Unbreakable threads

Chapter Twelve: awkward family ties

The campfire crackled softly in the cool night air as the group of survivors watched the scene unfold, exchanging glances filled with discomfort and curiosity. Glenn, Andrea, her sister Amy, Jacqui, T-Dog, Morales and his family, Carol, her husband Ed, their daughter Sophia, and Dale, all lingered around the edges of the clearing, each sensing the tension that rippled through Rick's family reunion.

Glenn shifted uncomfortably, glancing between Rick, Lori, and Alyssa as they tried to navigate the fractured pieces of their pasts and present. It was strange, watching a family reunion that should've been joyful turn tense and strained, words hanging heavy in the air, a mix of love, resentment, and confusion clouding every glance.

But beneath the awkward family reunion, a different, darker concern lingered in Glenn's mind—Merle. He'd been left handcuffed on the roof, and while Glenn knew it had been necessary, he also knew that leaving someone up there alone wouldn't be without consequences. Merle's brother, Daryl, was expected back from hunting soon, and everyone in camp knew that his temper matched his brother's. When he returned and learned that Merle had been left behind, cuffed and alone on a rooftop in the middle of walker-infested Atlanta... well, Glenn didn't want to imagine the fallout.

Glenn swallowed, shooting a glance at T-Dog, who gave him a small, tight nod, clearly sharing the same anxiety. They'd agreed to leave Merle for the safety of the group, but neither of them looked forward to explaining that to Daryl. Glenn could already hear Daryl's enraged voice in his mind, see the flash of anger in his eyes when he learned what had happened.

Dale, the camp's unofficial elder and a voice of calm reason, looked over at Glenn and raised an eyebrow, as if sensing his worry. He leaned over, his voice low. "We're going to have to tell Daryl soon, you know. Better he hears it from us directly than by accident."

Glenn sighed, nodding. "I know. I'm just... waiting for the right moment." He glanced over at Rick, who was still in tense conversation with Lori and Alyssa, the family dynamic clearly straining under the weight of the situation. "Rick's been through enough tonight, too."

Andrea crossed her arms, casting a wary glance toward the woods, where Daryl would eventually emerge, probably with the night's hunt slung over his shoulder. "There's no 'right moment' to tell someone their brother's been left behind," she muttered. "But we did what we had to do. Merle was a danger to all of us."

Jacqui nodded, glancing between Glenn and T-Dog. "We had no choice. It was the only way to get out safely."

Carol, who stood protectively near her daughter Sophia, looked between the others, her eyes filled with worry. "But Daryl... he's not going to understand that. He's... protective of his brother."

The group shared uneasy looks, each of them aware that the fragile peace in the camp could be shattered when Daryl learned the truth. The family tension between Rick, Lori, and Alyssa was one thing, but the Dixon brothers were another entirely. If Daryl's temper matched Merle's, they could be in for a difficult night.

Just then, the sound of footsteps crunching through the underbrush signaled someone's approach. The group tensed, their gazes shifting to the edge of the clearing as a figure emerged from the darkness. Daryl stepped into the camp, a crossbow slung over his shoulder, a small bundle of rabbits hanging from his belt. His face was set in its usual, wary scowl, but his eyes held a spark of curiosity as he took in the group's tense expressions.

"What's goin' on?" he muttered, his gaze sharp as it flicked between the unfamiliar faces and his old campmates. His eyes landed on Rick, who was still deep in conversation with Lori, and he raised an eyebrow. "New guy?"

Glenn's mouth went dry, and he glanced at T-Dog, who gave him an encouraging nod. Steeling himself, Glenn stepped forward, forcing himself to meet Daryl's intense gaze.