Solitary {2} : The Walking Dead

Chapter Eighteen.

The Storm.

The group slowly walk through the snowy fields, Iris watches Lydia as she walks in front of the woman, the woman moves next to her, she pulls out her knives and holds them out in front of them. Lydia stares down at them, wondering what the woman is doing, "here" Iris says, holding one of the knives out to the girl.

"What?" the girl asks, looking up at Iris, "you need to protect yourself. I trust you" Iris says, Lydia takes the knife and tucks it into her belt, "keep it in front of your clothes so it's easier to grab" Iris whispers before letting Lydia walk ahead.

Iris stops when they get to the top of the hill, she looks up at the spot Enid and Tara were, Daryl grabs onto her hand and pulls her from her thoughts, she looks up at the man and starts walking again.

The snow gets heavier and their sight gets blurred, Iris pulls her bandana from her back pocket and ties it around her head, covering her nose and mouth, trying to keep warm.

She squints through the snow and sees figures standing in front of them, she pulls an arrow from her quiver on her back, aiming her weapon at the figures she shoots one in the head, Daryl doing the same from next to her. They slowly walk forward and inspect the figures, Michonne slices her sword into the last two, their heads crumbling to the floor.

Iris pulls her arrow out of the walker's heads, grabbing Daryls as well before stepping over the bodies and walking again, "There's the river. We made it." Ezekiel says "I'm gonna check the ice." Daryl says "I'm right behind you." Michonne says, Iris stays back, scanning around for more walkers.

"We have to assume they have eyes on the borders. Make sure the others are ready to go." Iris says "Done and done." Jerry says, walking away "Hey, where's Lydia?" Daryl asks, Iris looks around and notices the girl no longer with them "I'm gonna go find her. You get everyone across. I'll be right back." Carol says, walking away.

"All right, let's move." Ezekiel says, "Hey!" Iris looks over to Michonne and Daryl and watches as a walker reveals itself from the snow, Iris pulls out her knife, she feels something grab her foot, looking down Iris finds a walker holding onto her, she bends down and drives her blade into the walker's head.

"Move!" Iris shouts, she starts helping people step onto the ice, "Come on!" Michonne shouts, "slow and steady! We can't let this crack!" Iris orders, taking someone's hand and helping the step down onto the ice.

"Daryl, incoming." Magna warns, Iris looks up and sees walkers making their way over to them, she moves away, letting someone take her place, she runs over to the walkers, driving her knife into the walkers heads.

"We got to get across to the other side now!" Yumico shouts, "Is it them?" Alden asks, "No. Not here. Not in this." Michonne says, "Get them across. We'll hold 'em back." the king says, Iris continues to fight the dead, giving the others time to make it across the river.

Daryl steps down onto the ice, he turns back to Iris and holds his hand out to her, helping her step down on the ice, they slowly make their way across the river, Machonne reaches down and grabs onto Iris's hand, pulling her up onto the solid ground "thanks" Iris mumbles before turning and grabbing Daryl's hand.

She pulls him up next to her, holding onto his hand as they wait for Carol and Lydia, Iris pulls Lydia off of the ice and places her hands on the sides of the girls face "are you okay?" she asks, "i'm fine" the girl answers, "don't leave again" Iris says before turning and walking with the others.

.........

Aaron and Alden open the wooden gates, Iris watches everyone make their way to the front gates, she watches Daryl smash the walker's head with the end of his crossbow, the woman holds onto his hand and they walk up to the gates.

Iris and Daryl collect wood for the fires, going around to the rooms and adding it to the flames, keeping the people warm for the night before they go to Alexandria in the morning.

"Hey" Iris mumbles, stand next to Carol as she looks out the window, "hey", "thanks for bringing her back" Iris says, Carol nods before looking back out the window, "i know it was hard for you" she adds, she kisses Carol on the head before walking away.

.........

Iris walks through the Alexandria gates and watches Judith run to Michonne, pulling her into a hug, when they pull away the girl looks back at Iris, the redhead watches Judith run to her, "hey" Iris laughs, hugging the girl and picking her up.

Iris lets out a gasp when snow hits her back, she turns and looks at Daryl, "get him" Iris laughs, setting Juniper down on the floor, the group start throwing snow at each other running around and laughing, Iris smiles when she sees Lydia enjoying herself.

The woman collects a handful of snow and throws it at Lydia, smiling at the girl, Daryl runs over to Iris, wrapping his arms around her waist and lifting her up, she looks down at him, his cold rosy cheeks and bright smile looking up at her, she wraps her arms around his shoulders as he holds her up.

He leans in and captures her lips in a kiss, she leans in and deepens the kiss, Daryl pulls away stands her on the floor again, she laughs when a snowball hits him in the face, she looks over to see Lydia smiling nervously, she relaxes when Iris lifts some snow and throws it at her.