In the past few months Clare has come to know Adira she could ocasionally read the girl like a book. She had been expecting an answer like that, knowing that Adira had never really gone with them before, always staying to watch their hideout, and that she was not the strongest person in the group. It wasnâ€™t like she was going to hold it against her for being terrified of those things. To be honest she was not going to admit just how terrified of those things she was herself, especially that new one that had attacked them, now that they were evidently working in groups. Deep down Claire feared being bitten and becoming one of those things more than she feared having to kill one of her comrades again. She had done her best to hide it the other night and was satisfied that nobody seemed to have noticed just how terrified she was.<br/><br/>She took in a slow breath, â€œThere isnâ€™t anything wrong with you staying here.â€ Folding her arms across her chest, she did her best to give a smile. â€œYou have always looked after the hideout while we were away and marked off places that we have been. We never needed to worry too much about those things.â€ It was true. Adira has always looked after the place even if she did worry about them whenever she was left alone. She has always been able to see how worried she was, terrified that something might happen to them whenever they went out there, but she has never really said anything. If she did it might only cause more worry, she always tried to keep that sort of stuff to a minimum, but now maybe it didnâ€™t do any good keeping it inside, looking back maybe she should have spoken up more.<br/><br/>It always went back to her never really being able to speak up much.<br/><br/>Claire knew that this was the time to do it. A sigh left her and she pinched the bridge of her nose while she thought of what to say. If she really did want to keep morale up she needed to act now, it was just a shame that it had to start with Adira. She had to be careful, she had to go about this the right way otherwise it would only backfire. The girl was a little sensitive; her hands were shaking for crying out loud. She didnâ€™t want to be hard on her but she knew he didnâ€™t have much of a choice at this point. This was something that she should have done from the start. In order to get through this she needed everyone, and she wasnâ€™t in the mood to put up with Adira or anyone worried about whether or not they were a competent member of the group.<br/><br/>â€œNow we do have to worry, especially since those things are changing, and I need everyone to work together. This includes you standing up and doing more around here.â€ Her tone came off stern, but somehow she managed to pull it off and she didnâ€™t seem like she was being too harsh. At least that was what she was hoping. It has never been in her nature to be someone who was brutally honest and in her own way she was hesitating getting everything of her chest. Her heart was pounding, her body trembling a little from nerves. But damn it if Adira could stand up and give her opinions on things then she could do the same. Claire wasnâ€™t going to back down or go soft this time, not now that she had already began to speak her mind. â€œIf you want to stay here and look over the place while weâ€™re gone, so be it.â€<br/><br/>She had to pause a moment to compose herself before she continued. â€œBut Iâ€™m not going to leave you here so you can mope about not being an adequate member of this group. Like I said back when I had to kill one of ours, which I should bring up I did not want to be the one to do, I need everyone to work as a tight unit now more than ever, and that means doing things we donâ€™t want to do.â€ Her tone was a little harsher this time around and part of her wanted to apologize. Maybe later. Eventually she was going to have to speak to the group as a whole but for right now she figured sheâ€™d get Adira out of the way. It was still early and a lot had to get done today. They needed to find food and make sure that this place really was safe from the infection.<br/><br/>After that they would need to start planning their attack on Excelleron. Who knows how much damage they have done, not just to this city but neighboring cities as well. If they were still willing to sell their product, ignorant customers would buy it. The idea of a miracle cure was frighteningly enticing. Just look what happened to this city once Excelleron knew that their product was high demand, it fell to ruin as soon as people let their guard down.<br/><br/>â€œIâ€™m tired, Adira,â€ Claire continued, running a hand over her face. â€œI donâ€™t want to lose anyone else. What if those things come after the hideout again and the rest of the group and I canâ€™t help you? Either you stand up, or youâ€™re not part of the group at all. You were the one who mentioned attacking Excelleron so I feel you should be involved in taking it out. Evidently you saw something we had missed completely.â€ She stopped suddenly and turned away from Adira, unable to face her. Her nerves were becoming too much for her, and her emotions were threatening to spill over. The composure that everyone had become so use to over the past few months seemed to vanish just like that. She decided to head back outside until the rest of the group woke up. Then, everyone could plan out what they were going to do for the day.