Calista went ahead with the injured Daryl.
Merle rode with Leah.
Leah sat behind Merle, struggling to reach the throttle with her right hand, but she still managed to coordinate with him and get the vehicle and the collected fuel back.
When Daryl, covered in blood and pale as paper, was helped into the farmhouse, it caused quite a stir.
Hershel immediately set aside what he was doing and directed Jimmy and Otis to lay Daryl on the living room table, then brought over his medical kit.
He carefully cleaned the wound and began stitching it.
Calista, Leah, and Merle waited outside the door, their clothes stained with Daryl's blood, the air heavy and tense.
Maggie and Beth took the initiative to boil water and bring clean cloths.
Hershel worked inside for half an hour.
When he finally came out, wiping sweat from his forehead, he looked exhausted but relieved. "Fortunately, the wound is deep and long, and it looks frightening, but it hasn't damaged any tendons or bones."
Hershel said, "Leah handled the emergency treatment well, but Daryl lost quite a bit of blood and needs rest.
If a wound like this isn't properly cared for, it can easily split open and get infected. Once he develops a fever, it'll be troublesome. I suggest you stay at least two days, observe him, and make sure there are no signs of infection before leaving."
Hershel looked at Calista, his tone earnest. "I know you're in a hurry to leave, but right now, it's better to be cautious."
Calista looked at Daryl's weak condition, then at Merle, whose expression clearly said they had to stay, and knew that forcing a departure now would be too risky.
"Alright, we'll stay. We'll wait until Daryl recovers a bit. Thank you, Hershel." She nodded in agreement.
Even though the disruption to their plans was frustrating, their companion's safety mattered more.
This decision meant their carefully prepared evacuation would be delayed by at least a day or two.
That afternoon, members of the farm came one after another to visit.
Maggie and Beth brought food to help replenish blood and clean water.
Others expressed their concern.
Carol came with Sophia and quietly placed a bundle of wildflowers by the door, softly wishing Daryl a speedy recovery.
Calista noticed that among the visitors, Shane, Rick, and Lori were all absent.
That meant the conversation was still ongoing, or it had just gone through something intense.
Andrea came as well. She stood at the edge of the group, looking at the injured Daryl with a complicated expression.
She seemed like she wanted to say something to Calista or Leah, but in the end, she simply pressed her lips together and silently helped change the hot water once.
Her choice was already clear. Andrea had stayed with Rick's group.
...
Meanwhile, in the farm's barn.
This place had once held a group of walkers that Hershel considered "patients." Even after they had been cleared out, the stench from their long confinement still lingered.
Lori frowned, feeling a wave of nausea. She looked at Rick and Shane standing face to face and couldn't understand why they had come here to talk.
"Shane," Rick spoke first, his voice tired but carrying a final attempt, "we've been through so much together. Back at the quarry camp, you were the one protecting everyone. You also got Lori and Carl safely out of Atlanta.
You're my best friend. This place needs you, and I need you. Look at life here. It's peaceful and stable, with enough food and water. It's so much better than our old camp. We can build this farm into something even better together."
His blue eyes were clear, and his plea was sincere, trying to bring back the brotherhood they once shared.
Shane kept his hands in his pockets, his gaze sweeping over Rick, then drifting to Lori's pale face before settling on the silent stacks of hay.
He had planned to brush it off and just leave.
But Calista's calm voice seemed to echo in his ears. Say what needs to be said.
Even before the apocalypse, Shane had never been someone who got tangled up in emotions.
A surge of reckless resolve, mixed with long-suppressed frustration, broke through his last restraint.
Shane lifted his head. The hesitation in his eyes was gone, replaced with blunt honesty. "Build it better? Rick, with what? With your idea that we can't lose our humanity?"
"Look at this world. It's already rotten to the core. Walkers are trying to devour us, and the living will kill each other over a piece of bread. And you are still thinking about rules, about keeping your hands clean.
Hershel is still dreaming that his patients will recover. We are trapped in this so-called safe bubble, but it will burst sooner or later.
You have seen what it's like out there. You even took us to that nursing home. Rick, do you remember what it looked like there? Hershel doesn't know, but have you not seen the raiders outside? Do you really think this place will stay safe forever?"
Shane paused, then pointed straight at the core issue of Rick's leadership. "Idealism will get people killed, Rick. You always want to solve things with the smallest cost, in the most correct way.
But there is no correct in this world anymore. There is only survival. What we need is strength, decisiveness, and the ability to make others fear us, not reason with them."
The words hit like a hammer, and Rick's expression changed instantly.
He wanted to argue, but Shane didn't give him the chance and shifted to something more personal and painful.
"And this." He gestured between himself and Lori, then glanced at her still flat stomach. "What am I here? An awkward reminder? A mistake you all want to erase? Lori."
Shane looked at her, his expression complicated, but mostly filled with exhaustion and bitter irony after being worn down by reality. "The child in your belly, no matter who it belongs to, is torture for me. Watching you, watching Carl every day. I can't take it anymore, Lori. I'm tired."
Tears instantly filled Lori's eyes. She choked as she tried to explain, "Shane, I'm sorry. I really, we all need time. Carl likes you so much…"
She tried to use the child to hold onto him emotionally, not realizing she had struck his most sensitive nerve.
"Time?" Shane let out a bitter laugh. "Time can't change what has already happened. I feel sorry for Carl, but I can't stay in a place that suffocates me just for him."
The conversation had reached a dead end. Shane had already made up his mind.
After speaking, he gave them one last look, his composure fully restored. "My choice is made. I'm going with Calista and the others. At least there, I know that strength is what matters. Take care."
He didn't stop again. He turned and walked out of the barn.
Rick stood frozen, fists clenched, a helpless anger churning in his chest.
Lori covered her face and cried. She knew that some things could never be undone.