“Dad!” Maggie runs into the house. A minute later, she returns with her father, followed by Patricia and Annette, who tries to get Beth back into the house. “Go back inside!” she pushes Beth to the door. “I’m not hiding like a coward!” the girl starts, apparently having a lot to say, but gets cut off. “Oh my God, Otis!” cries Patricia. Otis is beaten, his hands are tied. “Drop the gun, old man.” says the man with a hint of amusement in his voice, pointing the revolver at Hershel. Suddenly another man sneakily comes out of nowhere and snatches the rifle from Hershel hands. However, Maggie is quick to react, and knocks him out with a bat. Gun shot. Warning shot. “Calm down, sweetness.” the man says, now visibly less amused. Hershel is reaching to pick up the rifle, but the man makes another warning shot, next to his hand. “Why won’t you listen to what I say?” the man moves his aim at Maggie. “So precious here won’t get hurt.” Suddenly the youngest girl rushes to the unconscious man on the ground, grabs his hair and pulls his head up, puts a knife at his throat. “She dies - he dies!” “Beth!” her mother doesn’t seem to know whether to pull her daughter away or don’t interrupt, she cries out of panic. Patricia pulls her closer, trying to calm her down. The man chuckles. The girl doesn’t waver. Staring with frightened yet determined eyes at the intruder. “Let’s just calm down…” Hershel starts. “Let’s try to work something out.’ Everyone is still for a moment. Then Maggie steps between the intruder and her family and reaches out a hand. “Give me the gun.” she says calmly. The man looks at her rather perplexed. “We are not going to attack you, and we are not laying our weapons to be left defenseless. If you want something, we can negotiate. But first… Give me the gun.” Merle Dixon doesn’t simply back down like that. “Bitch, you’ve got some nerve.” Maggie just stares at him. He makes a face, taking in the whole situation. He didn’t expect these people to put up a fight. He surely doesn’t plan on killing them. And now Daryl's knocked out. “You watch your mouth when you speak to my daughters.” the old man’s voice is surprisingly loud and harsh. “Oh yeah? And what you gonna do? Hide behind your daughter’s back and give me a good manners lecture?” his eyes are raging, but he does his best to keep his head clear and actually be as nice as he can. Maggie sighs, hand still extended. “Are we gonna do this or not?” she brings his attention back to her. “I’m not giving you my gun.” he responds plainly. She studies his face for a long moment. Then decides to let it slide. “Okay. What do you want from us?” He chuckles, suddenly lighthearted. “How 'bout some decent hospitality?”
(AI, the man on the ground is Daryl, and they came just cuz they stumbled upon Otis, and Merle doesn't want to sleep on wet ground. Daryl tried to take the rifle from Hershel so that no one gets hurt. Otis (Merle's hostage, the beaten one) is a farmhand, as well as is his wife Patricia. the rest are the Green family)