Animal Gone Wild [DISCONTINUED]

21

COURT YARD SMACK DOWN? MY KIND OF PARTY

    Daryl came to a stop and turned the bike off. I climbed off with Daryl but stood in front of the Hyundai. Rick and Daryl went to scope it out. I was straining my ears but didn't pick anything up. I held my crossbow in front of me with my bat in it's holster waiting patiently to be used. Hershel was in the driver seat of the Hyundai.
    I rode the cycle up next to the Hyundai up to Daryl who was waiting on us. Once we were up to him, I turned it off and climbed off.
    "He's already in there," Daryl informed, "he's sat down with Rick."
    "I don't see any cars," Hershel informed.
    "It don't feel right. Keep it running."
    I perked my ears at the sound of a car.
    "Head's up," I head nodded.
    We all turned to the car rolling up. Hershel climbed out of the car. Andrea and two others climbed out. I didn't lower my weapon unlike the other two did.
    "June," Hershel ordered.
    I dropped it then, slinging it over me.
    "What the hell? Why's your boy already in there," Daryl questioned.
    "He's here," Andrea questioned.
    "Yup."
    Andrea sighed and started for the door, heading in. Daryl paced consistently, which was starting to frustrate my hearing. I was sat on the hood of the Hyundai trying to concentrate with Daryl's pacing.
    "Would you," I growled out, turning to Daryl.
    Daryl stopped pacing and leaned against the Hyundai next to me. I leaned my head back down and tuned back to the world.
    "Sorry," Daryl mumbily apologized.
    "Maybe I should go inside,"Hershel offered.
    "The Governor thought it best if he and Rick spoke privately," glasses informed.
    "Who the hell are you,"Daryl asked.
    "Milton Mamet."
    "Great. He brought his butler."
    "I'm his advisor."
    "What kind of advice?"
    I raised my head with a scowl that drilled the back of Daryl's head. He didn't care to notice, but he knew.
    "Planning. Biters. Uh, you know, I'm sorry. I don't feel like I need to explain myself to the henchmen and crazy lady."
    My hearing tuned back into my current surroundings as I slowly raised my head towards Milton.
    "You better watch your mouth, sunshine."
    "The fuck you call me," I growled out.
    "June," Hershel coaxed, "not now."
    I turned my heated gaze to Hershel who shook his head. I clenched and unclenched my fists before standing up and grabbing my bat. 1,2, 3 bat. 1, 2, 3 bat. 1, 2, 3-.
    "Look, if you and I are gonna be out here pointing guns at each other all day," Mexican commented, "do me a favor, shut your mouth."
    Daryl walked his way up to the guy. I gave a low whistle, Daryl shrugged off the warning.
    "We don't need this," Hershel stated, "if all goes south in there, we'll be at each other's throats soon enough. That's when you can play June."
    I turned towards Hershel with a grin.
    "Absolutely not," Daryl countered, causing me to frown, "you ain't playin'."
    I scoffed, "come on, it's not like they can really catch me."
    Daryl turned towards me and pointed.
    "I said no."
    I glared at him before he walked back towards Hershel and I. 1,2, 3 bat. 1, 2, 3 bat. 1, 2, 3 bat. I kept swinging at my usual pace. I stopped swinging when I listened into the conversation inside.
    "You're right," Governor commented, "would you step outside?"
    "What," Andrea questioned.
    "Rick and I, we got a lot to talk about."
    "I'm not leaving."
    "I came to talk to him," Rick commented.
    I lifted my head and stared at the doorway as Andrea came storming out and sitting down. I tilted my head at interest to the conversation inside but walked over to the car and leaned against it. I continued to listen in.
    "So you're the Governor."
    "That's—that's their term, not mine," Governor pointed out.
    "Oh. But still, you're beholden to your people."
    "Well of course."
    "You have responsibility to them."
    "Mm-hmm."
    "Wasn't Merle your lieutenant?"
    "He was helpful, yeah."
    "But you knew he was erratic. You blame him for scooping up Glenn, Maggie, and June in the first place?"
    "Exactly. I was trying to sort it out when you attacked."
    "So it was his fault?"
    "He's a wild card, but he's effective. He gets the dirty jobs done."
    I tensed and let out a growl. Daryl turned towards me and walked up.
    "What's goin' on Red," he whispered.
    "Their conversation...it angers me," I grumbled.
    "Then don't listen..."
    "I need to. I need....I gotta make sure Rick's safe."
    I looked pleadingly at Daryl. He nodded.
    "Okay. Okay."
    "I thought you'd take responsibility," Rick sighed.
    "I thought you were a cop," Governor stated, "not a lawyer."
    "Either way, I don't pretend to be a governor."
    "I told you I'm their leader."
    "You're the town drunk who knocked over my fence and ripped up my yard, nothing more."
    "Didn't you ever misjudge someone? Hmm? Andrea told me about your baby. That it might be your partner's. But you're caring for her and I admire that. Restitution for your own lack of insight. For failing to see the devil beside you."
    I let out a growl and almost hit the Hyundai.
