Solitary {2} : The Walking Dead

Chapter Twenty-three.

No tracks, no traces.

"Three objectives means three groups. Gabriel will take point in guarding the gate from the northern wave... while Aaron will take some troops and handle the southern wave, breaking it up before it hits the wall." Michonne explains, pointing at the map.

"That leaves us, and the border. Unarmed." Iris says "You're really going in there unarmed?" Carol asks, "We got no choice." Daryl says, walking away. Iris nods to Gabriel as she follows the others out of the gates, they start to make their way to the border.

When they make it to the spot the sky is dark and the group is tired, Iris stares at the sticks, Daryl grabs onto her hand, gently squeezing it and pulling her from her memories.

She gives him a small nod before letting go of his hand and throws her axe on the floor before throwing her knife down next to it, the others do the same and throw their weapons in front of them.

Iris stares at Enid and Taras spot, "heads up" Daryl says, she looks up and watches the walkers and skins walking towards them "There was one rule between our people. One law. Stay where you are. Yet you disobey." Alpha says.

"That fire would've destroyed your land." Daryl says "Fire's nature to burn. We have no conflict with nature." Alpha says "It could've wiped out one of our communities. We were not gonna sit back and let that happen. You can understand that. We crossed one time." Michonne says.

"Three times. During the fire, you walked my land. And during the winter storm, you walked my land. During your search along the river, you and the man with the metal arm walked my land. That's three times. We are always watching. What did I tell you about crossing my border?" Alpha asks.

"You have to be punished." she says, Iris watches the skins pull out their weapons, she balls her hands into fists, preparing herself to fight, "But... I consider context. There will be no bloodshed this time." Alpha says "So what do you want?" Iris questions.

"Land. The creek that winds into the valley. That is your new southern border. We will mark the new border to the north." Alpha explains "That'll cut off our hunting grounds. We don't have to stand here and listen to this..." Carol says "Carol!" Michonne shouts.

"'To this'... what?" Alpha asks, walking closer to Carol, "To this bullshit." Carol snaps "That's it. Come on. We're done." Daryl says, walking over to Carol, Iris and Michonne following behind him, "We're not. Not until this one lowers her eyes to my feet." Alpha says.

Carol stares Alpha down, "You should fear me." Alpha says "I don't... I look at you and I feel nothing at all." Carol says, "Is that right? The blonde boy...screamed your name just before we took his head." Alpha says.

Iris watches Carol pull a gun from her back, Michonne pushes her arm down, stopping her from killing anyone, Iris stands in front of them as the skins point their guns at them.

"Stop. Stop!" Iris shouts, "I apologise...for my friend. We have not slept. And you know what she lost." Michonne says to Alpha "I forgive you. Mother to mother. This is my land now. You better run." Alpha says.

"Come on. Let's go." Daryl says, picking up his weapons and draggin Carol away, Iris grabs her things and follows the others as they rush to get away.

...........

Iris sits against a tree, she looks up and watches as Carol storms off, the redhead pulls her knife from her belt and stabs it into the ground, fighting her anger, a gunshot echoes through the trees and Iris quickly stands up, pulling her knife from the floor and running to find Carol.

"What happened?" Daryl asks when they find Carol "Whisperers. Three of them." the woman answers "Walkies on. Split up... north, west. We'll take east." Michonne orders, "Capture! Do not kill!" Iris adds before following Michonne.

Iris shines her torch on the floor, trying to find any tracks, any sign of where the skins went, "No sign of them anywhere." Michonne says, Iris looks over to the woman "No traces, no tracks, nothing." Michonne adds "You're sure you saw three?" Iris asks, looking over to Carol "Yeah. I'm sure." Carol mumbles.

"Carol... How long you been taking those pills for?" Michonne questions "Since I got back. It's fine. They're like coffee. We can't stay out here." Carol snaps "All right. Find a place with walls, hold up for a little while. Get some sleep." Daryl explains, Iris watches Carol as she storms away from them.

Iris grips onto her axe as they make their way through the woods, she looks up when they come across an abandoned school, shining her torch through the rooms, making sure it's clear, Iris walks back to the group "I'll take first watch." Carol says "All right." Daryl replies, Iris follows Daryl as they find a spot and sit on the floor, she lays her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes as he lays his head on hers, she lets the sleep take over her body.

..........

Iris wakes up and grabs her axe from the floor next to her, she looks around and stands up, running in the direction of the commotion, "carol" Daryl says, running ahead of Iris, she looks around the dark gym, she stares down at the walkers covering the floor, "carol" she says running over to the woman and holding onto her.

..........

"Doc!" Daryl shouts as they push the infirmary door open "What happened?" Siddiq asks, looking at the woman their holding up, "She fell. She cut her arm real bad." Daryl explains "Easy. I'm gonna need you all to leave." Siddiq says, Iris grabs onto Daryl's hand and they walk out of the house.

She sits on the porch, pulling out a cigarette and smoking it as they wait, Iris stands when the front door opens again "Is she all right?" Michonne asks "She, um... I..." "He got it out. She's all patched up and out like a light." Dante says "Great." Daryl says before walking back into the house, Iris takes one last drag before throwing the end of the cigarette onto the floor and walking into the house.