**I forgot to mention earlier that I cut out the episode with Morgan and the booby-trapped town from my storyline, because I need her daughter to be OK for the purpose of my plot.**
Chapter 2: The Warning Sign
The warning was definitely effective, but Rick didn't think there was anything that could shock him anymore.
"Crucifixion?" Carol said, looking up at the rows of walkers staked to posts. Most of the walkers had already been put out of their undead misery. It was obvious that the remaining animated walkers had been allowed to turn while staked to the posts.
"From the looks of 'em, they let the crows get 'em. Or the buzzards," Daryl said.
"Ugh!" Beth frowned.
"Hey, buzzards've gotta eat too," Daryl said.
"Rick, listen, are these people we want to get involved with? I mean, look at this," Sasha motioned towards one particularly decayed walker, its body suspended by one last remaining sinew of the hand.
"I know Morgan," Rick's deep timbered voice drawled, "I would not be here if it wasn't for her." He still had some trouble convincing himself that this was a good thing. "Let me talk to her. If there is anything suspicious, we walk away."
"Hopefully," Sasha said, eyeing the crucified walkers as the group passed through the field.
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Once the group settled into camp, Rick felt confident enough to move closer towards the rock formation in the hopes of meeting Morgan again. He didn't have to walk far.
"Rick." She soundlessly appeared out of the brush. Rick jumped nearly three feet. She relaxed her gentle face into an amused but wary half-smile. "It's good to see you again. You look like hell."
Rick laughed gently. She didn't look like hell; she actually looked vibrant. "I never thought I would see you again," Rick said, "And your little girl. Is she…."
"She's alive," Morgan said, "It's been tough."
"That's a pretty decent understatement." Rick moved closer towards her. She raised her bow. He noticed that he did not even realize that she had it drawn by her side. He mentally kicked himself. He could not afford rash judgments, even if his mind sought the comfort in this connection.
"Right there," Morgan indicated an invisible line between them.
"Morgan, I will always owe you a tremendous debt of gratitude. We are not here to hurt you."
"I feel you are a good man, Rick, as you were when you first gave me the guns and ammo to get out of that neighborhood. But… people change. I cannot afford to trust outsiders. My group cannot afford it."
"You have a group? That sounds like there must be trust there."
"My group operates under a collective mission. I need to set some ground rules with you and your people."
"Shoot. I mean, put the arrow down, then tell me."
"Was that your attempt at being funny, Rick?" Morgan said, not unkindly.
"What can I say? These walkers are really cramping my sense of humor. And so is your bow. People do change, I guess."
Morgan slowly released her taught bow and lowered it to her side. She kept her hands at the ready, however, her fingers clutched so hard an ache began to gnaw at her knuckles. Her heart was pounding.
"No, you didn't seem to have much of a sense of humor before, either," she retorted.
He did look like seven kinds of hell. Why did she find him even more attractive then? Dangerous, dangerous thoughts, she told herself.
"If you are willing, your women and children can come to the mine. We will not harm them. In fact, we will give them shelter, good food, and medical care. No weapons," she continued.
"Why? Why not everyone?" Rick asked, suspiciously. A black bird startled the branches above them. They both looked up at it, then back at each other at the same time.
"We do not take men into our cave," She flushed ever so slightly it was almost imperceptible. She bit a tiny piece of her bottom lip. She was a grown-ass woman. Why should she flush at such a juvenile innuendo? Rick raised his eyebrows.
"I mean," she continued, "our camp. If you do not choose our assistance, we will provide you with food for the night, but you must leave at daybreak. Those are the rules. You don't have to understand them. You just have to follow them."
"You can't possibly think that any one of my group would be willing to go along with strangers unarmed. Strangers who crucify people to the birds and then let them turn."
"As I recall telling you, that is a warning for those who mistake this offer as an offer of the weak. We have a collective mission, and if you would like to benefit from that mission it is up to you to abide by our rules. Discuss it with your group." Morgan walked towards the treeline.
"Morgan," Rick called. Morgan stopped and turned halfway towards him. He studied her profile as he continued in a low voice, "I met you once, and I meet you again, as a friend. A friend in need. We can help each other."
"I'm already out on a limb for you. I cannot go any further. Discuss it with your group," she said, vanishing into the overgrown brush.
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Rick returned to the campsite. The two tents they had been using to house Judith and Beth were shabby. They barely kept the rain out anymore. Father Gabriel knelt at the edge of the camp deep in prayer and rocking back and forth on his heels. The rest of the group sat around the freshly-lit fire, sharing a can of green beans. The quiet humming of the woodland insects signaled the approaching sundown.
"I talked to Morgan. I… I think they want to help us," Rick said.
"Wait, you talked to her just now?" Daryl asked, "I thought you were taking a dump. Man, these women are quiet."
"Quiet and fast," Tyreese noted.
Rick continued, "They offered food, shelter, and medical care."
"In exchange for?" Sasha asked.
"Not in exchange for. In exclusion of," Rick said, "men. They only help women and children."
Carl sighed, "Great. I'm starving."
"Ain't nobody gonna mistake you for no man," Tyreese prodded, smiling. Carl flicked a tree branch at him.
"Well, that is interesting. Where is their camp?" Sasha asked.
"In the old mine," Rick said. "They are onto our every move. It'd be hard to back y'all up."
"Definitely too risky," Sasha looked over at Judith.
"You know…" Carol said, "Those women we saw in the woods looked good. Strong. I will go and see if they are legitimate. I will go and…"
"…be fed and sheltered for the night?" Tyreese asked, skeptically.
Carol smiled slightly, "something like that."
"I will go with you. Or instead of you," Michonne offered.
"No," Carol said, "You are too valuable to the team here. I will go on the condition that I can return to report back tonight."
"You are a valuable member of the team here, too, Carol," Rick said.
Carol gave him an appreciative look. "I will go," she said softly.
Rick studied her for a moment. "I will walk you there."