TWD: Awakened As Rick

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Five Months After the Fire

Judith had Shane's eyes.

Rick saw it every time she curled her tiny fingers around Lori's or laughed at Shane's deep voice echoing through the cabin walls. Lori never lied. Rick had known the truth from the start.

But in this world—burned, rebuilt, reforged—bloodlines meant little. Judith was a spark, proof that life could still grow where fire once scorched the earth.

And in the five months since Pope's death, The Right Arm had become more than a camp.

It had become a civilization.

Fences were twice as tall. Towers stood like sentinels over carefully managed farmland. Patrols rotated in shifts like clockwork. Reclaimed vehicles served as barricades or supply trucks.

Children played in cleared lots.

Judith slept safely, her world bounded by walls not of fear—but vigilance.

The Council, once a handful, now filled an entire hall.

The large wooden meeting chamber was full. A far cry from the days when Rick, Shane, Dale, and a few others made hasty decisions under lamplight.

Now, seated around the table:

Rick Grimes – Commander, founder

Shane Walsh – Militia commander

Leah Shaw – Military tactics and patrols

Maggie Greene – Agriculture and infrastructure

Morgan Jones – Ethics and internal order, co-founder

Carol Peletier – Education and food programs

Glenn Rhee – Logistics, transport

Graves – Head of perimeter defense

Kara – Scout supervisor, ex-Reaper

Washington – Tactical planning, border command

Lori Grimes – Civilian representative

Guillermo – Liaison and urban development, co-founder

Dale Horvath – Senior advisor

Morales – Integration management

Merle Dixon – Enforcer, field scout

Turner – Crop rotation and perimeter logistics

Sarah – Head medic, Homestead survivor

Each had a voice and a vote.

On a crisp morning, Washington spotted three figures approaching from the southeast. 

At their lead: Martinez.

Rick remembered him well—The Governor's right hand.

Now, Martinez raised a hand and spoke through the gate:"We come from Woodbury."

Rick, Leah, and Shane stepped out to meet them. Daryl and Graves remained above with rifles.

Martinez, calm and cocky, extended a hand.

Rick didn't take it.

"We're not enemies" Martinez said. "The Governor respects you guys."

Leah stared coldly. "That respect usually comes with strings."

"He just wants to talk. He's curious."

Shane smirked bitterly. "So is a wolf before it bites."

Martinez nodded. "Conversation only. Governor's offer. You can refuse—but he'll still be watching."

With that, the group turned and left, disappearing into the trees.

From a high ridge shrouded in pine, Philip Blake, the Governor, lowered his binoculars.

The Right Arm was everything he feared: stable, coordinated, growing.

Martinez stood beside him. "They're no amateurs."

The Governor said nothing.

He watched Judith crawl across a rooftop garden, guided by Lori.

Later that night, the full council assembled. Rick laid the situation bare.

"The Governor wants a dialogue."

Graves scowled. "Dialogue ends with bullets."

Morgan said calmly, "We don't fear words."

Shane leaned forward. "We should. He hides a knife behind every sentence."

Lori whispered, "He's watching. That much is clear."

Leah suggested, "Let me take a team and intercept their route. We find a location, make the meeting happen on our terms."

Carol added, "And what if it's a trap?"

Kara responded, "Then we remind him why we're still here."

Rick raised a hand.

"All in favor of sending a diplomatic team to meet the Governor—under strict conditions, at a neutral location, with armed cover?"

Hands rose:

Rick

Leah

Morgan

Maggie

Glenn

Carol

Kara

Guillermo

Morales

Washington

Sarah

Dale

12 of 17.

Opposed:

Shane

Merle

Graves

Turner

Lori

Still, majority ruled.

Rick nodded.

"I'll go."

Leah interjected, "So will I."

Morgan volunteered next. "I'll keep the peace if things go south."

Daryl spoke from the doorway. "Then I'm on the ridge with Kara and Graves."

Shane grumbled, "You're all playing chess with a snake."

Rick looked at him. "That's why we sharpen our blades."

Two days later, a reply was carved into a birch tree near the southern path:

"Neutral ground. Sundown. One mile east. We'll be waiting."

A red W was scorched beneath the message.

Rick stared at it for a long time.

Then turned to Leah and said:

"Let's find out what the shadows want."

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If you enjoy my work, consider supporting me on Ptreon for early access, exclusive chapters, and more:

‎

‎15 Advanced Chapters on Patreon

‎patreon.com/HighKingdom