"yes, im changing, yes, i'm gone. yes, i'm older, yes, i'm moving on." - tame impala

weeks have passed, and the once-thriving kingdom is now in ruins. the walls have started to crumble, the crops are failing, and the supplies are dwindling. it's clear that we can't stay here any longer. the decision is made to move everyone to hilltop, where the community can find safety and stability. the preparations are exhausting, with everyone pitching in to pack up belongings and secure the essential supplies for the journey.

thus, every waking moment, my thoughts are consumed by the need to make alpha pay for the pain she's caused. lydia has clung to my hip these past few weeks, at first, i kept my distance, but over time, we've grown closer. she's not like her mother, she's broken. she needs someone to guide her and help her grow. she needs a mother. our shared connection to alpha, albeit vastly different, binds us together in a way no one else can understand.

i walk through the town square of the kingdom, my boots crunching in the snow. a warm plate of food rests in my hand as i approach lydia, sitting at a table by herself. "eat, we gotta get these people to hilltop." i say, sniffling in the cold weather. "are you ready for the move? you haven't been back there since it all happened." lydia asks, her voice soft but edged with anxiety as she picks up the fork. "as ready as i'll ever be, i guess." i reply watching her slowly stick the food in her mouth. ever since henry she's been even more quiet. i get how she feels, isolated from the rest of us. 

after a moment i walk off toward the carriages. michonne, lydia, myself, and a few others from alexandria had ridden over here a few days ago to help daryl and the rest of the kingdom pack up. i toss some remaining bags into one of the carriages as michonne helps direct the people onto them. momentarily the last group of residents joined their friends and family in the carriages, readying us for the long trip ahead. 

the gates of the kingdom shut behind us one last time. the carriages creak and groan under the weight of our belongings and the people they carry. i walk beside lydia, our footsteps crunching on the gravel road. the landscape changes as we move further away from the kingdom. the dense forests give way to open fields, and the air feels fresher and less oppressive.

hours pass, and the sun climbs higher in the sky, casting long shadows across the road. the heat is oppressive, and sweat drips down our faces. i keep a close eye on lydia, who walks beside me, her expression a mix of exhaustion and resolve. "you holding up okay?" i ask, my voice low. "yeah." she replies, though i can see the strain in her eyes. "just trying to keep warm." i take off my coat and wrap it around her shoulders. she grins a small 'thank you' and we all push on. i walk up beside michonne and lean in. 

"no one can agree on what to do next." i say in almost a whisper. "the council can't come up with anything?" she asks and i shake my head. "between losing jesus, tara, and everyone else we have no one to control hilltop." i explain. "still nothing from maggie?" she asks. "last time i visited our spot the log where she stuffs the envelopes was empty. i haven't heard from her in months." i reply. "we'll figure something out, we always do." michonne sighs. the horses start to snort and whine as we pass by a vacant field. i look out and see a walker in the middle of the field. 

it turns and looks directly at us and my stomach falls. "it's one of them." i say pulling out my gun. "your people are watching us now, huh? well, we followed their rules haven't they done enough to us?" alden says, poking at lydia. "hey! why don't you lay off?" i call back to him and he scoffs. "you're one to talk." he mutters under his breath and i stop, letting him catch up before punching him in the jaw. "watch your fucking mouth." i spat, letting him stand there holding his mouth. i feel everyone's eyes on me as i walk with lydia back up to michonne. i expect her to say something but she stays quiet, looking at the gravel path. 

"you don't have to protect me. i know how they feel about me." lydia whispers to me. "no, doesn't mean they get to talk to you like that." i shake my head. "i just don't want to cause any more problems." she replies, looking me in the eyes, which she rarely does. "it's their problem, not yours." i answer. the road continues straight for hours. the cold air making it difficult to breathe. the dead bodies lining the road. 

the snow has frosted over the road, the footprints of the dead marking the white coat below our feet. the horses come to a stop as we all inspect the hundreds of shoe prints left in the snow. i take out my knives as i notice two walkers stumbling into the treeline. they turn and start walking toward us. i throw both knives, sticking them straight in their heads. i step down off the road to go collect them. i hear the crunch of boots behind me and daryl walks over, the rest of the group continuing down the road. 

"good one." he says, kicking over the walker. "thanks." i grunt, stepping on the walker's arm and ripping my knife out. "you think anymore 'bout what you're gonna do when you get to alexandria?" he asks, i sigh. "i'm not going back." i say, grabbing the other knife and wiping it on my pants. "what the hell you mean?" he asks, glaring at me. "i'm gonna go find maggie and hershel, go stay with them." i explain and he grunts, following me back onto the road. "you can't keep running from death, kid." he says, swinging his crossbow on his back. "i know." i answer, shrugging it all off.

suddenly, a crack echos through the trees and i see the outline of a person move in the leaves. i look over at daryl and lift a finger to my mouth, shushing him. he pulls out his bow thinking we caught another walker. we both creep through the leaves and i watch as lydia crouches down beside a frozen pond, rolling up her sleeve and shoving it in a frozen walker's face. i step heavy and she turns to look at me, tears rolling down her pink cheeks.

she slowly lowers her arm and puts her glove back on. without any words, she follows daryl and i back to the group, trailing behind us. the council and other leaders stand there in a circle discussing the probability of surviving tonight's blizzard. michonne reminds us all of the sanctuary which has been abandoned for years now, it's a perfect distance between here and the next way station. 

the conversation dies down as we all look up at the sky, the first snowflakes of the blizzard starting to fall. as we start walking, i can't help but glance back at lydia, her eyes fixed on the ground. the wind picks up, howling through the trees, as we march on toward the sanctuary.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.