Chapter 1
Clarke begins to make her way towards the forest with Camp Jaha to her back. She cannot go back there. Bellamy, Raven, Jasper, her mother. Every face a reminder of what she did, what she was on the inside. A killer.
Her pale blue eyes begin to well up with tears. Clarke stifles them back with a clearing of her throat and grim clenching of her jaw. She wants to look back to the camp one more time, but she cannot face the pain. This sacrifice is a selfish one, but one she needs to make. Clarke knows she is lost in a sea of unclarity. She massacred an entire people, and for what? Why? These questions would continue to haunt her being with her people; the people of the Ark. She must first find herself, but before that, some shelter.
Clarke slowly finds a path towards a familiar location. Her mind begins to wander with thoughts of her mother, Lexa, and Maya. She winces at her own thought. Maya. She pauses for a moment in the woods. Her body stiffens with the thought of her hand pulling on that lever. Her pale white hands cover her mouth as a trembling breath leaves her lips. Clarke shivers at her own thoughts, but she knows that this moment is not the right one to mourn the dead. The clouds overhead signal a heavy storm with the dark hue over the horizon inching towards her. The rumbling quake of thunder from the distance entrances her legs to move forward. The sudden storm seeming to be an omen for her past decisions.
The rain begins to pour down before Clarke reaches the dropship. It stings her face as her clothes begin to drench with water. As soon as the dropship is in sight, Clarke rushes inside past the red and white veil. Her hair begins to strain water down her already soaked clothing. Clarke searches for a blanket and pulls on a nearby hammock to check its stability. Everything seems to be the way she left it last time. Clarke slowly peels away her clothing and hangs them on the ladder to dry. She then flips her hair while twisting it in order to drain the water from it. The drops harmonize with the sound of wind and water becoming more violent outside as the metal ship echoes with the pitter patter of noise.
Clarke touches the hammock gently letting it swing back and forth before resting. She covers herself with the blanket nestling into a warm position. She thinks of her moments within Mount Weather, her decisions, and Lexa's betrayal. Clarke sighs openly with her hands rubbing against her temples and forehead. Her eyes begin to well up with tears as she sobs into her hands trying to control her emotions. Why? Why did this all have to happen? Why did they all have to die?
"Why…?" she mumbles softly as her tears continue to fall with the rain.
Meanwhile, outside of Tondc with a resting army
Commander Lexa begins to walk through her people's encampment with cheers ringing from side to side. Her people yell heroic shouts of triumph as they gather around Lexa as she walks to her tent. Her face is solemn, but strong for her people. Many give Lexa thanks with small bows of the head and smiles. She is glad to have her people happy and satisfied. Head over heart. Her eyes momentarily flutter with the thought, but the emotions fade away as she refocuses on moment in front of her. When Lexa makes her way just outside of the command tent. She raises one arm abruptly in a triumphant pose. The Commander yells in her native tongue.
"Our people are back! We no longer live in the mountain's shadow! Our people are safe! We have won!"
The Tree people scream in triumph as the Commander swiftly turns on one heel and pushes the tent door aside. Several of her guard and other command follow in her footsteps. They begin to spread throughout the room.
Lexa turns to them, "What news of the Mountain and the Sky people? What have our scouts learned?" She turns her back to her leader for a moment in order to step forward to her throne. Lexa sits with an air of success as she pulls out her dagger spinning it in a small circle with a light flick of her fingers. A small groove in the chair gives the impression that Lexa has done this as a continuous habit over time. The tiny sound of the wood being carved can only be heard by the Commander.
Indra looks from side to side, eyeing the other warriors in the room. "Commander, our scouts tell us that the Sky People have returned to their home. A total of 57 have including their leaders of Abby, Bellamy, Kane, and Clarke."
Lexa's blade stops spinning at the end of Indra's statement for a split second. Her brow furrows temporarily masking her thoughts and cooling her emotions. She saved her people. Lexa's dark brown eyes refocus on Indra as the warrior steps forward to continue talking.
"However, Clarke of the Sky People did not go into the camp. Our scout reports that she never went into the gate. She was last seen headed towards the woods walking towards the original Sky People encampment. She had nothing but a gun with her."
Lexa stopped spinning her blade entirely this time. She sat contemplating Indra's word carefully. Her other leaders did the same. Indra's words could mean many thing. Why would she leave the people she so desperately fought for? Lexa breaks the silence while masking her continuous examination of the situation.
"Do we have eyes on the Sky People now?"
Indra nods to her Commander.
"Good, keep our eyes fixed on them. I do not know if our alliance with the Sky People is now broken. As for now, keep me informed whenever there is a major change. Our people will rest and make sure those taken by the mountain recover well. In a few days' time, so long as there is no incident, I will be going to Polis to report to the others about what has happened. Until then, rest. You all have done well."
Lexa's hand began dismissing them quietly, "Everyone out except for you, Indra. You stay."
The warriors leave the tent in a slow wave. A strong wind hits the left side of the tent making it shutter with fear. The rumbling quake of thunder seems close to their location as it strikes a shaking of the Earth. Lexa steps forward, away from her throne, letting her dagger fall to its holster.
"I want eyes on Clarke. Something strange is happening with the Sky People. Whether it is a diversion, or perhaps a trick, I want to know if there is a plot afoot. If they mean revenge, or if she is simply working alone. Any information will let us know what the Sky People's next move will be."
"Commander, if I may. Those people are weaker than us. One sky girl will not have the power to dismantle us."
"Indra, you know their spirit. Octavia was your second but a day ago. This sky girl took down the Mountain for her people. We all know the power she has. She is useful. If the alliance is or is not lost, she is a bargaining chip. She will be watched, and ONLY watched."
"Yes, Commander. At once."
The rain began to pour as Indra left Lexa's tent. The shivering of the fabric slows as the water presses against it. The violence of the storm feels like an omen to Lexa. I betrayed the Sky People for my people. My people will always be first. Always…
Lexa wanders about her tent ridding herself of items used in planning the attack on the mountain. She begins to dismantle the items piece by piece. Her dark brown eyes flicker across the room dancing with memories of the past; of Clarke. Her eyes stop for a moment gazing intently where she exposed her weaknesses to Clarke; where she kissed her and confessed her feelings.
It felt empty as she falls to the ground with a soft thump. Her hands cover her face as the world begins to shrink. Lexa's mind fills with her choices that she has made. It feels heavy with the weight of her people resting on her shoulders. Her long lashes close together as a few tears fall down her face. Love is weakness.