It was only a short time after Niko had cut off his music that something else caught everyone's attention. This time, it wasn't the dull muted noise of a walker's head caving in as Ryan crushed it with his crowbar. Instead, it was clean... almost clean. Skin and bone were being cut in two while undead blood and brains were spewing out of a fresh gash. Someone else had just joined the party and it seemed they had a penchant for bladed weapons.

Clover immediately turned to see a young woman staring at the group of four backing up slowly with a hatchet clutched tightly in her hands. She seemed more scared than anything else, holding the thing in the air as if she were determined to cut them all in half despite her being clearly outgunned. However the fear in her eyes was clear enough and Clover marked her off as less of a threat than the other two men. However, It didn't excuse her horrible timing and it was what she said next that really set Clover off.

[b]"Stay back?"[/b] The look on Clover's face did little to convey the bewilderment she tried to contain. [b]"Who the fu- You stay back! And you!"[/b] She turned back to Niko. [b]"Either you get the fuck out of here or I put a bullet in that empty fucking head of yours! That bitch almost chopped me up because of your stupid fucking music!"[/b]

[b]"Clover!"[/b]

[b]"Fuck! What?!"[/b]

[b]"Put the gun down. We're not killing anyone."[/b] Carter knew that most of her threats were just steam. If she was serious she wouldn't have given any of them a warning before killing them. It had gotten to the point where she took no chances anymore and if she perceived someone as a threat, she meant to eliminate them. However, the events of today had caught them all off guard. The chances of running into three different people within the same hour in the middle of a deserted road between two cities miles apart. It was either good luck... or bad luck. People didn't just wander up to other people anymore. There was always a reason. Clover had every right to distrust everyone one of them. But this time... this time it was different. Carter had always been a better judge of character than Clover. She hadn't fully developed that ability to read other people and so at times she acted off of instinct instead of truth and it was up to Carter to correct her. The two men and the lone woman in front of them, they were brought together at this very spot for a reason. They weren't threats and even if some of them didn't pass as bright, he was sure they'd have their moments to shine. He just had to make sure their lights weren't snuffed out before they got the chance and he had to make sure Clover understood. There were still things for her left to learn.

[b]"We're not killing... anyone."[/b] He repeated to be sure the words sank in.

[b]"The hell I'm not."[/b] She said between clenched teeth as she stared at Niko.

[b]"Clover..."[/b]

Clover tried her best to ignore him but she knew he was right. She'd figured a while ago that these people weren't threats as far as bandits were concerned. She only feared the inevitability of them sticking around. Someone was going to die, they always did and she'd have to carry their deaths on her shoulder just as she did everyone else that walked through her life. She didn't need that, she didn't want it. All she wanted was for them to go away.

After a few moments of silence, Clover finally dropped the gun although the anger was still clear as day in her expression. Frustrated, she walked up to Niko's truck and kicked the tire accomplishing nothing before planting herself firmly on the hood of an abandoned car and crossing her arms.

[b]"Alright... everyone, I think we got off on the wrong foot. Before we start killing each other... why don't we start over... You..."[/b] Carter turned toward the woman. [b]"You can leave if you want, or join us. I assure you we won't kill you without a reason, at least I wont. And you in the truck."[/b] Now addressing Niko, he stared at the man through the open window still not entirely sure what to make of him. [b]"Why don't you step out here so we can all have a little chat... and of course don't try anything stupid... or I will kill you."[/b] He finished adding some emphasis on the "i". While at the moment Clover was emotionally unstable, Carter's head was clear and he didn't have a problem dropping all three new faces. [b]"Now... why don't we start with our names... and a little about ourselves."[/b]