While Rick and Glenn were checking the vehicles and preparing to head out in search of Hershel, Calista arrived with Leah and Merle.
"Rick," Calista said without preamble, "we're going to town with you."
Rick looked up at her, slightly surprised.
The girl standing before him had changed into the clean clothes Maggie gave her. The grime from days on the road was gone, and she now looked fresh and full of youthful energy.
"Calista, I know you want to help, and I appreciate it. But this is between us and Hershel, and we don't know what the situation in town is like…"
Rick tried to turn her down. He didn't want to put more people at risk, especially these "guests" who had already helped them.
Calista shook her head and cut him off. "It's not just about helping. We're leaving the farm soon too."
That made both Rick and Glenn pause.
"Leaving? Why? Isn't it safe here?" Glenn asked, unable to hold back. He had assumed they were unsettled because of the barn incident.
"The farm is great. Hershel and all of you are great too," Calista said carefully. "But we got separated from our own group, and we need to find them.
Before we leave, we need a vehicle that can handle long-distance travel. There aren't many vehicles on the farm, and they belong to the Greene family and you, so we're heading to town to find one."
The reasoning was solid. Rick couldn't argue with it.
He looked at Calista, then at Leah behind her, and finally at Merle, who might be a jerk but was undeniably capable in a fight.
With them along, the search for Hershel would be safer.
"I get it." Rick nodded. "Alright, we go together. More people means more strength."
Just then, the sound of a motorcycle engine approached.
Daryl rode up on his beloved bike, planted one foot on the ground, glanced at Rick and Glenn, then at Merle, and said simply, "I'm coming too."
He didn't explain, but everyone understood.
Finding Hershel was a team effort, but sticking close to his brother Merle was probably the more personal reason.
Rick had no objections.
Daryl's tracking ability and combat skills were a major asset.
So they set out in two vehicles.
Rick drove the sedan with Glenn.
Calista, Leah, and Merle joined Daryl in the old pickup truck the farm had been using to gather supplies. Daryl's motorcycle was secured in the truck bed.
Leah was about to take the driver's seat, but Merle stopped her.
Grinning, he insisted on driving. "How can I let a lady do something this tiring?"
Leah glanced at his right arm. "Your metal arm can even handle a steering wheel?"
Merle immediately got in, started the engine, and deliberately revved it loudly, gripping the wheel with his left hand. "I can drift with one hand."
As the vehicles left the farm, the atmosphere inside the pickup grew a bit tense.
Merle drove while bragging to Daryl in the back seat through the rearview mirror.
"See that, kid? My driving's way better than Glenn tiptoeing around like that. Once we find a car, we'll head to Rock Fortress and I'll show you what real…"
"Just drive. You talk too much," Daryl cut him off impatiently, though his gaze occasionally drifted to Leah in the passenger seat, who remained silent and alert as she watched outside.
She didn't talk much, but her skill made even him take notice.
Calista sat beside Merle, watching the barren landscape rush past, her thoughts moving quickly.
She knew that in the original storyline, Rick and Glenn would run into Randall and his group while searching for Hershel. That encounter would turn into a conflict, leaving Randall injured and brought back to the farm, which would spark even bigger problems later.
But now, Randall and his group were already dead.
The realization clicked instantly in Calista's mind.
That meant the hidden threat that once caused so much trouble for the farm had already been removed without her even realizing it.
With Hershel out alone this time, the risk of running into hostile humans was greatly reduced. His biggest danger would likely just be scattered walkers.
That eased her mind and made it easier to split up from Rick and Glenn.
At the very least, Rick and Glenn would not be caught in the same kind of pincer danger as in the original storyline.
The vehicles entered the town.
Unlike last time, when they went straight to the supermarket, this time they needed to carefully search for both vehicles and any trace of Hershel.
"Let's split up," Calista suggested to Rick. "You and Glenn focus on finding Hershel. He might be at the town bar, or somewhere else he can… clear his head.
We'll look for him too while checking for a suitable vehicle. Daryl can come with us. His tracking skills will help with finding a car."
She was clearly hinting that Hershel was at the bar trying to drink away his worries.
The town was small. It would not take Rick and Glenn long to find the bar and locate him. After that, they would probably sit down together, have a drink, and talk things through.
Calista deliberately placed Daryl on her side. It gave him time with Merle and avoided possible friction from staying with Rick's group.
After all, one was the team leader, and the other was effectively a future son-in-law. Once Hershel started drinking, he would have a lot to say.
With Daryl's personality, he would probably just stand there awkwardly, wiping down his crossbow.
Rick considered it and agreed.
Finding Hershel was the priority. The town did not seem to have many walkers, so splitting up would be more efficient.
"Alright. Stay safe."
"You too." Calista nodded.
The two groups split at the town entrance.
Rick and Glenn drove toward the center of town, heading for where a bar was likely located.
Meanwhile, Calista and the others drove the pickup, carefully searching the streets and parking lots.
Merle rubbed his metal hand together excitedly. "Heh, finally doing something real. I've been wanting a better ride for a long time."
...
An hour later.
"Shit, the cars in this damn place are worse than the walkers," Merle cursed, knocking on the hood of a Ford SUV. The dull thud startled a walker lying in a nearby pile of trash.
The walker growled and staggered to its feet, but before it could take two steps, a crossbow bolt shot cleanly into its eye socket, dropping it instantly.
Daryl calmly retrieved the bolt and glanced at his brother. "Save your energy, Merle. You'd be better off checking more cars."
This town was in terrible shape.
Abandoned vehicles were scattered everywhere. Most were covered in thick dust, with shattered windows and flat tires. Some had even been burned down to nothing but their frames.
After searching for a long time, the four of them still could not find a single working vehicle. They had, however, cleared out quite a few walkers.