Rating: M
Pairings: Lexa/Clarke, Indra/Abby, Anya/Raven, Lincoln/Murphy
Word Count: 10,753
A/N: A/B/O dynamics.
I'm going to jump a bit through time here and the next chapter as well. I thought about just having a bunch of flashbacks at different intervals but I didn't want to take away from what was happening in the present. Sometimes I go a bit too much in to detail on things and I don't want to bore anyone so I figured snippets of things happening on both sides of the Wastelands would be best. This chapter was originally much longer, so I decided to break it up. Also, just so there's no confusion, I use the terms sister and brother to show how much certain characters feel for each other. As far as blood relation goes with the clans, for this story, Indra is Lincoln's aunt. Where Lexa, Anya and a few others are concerned, they see each other as a strong family unit; hence the use of them referring to each other as sister or brother. And Indra/Abby feels are ahead.
Currently unbetaed; please excuse my mistakes. Hope you enjoy.
Shout Outs: Huge hugs and thanks to LavLav & BrokeBlackMan94 for letting me bounce my crazy world building ideas off them. (Check them out on youtube.)
Disclaimer: The 100 belongs to Jason Rothenberg & The CW.
Please read & review
Chapter 2 – Ripples Through Time I
Azgeda Territory
Pain. That was all she'd felt since she'd been back. Her failure marred every part of her body. She had expected some form of punishment, but this? This was something else; it had to be. The dried pools of black blood that covered the floor beneath her only seemed to confirm her suspicions.
The Ice Queen had sent out three to do the task. Only one returned; tied to his horse with the heads of the other two in a sack. The Queen had slit the unfortunate survivor's throat before he could finish his explanation. They hadn't even made it past the southern borderlands. A Trikru patrol had gotten to them the night they tried to cross. That was when Queen Nia had passed the task to her. The secret natblida she had trained herself since the girl was a pup.
Wanheda, as Clarke of the Sky People was now known, was more skilled than Ontari had anticipated. Her trail was not easily picked up; which really was an accomplishment. Considering she was not by herself and the two that followed her did not seem to pick up survival skills as easily as their leader. She had caught up to them at a trade village. The area wasn't large per se, but it most definitely was by no means small. Wanheda had used that to her advantage. Making Ontari give chase and alerting the village guards at just the right time for her and her friends to get away, while Ontari was left to deal with the guards. Wanheda was smart; still new to this world, but very smart. She had used her charm to make friends with the children of the village leader. The guards delayed Ontari for half a day. Once she was released she had tried to follow, but the trail had grown cold after but a few days. There was nothing more but a suspicion, nay, more of a hunch of what direction the trio had ventured. She was ill equipped to continue the search even if her hunch was correct. The young Azgeda had no choice but to return to the queen with her thoughts.
And the queen's response? Well, Queen Nia cared little for hunches and suspicions. She made her ... disappointment, known. Ontari was suspended by her limbs and beaten bloody anytime the queen commanded. And there, days later, she still hung. The natblida had expected punishment, but this, this was too much even for the Ice Queen. This was not the punishment a leader gives to one who is her pup in all but blood. As much as the queen despises her own son even he was granted exile after but one beating for his crimes.
So-called crimes Ontari mused in her mind now. She knew the truth of it. When it had first happened, she easily rationalized why her queen was right for exiling the prince. But with every drop of blood she'd lost hanging in her prison it had become more and more plain. The murmurings she'd heard for years played over and over again in her pain rattled mind. The prince had shown weakness in the queen's eyes. What the prince had actually done, what the queen had so easily diverted attention from, was not turn away the food and supplies sent by the Commander as per the current trade deals. The queen liked to keep her lands chomping at the bit and her people blaming the Commander for the scarceness of everything in their territory. It kept the people tighter on the leash she wished to keep them on. Prince Roan disagreed, and wanted to find another way.
It was likely the prince's words more than his actions that sealed his fate. The Commander had started the Coalition because she wanted another way for her people; a better way. The queen's thoughts were that Lexa, she never referred to her as Commander, was too weak to handle the current way; the old way. The queen had thought she had proven Lexa's weakness when she'd stolen her young mate years ago. But that action had ended up backfiring. The action had solidified the Coalition … against the Azgeda. Despite her mate's murder, to bring peace to her lands, the Commander extended an invitation to Queen Nia to join the Coalition. The queen had taken the invitation as it was meant; join, or be destroyed. In the people's eyes, Lexa ascended to near godlike status.
Ontari jumped out of her inner musings when the door opened. She knew by the strong alpha smell instantly who it was.
"Have you learned your lesson natblida?"
