Clarke slipped out of the chamber where she and her fellow nightbloods had been attending the body of the commander. Erik had been brought down by infection that had set in after a poorly treated arrow injury. He had been an absent commander, so busy with his wars and his attempts at forging stronger alliances that he'd rarely had time for the nightbloods. She'd easily fallen through the cracks between his absence and Titus' disfavor. Fortunately, the cracks were exactly where she needed to be. Feigning tears had allowed her to leave the vigil for commander Erik. Once out of the mourning room, she was able to move through the tower with ease, after all she'd been raised in it and knew it as only a child might.
Once out of the tower, she came to a stop at the small spring besides the building where the conclave would be held. It was tradition that before entering the conclave they would all drink from the spring as a way to tie their spirits to the earth and land they fought to rule. It was also the first step towards her survival. Reaching into her chest bindings, she withdrew a small pouch she'd taken to keeping there at all times. Inside it was the fine powder of Jobi nuts.
Titus had always seen her interest in medicine and healing as a weakness. He believed that the commander should not concern themselves with more than the knowledge necessary to temporarily treat their own wounds. She was glad she'd never listened to the man. After all, it was her training as a healer that let her know that Jobi nuts if eaten whole in large quantities, led to hallucinations but that when crushed, they had a different effect. When crushed and let to soak in water they caused a dissociative state. Healers used the water filled with crushed Jobi nuts as a way to allow warriors and children to relax while having bones set or other painful procedures. It gave one the sensation of being disconnected to their body. As the effects wore off nausea was common.
She had always known that she had no hope in her conclave. As the youngest in her conclave she would be at an initial disadvantage. That in addition to her lack of height meant she wasn't an intimidating warrior compared to the rest. She'd realized all this years ago, so she'd done the only thing she could. She'd pretended to be weaker than she was, she'd hidden skills like a squirrel hid nuts. This had of course led to her falling further and further out of favor and leaving her on her own for greater and greater periods of time. Time she'd used to learn, to train, and most importantly to gain the friendship of the city. The quiet nightblood who visited the sick in their homes was loved by the city, though they all looked sad when they saw her, knowing she would not survive her conclave. However, that was exactly how she wanted it.
Pouring the powdered nuts into the spring, she waited till they had dissolved throughout the water. Once it pooled clear once more, she ran a finger across the cool surface. She would take no joy in what would happen in the morning, but it was necessary. Without looking back, she returned to the vigil. As she walked, she pulled out a dropper with a slight amount of irritant in it that would make her eyes look like she'd been crying. As expected, no one acknowledged her when she slipped back into the room of mourning. Titus merely scoffed at her reddened eyes that indicated she'd been weak.
After the ceremony, Clarke slept uneasily in her room, a churning boiling feeling of guilt in the pit of her stomach. The call for the start of the conclave was almost a relief after tossing and turning nearly all night. She'd dressed quickly and efficiently in her spartan room. The traditional plain black clothing fitting her perfectly. It'd been made for her, one of the few luxuries allowed the nightbloods. The leather chest guard was strapped to her with numb fingers that barely felt the leather buckles. With that done, she stared at her collection of weapons. Only one weapon was allowed into the conclave. Her hand rested on the dagger Anya had gifted her with during her early training
Slipping the dagger into a sheath on her leg, she began to walk towards the entrance to the room where the conclave would take place. Her fellow nightbloods were making their way as well, all silent and mournful. She noticed the pale look on Luna and her brother's faces. Swallowing bile at the thought of how she'd possibly end up killing them, she focused on the ground and her breathing. As they entered the building, they stopped to scoop a cup of water from the spring and drink before heading inside to face their death. When it was her turn, she didn't swallow the small cupful of water she'd taken. As soon as she entered the building, she hunched and spat it out, acting as if she was throwing up bile. The others ignored her as they moved to the wall where they were permitted to carve something, words or images to be remembered by, before they began. Once sure that it had been convincing, she moved forward and stared at the wall. Dipping her finger in the ink, she wrote. She chose the language of warriors and wrote. "I will bear the guilt of what I shall do today for all my days."
Nodding in acceptance of the words, she moved to her entrance into the maze. The conclave was built so that there were multiple doors spread across the wall. Upon entering, you'd come to a room. Each room had two doors in and one door out. Once in your room only one nightblood could move forward. By the time you reached the end, only one nightblood would be left. Stealing herself, she opened her door at the sound of the gong. Turning to face her opponent, she saw Karl. He was fifteen and wiry. He looked sick and she was unsure how much of that was from the Jobi nuts and how much was from the situation. She assumed a bit of both. He was holding a sword with sweaty palms.
