WARRIORS OF THE WALKING DEAD: SAVIORS OF MANKIND
CHAPTER FIVE
They stood in front of the Deer Ridge Housing Development looking at all the work they'd have to do in order to make this a home. Rick motioned the caravan forward and the group entered through the gate Glenn had opened.
Driving through, they stopped at the first series of homes and parked their vehicles while Jackson motioned the caravan of trucks and supplies into the development. The first step was to set up a moveable barricade they could use to defend the area while they were working.
"All right guys, here's how this is gonna work. Alpha Group will construct the barricade on the back since it's the biggest. Beta Group will divide into two subgroups. Subgroup 1 will build a barricade on the front gate so that walkers can't get through that way, while the rest of you will patrol in groups. Delta Group has been assembled out of specialized crew and will be under the direction of specific experts who've already been assigned. Each group has already been formed and each unit leader knows the job of their crew. Remember…you've got volunteer civilians mixed in with you so try to recall what you're here for and help each other out. You all have a special treat waiting for you when you return to base after your shift, thanks to the talents of the Atlanta Group." Jackson announced, gesturing to the group standing beside him.
The soldiers broke out in applause.
Rick and Daryl had no idea what he was talking about and turned to look at Katelyn, Carol and Andrea with confusion. The three women smirked while Andrea winked at the frowning men. She was going to let them stew.
"You gonna tell me what your plannin'?" Daryl whispered to Katelyn who giggled when he grabbed her around the waist.
"Nope." She replied saucily.
"Katelyn Marie! You are a bad girl." Daryl chided playfully making Katelyn bat her eyelashes innocently at him.
"I don't know what your talkin' about." She stated flirtatiously.
"Come on, Katelyn!" Andrea called out.
Katelyn's smile faded and she looked nervous toward the men wandering around, then looked at Andrea. She didn't want to say that being around all of these strangers made her nervous.
"Wait, where are you goin'?" Daryl asked, noticing the look on her face.
"We're supposed to go scouting with Glenn and Maggie. Michonne's with Beta Group." Katelyn said, plastering a smile on her face so Daryl wouldn't know she was afraid.
"I think its better if ya stay with me." Daryl suggested softly, trying to take her embarrassment away.
"Leave her alone Daryl!" Andrea called out, thinking that he was badgering her about going with them.
"Tell you what. How about I go with you?" Daryl asked quietly.
"Thank you." She said shyly, feeling stupid for being so skiddish.
Katelyn looked at Andrea and Rachel who'd stopped to figure out what was going on.
"Rick! I'm goin' with the girls." Daryl called out over his shoulder, figuring it'd make both of them happy this way.
Katelyn smiled and kissed him on the cheek.
Daryl started walking with her back over to Andrea who snorted when he got there.
"You know we can take care of ourselves." Andrea bit out, irritated that Daryl thought they were helpless.
"I didn't say ya couldn't, woman." Daryl snapped back, irritated with Andrea's arrogance.
"Whatever." She retorted.
Daryl wanted to reach out and choke that woman but he refrained.
Katelyn looked tense now and the earlier lighthearted mood was gone. It was silent as they met up with Maggie and Glenn.
Glenn immediately noticed everyone's mood and dove right in.
"Why is everyone so pissy?" He asked bluntly.
"Daryl doesn't think we can handle ourselves." Andrea spat out.
"Did I say that!?" Daryl yelled.
"Woah! Sorry I asked." Glenn said loudly.
"Well if you don't think that, why are you here!?" Andrea shouted.
Daryl stormed over to her and got right up in her face.
"Did you ever think that maybe it isn't about you, you selfish cow!? Katelyn don't know these men runnin' around and after everything that's happened maybe I'd just feel better if she didn't have to deal with somethin' else!" Daryl hissed furiously at her. Andrea could be a real bitch sometimes and right now was one of those moments when he wanted to drown her.
Andrea recoiled as if he'd slapped her. She hadn't thought about that and now she felt bad.