The warrior could not help but wince when strong fingers gripped her jaw and jerked her face up.
"I asked so little of you. It was just one simple task."
The queen snapped her fingers then and another warrior walked into the room. One by one he released the chains holding Ontari up. She tried to break her fall when her arms were released but her limbs were so numb it made no difference. She crashed to the floor in a heap. The next thing she knew she was being pelted with salt water. She didn't even have the strength to cry out.
"That's enough," Nia said. "Finish cleaning those wounds yourself pup, you leave in the morning."
Ontari was left alone after that. She was grateful; she took it as a rare small kindness. It took several minutes for her to get her legs to work properly. She stumbled to her room, bathed, tended her wounds as best she could, found some food and supplies to pack, and allowed herself to sleep for a few hours. Just before dawn she was at the stables and gingerly mounting her horse. A heavy hand grasping on to her thigh stopped her before she could command the steed to leave. She did her best not to give voice to the ripple of pain that ran through her leg.
"You have two moon turns to return with my prize, pup. I'm currently lacking an heir and I'll need something to keep me warm when the true cold of winter settles in. They say Wanheda fell to Earth in a blaze of fire, she should provide me enough heat. If you fail, do not bother to return, or your skull will decorate my trophy hall."
Ontari watched as the queen walked away. Her ears rang as the queen's words echoed around the stable and settled in to her mind. She knew there was something more to the queen wanting Wanheda, but she did not expect the woman to want to mate the omega. Knowing Nia's mind the way she does though, she should have seen this coming. Killing the Commander's former mate did not break the woman like the queen had wanted. Clearly Nia thinks that bedding the Commander's newest mate will do what death did not. The warrior set off in to the darkness determined not to fail again.
Polis
Lexa was glad her meeting was over. It seemed that Titus thought if he kept her busy with unnecessary meetings, she'd quickly get over the whole in her heart; such weakness is unbecoming of a Commander after all. She paced in her personal room as her thoughts took over her mind. What bothered Lexa most was the others that were affected. Heda is supposed to bear the pain so everyone else does not have to. She'd failed epically with that philosophy. Why did every decision have to be so damned costly? Titus seeped back in to her thoughts once again.
"To be the Commander, is to be alone."
Too little, too late Lexa called bullshit. Now more than ever she questioned where Titus came up with that slogan. The two previous Commanders, that Titus also served, had mates. The one directly before her had three. There was a time that Lexa let herself believe Titus' tales. The misfortunes caused by the previous leaders of her people all happened due to them having mates and showing weakness. She definitely didn't miss the smug look of 'I told you so' in the man's eyes when Costia was killed. She was able to go on then; she made herself go on. Her people needed their Commander and she would not fail them.
Titus liked to think he steered her well through her grief, but it was her family that she had leaned on. Her fos mostly; her dearest friend and most loyal ally, her sister in all but blood. The amount of hours she spent ruining Anya's clothes with her crying were immeasurable. It took weeks of Anya's coaxing to get Lexa to even look at Indra and Lincoln after losing Costia; she didn't feel like she had the right to speak to them any longer, much less look at them. But Anya had gotten her through. And then it had been Lexa's turn to console her sister when her beta mate was murdered. That time though her pack, her family, did not let the culprits get away. Indra and Gustus were particularly vigorous in their search and Lincoln's tracking skills had been invaluable. They had all gotten each other through, and they survived.
Years later, the sky erupted in smoke and flame. And then it seemed they were fighting two wars at once, until a tentative truce was called. She met the one her people would come to call Wanheda. The fisa (healer) who fell from the stars with the sun in her hair, the sky in her eyes, and a fire within that gripped Lexa from the moment she laid eyes on the girl. Both Titus and Gustus had objected to the truce, but neither could sway Lexa. When she grew tired of their whining, because after a while that's all she heard it as, she increased their duties to stop them from continually trying her patience. Titus was made to direct the natblidas and orphans more and Gustus was sent to help Luna for a time. She understood their concerns so she wasn't harsh with them, but she was firm.
"So, you're the one…"
Those were the first words she'd said to Clarke. The blonde had surrendered herself in an effort to stop the fighting between her people and the Trikru. The brass the girl possessed even then was admirable. She touched something inside the Commander that she thought died long ago; the alpha within her had almost immediately recognized its mate. Clarke was … is the one.
The walls were closing in on her again. She had to get out of this room. She nearly ripped the doors off their hinges as she exited her private area. Her guards followed at a distance as she walked outside. But still, her memories plagued her.
"You think our ways are harsh, but it's how we survive."
"Maybe life should be about more than just surviving. Don't we deserve better than that?"
