Chapter 28- The Delta

- General POV

The group ducked in the bushes, examining the large boat that occupied the dock. "Okay... We need to spread out and figure out how we're going to get in." Clementine said, her voice just above a whisper. "And don't let them see you." She added as everyone walked in different directions. She first approached AJ, who watched from behind a rock. "Find anything?" She asked as he turned to her. "Well there's a giant wood street that they're getting on the boat with." He pointed to the dock that occupied a few of the members. "It's called a pier." She corrected, taking note of the crates full of supplies, and the people eliminating any walkers nearby. Leaving AJ to his spying, Clem then approached Louis, who crouched in the grass with an uneasy look. "Find anything yet?" She approached Willy, who still seemed angered from earlier. "They have horses over there. And supplies over there. Plus the hay, by the horses." He said, almost clenching the bow he held. "We could burn the hay and scare the horses. It'd keep the raiders busy. That or we can burn the supplies and take the horses." Clem decided, looking back to Willy as he nodded. "Keep your eye out for any ways inside the boat." She said before walking back, moving to the last member of the group.

"How about you? Do you see anything?" She crouched next to Louis, noticing him oddly avoid eye contact. "Lou?" She questioned before he finally turned to her. "Do you see anything?" She repeated, uncontrollably concerned as he acted different than usual. "Well, there aren't many ways onto the boat, except for that right there." He pointed to an opening, only small enough to fit one person - AJ. She pulled out the binoculars, looking around and spotting multiple things that could help. "Wait... I see Violet!" She watched as the girl was led somewhere, gun pointed at her back with her hands tied. "Really?" Louis asked, intrigued. Clem nodded, pulling the binoculars down and focusing on the boy once more. Finally the air grew thick with tension as neither said anything. "Louis, what's wrong?" She inquired, seeing as the usually talkative teen struggled to say a word. "I don't know. I just... I hate that I'm not the one there. Obviously I'm happy to be okay, but... I just wish we could've avoided all this." He sighed. "That and... I can't stop thinking about last night." He smiled at himself, momentarily forgetting everything happening. Clem's heart beat faster hearing that sentence, and her mind recalled the previous events. Finally, a dull hue of red crossed her face remembering everything that had happened. Carving the heart, telling him about her feelings, then him admitting to the same feelings. And the kiss. The feeling of belonging when her lips met his. She could only hope it stayed that way for a long time. The urge came over her again, and she wanted to connect. She wanted to feel that reassurance and that belonging again, but she knew it'd have to wait. Just as almost everything else. As she turned to get the others, Louis quickly grabbed her hand into his, giving it a quick squeeze and... Making her blush even more. Clem had no idea why she was being so giddy about the whole thing, but she didn't mind at all. She liked this feeling, but once again, it'd have to wait. At least until they were back at the school.

"Guys!" Clementine nodded them over, leading them out to a safer place to discuss. Once in the clear, they stood up completely, talking more freely. "Well there's no way onto the boat without a distraction." She said bluntly. They all nodded. "But how're we gonna get a whole bunch of walkers?" Louis questioned. "It might be easier than you think. As long as we can find James, he might be willing to... Help us again." She answered, moving onto Willy's discovery. "We can burn the supplies or we can burn the hay. I think we should burn the hay, but Ruby would really like to have those horses." He stated. "We should burn the hay. It'll catch on fire really quick and distract the raiders while we sneak on the boat. And we can take the supplies, too." Clem said as they started walking back to the school. Suddenly, a stranger was seen in the clearing, back facing to them as they panicked silently. "Hide, quick!" Clem ordered, ducking behind a tree for cover, examining the survivor. "A raider?" AJ whispered behind the tree. "Has to be. You all stay here, I'll find out if they know anything that could help us." She decided, withdrawing her knife and moving closer.