Instead of waiting for a sign to begin, she threw her knife. It buried itself to the hilt through his throat. He never even had a chance to fight. Walking forward, she dropped down beside the dying boy and held his hand, stroking his hair away from his eyes. "Yu gonplei ste odon."
He gurgled on black blood as it oozed out of his throat and up into his mouth. As he became still, she closed his eyelids before lowering his head to the ground. With a sharp jerk, she freed her knife from his throat. Not bothering to clean the blood off, she returned it to its sheath and took his sword. She would not wash the blood of her brothers and sisters off her. They deserved her to carry their blood on her till the end. Taking two fingers, she dipped them into his still hot blood, coating them in the substance. Standing, she wiped it from her hairline to the side of her eyes. She would honor the fallen. With her face painted for war, she walked forward and entered the next room.
Once in the room, she realized she was alone. Sitting, she waited taking deep breaths, she knew it would be Luna who would enter this room. Silence prevailed and she did not enter. Cautiously, she rose and approached the door to the room Luna and her brother had entered. Opening it, she leapt back to avoid a sneak attack only for the door to simply swing open silently. Glancing in, she saw the body of Luke laid on the ground. He looked like he was sleeping but the pool of black blood beneath him dispelled that illusion. Moving into the room, she realized it was truly empty besides the body. It didn't take her more than a moment to notice the black blood staining the handle of the door that one of the siblings must have entered. So, Luna had run. With that knowledge, she moved back into the room where she should have faced Luna. Not pausing, she gripped the door to the last room and rolled through the door, coming up on her feet, sword gripped ready to defend against whoever was in this room.
Garik was leaning against the wall, his eyes glassy, a large gash bleeding black down his side and leg. His face was pale and sweat was beaded on his brow. Straightening out of her crouch, she approached her brother in blood and cautiously checked to make sure she wasn't being fooled by a trap. He breathed out a ragged breath before speaking. "Clarke, we've been poisoned." He seemed to slump slightly as the blood loss made him light headed. "Run, surely our poisoner aims to kill us all and end the line of Heda."
"I know, they're already here Garik." She stepped closer, seeing the confusion and then understanding dawn as he fought through the effects of the nuts and the loss of blood.
"How? How could you do this?" He struggled, pushing himself off the wall, raising his sword weakly, the blade wavering from his arms shaking. "You would betray us?"
Clarke knocked his blade to the side sharply before plunging her sword into his gut. "I'm sorry brother, but there are no rules save that all but one must die." She held him close to her comfortingly, feeling his blood coat her front.
His head slumped onto her shoulder, wet breaths bubbling against her throat. "I don't want to die." He wheezed.
Reaching up a hand, she gripped the back of his neck, cradling his head. "I will never let this happen again, I give you my word. This will be the last conclave."
He let out a wheezing laugh. "Little Clarke, the weakling." A cough came out mixed with his wheezing laughter. "We should have known you were more."
She felt a choking sound of grief come out of her mouth as she lowered them both to the ground. Garik was tall and strong and seventeen. He was the oldest and the favored to win this conclave along with Luna, but here he lay dying at her hand. "Go in peace brother. Yu gonplei ste odon."
His eyes blinked up at her as she cradled his body and a smile spread across his lips in peace. He took one last rattling breath and then went still. She stayed like that, cradling his body till it had gone cold. Finally, she stood and laid him out with his hands crossed over his breast and closed his eyes. Stiffly, she stood and faced the exit from the conclave. It was almost as if someone else was controlling her body as she exited the blood bath and saw the people waiting outside of the building to greet their new Heda. There was a surprised ripple that went through the crowd before the cheer went up and the horn declaring the conclave over blew. She stared at Titus, the master of tradition and her flamekeeper. He was pale and shocked, clearly horrified at her victory. Ignoring him, she returned her attention to the crowd and raised her fist in victory.
Once the celebration of the rule of the new Heda calmed, she followed Titus to the holy room. He was silent as he indicated for her to lay on a narrow bed laid in front of the altar of the commanders. She silently did as she was told, laying down on her stomach. She felt the sharp pain as a slice down the back of her neck was made. She's known it was coming, after all she had seen the mark on Erik, the previous commander's neck many times over the years. Then she heard words in a language she did not know and felt something invading her neck. It was the strangest feeling, she felt herself connecting and becoming one with the flame. She was so caught up in the sensation of knowledge and whispers being given straight to her mind, that she barely noticed the sensation of her neck being stitched closed.
She did notice when her shirt was cut open along the back and Titus began the process of inscribing the mark of the commander across the injury. Breathing out, she willed the pain away as she became used to the flame. She still felt like herself but there was a weight and presence inside of her that she could tell was not her. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on reaching it. So she laid there all night as Titus inked her back and communed with the past commanders. She learned in detail what Erik had intended with his constant wars and attempts at alliances. He saw a path to peace in them. Already, he had gained the loyalty and alliance of two clans. It would take more than that to force their enemies in Azgeda to bow but she could see his path. She learned who Erik had trusted and what he knew of the political position of all the clan leaders. It was a wealth of knowledge and she could barely comprehend it all.