The conversation echoed in her ears as she walked to the training grounds. Clarke had been right. Her people needed to live, not just survive. She had hoped Clarke would help her guide their people in to a new world. What she hadn't counted on was the curveball that the Maunon had thrown at her. The least amount of bloodshed for her people was offered and she took the deal; head over heart, that was always the way. What's best for the people must come first. She saved her people to the praise of all; even those that were closest too her, who also bore the consequences of her decision. They don't blame her, she knows that, but she blames herself for the loss she caused them none the less.
The Commander bears the pain, so her people do not have to.
Lexa sighed heavily as she continued to walk. She not only lost her own mate, but she cost her sister a mate as well. The brilliant engineer that was so crucial to the fight. They wouldn't have gotten anywhere near the Mountain without Raven's aid. She lost her brother to the war; Lincoln chose to stay when the retreat order was given. A fact that Lexa was not surprised to hear. Lincoln's heart beat for the young omega called Murphy; of course he would stay and help free his mate's people. Thinking of that makes her feel the weakness that Nia accuses her of. Lincoln was strong to stand by his mate; he did what she did not. She feels his loss doubly because of Indra. Spirit help her, how much would this life make her take from Indra? She not only cost Indra her nephew, she may have cost her a mate. She made herself believe that Indra still has a chance with the leader of the Sky People; she at least was still here, unlike Clarke and Raven. She vows that she will do whatever she needed to so Abby kom Skaikru will forgive Indra; the blame should never have been the General's to bear.
The sounds of mock battle brought the Commander out of her thoughts. She signaled her guards to stay behind while she stood and watched as warrior after warrior fell to Anya's prowess. Gustus had returned to Polis not long after the Mountain was defeated. He stood closest to the pit watching as well. He turned to her with a sad smile and respectful nod when she came closer.
"Have you been watching long?" she asked.
"Long enough. She's sent seven gonas (soldiers) to Nyko over the past hour already," the man chuckled.
"Including you?" Lexa asked noticing his black eye and the small bandage under it.
"Bah, a love tap," he answered.
Lexa chuckled quietly and sighed. A bit of laughter was a good feeling, but it was fleeting. It sometimes, too often, goes unspoken among those she considers her family; Anya, Gustus, Lincoln, Indra, and Luna, but there is true love and affection felt between them, and they are genuinely tight knit.
"She is in pain."
"Yes, she is," Lexa hated that she was the one responsible for that pain.
Gustus did not ask, because he already knew her thoughts. The Commander blamed herself.
"I was wrong to disagree with you before," he said.
She looked to him with questioning eyes.
"The Skaikru, they are not…"
She did not want to have this conversation so she cut him off.
"Gustus…"
"Beja (please) Lexa, listen," he stopped her coming argument.
The Commander sighed and signaled him to continue.
"Skaikru are not what I originally thought. Some of them need some … guidance. But many more are quite clever and resilient; they are survivors, like us. Wanheda. From the tales I've heard she was, is, your equal. Against all odds she defeated the Maunon. And she certainly got Titus' robes in a bind. Anyone that can manage such feats I would like to consider an ally. I misjudged her."
He paused and they shared a smile before both returned their gazes to Anya.
"I say the same for her little bird," he nodded towards Anya, "I heard she was definitely one of the clever ones. I was told that she and the brother of Indra's seken were the ones that destroyed the acid fog."
Lexa grunted in confirmation before correcting Gustus, "former seken."
The words left her mouth before she could stop them. It was just one more reminder of the wrong she needed to correct on Indra's behalf.
"Clever and brave. I heard the boy went in alone."
"He volunteered; him and Lincoln."
"A bold move," Gustus nodded his head and sighed his disappointment. "I am sorry I missed the battle, short as it was on our part. You were right to send me to Luna. My judgement was clouded. I would've likely done something irreparable. I know the price of our victory was and will continue to be a heavy toll, but we will lean on each other as we always do yes?"
He stared at her until she met his eyes. He was not surprised to see the beginning of liquid shine in her eyes as she nodded.
"Good, now let us stop our sister before she destroys more of the army."
Gustus ordered all of the gonas away. And when Anya protested the Commander ordered her to go into the forest with her and Gustus. They walked in silence for about thirty minutes, and then they fought. First they took turns one on one and then they joined all in. After an hour or so he knew it was time. His little sisters were barely keeping their tears at bay. He could see the ache in their muscles as they struggled to keep their emotions at bay. He disarmed them both and pulled them to him; one in each arm. They half-heartedly tried to pull away, which he knew they would do, but he held them fast as they screamed their rage and cried their pain. He cried with them, for them. Love is not a thing that was always afforded to the warrior class. They are taught from a young age that love is weakness, but often times they've all found that its love that makes them fight the hardest. They spent another couple of hours just sitting and talking, telling Gustus stories of their lost loves, before they were interrupted.