"Drop it." Clem demanded, holding the knife to the girl's throat as her breaths became loud and uneven. She complied, dropping the axe she chopped wood with onto the ground. "The kids your group stole. Have they been hurt?" She interrogated, keeping the taller female at knife point. "I don't know what you're--" she stopped upon Clem moving the knife closer. "I'm not f*cking around. Answer the question." She threatened, although she was scared herself. "No, no. We need them to fight, they're all fine." She almost spat back. "Clem, stop!" Louis interrupted, making Clem turn her head as the red-headed girl shoved her back and regained her composure. "Hey, Minnie." He tried, hoping for a positive response. Clem stood in realization, and suspicion as Minnie embraced Louis into a seemingly forced hug. "After the attack I wasn't sure. I mean, I heard they burnt half the school down." Her voice had effect as she let go, facing them with an unknown tension. "Who survived? Ruby, Mitch? Brody? Tenn?" She turned to see all the others, the four of them who all stood surrounding her. "Ruby and Tenn made it. Mitch didn't, and um, Brody... Died." Willy answered with a hurt tone. She shook her head doubtfully, moving onto the next question. "Tenn's boots holding up okay? I duct taped them the last time I saw him, but that was a while ago." She inquired. "His boots are fine." Clementine answered as she put her hand on her hip, slightly offended that she'd ask that of all things. Still somewhat skeptical.

"You're Clementine. The girl who took over after Marlon died." Minerva challenged, now giving her a menacing glare. Clem's eyes widened at the sudden change of atmosphere, slightly afraid as the girl practically towered over her. "It's weird. I thought everyone would want to lean on their own." She paused, looking away. "Not the new kid." She spat, her tone changing as she glared the other girl down. "You got a problem?" Clem answered back, raising her head higher and trying not to feel so small, despite her shorter physical height. "Yeah, actually I do." Minerva shook her head as Clem crossed her arms, giving her signature "I knew better than to trust you" look. "Abel figured he could talk Marlon into handing everyone over, like he and Lilly did... Like they did before." She paused as she sauntered around the area, turning back with an even deadlier stare as she finished, "You ruined the whole plan.". The five of them bickered on as Louis interrupted, confused and defending the girl standing next to him. "Marlon would never have made them fight the way you did. He wouldn't have gotten people killed." Minnie leaned down slightly as Clementine raised her head higher, letting her threatening glare show through. Something she learned to do when she met untrustworthy people. "That's some grade-A bullsh*t! Clem saved us!" Louis defended, trying to take the girl's attention off of his friend. "Yeah? Then why are so many people dead?" She tried again and again, challenging Clem and provoking a fight.

"He wouldn't have gotten people killed? He murdered Brody!" Clementine informed as the other girl's face turned to momentary shock. "What?" Minerva tried to contain her shock. "Minerva, where's Sophie?" Louis asked. "She... She died. Protecting the Delta. A hero." Her face hardened suddenly as her tone became stiff. Their faces turned to shock, then sadness. "A hero?! Seriously, you're--" Clem was interrupted by another raider, calling Minnie. "Sh*t!" She explained in a whisper as they all scattered among the bushes. After the interaction, she picked up the axe dutifully and walked over to Clem. "Our boat leaves for the Delta in two days. Then it'll be a couple of weeks before we can come back for the rest of you. When we do, don't fight. The only way you're going to save your people is to let us take them." She said, informing, with an underlying distaste in her tone. "It's not too late, Minnie. You could come back to the school with us." Clem tried as the girl's face turned to slight sorrow. "No, no I couldn't." She shook her head before walking off, back to the boat.

Clem turned around, almost running into Louis before noticing his face. The expression even darker than it had been before. "Are you okay?" She asked with a concerned tone. "This doesn't change anything. We still need to get into the boat." He answered as she nodded slightly, proceeding to give them a quick rundown before heading back to the school, and to go find James.

Woah sorry it's been so long. And I know, it's dicey and trashy. I'm trying not to have like, too too much action, since it is kinda a Clouis fanfic lol. But then again I'm almost completely brain-dead and tired so... Agh. There's a fair bit going on lately and I'm trying to update more regularly, but I'm trying to kinda... Skim over the not-romantic parts? I mean, more or less. But yeah, so..... Until next time I guess lol. Thanks for reading! (And being so patient with me 😂)