Finally, a hand on her shoulder indicated that it was done. Rising, she pushed down the pain in her back. The design of the commander went down her spine, the circles for the brothers and sisters of the blood marked into her skin. After all, she now carried their lives and strength inside of her. Looking on Titus, she saw him bow, "Heda."
"Flamekeeper." She acknowledged. Before walking towards the large bath that servants must have brought in while he had inked the designs of her position into her skin. Stripping without shame, she lowered herself into the hot water. She bit her lip so hard it almost bled as the water lapped against her tender back. Finally, she ducked her head under the water to wash the blood and dirt from her hair. Once she was clean, she raised herself up and out and dried herself with the white sheets Titus handed to her, his head still bowed.
Walking towards the wardrobe, she saw the many pieces of clothing of past commanders hanging. Each commander would designate one piece of their armor or clothing to the wardrobe. Ignoring the decorative gear, she wrapped her breasts and pulled on a loose black shirt. Soon pants and a belt followed till she was wearing the clothing of a nightblood initiate. Focusing back on the wardrobe, she gently and reverently took down a coat and ran her fingers over it. A sense of familiarity that was not her own washed through her. She pulled it on and began to buckle it into place. Once that was on, she strapped her knife to her thigh and slipped several knives into the coat as her mind whispered places they would remain hidden there. Turning to face, Titus she stared at him dispassionately. "Is it time?"
"The sun rose a candlemark ago. All of Polis awaits your recital of the names." He gestured to a chair. "First your hair must be braided."
Nodding, she walked to the chair, sat and closed her eyes, preparing herself for what must come as Titus' fingers plated her hair into the braids of her position. Finally, the hands left her hair and she heard him step back from her. "Heda, the pauldron."
She stood and approached the pauldron on the rack waiting for her to don it. Lifting it she settled it over her shoulder the weight of it bearing down upon her. With a soft click, it was attached, the sash sweeping down across her. Looking at Titus, she spoke. "Paint."
It was clearly an order and Titus approached, her holding a jar of black, soot based, paint. Dipping her fingers in, she spread the paint in the tracks of where she'd spread Karl's blood earlier. Staring at her image in the mirror, she considered. Re-dipping her fingers, she reached up and dragged a great stripe from the sides of her eyes down to her jaw. The stripe tapered to a point by the time it hit her jaw. It looked and felt right.
"Heda, it is time." Titus said from where he'd retreated across the room.
"Very well," She walked from the holy room out into the streets of Polis. The people crowded around to catch a glimpse of their new Heda. She kept her chin tilted up as she walked with measured steps to the tower. The ride from the bottom to the throne room was deceptively quick. It felt like she'd barely been able to breathe before the guards to the throne room were opening the doors and she was gazing in at the highest ranking officials of the Trikru as well as the ambassadors from their two allied clans, Floukru and Trishana. Keeping her composure, she swept to the dais with the throne. Spinning, she faced the room and she began to speak the lineage starting with Beca Primheda and ending with Erik.
As she finished, the room dropped to their knees with the pronouncement of "Heda!"
Sitting down upon her throne, she stared out at the people she now commanded. She was surprised her hands weren't shaking. The weight that had been being added to her shoulders since she'd walked out of her conclave settled heavily. She could barely breathe as her mind whirled with her obligation to the people assembled here and to those waiting the pronouncement of their new heda outside of this room. Her head turned as Titus spoke. "What is your first order Heda?"
So at only fourteen summers of age, she sat in the throne and gave orders that would direct a nation. If she'd been Garik or Luna, or maybe one of the others, Titus would have thrown his full support and political power behind her. He had never favored her, always thought her weak, and she'd used that to create a false image of herself. However, now that she'd won, she had no doubts that the moment a student from the next conclave showed promise, she'd find a dagger in her back. He played at being honorable but she knew where his loyalty lay and it was not with her, it was with the flame. She would have people jockeying to try and control her within hours.
If she could stay in power for a month before all the steps Erik had made for peace crumbled, it would be a miracle. She didn't have the effortless power that Garik had radiated. Nor did she have an inspirational personality that people naturally followed, like Luna. She had one true strength, she could play people against each other, she could bend people to her will through nothing but her voice. Even with that, she would need a strong ally to be the muscle at her back. Someone untouchable, but someone she could control, at least partially. There was only one candidate. The flame in her head filled her with whispers of warning. She could feel how Erik's soul was against her actions, seeing nothing but ruin in them. If she listened to him and followed his plan, or remnants of a plan that needed help badly, she doubted she'd survive a year. So that left her plan, and it was risky in ways she knew no one would approve of if they knew of it. She hoped that in the early hours of her ascension she would have the political capital to make it work. She wondered how many she would have to publicly kill to keep order.
