In the morning we set out to go to Hilltop. When I woke up I was engulfed in Carl's arms, who was sleeping peacefully. His hair fell smoothly on his face, breathing was soft and slow.

Rick, Michonne, Carl, Tara, Rosita and I went to Hilltop. Maggie was the one who opened up the gates, we all immediately greeted her with a hug and so did I.

We met in a hug that nearly took us both off our feet. I hugged Maggie tighter than I ever though was possible for myself as a sixteen year old.

"It's so good to see you." I breathed with a smile.

"It's good to see you too Lils." Maggie said. "How are you?" She asked as we separated from our hug.

"Fine, what about you? How's the little guy?" I asked and placed my hand in her growing stomach.

"Doing great, can't wait for you to meet each other." She smiled and placed her hand on my shoulder.

"I'll be the world's best aunt." I confirmed with a gleam, then moving to let her say hi to the others.

It felt hard to see Maggie, but I had to face it. "Lilia..look." Carl came to the side of me and pointed up.

I lifted my head to see my dad.. walking along side Jesus around the corner with him. I felt tears well in my eyes as I saw him lock eyes on me, and then I was running. He caught me as I ran straight into his arms, letting out a gasp of relief and a smile grew on our faces. His hand rested on the back of my head, we held each other for as long and as close as possible.

I started crying for a bit, he put both of his hands on my cheeks to make me face him. Right when he saw me I saw tears well in his eyes, and he pulled me back into a hug.

"You're here.. you're really here.." I sobbed in his arms. "I missed you so much."

"I missed you to.." He squeezed me. "I'm never leaving ya' again, I promise."

"I'm so glad you're safe.." I breathed out thankfully. "I'm alright, we both are. Okay?" He released me, picking up a strand of my hair and throwing it in my face which made me chuckle a bit.

I eventually let go to allow him to greet everyone else, Rick went over to Daryl and they whispered for a moment before hugging.

My eyes continued water, out of pure happiness that he's back and safe. There were smiles everywhere, finally happy for a reunion.

My dad pulled out Rick's gun and handed it to him, and he took it in disbelief. He had his gun back, his family was together again, he was ready. We all were. Everyone shared a hopeful look and a nod of their head, we all realised that this was it.

It's time to fight.

But..

Gregory of all people was not on board. He shut us down as soon as we asked for Hilltop's help. I was pissed off, everyone was. As we left Gregory's office nobody was in a good mood.

"Walking ballsack." Rosita muttered.

"Wanna knock that idiot's teeth out." Sasha said.

"Dickhead." I agreed and rubbed my forehead, my dad slapped my hand. "Language." He scolded and Sasha snorted.

"Shut up." I muttered and nudged her, she chuckled.

"We don't need him anyway." My dad said.

"Yeah, that's right." Rick nodded. "'Cause we have Maggie, Sasha and Jesus here."

"And...Enid." Maggie added, as Enid walked through the door.

"Hey, um.." She began.

"What's wrong?" Sasha asked.

"Nothing." She replied. "Just...come outside."

We walked outside, to find a group of the Hilltop's people waiting for us. Maggie stood at the front of the group. "What's going on?"

She started talking to them, they were immediately on board with us on fighting the Saviours. They didn't care about what Gregory had to say.

When we headed to the gate, dad suggest a plan, that we won't need many more people as long as we have the right supplies. We had to go back home just incase Negan comes looking for him, but Jesus stopped us.

"You don't have to get back?" Jesus said, pulling out a walkie. "Not yet. It's one of theirs, long range. We can listen in, keep track of 'em."

"So if we ain't goin back then what are we doin?" I asked.

"I think it's time I introduced you to Ezekiel." He replied. "King Ezekiel."
I looked up to my dad in confusion. He just shrugged, he didn't know who this guy was either.

"King?" Rick asked in bewilderment.

"Yeah, it's sort of his thing." Jesus replied. "You'll understand when you meet him." He added and I chuckled a bit. "I'll say." I muttered and my dad nudged me.

"Seriously, just you wait."

"Well I'm down to meet him if our majesty 'King Ezekiel' can kick Negan's ass." I said. "We need all the help we can get."

Lilia swayed Rick and probably some of the others, who had previously questioned meeting this new guy, but his decision was made when Lilia spoke up. Everyone agreed, piling into a car and heading off as soon as possible.

