Solitary: The Walking Dead

Chapter Thirteen.

Rick had no choice.

I turn around and look at him "he had turned but he hadn't been bit" Daryl says "hows that possible?" Beth asks "rick what the hell happened?" Lori asks, i look over to the man and he then looks at me.

"Shane killed randal, just like he always wanted to" Daryl says "and then the herd got him?" Lori asks, rick stays quiet for a moment trying to figure out what to say.

"We're all infected" he announces, the group pause all movement, waiting to hear what he has to say next, "what?" Daryl questions "at the c.d.c, jenner told me. Whatever it is, we all carry it." Rick says.

"And you never said anything?" Carols asks hurt and confused, "would it have made any difference?" he asks "you knew this whole time?" Glenn questions "how could i have known for sure? You saw how crazy that-" rick says. "That isnt your call" Glenn interrupts.

I look down at my hands, covered in dirt and mud, and i zone out of the conversation going on, i notice Rick walking away from the group so i follow with Bear close behind.

"You dont need to follow me" he says glancing back at me "i know" i say, we come to a stop and watch the water ahead "your not angry at me too?" he asks "rick I dont give a fuck about that. I know you. I know that you didnt do this to hurt them" i say.

I glance back when i hear footsteps making their way towards us and see lori coming over "im gonna leave you two to talk" i say, i start to walk back towards to woodlands "where are you going?" he asks, making me pause.

"Im just gonna make sure its still clear" i say, he gives me a nod and i walk off to the woods again, I walk further into the trees. Bear starts to smell something in the air and i notice something is off, I slowly reach down to my gun on my leg, when i realise im being followed, once i grip it i quickley spin pointing my weapon at the head of whoever was following me.

"Jesus" I mumble, lowering my gun from the man, "didnt mean to sneak up on yuh" Daryl says with his hands up in surrender.

"Its fine, sorry for pointing my gun to your face" I say, Bear walks over to the man giving him a sniff to make sure its okay before coming back over to me.

"What are you doin out here?" I ask, turning and walking again with the man following, "lookin for firewood, you?" he asks "getting away from them for a minute" i admit, Daryl hums showing he understands, "thanks for getting me out of there by the way" i say, picking up a log. "No problem" he says.

.....

After collecting enough wood for the night we head to the camp area and start a fire, "you got this from here?" I ask Daryl once the flames catch, "yeah" he says, I let out a small whistle to get Bears attention and move away from the group.

I sit on the floor away from the group, watching for any threats, bear lies his body across my legs and falls back to sleep keeping us both warm.

After sitting for a while listening to Bears snores, i hear a rustle come from in front of me, i tap Bear and he wakes up and moves off of me, i raise my gun pointing it in all directions.

I hear Rick and the group talking behind me but i stay focused on where the noise came from, "you see anything?" rick asks standing next to me, "no. its probably just a wild animal" I say.

"Do you think what i did was wrong?" Rick questions after a minute of silence, "no. he had a gun to your head... and mine... they dont understand but thats on them" i say.

I look over and see him gently nodding, "How are you holding up?" he asks, i look back out into the darkness again "im fine" i say, i see him look at me from the corner of my eye, "how are you holding up?" i ask, "im fine" he says, imitating my answer.

.......

"You were there" Lori says quietly so the group couldn't hear, i know what she was asking, "yep" I say focusing on everything around us, "what happened?" she asks, i look ahead where Rick was leading us, "I was with Daryl and Glenn when they found Randal, after i looked at his injuries i knew something happened, so i knew i needed to find Rick." I say

"When i found them Shane had his gun pointed at Rick, talking about killing him and being a happy family with you, Carl and the baby... Lori he was going to kill rick... he was going to kill me... Rick had no choice." I say, I walk away towards Rick and Daryl at the front of the group, leaving Lori behind to process what i just told her.