"My first order is to honor the dead. Gather the bodies of the nightbloods who fell in the conclave and burn them with the respect that they deserve." Swallowing, she prepared to change the status quo. If she'd been Luna or Garik, perhaps she could have done things Erik's way. As it was she would have to find a new path for peace.
She saw the approval in the faces of the warriors and generals present, surprisingly even Titus looked pleased with her command. Clearing her throat, she continued. "My second command is that a troop of twenty warriors be sent to the border with Azgeda flying the white flag of truce."
-TLGTLGTLGTLGTLGTLGTLGTLGTLGTLG-
Five Years Later:
Lexa thumbed across the tablet in front of her, only to look up when the door opened. Two of the guard were entering her cell. Frowning, she looked at them in confusion, it was too early for her to be taken to the open deck for the daily socialization with the others.
"Prisoner 318 turn and face the wall." The higher ranked guard ordered.
Setting her tablet down, she turned placing her hands against the wall of the ark. The metal cuff snapped around her wrist wasn't right. Twisting around, she glared at the guards. "What is this? Does councilmen Kane know what is happening?"
"I've got this!" The familiar voice of her father echoed around the room.
The guards stepped back from her. "Of course councilman."
As soon as the door closed, she pulled herself to attention.
"Don't do that." Her father ordered quickly. As she relaxes, he starts speaking rapidly. "Listen and don't interrupt, there isn't much time. The Ark is dying. We have maybe four months of air left, if that. Your mother has conceptualized a plan. All of the prisoners over the age of ten are to be sent to the ground. If it's survivable, you'll be granted your pardons." His voice is strained and she can hear the panic and sorrow in it. "I would not let you be a part of this if it wasn't your only hope. I would never have let you be arrested if I'd known the oxygen system would fail. With oxygen, gone the first population to be culled would be the prisoners. This is your only chance at survival. Once you're on the ground, you must make for Mount Weather. It was an old military depot. There will be rations, water, weapons, tools, everything you'll need to survive till we can come down as well."
Lexa felt her heart beating out of her chest at the news. She'd known it was a risk when she'd taken the fall for her girlfriend's crime, but this? This wasn't something she could have managed and she could see the toll it was taking on him.
He continued quickly. "You must work with the others. They're delinquents and criminals but alone you won't be able to survive. Remember everything you've been taught and always follow your instincts. There are communication systems on the dropship. Get them up and running as quickly as possible. The wristbands are your mother's invention. They'll transmit your vitals to the ark. So, even if the communication array fails, you need only keep yourself alive and I'll know."
"Dad." She croaked, realizing this was probably the last time she'd see him. Now, everything she'd been angry with him over seemed so foolish. She'd been angry that he hadn't approved of her girlfriend, angry that he hadn't covered for her when she took the blame for the girl's crimes, angry that he turned out to be right and her girlfriend turned out not to be who she'd thought she was. She moved as if to hug him.
Reaching out, he crushed her against him and her arms quickly wrapped around him holding him to her. "Dad, I'll survive I promise. Whatever it takes, just like you taught me."
"I know you will sweetheart. I know you will." He hugged her even tighter and breathed in like he was trying to memorize this moment. Pulling back, he grasped her shoulders and nodded. "You'll survive this." He said it like a benediction, a pronouncement of faith.
She nodded her head in understanding of the order. "I already have allies amongst the others in the skybox. They'll watch my back on the ground."
"Good, your mother will tell you to watch out for yourself, to not try and protect everyone else. I'm telling you right now, if you need to sacrifice people to save yourself you do it. However, never forget that there is strength in numbers. "Do you understand?"
"Yes," She replied without question, knowing that he was telling her this only partially for her benefit. He was her father. She knew when he was falling apart. He turned to open the doors and she quickly interjected. "Is mother out there?"
He looked at her. "Of course, neither of us would let you go without saying goodbye."
Steeling herself, she spoke evenly forcing down her emotions. "You can't let her. The others will see me as weak and favored. They cannot think that." Her voice was iron only because she knew it was the only way to get him to understand what needed to be done.
She saw understanding dawn on his face and a horrible mixture of grief and pride war across his face. "Very well. Know that she loves you. Even if your mother and I have been fighting, we both love you more than anything."
"I know. I love you both too." She said fiercely.
