FALLING - by Maria Love (a Negan fanfic)

Chapter 1

Reaching down, I grab the bruised apples that had fallen from the row of trees planted in the grounds of Hilltop. It was a ritual I had taken up once a week to collect some treats for the horses, galloping in the Virginia heat each day can't be easy so it's the least they deserve. One by one I place more of the decaying fruit into my basket. After consulting with Maggie she deemed it beneficial, so even the dying produce didn't go to waste.

"Louise !" I hear looking up from my wicker basket.

As I squint from the harsh sunlight I see Jesus waving from the balcony of the Barrington House, indicating that I was needed at the office. I place my collection of apples in the shack next to the horses pen, brushed myself off, and began walking to the house.
As I made my way to the extravagant house, I return a friendly wave to one of the farmhand workers who seemed to be scraping off dried mud from the old cultivator they used to aerate the fertilised soil.

Climbing up the grand staircase of the Barrington House I end up outside of Maggie's office, and knock twice.

"Come on in" I hear her call out in her thick Georgia accent.

"Hey, just me" I say as I close the door behind me.

Spotting Jesus sat comfortably on one of the old antique chairs, I join him after saying a quick hello to baby Hershel who was teething on a little hand carved wooden rattle.

"So you're probably wondering why we called you here this morning" begins Maggie as she leans on the vintage oak desk once owned by the late Gregory.

"Alexandria have recently brought in a team of horses that were found just south of the colony. Horses who need breaking in, and since you're the only one who has real experience in backing horses you'll need to go" she finishes.

"Okay, so how long are we talking here? Will this be short term?"

"We don't know, they found 5 stallions so it could take up to six or seven months for you to break them all in. It'll be your call when they're ready, but for now you can pack up all of your stuff and then decide what to do once your jobs done" explains Jesus.

Breathing heavily through my nose I take a minute to absorb the unexpected news, I was going to have to start all over again in completely new territory, with completely new people. I had met a few members of Alexandria just after the war ended with the saviours, however that was years ago. One of them being Rick Grimes himself, but the last I heard he was presumed dead after falling off an exploding bridge trying to lure a large herd of walkers away from Alexandria.

"When do I leave?" I ask them both.

"Tomorrow morning" answers Maggie and my eyes widen.

"I understand that it's soon but they need to utilise those horses as soon as possible, we'll have other people tend to our horses while you're gone" she reassures.

After a brief moment of apprehension I stomach the anxiety as best I could and accept their request, despite the growing nerves I felt at the thought of living with strangers after being in Hilltop for so long.

"Thank you Lou, you'll be a great resource to them. I promise you they're good folk" said Jesus with a warm smile.

I nod and smile in return. An attempt was made in seeming assured, though the looks of compassion I got from the both of them told me I wasn't as convincing as I thought.

"You're not obligated to do any work on the corral today, instead you'll spend that time packing your stuff and making sure you got everything you need to start your job in Alexandria" explains Maggie and my heart breaks a little, working with the Hilltop horses almost became a therapy to me after suffering so much loss these past years. I always looked forward to seeing them each and every day.