𝗕𝗟𝗨𝗘 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 , the walking dead

[32] calm before the storm

CALM BEFORE THE STORM
———

MOST OF ALEXANDRIA SAT INSIDE THE CHURCH, they were called to gather around and listen to Rick give his speech, "We can work with Hilltop. Maggie and Louis hammered out a deal, we're getting food, eggs, butter, fresh vegetable. But they're not just giving it away. These saviours, they almost killed Sasha, Daryl and Abraham on the road. They tried to kill Louis and Kai in the woods, just like those Wolves did. They woulda killed someone or some of us, and then they would try to own us. And we would try to stop them, but by then, in that kind of fight, low on food. We could lose. This is the only way to be sure, as sure as we can get that we win and we have to win. We do this for Hilltop, it's how we keep this place, how we feed this place. This needs to be a group deduction. If anybody objects, here's your chance to say your piece."

The group looked around at each other, waiting and wondering if anyone objected with what Rick said. It could been seen on some people's face that they had their doubts, it wasn't an easy decision to murder an entire group.

Suddenly, Morgan stands from where he sat in the back, "You're sure we can do it? We can beat them?" 

Before anyone else could say anything, Maeve stood up suddenly. Looking around at all the faces that were now looking at her, and she remembered that she didn't like presentations in school for this reason. But when she looked at Rick, she remember what she had to say.

"When I came here I thought this place was a lost cause, that it was weak and not worth fighting for. Not worth risking my life. Then I saw how everyone here—no matter how much they were scared or how much they could be risking, you all fought for it. Fought until the sunrised and did it damn well too." Maeve went on her speech, slowing the nervous lump in her throat as she stood there, and she found the courage to look around. Her eyes landing on Daryl, she didn't look away as she continued saying, "Since then, we've grown and learned—I've grown and learned and I've never felt more sure that we can win this fight. I've never been stronger than I am right now."

Daryl gave her a small thin lipped smile, approving of her speech. Part of him found it attractive, listening to her go on about saving their home, together. It was nice to see the change in her from the hostile sister to a part of this community. Even when some of them are still scared of her because of what she did to Carter, but they knew she'd kill for them now.

When Rick gives her a smile and a nod, Maeve sits back down, satisfied with that and very glad it was over. It was what Rick wanted her to do, but her words were honest.

"Then we just have to tell them exactly that." Morgan says, gesturing to Maeve and her words, "We give them a choice. It's a way out for them and for us."

Rick replies, "We try and talk to the Saviours we give up our advantage, our safety. No, we have to come for them before they come for us. We can't leave them alive."

Morgan looks around the group, locking eyes with everyone and saying, "We're not trapped in this, none of you are trapped in this." He was trying to win people over, and maybe he did, maybe he sparked some hope in some person that they wouldn't have to up their body count this time tomorrow.

"Morgan..." Rick trails off, his next words being the finalise for those who were on the verge, "They always come back."

Morgan continued to disagree, but Rick made some really good points. Then finally at the end of it, Rick turned to everyone and said, "Morgan wants to talk to them first, I think that would be a mistake, but it's not up to me. Who else wants to approach the Saviours, talk to them first?"