When I woke up it was still dark. I sat up and looked around, the fire had been put out and everyone in the group was fast asleep. All I could hear was the faint sounds of snoring, coughing and the wind blowing through the trees. I gazed up at the sky and through the treetops I could see the stars twinkling down at me. I lay back down, resting my head on my arms and imagined I was back in England camping with my mum and Maxi just like we used to every year. For a few minutes the feeling of dread and paranoia faded away and I was taken back to my childhood when everything was normal. After realising I couldn't get back to sleep I decided to take a walk in the woods. Since there being no technology, books or anything to take my mind off of the state of the world and fear that tomorrow could be my last day with this group. I got up and quietly made my way to the 3 lines of wires protecting us. I paused before climbing over it delicately, wondering if this was a stupid idea, but I decided I wouldn't go too far from the camp.
I silently wondered through the dark woods, constantly listening for any sounds that would alert me there was a walker nearby. If there wasn't the feeling that any moment could be my last this would have been a very relaxing stroll through the trees.
After a few minutes, I don't know how many since I don't have any way to check the time, I felt that sixth sense telling me I was being followed. I stood as still as I could for a few seconds, listening as carefully s I could for any tiny noise and then there it was. I heard a branch snap a few feet behind me. I immediately started running and broke into a sprint. I was going way too far out from the cap but if there was a walker behind me I had no other choice. If I ran back to the camp it would follow and the whole group would be in trouble rather than just me. I could hear footsteps running behind me, I was being chased. I felt the wind rushing through my hair and hitting my face bringing tears to my eyes as I sprinted. I suddenly noticed a huge branch and leaped over it just in time. My chest started to weaken and my side ached but I couldn't stop. It hunted me through the woods for a few minutes before I heard a voice. It wasn't far behind me but it was faint, "stop!" I wanted to stop but that could have been a huge mistake, so I didn't stop, I just slowed down and hid behind a tree.
"Who's there? What do you want?"
"It's Daryl." He panted.
I emerged from behind the tree to check it really was him, and it was.
"Why the hell were you following me? I thought you were a walker!" I whispered angrily.
"I was followin' you, just like you were followin' us earlier." He mumbled.
Still confused and getting frustrated I sighed and leaned against the tree to catch my breath.
"That doesn't exactly answer my question, does it?"
He bent over, his hands on his thighs taking deep breaths just as I usually did when I was stressed, except I was sure he was just trying to catch his breath.
"I wanted to know where you were goin'." He told me quietly.
"Oh what, did you think I was going to report to some secret base about what you're all like and how we could possibly infiltrate your group?" I said sarcastically but he just stared at me as if to say "yeah".
"Oh come on!" I gasped and tried to laugh it off.
"Well we don't know you, how are we to know that ya aint here to kill us, we've had bad experiences with new people and groups before, we gotta be careful." He said seriously.
I nodded. I understood his position, every group of survivors has met at least 1 other group that was corrupt and wanted to ruin them, I guess there was no way I could convince him that I wasn't there to hurt them, I'd just have to let time tell him. But I didn't know how long they would have left with me around. I hated that they would all die because of me, but I was too afraid to be on my own. Maybe if I stayed with this group until we met a new one I could leave before they all perished.
"Why're you out here anyways?" He asked me quietly and sighed.
"I couldn't sleep so I came out for a walk."
"With no weapons or protection?" He presumed.
"How do you know I don't have a weapon?" I asked, irritated.
He grunted, "if you'd had a weapon you would 'a pulled it out as soon as you started runnin'."
"Oh. Yeah, well someone took my weapon when I passed out earlier." I told him.
"I know, that was me." He mumbled casually.
I gasped angrily, "what the hell? Why? I need that!" I yelled angrily.
He sprung forward and threw his hands over my mouth, "Shut up! There could be walkers around!" He hissed looking around nervously.
"MF MMF MMMFM!"
I was trying to say "I know I'm sorry" but it came out muffled. He released his hands from my mouth, "Ew! Ya licked me!"
"Yeah, sorry." I whispered and laughed. Then something odd happened. As he was shaking the spit from his hand and rubbing it against his torn jeans I saw him smile.
"Oh my God! Are you... smiling?" I teased him sarcastically.
His face was shadowy in the pale moonlight but he smiled again and laughed quietly.
"Yeah, it's just I haven't been licked since I was a kid. My big brother, Meryl would pin me down and lick my face until I screamed mercy."
I giggled trying to imagine a younger Daryl being pinned down and slobbered on by a faceless older brother. The smile began to fade from Daryl's face and his usual cross/jaded expression returned but now it had a slight sadness.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
He nodded and turned around, "we should get back to camp."
"Yeah, I guess." I agreed and we began walking back.
