Trialborn

The road shimmered like glass after rain as the truck rattled along the highway. Rick sat behind the wheel, one hand loosely resting on the top, his gaze fixed ahead but lost in thought. The water sprayed behind them, the world quiet save for the humming engine and the occasional chirp of birds.

Morales sat beside him in the passenger seat, eyeing him sideways.

"Best not dwell on it," Morales finally said, gently, his tone laced with understanding. "Merle got left behind. Nobody's gonna be sad about him not coming back…"

He paused, letting the weight of the truth settle. Then, with a quieter voice, he added, "Except maybe Daryl."

"Daryl?" Rick asked, eyes flicking to him.

"His brother," Morales said simply.

Rick looked forward again, silent.

Then a loud shrieking, WHEEOOOP-WHEEEOOOOP tore through the quiet air. Behind them, a cherry red Mustang swerved into view, the car alarm blaring. Glenn, grinning like a madman, shot past them, the sound echoing off the trees.

"Well," Morales chuckled, shaking his head, "at least somebody's having a good day."

At the Camp, Quarry campsite

Two children, a boy and a girl, argued near the woods, the boy tugged at a stick, at one end, and the girl at the other.

"Give it back." The girl yelled.

"No. I found it."

Their mother's voice cut through the quarrel. "Mijo! Leave your sister alone!"

The boy let go with a grumble, dusting off his hands.

Near the RV, A folding chair creaked as a woman sat focused, calm, a pair of scissors in hand. Her brunette hair was tucked behind her ears, and her eyes were narrowed with concentration as she trimmed Carl's hair.

"Baby, the more you fidget, the longer it takes," Lori said, her voice low, practiced, and maternal. "So don't, okay?"

"I'm trying…" Carl muttered, clearly uncomfortable.

Shane watched them as he sat across from them, cleaning his shotgun. "If you think this is bad, wait 'til you start shaving."

"That stings," Shane said.

"That day comes, you'll be begging for your mom's haircuts." He looked at Lori, who was focused on Carl's hair.

"I'll believe it when I see it," Carl said. Shane and Lori chuckled.

***

Inside Dale's RV, Amy sat on the edge of the small cot, her head in her hands. She had been crying, quiet, stifled sobs that nobody could console. Andrea, Jacqui, T-Dog, Morales… they still hadn't come back.

And Shame, no matter how hard she begged, refused to send anyone after them.

Suddenly, a wailing alarm echoed in the hills.

Amy's head shot up, and she bolted outside, nearly stumbling on the RV's steps.

"Hey! Dale!" Shane yelled from below. "You see what that is?"

Dale, perched on top of the RV like a weathered lighthouse keeper, raised his binoculars, trying to cut through the tree cover.

Amy's voice cracked, "Is it them? Are they back?"

"I'll be damned," Dale muttered as he saw a red car racing up the hill.

Lori joined them, shielding her eyes from the sun. "What is it?"

"A stolen car is my guess," Dale said.

Then, with a roar, the red Mustang burst into view and skidded into camp, the alarm still howling like a banshee. Glenn slammed on the brakes and jumped out, his face beaming.

"Holy crap! Turn that damn thing off" Shane yelled as he ran to the car.

"I don't know how!" Glenn yelled, half-smiling and half-panicking.

"Pop the hood," Shane asked him

Before Glenn could move, Amy ran up to him.

"My sister, Andrea! Is she okay?"

"Pop the damn hood!" Shane snapped. "You're inviting every walker in this goddamn place."

Glenn blinked. "Okay, okay!" He fumbled the latch, opened the hood.

Amy was still hovering. "Is she okay?! Why isn't she with you? Is she coming back?!"

"She's okay! She's okay!" Glenn shouted back, clearly overwhelmed.

Amy wasn't listening. "Where is she? Where is she?"

Finally, Glenn snapped. "YES! YES! Everybody's fine! Just chill!"

A moment passed, and Glenn sighed. Amy smiled, hearing that her sister is alive.

"Well… Merle, not so much," Glenn added under his breath. Shane was trying to shut the alarm off when Jim, a man in his early 40s, showed up and pulled the wires from the battery.

A wave of quiet fell over the camp, everyone wincing at the lingering echoes.

"Are you crazy?" Shane turned to Glenn, "Driving this wailing bastard straight into camp?"

"I think we're okay…" Glenn mumbled.

"You call being stupid 'Okay'?"

Dale stepped forward, "Well, the alarm was echoing all over these hills," he noted. "Hard to pinpoint," he added, trying to calm the situation.

Shane glared at him, "I'm not trying to argue, I'm just saying." Dale said as he backed a step, sighing.

Shane turned to Glenn, much calmer now, "It wouldn't hurt you to think things through?" he exhaled, "A little more carefully next time, would it?"

"Sorry…" Glenn muttered.

Just then, the rumble of another engine rolled over the hills. A white truck arrived, slower, more deliberate. Everyone turned to look. Faces lined with anxiety. Amy stood frozen.

Inside the truck, Morales tapped Rick's shoulder before he stepped out, "Come meet everyone."

Rick, still in his seat, pinched the bridge of his nose. He hadn't stopped thinking about Merle since they left. 

Morales stepped down and was nearly bowled over by his kids sprinting toward him, "Papi!" they cried.

