‘Walking Dead’ Season 4 Spoilers: How Will Rick And Carl Deal With The Potential Death Of Baby Judith?

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!

Is it February yet? AMC’s “The Walking Dead” doesn’t return with new episodes until Sunday, Feb. 9, and fans are hungrily biting at any little spoilers that they can. The latest zombie scoop to hit the Web? Rick and Carl’s fate after discovering baby Judith’s bloody carrier.

Viewers already know that Rick’s group was forced to give up the Prison after the Governor’s attack in the midseason finale. With the grounds overrun by walkers and stragglers of the Governor’s army, the whole band of survivors was forced to flee -- and split up.

Glenn was sent off on a bus; Daryl and Beth were forced to escape on foot after failing to find the kids; Tyreese ran after Lizzie and the others; and Rick and Carl were left standing in the middle of the wreckage … looking at Judith’s empty baby carrier that was covered in blood.

The blood in the baby carrier left some wondering if baby Judith had died during the attack or if Lizzie and the kids took her out for safe keeping. “Walking Dead” fans won’t know her fate until season 4 returns in February, but it appears as if Rick already made up his mind.

TV Guide is reporting that Rick will be grieving the “potential loss” of his daughter and the prison. His emotional distraction (which could potentially be worse than when he lost Lori) will force Carl to take over the role of leader as the father and son are left on their own without the safety of the prison.

“It’s going to hit [Rick] in a way that we haven’t seen before,” executive producer Scott Gimple told the site. “If it’s just the two of them, [Carl is] going to have to step up quite a bit because circumstances are wildly different and a lot will depend on him in terms of them just surviving. They don’t have an awesome dual-layer fence and brick buildings to hide behind. They’re out in the world.”

Viewers got a chance to see a peek of what Carl and Rick will be tackling in the second half of the season thanks to a promo video. While Carl is whipping out his gun and doing what he needs to survive, Rick’s left starring at his reflection in the mirror. Another clip shows Carl being forced to shake his father, yelling “Wake up.”

“The Walking Dead” returns to AMC on Sunday, Feb. 9 at 9 p.m. What do you think will happen? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section or send a tweet to @AmandaTVScoop.