"How much farther?" Rick asked, looking around at the abandoned, run-down buildings surrounding them on either side.

"Well, technically, we're already here." Jesus said.

"Doesn't look like a kingdom." I furrowed my eyebrows.

"What the hell are we waitin on?" Dad interjected.

"For them." Jesus pointed.

Two men on horseback were approaching. With armoured chests and well kept horses, making me wonder just how big this community was.

"What dares to trespass on the sovereign land of the...oh shit!" The guy exclaimed. "Jesus is that you?"

"Oh shit indeed." I mumbled.

"Who are all these people Paul?" The man asked.

"Hi Richard." Jesus greeted. "Nice to see you."

"It's good to see you too." Richard replied. "Your friends, who are they?"

"This is Rick Grimes. Leader of a like-minded community" Jesus explained.

"These are some of his people. We would like to request an audience with King Ezekiel." Jesus gestured to us.

Richard dismounted his horse and walked towards us. "Get out of the car." We all spilled out the vehicle. "You say they're a... like-minded community? Like-minded how?"

"We live, we trade, we fight the dead." Jesuse replied. "Sometimes others."

Richard nodded. "Line up."

"Okay this is a waste of time." Dad said and brushed my arm. "Let's go." I pulled him back.

"Maybe you're right." Richard said. "The king is a busy man, and it's a dangerous world. We don't usually allow a pack of strangers to waltz through our door."

"We're here to make the world less dangerous. Thats what you guys want too huh?" I spoke up, Richard's eyes landing on me. "We're here to show the king how serious we are about that."

"The car stays outside." Richard says. "You gotta hand over your guns."

Reluctantly everyone who had a gun handed it over. He took the guns and stepped back. "Okay, follow me."

"What's your read on this place?" I asked my dad and fell back to walk with him.

"Ain't really got one yet." He replied. "You?"

"Seems legit I guess." I shrugged. "If Jesus trusts these guys, then I do too."

We were led into the large community, that had people everywhere. If Alexandria was safe haven then this place was heaven. Crops were planted everywhere, people enjoying their day, peace fulfilled the place.

"They have the numbers." Michonne said with a smile.

"But can they fight?" Rosita asked.

"Oh, they can fight." Jesus nodded.

"Maybe." Dad added.

"Morgan?" Tara asked from behind us. We turned around to see Morgan standing with Richard. He had left our group a while back.

"We go back to the start." Rick answered and Morgan smiled to see us all.

"The King is ready to see you now." Richard said. We all followed him and Jesus into a building.

"Smarten up chap, we're about to meet a king." I threw my arm around Carl's shoulders, faking a British accent.

"They're gonna think you're making fun of him." He chuckled.

"If you put lipstick on a pig, it's still a pig. Put the word king infront of a guys name.. ain't mean shit." I shrugged.

"As long as he can help us.." Carl trailed off.

"We'll take whatever we can get I guess."

We walked into a theatre with a stage at the front, rows of chairs filling the room. It was a grand room, but what caught my eyes was the fact that there was a tiger lurking around the chair planted in centre stage. A man sat down with greying dreadlocks and a cane.

I froze and grabbed Carl's sleeve in surprise. "Holy shit." My mouth dropped.

An actual damn tiger.

"Jesus!" The man exclaimed. "It pleases me to see you, old friend."

"It pleases him indeed." echoed a man besides him.

"Jerry." The man scolded, I assumed this was King Ezekiel. "Tell me, what news do you bring good King Ezekiel. Are these new allies you've brought me?"

"Indeed they are, your Majesty." Jesus replied turning to our group. "This is..." He trailed off when he saw everyone's shocked expressions. "Oh right I forgot to mention that.."

"A tiger." Rick said dumbfounded.

"No worries. Happens to the best of us Jesus." I disregarded and I heard a faint laugh behind me.

"This is Rick Grimes, leader of Alexandria, and this is some of his people."

"I welcome you all to the Kingdom, good travellers." Ezekiel said. "Now, what brings you to our fair land. Why do you seek an audience with the king?"

"Ezekiel...King Ezekiel." Rick corrected. "Alexandria, the Hilltop and the Kingdom...all three of our communities have something in common. We all serve the Saviours. Alexandria already fought them once, and we won. We thought we took out the threat, but we didn't know then what we know now."

"We only beat one outpost. We've been told you have a deal with them, that you know them. Then you know they rule through violence and fear." Rick spoke towards the King.

