TWD: The Burden We Bear

After Lee and Eddie agree to accompany Danny on their expedition, they begin their trek through the dense woods, each of them gripping their hunting rifles tightly.

"See anything out there?" Danny inquires, scanning the surroundings.

"Not yet," Lee responds, his gaze focused ahead.

"Nah," Eddie shakes his head, disappointment evident.

"I know it's around here," Danny insists, determination in his voice. "It's gotta be close."

Pausing, Lee kneels down, nudging an empty can of soup with the barrel of his rifle. He gives a subtle signal for them to keep moving.

"Here!" Lee suddenly calls out, standing in front of a vacant campsite.

"Oh, shit! You found it?!" Danny exclaims, his excitement palpable.

Lee motions for silence as they creep closer to the camp, weapons at the ready in case of an ambush. To their surprise, the site is deserted. They tread carefully, hiding behind the thick trunks of nearby trees.

"You see anybody?" Danny whispers, his voice strained.

"Looks empty," Lee replies quietly, scanning the area.

"Stay on your guard," Eddie cautions, keeping his focus sharp.

They step cautiously into the camp.

"Alright, y'all. I'm heading over to check out the tent," Danny announces. With careful movements, he approaches the tent and slowly raises the flap, his rifle poised for action. After a brief glance inside, he lowers his weapon, confirming its emptiness.

"Clear. This camp's too small to be their main base," Danny concludes.

"That was my guess too," Lee nods, contemplating their next move.

"Let's look around anyway. There's a good chance they've snagged some of our stuff," Danny suggests nonchalantly.

Lee shifts a box aside with his rifle and discovers a camera tucked away. Meanwhile, Eddie inspects another box but finds it devoid of anything useful.

"It seems like they plan to be here for a while," Eddie comments, raising an eyebrow as he observes the surroundings.

"The tent looks pretty new. Is anyone inside?" Lee calls out from the tent, his curiosity piqued.

"Two sleeping bags. One of them is kid-sized," Danny replies, concern creeping into his voice.

"Hmm. They must have been transporting a lot of gear," Eddie notes, rummaging through several boxes.

"What's in the boxes?" Danny asks, leaning in closer.

"They're from Save-Lots," Eddie states, his brow furrowing in thought.

"They directed everyone to gather at Save-Lots near the interstate during the first few days. Anything worth taking?" Danny queries.

"If you need empty cans, then yeah," Eddie says with a hint of sarcasm.

"Heh. I'll pass," Danny replies, shaking his head in dismissal.

"This is too much stuff for just one person," Lee observes, scanning the camp.

"Trust me, these selfish bastards won't stop taking. Probably just to remind us that it's all theirs," Danny replies with disdain.

"I don't really trust you..." Eddie mutters under his breath, though his companions remain oblivious.

As Eddie shifts another box aside with his rifle, he spots a box behind it labeled "St. John Dairy."

"Boxes from the dairy are here," Eddie says, raising an eyebrow in surprise.

"Probably food we've been supplying them. Those bastards have crossed the line," Danny snaps angrily.

Lee picks up the camera he had found earlier.

"What'd you find?" Danny asks, his interest piqued.

"A video camera," Lee replies, pressing the "on" button. Nothing happens.

"Battery's dead, though," Lee adds, disappointment edging his tone.

"Oh, good," Danny says, his voice laced with relief, prompting a suspicious glance from Eddie. Lee notices the tension brewing between them.

Danny strides over to Lee. "What else do they have here? Let's see if we can dig up anything useful before we leave. I see you're handling that gun I lent you quite well. You a hunter?" Danny changes the subject.

"We practice," Eddie says casually, diverting his attention to scouring the camp.

Lee steps inside the tent and picks up a photograph depicting a young girl with her mother. He takes a moment to absorb the image, sadness flooding over him before he gently sets it down again. "Jesus... There's a kid caught up in this?" Lee frowns, the weight of the revelation sinking in.

"WAS, more like," Danny replies dismissively.

"Aw, man..." Lee sighs quietly.

As Lee examines an adult's sleeping bag, he uncovers Clementine's hat beneath it. "What the hell?" Lee gasps, astonished. Just then, a woman appears, aiming a crossbow at him.

"Don't you fucking move!" she shouts, her voice tremulous with wild emotion.

"Shit!" Danny curses under his breath.

Danny and Eddie swiftly point their rifles at her, ready for any sudden movement.

"Put your guns down," she demands defiantly.

Lee carefully places Clementine's hat aside and emerges from the tent, raising his weapon to join his friends.

"I ain't going back. You tell 'em Jolene ain't going back!" she exclaims, her desperation evident.

"Hey, we had a deal! No shooting as long as we provided you food! What the hell happened?" Danny responds, disbelief coloring his tone.

"You had a deal with them. I ain't them. I know you. I know what you're capable of," she says, her eyes wild and accusing.

Eddie subtly glances at Danny, who immediately catches on. "You don't know me," Danny shakes his head.

"Steal my shit! Take everything from me!" she screams.

"We had a deal! You people broke it first!" Danny retorts vehemently.

"Why are you alone out here? What happened to you?" Lee asks, trying to understand her situation.

"That's a hell of a question, mister. They told me I'd be safe with them... Men who lived here. But it weren't safe. Not for me, and certainly not for my girl. They didn't treat her well. Not at all. They took her away, deep into the woods. Wouldn't reveal where they were taking her. I begged... I did everything I could think of. And they just laughed..." She suddenly bursts into manic laughter. "So I killed 'em. And I'm staying here till she comes back to me. One way or another... she'll return."

"We're tracking the people who attacked the dairy and shot my friend," Eddie says, trying to piece together a connection.

"I don't know where they are. But they aren't here. So I suggest you get the fuck out of my camp!" she demands fiercely.

"She's lying!" Danny interjects defensively before Eddie can ask further.

"Now, maybe you didn't hear me last time. When I asked you, sweet, to put your damn guns down! You think I won't kill you? I'm going to take this crossbow and put a sharp arrow right through your eyeball, into your goddamn brain. You're not men; you're monsters. All men are monsters. They take what they want and destroy everything. Take a can of beans, take a little girl... it's all the same to you!" she rants.

"Put down the crossbow," Lee commands firmly.

"No, sir, I need it. I need it to kill you fuckers," she cackles madly.

"Listen, there's two of us and one of you. No matter what happens, one of us is going to end this," Eddie asserts with grim determination.

"Like you could kill me. They couldn't kill me. They tried. Killings everywhere. You can take all the dead folks you want; we'll just make more!" She narrows her eyes. Then she swivels to face Danny. "Go on, tell him, boy! Tell him what you got in mind for-"

Before she can finish her sentence, Danny, unable to contain himself, pulls the trigger and shoots her in the head. "Goddamn it!" Danny swears under his breath, lowering the rifle slowly.

Lee remains silent, processing the sudden shift in their situation.

Eddie stares at the gruesome scene, eyes fixated on the brain matter splattered on the forest floor.

"It's a clean shot, though. Right through the forehead. That's good shooting right there," Danny remarks, but when he notices the disapproving glares from Lee and Eddie, he quickly adds, "Still, what a waste."

"So that's it? We just head back?" Lee asks impatiently, urgency creeping into his voice.

"If they ain't here, I don't know where they are. And tromping through the woods looking for them ain't a good idea. So, yeah, we head back. Once they see this... they'll get the message," Danny concludes, taking the crossbow as a trophy. "C'mon."

Lee casts one last glance over his shoulder at the lifeless form of the woman before turning back, and Eddie takes a deep breath, following without looking back. Together, they make their way back to the farm, the weight of the encounter lingering heavily in the air.