Clarke was woken up by the sound of a small animal running past her, its tail swishing branches as it ran. She instinctively hopped up on her feet with her right arm outstretched, ready to fight. It took her a few seconds to realize that no one was attacking her, before she sighed and slumped onto a near by rock. She grabbed her canteen and took a few gulps. Her water was almost running out and she hadn't seen a stream in a few days. 'Shit,' she thought to herself.
She left her people about a week ago. After the first few days, it was hard to keep track. She spent her days walking, only stopping to rest for a few hours each night. Right now the sun was rising, which means she slept later than usual today. She guessed that she had walked several miles each day, so by now she was far away from any Grounder or Camp Jaha resident. Which is exactly what she wanted right now.
There was no way she could forgive herself for what she had done, how could she expect her people to? Her mother? Kane? Bellamy? No, she didn't want any of them to lie to her and say everything was fine, because it wasn't. She let everyone down, especially Jasper. If she ever saw him again, she'd be ashamed. It was better this way, to be alone. If she happened to meet any other people like the Grounders, it would be a fresh start. Maybe she could eventually be one of them. They wouldn't have to know about her past, about who she really was.
After picking some berries and mushrooms and gathering her things, she set off on her daily hike, eating while she walked. If she didn't find water soon she'd be really screwed. She couldn't start a new life if she was dehydrated. 'Think, think,' she said to herself. 'Where could I find water? I know this, I can do this...'
Following animal footprints would be a start. Looking for any moss on trees was another sign of water. Keeping her eyes and ears alert at all time, listening for the sound of running water or seeing any damp ground. So far, nothing. As her last hope, she looked up hoping to see gray clouds. The sky was clear. It hadn't rained since she started this journey and that worried her. She knew she was traveling west because every night she walked into the sunset. Further and further away from the coast she got, closer and closer to what should be the Appalachian mountains. If she remembered correctly from textbook images she had seen of North America, the next coastline was about 3000 miles ahead of her.
At noon, she stopped to eat again. Still no signs of water. She tried not to panic. And that's when she heard it. A terrifying scream.
Octavia sat at her look out point on the edge of Camp Jaha, looking for anyone. Other survivors from the Ark. Grounders. The man who escaped Mount Weather. Lincoln. Especially Lincoln.
After Bellamy told everyone about Clarke leaving, Abby decided to go after her. She left Bellamy in charge, and Bellamy ran things a little differently than Clarke and Abby did. The first thing he did was set up shifts for people to watch for anyone who could be coming to harm the camp, but basically what he meant was the Grounders. She had six hour shifts, four days a week. 'Oh great,' she thought, just what she wanted to do. Sit around and do nothing and have unlimited time to think about how she doesn't belong here anymore, and about how the people she did belong with, banished her.
She had begged Bellamy for a different job, like helping Raven with getting the mechanics left over from the drop ship to work. Anything that wasn't as boring as this. But he insisted that she do this, to "keep her safe."
That really doesn't mean anything anymore. Ever since the 100 left the Ark, she's been on her own. She grew up here on Earth in a few weeks faster than she ever did on the ship, tens of thousands of miles away from here which now only existed in her memories of the past.
She heard footsteps behind her. She didn't even bother to turn around and see who it was, she knew who it was. The only person these days who would even talk to her. Her big brother.
Bellamy sat down next to her on the grass and handed her something. "A surprise," he said. She looked over at his hand. Berries.
"You bring that everyday, wow I'm so shocked," she said apathetically.
"It's the only fruit we've been able to find. Not everyone gets it in the rations. Be grateful. They're running out."
"I really don't care about berries. There's plenty of deer to eat." She knew he was just trying to cheer her up, but nothing was going to work. Not now. Not until she knew Lincoln was okay.
Clarke froze in her tracks. The scream was coming from her left, but all she saw were trees. As the sound came closer, it sounded familiar. It wasn't a scream of fear, it was more like a battle cry. A grounder signaling his men. And then he showed himself, he walked right out of the forest. He was heading for the clearing that she was standing in. She had to decide in a split second whether to run or stay put. She ran.
He was chasing, she heard his footsteps and heavy breathing, but she ran as fast as she could. She knew if she ran long enough, she could outrun him because she was lighter than him. He would tired easy. But then again, she hadn't been sleeping much and was practically dehydrated. He could easily win this race too.
His hand was on her shoulder and she was tackled to the ground. He forcefully flipped her over and put a knife to her throat. She gasped in fear and because she recognized him. It was Lincoln. But then again, it wasn't Lincoln. This man looked a lot like Lincoln, they could be brothers. But the hatred she saw in his eyes, Lincoln wasn't capable of that.
He was dressed similarly to the Grounders in Lexa's camp and he spoke to her in a language that she did not understand. She tried speaking but couldn't because of the pressure he was putting on her throat. She felt a sting; the knife had slightly pierced her skin. He eased up a little to let her talk.
"I don't understand you. I speak English. I mean you no harm I swear. Please, let me go."
His expression changed. Anger turned into curiosity. "Sky people?" he muttered.
Clarke felt happiness for a second. "Yes, yes, please let me go!"
"I cannot trust you."
"Lexa trusted me."
He held her still for a few seconds, then let go of her and stood up. Clarke gasped for air.
"What are you doing here? You are not allowed on our lands." He was tall, with a tattoo on his right cheek and fur clothes.
"I left my people. I was just looking for a new place to live." Clarke stood up and wiped the blood away from her neck.
"The Tree People you speak of are a five days walk from here. Is there a reason they banned you?"
"No, I have no conflict with them. I left for a different reason."
"Well when I first saw you, I was going to kill you. You look like the Mountain Men."
Clarke winced at the mention of the mountain men. "I killed them to save my people and I am ashamed. That's why I left my camp."
He studied her, as if she was some foreign species. Which in his mind, she probably was. She spoke again.
"You look like someone I know, one of Lexa's people. Lincoln." She left out the part about him being banished by Indra.
He smiled. "I am Abraham, his brother. I have not seen him in many months."
Clarke gave a weak smile and hesitated, before asking her next question. "Do you know where I can find water?"
Bellamy picked at the berries in his lap. He knew Octavia wasn't going to eat them, but he still brought them every day. Fruit was a luxury back on the Ark, and his mother always told him, "Never let sweet tasting fruit pass you by, you never know when you'll get to taste it again."
That wasn't true anymore, now that they were on Earth. Fruit was scarce, but not as much. If only his mother could see Earth, the beauty in it... He missed her. He wondered if his sister did too, but was afraid to ask her about it. With Lincoln gone, she's been glum. He didn't want to add to her pain, he knew she wanted to live with the Grounders...
With Clarke and Dr. Griffin gone, things feel different. Abby trusted Bellamy with Camp Jaha, instead of Kane, which shocked him. He felt increasing anxiety, everyday. Does everyone have enough to eat? Does everyone have a job? Do all security personnel have proper weapons that still work? He felt like his head was going to explode, with the impending pressure he constantly felt on his shoulders to make everyone here happy and not be a shitty leader for his own people.
Next to him, Octavia stood up. "Bellamy," she whispered, tapping his shoulder to signal him to stand up. He stood.
"What is it?" he asked. "What do you see?"
Octavia pointed straight ahead, to the tree line. At first he didn't see anything, but then, the female figure was clear.
Lexa was headed straight for them.