Ezekiel looked down at Jesus disapprovingly. "Your Majesty, I only told them of the-" Jesus started but was cut off.

"Our deal with the Saviours is not know among my people, for good cause. We made you a parting to that secret when you told us of the Hilltop's own travails, but we didn't expect you to share-" He referred to us.

"We can help each other." Jesus insisted over the top of Ezekiel.

"Don't interrupt the king." Jerry ordered.

"We brought you into our confidence." Ezekiel said to Jesus. "Why did you break it?"

"Because I want you to hear Rick's plans." Jesus replied.

"And what plans have you, Rick Grimes of Alexandria?" Ezekiel asked.

"We came to ask the Kingdom - to ask you - to join us in fighting the Saviours." Rick said. "Fighting for freedom for us all."

"What you are asking is very serious." Ezekiel said.

"Some of our people - good people - were killed by the Saviours." I spoke up, trying to back up our request. "Brutally. Our friends. One of them had a wife. She was pregnant."

"Who?" Morgan asked.

"Abraham." Rosita said.

I fought back a lump in my throat. "Glenn."

"Spencer, Olivia." Rosita added. "Eugene was taken."

"They took my dad away from me. Every second he's out here he's a target." I stated.

"You gonna say you were right?" Rosita glared at Morgan.

"No." Morgan replied. "I'm..I'm just real sorry they're gone."

"Negan murdered Glenn and Abraham." I told Ezekiel "Beat 'em to death. Kidnapped my dad away from us, tortured him for days!"

"Terrorised the Hilltop." Sasha added. "Set loose walkers just to make a point."

"I used to think the deal was something we could live with." Jesus said. "A lot of us did. But that's changing. So let's change the world, your Majesty."

"I wanna be honest about what we're asking." Rick said. "My people are strong, but there's not enough of us. We don't have guns. Not enough, at least. Not a lot weapons, period."

"We have people." Richard said. "And weapons. If we strike first, we can beat them." He looked at Ezekiel. "Your Majesty, no more waiting for things to get worse behind what we can handle. We set things right. The time is now."

"Your Majesty.." I said. "I wouldn't be fighting in this fight unless I thought it was going to be worth it in the long run. None of us would be. But it will be, that's why all of Alexandria and Hilltop are with us. We all just wanna rest easy knowing that none of us are gonna have to worry about being ruled by a man as cruel as Negan."

"What is your name, miss?" Ezekiel asked after a moment of pondering.

"Lilia Dixon."

"I hear you, Lilia Dixon of Alexandria. Your words are wise and brave. I ask of Morgan, what say you?" Ezekiel asked.

"Me?" Morgan asked.

"Speak." He ordered but quietly

"People will die." Morgan said. "A lot of people, and not just the Saviours. If we can find another way, we have to. Maybe it's just about Negan. Just capturing him, holding him. Maybe..I.."

"The hour grows late." Ezekiel says and rose to his feet. "Rick Grimes and Lilia Dixon of Alexandria, you have given the King much to ponder."

Rick then spoke up, and told a story that was a parallel for what we were wanting to do. Hopefully it was a story that would be told to help convince the king.

"I invite you all to sup with us and stay 'till the morrow."

"Yeah, we need to get back home." Rick replied.

"I shall deliver my decree in the morn." Ezekiel said.

I glanced over at my dad and then at Rick. Ezikeil banged his cane on the ground. "That's better than nothing."

We agreed to staying the night. We were led to a few rooms, with nice beds, running water, electricity, and everything else needed. Once everything settled, we went into our separate rooms. At the moment I was in my dad's room.

"You alright?" He asked me, putting his hand in my shoulder. "Yeah.." I muttered. But I knew was thing for sure, the thing on both of our minds: Negan.

"What's wrong Lil? Talk to me." He asked and sat beside me.

"I want you to stay. I don't want you to get hurt again." I breathed out, tears pricking my eyes.

"I won't, I'm promising you." He promised and brought me close. "I promise you I'll never leave you on your own again."

"I don't wanna be alone.."

"You're never alone. Carl won't leave you out his his sight ya know?" He said. "Sup with you and that kid?"

"What do you mean?" I wiped my eyes briefly.

"Do you love 'im?" He asked suddenly.

Love him? Of course I do. I don't know where I would be without him. He's helped me through so much I wouldn't even know where to start.

