Fighting to Survive: The 3rd installment to Daring to Feel

Chapter 25: Secrets

Two days later we begin to prep to build the wall around the curved road. Carter coming up with a plan and the rest of us filling in jobs to get it done as fast as possible. This needs to work or else we risk the heard of walkers possibly breaking off and coming to our walls. Rick and I work on stuffing dirt and rocks into sand bags, he asks me, "you sure you want to go out there? You could stay behind, take watch." He offers me an out. I eye him suspiciously and he shrugs when he answers, "just worried about you goin' out there."

"Not worried about Daryl?" I ask him stuffing more dirt into another bag.

He shakes his head, "he can handle himself" he responds.

"and I can't?" I ask him a bit offended. I've come a long way since the prison, I would have thought he'd seen that by now.

"I mean, sure. With Daryl or me around, but what if you guys get separated, then what?"

"Daryl and I won't get separated." I say back to him, "and I think I can take care of myself now anyways," I snap, stuffing the small shovel into the bag of dirt before tying it up and grabbing another.

Rick sighs, lowering his head a bit, "I'm not going to stop you from helping, I just want you to reconsider your role." He tries to convince me, "being out there, diverting them as far away as we are, there are some dangerous people out there"

"You mean the W's?" I ask him, knowing a bit more after talking with Daryl.

He nods, "and I don't want you runnin' into them, even with Sasha, Abraham and Daryl with you. It could get bad quick, and people will die." He says flatly.

"I appreciate your concern Rick, but this is my choice, and I'm going with him." I stand my ground.

"Alright." He reluctantly agrees and continues digging.

A few minutes later Daryl comes back with another wheel barrel full of dirt, "hey, what you said before about us needing to take care of ourselves?" He starts, looking at Rick, "going out finding more people, that is taking care of ourselves." He dumps the dirt down, turning the large barrel around to move, "your call, though." He glances at me for a second before leaving.

Carol walks over, handing us something to drink. Rick takes his and I take mind, gulping it down after thanking her, "thanks" Rick says slowly.

"You know, I can come with all of you." Carol says, looking around a little, "you and Daryl have been teaching me how to shoot." She smirks through the lie.

I smirk as well, keeping the cup to my lips to hide it, "I think you got the hang of it." Rick replies with a smile of his own, "you should stay back, get a feel for how people feel now. We still got a long way to go with them."

"We'll get there." She responds back, "she's in charge. But you're in charge now." She says before walking away.

Rick looks after her, pondering what she said, his eyes squinting in the sunlight, "she's right yanno, you are in charge now." I say before standing up and walking away with 2 bags.

The next day is more work on building the wall, everyone inside whose not on guard and is able helps out at the road. I work with Tara on moving wooden rods for support. We come over from one side just in time to see a group of walkers coming out of the woods. I hear Rick tell Carter and the young boy with him to, "use your shovels. The guns will draw more."

Carter calls out, "help us."

Daryl puts his bow up, ready to shoot and I drop the wooden rod I am carrying and swing mine from my side, ready to follow his lead, "you can do this. You need to, all of you." Rick calls back to him. Carter pushes one away and the boy kicks one back before falling to the ground. I can tell Michonne is also restless watching this, wanting to take down the dead. Another few seconds go by and it doesn't look good for the two as more draw in and none are dead on the ground. Rick suddenly yells, "Morgan, don't!" But it's too late, as Morgan moves quickly to attack.