Not including extras or end notes: 381,987 Words 1,622 Pages
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The discussions ran for a long time but in the end agreements were reached on everything they needed to do to get the ball rolling and it was decided that Eve, Daryl, and Merle would go back to Woodbury with the three of them and start coordinating on their end — as well as to introduce themselves to the people who were going to join them; while Rick and the rest would go back to the prison to start organizing there, and naturally to inform their respective groups of their agreement to merge.
On the way to Woodbury Eve had half a mind that it may be a trap but the fact their entire force was dead, and Andrea had been with them yesterday, was enough to make her relax.
This wasn't the exact outcome she had hoped for, but it was near enough to one she had anticipated. She just didn't think it would be the one to happen but as they approached the Woodbury gates which had only one older man guarding — waiting for them to come back, it settled in.
She was still wary but even her most paranoid thoughts were assuaged.
If nothing else, she trusts her own eyes. They aren't lying about not having the force to resist even the few at the prison anymore. Everyone who was capable of fighting went with the Governor that morning and were now lying on the roadside halfway between. Cut down by their own leader, who was laying with them in the end.
Daryl sensed her wariness of Woodbury, but it was distinct from being nervous. They won that fight but he understood her skepticism. It's not every day your enemy takes care of themselves, it feels too good to be true, but it happened.
As they arrived, introductions didn't take long because the whole town was waiting for them.
The words 'whole town' sound impressive but the whole town at this point was merely handful of older people, kids, and just a few people who stayed behind to protect them who hadn't been with Woodbury long and volunteered to stay.
Martinez was surprisingly cooperative and worked well with Daryl and Merle as they got started. It was a little easier because he had worked with Merle for a long time and the way Daryl operated wasn't much different (except for being less of an a**), and the younger Dixon did a lot of interpreting for his girl.
Eve was disinclined to speak much to a group of strangers, but Daryl knew she would be, so he unconsciously did the talking for her right from the start. From introducing her with, "This is Eve, she don't talk much." and the person she spoke to most was Daryl and Martinez — simply because she had to.
The real surprise was that Martinez followed Eve's quiet leadership particularly well.
He may have been on the enemy side of the conflict, but he was a natural team player. He didn't do so well being the person in charge, but he excelled at being a right-hand man. Which is good because Merle is missing his.