They did not stir from the intimate position they were in; they recognized the scent that approached. Others might claim them weak for being snuggled together against a tree as they were, but Indra would not; she's family. When the General got closer Lexa got up and met her. In her shame she hadn't seen Indra since the night of the battle at the Mountain; the General looked tired. She hugged the woman, and received no protest. The tightness in her chest eased just a fraction when she felt Indra's arms close around her frame. When Indra placed her hand on the back of Lexa's head and pulled her in tighter, the Commander fell even further in to the embrace and her body shook a bit as tears streaked down her face.
"I'm sorry."
Indra pulled back and looked at her confused.
"You know Indra," she felt that saying the woman's name would be disrespectful, "and Lincoln."
Indra knew Lexa was referring to her separation from Abby. While she nodded her acknowledgement, she put the thought to the back of her mind. She doesn't want to talk about Abby, not until she figured out how to fix things with her mate.
"That is part of the reason I came. Apparently we were misinformed during the retreat. Lincoln had been wounded, nearly mortally so. He was unconscious when some Skaikru scouts found him and a child from the Mountain. Kane sent a messenger."
Anya and Gustus had joined them by then and caught the tail end of what Indra had said.
"How many times has that boy escaped death?" Gustus chuckled.
"It is not his skills that are given credit for this save," Indra stated with a barely there sad smile.
"What do you mean?" Lexa asked.
"Another feat credited to the power of Wanheda. Lincoln kom Trikru fought valiantly, defying the Commander of Blood herself, even going so far as to save a child of the enemy. Thus the Commander of Death rewarded him with new life. The longer she stays hidden, the more her fame grows."
Lexa felt a pang of guilt for the pride that swells in her chest.
"What really happened?" Gustus asked.
"Lincoln ran a fowl of three reapers. They had killed the boy's father and were getting ready to run off with him. Lincoln fought and bested them, even managing not to kill them, but not without injury. I'm told the boy has refused to leave Lincoln's side since then," Indra explained.
"And the reapers?" Lexa asked.
"They are being treated. Skaikru has turned none away who need medical help. To keep the peace a small camp has been set up outside of Arkadia for healing. Lincoln is the only one Abby has treated inside their walls," Indra stated.
"A sound move. You said Kane sent word? Have you spoken to...," Anya's voice trailed off.
"No," Indra sighed, "she will not see me. But, I doubt she will object to anyone seeing Lincoln. They want to negotiate terms of a permanent peace."
"Where is Lincoln's mate? Was he not with child?" Lexa asked.
"He is, or was the last I saw him, but he too has disappeared. Nia has extended her bounty to three missing Skaikru, so it seems he is traveling with Wanheda and Raven; or she at least thinks he is. We still have scouts searching, but there's been nothing more than glimpses and leads that fall short. Their tracks are well covered."
Lexa mentally kicked herself; but she still can't stop the pride she feels in Clarke's skill.
"Who is the messenger they sent?" Lexa asked.
"Octavia," Indra answered.
"Can we use that to our advantage," Anya asked.
"No," Lexa answered quickly shaking her head, "we won't use tricks."
"Send me back with Octavia to check on little brother. I will speak with their Heda and her Council," Gustus volunteered. "While they seem to be adapting to survival, any of you showing up could cause turmoil that we should avoid. Their wounds are just as fresh as ours."
"Would Octavia be agreeable to eating with us tonight?" Lexa only asked because she knew the young warrior's thoughts on many of her decisions thus far. An argument would do no one any good right now.
"If I ask, she will be," Indra assured.
"Ask, make sure she knows it's not an order, we'll go from there," Lexa replied.
The Wastelands
"Clarke! We have to stop! This wind is too much!"
Raven had to yell to make her words heard. They were barely even moving as it was. Only three weeks in and they were having a hard time. The terrain was horrible and the weather changes even worse. There's a constant hazy fog and just moments ago it had only been drizzling. Then out of nowhere the drizzle grew to a full storm and then gave way to the wind, and with the wind came the sands.
"We have to keep going!" Clarke yelled back, "Before the rain picked up I saw what looked like a cave not too far ahead. If we can make it there we'll have cover and be able to rest!"
They needed to make it to that cave. Clarke hoped it really was a cave and not just some large rocks. Murphy had fallen ill two days ago. He was laying down in the wagon shivering under three blankets; blankets that were mostly soaked through from the storm. They needed shelter and they needed a dry place to start a fire.