With that he opened the door and led her out of her room. She kept her face blank as her father waved over a guard and ordered him to escort her to the dropship. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Abby, her mother, rushing towards her and her father pulling her back. Whatever he said to her caused her to cease her forward motion. It was a violent internal struggle that allowed her to keep her face blank as she was walked into the dropship and strapped into her seat. She stared at the passing prisoners, making eye contact with the ones she had gotten to know inside the skybox. The ones who would follow her once they were on the ground, Harper, Monroe, Murphy, Miller, Jasper, Monty, and Atom. It wasn't much, but it was something. Once she'd arrived in the skybox her training in the guard program as well as being the daughter of two councilors had guaranteed her place at the top of the social hierarchy.
Normally, this would have kept her apart from the others due to the resentment they felt for the elite, but she'd had one advantage that had turned things to her gain, Miller. Miller had been in guard training with her. Once he vouched for her, she'd been accepted somewhat reluctantly as one of them. After Miller, Jasper and Monty had ended up with them. The two boys had been trying to stay out of prisoner politics and had figured the two former guard cadets could serve as protection against any of the truly violent prisoners. The boys were cheerful and Monty's moonshine business from before he was arrested made them popular enough that once they weren't weaklings at the bottom of the food chain, people joined them occasionally at meals. That was how the others had been brought in, they were all good natured kids who formed a clique with her and Miller as the silent protectors. Murphy had gotten into trouble and she'd covered for him and with that they had gained the final member of their clique. With them at her back, getting the others to follow would be easy enough.
She hadn't been the daughter of the head of the guard for nothing. She knew that establishing leadership upon landing was crucial. Without it, they'd descend into chaos almost immediately and chaos with only their numbers would spell death. So, she would take charge. She was already the leader of her group. Once power structure was established, the others would fall in line. Promising candidates for allies stood out against the walls as she saw them being strapped into their seats. She had to hide a scoff at the sight of Spacewalker but knew he was charming enough that getting his allegiance would be important. Dax looked like he could serve as added muscle for protection of the younger kids. Her eyes caught Octavia Blake, the girl was practically a recluse, too socially awkward to make many friends among the prisoners. With protection she may be loyal, really people like her could go either way. She cringed internally at the sight of a couple of the younger kids. Keeping them alive would be a challenge.
It was halfway through a plan for how to keep everyone organized that she was surprised by a prisoner being strapped in next to her. "Wells?"
He grinned at her apologetically. "What? Like I'd let you do this alone."
"What on earth did you do?" She asked, unsurprisingly getting the attention of several of the nearby prisoners.
He shrugged with a slight hint of embarrassment. "I got arrested so I could go down with you. When I heard about the dropship I had to, you would have done the same."
She was too stunned to answer. How could she possibly answer to loyalty and friendship like that? Reaching out, she clasped his hand and squeezed tightly. "You're an idiot."
"Can't let you have all the adventures." He said with a grin.
The doors shut and the ship detached from the ark. As the message from the chancellor played out across the screen, she gripped at her restraints and closed her eyes, trying to prepare herself. The shakes scared her and her adrenaline was pouring through her body. She ignored Spacewalker floating as Wells yelled at everyone to stay in their seats. As the smell of fear, compact humanity, and burning oil filled her nose she shuddered. She would not die this day. She would not die in the crash. This was not how it would end for her. They would survive the fall, and they would make it and they would survive on the ground.
Grinding her teeth down, she tried to control her fear as the ship began to shake right before they hit the atmosphere. As the others screamed and the formally floating teens hit the walls hard she stayed still. To the others, she had no doubt she looked abnormally calm, but it was the only way she could keep herself from panicking.
Finally, with a bone rattling crash and jerk, the world fell silent as their movement stopped and everyone paused to process their survival. There were various sounds of surprise and relief as Lexa allowed herself to ease the tension in her frame just slightly. As the murmurs got louder, she knew she had to act. She'd been trained her entire life to lead the guard, protecting her people was her job. Unbuckling her straps, she moved to the hatch and dropped down trusting that Wells would be behind her.
Once on the bottom floor of the drop ship, she spotted a man in a guard jacket near the door. That wasn't right. Ignoring the pushing and shoving, she made her way to the front quickly. Clasping her hands behind her back, she stared at him. "Who are you and why are you on this ship?"
"None of your business. Who put you in charge princess?" He drawled, clearly believing himself to be the one in charge.
"Bellamy!" a female voice from behind them called out to the boy.
Lexa took in the girl from the side of her eye without moving her head and identified the approaching girl as Octavia Blake. She returned her attention to Bellamy critically. While the two hugged in reunion, she opened her mouth. "Bellamy Blake, former guard, older brother of Octavia Blake and current janitor."
