revenant|c.g.|

xxviii

"Hey," a soft voice spoke, Clary smiling softly as she recognized it without even having to turn around. "You should be resting," the girl spoke, only looking to her side as a taller figure stood by her. His hand rested upon hers, the two standing in comfortable silence, reassured just by the other's presence. It was silent for a moment, the two figures simply watching the rising sun. "I did, but I woke up in the middle of the night to find myself in a cold and empty bed. I got worried."

At that, Clary laughed. "Carl Grimes, you are something else." At that, he chuckled softly, looking at her only to see her gaze falling back to the outside of the walls. "What's on your mind?" The girl sighed, Carl realizing her clenched hand only as she unfurled it to reveal Glenn's pocket watch. "Just the same questions as always. Will we win? Will we survive?" Clary thought for a moment. "Why me?"

Carl furrowed his eyebrows at that, looking to her as she kept her gaze far off. "Out of everyone, why me? Why did I become Commander? Why was I able to find Alexandria? Why— why did Glenn and Maggie choose me?" Her gaze fell upon him. "Why did you?"

It was silent, causing Clary to shake her head at her ramblings. "It's stupid, I'm sorry—" Carl cut her off. "Because you're you." Carl held her arm gently, forcing her to look at him. "You were chosen for Commander because you're someone worth following. You found Alexandria because you needed a home and we needed someone to fight for us. Glenn and Maggie chose you because they knew who you could be, but also because of who you were." Carl smiled softly. "And I chose you because you didn't let me have it easy."

At that, Clary laughed, about to say something when she heard the gates of Alexandria opening. Her eyes fell upon the main gate to see Tara, her jaw clenching as she realized more information about the battles had arrived. "Come on," Clary spoke, the boy following behind her as they made their way to the gate.

Michonne had made it before the two of them, her eyes scanning over the letters that Tara had handed her. As both Clary and Carl approached, Tara nodded softly to them in greeting, but her face was somber. Something was wrong, Clary thought, only to be proven right as Michonne met her gaze. "Clary—" the girl clenched her jaw. "Let me see it." The woman hesitantly held out the letters, Clary taking them quickly before she looked over the words, recognizing the first having Maggie's handwriting.

If Clary has returned by the time this letter is delivered, then Alexandria will know that we beat the Saviors. We beat them, but things got complicated. After Clary and the Guard left for Alexandria, Jesus and Tara returned from an outpost with Saviors. Jesus took them as prisoners, brought them back home. We're holding them outside our gates for now. Lieutenant Murphy is using her men to keep a secure watch on them. They'll stay there till we decide what to do. Until I decide.

Maggie Rhee

She then looked to another letter, the writing unfamiliar except for the name resting at the bottom as a signature of the writer.

We took the outpost bit by bit. We thought we'd won. We were so sure we had won. We were gathered up in the open when they ambushed us. It was over in seconds.
Ezekiel, Jerry, Alexander, and me. We're the only ones who made it back. Alexander was hit on his shoulder, Ezekiel was harmed as well, but the four of us were able to get out. To get home.
Ezekiel won't come out. He feels as if he has failed. Alexander and Jerry are keeping watch outside of the theater, but I think they don't know what else to do. It's bad, but we'll get through it.

Carol

It took everything she had to not sway on her feet after learning of the death that had fallen over the Kingdom. All those people, people she knew, worked with, fought beside, they were all gone. It seemed the only thing steadying her was Carl's presence beside her as he looked at the letters over her shoulder. He seemed to notice her stature, his hand resting softly on her back, becoming the only thing to ground her. Lastly, she brought up the final letter, the scratchy writing she was able to distinguish as Rick's.