Safe haven | Rick Grimes

086. I DON'T THINK THESE ARE WALKERS

Chapter eighty six

"I don't think these are walkers."

They turned onto the final stretch of the road leading up to Hilltop. As the towering wooden walls came into view, Scarlett's eyes swept the surrounding perimeter. She found it strange—the expansion fields were quiet, and a small herd of donkeys grazed near the fence lines, but not a single soul was out working the land.

Siddiq rode close behind her, with DJ driving the wagon and the travelers sitting tense in the flatbed. They finally halted right before the massive wooden gates.

Up on the catwalk, Dianne peered down at the riders, her hand resting near her bow. "State your business."

"We're here for our own," Scarlett called up, her voice slicing through the quiet. "Two of your scouts met us on the road. They told us you have Rosita, and that she's injured."

Dianne's expression shifted, acknowledging the news. She glanced over the side at the wagon. "And the others?"

"They're good people looking for a home," Scarlett shared, gesturing briefly over her shoulder. "I told them Hilltop would consider taking them in."

Dianne leaned against the wooden palisade, her posture remaining guarded. "Weapons down first."

Scarlett didn't argue. She unclipped her handaxe from her belt, lifted it high so Dianne could see, and tossed it into the dirt. Following her lead, Magna, Yumiko, Luke, Connie, and Kelly began dropping their blades and bows onto the ground.

Dianne's eyes dropped to Scarlett's hip. "Your gun."

"I am not throwing it down," Scarlett stated, her voice hardening with absolute finality. "It's my husband's, and I don't go anywhere without it."

A tense beat passed before Dianne finally signaled the guards below. The heavy wooden gates groaned and swung inward.

Scarlett dismounted in one fluid motion, leading her horse inside alongside the rest of the arriving party. Waiting for them just inside the courtyard was Tara.

"Where's Jesus?" Scarlett demanded immediately, skipping any pleasantries.

"Out with a search party looking for Eugene," Tara answered, her face grim.

Scarlett stopped in her tracks, her brow furrowing. "Eugene's missing? Since when?"

"I don't know. Honestly, I thought you would," Tara admitted, crossing her arms. "He went out on a run with Rosita, but he wasn't anywhere near her when our people found her."

"Damn it," Scarlett muttered under her breath, a knot tightening in her stomach.

Beside them, Siddiq quickly stepped toward Enid and Alden, who were carrying medical supplies across the yard. "How is she?" he asked.

"She was unconscious when she got here, but she's going to be fine," Enid shared, offering a reassuring nod. "It's mainly severe dehydration and heat exhaustion. She should wake up soon."

Scarlett's sharp gaze snapped over to Enid, her analytical mind immediately catching a detail. "Wait a minute. If she was completely unconscious when you found her, how do you even know Eugene was out there with her?"

"Aaron told us," Tara answered.

Scarlett let out a frustrated huff, rolling her eyes. "Great. He's here, too."

"No, he's out in the woods with Jesus," Tara corrected. She offered a small, bittersweet smile. "And Daryl. Daryl came down from his camp with Carol and Henry. It's like the old gang's back together."