Lilly explains herself while dissing Lee in the process.

"Lee should've left you and Clementine behind too," She says, "Might've lived longer if he did."

Suddenly angry, Clem and AJ pop out of the bushes behind them, aiming their guns.

"Shut up, Lilly!" Clementine yells, "You weren't there, you have no idea what we went through."

She smiles at the sight of old friends, "Good to see you too, Clem."

Abel quickly grabs AJ's gun and tosses it aside, while Lilly smacks Clem's gun out of her hands as well. Both of them are pushed to the ground with Abel's gun to my sister's head.

"You want to keep these two with you as well?" Lilly asks, stepping closer, "You'll die protecting them. You may be able to keep this up a while longer, but eventually, they'll both slow you down."

"They can hold their own," I hiss, "Your group should be the ones that are terrified of being slower than us."

Abel begins to get annoyed, telling his colleague that they've got a job to do.

"We can help you, (Y/N). But we need you to do something for us in return."

"Like what? Help you kidnap the other kids? Hell no."

Lilly chuckles, "We'll take you back to the Delta to join our people. We have walls. We have working solar panels and we grow our own food. Everything you'd want for AJ and Clementine. All we need is for you to go convince your friends to come peacefully. No one will be harmed in any way."

"I refuse," I reply bluntly, "They wouldn't listen even if I tried."

"How about this then?" Abel says, twisting AJ's arm, "I'll take the little squirt right now. That way, you'll play nice."

Behind the man, I notice two familiar figures. Violet and Louis.

As Violet aims at Lilly, I call out, "Shoot!"

The arrow sticks into her shoulder as chaos breaks out. Abel aims back at them, getting Louis' shoulder. AJ, Clem, and I run through the forest.

We dodge bullets and logs until we come across a small area filled with walkers. Lilly and Abel have to slow down to keep the monsters off their tails, so the three of us head farther. AJ got hit with some shrapnel, so he's resting by a tree while Clementine and I use the small weapons we were able to keep to attack incoming walkers.

Suddenly, as I go to stab one, it speaks to me.

"What the fuc-"

It cuts me off, "Shh, too loud."

It lets go and I watch as it picks up a rock and throws it in the opposite direction. The walkers slowly head over as the speaking walker tells me to follow. Clementine, although confused, picks up AJ and the three of us follow him. 

We set AJ down on a tree log and begin doing our work to help him heal. Clementine takes the shrapnel out while the talking walker and I hold AJ down. When we're done, the three of us sit down by the fire and the walker that helped us begins to speak again. 

"I didn't mean to endanger you. The walkers were sent to help you." It says.

"You sent the walkers?" I ask.

"Was part of a group," It replies, "Call themselves the whisperers. They've learned to live in herds, among walkers. Move among them. Sometimes, guide them."

"Why are you alone, then?" I question.

"They attacked a community, saw the carnage. Didn't want to be apart of it."

I nod, suddenly saddened.

AJ stirrs.

"Does it hurt?" Clem asks.

"Hungry.." He replies.

The walker turns to us, holding out an apple. We thank him and give most of it to AJ, while Clem and I get a small slice.

"Do you have a name?" Clem asks.

"Been a while.."

"Since?" I add in.

"I've said it.."

We watch as the walker takes off his mask (of human skin, I believe) to reveal a boy, not much older than ourselves under it.

"James."

I smile slightly, "Why did you help us, James?"

He gets up, "The people who attacked you. What do you know about them?"

"We know they kidnap kids," Clem says, "They took two last year."

"A common practice for them," James says, "They're at war, up north. Their entire community against another. It's why they take people. To make them fight. Train them, use them. You would join their war."

"Scumbags." I mutter.

"Yes.." James replies, "That's why I helped you." 

Suddenly the croak of a walker startles us. I jump up to fight, but James hands me a rock instead. I take it and throw it in the opposite direction, works almost as well.

After some awkward silence, I finally speak up.

"So James, do you just hang out in the woods, saving random people?"

"After I left my group, I wandered. First time alone, ever," He responds, "Saw war everywhere. First against walkers, then against each other. Hoped it would be better here. Where are you from?"

"Georgia," I respond, leaning on Clem's shoulder, "Both of us."

"Where are you from?" Clementine decides to ask.

"Washington."

A brief pause as I ask, "The city or the state?"

"City...dad ran a food truck, I helped."

AJ begins to breathe heavily beside us. His forehead is warm, he's got a fever.

"His wound will need proper cleaning and medicine. I-If you're lucky enough to have any."

I sigh, "The school has medicine, but..I don't think they'll want to share it now."

"That's why those people attacked you, isn't it? To get to that school. They'll destroy whatever they find. Bring more guns, more fighters. Take everyone inside."

Clem cringes, "They can't fight them off..not alone."

"You need medicine," James says, "You have to go back or you'll lose him."

I nod, glancing at my brother and sister, "We'll go back, convince them to help AJ and warn them about Abel and Lilly."

"I'll help you get back, past the walkers. A few more hours and we'll go. You three should get your rest."

"But shouldn't-"

He cuts me off, "Sleep. I'll keep watch."

A few hours later, the four of us head to the school. After James leaves, Louis sees the rest of us and rushes out. We explain AJ's condition and he's taken inside. 

Ruby and Louis look after her while Clem and I follow Violet to the office.