You Are The Wilderness

Chapter 26 - Gone

Kiara's POV

            We were making our way through now horribly quiet prison corridors, me first, my sword ready, Maggie holding the little baby girl behind me and Carl at our tail, silently crying. I was beginning to worry but when we reached our cell block and nobody was there, my worries turned into a full blown panic and I felt like I was about to lose it, but then we made it out to the yard and my heart filled with relief that most of our group seemed to be alright.

            The others were all riled up and getting ready to go back, no doubt to look for us, and didn't seem to realize we were there until the baby started to cry in Maggie's hands. I saw Rick turn around abruptly to find the source of the sound. By that time, we were all crying and I felt my heart break as I saw the realization dawn on Rick. He dropped the axe and started walking towards us. I was standing there with my eyes focused on the ground and all I could muster up was: "Rick, I'm so sorry. We couldn't do anything. I couldn't save her.... I," but I was cut off as he walked past me and Maggie holding the baby and stopped dead in his tracks in front of Carl and started crying like I've never seen any man cry before, not even my dad when mom died back in Boston.

Everybody just stood there, horrified, as Rick slumped to the ground. Glenn was consoling Maggie and I walked back to Carl hugging him tight whispering: "I'm so sorry Carl." The little fighter holstered his gun and hugged me back with a ferocity that equaled his father's grief. Daryl walked up to us and put his arm around my shoulder asking what happened. Then he filled me in on what really happened and how it was all that little rat Andrew's fault.

"Where's T-dog? Carol?" I asked looking around and when I saw Daryl shake his head, a fresh wave of tears flooded my face and I hugged the redneck. I knew how close he became with Carol. For a moment I thought he would push me away and bite my head off for being so sentimental, but to my surprise he hugged me back.

"We should check on him," he muttered nodding towards Rick after a while. He managed to get himself into a crouching position and was staring numbly into the distance. We carefully approached him and Darryl waved his hand in front of Rick's face, but no answer. I put my hand on his shoulder and still nothing. He must have gone into a shock or something. Seeing him like that was breaking my heart, but it seemed like our only option was to give him some space and let him pull himself together. I joined the group that was fussing around the newborn baby girl while Hershel was checking her to see if she was okay.

"The good news is she looks healthy. You've done a great job, considering everything," Hershel said looking at me and Maggie and we hugged each other. "She needs formula though, and soon or she won't survive."

"Nope, no way, not her," muttered Darryl slinging his crossbow onto his shoulder. "We ain't loosin' nobody else. I'm goin' for a run."

"I'll back you up," Maggie said.

"I'll go too," Glenn joined in.

"Wait guys, hold on," I said, making everybody stop in their tracks. "I found one box of formula and a baby bottle couple days ago, when Rick and I went on a run. That won't last long though and we could certainly use some baby clothes and diapers. We haven't had much luck in that department."

"Okay, I think I know where we're going," Daryl said. "Beth, help Kiara look over things here, while we're gone and keep an eye on Carl. The kid just lost his mom and his dad ain't doin' so hot."

"You got it," Beth said and started to walk towards Carl as Daryl continued shouting out orders. I really appreciated that, I was in no state to do that at that moment.

I noticed some movement from the corner of my eye and saw Rick grab the axe and run inside the prison. I started after him, but stopped dead in my tracks after the look he shot me.