Abide » Alden

4. Peace

Paesyn rests her hand on the handle of her machete as she saunters into the stables. The woman's boots echo off the walls of the wooden interior of the stables.

The brunette checks the food, water, and hay conditions of the stalls. She grooms the dirt out of the coats of the equestrians. It delighted Paesyn to hear the horses. Their nickers and lip flutters tend to create a calming atmosphere in Paesyn's mind.

A content sigh escapes Paesyn's lips. The only thing that Paesyn loves more than silence is silence filled with the sounds of horses.

"Hey," a kind, soft voice is heard over the horses.

Paesyn looks over her shoulder still petting a horse. She sees Tara at the doorway.

Paesyn smiles softly, "Hey."

Tara walks closer to Paesyn, sticking her hands in her packets, "I knew I'd find you here."

Paesyn nods while turning her attention back to the roan horse at her side, "Yeah."

"Gregory came back."

Paesyn abruptly swings her hand that was previously petting the horse to her side as she turns to Tara with a hardened expression.

Tara continues, "He has a map with the Savior's plans."

"We can't trust him. He's going to lead us into a trap," Paesyn lectures Tara.

"We won't know if we don't try. We can watch our backs. Place snipers just in case."

Paesyn shakes her head, "No. We can't risk that. We won the last battle, we should focus on preparing to fend off another attack."

"Rick is leading the attack now. It's your choice to follow," after speaking, Tara backs up until she turns to walk out of the stables.

Paesyn whispers mostly to herself and somewhat to the horse she caresses, "It's a bad idea. Really bad. But I have to go with them. They need my help and they can't waste someone else's life just because I don't go."

Paesyn slowly walks out of the stall. She closes it before marching out of the stables.

Paesyn walks over to where everyone was gathered.

While Paesyn approaches the group gathered around a table, she hears Daryl say, "We'll stick to this road, keep to the trees. We'll get there quicker."

Paesyn looks over Rosita's shoulder to see where Daryl was pointing on the map.

Daryl leans back, "Plus, we can keep an eye on the road that way."

Rosita nods, "Yeah, if they're planning anything, we'll see it."

Paesyn looks to Maggie, "You really think we can trust Gregory?"

Maggie replies, "I locked him up inside the house. He knew I wouldn't let him walk around free. He knew he was coming back to that. He doesn't believe in anything except himself. And he'd have to believe in the Saviors a whole lot to send us into a trap and think it would work out for him."

"Unless Dwight didn't tell him. That asshole could be setting us up," Daryl suggests.

Rick grabs the map. He folds it up and nods around at everyone gathered at the table. Carol turns and begins to walk away.

Paesyn looks to see Carol attempting to call Morgan's attention. Morgan was spinning around looking for something.

Carol tried to get him to talk but he just said "they were doing something."

The front gate opens and the ex-Saviors are walking in. Morgan began marching towards Alden with his staff ready to kill.

Before Paesyn could take five steps, Henry tore Morgan's attention away.