"Yea, of course." I nodded.

"Good. As long as he looks after you."

"He does, dad."

"Just makin' sure."

"You act like you haven't known him for years." I chuckled and he grunted.

"If he hurts ya I'll break him."

"Dad!"

"Kiddin'. Get some sleep kid."

When I managed, by some miracle, to finally get some sleep, I ended up waking up somewhere around 2am. I tried to go back to sleep, but I realised my attempts were foolish. I decided to creep out, maybe a late-night walk would do the trick.

I made sure my footsteps were light, and quiet. The hallway was dark except for the candles that had nearly burned all the way down to the bottom of the wax, almost dripping overfilled wax onto the carpet below. I adjusted my cap on my head, it was cold out there. Pulling strands of hair out at times to fiddle with. The laces in my boots were just tucked in because of my lack of intention to wander far into the place I barely known.

I passed closed doors, empty rooms, travelling down a maze of hallways to nowhere in particular. I ended up making my way into another room. A room that stopped me dead in my tracks.

The tiger stared at me. Behind the bars and curled up in its fur. Head resting on its paws, both golden eyes open sharply into my.

My first instinct was to run, my second was to just step back for a minute and think calmly.

But the whole situation was ridiculous.

There's a crazy guy with a bat on the loose and I'm staring at a tiger.

This world acted as if it was designed to confused me.

I stepped forward slowly and sat down opposite the bars, making sure there was still a small gap between the animal and myself..

"I bet you love this place huh? All cooped up in a place like heaven, can't have big things like you around the walkers anyway." I said.

The tiger didn't seem to respond.

"Nothin personal, wouldn't want any walker-tigers."

A rumble came from the tiger, although I was entirely sure if it was a growl or a purr. One of its ears flickered but it still continued to look at her and blink slowly.

"Don't look at me like that." I defended. "I should be doing that to you."

"Sleepwalking?"

I jumped and quickly spun around to locate the voice. Ezekiel was standing in the doorway, watching in some kind of curiosity. I quickly became embarrassed, pulling my hat down a bit.

"I'm know for..sleep..talking?" I hesitated and he made a noncommittal humming sound.

He looked back between me and the tiger, with amusement plastered on his face. "She's not talking back? You're new, that's all."

"You tellin me she responds to you?"

"No. But she is wonderful listener." He gestured.

"So it's a she huh?" I asked and pointed half-heartedly at the tiger. "She appears 'wonderful'"

"Her name is Shiva. Shiva meet miss Dixon, miss Dixon meet Shiva." He did a slow walk to the bars. Shiva purred and approached the bars slowly.

"Where'd you get her?" I ask curiously.

"I saved her. From a zoo. Been by my side ever since." He reached inside the bars and petted her.

"You ain't scared she's gonna bite your hand off or something?"

"Dont tempt her." He chuckled and Shiva purred. "You may pet her if you like."

"I don't think she likes me." I eventually said.

"You never know until you try, miss Dixon." He looked fondly and reached for my hand.

After some thinking and brought my hand over, he slowly guided my hand to the bars where Shiva came up closely. She sniffed my hand, her whiskers prickling my fingers, fur stroking against the tips before a huge amount of warmth and soft coat engulfed my hands.

I stroked her up and down gently, her body almost vibrated because of her purring. Her golden eyes shone in the candle light, this time her eyes were softer and more relaxed

"She likes you. No need to be so skeptical. We are all human."

"Or tiger." I added.

"Correct." He said and a moment of silence flooded the room, Shiva's prowls and snoring could only be heard

"Why do you call yourself a king?" I asked, fiddling with my fingers.

"To give hope. So people have something to hold onto when things are taken from them. Why must be let old systems run us down? Why can't we create a new system of establishments that is built around solidity?"

I nodded, it made a lot of sense when you put it into context. It was strange but if it gave people the hope they dreamed of, why not let others live in peace?

"Never thought about it that way. I thought it was nuts at first." I chuckled.

"I appreciate the honesty, thank you. I shall leave you to it miss Dixon." He started to walk to the doorway. "Goodnight."

"Lilia is fine, goodnight.. your Majesty." I corrected and he smiled.

"Ezekiel is fine." He said and walked off into the darkness of the hallway.

Leaving me with a tiger.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

lilia and shiva aw

I've got covid (again) ffs, so updates might be faster. who knows.

I've gotten so much writing done