Dead Man Walking

lxiii.

Michonne and Rick set out right after Rick got patched up. Hunter was getting on his vest and getting all his knives. Judith was sitting on the ground behind him. She had grown so much. She was sitting on her own, she was playing with toys. He'd be dammed if they didn't beat Negan.

"Alright little lady, come here," Judith reached out for him and he lifted her off the floor and rested her on his hips as he walks out of his room, "So your dad and Michonne are out there right now, looking for things that can help us. Rest assured little lady, they will be back."

Judith simply stares at him with a smile, he was sure she could understand what he was saying, "Unfortunately me, your favourite person is gonna be going out too. But you will be in good hands 'cause Tara's gonna take good care of you."

Hunter opened the front door and saw Rosita sitting on the porch to see her doing stitches on herself, "You need any help with that?"

Rosita places the mini scissors on the table and shook her head, "I'm done," Hunter stares down at her. He was concerned, she was angry all the time now, "What?"

Hunter adjusted his niece as he walked over to the railing and leaned against it, "It's gonna work out you know."

"What–What does that even mean, Hunter?"

Judith wrapped her little hands around the back of Hunter's neck and he wrapped his arms around her, "It means we've got the numbers to fight. We just need to find guns–"

"Do you know where we could find that many guns today? This week? This year?" She asks him, "No. You don't. I can't just wait. I don't know about you, but I can't."

Hunter clenches his jaw, he lost a lot that night too, "We're gonna find the guns, alright? And we're gonna fight. It's not gonna be easy. Maybe instead of getting so pissed off at me and Tara, you can save some of that anger for them. I'm gonna go drop Judith off, get your shit ready. We're leaving when I get back."

Hunter pushed himself off the railing and started walking to Tara's place. He knocked on the door and waited, "Hey," Tara opens the door and he walks in, "Thanks for watching Judith."

Tara nods and waves it off, "Anything I can do to help."

Hunter hands Judith over to her, "If you have any idea where we can get guns that would help a lot. Rosita is like on my ass about these guns."

Tara looks down awkwardly. She knew exactly where they could find guns but she made a promise, "I know, she's been on my ass too. I know you guys will find guns out there. Be safe."

"We will."

_____

Hunter and Rosita trudged through the dense woods, their eyes peeled for any sign of danger. They've been walking for about an hour and they haven't said anything to each other. Hunter slashed his machete around cutting the tall grass.

He just wanted to find guns, a single gun would be fine. He just needed Rosita to know that they could do this. He wanted to give her a sliver of hope. 'Cause even after everything that happened with Negan he was sure that they could beat him.

Suddenly, a walker stumbled out from behind a tree, its rotting flesh and glazed-over eyes. Its skin pealing from its body. Hunter lifted it his machete and sliced through its head. The walkers aren't even the worst of their problems anymore.

"I don't want to wait either," Hunter broke their silence as he pulls his machete out, "I know I haven't been here mentally for a while since that night. I know that. And I get you're angry, 'cause I am too. But going up against the Saviors we need to do it right. We need it to be perfect. Or we won't win."