Red River Blue
Chapter 63
The close knit group of communities radioed back and forth, talking about the ball of fire they saw streaking through the sky. But without much planning, anyone able to fight slowly began to gather near the border where the satellite crashed. They were as prepared as they could be, with buckets and portable water tanks. Plus the weapons they would need to fight the dead as the light and noise of the fire inevitably drew them in. The problem with all this was that the source of the fire was on the other side of Alpha's border.
"We've got to do something now," Rachel urged, tying a bandana over her hair. "The way the wind is blowing, if the fire spreads it's going to burn down Oceanside."
Oceanside was located in the middle of a densely wooded area. The forest helped conceal them from both the living and the dead. But if the trees around them caught fire, the whole community would be gone within minutes.
"If we cross the border," Morgan warned, "...it could start a war."
"We're already at war," Harley snipped, only sparing Morgan a quick scowl before she turned her attention back to the fire.
"I'm with Harley," Michonne said, pulling her sword from the sheath on her back.
"Me too," Glenn added. He knew there was the whole border treaty to consider. But if the fire spread, the whisperer territory would suffer just as much damage as theirs. Anyone with any common sense would understand that they were only entering the area to put out the fire. Not to cause trouble.
With the matter mostly settled, people began to surge through the shallow river that marked the border of Alpha's land. They worked haphazardly at first. But eventually divided into two groups. One worked to squelch the fire white the other dug a trench and cleared a line of trees in the direction the wind seemed to be sending the flames. By the morning, people were tired and covered in soot. The odor of smoke was so strong that Harley knew she'd be smelling it in her hair for days if not weeks to come. But the fire was out. And at the moment, that was a welcome relief.
"Time to go," Morgan urged, rounding up everyone from Oceanside and corralling them towards their side of the border. He shook his head at Eugene. The man was trying to pry the satellite open. And instead of escorting him out of the area, his people were helping him. Daryl and Harley gripped the metal plating, forcing it back far enough for Eugene to get at whatever it was that he wanted from inside the thing. When Daryl let go and stepped back, he looked around in a slight panic. He kept Carol in his sights the entire night. And now she was conspicuously missing. He shaded his eyes. They were still burning from the smoke. But he was able to spot her just as she ducked out of view behind a large crop of bushes. He cursed as he darted after her.
Carol was moving faster than he expected. So fast that Daryl began to wonder if she knew he was behind her and was purposely trying to lose him in the densely wooded area. The area was still filled with smoke from the fire, lessening his visibility. He was scared something might happen to Carol if he lost her and she kept moving further and further inside Alpha's territory. But his worry was tempered with irritation. She was not only deliberately putting herself in danger, but her impulsive actions might have consequences for the entire coalition.
"What in hell do ya think yer doin'?," Daryl hissed, grabbing Carol by the arm and spinning her around to face him once he finally caught up with her. She jerked her small body, making it obvious that his hand on her arm was unwelcome. Normally, Daryl would immediately release his hold on her. But not this time. He tightened his grip on her arm as he grabbed the other one and forced her to face him.
"What the hell are you doing?," he barked, his words pointed and harsh. At the very least, she was being reckless and stupid. He knew Carol wanted revenge. But in the back of his mind, he wondered if there wasn't more to it. Carol was in a dark place. Maybe some small part of her wanted to be caught and killed by these people.
"Fuck you," Carol spat, jerking her body harder. "Let go!"
Carol expected Daryl to simply release her. In all the time she'd known him, he'd never put his hands on her when she didn't want them there. It took her a moment to even register that not only was Daryl not letting go of her, he was adjusting his grip and preparing to forcefully walk her right back the way they came. Carol took a few steps in that direction before she actively began fighting to get away from him.
"Stop," he urged, his tone much softer than his actions. "Please. Enough." It almost sounded like he was pleading with her not to make him do what he was about to do. Which Carol guessed was sling her over his broad shoulder like a caveman and force her back onto their side of the dividing line. When his body collided with hers, Carol brought her knee up. She didn't jam it directly into his balls. She turned, angling the force of her blow against his upper thigh. But she still hit him hard. He grunted, releasing his grip on her long enough for her to spin and dart away. She surged towards the edge of the woods, cringing when she heard what she knew was just about every dirty word Daryl knew being flung from his mouth behind her. And given that he was Merle's brother, Daryl's repertoire of profanity was extensive.
When Carol saw the edge of the drop off looming up in front of her, she finally stopped. Daryl came crashing up behind her, slamming into her back and almost knocking her forward onto her face. It was clear that he was in chase mode and not expecting her to stop so suddenly.
"Goddamn ya ta fuckin' hell," he cursed, acting like he was the one that nearly got bowled over by an angry redneck. Daryl grabbed her by the arm, this time watching her to make sure she wasn't going to try her little knee trick again. "We're goin'," he huffed. "...and I swear if ya go fer me again I'll tie ya up and haul ya back like a goddamn gutted deer."
Carol rolled her eyes. Then she lifted her finger and pressed it against her lips, signaling for him to shut his yap and listen. Since he was listening not for a noise but for the sheer lack of it, Daryl's face took on a momentary expression of confusion before he narrowed his eyes at his wife. They were only a short distance from the drop off that led to the canyon below. The one that ought to be filled with Alpha's hoard. But if there were thousands of walkers that short a distance away, they would be able to hear them. The low groans and shuffling of that many bodies was unmistakable.
"The hoard," Daryl whispered. "It's gone."
Carol nodded, ticking her head towards the drop off. Daryl released his hold on her, following closely behind Carol as she creeped out of the cover of the woods and towards the edge of the cliff. They peered over it together. Daryl was not surprised to see that the space was completely empty. Not seeing the herd was a relief. But that feeling was quickly replaced by fear. If the hoard wasn't down in the empty canyon, where the hell was it.
"They must've gone south for the winter and taken the hoard with them," Carol proposed. Daryl nodded. No matter how good they were at living off the land, no one could survive a winter like the one they just had with no shelter. And he already knew they usually went south for the winter. Because Lydia told him that's what they did. The more pressing question was, would they come back. Or were they already here. And if they were, where were they hiding a thousand fucking walkers.
"Sorry I grabbed ya before," Daryl said, reaching for her hand. His touch was gentle this time. And Carol found herself eager to feel his larger hand wrapped around hers. "Let's go home," he said. She nodded, taking one more look across the gaping empty space.
Carol was almost ready to turn back when she noticed movement near the edge of the woods on the other side of the canyon. Her grip on Daryl's hand tightened. And her eyes widened in disbelief. Carol was sure the woman wasn't alone. But she was the only one of her group that chose to reveal herself to them. Alpha. She was standing on the far side of the canyon, staring at Carol with her head cocked to the side. The images flashed across Carol's mind like machine gun fire. Sam's head on a pike. The vacant glassy look in his undead eyes. Before she could stop herself, Carol opened her mouth and screamed.