IN WHICH - The last thing that Hope Mikaelson expected when she came out of Malivore was to still be alive, the second last thing she expected was to be disowned by most of her living family, and the final last thing she expected was some ancient be...
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THIRD PERSON POV
CHAPTER 20
The group was gathered around the dinner table in the farmhouse, the soft hum of conversation filling the space as they tried to settle into the rare calm. The air outside was still, with no hint of the usual groaning from the walkers that had been making their way closer to their camp over the past few days.
Hope was laughing quietly at something Merle had said, a rare moment of lightness, when the peaceful silence was shattered.
Dale's scream tore through the night, piercing the calm.
"Dale!" Rick shouted, his voice cutting through the air like a knife. The entire group stood up in an instant, the sound of Dale's blood-curdling scream still echoing in their ears.
Without thinking, Rick was already on his feet, barreling toward the door. "Shane, Daryl, T-Dog, Glenn—let's go!"
Hope's heart pounded in her chest as she shot up from the table, glancing at the others. She was already running before she even had time to think, her legs carrying her faster than any human should move. The sound of her feet hitting the ground was a rhythm as she rushed toward the field.
Merle was right behind her, his vampire speed taking him far ahead of the others. Even with his head start, he was too fast for any of them to catch up with. His figure blurred in the night as he darted toward the sound of the scream, knowing that the rest of them would follow.
Hope's thoughts raced, her mind focusing on the safety of their group. She couldn't shake the thought of losing another person, especially not Dale. They had already lost so much. She pushed harder, using every ounce of her werewolf speed, her senses on high alert, trying to hear anything that could help her get there faster.
As they neared the field, they saw it—Dale, struggling against the walker that had latched onto him. The walker's teeth store into his stomach, the horrible screech of its gnashing jaw sending a chill down their spines.
But as they approached, they saw something else. Rafael, in his wolf form, had already gotten there. He was standing over Dale, growling fiercely at the walker, his massive jaws snapping as he sank his teeth into the walker's neck, ripping it apart.
Rafael killed the walker quickly, throwing it to the side with a growl, its decaying body crumpling into a pile. He lowered his head, his massive frame still shaking, as he whined softly, his eyes locked onto Dale's still form.
Dale was breathing raggedly, his body trembling. He had been hurt—badly, it seemed—but he was alive.
Hope's heart soared with relief, even as fear gripped her chest. She skidded to a halt beside Rafael, crouching down next to Dale. "Dale, hey, stay with me," she urged, her voice soft but insistent.
