Lone Wolf

Chapter Seven

"His fever has gone down. That's good." I told them.

"Baby? Carl?" Lori asked as Carl woke up.

"Sophia? Is she okay?" He asked.

"Fine. She's fine." Rick told him.

"Rest. We'll be right here okay?" Lori told him.

"Okay." Carl said, falling asleep.

"Mommy, the others are here." Athena told me as she came in.

"Thank you, baby." I told her.

We left the room and greeted the others.

"How is he?" Dale asked.

"He'll pull through." Lori said.

"We got all the fragments out. The wound is nicely closed and patched. He'll be in and out of it for a couple of days, but he'll make a full recovery." I explained.

"How'd it happen?" Dale asked.

"Hunting accident." Rick said.

We all gathered at the memorial for Otis. I had Athena in my arms as Isabelle leaned on me.

I listened as Shane spoke. I couldn't help, but listen to his heartbeat. It skipped a beat. I smelled his scent and I could smell the lie.

After the memorial, I took the kids to a tree.

"Mom, he was lying." Alexander told me.

"I know, baby. I want you all to stay away from him for now. Just until I get the real story." I told them. "Now go and set the tent up. Find a good spot you like. I'm gonna go see what's happening." I told them.

They nodded, leaving. I met up with the group at the truck. 

"How long has she been lost?" Hershal asked.

"This will be day three" Rick told him.

Suddenly Maggie came up with a map.

"County survey map. Shows terrain and elevations." she said unfolding it.

"This is perfect. We can finally get this thing organized. We'll grid the whole area, start searching in teams." Rick said.

"You're not" I said as he looked at me.

"You gave three units of blood. You'll pass out within five minutes." I explained.

"She's right." Hershal said before looking at Shane "And your ankle--push it now, you'll be laid up a month." He told him.

"Guess it's just me." Daryl said.

"Umm, no. I can search too." I said

"Who will watch the kids though?" He asked me.

"They can come with. Alexander can track. The same with Isabelle and I've been teaching Athena." I told him.

"Alright. Fine with me." Daryl said.

"Okay. Daryl you'll look back at the creek and my kids and I will look west of it." I told everyone.

We all nodded in agreement.

"I can still be useful. I'll drive up to the interstate, see if Sophia wandered back." Shane added in.

"Alright. Tomorrow then, we'll start doing this right." Rick said.

"That means we can't have our people out there with just knives. They need the gun practice we've been promising them." Shane told Rick.

I couldn't help but agree that it would be better for the others.

"I'd prefer you not carrying guns on my property. We've managed so far without turning this into an armed camp." Hershal said.

I looked at the kids and saw the tent set up. I could see them bringing are stuff inside. Blankets, pillows, emergency drinks and food, and our bags. I smiled knowing they got everything set up.

After we were finished talking, I walked towards the kids, only to be stopped by Rick.

"Hey Stella. Are you sure you and the kids will be safe out there?" Rick asked me.

"Don't worry. The kids and I used to go hunting before the world ended. We know our way around a forest. We'll be back before the sun goes down." I told him.

He sighed but agreed.

"Just be safe out there. I don't know what I...I mean we would do without you or the kids." He said.

"I promise." I told him, smiling. I couldn't help but notice the 'I' he said.

I finally reached the kids.

"Who wants to go searching." I said.

After the kids got ready, we left.

"Mom, do you think you can start teaching me how to use my claws to seek information?" Alec asked me.

"I could, but not right now. Not until you're older atleast. The process, while relatively easy can do a lot of damage to the person. Same with you too, Isabelle. When your older, I want to teach you how to use your voice not only as a scream but as a weapon." I told her.

"What do you mean?" She asked me.

"You can use your voice to attack or protect. Being a banshee is hard and their are not many of us left, but et have a way to use our voice." I explained.

We heard a snap and I saw two walkers.

"Look at me." I told them.

I opened my mouth and released a scream to see the soundwaves leave, killing the first walker, before I maneuvered the sound with hands to explode the second walker.

"Awesome/amazing/ewww." They all reacted.

"Sorry, baby I didn't mean for the blood to get everywhere." I told Athena.

"When did you learn to do that?" Isabelle asked me.

"Aunt Lydia taught me. She showed me how to use my voice as a weapon by increasing the volume. Just as you can use it as a shield. And I will yeah you when the time is right." I told her.

"Mommy, when will we know what I am?" Athena asked me.

"Well, it depends. With your brother it was his rage that transformed him and your sister her lose that caused the scream. Just like your sister there is a chance you could be like me or just one species. All of you have enhanced speed and strength thanks to my wolf gene. Alexander is the strongest though for being a wolf between y'all. However, he isn't a banshee. There was a possibility Isabelle could be both but didn't show signs of being a wolf. All we can do is wait and see what you become." I told her.

"Okay, mommy." She told me.

We continued searching the woods until the sun started going down. We ran back to camp and settled into our tent.

"I'm going to go check on Carl." I told them. "Hershel doesn't want guns on his land, but I ain't giving it up. I have one in my bag and this one--is going to stay next to me in this tent. Do not grab it." I told them.

I walked towards the house and went to Carl's room. I saw Rick asleep.

"Hey Carl." I greeted seeing him awake.

"Hi Ms. Stella." He told me.

"Sweetheart, Stella is just fine." I told him.

"Okay...Stella. Thank you for saving me." He said.

"That was all you, babyboy. You did all the hardwork." I told him.

He smiled. I felt Rick move and saw him awake.

"I'll leave you two alone." I said, kissing Carl's forehead.

I checked on T-dog before going to my tent for the night. I tucked in Athena, before kissing all of them goodnight. I waited till they fell asleep, before doing it myself.