They weren't sure how much longer it took, but they made it to the cave. Clarke and Raven were tired, but they built a fire from wood they had stored with their supplies. Clarke was thankful that all their supplies had gotten wet in the storm. They set Murphy up as close to the fire as possible with dry blankets. They had a minimal amount of medicines but Clarke did what she could for him.
While Clarke was tending to Murphy, Raven made a torch. There was an odd smell in the cave, so she wanted to check and make sure they were alone. Storm or not, she didn't want them to linger if they were in someone's, or rather, something's home. She had gotten a fair distance away when she realized they were indeed not alone. She heard the scurrying on the walls first. It made her nervous. She drew a dagger and gripped it in her free hand as she turned in a circle trying to catch sight of whatever was making the noise.
Abruptly, the noises stopped. Raven stopped moving and let her breathing settle as best she could. She listened for a few moments, but only silence met her ears. She decided to keep going with her dagger still in hand. The smell was getting worse. Raven held the torch out as far as her arm would go as she cautiously pressed on. She eventually found the source of the smell. She'd held her stomach in check until then. The smell was easier to ignore than the sight of the body.
After she spit out the last of the bile she examined the body from afar. It looked like … she couldn't quite describe what it looked like. Human, but not. Mutated from radiation maybe? Humanoid of some sort? Raven really couldn't tell. The skin on the body that hadn't rotted away looked scaly in some parts, but in other parts looked almost smooth and still healthy. Its limbs looked human, but the hands and feet were things completely different. Both feet and both hands looked to be from four different animals. Whatever this thing was though, it was definitely dead. It wasn't responsible for the scurrying she'd heard earlier. She even felt like she was being watched. But there was nothing more to be learned from a dead carcass so she started to turn away and walk back to where her friends were, but a noise stopped her. It was the random scurrying sound again.
She turned back and held the torch a bit higher, in an effort to illuminate the furthest corner of the cave. She gasped and almost dropped the torch. There were eyes glowing at the very back of the cave. It took her a moment to compose herself. Her heart was slamming against her chest and her breathing had gotten erratic. She almost peed her pants when the eyes started moving towards her. And then she wanted to kick herself for being such a wuss.
When they were fully in the light she could see how small they were. She felt an overwhelming feeling of despair she instinctively knew was coming from the four creatures in front of her. They looked … Raven's brow furrowed as she continued to watch them. At first they looked like large baby lizards, but now? Now they looked more humanoid. One of them broke away from the group and went over to the dead body. It made a sound that sounded like a puppy whimpering.
Raven understood almost immediately. The dead thing was their mother, or father; the engineer couldn't really tell. Another of the baby creatures slowly crawled towards Raven. The engineer moved just as slowly to kneel down. She put her weapon away and held out her hand. As the creature sniffed at her fingers, she looked a bit closer at its form. Its eyes were grey within grey; the pupils being only slightly darker in color than the scleras. Its skin was … interesting, was the first word that came to Raven's mind. Its skin was a smokey greyish tone of blue and seemed to glow in different areas when the light of her torch hit it. Its hair looked to be a shimmering white tone; short and wavy.
The creatures all watched as their sibling inspected Raven. They sat back on their haunches reminding Raven of a little caveman boy she'd seen in a cartoon movie about a family of dinosaurs when she was still on the Ark. Faster than she was ready the creature gripped her arm then lunged at her neck. She squealed loudly and fell on to her back.
"Raven!"
Clarke ran towards the sound, torch and sword in hand. She saw Raven on her back, a creature stuck to her chest with its face in her neck, and three more creatures just like it running towards Raven. Clarke went for the immediate danger first; the one attached to Raven. She raised the sword and moved to slash at the thing attacking Raven.
"Clarke no! Wait!"
Raven held one hand out to stop Clarke's attack while she held the creature with her other hand.
"It's okay. It just moved faster than I was ready for and it surprised me."
Clarke took a step back and reassessed the scene before her. The creatures seemed to be cowering behind Raven's fallen frame. Now that the blood wasn't rushing through her ears, she could hear them whimpering. The one on Raven's chest was visibly shaking in the engineer's arms. It wasn't attacking, it was seeking comfort.
"Hey, hey, it's alright," Raven spoke softly to the creature in her arms, "it's okay. You just scared us a bit, it's alright."
Raven got to her feet and picked up her dropped torch while Clarke sheathed her sword.
"Look," she said as she pointed with her light.
"Was that their mother?" Clarke asked.
"I think so," Raven replied.
"What are they?"
"I don't know. But, I know they're scared. Seems it's been dead awhile, so they're probably hungry too."
