22 | DAMN GUNS

Living in the Kingdom was an experience that Roxanne never thought she and Kali would ever experience. She felt utterly safe. There were no walls to keep a look out on, there were invaders and there was a thriving self-sustaining community that she temporarily lived among. Although it was amazing at how well the Kingdom seemed to function, a deep desire still lingered within Rox. She was bored. She wanted to take action. She wanted to fight. She wanted to lead. Because of this, she quickly grew weary and anxious. She wanted something to do. Something exciting. So, when it was finally dark and when Kali was finally sound asleep, Rox slipped out of her quarters and began to stalk through the town.

She walked to random places, found a couple walkers and ridded the town's surroundings of them. Eventually, she heard the King's tiger's subtle growls and found herself walking toward its housing. She entered the building and absorbed every astonishing feature on the creature.

The tiger's long black stripes moved effortlessly as she stalked around her cage. She was strikingly beautiful. Somehow, Roxanne felt herself drawn to her. Roxanne neared the cage and wrapped her hands around the bars. She got close enough to see that name that dangled from her collar. Shiva.

Roxanne, absentmindedly, stuck out her arm into the cage— risking Shiva to tear it off— and when Shiva neared it, she pet the intimidating animal. Roxanne didn't know why she did it. Maybe it was the want to do something dangerous. Or maybe she just felt like she could relate to Shiva.

She, herself, was a vicious animal, forced to behave in order to protect the one she loves. If Kali didn't exist, Roxanne would be the same, heartless, selfish woman she was before Kali was birthed. Just as if Ezekiel didn't exist, Shiva would be the vicious, murderous animals she was made to be.

"You're good with her." A voice echoed out into the room.

Roxanne shot her hard eyes over at the source of the voice. She relaxed when she realized it was only Morgan. "Ezekiel will be impressed." He mentioned, standing tensely and far from the cage.

"We need the Kingdom. You will make that happen." Roxanne instantly spoke as she realized how strong someone must be if they owned a pet tiger.

"I'm sorry. It can't be me." Morgan fumbled his thumbs together.

Roxanne stuck out her other arm into the cage and began to caress Shiva more. Shiva purred a bit, expressing her likeness. "Then it has to be you, Shiva." Roxanne stated, knowing that she was actually referring to herself— her old self. Her heartless, fearless self.

"I'm going back to Alexandria." Rox announced.

"They'll kill you if they find you—" Morgan began.

Rox shook her head. "Negan wants me alive. I'm sure of it. There's something he still wants from me. I don't know what it is yet." Roxanne began heading for the door.

"Daryl already left for the hilltop." Morgan informed as Rox exited the room.

Roxanne scoffed. "I'm sure he left for the exact same reason." She called back.

* * *

Once Roxanne stepped foot back in Alexandria, she was spun around and sent out on a mission. Tara had just informed the Alexandrians of Oceanside, an all female camp that could help them fight against the Saviors. The commotion of cars rumbling and and tools being loaded into vehicles cause Roxanne's mind to spin— but it showed progress. Therefore, Roxanne didn't question it. She simply dropped Kali off, informed Rick of her presence, hopped in a car and set off to Oceanside.

* * *

The entire venture to Oceanside was unbearably quiet. She had travelled with Rick and Michonne, for everyone else packed up into another boat. An almost awkward aura engulfed the three, and Roxanne felt like she was drowning. If they weren't on a mission, perhaps Roxanne would've questioned it— but she didn't want to disturb their focus.

Roxanne moved along and stationed herself outside of the house Tara was going to make a deal with the leader of Oceanside in. She creeped along the sides of the house and peeked in the windows every so often to make sure Tara wasn't in any trouble. Things got heated within the house, but Roxanne stayed put— knowing Tara didn't need help... at least not yet. There was a time limit on the deal, and once that time was up— hell was going to be dawned upon Oceanside.

Seconds remained on the clock and Roxanne cringed as she glanced at her watch. The first bomb was going to go off in 5..

4..

3..

2..

1..

BOOM!

The explosion let out a frighteningly large fire. Multiple different explosions then went off, like a domino effect. All of the women of the camp retreated into their homes as Roxanne crawled underneath the back deck of the house Tara was in to hide.

Just as Roxanne began to settle quietly in her hiding spot, a pair of strong hands grabbed her legs and yanked her from under the deck. A young girl, with caramel skin to match her honey eyes, had grabbed her up. Beside her stood an older woman, the leader of the community, who was holding a gun to Tara's head.

"Move!" The older woman shouted. The two Oceanside women pushed along Tara and Rox, with guns pointed to their heads, to where Rick held all of the members of the community hostage.

"Nobody's taking anything! You need to let everyone go and leave right now. Just walk away or these two die." The leader yelled.

Roxanne huffed, numb to the feeling of fear. "Yeah, we'll leave you alone. But we're taking your weapons with us. That's not gonna change." Rick approached the leader cautiously, eyeing Roxanne from time to time.

"It's Natania, right? The gun down, and let's talk about what we can change." Rick's blue eyes darkened in fear.

Natania, the leader, shook her head vehemently. "No. Leave. Right now."

Tara's eyes scanned the trees and spotted Michonne readying herself to shoot. "Michonne, don't!" She screamed.

"We just want to be left alone." Natania stated.

"Yeah, we'll leave you alone. Just let go of them. Now. Or we'll kill you. None of us want that." Rick informed, nodding curtly at Roxanne.

Natania analyzed Roxanne's face and scoffed. "The pretty one's your girl? You don't want to lose her now, do you?" Natania asked, pointing her gun at Rox.

The Alexandrians tensed up and gripped their weapons tighter. "They want us to fight the Saviors." The young, honey eyed girl spoke up, lowering her gun from Roxanne's temple.

"We tried that. We lost. Too much. We're not gonna lose anymore. Not our guns, not our safety, not after everything we've done to get here." Natania growled.

Tara snarled. "We're gonna win! With your guns, with or without your help." Tara exclaimed.

Rick paced. "Natania. Put the gun down." He told.

"You kill me, you die..." Tara warned, "you kill her... you all die. And my people take the guns and nothing changes." Tara suggested that Rick would wreak havoc if Rox was to die.

"Maybe we should try." One hostage whispered.

"Have you all forgotten?! Some of you actually want to fight them? After everything? We can lose our guns, but us leaving this place to fight? After everything? I have to remind you! Yes. I am gonna do this, and then I'm gonna die. But it's that important. This is your life, all of you. Remember what it looks like. Remember what they did to us! You need to see this—" Natania was interrupted by the young girl, her granddaughter, knocking her out with a single punch.

"Rick! Walkers!" Michonne called out from her position in the trees.

Rox looked around and noticed they were surrounded. Hundreds of walkers swarmed in toward the commotion. "Everybody up! Get the children behind us! They're coming." Rick barked.

Roxanne hurried over to gather the children and watched as the two communities worked together to pick off all of the walkers. After it was all over, a silent understanding overcame the two communities. They saw how much they compliment each other and how strong they were together. Yet, Natania stood up and walked away mumbling: "No. We're not fighting them with you. So take your damn guns and go."