and these people stopped him."
After talking with Jesus, Rick had lowered his gun. Ana stood, her feet firmly mounted in place as she tried to process what just happened.
They left the Hilltop passing around pictures of Maggie's baby. Ana peeked at the picture before promptly returning to her bed in the back of the RV. Before they left, the group got cleaned up from the fight and had a discussion with Jesus. Ana attended the small funeral they held for Ethan, and was left out of the group's discussion with Jesus. She was equally confused and annoyed, since Rick brought her along for absolutely no reason. After trading a few things, they headed home with one of the Hilltop's residents sitting shotgun.
Ana laid on her back, her head facing the ceiling as she took a few deep breaths and closed her eyes. It wasn't long before her breathing became even and slowed, and her mind drifted to other places. It wasn't until a hand fell onto her thigh that she woke from her dreamland.
Rick was watching her with curious eyes, his hand laying on her thigh as he gently pushed it towards her, allowing him space to sit. Ana opened her eyes, despite trying to tell herself to pretend she was asleep. Rick noticed.
"Sorry for waking you," he said, sitting next to her. His thigh brushed her calf where he sat.
She didn't reply, merely nodded and curled into a small ball, making sure her bare legs were pressed against Rick's jeans. His hand didn't move until Ana's eyes were closed again. She was tired and wanted to go back to her house. She wanted to sleep for an entire year.
A/N: Apologies for the short, rather insignificant chapter. I really just wanted to get through this episode and you can imagine how boring it was to write what happened in the show on here. Anyway, I'll probably upload another chapter tomorrow since this has little to do with the actual plot. Also! I just finished the chapter where Negan is first introduced. It might take a while to get that chapter up since I want his portrayal and reaction to be as perfect as possible.
replies:
Jasper'sCowgirl: thanks, I remember starting the story in January before Negan's whole backstory was released and I didn't want to reframe the whole story based on the mini comic series. As for Rick, I would assume he's starting to like Ana ;) but perhaps his relationship with Michonne will complicate things...as for Negan and Ana, my lips are sealed cause even I'm not sure who is going to reveal what. Thanks for the review!
Guest: thanks for the review, enjoy this chapter!
StTudnoBright: I think Ana will flip shit when she figures out Negan has not one new wife, but five of them. I'm glad you like the story, it means a lot.