Clarke looked at her friend and could already tell she was smitten with the thing in her arms. The blonde couldn't help but chuckle and shake her head. She felt a light tapping on her leg so she looked down. One of the creatures was standing before her staring up at her. Fully standing they came to just below knee level. The thing raised its arms as it continued to stare.
"Awww, I think it likes you," Raven giggled.
Clarke sighed, "Leave it to you to find orphans in a cave in the middle of a wasteland."
Clarke reached down with her free hand and picked the child up. She looked at the other two and motioned with her hand.
"Come on, there's food. We should all get some rest."
They walked back to their camp area. It was far enough away from the opening of the cave to give sufficient shelter from the weather. Luckily it was roomy enough for the horses as well. The animals were munching on a pile of feed and Murphy was sitting up eating some of the stew Clarke had made. He did a double take when he saw the ladies walking towards him.
"Making friends everywhere you go, huh Raven?"
"How do you know Clarke didn't find them?"
"Really?" Murphy sucked his teeth and chuckled.
"They?"
The one being held by Clarke spoke. All three travelers were taken aback.
"They," it said again and looked at Clarke like it was trying to put a puzzle together.
"More," it said.
"More?" Clarke questioned.
"More … sound."
"Hey, I think I read a book about something like this," Murphy said as he shared his food with the two creatures that hadn't seemed to claim Raven and Clarke.
"What do you mean?" Raven asked.
"I think they learn just by watching and listening. Like, at a rapid rate though. Yes?"
Murphy directed his question to the creature in Clarke's arms.
It gave him a small smile.
"More," the one in Raven's arms said.
"If we talked to them for a few hours I bet they'd know our language by morning. You remember on the Ark how some of the older folks would say there's some truth in every bit of myth and legend? If the tales are true, there used to be some like them on the Ark also. But they died out, or were killed during one of the riots, depending on who you believe or what book you can hack from the restricted directory. Basically, the more they hear, the more they see, the quicker they learn. I remember hearing something about them being born with knowledge of their predecessors too. But like I said, it could all just have been stories."
"You, hacked books," Raven stated more than asked.
Clarke looked at Murphy with a smirk on her face.
"Still waters run deep huh," she said.
Murphy looked up at her, matching her smirk.
"I was an asshole Griff, nobody ever said I was stupid."
"Asshole!" one of the beings mimicked.
"For goodness sake, barely five minutes," Clarke rolled her eyes as her friends laughed.
Arkadia
Abby sat in her office rubbing her temples. Marcus has been away in Polis for the better part of two weeks. She was expecting him back any day now. She hoped it would be sooner rather than later. Pike has been in her ear ever since Marcus left and she's quickly losing her patience.
It's not like she doesn't understand his concerns. But for survival, they needed to work with the Grounders. Winter is coming, and they can't afford to fight another war when they barely have supplies to get through the next two months. The tentative truce with the Trikru and Floukru has helped in keeping them afloat, but they have their own to look after too.
"Hey Doc?"
The Doctor turned and saw Bellamy staring at her earnestly.
"You might want to come out here. Pike's trying to stir up trouble again. He's got a decent crowd this time. Even some of the Council seem to be listening."
Abby sighed deeply and rubbed her swollen belly as she stood. Bellamy moved to assist her but she waved him off.
"The last thing Pike needs to see is me looking weak. All he'll do is use it to escalate people's fears of leaving an omega in charge; an omega who is pregnant with the scion of their supposed enemy."
There was a large crowd gathered around Pike as he spoke. It was the same old nonsense. The Grounders betrayed us, they can't be trusted, we shouldn't be wasting supplies helping them, we need to take the fight to them before they come for us, the Commander wants us all slaughtered.
Abby's eyes hurt from the amount of eye rolling the man inspired. She allowed Bellamy to make a path for her then she stepped on to the platform that she correctly assumed Pike had made.
"And now that she's here, let's ask her," Pike began. "What do you plan on doing about these Grounders Chancellor?"
Of all the scents she's ever smelled, alphas while they're posturing and trying to assert control was the worst. In her current state of pregnancy after mere seconds she could feel herself wanting to vomit. But she hadn't the time for that. She focused on the scents of nature around her to center herself. She needed to nip this in the bud before Pike really escalated things. She raised her hand to silence the crowd. She inwardly smiled seeing Pike's silent rage in reaction to her control of the masses.
