Robin Hood (Sequel To Hiraeth- TWD)

Chapter 7

Morning arrived almost too quickly. Cailey woke up before dawn, and packed her bag quickly with food and bandages and ammunition to the muzzleloader she had been practicing with. Daryl and Hershel were up by the time the sun was rising, and then Rick came out next. It was a rather silent and awkward period of time as they packed everything they may need, then made sure enough gas would be in their cars.

"Daryl, Cailey, you're riding with me," Rick broke the silence first as they stood around the courtyard. "Hershel will arrive after we do just in case something happens. I'm sure the Governor will have his own men there, so make sure you keep them in your sight."

The man's voice was quiet, it was tired. The battle hadn't even begun, but the man was already tired of fighting. He accepted the nods from his audience of three and a dog, pushing his handgun into its holster on his belt. Rick climbed into his blue minivan, waiting for the two hunters to join him.

The car ride was just as silent as when the survivors were getting ready to leave. Cailey sat in the backseat, one foot up on the seats as she sharpened an arrow with her knife. Friar sat next to her, panting and staring out the window. Daryl twirled an arrow between his thumb and forefinger from the passenger seat as Rick drove without a word.

The small group reached a set of buildings within a matter of a half hour. It looked like it used to be some type of manufacturing farm, with a small silo and barn-looking buildings near a junkyard. 

"You two stay out here by the car," Rick instructed quietly. "Andrea said we would meet at that little building over there, so we can keep you two parked over here, and Hershel will be here soon."

Daryl was the first to leave the minivan with Rick, then Cailey climbed out before letting Friar jump onto the grassy ground. "Be careful with him," Rick pointed to the dog, "This turns into a shit-show, hold him in the car to keep him from gettin' hurt."

Cailey held her bow in one hand, arrow in the other against her bowstring. She nodded at the sheriff, leaning against Friar as he pushed against her hip.

"An' where's that muzzleloader Daryl was teaching you to use yesterday?"

Cailey opened the backdoor of the vehicle again, pulling out the big gun by its strap. She nodded again as she lifted the strap over her head, letting the barrel of the gun rest against her back.

"You might need it, make sure you're ready if you do."

"I'm ready, man," Cailey assured the man in a mumble. "I can do this."

Rick leaned on his heels, biting on the inside of his cheek as he watched Daryl. The long-haired hunter gave the leader a nod, loading an arrow into his crossbow. "All right," Rick let out a breath he had been holding for God-knows-how-long.

Hershel arrived minutes after Rick began waiting out at the small barn-looking building. Daryl and Cailey followed, scoping out the area. The teenager motioned for Friar to stay with Hershel, who was beginning to climb out of his car. Near the small building, there were a few dead walkers, signalling someone had already been inside. As he moved to open the door, Rick gestured for Daryl and Cailey to stay low, and he wandered in. The two hunters watched from the window as Rick slowly approached a plastic table. Movement across the room made Daryl push Cailey down more. 

A man with an eyepatch and a heavy artillery belt approached Rick slowly, unaware of the two outside. Rick held his revolver up at the man. The strange man, apparently being the Governor, addressed Rick and spoke calmly. He removed his belt, then asked Rick to do the same. Cailey turned to Daryl, nodding as the sheriff sat down inside. The older hunter followed the younger around the side of the building, back towards where Hershel had parked.