Changing To Adapt ➵ TWD

➵ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴛᴡᴇɴᴛʏ ꜱɪx

Lucas takes every step with a satisfying thud towards the grass, hearing the fly-wire door swing shut behind Andrea, seconds after himself. They meet Rick at the green car, passing off the few rations they were planning to bring with them on their search for Sophia.

Peach sitting in his open mouth, between sharp teeth, Lucas folds the map exactly six times. Tucking it into his pocket, he pulls the peach away and finishes it off.

"You ready?" He asks Andrea, brushing past her to pick up his bag.

She nods, tucking her gun into her belt.

Rick sorts the rations between the three of them and nods up at Glenn, who's watching them from his point on top of the R.V. "We'll see y'all soon."

He claps a hand against Lucas's arm as he rounds the car to grab his things.

Lucas waves his goodbye to Glenn and follows Rick, "I have a good feeling about this." He says, leaning against the bumper.

Rick smiles lightly. But just as he's about to say something, Hershel is calling out his name, the old man making his way down the steps.

"Hershel." Rick straightens up, tapping his holster to explain. "We just have our guns out 'cause we're gonna go look for Sophia."

Hershel rolls up a sleeve of his shirt, looking almost nervous. "Before you do that, I could use your help with something."

"Count me in." Andrea drops her hands on her hips, ready to help.

But Hershel shakes his head. He only needs Rick.

And Rick looks like he's considering it, catching something in the old man's eyes.

"Rick." Lucas protests, pushing away from the car. "It's been too long since we've been out there. We can't waste this time."

There's a sigh in Rick's voice when he lowers his head, "I know." He drags a hand over his eyes and looks at Hershel, "It won't take too long?"

"It won't."

Lucas exhales slowly from his nose, scratches his cheek, and then looks away. "Okay, guess I'll swap with Glenn on watch till you get back."

Rick nods, following Hershel to somewhere beyond the house.

Out of cautiousness, Lucas walks Andrea down to the barn where Shane is still watching, like he's waiting for the walkers to escape, and drops her off before he heads back to the R.V.

He bumps into Dale. And stops.

Dale freezes as well, caught in the act. Because the bag of guns - the only ones the group owns - is clasped in his sweaty hands. He's not coming back from the shooting range, or from the barn, but heading out of camp with the weapons.

Dale's wide eyes settle on the blond, darting towards where they both know Shane is waiting. His lips part to explain.

But Lucas only nods.

He lets Dale pass by and doesn't ask where he's hiding the guns. Better off in the old man's nonviolent hands than Shane's. He only glances back once when he climbs up onto the R.V., answering Glenn's quick-fire questions about where Rick had gone.

Lucas is pleasantly surprised when Glenn doesn't hop down after they swap for lookout duty, and only takes a seat beside him.

Dale's hat looks awkward on Glenn's head, and Lucas flicks it with his finger to get his attention. This time he's the one firing questions.

"Where's your hat, old timer? Looks like you just aged a few years with that thing on."

Glenn goes to tell him that Maggie smashed an egg in it, mad at him because he told everyone about the barn. To which Lucas reassures that it was the best thing he could have done.