RIDE OR DIE | DARYL DIXON

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THE GROUP MET around their small camp in front of the farmhouse to start their day with an egg breakfast Carol had made for everyone. Willow volunteered to drag Daryl over from his isolated tent. He'd rather eat his squirrel meat alone, but she knew it would be better if he were to be present for the news that was about to break.

Willow stood beside Daryl, leaning against the trunk of the tree that offered them shade. She held her plate of eggs in one hand and a fork in the other, moving the eggs around on her plate, waiting for Glenn to speak. She studied the look on his face from across the camp, full of nervousness. She cringed at the silence that was amongst their group.

"The hell you drag me out here for?" Daryl questioned from beside her, flicking a piece of egg off his fork and onto the ground.

"Just wait." She groaned quietly, looking back over to Glenn. His eyes met hers with a raised eyebrow as if to ask her 'now?'. She gave him a sly nod, quickly looking back down to her plate.

"Um, guys." Glenn cleared his throat as he stepped up more towards the front of the group. "So, the barn is full of walkers." He clasped his hands together anxiously as all of their eyes were on him now.

"You knew about this?" Daryl mumbled under his breath, leaning closer to Willow.

"Just found out yesterday." She clenched her jaw. "I'm not too happy about it, if that's what you're thinking."

Shane was the first to move, throwing his plate down next to the makeshift fire pit, his silverware clattering against stray sticks and rocks as he began to head for the barn. The rest of the group followed not too far behind.

Rick peered through a small separation between two wooden boards of the barn door, allowing himself to see exactly what Glenn was talking about. He was able to get a quick head count of 12 walkers inside the barn, shuffling and groaning behind the doors.

"You cannot tell me you're alright with this." Shane snapped at Rick.

"No, I'm not, but we're guests here. This isn't our land." Rick responded firmly.

"This is our lives, man!" Shane yelled, ripping off his hat.

"We can't just sweep this under the rug." Andrea countered.

"Okay, we've either got to go in there, we've got to make things right, or we've just got to go." Shane paced around the group. "Now we have been talking about Fort Benning for a long time."

"We can't go." Rick seethed through his teeth.

"Why, Rick, why?" Shane argued.

"Because Sophia is still out there you asshole." Willow stepped up to the man, just inches away from his face, Daryl grabbing her arm and pulling her back before she could start a fight he knew she couldn't finish.

Shane licked his lips, a sick laugh coming out of his mouth. "I think it's time that we all start to just consider the other possibility."

"What the hell are you implying?" Willow got hot again, Daryl's grip only tightening around her arm.

"We're not leaving Sophia behind." Rick looked back at Carol to assure her.

"I'm close to finding this girl. I just found her damn doll two days ago." Daryl shouted at Shane.

"You found her doll, Daryl." Shane scoffed. "That's what you did, you found a doll."

Willow felt Daryl's hand drop her arm suddenly as he was now stepping towards Shane, his voice booming. "Man, you don't know what the hell you're talkin' about!"

"I'm just saying what needs to be said." Shane fired back. "You get a good lead, it's in the first 48 hours."

"Shane, stop." Rick got between the two men.