» Time Is Dancing « | » Carl Grimes «

» THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE PT.2 «

Emergency Announcement: I Am Not A Child

The suffocating tension in the air seemed to clog my lungs completely, restricting my breaths. We all knew this battle could go either way, and for some of us it would be the end of it all.

But my tension flipped into slight amusement when a collection of bicycles rode through the gates, my eyes following the people who directed them. Their clothes were in scraps and they had dirt rubbed on their faces - these must be the Scavengers. I watched the leader, a woman with incredibly blunt, chopped hair, step up to Rick and Michonne, discussing the plan.

I picked up the bag of guns at my feet, sifting through it to make sure there were enough before handing it over to Carl. "Take a group to the ledge, hand these out. I'll be right here."

He seemed reluctant to leave my side but nodded anyway, giving me a brief kiss before climbing the ladder. I wasn't scared of heights, I had been up on the watch point a thousand times before. But in this situation I felt safer on the ground, where my sword would be more handy in the case of emergency.

I curiously stepped over to Rick and Michonne, seeing their strange expressions as they spoke to the woman, Jadis. They were practically baffled.

"Child." Her statement was directed at Rick, even though I stood right by his side. "In battle?"

I bit down on my tongue in exasperation, my eyes rolling so hard they could've popped out. I opened my mouth to speak but Rick placed a hand on my shoulder, signalling for me to be quiet.

"She's a fighter. We wouldn't have this plan without her." He insisted, meeting the woman's suspicious gaze. Her expression didn't falter even when she walked away, her hand gripping the gun at her belt.

"That's one weird lady." I muttered, hearing Michonne's amused sigh.

"You're telling me." She agreed. Rick took a quick, uncomfortable glance as her before rubbing the back of his head, wandering off as fast as he could. I would've loved to know what was said during their short conversation.

"Is it all set?" I leaned against the car as Daryl loaded a few bullets into a gun, handing it over to me. He and Rosita had been rigging the dynamite inside a nearby truck to distract the Saviors once they arrived.

"Yeah, they'll never see it coming." He commented, shoving his own gun in his belt. He chewed his thumb as he watched me double check the assault rifle in my arms. I already sensed what he was about to say.

"I'm not sitting this one out, so don't even try." I looked up from the weapon, meeting his eyes with a determined stare. He quirked his eyebrows up as if to say he wasn't surprised, letting out a sigh.

"Dixons, kid. It's like you're looking for a fight." He scoffed, leaning beside me on the car. "Just promise me you won't get yourself killed." He mumbled. Daryl had never been the type to show a large amount of affection, but I liked to think I was one of the lucky few who he opened up to.

"We've got each other's backs, right?" I grinned, nudging him with my elbow. He gave me a tiny, barely there, smile in return, giving me all the reassurance I needed as the distant rumble of vehicles alerted the entire community.

I let out a shaky breath, mentally checking myself. Sword, knife, pistol, rifle. My cap on my head and Glenn's jacket covering my arms, boots tightly laced around my ankles. I had everything I needed to keep myself alive.

I glanced up at Carl but he wasn't looking at me, he was focusing on his father standing above him. I crouched behind the car, Rosita, Tara and Daryl right by my side along with several Scavengers. All we could do was wait.