Declarations

Part 20: Running Wild Again

The four reached the bottom and discovered everyone moving in confusion. The shouts from Abraham reverberated throughout the dwelling. Those who were not fully awake were trying desperately to make sense of the urgency.

"I have to find Dom," Dawn said.

"With you," Dean said.

Rick responded with a terse nod. He quickly scanned the crowd and found Michonne with Judith strapped to her back. The katana was ready in her hand. Maggie and Glenn ran toward the shouts. Carl moved to follow. Rick grabbed his arm.

"Stay with Michonne," Rick said. "I'm going with them."

Most of the mall had been fortified with an aggressive barricade of vehicles and spikes except for the front entrance where they had boarded the windows with discarded furniture. As the trio neared Abraham and Sasha, they noticed a breech. Something had created an opening and drifts of snow were beginning to accumulate near the doorway. Tracks darkened the snow and puddles led away from the entrance.

"Don't know if they're human or walkers," Sasha said quickly. She looked at Abraham. "They're here now. Go!"

"I'll help Sasha," Glenn volunteered. "We'll come after we close it."

"Be safe," Maggie said.

Abraham moved at fast pace. "We were at Macy's when Sasha said it felt colder. I thought I heard something."

"Are Bob and Tara still on this end?" Rick asked.

"Yeah, but aren't they pulling roof duty?" Maggie said.

"Trying to access if anyone we should check on," Rick said.

They were moving fast past the stores. So far, the spaces were dark and appeared undisturbed. The uninhabited spaces far outnumbered their group, so hiding places were easy to claim. Just last night, he and Michonne had been grateful for the sanctuary they found in Crabtree Valley Mall, but now, he cursed the vastness of the building. If they truly were under attack, how could they protect everyone?

$%^&

Nik missed the warmth of the sun. Skiing and snowboarding had been fun when he and Lorenzo were kids, but since the fall everything they knew, the winter was the season he liked the least. The cold put them at a disadvantage. He marveled at how he had taken so many things for granted. Heat, food, water, shelter, and a working toilet were conveniences he never imagined being items on his wish list. Of course, they were not close to the highest item on that list—reuniting with his daughter, father, and mother-in-law.

He used his flashlight to check in on his partners for the shift. Bob and Carol were furthest away, but within yelling distance. Tara was a few yards away. She was always quiet, but attentive to whatever role required of her. Sometimes, he wondered what happened prior to her joining Glenn and the others. Maybe one day she would share.

The varied direction of Nik's thoughts made him laugh at himself. His mind was doing anything to forget the cold. This winter had to be the most brutal since the world collapsed. Last year, he and his family had joined a group, and it would be weeks before a herd scattered them. Even more weeks would pass before they found the RVs and connected with the worthless cousins, Clay and Nash.

Those bastards, Nik thought. Nash was great at scavenging and that was his one saving grace. Clay's skills were limited. Both tried to conceal their interest in Dawn, but Nik was more than ready if they ever made a move on his wife. Because of her generosity, they were allowed to stay. If it had been solely Nik's decision, the cousins would have been banned on sight.

Why am I thinking about them? he asked himself. He released a loud breath.

"Okay over there?" Tara asked.