“Carol. Let’s get her inside and find out what we can before we get too friendly.” He knows Carol will understand. Their words are their code to not trust the stranger. She’d need to prove herself first.

He sees the person, a woman as she’s using a knife to try and get in. “Hurry! Get inside before more of them try!” He keeps his gun out because yeah he was going to pick off walkers but this new person was an unknown. He didn’t trust anyone he didn’t know from his original group.-

“Open the gate!” At his command, the gate starts to open leaving just enough space for someone to get through. He draws his gun and takes aim at one of the walkers just as he hears shots ring out. Glen and Daryl are helping get rid of some of the incoming walkers.-

As he ran towards the person he saw them take out walker after walker but he knew from experience that person would soon be overrun. As he’s running, he sees Glen and Daryl posted ready to shoot while Carol ran right behind him.-

“Rick! We got a survivor trying to get in with walkers attacking! East fence!” Rick heard Carol as he was making his morning rounds. Running as fast as he could, he spots what Carol was talking about. There in the distance was someone trying to get in.-

“She’ll be ok Rick. She’s smart. She’s a survivor. We’ll find her.” He hears Daryl’s words and nods but he feels like he failed.

With a final look at the prison that had been their haven for several months, he runs out and heads to the truck where Daryl is ready to head out. He sees Judith on the other side of the fence and feels dread that even though he can see her, he can’t reach her.-

“JUDITH! JUDITH! Where are you?”He’s shouting for her while scrambling to gather their meager supplies to take with them.
“Rick! She’s already out!” He hears Daryl shout to him and nods, believing she’s outside already heading to safety with the group.-

If it broke they’d be overrun. Rick knew they wouldn’t be able to hold the prison.
“Everyone! Get what you can and get to the cars! Get to safety! We need to leave NOW!” The fence was coming down. He raced inside and it’s with horror that he realizes he can’t find Judith.-

They had animals and crops. Their tiny community and his family were safe behind the prison walls.

It was this belief that led to the downfall of their safe haven. A weakness in the fence they’d somehow overlooked was now where the walkers were starting to gather.-

There was always something to do and something going on. Walkers was their biggest problem but they also had to face the realities of making sure there was enough food and water for everyone. Everyday was a struggle to survive but it seemed like they could finally breathe.-

// I love it! Can I claim it?

Now he had to find a way for him and Maggie to be able to get past it and move forward.
As he enters Hilltop, he can see a figure on the porch holding a baby. He knew it was Maggie. With a deep sigh, he makes his way towards her.

It had been a long time since he’d seen any of them but especially Maggie. So much had been left unsaid. He knew she was angry with him. It was the elephant in the room. He knew his decision to spare Negan was not one any in the group had agreed with but it had to be done. +

It had been a while. Their paths had all diverged and separated the core group but Rick had worked long and hard, he’d fought with everything he had to get back to his people. His family.
With Hilltop in sight, Rick felt both relief and a twinge of nerves. +

ooc: Absolutely hit me up. I’ll dm you so we can plot something.