"Had you simply waited until tomorrow Charles everyone would've gotten this information during lunch. When Marcus gets back, you'll find that he won't be empty handed. We will have supplies that we desperately need, and most important the beginning of an alliance with the Commander. This alliance will come with benefits that we will not be able to get any other way…"
"Alliance!" Pike yelled, "What do we need with another sham of an alliance? Have you not been paying attention? You know what, this isn't even necessary." Pike turned back to the crowd. "Why the hell are we even listening to this omega? Clearly that monstrosity growing inside her is affecting her decisions when it comes to dealing with these savages. You only have that pin by default. I call for a vote. Let the people decide who should really be leading. I won't be dictated to by a misguided weak omega who…"
Pike stumbled back and barely stopped himself from falling over. It took Abby's brain a few moments to register what had just happened; to register what she'd done. Pike stared at her, holding his hands near his chest watching as his palm filled with blood.
"Call me weak again Charles," Abby pointed at the man, "and you and I will be having a very different conversation."
The words were said with such venom that Pike remained stunned for several moments after. Abby took full advantage of his silence.
"This world is not what we thought it was," Abby addressed Arkadia, "everything that we thought we knew, everything that we were taught on the Ark means nothing anymore. This world was not empty like we believed. More than half of the things in our history and earth studies books are no longer relevant. This was never our world to take. These lands that we are on right now, belong to someone else. Yet they have allowed us to stay here, think about that. We have absolutely no claim here. And more importantly, we are not prepared. What the former Chancellor did not tell you, I will. I made a mistake long ago in regards to withholding information and I refuse to do the same again. It wasn't just air we were running out of on the Ark. We were starting to lose stock on many things, including food shares. We were not in any way prepared to come to Earth. The hundred that we sent, were barely prepared. We just managed to get through one war…"
"And if we fall in to another sham alliance we'll be even further ill prepared," Pike interrupted. "With our weapons..."
"Your use of our weapons will get us all slaughtered!" Abby growled, once again silencing the man. "I understand your concerns. They have been heard. But another war is not what is best for our people. Yes, we have weapons that seem superior to theirs; shock sticks and guns. But they have things that are far more important. They have the numbers, and they know this land far better than we do. They don't need to stop and reload a sword. They don't need radios to communicate, they don't need to figure out how to live without electricity or technology, they don't need to figure out how to survive in this world because they have lived here all their lives. We barely avoided a war with them by the skin our teeth already. If we start one now, sure, we'll kill some with our bullets. We might even be able to hold them back for a while; a week, possibly a month. But then the Commander will call for reinforcements and she'll replenish her ranks and supplies. And we'll load more bullets in our guns, and then we'll run out of those bullets and all of our guns will be useless. Meanwhile, our little camp here will be surrounded. We will run out of food. We will run out of water. Every bit of supplies we have will be gone and then we will be overrun. They wouldn't even need to fight us if they didn't want to. They could simply siege us and wait until we're all nearly dead from starvation. And what will you do then Charles?"
Abby turned back to the man then. While he was seething, and still bleeding from his nose, he had no words to contradict.
"If you all think a vote is needed, we will have one. My aim is to grow and change with this new world. We are no longer on the Ark. We are on the ground. This is where our ancestors came from. This is where the Grounders' ancestors came from. You can try and dispute that if you want Charles," the Chancellor paused for just a moment to look at the man and through the crowd, "but it does not change the facts. We all came from one people. We are all Grounders now. If allying with and working with the Grounders will aid our people in survival then that is what we will do."
A cheer broke out in the crowd. Pike being the proud alpha that he was would not let the subject go.
"And what happens when they show their true colors?"
Pike had to yell the question three times to get the crowd to simmer down and actually hear him.
"And what happens when they lull you in to a false sense of security, little omega? They've already done it. The Commander fooled your own daughter; your true daughter. Actually," Pike chuckled condescendingly, "I hear she did a lot of things to Clarke. And then she left our people stranded to die in that mountain. We defeated them. Not the savages, us. And where is your daughter now Chancellor? What would she think of this new alliance? If it wasn't…"
"If it wasn't," Abby cut him off, "for Clarke, we would all be dead and/or well on our way to being carved up like lap rats. Clarke, led our people to victory."
Abby wanted to do a lot more than punch the man for even mentioning Clarke.
"Did the Commander leaving us set us back? It did. But because of Clarke, we survived. Her actions and the many that followed her are the reason we can even be here to, yet again, argue about fighting a useless war. If she were here, she would want us to do what was needed to survive, live, and thrive. She wouldn't want us to throw away the chance she worked so hard to give us. Another war will not help anyone."
A murmuring sparked in the crowd as everyone considered the doctor's words.
"And to answer your other question, Clarke is in the world traveling as she sees fit. She won the right to do that when she won the war against the Mountain. And if all goes well, you'll be able to thank Clarke for our new home too."
"Then it's a good thing all did go well."
