Thank You for Your kind response to this story. I really appreciate it! :) Here's nother quick chapter. Hopefully another aone will be little bigger.
(Thank You Joanne for being my beta :) )
CHAPTER 1 – BRAND NEW DAY
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In the exact moment when girl fell into Commander's arms Lexa scooped her up.
"Gustus!"
Her shout didn't even have time to die down when the warrior in question stood in front of her extending his own arms to her. As gently as she could, the Commander placed the unconscious body into the waiting hands of the giant. She was absolutely convinced that he will be able to properly take care of this precious cargo.
"Take her to the edge of the clearing. Get the healer. She lost a lot of blood."
He nodded solemnly.
Lexa took a careful glance to the bloodied girl.
"Shallow cuts are not life threatening but they are still bleeding. Use hot iron if you can't close them right now. The most important thing is to keep her alive now. Tell Nyko...
She hesitated.
"Nyko will know the rest."
"Sha Heda."
"Go!" - she growled and Gustus left immediately.
The Commander took a deep breath stilling her raging emotions and suddenly she felt another presence at her side. She cast a quick glance and she met the eyes of her mentor.
"Your orders?" - the woman asked.
"First what we need is..."
Lexa started to turn around to address the warriors behind her, but Anya's strong grip abruptly stopped her in place.
She furrowed her eyebrows and looked questioningly not understanding the reason behind it but only second later the warriors urgent whisper immediately caught her attention.
"Do not turn around for now, Heda..." - Anya stepped really close to her leader in even more subdued tone.
"Wha...?"
Honestly speaking she was more confused than angry for this disturbing request but knowing her general she was aware must have a real reason to say this. She raised her eyebrows at her - silently demanding an answer.
"Your eyes, Heda."
The words were almost inaudible but it was enough for Lexa to freeze suddenly aware of the moisture coating her own cheeks.
Damn.
Anya squeezed tightly her arm letting her know she knows about the storm of feelings raging inside of her.
"It's ok Heda." - she spoke. "Take a moment. I'll give the orders."
Lexa nodded sharply but before Anya was able to leave her alone she grabbed her arm.
"Look for the living" - she hissed. "There's too many for all of them to be dead."
Anya bowed lightly.
"And when we find them?" - she asked.
Lexa bit her lower lip but her eyes shone with conviction.
"I want every healer except Nyko to look for the living and patch their wounds. If they are still alive - they need to remain alive."
"Why Heda?" - the confusion in Anya's voice was evident. "They are traitors. They should die as such."
Lexa's voice turned ice cold.
"There is still time for that, but if it is to happen - it is not for us to take their lives now. Their lives belong to the one who defeated them. Their lives belong to Klark. Besides..."
She pointed sharply at the carnage that was surrounding them.
"...I don't think we have to worry about more traitors anytime soon."
Anya's eyes brightened with understanding and a small smile quirked a corner of her lips.
"Sha Heda. It will be done."
She bowed once again and stepped away barking orders left and right - leaving Lexa alone.
The Commander exhaled and slowly with her back turned to her warriors she lifted her hand and wiped her face. Thankfully she did not have time to put the war paint on before the chase started. It would be impossible to wipe the traces from her face and her people would be able to see her weakness.
Shit.
Thank the spirits for Anya and her level head because Lexa was sure she will keep her secret. Gustus too - because there was no chance in hell that he didn't see her face when he was taking Clarke from her. If it were anyone else than those two - she would have no choice to kill the witness.
Today she broke one of her most sacred rules and for a moment she allowed her emotions to get the better of her.
She let herself feel.
She let herself to be... weak.
This wasn't supposed to happen.
Not today. Not ever.
So why had it happened today?
She knew the answer even before the question fully formed in her mind.
She allowed it because of Klark and because she could be honest with herself... she had no idea why.
Lexa winced inwardly and then took one more deep breath to compose herself.
A quick glance at her hands sent another wave of anger traveling through her body.
Blood.
She was holding her warrior only for a few moments but even it was enough to completely cover her palms in it.
Klark's blood was on her hands and for the first time in a long time she almost felt physically sick at the sight red liquid.
Weakness.
Damn it all to hell!
Once again she couldn't stop the slight tremor of her body but she willed it away.
The mask of indifference was back on. She leaned a little and picked the so familiar head from the ground grabbing it by its hair. Nia's neck wasn't oozing blood anymore and The Commander turned to the warriors and held it up in the air.
All movement stopped.
"Warriors!" - she shouted.
The shining eyes of her people intensified on her.
"Here's the head of the traitor queen!"
The low growl was the answer to her words.
"LOOK AT HER FACE!"
She extended her hand more and the part of the former living and breathing person dangled in the air.
Her voice was strong and full of passion.
"She betrayed the Coalition! By her orders many Triku died not a day ago!"
The answering growl was louder and grew steadily.
"LOOK AT HER!"
The roar of the gathered crowd started to be deafening.
"For her treacherous act the Ice Queen died in shame and disgrace! And the most important thing is the justice was delivered to her by one of you!"