His wife ran into his arms next.

Andrea got out from the back, "Amy…" she whispered.

Amy ran to her sister, clinging to her like a child sobbing.

"I thought we lost you guys.." Dale said, relieved.

Shane stepped up. "How'd you get out of there?"

"New guy," Glenn said, grinning. "He got us out."

"New guy?" Shane repeated.

"Yeah," Morales added with a chuckle, "Crazy Vato just strolled into town."

As if on cue, Rick stepped out of the truck, his face filled with caution.

The crowd quieted, and all eyes were on him.

Shane's jaw clenched, and he stumbled back a step, his eyes wide in disbelief.

Then Lori saw, believing him to be a ghost at first, she was unmoving until Carl slipped out of her grasp, running toward Rick.

"Dad! Dad!" Carl cried, running to him.

Rick met him halfway, sweeping him up in a fierce hug. He held him like he might vanish. Lori rushed next, wrapping her arms around both of them, her breath caught in her throat.

Shane looked at them, a forced smile on his face, as he leaned against the car, trying to calm himself.

Lori's eyes met his, her eyes widened for a moment before she buried herself in Rick's chest, hiding away.

***

A few miles away from St. John's Dairy

We were deep in the woods now. The air was quiet, still, the kind of silence that clings to leaves like water after rain, ready to drop any second. I'd brought Clementine and Alicia with me, training. Teaching them how to track and hunt for food.

Alicia moved beside me, matching my pace. Her rifle rested across her shoulder, and she carried it like she'd been doing it for years. Clementine followed close behind. Neither of them said a word, too focused on the surroundings.

We were far enough from the dairy that no one would hear the gunshot. I didn't want walkers to show up at the dairy the next day.

I raised a hand, and both of them stopped. Through a break in the trees, I saw it. It's brown fur catching a shaft of sunlight. A young deer, drinking from a muddy stream. Unaware of its ending.

I stepped aside.

Both the girls crouched low, rifle raised. I could feel their nerves as I whispered, "Breathe… and… pull."

The shots cracked like twin thunderclaps. The deer shrieked and buckled forward, blood spraying from its stomach. It turned and bolted, crashing into the undergrowth, leaving behind a red trail.

"I hit it!" Alicia said, a smile on her face.

"No, I did!" Clem countered.

They bickered like siblings while I stood still, a faint smile curling uninvited at my lips. "Your deer's getting away."

They shut up at once, looked at me, then at each other, and dashed after it.

I followed at a slower pace.

They trailed the blood easily. Even a blind man could follow its path. A few minutes later, the deer lay in the underbush, wheezing, legs twitching in the dirt. Dying, but not quiet there.

Clementine's face fell, her eyes softened, guilt creeping in.

Alicia was already looking for me, waiting.

I stepped out from the trees. "So… who killed it?"

"Me," Alicia said first. Then glanced at Clem with a disappointed sigh, "And Clem."

Two shots, both hit it, but neither was lethal.

"Wrong," I said, kneeling beside the animal, its eyes wide, terrified, but dimming. "Neither of you killed it."

Clementine looked at me, confused.

I stood up and held out the knife looking at both of them, Clem took half step back, and I knew who needed to do it.

"Put it out of its misery." I held the knife in front of Clem, she hesitated, but took the knife, I saw her finger tremble around the handle. She moved toward the deer, exhaling, trying to calm herself as she knelt beside it, but didn't move further.

Alicia stepped forward, reaching out. "Let me do it," she said.

Before the knife could change hands, I cut in. "Alicia."

She froze, glanced at me, but said nothing, backing off quietly.

Clem looked at the deer, her hands gripped the handle, but the point hovered, not moving further.

Alicia muttered under her breath beside me. "You're such an asshole."

I sighed.

I crouched behind Clem, placed my hands over hers, She was shivering. My grip steadied her, and I guided her down, slow, firm. The blade sank in, slicing through fur, then ribs, then heart.

The deer stilled, its final breath left in a hot puff against her wrist.

I stood, wiped the knife clean. Clementine stayed kneeling, staring at the body. Her chest rose and fell unevenly.

Then, without warning, Alicia stepped up. She leaned in and kissed my cheek, catching me mid-turn. Her voice was low, so Clem wouldn't hear her.

"You're not an asshole," she whispered.

I smirked, "You two are carrying it back."

She groaned, "Argh, such an asshole."

We tied the deer's legs around a sturdy branch. Alicia hoisted one side easily. Clementine, being shorter than Alicia, struggled with her end. I stepped in, adjusted the weight, letting her keep balance, Alicia noticed.

"Hey, you're only helping her," she said, mock hurt.

Clementine chuckled, forgetting the grim mood from before. I said nothing.

***

By the time we made it back to the dirt road where I'd parked the truck, the girls were flushed and sweaty, with deer blood soaking their sleeves.

We dumped the deer onto the bed of the blue truck, and I climbed into the driver's seat. Alicia slid in beside me, right in the middle. Clementine took the passenger side.

As I adjusted the mirror, Alicia leaned her head against my shoulder, casual, like it meant nothing, but her smirk said otherwise. She glanced at Clementine, who looked away, lips pressed tight, jaw clenched. I sighed, looking at her.

I turned to the road and started the truck, heading back to the dairy.

****

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