revenant|c.g.|

xxxiv

All around Clary was the cohesive sounds of boot steps against the solid Earth as they walked towards the battlegrounds. Both Clary and Maggie sat on top of horses, Clary's the pale steed she never seemed to part with as Maggie rode the dark horse that Carl had been upon. However, considering her situation of pregnancy, Carl immediately gave the horse to the woman for their travels.

Clary's gaze was set dead ahead, focusing on the path they took to what she believed could be the end. "You okay?" Maggie asked the girl, surprised to see the girl falter a bit. "Gotta be. There are too many people counting on me not to be." Maggie pursed her lips. "Everything ends today. After Negan is dead and the Saviors are defeated, we'll get to live a proper life. One that Glenn wanted for us." Clary smiled softly, looking to the woman before nodding her head.

As they reached the end of the tree line, Clary let out a sharp breath upon seeing the open land that would be their battlefield. Clary looked away as Maggie stepped off of the horse, able to walk the short distance left, allowing Carl to get back on before she joined Rick as they walked ahead.

They continued their path ahead, Carl leading his horse to go step in step with Clary's. "So, this is it, huh?" Clary nodded at the boy's question. "Yeah, hopefully," Clary responded, allowing her gaze to fall upon Carl, who smiled kindly at her. "You know, so far, I've survived a couple of tomorrows. My proposal still stands." Clary raised an eyebrow before a laugh fell from her lips, causing Carl to laugh as well. "We're going to battle and you see it as the perfect opportunity to remind me of your proposal?" Carl only nodded, causing the girl to shake her head. "Let's see if we both survive to tomorrow, then I'll think about it." Carl only smiled as the girl shook her head, honestly glad for the quick distraction.

The Militia fell upon a tall hill, overlooking the vast open space. Clary halted her horse, her eyes following the gaze of Rick to see a growing herd. Her heart skipped a beat, realizing that as soon as this battle ended, the battles never really ended. The next fight would be against the undead, just as it always was. She wanted to laugh as she realized the very thing that ended the world proved not to be the bigger threat, but rather it being people it created.

"I've never seen a herd of that size," Clary spoke, her eyes wide at the seemingly hundreds, possibly thousands, of walkers that milled about in the open land. Rick shook his head. "None of us have," he replied before continuing on. "Things are changing." Clary clenched her jaw at the words before they continued on. "How much farther?" Daryl asked, Ezekiel answering him quickly. "Not much farther. Just yonder, over the ridge."

As they continued on, her face fell and her back straightened as she realized what she was leading her people to. Looking back to Carl, his eye met hers before she gave him a nod as they neared the ridge. "It's time," Clary declared, causing Carl to nod. "Be careful, Clary. I'm serious." The girl only nodded, trying her best to give a reassuring smile. "You, too." She couldn't even joke as she usually would, the intensity of what was to come too great. Clary watched as the boy halted his horse, the people that had been following the two walking around as he made his way to the back where he would stay.

Although no longer comforted by having Maggie or Carl close, there was still a slight comfort as Leon and Tris made their way to stay in step with her. "Everyone's ready, Commander. Now it's just waiting to see when the Saviors poke out their heads." Clary nodded, letting out a sharp breath as she continued to look forward. "Good. I want you to make sure there is no one that gets out of formation. With the masses of Saviors, if we break ranks, we will fail. We have to stand together, as one unit."

The two Lieutenant's nodded their heads, Tris stepping back to carry out her duties as Leon moved closer to the young Commander. "I'm sorry, Joanie." Clary's eyebrows furrowed as she looked over to her mentor, who didn't meet her gaze. "I'm sorry for everything I said before we joined the Militia. Losing your sister, and then Layla, I believed that loving anyone meant they would just get hurt." Leon looked up to meet Clary's gaze. "You've shown me differently. I believe you have never been a stronger Commander." Clary smiled softly, grateful for the words spilling from his lips. "Leon—"