Solitary: The Walking Dead

Chapter 137.

Saviours save us.

"Two other herds merged into "Silvia," so now it's even bigger. One of them came through here, and the back end took down the bridge. Took the walkie repeater with it." Rosita explains, Iris looks out at the violent water.

"What about Route A? Is that clear yet?" Daryl asks, "It's still too close to the herd." Rosita says "We can get to Alexandria from this side, stay there till it passes." Michonne suggests "No. Route A has taken days to clear before. I need to get home to Hershel. " Maggie says "We could take Route D. It's early enough in the day." Iris says looking away from the water,

"Keep an eye on the trade road in case anyone else tries to move through. Gabriel, y'all can head back to Alexandria from here. The rest of us... we can go to the Sanctuary or Hilltop, stay the night, and head off from there. Take care. Get home safe." Rick explains.

.........

"Rick, the horses can't pull the wagon through this mud." Michonne says, "Maggie, I think they need a break." Ken says, trying to pull the horses through the mud, "Maybe we should leave the supplies, send a group back in a day or two." Maggie suggests.

"It's risky. We've seen herds run through and destroy bigger things than this." Iris says, "We can swap out the horses, split up, take 'em out in the clear, give 'em a rest while we see what we can do about the trailers." Rick says.

"One, two, three." Rick says, Iris digs her boot heels into the mud and tries to pull the wagon out, "Rick." Michonne says, Iris looks up and sees walkers stumbling out of the trees, "We're almost there." Ezekiel says "One more time. One, two, three." Everybody pulls the rope, getting it out of the mug and moving it up the road.

"Good. Let's get out of here." Rick says, "Daryl, Michonne." he says, "On it." Michonne says as she runs over to the walkers with Daryl, Iris helps Rick and Ezekiel put all the supplies back into the wagon.

Iris pulls out her knives running and driving it into the head of the walkers as they start to get closer, "We gotta go. Leave the wagon!" Rick says, everyone starts running from the walkers "I gotta free her!" Ken shouts, turning back and running to the last horse, "Ken, wait!".

A walker grabs onto the boy, Iris runs to him, as the horse kicks him in the chest, Iris keeps the walkers back some of the others as the rest try and help Ken. Iris turns back when the last of the walkers are done, she lets out a sigh as she looks at the lifeless boy, Maggie turns Kens head to the side, Iris looks up at the sky not wanting to watch as Maggie drives her knife into the back of the boy's head.

.......

Iris follows Daryl as he walks into the sanctuary, "Rick Grimes is here!" a woman announces, the redhead looks around at the people "is Negan suffering? I hope damn well he is" a man says, Daryl keeps close to Iris, making sure she's okay "Hello. All was well in your absence, other than a certain cabal of Saviors slingin' me some serious stink-eye, but I've compiled a list of items that need your semi-immediate attention." Eugene says walking with Daryl.

"Not now, man." Daryl mumbles "I checked out the supplies. It's a pretty good haul. You should let everybody know." Laura says, " I ain't getting up on a stage and giving a damn speech like him." Daryl snaps, "It's bad timing. We just lost someone out there." he says, regretting his words.

"Daryl!" Michonne shouts, Iris and Daryl walk over to her, looking at the wall, "Does this happen often?" she asks, looking back at them pointing to the words on the wall, 'saviours save us!' 'we are still Negan' "More and more since the crops been dyin'." Daryl answers "Eugene, Jerry! You know who did that?" Daryl asks.

"Don't know, man." Jerry sighs "That would be a negative." Eugene says, "Justin. Clean that up." Daryl orders the man "How?" he asks "What do you mean, 'how'? Paint over it." Daryl snaps, growing annoyed "We just used up all the paint." Justin says, "Figure it out." Daryl says.

Iris and Daryl stand back and watch Rick talk to some of the people, "You see our crops, Rick?" "I did." Rick says "The spring storms will be here in a few weeks, help us out, but we need a boost in the meantime."

"And you'll have it. We came back with farming tools, heirloom seeds. We're looking to the past to help us with the present. We're all gonna pitch in and make sure that Sanctuary has what it needs so you all can get back on your feet." Rick explains. "Bless you, Rick Grimes. Thank you." the people start to applaud him, Iris watches Daryl walk away, she looks at Rick and nods to him, silently telling him to go talk to Daryl.

..........

Iris lays back, watching the shadows dance around the ceiling as the candle flame flickers in the breeze. "Hey" Daryl mumbles walking into the room and leaning his crossbow against the wall, Iris sits up and watches him walk over to her, kicking his shoes off next to her discarded boots, "hey" Iris whispers, leaning up and kissing Daryl.

"So, did you talk to Rick?" Iris questions, leaning back and resting her head on Daryl's chest, "yeah" Daryl mumbles, wrapping his arms around the redhead, "are you coming home?" Iris asks quietly, keeping her eyes on the candle across from them.

Iris lets out a small sigh when the man stays silent, she pulls away from him, turning and facing him "your not coming home" she says trying to hide her disappointment, "i'm gonna head to Hilltop, check on Maggie and the baby" Daryl says, Iris looks down at her hands sitting in her lap, "come with me" Daryl says, grabbing her hands.

Iris stands up, pulling her hands from him, "i cant. I told you, I have to be at Alexandria" Iris explains, pacing back and forth at the end of the bed. Daryl stands from the bed and walks over to her, wrapping his arms around her and stopping her from moving.

"We can do this" Daryl says, Iris wraps her arms around Daryl's waist and looks up at him. Iris lets out a sigh, giving into the man, "i know... i'll visit like i have been here" Iris mumbles, Daryl leans down, capturing her lips in a deep kiss.