Stepping around him and avoiding his glare she pulled the door handle down. The sound of the metal opening drowned out his snide remark of "Think you're so special princess." It wouldn't do after all for anyone to hear him challenging her. She'd been given the responsibility of caring for these kids and she would do it regardless of Bellamy Blake. Instead of anyone noticing the contest of wills that was growing between them, they were all floored by the green. Lexa wasn't immune herself and she found herself staring slack jawed at the earth. It was beautiful, mixtures of green and brown surrounding them and wafting around them. Everything was so gloriously undeniably alive.
Moved by a moment of pity she pushed Octavia out into their new reality. It was fitting that the most trapped of them should be the first to taste true freedom. Also she hoped it would help her create in roads there, she needed this girl to control her brother who was obviously going to be a problem. She followed behind Octavia as she took in their new surroundings. Octavia glanced back at her for a moment before a smile crawled across her face and she stepped off the ramp. Throwing up her arms the girl cried out in victory, "WE'RE BACK BITCHES!"
With that the delinquents were rushing out and whooping in joy as they ran around the woods. She was caught up in the excitement as well as she took her own first step on the ground. Turning her face up towards the sun, she closed her eyes and just breathed in the freshest air she'd ever tasted. She could feel the sun are her face, air moving without the hum of fans, it was everything she'd never allowed herself to dream of when drifting off in earth skills classes. Opening her eyes, she began to critically examine the area around her. A terrible suspicion creeped up her spine. Walking forward, she saw what had to be a mountain through the tree break. Frowning, she took in their surroundings. Rolling hills and a single mountain. That had to be Mount Weather, which was going to make all of this a great deal harder.
"What's wrong Princess?" The steady voice of Miller came from behind her.
Turning to face him, she let some of her annoyance come through. "We're off course. That's Mount Weather."
Miller let out a whistle of appreciation for their situation. "So, what do we do?"
She paused and ran through several possibilities. Finally coming to a decision, she gave her orders. "Can you round up the others? Grab Wells as well. He may be Jaha's son but he's not a bad person. I'll go see if Bellamy is up to helping keep us all alive."
"Got it." He turned off to gather their friends.
Walking with purpose, she approached the distinct color and shape of a guard jacket. "Blake."
"Princess." He sneered.
She'd never liked him, not that they'd interacted much. It was why she hadn't placed his face at first. It wasn't that he was a bad person, but he was arrogant and ready to see the world burn. It was even more pronounced in his expression now. Keeping her expression flat, she began to question him. "How'd you get on the drop ship?"
"None of your business." He lifted his shirt, showing a gun stuffed into the waistband of his pants. "And it's not going to be your business princess."
She felt herself settle, he was a threat and he had to be neutralized before he could harm any of those under her protection. Not giving him any warning she snapped a punch into his face fast. It wasn't hard and didn't carry a great deal of weight. Its job was to disorientate not injure. While Bellamy was still confused, she reached out, grabbing his arm while hooking his leg behind the knee. With a twist of her torso, she had him on his knees his right arm twisted behind his back. With a quick move, she grabbed the gun from his waistband. Once it was secured, she placed her free hand on the back of his neck. They'd gathered a ring of attention now. "Listen carefully to me Bellamy." She squeezed in warning against his neck while twisting his arm enough to keep him silent.
"Now, the way this works is quite simple. The ark is dying. In four months everyone up there that we know or love and care for, everyone will be dead. Our mission, our task is to save them before the council begins executing the 'non-critical' personnel." She could tell everyone was listening to her now. "We will survive. We will save our people. We don't have room for selfish idiots like you." Shoving him down, she stood up to face the growing crowd. "Regardless of what the ark expects of us, this is our chance to make our own start."
Gazing around, she caught the eyes of several of the assembled, all of the attention now focused solely on her. "We are all criminals, equally condemned by the ark. This is our chance to make a home. To claim a right to a life and a future that is better than any they saw for us. It is our duty to save our people, but it is our opportunity to forge ourselves into the legends of our people. To make ourselves indispensable. The first to live on the ground and the heroes of those without the courage to venture down here themselves."
There was nodding around the crowd. Breathing in, she accepted that this was her opportunity to get everyone organized and doing what was needed. Bellamy had pulled himself up and looked mulish but hasn't challenged her again. Good, she could work with this. "If we want to give ourselves a home the ark cannot take when they come down themselves, we must build it. We do not know the dangers of this new land. Some of us must prepare a camp for the night. Miller, Murphy, Atom would you see to it that the camp is prepared and gather water?"
The boys gave out affirmatives. She could see the pride in their faces at being asked to handle this. "Wells, Harper, take apart the ship and see to anything that we can make use of to communicate with the ark or help to build our camp. Jasper, Monty, Spacewalker, Octavia, are you willing to come with me? We need to make it to Mount Weather and see what if any supplies are salvageable. We can bring back what we can carry. Everyone else do what you can to help the others."