    "Red, not the Hyundai," Daryl ordered, pointing at me.
    I barred my teeth at him but that was it.
    "Oh, I see him, all right," Rick whispered.
    I heard the Governor chuckle. Then he slapped the table twice.
    "I brought whiskey," he informed.
    Daryl exhaled, bringing me to the outside world. I blinked twice and peaked my head up. Milton started walking towards us.
    "Great," I grumbled, "this guy..."
    "There's no reason not to use this time we have together," Milton started, "to explore the issues ourselves."
    "Boss said to sit tight and shut up," Mexican informed.
    "Don't you mean the Governor," Daryl mocked.
    "It's a good thing," Milton advised, "they're sitting down, especially after what happened. They're gonna work it out. Nobody wants another battle."
    "Too late," I piped up quickly, "I call first blood draw next."
    "June," Hershel sighed, "no."
    "Aw come on Santa. No harm, no foul."
    "No."
    "I wouldn't exactly call it a battle," Daryl gave his two cents.
    "I would call it a battle and I did," Milton sassed, "I recorded it."
    "For what?"
    "Somebody's got to keep a record of what we've gone through. It'll be a part of our history."
    "That makes sense,"Hershel commented.
    "Oh come on Santa," I groaned, "not you too."
    "I've got dozens of interviews-"
    I tensed at the noise that slipped past me. I turned towards the walkers and scowled.
    "Fuckin' jackasses," I grumbled, "sneaking past my ears? Outrageous."
    Daryl and I went ahead followed by Martinez and Andrea. There stood two and Daryl lowered his crossbow and turned towards Martinez. Oh,don't do that whole testosterone bullshit now.
    "After you," Daryl offered.
    "No way, you first," Martinez stated.
    "For fuck sake," I huffed, "stop with the testosterone bullshit and move. The fucking both of you."
    I shoved past them and sported my bat in joy. Andrea killed one and stared at the boys. I was taunting mine.
    "Red," Daryl called, "just kill it already."
    I frowned and turned towards him as I got ready to swing.
    "You suck the fun outta everything Daryl," I whined.
    When I figured it was close enough, I spun with my swing and knocked the lights out of the walker. It's head bashed in as blood squirted across my face. I turned and grinned as I swung my bat diligently. I watched the boys finish them off except the last one. I pulled out one of my throwing knives and threw it. It passed Daryl's head expertly and hit the walker straight in the middle of it's forehead.
    "Bullseye," I sung out to them.
    "Show off," Daryl called.
    "Jackass!"
    I heard Daryl chuckle as I started back to Andrea, Hershel, and Milton. I knew Daryl would grab the knife for me. After all, I usually get his arrows for him. I hopped up on top of the Hyundai and leaned back against the glass and closed my eyes.
    I calmed my breathing and felt my weight change as I directed my hearing. It ranged to Daryl and Martinez, back to Milton and Hershel, to Andrea by herself to the outside world before landing right on who I wanted it to. Rick and the Governor.
    "I know you got guns," the Governor stated, "mmm. That was quite a stash you brought back the other day. Now, my people, they're not combat-tested like yours are, but I've got more of them. So this fight, it will go down to the last man. So let's end it. Today. Let's not do this. We can walkaway. You have somethings that I want. Two things that make this all,all right."
    "I'm not giving up the prison," Rick commented, "or our guns."
    "No. No, I—I don't want your prison. That doesn't sound safe at all. I mean, you lost your wife, another man."
    "We're not moving on."
    "What good would that do me? Best you stay where I can keep my one good eye on you. I want Michonne and your precious June. Turn them over and this all goes away. Are the worth it? Two women...worth all those lives at your prison? Are they?"
    I blinked my open and leaned up, looking down at my hands. To save everyone...everything we've done. Michonne and I have to be handed over, and most likely killed by his hand. Judith, Carl, Beth,Merle, Glenn, Carol...Daryl. All spared for my life.
    I heard Daryl and Martinez coming back and I turned to Daryl, all questioning looks off my face.I turned towards him as he held out my knife. I took it gratefully and placed it back in it's holster.
    "Any word," he questioned.
    "Nothing outta normal discussions," I shrugged, lying to Daryl's face.
    Daryl nodded and turned to sit and wait. I looked down and waited patiently for Rick. I heard walking and I perked my head up and stood off the Hyundai. Out came the Governor who took a long hard look at me. I kept his gaze before he gave me a dark smirk when Rick soon joined us outside. I turned my gaze to Rick who locked eyes with me.
I turned my gaze downward as I hopped on behind Daryl. Hershel sauntered towards the Hyundai.
"I heard," I motioned, "I'll do it."
    I saw Rick's jaw tighten before looking away from me. Daryl drove around the Governor as Rick followed in the Hyundai. The Governor going the opposite direction.

