Chapter One:
Winter was one of the most deadly and unforgiving enemies upon the ground. The water froze and the forest was blanketed in a light layer of snow; so trees slowly turned white and patches of ice mixed across the dirt trails and the once-vibrant, green clearings. The wildlife scattered to warmer hideaways. The bears slept and the birds retreated and the wolves came in packs, desperate for food.
The Sky People had harvested and stocked a fair amount of resources but like most of the villages within the area, they would need to trade to keep their people fed and warm. They traded knowledge for knowledge; medicine for medicine; technology for tools; metal for furs and there person aid for training.
Clarke of the Sky often travelled around, helping the local healers. TonDC was a hub for cohabitation; many had chosen to train their - Octavia had chosen to live there with Lincoln, while in-training with Indra. The Sky People were clumsy and soft and the Grounders laughed at them as they trained. Despite the reservations and the beat-downs, not a single Sky Person gave up or gave in; they brushed the dirt and mud from there tattered cloths and started again, always better and stronger the next time.
There was an indescribable feeling if camaraderie between the Sky people and the Trikru, something that was created when a common enemy arose. Winter. Scavengers. Raiders. They all protected the land they called home side by side and it connected them. It forged them.
A splash of bright red blood scattered across a patch of white. Lexa hit the ground hard and her vision blurred, her head ached and the blood continued to drip out from a cut on the side of her head.
"Get up!"
The voice was angry. The voice was animalistic. Lexa clenched her eyes and fists shut and heaved her body onto its knees. It was cold and her ears stung; her knees grew numb the longer she knelt upon the ice but her neck and chest were covered in the days sweat.
"On your feet, warrior!"
A muscular hand griped Lexa's hair and yanked her upwards. Lexa growled and spun around, striking blindly at her opponent. The other woman chuckled and easily stepped back, dodging the sloppy attack.
"You need to learn to fight when you senses are compromised."
Lexa withdrew a dagger and swung it with motivated precision at her condescending teacher. It was like a dance - well practiced moves and steps, used to ultimately slip by the choreographed defenses of another. Although Lexa was losing the fight, her mentor now had a few cuts and bruises that she could look on with pride. They were both tiring after hours of sparing when a passing flash of blonde hair caught Lexa's attention. The distraction was all the other woman need to kick her Seconds' legs out from underneath her and send her falling backwards onto the ground once more. Lexa gasped and struggled to breath as the air quickly left her lungs upon impact.
"That girl is a distraction."
"Shof op, Anya." Lexa slowly sat up and managed to take in a few healthy, long pulls of oxygen.
"I think that you purposely get injured when she is here so that she can heal you afterwards," Anya dropped into a sitting position and smirked.
The two women sat on the cold, wet ground, panting and exhausted but smiling and laughing nonetheless.
Clarke was tiered. The healer spent all of her days healing people with cuts from swords, bruises from fists and broken bones from falls and it never ended. Those on the ground were reckless and brutal and it concerned the healer, for one day, she might not be able to help. It happened. People died. Clarke felt every death and then pushed it down; buried it under her responsibilities and kept moving forward.
The tent she worked in was small and dirty and smelt of musk and blood. The equipment was raw and not very sterile and the medicines were hard to find within the local woodlands. Clarke would spend hours with Nyko in the woods looking for the correct type of plants or fungi or mushrooms that would help.
"Clarke."
The healer looked up from her pouch of vials that she was digging through to see Lexa, with blood dripping from her head. Clarke would like to feel surprised but she wasn't. Lexa's visits were common and expected. Still, Clarke instinctually rushed over to the girl standing at the entrance of the tent and cupped her face with both hands to better view the damaged.
"What happened this time? Anya again?"
Lexa's heart jumped at the contact and she stared at the beautiful blonde healer as she delicately examined her wound.
"Anya needs to be more careful."
"Anya will make me a great General."
"If she doesn't kill you first."
"You care."
Clarke stopped focusing on the leaking cut and looked at Lexa; really looked at Lexa, Lexa's charming smirk, deep green eyes and her messy braids, coming undone and coated with a mixture of blood and mud. Clarke smirked and shook her head at the warrior. Yes, she cared and Lexa knew that and it was painful for Clarke to see Lexa constantly hurting. Even if it was simply there way. Simply there culture. Simply their lives.
Later, when the dark covered the area and the temperature dropped and peoples' breaths became visible in the night, Clarke finally ventured out of the medical tent. The healer walked the through the quiet village in search of warmth and a fullness in her belly. There was a fire set-up near the outer edge of TonDC, where the night-watch had their meals and took there breaks; basking in the warmth that the small fire provided. This is where Clarke often found her feet taking her at the end of every long day.
As she approached, Clarke saw Octavia sitting by the fire with a scowl on her face and another warrior sitting near her laughing, and then like clockwork, Lexa appeared from the forest and sat by the two other Seconds with a small grin and a shake of her head. Clarke wondered if this ritual was intended or if it was the product of habit and of all the harsh days mindlessly melding together.