As we trudged through the dark trees Daryl looked at me, "damn, you really ran far out."
I smiled, "I was scared!"
"Yeah, any damn idiot could see that."
"So, why were you awake?" I asked him, trying to keep the conversation going.
He raised an eyebrow as he stepped over the large branch I had leaped over on the way here, "what do ya mean?"
"Well to have seen me leaving camp which made you decide to follow me, you must have been awake too. So, why were you up?" I asked him.
"Oh, I was on guard; to keep an eye out for walkers or anything'."
I nodded, "Okay. And the tree was for better vision?"
He nodded his head in response.
"Alrighty then." I whispered casually.
We walked in silence for a while more before we came close enough to hear the faint sounds of snoring. I saw the thin wire lines shining in the moonlight and felt a strange feeling that I hadn't felt in a long time. I felt safe here with Daryl and the others.
Daryl stopped as we came closer to the lines, "so, um, I'm still gonna keep an eye out on you, so don't think you're not bein' watched." I think he was trying to scare me or make me realise that he was still suspicious of me, but he sounded to awkward for the message to sink in.
"Well, that's not creepy at all, Daryl." I joked and went to step forward but he grabbed my arm tightly and yanked me back. I almost fell but he grabbed me and looked me straight it the eyes.
"Listen to me, what I'm sayin' is I'm not just gonna let you stay in this group without watchin' you. I don't care if it's creepy or not, this is my family and I'm gonna protect them. Do ya understand me?" He sounded more serious this time, and I'll admit, I was a little terrified.
I nodded, "of course. I wouldn't hurt them."
He let go off my arm, "no more little wanders through the woods alone in the middle of the night."
"Fine." I whispered.
He started walking ahead of me, but I stopped him, "Daryl," he paused and turned to me, "I promise I'm not here to hurt anyone. I'm here to join you, I need you to believe me."
He didn't say anything. He just looked me up and down, turned around and returned to his tree. I sighed and went back to my "bed". I lay down and starred backup at the night sky.
Why didn't he believe me? Was I really that suspicious? And what would happen tomorrow if Daryl tells Rick he doesn't trust me, will Rick kick me out? Oh God, too many questions flying around my head I can't think let alone sleep!

Even though I couldn't stop questioning everything, I still managed to drift off after a while and fall back to sleep. I had a dreamless sleep and woke up the next day groggy, with a back ache and my head pounding.
I rolled over and realised Carol was gone. Her blankets and pillows were gone too, leaving just a dry patch of dirt and grass. For a few seconds I felt a dread rush through my body and panicked. Had they decided not to let me in their group? Had they packed up all their stuff and left me to be a walkers breakfast?
I quickly sprang up, my covers flying off me and to my surprise, they were all still here. I sighed and smiled, relieved that I had been wrong.
Everyone was walking around, packing their stuff while Carol and a tall black kid around my age cooked breakfast.
I was the only person still in "bed", so I got up and sat beside Carol.
"Good morning, would ya like some breakfast?" She asked me cheerily.
I smiled, "Yes please."
"Beans and sweet corn." The kid said to me as he handed me a plate.
"Thanks." I mumbled and started eating as soon as the plate reached my hands.
"We have enough beans to last a year, oh wait that's what we want." He joked and Carol laughed. I laughed along too, though I was still too tired to understand why we were laughing. I just wanted to make a new friend.
I swallowed the last spoonful of beans five minutes after starting them, wiped my mouth and turned to the guy.
"Hi, I'm Alison."
"I know, I'm Noah." He said and smiled, "you know, I think I was the newest person here before you came along so thank you."
We both laughed, "you're welcome." I told him before he stood up.
"I gotta go pack my stuff up," he put his plate on the ground, "so I'll see you later."
"Bye." I called to him as he hurried off.
When I turned around Carol was staring at me grinning.
"What?" I asked her.
"You're just making friends with everyone aren't you?" she said and shook her head smiling.
"Oh! Aha, I guess I am. You know, the weirdest thing is, before all this, you know, people coming back from the dead and trying to eat us, I was a really shy and awkward person. Well, I mean I guess I still am, but now I just ignore the fear and talk to people anyway." I told her.
She nodded, "Well you gotta now 'a days. You have to make a good impression on people, you've gotta talk to them; get them on your good side. Your life depends on it. Besides, you were out here all on your own, it must have been lonely."
I nodded and sighed, remembering the weeks in all their awfulness, "it was."
She raised her eyebrows and gave me a reassuring friendly look.
"We're gonna be moving out soon, how's about you go pack up the blankets you slept on. Put 'em in my big grey rucksack."
I nodded and stood up, "Alright."

