Chap. 1

Her lungs burned as she sprinted through the thick woods, dodging trees, ducking under branches and leaping over fallen logs. The harsh, raspy snarls of the dead could be heard right on her tail. She could even make out the nashing of rotting teeth behind her. She took a brief moment, not bothering to look as she swung hard with her branch-turned-club, then took off running once more.

She dodged left, ducked, dodged right, jumped. Her feet pounded against the ground just as hard as her heart pounded against her ribcage. A hand grabbed hold of her ankle and sent her falling to the ground. She kicked and screamed, beating at the decomposed remains of a man crushed under a log.

Out of nowhere, the tip of an arrow stuck through its eye and the grip went limp. She kicked its hand away and crawled back, panting heavily as she got back to her feet and staring in shock as a man with a bow took down the rest of the herd with a knife. She snapped into action, taking down three from behind her.

They both stood in silence, staring at each other over the pile of corpses around them. Then, slowly, she reached into the bag at her hip and pulled out a jack rabbit, holding it out for him. "Its fresh. Caught it this morning before I was overrun." She said softly.

He stared back at her for a moment, letting out a sigh and shaking his head

"Keep it. You need it more than I do." He replied. She nodded, setting it back in her bag.

"Then... Thanks." She said, glancing around her. "I would've been screwed if you hadn't shown up." She added, taking a moment to breath before turning around to continue on her way.

"Hey wait..." He called out. She turned back to him. "You alone?" He asked. She nodded. "You got a camp?" She shook her head. He nodded once, clearly awaiting an explanation.

"I was with a group. My family, and some neighbours. But a big herd hit and we were separated. When I got back they were..." She stopped, shaking her head and letting out a slow breath before continuing. "Ive been alone all winter."

He nodded again, then fell silent once more. Clearly he was contemplating something. She did her best to look ad unthreatening as possoble, despite her iron grip on the piece of branch in her hand. "Alright... How many walkers have you killed?"

She thought for a second. "23."

"How many people have you killed?"

She shook her head. "None."

"Why?"

She went quiet for a moment. "Because I haven't been around any long enough. I dont fight humans. Don't risk it. I run. I hide. You're the first I've come across for two months who exchanged more than three words with me."

He was quiet for a moment as if thinking. "Alright, come with me." He said, pulling arrows out of skulls as he walked past her. She didnt hesitate, adjusting her bag and following close. Afterall, what other choice did she have?

They traveled in silence for about an hour. She asked no questions. Frankly, shed been alone for months. She was just happy to have someone else around who wasnt outright after the taste of her flesh. Soon enough, they came across a wide open space and the prison came into view. "Stay close." He said. "We gotta get to that gate. They'll open it for us. Keep up."

She nodded, taking a breath to prepare as he took off in a light, but silent jog. She kept up easily enough, stopping every few moments to take down a walker before catching up to him. He whistled and the gate slowly opened. They both rushed through and she wiped blood off her cheek.

Once they were behind the gate, she lowered her branch, knowing that she was in their territory and it wasnt particularly smart to make herself look threatening. She gave a small, shy smile and a nod of greeting to the two operating the gate. The man with the bow, she still hadnt gotten his name, stepped aside with one of them, speaking softly so she couldnt make out what they said.

A moment later, the other man walked up to her and held out his hand. "Im Rick Grimes. Daryl here seems to think that you're worth trusting enough to have you join our group. Is he right?" He asked. She nodded, set down her branch and took his hand.

"Clara Archebald." She replied. "I was alone, have been for awhile. I swear I mean no harm. Ill help out around here, pull my own weight... If you let me stay, I promise i wont make you regret it." She said sincerely. "I can fight, I grew up on a farm, so I have a lot of knowledge about crops, and my uncle used to take me out hunting. And I wont take up much for resources." She glanced down at her slender frame. She spent all winter eating very little.

Rick nodded. "Alright then, Clara, Welcome to the group." He said, giving her a smile. He looked at the tall black woman on the other side of the gate contraption. "Can you introduce her to the group? Set her up with a room?" The woman nodded and Clara smiled, giving a nod of thanks.

Clara followed the woman, who had introduced herself as Michonne, into the prison. After a brief introduction to some of the other people, Clara was set up in a prison cell. She sat silently on the bed, trying to process what'd happened. She'd have been dead if Daryl hadnt been there. Now shes sat on a safe, secure bed, with people, and food!

She stared at the closed gate, which had been shut and locked for safety, since she was new. She couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of relief. After peeling off her boots and laying flat on her back on the soft nattress, she quickly fell into the first deep sleep she'd had in what had felt like forever.