Robin Hood (Sequel To Hiraeth- TWD)

Chapter 8

Cailey stood out by the field gate, bow and arrow gripped tightly in hand. The muzzleloader she had held onto all day was still strapped to her back next to her quiver. When she turned, she could see Daryl slowly pacing across the pavement of the courtyard gate a couple hundred feet away. Friar paced in small circles at the field gate with her, occasionally rolling around on the dirt. Cailey kept her gaze on her dog and the pathways out of the prison fence.

Rick spent a lot of time with Daryl after the first hour of the older hunter being out. He sauntered down the path to the field gate after, staring right at Cailey. The younger hunter faced the sheriff as he came closer, holding her bow to the ground.

"Cailey," the man started quietly, squinting at the harsh sunlight. "I need you to know the plan."

"Yeah," the girl nodded. "Might be good to know."

Rick chewed on the inside of his cheek as he put his hands on his hips. "The Governor wants Michonne. Said he'll leave us alone if we hand her over."

Cailey didn't like the sound of that. It wasn't surprising, but she knew what it was like being an outsider to this group while living with them. She shook her head with pursed lips. "So, yer' just gonna hand 'er over to him like that? Y'know she helped us."

"I thought about it," Rick nodded. "But we aren't gonna do that. She's proved she can make her place here. But I need you to know about this anyway, because she will be a target. And anybody who defends her will be, too. But we have to watch out for her because she's one of our own now."

Cailey chewed on her lip as she nodded. "So what we gonna do 'bout the Governor and his team of manwhores?"

Rick couldn't help but have a little smile on his face at the girl. It quickly faded. "I think it's best to play defense on this. He comes at us, then we'll fight. We need a lot more resources, food and weapons. Make sure our water won't run out. Blankets and clothing. We can't leave the prison unattended, so teams will have to be smaller. Instead of going in pairs, I may ask that some people go on their own."

"Tha's where I come in," Cailey nodded again at the leader.

"Maybe," Rick let out a sigh. Cailey was about to argue that she could help and take care of herself, that she wasn't a small child anymore, but Rick continued. "The Governor has made it clear that he will attack if he doesn't have Michonne by tomorrow afternoon. We know the bare minimum about his settlement and his resources. We should have someone going into Woodbury to sneak in and see what they can find. See what they have logged and written down, how many people, see if they have any weak spots. I think you'd be a perfect candidate."

The teenager was genuinely surprised. She wasn't going to complain about being trusted for such a big job, but she was surprised Rick thought about having her go. "I can do that."

The leader nodded. "I think so, too. I know you don't want to be treated like a kid. I know you haven't been treated like a kid outside this group, and for the most part Daryl has treated you like an adult. I think you're ready for these jobs, but I know you are still young. Right now, if it gets too difficult, you need to let me know, I can pull you out now. But I probably won't be able to later on."

Cailey nodded again, holding tightly to her bow. "Don't worry."

Rick let out a deep sigh, letting Friar rub against his hand as the dog sniffed him. "I'm worried, but not that you'll mess it up. I'm worried these people are too high of a match for us. So I want you to leave tomorrow morning, and be careful. Bring your dog if you think it'll help, or leave him here. Take whatever supplies you need. You call the shots on this one." 

The girl nodded one last time as she bit on the inside of her cheek. Rick sighed one last time, patting the girl's shoulder. "You go inside. I'll take over."

Cailey gave a quick whistle to Friar, and the dog followed her up the pathway to the courtyard. She hooked her bow around her chest, nodding at Daryl as she walked past.

Cailey ran into a tall bald-headed man as she walked through the hallways. He gave her a grin, licking his lips. "Heard little princess here is goin' on a trip to Woodbury, huh."

"Fuck's it to ya?" The younger snorted at Merle.

"Figured you could use some extra help. Y'know, I heard Governor's willing to call this all off if we give him Michonne. Can help ya bring her to him."

"That ain't what we doing," Cailey snapped at the man.

"Ooh, little harsh, there," Merle raised his eyebrows. "Y'ain't willing to hand over a lady you don't even know for some shitty ass group?"

"It's my shitty ass group," the younger hunter spat. "You don't get a say."

"Y'know, Daryl told me you were a gutsy kid. Figured you'd know how to sort your priorities, girly. But I guess if he becomes Officer Friendly's bitch, you do, too."

"I ain't nobody's bitch," Cailey began slowly circling Merle in the hallway, her knuckles white as she gripped her how tightly. "If anybody's here the bitch, it's gotta be you, the way you always out to do that Governor's dirty work, play his lil games. Ya really seemed two feet up his asshole, an' you callin' me the bitch?"

Merle dramatically spun on his heels to follow Cailey's circling. "Oh, sweetheart, I'm suuuure you know that sometimes you gotta do whatever you can to survive. Even if it means sacrificing some chick with a sword to save the rest of your little friends."

Cailey couldn't help but hate how Merle's voice seemed to whistle on its own as he spoke higher. "Well, issa good thing you don't call the shots 'round here, huh."

"Oh, I will be soon. I promise."

The girl scoffed. "Yeah. All righ'. I got shit to take care of. Don't they usually hide drugs in the beds o' these places? Go find somethin' to do."

As Cailey quickly stepped off, Merle irritably swiped his tongue over his teeth with his arms crossed. "Yes, ma'am."