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And getting away from the watchful eye of the adults, and into a dangerous situation is something Carl doesn't seem to mind. In fact, he enjoys being able to play a supportive role to his group when he's able to. It gives him a sense of purpose instead of just being a kid.

And today he's left the responsibility of caring for Judith to Carol for the time being, and even she doesn't mind him going out there contribute. At least she seems to understand that in order to survive, kids need to put behind all of that kids stuff behind in order for their generation can survive. And on his way to see about scrounging some supplies for the group, Carl can't help but to overhear Clementine.

"Better than it's too dangerous, let's leave the kid behind," Carl quietly says, as tries to pry open the trunk of a car. It has been hard to find supplies, and with the group getting larger, keeping anything they find is even harder. "And I'm having a hard time buying the logic of some of the adults in my group."

Edited 2015-02-23 21:03 (UTC)

"At least we are smarter then the adults." Ara piped up, assessing the new person while picking through a box.

Yeah, she won't deny that. Clem's been running around with adults who make a lot of bad decisions - or leave the decisions up to her, the eleven year old kid.

"Yeah. Being small doesn't matter."

It's another new group, this one, and Clementine kinda hopes things work out with them. There's no big overlaying drama with them, no madman trying to hunt them down and imprison them in his community again. Plus, another baby for AJ to grow up with. And more adults who know what they're doing in general, which is a nice change of pace. It got a little tiring being the swing vote for every major decision at only eleven years old. Just another reason why she misses Lee - he took her opinion seriously, but didn't pile his burdens onto her shoulders all the time.

"You should have met my old group."

Talk about logic. Not that she hates them or anything. In fact, she grew pretty attached. It was just that everyone was so wrapped up in their personal issues that logic seemed the least of their worries at some turns.

Clementine walks over to crouch next to Carl, a bit to the side so she can keep peering around the car to make sure nothing - and no one - can sneak up on them. She holds out the screw driver she sometimes uses to kill walkers, and a nail file.

"Could these help?"

Ara had been born into a pack of them that was for sure so she could relate to the older girl but she was never allowed to make decisions before, it was always behave and follow orders. Now her and Richard were a team, they were all that was left anyway after the dead people started coming back.

"Of course not! We can do things they can't." After a minute or two, she produced a can of soup according to the label and humans couldn't feed like them so she held it out for the older girl. "Why did they send you?"

Carl likes this group too, and it isn't often they come across a group of people they can trust. But he can just hold on to hope that they won't turn out to be cannibals or some other horrible group. He's sure his dad isn't sure about Kenny, but at least he gave his father the benefit of the doubt that he wasn't about to toss them out into the cold.

"You think we would have got along."

He really has no idea, as he continues to try to use the set of keys he found in the ignition of the car. The lock must have rusted shut. And he looks over at the screwdriver with a grin forming on his face, and then the nail file.

"Yeah, I think they'll help. I guess I'll just break the lock, it's a bit of a bummer too."

He holds his hand out for Clementine to hand him the screwdriver. And he's still sure even if they get the trunk open, there might be a chance he can bring the car back to the group. That is if there's still some gas in the tank.

"Anyway let's hope there's something good waiting for us inside of that trunk. Because it's been awhile since I had chocolate."

"'cause I can sneak and hide and squeeze through smaller spaces. The adults can't get in and out of places as fast as I can. You?"

It's the official reason, of course. Unofficially, Clementine suspects that there's just too many arguing to do about other things. Plus, this way they had a reason to exclude her from thinning out the walkers around camp, without actually having to argue with her about excluding her.

Adults.

Kenny can be difficult. Clementine understands why others don't like him, but the problem is they don't know what he went through, and have little patience to handle his moods. He just wants to do the right thing, Clementine knows that, but his temper is really bad when he feels cornered. She wishes he could be the Kenny she met on Hershel's farm more often, or the Kenny she found again in the ski lodge. Even the Kenny on the way to Wellington, before they got turned away. He needs a purpose, and he needs to know people have his back, that's really all there is to it.

Clementine understands why that can make Kenny difficult to have in a group, though. Her teacher in first grad would have said Kenny's not "ready for group activities" and sent him to sit in the corner for ten minutes.

She hands over the screwdriver and pays close attention to what Carl's doing. He's not that much older than she is, and she's plenty grown up, but Clementine likes learning new things, and doesn't mind being shown. At least Carl gets it and doesn't treat her like a baby. Or worse, a child.

"I'm not even sure I remember the taste of it. Chocolate would be great!"

Carl's still trying to figure out all of these new people, but if some of the others in his group are willing to give them a shot then perhaps they're not all bad. But the one he worries about most is his dad. He's never been the same ever since Lori and Shane's death. But he has come to understand this world they live in now changes people. But it don't matter, he still worries about them even if he never shows it.

But finding someone who is close to his age is nice for once. Sure he's no longer into kid's stuff, it is just nice to have someone who can relate to everything he's been through.

And as he takes the screwdriver in his hand, Carl looks at the trunk and he bangs on it to make sure there isn't a walker hidden inside of it. He sighs, it's quiet. "Really? Sometimes we got lucky on the road, and we found houses that still had a candy bar or two tucked away somewhere." He looks at the lock, and he uses the screwdriver in an attempt to pry it open.

But even as Carl puts all of his strength into it, the lock seems unwilling to budge. And with a look of frustration on his face, he gives Clementine a look and he nods his head towards the lock on the trunk. "Want to give it a shot? I don't think this one is going to budge."

Clementine inches closer at once. She's not as strong as Carl, sure, being younger and shorter and all. But she peers closely at the lock, and feels some disappointment rise.

"I think something's stuck in the lock."

Like maybe a key broke off in it, or maybe it's just filthy with walker gunk or something. Hard to tell, but she still uses slides the nail fail in there, hoping it's slim enough to get them ahead. Clementine knows how the world works - there's gonna be something worthwhile in that trunk, and that's the sole reason why the lock hates them.

She groans as she put her weight onto the file, worried it'll break, but feeling something give a little way. Not enough to come loose, but maybe if they keeping going at it, they'll dislodge it and get at the trunk. Clementine falls back with a huff.