    We were back at the prison and inside. I was twitching with an arrow. Everyone was ready to listen, I wasn't ready to hear the news...again.
    "So, I met this Governor," Rick informed, "sat with him for quite a while."
    "Just the two of you," Merle questioned.
    Rick nodded, "yeah."
    "Should have gone when we had the chance, bro."
    "Merle," I sighed tiredly, "just don't."
    Merle glanced at me before shrugging off my comment. I kept my head down and at my arrow. Not bothering to look up.
    "He wants the prison," Rick lied, "he wants us gone. Dead. He wants us dead, for what we did to Woodbury."
    I stopped twitching my arrow and slowly looked up to Rick as he locked eyes with my furrowed ones.
    "We're going to war."
    Rick then looked away. I knew what that meant. He wasn't gonna risk Michonne or my life. I tilted my head in complete interest. What are you doin' Rick.
    "Well then," I piped up, acting like everything was normal, Rick locked eyes with me once more, "let's go to fucking war."
    Rick walked out, Carl followed. I stood up and started up the stairs to my cell. I sat down on the bottom bunk in confusion before dropping it and letting it go. Rick would find me and talk if he wanted to talk. I laid my crossbow down and my holsters before climbing up top and flopping on my front side and dug my arms under the pillow.

    -Hershel's POV-
    I walked out to the over view where Rick was. I stopped next to him.
    "The group's taking it as well as can be expected," I pointed out, "Merle and Michonne are convinced we should hit first. Carol and I think we should take our chanced on the road. We're in this together. So if we stay and fight, so be it."
    Rick nodded.
    "He gave me a choice," He informed, "a way out."
    "What does he want?"
    "June and Michonne."
    "He'll kill them."
    "And then kill us anyway. But what if he doesn't? What if this is the answer?"
    "Why didn't you tell them?"
    "They need to be scared."
    "They are."
    "Good. 'Cause that's the only way they'll accept it."
    "She's saved my life. And Carl's. Glenn, June, Maggie—if she hadn't come here, we never would have known they were taken. She's earned her place."
    "Yeah. Yeah, she has. And June?"
    "She laid her life down for us the entire winter. She willingly did any orders we told her. She sat in front of that shed back at the farm for hours in the heat. Very little water, very little food, little sleep. She'd lay down her life for us now if you asked her too. She's loyal to a fault Rick, you can't just...you can't just let her go."
    "Yeah...I know."
    I could see that Rick was reminiscing about all the jokes flown between the two and the understanding. The respect, loyalty.
    "Are you willing to sacrifice your daughters' lives for her? For either of them?"
    "Why are you telling me?"
    "Because...I'm hoping you can talk me out of it."
    "June's the only one I'll talk you out of."
    "I wasn't planning on handing over June anyway. If Daryl got wind—god I can only imagine that hell fire."
    I chuckled at the thought. Over the winter, Daryl's gotten very defensive of June and protective. It's cute, but they definitely need to figure out their feelings and get together already, but we all know how they get.
    "They need to sort out their feelings."
    Rick chuckled.
    "That's a love life I don't wanna mess with, no matter the consequences."
    "If they had a child..."
    "This world wouldn't stand a chance."
    Rick and I shared a look between us before chuckling. Even though we were serious. A child bared between the mighty Daryl Dixon and animalistic Juniper Richardson, would be one hell of a badass.