"Oh my god, I'm sorry Katelyn." Andrea groaned, turning to look at Katelyn.
"It's okay Andrea. I'm fine." Katelyn said, chewing on her lip nervously.
Rachel watched the exchange trying to figure out what was going on. At first, she thought Daryl was possessive and overbearing with Katelyn, but now, she realized that something else was going on. She didn't like all of the tension though, and they'd be spending the day together so she didn't want it to be uncomfortable.
"Where are we starting?" Rachel asked, trying to break the tension, but Daryl kept on glaring at Andrea.
"Listen, I'm sorry. I was being an asshole." Andrea said to Daryl.
"I'm fine, Andrea. Really. Let's go scout." Katelyn said, taking Daryl's hand and starting to walk.
"That was awkward." Glenn whispered to Maggie.
"No shit." Maggie retorted, shaking her head at the drama before falling in behind Daryl.
The small group approached the first house. It was a beautiful two-story which a stone bottom and pillars that supported the front porch. A large deck wrapped around the back of the house which dropped off into the manmade hill the house was built into.
Instead of kicking in the locked front door, Daryl placed his hands flat on one of the back windows and slid it up. Throwing his crossbow in, Daryl dove through the window, pulling himself into the house.
Hitting the floor, Daryl grabbed his crossbow and looked around the room quickly. Seeing nothing, he jogged to the front door to let the others in. The house was vacant with no furniture which meant…no walkers.
"Score!" Glenn said, looking around at the loft ceilings and spacious rooms.
"We get to decorate!" Andrea and Maggie said at the same time, causing everyone to laugh.
"Oh lord." Daryl sighed.
"I got the notepad. Let's go through and write down all the stuff we'll need to fix up in here." Katelyn said, pulling out the tablet she brought with.
"Yeah. The development isn't finished so a lot of these places probably don't have everything hooked up." Daryl said, noting the unfinished plumbing under the sink.
The group started going through each house to see what was needed while Daryl made lists of equipment and supplies they were going to need to fix up the houses so they would eventually be liveable. After three hours, Glenn, Maggie, Katelyn, Daryl and ten soldiers got in trucks to head back to Home Depot so they could get supplies while Andrea and Rachel took another group of soldiers to round up some heavy construction equipment.
With missions in mind, the groups left the development to head into the city.
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Daryl helped the men load up the last of the supplies from Home Depot and yelled for Katelyn.
"Kate! Let's go!" He called out, hopping into the front seat of the truck.
Turning on the stereo, he popped in a CD and waited but she didn't come. Frowning, he hung his head out of the truck and yelled again.
"Kate!" Daryl called but didn't see her anywhere.
Hopping back out of the truck, he looked around. The men were loading up in their trucks as well but he still couldn't find her.
Daryl started to walk back inside.
Searching the warehouse, he kept calling out to her.
"Katelyn!" He yelled, searching every nook and cranny.
"Kate!"
This time, he heard an answer.
"Over here!" Katelyn called back. She didn't sound afraid so Daryl relaxed.
"What are you doin' woman!?" Daryl yelled back, heading toward the sound.
"I found something!" She answered as Daryl walked around the corner.
"What?" He said as he approached, looking down at the floor toward what she was point at.
"Someone's been staying here. Look." She said, squatting down next to the sleeping bag piled on top of flattened cardboard boxes. A large backpack sat on the ground and a small stack of canned food sat in the corner next to the lantern.
Daryl squatted down next to her to look.
Grabbing the pack, he started digging through it, pulling out a pair of pants and looked at the size.
"Men's jeans. 34' 36"...He's tall." He said, standing up to look around.
"What do we do?" Katelyn asked, looking at Daryl.
"We can leave him a note. Tell him we'll come back to check on him tomorrow morning if he wants help." He answered, shrugging his shoulders.
"Where do you think he is?" Katelyn asked.
"Probably off scoutin' or getting' supplies." Daryl said.
"I'll leave the note." Katelyn said, pulling out her tablet to write him a note.
Laying it down on the bedroll, they turned to leave.