She breathed easier as she saw the expressions of the others becoming firm and ready to go on an adventure through the woods. Turning to go to the dropship to talk to Miller and Wells, she felt a hand clamp down on her shoulder. Spinning around while grabbing the hand, she glared at Bellamy. "What do you want?"
He glared at her. "You can't take Octavia out there like that."
Octavia had approached and she suddenly seemed to become furious. "You don't get to tell me what to do or not do. I've been a prisoner all my life. You can't lock me up down here."
"Both of you stop now." She commanded and was pleased to see they both did as told. Bellamy had clearly learned that she was stronger than him and was willing to concede to her now that she had the support of the delinquents and the gun. "Bellamy, you're the oldest one here. They'll need your strength to build. I'll keep your sister safe." She met his eyes, daring him to challenge her. "These are my people. I'll do what I can to protect them all."
He seemed to measure her before speaking. "Fine, if she is hurt, I'll kill you."
Turning her attention to Octavia, she gave her a nod of acknowledgement. "Grab what you want to bring with you. Be ready to leave in five minutes."
As she approached the drop ship, she sighed in relief to see Wells and Harper standing on the ramp. Wells walked over, hugging her tightly. "Lexa."
Pulling back, she smiled softly at them both. "I need you to see if any of the communication equipment can be salvaged. The sooner we can let the ark know it's survivable down here the better. I know with the damage that it will be difficult." She cringed at the burnt husk of a drop ship. "Just find what's salvageable."
"What up boss." Murphy drawled from her side.
She felt relief, he was clearly still hers. She knew his type. He was a cockroach. He would survive and he'd do it by adhering himself to the strongest person. If he was following her, he saw her as the strongest and his ticket to survival. "Murphy, think you can handle getting some tents built and things organized here?"
He gave her a cocky smirk. "I'll keep them in line."
She sighed. "Just try not to alienate them. If they don't like you, they'll try to overthrow any order we can establish. So, play nice and watch Bellamy for me. I don't trust that he's done vying for power yet."
Giving her a mocking bow, he snarked at her, "As you command your highness."
"Oh and Murphy, see which of the older boys you can recruit to help run things. If wildlife is a thing here, we're going to need to establish our own guard. Any of the older girls as well. No one who's crime was murder or sexual assault though." She could see him plotting already. "Miller can run things while I'm gone, but I'll need you to be my eyes and ears."
He smirked before heading off towards a tall blond boy greeting him loudly. "Dax! What a pleasure to see you my friend."
She rolled her eyes and waved Monty and Jasper over as she headed for the edge of the clearing where the dropship had landed. "You boys ready for a hike?"
"Duh, we're always ready princess." Jasper said happily.
She sighed, that damn nickname from the skybox wasn't going away anytime soon apparently. It's what she got for having two parents on the council. Not that it had saved her from their current fate. As they headed for the edge, Octavia practically skipped over while Finn followed clearly ready to flirt his way through their hike. She nearly groaned but kept it to herself. "You boys keep an eye out for any edible plants, we may need them."
"Aye aye princess!"
They'd been walking for a good mile, Lexa remaining quiet as the others chattered on about flowers and trees as they tromped along. It was beautiful and she was enjoying it. Which is of course when Finn had to open his mouth. "So, what'd you do to get locked up Princess?"
She sighed but replied anyways. It was important that they saw her as one of them and not one of the elite. "My girlfriend stole the Chancellor's bottle of whiskey, the one from earth, reserved for when we get to the ground. I figured my parents would get me off so I said it was me. Guess I figured wrong."
"Nice," Monty said with a wistful tone. "Did you at least get to have some before you guys got caught?"
She grinned fiercely. "Of course, and it was so worth it."
Jasper nudged her in the side. "When the ark gets here you're going to have a very 'grateful' girlfriend my dude."
She felt her face shutter shut in an attempt to hide her hurt. "I won't. She sent me a letter." Reaching up, she touched the front pocket of her jacket. The folded up piece of plastic with its inked on message still there. "Apparently, since prisoners all die it was easier to make a clean break of it instead of her hanging around drawing out the inevitable goodbye."
"Bitch." Octavia commented. "I say float them all. I know you're all gung ho about saving our people, but they can go float themselves after what they did to me."
"You don't mean that." Jasper said, trotting after Octavia.
The girl flipped her hair looking back at him. "Yeah I do."
Lexa sighed, of course it would take work to get Octavia on their side. Still, if it kept her brother in line it would be worth it. "I get that you want the people in power to float, but there are over 2,000 people on the ark."
Finn piped in helpfully for once. She really was going to have to recruit him more firmly. "We have to warn them."
