"It's nothing," Lucien said, waving off Rick's surprised teasing. "You would've spotted it in a minute anyway."
Morgan walked over to the horse, running his hand along its neck. The animal snorted but didn't shy away. "Either way, this is exactly what we needed."
The brief moment of relief faded as reality set back in. They had a horse, but they were still miles from Atlanta with no gas and no vehicle.
Rick studied the road ahead. "Here's what I'm thinking, I ride into the city alone, scout around, and see if I can find fuel or a working vehicle. You all stay here at the farmhouse. It's relatively safe, and there's water."
"I'll come with you," Morgan said immediately.
"No. Jenny and the kids need protection. You're the only other man here besides me. Your job is to keep them safe."
He glanced at the horse with a wry smile. "Besides, I don't think this guy's built to carry two grown men very far."
Morgan looked like he wanted to argue, but after a moment, he nodded. "Alright. But you be careful out there."
"Always am."
Rick was about to head toward the horse when Lucien stepped forward.
"I'll go with you."
Rick's head snapped around. "No. You're staying here, Lucien."
"Why?"
"Why?" Rick let out a short, incredulous laugh. He crouched down so he was at eye level with Lucien. "Because it's dangerous out there. There are walkers everywhere. I can't even guarantee my own safety, let alone keep you in one piece."
"You said I wouldn't be a burden," Lucien countered.
"That's not... that's not what I meant, and you know it."
"I know Atlanta," Lucien said, not backing down. "Before all this started, I came through here. I know some of the side streets, and ways to avoid the main highways."
He pulled a folded map from his bag, something he'd found at the police station, and held it out. "I can help you navigate and save time."
Rick stared at the map, then at Lucien. "That's great, but it doesn't change the fact that you're a kid. There are hundreds of those things in the city, maybe thousands. This isn't a field trip."
"I can protect myself," Lucien said, keeping his voice even. "Shane and I have dealt with walkers together. I know how they move and how to stay quiet. I'm small, which makes me easier to hide and easier to move around without being noticed."
"Lucien—"
"Two people are safer than one," Lucien pressed. "You know that. I can watch your back while you're looking for supplies. If something goes wrong, you'll have backup."
"You make a good argument. I'll give you that. But the answer's still no. It's too dangerous."
"And staying here isn't?" Lucien's tone shifted, just slightly. "In this world, where exactly is safe? We're sitting in a house with dead people in it. We don't know if a herd might come through, or if someone worse than walkers might show up. At least if I'm with you, we're together. We can look out for each other."
That landed.
Rick's expression flickered. He looked at Lucien for a moment, and Lucien held his gaze.
Lucien needed to be in that city. He needed to be there when Rick rode into Atlanta and everything went sideways. The story required it.
"You're not going to let this go, are you?" Rick said finally.
"No, sir."
Rick sighed. "You remind me of Carl. He gets stubborn when he wants something."
He stood, looking out toward the distant skyline of Atlanta. "Alright. You can come. But you do exactly what I say, when I say it. We run into trouble, you run. Understood?"
"Understood."
"And if I tell you to stay behind—"
"I'll stay behind."
Rick didn't look convinced, but he nodded. "Alright then. Let's go tell the others before I change my mind."
---
Morgan's reaction was loud.
"Are you out of your mind?"
Jenny was right behind him. "Rick, he's a child. You can't take him into a city full of walkers."
"It was my idea," Lucien said quickly. "I asked to go. He's trying to protect me, but I can help him. I know I can."
"You're a kid!" Jenny's voice rose slightly. "You shouldn't have to help with anything. You should be safe."
"There is no safe," Lucien said quietly. "Not anymore. At least this way, I'm with someone who can protect me if things go wrong."
Morgan looked at Rick. "This is a bad idea. You know it is."
"Yeah," Rick admitted. "I do. But he's not wrong, about any of it. He knows the city. He's small, quiet, and he's got a good head on his shoulders. And honestly?" He lowered his voice. "If I don't take him with me, I think he'll try to follow on his own. At least this way, I can keep an eye on him."
That was true, and Lucien would've done exactly that if Rick had refused. But hearing Rick say it out loud made something twist in his chest... guilt, maybe. Or the uncomfortable reminder that Rick was a good person trying to do the right thing in an impossible situation.
Morgan and Jenny exchanged a long look. Finally, Morgan turned back to Rick.
"You bring him back safe. You hear me? Whatever happens, you bring him back."
"I promise," Rick said.
Jenny crouched down in front of Lucien. "Please be careful. Don't take risks you don't have to."
"I won't," Lucien said. "I promise."
She pulled him into a quick hug, then let him go.
Duane stepped forward, trying to look brave. "You better come back, Lucien. We're friends. Friends stick together."
"I'll come back," Lucien said, and meant it.
Rick handed Morgan a walkie-talkie. "Channel three. I'll check in when I can. If we're not back by nightfall..." He didn't finish the sentence. They all knew what that meant.
"Be safe," Morgan said.
Rick nodded. "You too."
---
The horse was in the backyard, grazing peacefully near the fence. When Rick approached, the animal's head came up immediately, ears swiveling forward. It took a step back.
"Easy," he murmured, holding out his hand. "Easy, now. We're friends."
The horse snorted, shifting its weight. It didn't run, but it didn't look particularly friendly either.
Then Lucien stepped forward.
The horse's ears pricked forward. It lowered its head and moved toward Lucien, nuzzling his shoulder with its soft nose.
He laughed. "Hello to you too."
He reached up to stroke the horse's neck, and the animal leaned into the touch.
Rick stared. "Well. That's... unexpected."
"Maybe it just likes kids," Lucien said, though he wasn't sure he believed that.
The horse let Lucien run his hands over its neck and shoulders without complaint. When he tugged gently on the makeshift reins, just a length of rope someone had tied to the halter, the horse followed him willingly.
Rick shook his head in amazement. "You've got a way with animals. I'll give you that."
Lucien didn't answer. His mind was turning over a pattern he was only just beginning to see.
The mouse at the hospital was the first thing that came to mind. It was the one he had healed with Episkey, closing the gash in its side. The next morning, it had left a dead beetle outside his door. At the time, he had assumed it was a coincidence. Mice did strange things.
But now this horse was behaving as if he were an old friend. It was calm, trusting, and affectionate in a way horses usually were not with strangers.
That made two incidents. Together, they formed a pattern. And in the magical world, patterns meant something.
Could healing the mouse have created some kind of bond? Was there a magical connection forming with animals he helped? Or was it something else... like some latent ability he didn't know he had?
His gran had mentioned something once, about wizards who could speak to snakes or who had affinities for certain creatures. Lucien had never paid much attention. He'd been more interested in Defense Against the Dark Arts and Transfiguration.
But maybe he should've listened.
Could I really have some kind of magical connection with animals?