infection | D. Dixon

chapter eight

highway

"After an attack like the other night, I don't think it's safe to stay here in the quarry." The leader of the group, Dale, said with his hands on his hips. He looked on at the group with a thin smile and it slowly turned into a frown. "I say we get on the road as soon as Amy is able. Does anyone disagree?" he asked.

I looked around the group with my hands in the pockets of my sweater. No one seemed to disagree, but the group seemed unsettled. "If transporting Amy becomes a problem I can set up the room in the RV to be a sort of infirmary and we can keep her in there." I offered from my place between Rick and Tessa. "We need an infirmary more than we need an RV anyway." I said.

Dale shook his head at me. "If we are going to be on the road during the winter we could all be bunking in the RV." He reasoned. "Maybe if we sent some people on a run to find another RV or a trailer?" he asked, looking around the group.

It was Daryl's turn to disagree. "Separating would be too risky." He said. "Let Carver put the girl in the RV bed until we find a trailer together." He said, wiping his knife on his jeans to clean it of wood chips from carving arrows.

Rick kicked his foot against the ground. "If we are going to go it has to be today." He said, crossing his arms. "We could be looking at snow any day now. Either we stay here and make it warmer or we leave and find shelter." He argued.

I nodded my head. "I think that sounds reasonable. We should leave today, find a trailer and some shelter. If we don't find shelter for tonight we can park the cars in a circle to block the wind and use boards to create some security."

Shane scoffed and shook his head. "We should be taking our sorry asses to the city for the winter." He muttered.

"Yeah, because that worked so well last time." Lori snapped, pointing to the bandages on my hands and the bruises on Glenn's face.

Shane glared hard at the woman. "It's the girl's own damn fault!" he yelled, throwing his hand up my way.

"I took down dozens of walkers!" I threw back, letting Rick hold my arm to keep me from pouncing at Shane.

"And nearly got all of us killed!"

Dale interjected. "That's enough!" he yelled, pointing his finger at the both of us.

I pressed my lips together.

Dale pressed his palm into his eye and sighed. "Everyone gear up, we are leaving as soon as we're ready. We'll start at the highway in search of a trailer for an infirmary and if we can't find one we are going to need to go into the city before nightfall, even if it's just for the night." He announced, waving us all off.

I silently went off to pack all the medical supplies as tightly as I could so I could fill my bag with clothes and camping gear. As I was zipping up the bag I heard footsteps come up behind me.

Tessa was standing there with my knife in her hands. "I was using it to help Daryl with some arrows." She said, handing me the knife in its holster.

I smiled and strapped it onto my belt. "What do you think of everything that's going on?" I asked, laying our pillows on top of the suitcases.

Tessa shrugged and sat on the chair Daryl stitched me up in. "As long as we are all safe and Amy wakes up I don't think much." She admitted. "I'm trying not to focus on it."

I smiled up at her and paused packing our things. "You are so strong." I said, resting my hand on her thigh. "I am so proud. Mom and Dad would be, too." I said. I looked down at the silver band on my middle finger and wiggled it off my finger. "I want you to have this, okay? It's the one I got from Mom when I graduated. You were going to get the same one once you finished your degree." I admitted, pushing the ring into her hands.