"And we are." She said, "What do you think Wells and Harper are doing? They'll find the tech. When we get back we'll find out who's from Mecha station and get them to work on it. Hopefully, Mount Weather will have some working radios. Once we tell them it's livable down here, we can establish our own community, our own laws." She really felt a burning anger at the injustice of the skybox. Her father had trained her to take over his position someday and as a guard trainee she'd seen first hand how different the living conditions were from station to station.
Coming out from the trees, she blinked at the sight of a river. She'd never even dreamed of this much water in her life. Octavia was on the edge of the rocky outcropping in seconds. Jasper spoke up. "Damn, I love earth."
Realizing the girl was stripping, Lexa stepped forward. "Octavia, what are you doing?"
Octavia ignored her and jumped out of sight, the splash being the only thing that told her the girl hadn't just hit rock. Running forward with the boys at her heels, she breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of the girl in one piece in the water.
From behind her, Monty shouted sounding concerned. "We can't swim!"
Octavia's head popped further up out of the water. "No, but we can stand."
They really should be moving closer to the mountain, getting supplies. She bit her lip, the idea of swimming, being emerged in water for the first time in her life was unbelievably appealing. Finn and the boys were shucking off their jackets eagerly enough. A smile broke out on her face as she came to the decision that a short swim couldn't hurt anything. Reaching up, she started to pull her own jacket off in preparation of getting in the water. The moment ended when Jasper's voice, tense with fear, interrupted, "Octavia get out of the water." They all snapped their attention to the water, seeing exactly what Jasper had seen.
"GET OUT OF THE WATER NOW!" Jasper yelled. It was too late as they heard Octavia scream out as she was dragged under by a snake like water creature. "OCTAVIA!"
Lexa moved automatically, years of training kicking in and preventing her from freezing. Grabbing Jasper, she gave her orders. "Find something to distract it with." Grabbing the gun, she tossed it to the ground. Accepting it would be of no use shooting into the water and getting it wet would be disastrous.
Octavia broke the surface, clearly struggling against whatever the creature was. Lexa saw the rock then. "Here we have to move this."
The boys quickly raced to her side and helped roll it into the water. Lexa didn't waste anytime running along the shore to the closest point to Octavia before jumping into the water feet first. The water was a shock to her system, it was cold and she nearly breathed in from the shock of it before she could break the surface. Grabbing Octavia, she started to haul her to the shore. "Come on swim!" She ordered the girl. They had moments before the creature would realize the ruse and be back. The others were shouting from the shoreline but she ignored them dragging the weight of the choking Octavia onto a rock sticking out into the water. Hauling them both onto the ledge, she looked back seeing the creature nearly swimming straight into the ledge.
Blinking in relief, she took a few deep breaths while Octavia coughed out what water she'd swallowed. Looking at the blood on the girl's leg she realized she'd been hurt. There was a hand on her shoulder as Monty dropped behind her and she could see the other boys kneeling down touching them both to make sure they were alright.
"You two alright?" Monty asked worriedly.
Lexa tore a piece of her shirt off and wrapped it around Octavia's leg. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing. "We'll be alright."
By the time they were pulling on their earlier discarded clothing, she could tell they wanted to stay here for the night. It was safer and the danger of the forest had seemed to strike them for the first time. That wasn't a good idea. "Guys we need to keep going. We're nearly there. When we get to Mount Weather we'll be safer. Clearly, we don't know what's out here that might want to eat us."
Jasper looked around warily as they all subconsciously stepped closer. "Right, good point princess. We get to the military bunker and then we sleep. Good plan."
Finn looked around consideringly. "We could build a swing from some rope and swing across?"
"If you can do it, let's try that." She replied.
Finn found an appropriate vine surprisingly quickly. While he was double testing its strength, she sighed in frustration. "You wanted to go first, quit stalling. We don't have long before nightfall."
Jasper whose eyes kept darting to an oblivious Octavia had a brief conversation with Finn before he took Finn's place. Lexa huffed in annoyance, boys. Still, at least one of them was going.
As he swung through the air, Jasper whooped to the heavens before releasing the vine and going flying into the ground. He seemed rather stunned as he scrambled to his feet a dopy smile across his face. Raising his arms he cried out, "WE ARE APOGEE!"
Lexa laughed as she and the others took up the cry. This victory against nature and earth was so far beyond her wildest imagination. She watched as Jasper seemed to see something behind him, going over and picking it up before raising it over his head. She felt a massive amount of relief and pride at the realization it was a Mount Weather sign. He whooped again. "We did it! Mount Weather!" His continued victory hollering was cut off by a spear hurtling across the water hitting him in the chest and throwing him back against a tree.
Her guard instincts kicked in immediately once again and she had whipped the gun out while grabbing Monty. "Get down, everyone down."