As I packed away the blankets and pillows I thought about Carol. She was so kind and friendly and clever, she reminded me of my Mother. Then I realized that Carol would be a good Mother-figure for me since I had lost mine. I would never replace my Mum, but Carol would be good at helping me in situations where I would need a mum.
"Hey, Alice, my dad wants to talk to you." I heard Carl say from behind me as I shoved the last pillow into the rucksack.
"About what?" I asked nervously.
"Whether or not you're staying with us."
I bit my lip nervously and nodded, "Okay."
I stood up and we walked to where he and his dad had slept last night. As we approached I noticed something small and pink on the floor- a baby.
"Oh my God!" I gasped and starred at her.
Carl smiled, "yeah, that's Judith."
"I haven't seen a baby in, like, a year! She's so cute!" I cooed and crouched next to her.
Carl laughed and I saw Rick walking over to us. I stood up and took a step away from Judith.
"She's cute aint she." Rick said as he picked her up and handed her to Carl.
"Yeah, she is." I muttered.
Carl walked off carrying Judith and I was left alone with Rick. I felt my heart speed up the more I thought about the outcome of this little chat we were about to have.
"You look nervous." Rick pointed out casually.
"I am." I whispered and bit my lip.
"Alright, well I'll do this quickly then," he told me.
I felt my heart suddenly stop and my stomach shoot into my throat. Did that mean he was breaking the bad news? Oh God, I was being kicked out wasn't I?
"I thought about this very hard. I decided last night, but then I had Daryl come to me this morning and tell me about your little adventure in the woods last night."
I could feel the tears pricking my eyes already but held them back.
"I've decided to let you stay."
I knew it, I'm out. I'm being abandoned, I'll be eaten in the woods by walkers and- wait what?
"What?"I asked, shocked and confused.
"I'm going to let you join our group. You're just a kid and you seem harmless, but if I find out you're not really here on your own I will kill you." He warned me.
I was a little scared, but realized I didn't need to be. I was a part of this group and I was safe.
"Thank you!" I thanked Rick happily and sighed, relieved.
"You're welcome." He said and smiled.
"Wait, so what did Daryl say about me then?" I asked him curiously.
He shook his head and crossed his arms, "He just told me he followed you out into the woods because you couldn't sleep. He said he still doesn't know if he trusts you or not but he warned you about how you're not to be goin for midnight strolls anymore, especially without a weapon."
I nodded, "Yeah, does he still have my knife?"
"Yes. You should probably go get that off him, we're about to set off again. We've got a long walk ahead of us." He said.
"Okay," I turned around, "thanks, Rick." I whispered and ran off to find Daryl.
I couldn't find Daryl around his tree or the camp so I decided to tell Carol about the good news.
She was just finishing packing the food into the bags when I shuffled over her, "hey guess what." I said.
She looked up at me, "what?"
"Rick just told me I can stay!" I cheered excitedly.
"I know congratulations." She said and smiled at me.
Carl saw me and came over.
"I'm staying!" I told him happily and he grinned.
"That's great!"
"Yeah. Oh, do either of you know where Daryl is?" I asked them.
"He's right there." Carol said and motioned behind me.
I spun around and saw Daryl coming out from a bush.
I ran over to him and he stopped.
"Hey, Rick's letting me stay so can I have my knife back now? Since, you know, I'm gonna need it."
He nodded, "Oh yeah," he shoved his hand in his pocket for a few seconds before pulling out my little pocket knife and handed it back to me.
"Thanks," I muttered and turned around.
"Remember, I'm keepin' my eye on you." He called after me.
"I know, I know." I replied as I walked away.

I decided I needed a few minutes alone to think. As everyone finished their packing I snuck over the wires and walked a few minutes into the woods. I sat by a tree and thought. I was a part of their group. This would be my fifth group now. I knew they would die if I stayed with them for too long, so I wouldn't stick around forever. I made a promise to myself that if I stayed too long and somebody died while I was with them- I would leave right then and there, no matter the circumstances.
After a while of sitting by the tree thinking I noticed a bush a few feet away from me shuffling. I peered into the spaces between leaves and saw shaggy brown hair...
"Daryl?" I asked the bush.
"I told you I'm gonna keep watching you." He said.
I laughed and nodded my head, "Okay, but right now you're just going to be watching me sit here and think to myself." I told him, "It's pretty boring."
"Don't care, I'm not gonna trust you until I'm sure you're safe."
I laughed again and stood up. He climbed out of the bush and we walked back to camp together.

"Alright everyone, let's get movin'." Rick called out to everyone as we carried our bags and water bottles. "We got a long walk ahead of us." He said.
I didn't know exactly how long this walk would be, but I didn't care; as long as I wasn't alone I was happy.