hiraeth | c.g. |

xxvii

"March!"

The cohesive sounds of boots against sand was all that could be heard as multiple figures treaded along the beach. At the head were fighters with large metal shields with spikes at the top, followed by members with spears, swords, and melee weapons and flanked by those with long-range weapons.

"Watch your ranks!"

The command came from the middle of the cohort, shouted by a young man with dark hair and a singular eye that matched the color of the handle of his sword. To his right stood a young woman of shorter stature, a similar blade in her hand which she twisted expertly as the large group approached a beached ship. Carl Grimes and Clary Rhee stood side by side, joined by Judith and Michonne, leading their cohort in their training.

As the large group approached the ship, the people watched as Ezekiel and Jerry stood by the door. They opened it as they moved closer, closing the door once three walkers hobbled out.

"And halt!" Aaron called out, causing the cohort to stop in their tracks. "Drop!" Immediately, the fighters kneeled, their eyes steady on the walkers in front of them.

"Archers!" Carl called out as Clary held up her hand, closing it into a fist which signified the release of arrows, which hit the walkers true.

"Retrieve!" Aaron called out, the wall of spiked metal opening for Cyndi and Rachel to retrieve the arrows as the others stood up and continued on.

"Formation!" Aaron called out, quickly followed by Carl's voice. "Spears!"

As those with spears prepared their weapons, the call was given and they took down the walkers that approached. As they got back into formation, the group watched as the doors opened once again, allowing more walkers to approach.

"Halt!" Aaron called out, to which Clary's voice rang through. "Open ranks!"

The wall of metal shields opened to allow those with melee weapons to pass through the barriers towards the walkers. Clary and Michonne led the group, which consisted of Carl, Magna and Luke, to which they swiftly took down. However, as easy as it had been, they watched as Ezekiel and Jerry struggled to hold the door of the ship as walkers banged against it.

"It's about to get real, y'all. Everyone, steady," Michonne called out, Carl's hand quickly brushing Clary's back as he followed her into formation.

"Fan out!" Aaron called out, Carl's own voice following. "Stay in formation! Remember your training!"

The large group sectioned out into four small cohorts, two shields at each section. Clary was joined by Judith at her section, the younger girl focused on using her sword as Clary used her dagger. With the smaller blade, Clary allowed it to fly from her hand and into the head of a walker as the wall opened up and Judith dug her sword into the skull of a closer walker.

With the drop of the final walker, Clary looked around to see no other undead walking and could only hear the harsh breaths of the people around her after their fight.

Looking to Michonne to confirm that they were safe, the woman nodded. "Good work on your training! Get back to Oceanside for lunch and our other duties."

With the groups breaking away, Clary watched as they gathered with smiles on their faces as they put their weapons away. It was weird to see them so prepared to fight to the death one moment only to break through it with a smile as training finished. It reminded her of Solaris—

Clary couldn't help the cold that washed over her as she looked upon the mask of the very thing that had taken Solaris from her. The undead face of a walker, its skin a shield for a Whisperer, stared back at her almost with a sly smile. Like it knew what it had taken from her and it was proud. Taunting her. Waiting for her to make a move.