The Warriors shouted with glee and extreme proud.
"The one of Y-O-U took the life of the traitor and the life of many under her command! She was one against many and she was victorious!"
The warriors weren't shouting anymore - the tremendous battle cry burst out of their throats and echoed through the woods.
There was pride. So much pride in this sound that Lexa couldn't help herself but smile widely.
"SHE IS ONE OF YOU!"
The whole world trembled from the victorious cries of Commanders army.
"SHE IS KLARK!"
Echo picked up warriors continuous chant and took it deeper and deeper into the woods.
"KLARK. KLARK. KLARK. KLARK. KLARK..."
Lexa dropped the traitor's head to the dirt where it belonged.
Heda's spirit lifted her eyes glued to the edge of the woods where a skilled healer was trying his best to keep young warrior in the realm of the living.
The shadow crossed the Commander's face.
"Live, Klark..." - she whispered her voice drowned in the shouts of the warriors.
"...you have so much to live for."
The hesitant rays of the sunrise fell on the forest clearing coating lush greens and glistering reds in breathtaking glow.
…
Heda closed her eyes and took a deep breath into her lungs.
A New day has just begun.
Over 2400 miles from the forest battlefield... almost on the other side of the continent... a lone traveler was just preparing his late breakfast meal. The small fire crackled under freshly skinned squirrel which and a light haired man poked in a few places with his knife just to get the juices flowing knowing well that it will help the meat to cook faster.
He opened one of the bundles placed near the fire and took out a small metal cup. Then took a few dark beans from one of the pouches, put it in and using the blunt part of the weapon grinded them into dust.
He hummed approvingly and the result and then took the bigger metal jug that was placed near the fire and poured the boiling water to the small cup. He swirled the rich brown liquid with his knife and then blew lightly at it trying to cool it a little.
Satisfied with the final result he sat on the nearby rock and took a careful sip.
A low hum of pure pleasure escaped from his throat and he closed his eyes prolonging the pleasure.
His relaxed state allowed his mind to wander.
As a thousands upon thousands times before his thoughts traveled over the vast spaces of the new world taking the sights and drinking them in awe and reverence as it supposed to be cherished and admired. His present thoughts mixed with memories of the past traveled over the lands belonged to so many different people.
He began his travel with the tribes of the past skipping by the ancestral lands of the great and proud tribes of Shoshone and Navajo. He glided over the desert almost feeling the warm of the scorching sun, he felt the chill breeze of the great Lake City and dipped his empirical hands in the still waters surrounding it. He sat for the moment by the bonfires of the Blackfoot tribe and ran among the horses of the Crows war party headings to the ruins of Den-ER. He spent few minutes watching over them but soon followed East to the Wastelands. He passed the city of Rock and Stone and saw nomad warriors preparing for a hunt and their children playing in the sun. His thoughts then traveled North passing Sangedakru, Ingranrona and straight through the Podakru lands. He could almost smell the fish taken out of their boats right to the markets. He saw the Lake People them smiling, arguing, fighting and making amends and once again he couldn't help by smile to himself.
The Last One was making the difference and he felt pride swelling in his chest.
His thoughts travelled forward over the Floudonkru and Broadleaf clans and journeyed by the villages of the Delfikru, Trishana, Yujleda before finally arriving to his destination.. to the deep, lush and green forests of the Trikru.
He took a deep breath seeking his connection to The Last One.
As always it took him only a few seconds when he felt his blood humming warmly when the link was made.
Overall it was all in blood.
This amazing liquid floating through their veins.
This essence of light which physical form was... ironically... as black as night.
This gentleness of the soul, which was stronger than even the hardened steel.
Powerful and immortal echo accepting their connection to each other.
The echo of The Last One.
The echo of The First One.
And the echoes of all Others in between.
...
And then the connection was complete.
...
He frowned in confusion feeling something new.
The overbearing self-control of The Last One was gone. He never was able to know exactly what the Last One was was feeling... that's not how their connection worked... but he was able to catch the the shadow of the soul which resonated in his own for all those long years. But it was always separated by the invisible stone wall of emotions.
And this time the wall was gone.
Not only gone but grinded to dust with some unimaginable burst of emotions leaving the Last One open to more of the feelings that she ever allowed to her to receive.
But there was also something more...
...
Another echo.
Echo of something new.
Something that resonated with the core of The Last One in the same manner as his.
...
Interesting.
...
He smiled and severed his connection.
His eyes sprung open and a little warm smile appeared on his lips.
"Well, well, well..." - the traveler murmured to himself. "That was new."
He stood up from the rock and made a few steps to his horse standing nearby. He took a small apple from one of his pockets and gave it to the animal gently stroking it's mane.
"What do you say buddy?" - he asked quietly. "Are you ready to travel home?"
The stallion snorted and shook his head allowing the rider to press a small kiss on its muzzle.
The traveler smirked at the animal.
"If you say so."
…
The man closed his eyes and took a deep breath into his lungs.
New day has just begun.
tbc...