It had been three months since the fall of Mount Weather. Camp Jaha began preparing for the coming winter. Snowfall would soon be upon them. Abby, Bellamy, and Kane had been giving out orders for organized hunts, building huts for people to stay during the winter, and most importantly search parties to find Clarke.
Bellamy anticipated Clarke to be gone for a week or two, but three months was unexpected. He along with Lincoln, Octavia, and others would search the land miles and miles each day. Abby, being Clarke's mother, was worried sick. She lost Clarke once and she would never think it could happen to her again. Finding Clarke was a priority. Not that they didn't trust the instincts and strength of their once leader and savior of the mountain, but it was their first winter. None of them knew what to expect and had no forewarning, considering the Grounders were long gone.
It seemed as if the longer they searched for the sky princess, the quicker the bite of crisp air nipped at their necks.
Where was Clarke?
XX
As for Lexa, she too was preparing for the soon to come winter.
Plans have changed for her. She intended to go to Polis after the fall of the mountain, but since the missile hit Ton-DC, her presence as well as her warriors was needed. The destroyed village could not strive without the help of many to rebuild their once thriving community. Therefore, they fell back. Lexa gave the same order as the sky people: hunt for the winter and rebuild.
Commanders in the past would never join in with rebuilding huts and going out to hunt for individual families, but she did. It's what made her such a likeable and respectable leader.
It's also what kept her mind off of Clarke.
Ever since she turned her back and left Clarke on top of the mountain, she has cursed herself and the decisions she's made. Going back she would have done nothing differently, which is why she said the decision was made with her HEAD and not her HEART.
But, because it hurt Clarke…it killed Lexa inside.
XX
On a brittle, chilled morning, Lexa was in her tent. Dressing herself and placing armor upon her body, Indra walked inside.
"Heda, I have prepared a group of warriors to set north to hunt. Do I have permission to leave?"
"Indra, please humor me by telling me why you insist on leaving without me every morning?" Lexa now strapping the dagger to her side and standing up straight to face her second.
"I apologize Commander, your efforts to help Ton-DC do not go unnoticed, but as your second, I must confess that you appear to be restless. Ever since the fall of the mou—"
Lexa erupted cutting her second off fast and eyes spread open wide, "Em pleni!" Indra took a step back and her head fell to the ground as the commander continued, "I asked you along with the other generals to not talk about that night! I value your opinion and I have realized you answered truthfully when I posed you the question, but I gave you a direct order. I advise you to not go against such simple commands. It would be in your favor to reinstruct to your fellow warriors the same."
Lexa fell quiet and took a couple long, deep breaths.
"Heda, I—" Lexa raised her hand to stop her.
"Indra, I understand you are concerned about my strength, energy, and decision making. But, I am fine."
Indra picked her head up to meet eyes with the commander, "Yes Heda."
Lexa feeling somewhat remorse for raising her voice and snapping at her second, then placed her hand on her shoulder, "Now let us fight and kill the largest bear we can find! Go ready the hunters!"
Indra left the tent swiftly and left Lexa alone to finish readying herself. It really left her alone to her own thoughts.
It was true however. Lexa had not slept much since Mount Weather.
The commander allowed her warriors to celebrate the victory for one night and then ordered everyone to never speak of the mountain, Skaikru, or Clarke. To her that was no victory. To her, it was a safe decision: A decision that would save many but truly destroy one. That one was Clarke. With that, Lexa believed she would never stop hating herself for.
So, she did everything in her power to not think about it and she kept herself busy. From dawn until dusk, the commander worked hard to rebuild Ton-DC. She made sure everyone was kept fed. She wanted no family to suffer, even though she was.
XX
The Commander and Indra, now split off into two different directions to cover more hunting ground, began setting up positions to stalk. Indra and her group climbed through the trees, whereas Lexa with her followers stayed toward the ground.
The sun was finally bright into the sky, but it didn't change the temperature they felt flowing through the air. Lexa knew on cold mornings they were more than likely to see a large animal, such as a bear, wondering the woods looking for food to consume before the winter.
It didn't take long before they heard the cracking of twigs beyond the trees in front of them. Indra, from the trees above, gave Lexa a hand motion to shoot. Lexa pulled back the string of her bow, waiting for the animal to step out between a clearing in the trees.
But, soon enough, she heard a whistle. It was Indra trying to grasp her attention. The commander knew she couldn't turn her attention away, for fear of the bear either getting away or attacking them at a vulnerable time.
Three more whistles followed and finally the bear picked its head up to see what was making the noise.
Although, it didn't see Indra hiding in the tree, it saw a blonde girl, trembling and stumbling her way through the forest.
The Commander saw this too and just mumbled in disbelief, "Clarke.."
The bear took off running towards the Sky Girl, for it was an opportunity for food. At the same moment Lexa sprinted in the same direction.
Clarke, depleted with exhaust and unaware what was happening, saw the bear charging her. Too drained and shattered to move, she stood there and gave up in defeat.
In one swift move, the Commander launched her body at the blonde, wrapping her arms around her, knocking them out of the way from the bear that just missed its' attack.
Lexa now shielding the blonde girl who is on the ground, yelled to her warriors to attack the bear. "Zog raun!"
She grabbed the dagger from her side and held it in defense mode. The bear, quicker and much larger than the tiny commander, swung its sharp paws at her. She dodged many attempts but took a blow of sharp claws into her shoulder and upper arm. She fell back on to her knees and yelped a small cry.
Grounders were known for showing little pain.
Just as she went to stand back up to defend not only herself but Clarke again, an arrow was shot into the back of the bear.
Then another one.
Quickly a third followed.
And finally, with enough time to spare, the Commander jumped onto the enormous animal's back, wrapped her arms around its bulky neck, and slits its throat with her dagger.
The bear crumbled to the ground, as well as the commander who fell over on her back, gripping at the wound bleeding from her shoulder.
Indra along with the rest of the tree crew came running to the Commander's side.
Indra began shouting in Trigedasleng to the others to help the commander and to find a healer.
Lexa, with help up from a young warrior was now on her feet, "Nonsense Indra, I am fine. We need to find her help."
Indra stared at her commander in dismay. The young leader was hunched over gripping at her wound staring at the now passed out Sky Girl. "Heda, you are injured and not making sense because of it. Please, ride back with one of our men and let them find you Nyko."
In that moment, a switch flipped in the Commander. She stood up straight as if she was never hurt. Her eyes glared at her second and her jaw tightened.
"Listen carefully! Indra is going to lead you all back to Ton-DC. You will drag the bear back and take care of its meat and fur pelt. Distribute it amongst the needy. I will take Clarke kom Skaikru to Nyko."
"Heda—" Lexa cut Indra off once again.
"I will discuss your actions and tone at a later time Indra. I will not embarrass you in front of your men as you have done to me."
Indra signaled her men to start skinning the bear and portioning it to carry.
Certain men helped Lexa onto her horse. Then they placed Clarke's fragile and lifeless, passed out body in front of the Commander.
As hard as it was to hold the blonde in her arms, it was the only way to keep the sky princess steady on the ride.
Within moments, the horse trotted off quickly. Lexa made sure they picked up speed. She was fearful of Clarke's health.