Lexa was the first to spot Clarke, as she always was and as the tired blonde sat upon the fur covered ground with a thud, Lexa handed her a freshly made-up plate of meat and vegetables, and after a soft thanks, Lexa turned back to the fire to make up her own plate. Octavia and the other grounder smile and eyed the pair secretly.
Pleasantries were exchanged and jokes were made and ultimately the warriors left to make there patrols and new warriors took their place. Clarke dragged herself to her tent were she collapsed onto her bed and fell asleep with her shoes and jacket still on.
Clarke had no problems sleeping, she was surrounded by warriors and friends and after a long day scrubbing blood off her hands and cloths, Clarke slipped into sleep quickly and simply.
"Riders!"
The shouts and sounds of running feet jolted Clarke from her deep and much required slumber.
"Riders from Polis!"
Clarke almost went to look for her shoes but then realized that she was still wearing them. Then she almost tripped on her way out of the tent but promptly remembered how to walk. Anya stood tall and regal, flanked by Indra and Lincoln as two Grounders on horseback trotted over to the village leaders. Octavia and Lexa came out of the woods just in time to see the expressions that took over there mentors faces; shock and concern and perhaps a small amount of sadness. One of the riders nodded once to Indra and then they turned their horses around and galloped away.
Anya signaled for her second to approach and Lexa obeyed. Clarke looked to Octavia and she could see the all of her fears reflected back. Something had happened. Something very bad. Something that would change things.
Later as the sun finally began to rise, Clarke could no longer take the silence and stormed uninvited into the Chiefs tent. Indra stopped speaking and looked up from the table. Anya and their seconds looked toward the intruder and no one spoke. No one spoke until Clarke eventually demanded and answer.
"What's going on?"
Lexa looked away.
"This is Trikru business, Sky girl," said Anya.
Octavia gripped the table.
"If it involves our alliance then I need to know," Clarke counted, stepping closer to the party.
Indra scoffed.
"Clarke," Lexa looked up. "Heda is dead." Everyone looked to Lexa. "The clans are too unstable."
Clarke rapidly looked between the women. "What happens now?"
"A new Heda will be found," Indra spoke. "Anya and I will ride to Polis."
"Lexa is going to be in charge," Octavia smirked and released the table.
"Temporally," Indra added, glaring at her second. "Lexa will be Chief in my absence."
Lexa stood a little straighter, feeling the pressure of the new responsibility. It was heavy. Clarke looked to the acting-Chief and breathed deep, a long and shaky, deep breath. Leaders' burdens are very heavy.
"I should go back to Arcadia. They need to know."
Lexa locked eyes with Clarke.
Anya shook her head.
Octavia sighed. "I can go, Clarke. You're needed here. Healers are needed."
"Octavia is right," Indra agreed. "You should remain here, Clarke."
Clarke nodded slowly.
The day faded away. Anya and Indra prepared and then they rode off to a place entirely unknown to Clarke. Octavia packed and said goodbye to Lincoln and then left for Arcadia. The village hummed with the news of the Commanders death. Rumors of the next Heda spread like fires on the winds.
The Sky people avoided the constant bad mood that seemed to be the Grounders. Clarke cleaned the medical tent like she had many times before, methodically and with an almost superstitious ritual, like if any part was wrong, Clarke would have to go over that area again and make it perfect.
Clarke took longer to leave the medical tent that night and when she went to the small campfire by the village edge, no one she knew was there, sitting and chatting, the way she expected. The way she wanted. Clarke turned around and walked the other way.
Lexa felt the emptiness within the Chiefs' tent. It was bigger than the others and held a throne on a platform near the back. Lexa walked around the table, dragging her fingers along the wood, as she looked around her new and temporary home. It was too big. Too dramatic. Too much pressure. Too much weight on her back. The whole village at her instant command; everyone expecting her wisdom and strength.
The tent was cold and the singular fire failed to provide enough light. It made her shiver and wish that she was outside among friends.
"Chief."
Lexa spun around, pulled from her thoughts. "Clarke," she smiled at the Sky girl.
Clarke smiled back and walked a few casual steps towards the warrior.
"What can I do for you?"
"Nothing. I just. You weren't. I just wanted to see how you are. How are you?" Clarke stumbled over her words.
Lexa stepped closer to Clarke. "I am fine, Clarke."
"I know."
Lexa took that final step forward that let her feel the warmth of the other woman.
"I just wanted to make sure," Clarke swallowed and nodded.
Lexa's gaze lingered on the Sky girls lips.
Clarke saw it coming. When Lexa slid her hand around her neck and gently pulled her closer; Clarke saw it happening. "Wait." Clarke put her hand on Lexa's shoulder to still her and Lexa halted. "I'm not ready to be with anyone. Not yet."
Lexa let her thumb stroke the Sky girls' neck and she let herself bask in Clarke for a moment before talking a small step back, respecting Clarke's decision. "I am patient, Clarke."
Clarke smiled softly. "Goodnight, Chief."
"Good night, ambassador."
Clarke smiled once more and left.
Lexa smirked.