Clara was awoken by a tapping on the bars of her cell. Startled, she sprung up, the knife she kept in her boot was clenched tightly in her hand, aimed at the intruder before she realized where she was. "Daryl." She said softly, clearing her throat and putting the knife away. "Sorry..."

Daryl just shrugged. "Can't blame ya for defending yourself. C'mon. Dinner." She nodded, leaving her knife behind as she stood to follow him.

Dinner was held outside. There was a nice little shelter over a BBQ, some food storage, and a set of long cafeteria tables set out in the sun. Whatever they'd made smelled amazing. Carol greeted her with a warm smile, patting the spot beside her. So, Clara sat. Daryl took the spot beside Clara.

Once everyone was seated, food was passed around the table. Real food. Rich stew, bread, fruit, fresh veggies, there was even a salad! Clara could barely believe her eyes. It took everything she had not to dig in and inhale everything on her plate, but she restrained herself. She ate slowly and enjoyed every bite. If she rushed, she would surely make herself sick.

A few minutes into the meal, Carol looked at her and smiled. "Must've been quite awhile since you've had a proper meal hey?" She asked. "Rick said you've been alone for awhile, but he didn't say much more. How long were you out there?" Her tone was light, conversational. But Clara knew better. She knew the hidden interrogational meaning behind the questions. She also knew that most of the others present would be curious as well.

"Well..." She said, setting down her bun. "I started out in a group last summer but... Our camp was hit by a big herd of Rotters last September. I was out collection firewood..." She glanced down at her plate, falling silent for a moment before shaking her head lightly, looking back at Carol. "I've been alone since."

It was the Korean who'd been at the gate when she arrived that spoke next. "How'd you survive it? Being on your own that long?" He asked, then went a little pink. "No offence of course you just... You don't really..."

She just laughed at his flustered state. "I don't seem like the type who's strong enough to last a week out there, nevermind a full winter?" She finished for him. "Honestly, I thought the same thing. But, I learned to accept what I can and can't do. I know I'm small, and not very strong, so I depend on my agility and speed. My aim isn't that great, so I use something like a big branch or a frying pan or something like that. I'm only one person, so I can't exactly keep watch and sleep at the same time so... I started sleeping in trees." She shrugged lightly. "It wasn't exactly a comfortable living but... Im still alive."

A little blue-eyed blonde girl spoke next. Clara was pretty sure her name was Beth. "Must've gotten lonely out there." She said softly. "All alone for months like that? Did ya ever run across anyone else before Daryl? No chance to join a different group?" The brunette between Beth and Glenn, Maggie, gave Beth a look like she may have said something out of line. But Clara just smiled.

"Well, I've seen a few others but... One of the benefits of spending most of you time in trees is that it gives you plenty of time to listen before anyone else gets a chance to spot you." She replied. "Anyone who's stumbled across my path just hasn't seemed trustworthy enough to risk it." She looked at Daryl with a bit of a smile. "Truth be told if I hadn't been so clumsy and if Daryl hadnt stepped in when he did, I'd either be still out there alone, or dead."

Daryl finally spoke. "You were hurt." He stated. He barely lifted his head when he glanced at her. "Sure didn't act like it. How'd it happen? Was it a Walker?" Hershel or Carol must've mentioned something about it. She couldn't help but wonder if he sounded just a little concerned.

She absently placed a hand over the gauze on her torso. "Yeah, it was uhm... Well, I fell out of a tree." She admitted. "That particularly windy night a few days ago? Yeah... Blew me off my perch. Ended up scraped by a particularly sharp branch on my way down. It wasn't too deep, but still. I'm glad I was able to get help when I did. Truth be told, I'd been hopelessly lost for about a week when you found me. I was hoping to stumble upon a road so I could find a town, and some medical supplies. Whether those routers had gotten me then or not, without you jumping in like you did I'd likely have ended up dying of infection with my luck."

Even Daryl couldn't help but huff a laugh at that. It felt good, laughing. Clara felt like she hadn't had a reason to laugh for ever. Yet here it bubbled from her lips without any effort. To think that just a few days ago she'd been counting on squirrels, stale crackers and her own stubborn will just to survive. Now here she was, sharing a meal with a whole group of people, honestly laughing.

"So what else can you do?" Rick asked, turning her attention to him. "Besides climb and fall out of trees." His comment held no malice. Instead, his lips curved in a well-meant smile and his tone held a friendly, teasing humour. If anything it just made her feel more at home.

She laughed once more. "Well, I can hunt. I'm not the best, but it's kept me alive at least. I mentioned before that my aim isn't the best so I mostly rely on trapping. Which, I'll admit, I've gotten pretty good at over the past few months. I've never really had issues with runs into towns. I'm quick enough that I can usually sneak by both... Walkers..." she had to test the term on her tongue. "... And other people. I know my plants! Actually for awhile, before all this happened, I read a lot about scavenging in the wild. What's edible, what can be used for medicinal purposes, what will kill you, that sort of thing. And... My grandparents lived on a farm and I used to spend every summer out there so I know a good bit about agriculture." She explained. "Other than that, I'm a pretty quick learner."

She figured it'd be best to be honest, but to highlight the better points. Truth be told, she wanted to stay. She really wanted to stay. So, if she could make them like her, and make herself seem useful, maybe she'd get lucky enough that they'll take her in fully.

Rick smiled, seemingly satisfied with her answer. Carol smiled as well. "How are you with cooking?" She asked. This led on into about another hour of questions and answers. Glenn had asked her about strategies for runs. Hershel had asked her about her knowledge of herbalism. Even Daryl had a few questions about trapping. Eventually, it was Michonne who finally cut in, suggesting that the group should "Let the poor girl get some rest!"

So, Clara was finally allowed to head back to her cell. And rest she did. Within ten minutes she'd taken her boots off, let her hair down, tucked her knife under her pillow, and fallen into a deep sleep once again.