𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒍𝒇 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 ➪ «𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑦𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑥𝑜𝑛»

ch. VIII pt. II

oOo

Apparently, they hadn't been the first to think of the quarry as a Haven. Driving down around the curves to the entrance of the plain that overlooked the lake, the first thing they noticed was the vehicles, all spread out throughout the place in a seemingly aleatory way, but upon closer inspection, looked to be covering the weak spots of the field, along the tree line and adding coverage to some of the tents that were set up.

A Recreational Vehicle marked the approximate center of the place and the highest point. A figure stood on top, with binoculars in their hands, watching them.

Driving in, there were tents set up and clotheslines and some fire pits, and the entire place looked absolutely lived in, completed with the people living in it. They had heard them arrive and had come to gawk at them, morbid curiosity and possible alertness forcing them off their routes.

Merle killed the engine, and one by one, everyone climbed out of the truck.

The wave of people, little less than two dozen, met them in front of the pickup; all of them whispering, but none daring to raise their voice in neither greeting nor damning. Diana shied away from their gazes, feeling out of place and unwelcome, and cracked the knuckles of her good hand nervously.

It wasn't until a man strutted his way forward, parting the sea of people like freaking Moses, with a cautious, yet confident gait, that they were verbally acknowledged.

He had a pistol at his waist and an axe swung over his shoulder, in what Diana supposed was an approachable friendly-lumberjack pose, that still managed to intimidate.

"Hey there, strangers." He smiled, pulling his lips over his teeth in a way that reminded Diana of the threatening smile of a dog about to bite. "Name's Shane, what business brings you here?"

oOo

This Shane seemed on the edge of territorial, and Diana had to whisper to her dad to look as non-threatening as possible. She was met with a 'fuck that', as expected, and accepted it.

Once again taking the role of mediator, Diana assumed her professional personality, accepted the bow's thrum of encouragement and swallowed the knot in her throat to introduce her family and the two brothers. She knew it wasn't her place to do so, but she didn't want the brash men to say something that could compromise their welcome.

And if they came to her with complaints later, well, she'd just have to deal with them then.

After names had been exchanged, Shane started asking some questions. Honestly, Diana felt so uneasy under so many eyes, that she hadn't only not been able to listen to and answer half of them, but also hadn't managed to bring the words out her mouth without choking on air every two seconds.

Noticing her discomfort, Shane had dispersed the crowd and brought all seven newcomers, plus a woman and child that followed him, to a less populated part of their neat little camp, and there he asked his questions again.

Half of what was said had gone over her head, she just mindlessly translated back and forth without really acknowledging it. There had been something about why they were there and what lead them to find them, but nothing too incriminating. At the end of it, her mom and dad admitted to the family to feeling insulted by his behavior but had no other choice than accept it.

Merle and Daryl had kept their 'interview' short and had only revealed the absolutely necessary to satisfy Shane's caution measures like she'd thought they'd do. She noticed some animosity there if Merle's bitchy responses and Shane's bulging neck veins were any indicators.