Abby's eyes snapped to the back of the crowd like everyone else. She couldn't help but smile at Marcus. She'd been so wrapped up in her back and forth with Pike that she hadn't noticed Kane, or the contingency that came with him, enter the courtyard. Her breath caught and her smile faltered just a little when she saw Indra on the horse next to him.
1-1-1-1-1-1
Marcus had been back for a couple of hours and Abby had successfully avoided speaking of anything besides business with him and the Grounders as well as avoided being alone with Indra. She was back safe in her office trying to de-stress and keep mobility in her hand so it didn't swell up too much more. She shouldn't have hit the man, but he'd been asking for it. Some alphas only know to shut the fuck up when after you lay hands on them.
She heard a knock behind her and judging from the scent, she regretted thinking the man in to existence.
"How can I help you Charles?" she asked as she faced the man.
"I thought we could talk. Just us, no more battles of words or games," Pike answered as he shut the door.
The doctor stared at him for a few moments. Things immediately felt off. With each step he took closer to her, his scent seemed to change and grow stronger.
"What more do you think we have to speak about Charles? I think the people have already spoken. You seem to be the only person not on board," Abby spoke as she got up and moved to stand behind her chair.
If he wanted to speak fairly he would not have closed her door when he entered the room. His demeanor was setting off her warning bells, but he was too close for her to do more than panic before she figured it out.
1-1-1-1-1-1
The past few weeks had been hell for Indra. Negotiations with Skaikru and the rest of the Coalition had admittedly gone smoother than she had expected. Skaikru had a few key things that were weighed heavily in their favor. The Mountain was no longer a threat thanks to the actions of Wanheda and her people. Skaikru's healing power saved all the Reapers that were found and returned them to their families. The current leader of Skaikru was not only their best healer, who without being asked shared her skills with all clansmen in need, but she was also the mother of the very revered Wanheda. Many had witnessed the woman working in the healing camp. Once healed enough to return home they spoke to their leaders of the hidden fire in the omegas blood. They'd taken to calling her Skaigonaheda.
It made Indra proud to know Abby had gained her own renown among the clansmen. The thing that was probably the most important, is Abby chose Marcus Kane to be Skaikru's ambassador. The beta proved to be a good negotiator; he handled himself well against the other ambassadors.
The one thing Indra did not currently appreciate, however, is Kane's stalling. He'd promised to set up a meeting with Abby so they could speak privately. Since she walked into Arkadia hours ago she had gotten snippets of emotion from her estranged mate that had been increasingly bad. And right now, they were at their worst.
"Where is Abby?"
Kane and Bellamy shared a quick look. Marcus knew Indra would eventually ask, but he wanted to speak with Abby first. He was going to comment on this but Bellamy beat him to it.
"I'm not sure that right now wou…" Bellamy began.
"I was not speaking to you boy!" The General didn't mean to snap. But she didn't have time for this foolishness. "Kane, my friend, something is wrong. Please, where is she?"
"She was headed to her office last we spoke," Kane answered worriedly.
"Is she guarded?"
It clicked then. Bellamy had done a short sweep of the camp after Pike had disappeared but he couldn't find the man. Then, after the meetings, he'd forgotten to continue searching. He didn't answer Indra's question, he ran. From the sounds behind him he knew the General and Kane were following.
1-1-1-1-1-1
This had to work. He had tried to do things politically, but these idiotic people would not listen. The Commander and her band of savages will be the death of them. He won't let that happen if he can help it. He tried to take the safe route and rally the people, but Doctor Griffin swayed them. She'd always had a silver tongue; it's a trait he actually admired in the omega. Despite what he said in front of the crowd earlier, he's very much aware that Abigail Griffin is not weak. There are so few omegas like her in their ranks. She should've been his years ago. Clarke should've been his child. How the hell Jake Griffin managed to pull Abby was beyond his knowledge. There was nothing spectacular about the man in the least.
After Jake was floated he had considered trying again. When they got to earth and Abby had gone in to heat, he saw his chance. But she didn't even spare him a glance. She let one of those disgusting savages ravage her beautiful body and infect her. He planned to remedy that soon. Accidents happen all the time after all. The thought of getting rid of the little monster inside the doctor and replacing it with his own seed made him smirk.
"Charles, what are you doing?"
Her voice brought him out of his thoughts. He hadn't noticed he'd moved so close to her desk. He made himself refocus on his plan. He let his pheromones seep through his pores slowly.
"Things weren't always so combative with us Abby. These are troubling times we're in. I know you want what's best for the people, I do too. I think we can achieve our goals together. If the people see us united, they will fall in line."
It was all Abby could do to keep her grip on the back of her chair. The alpha's pheromones made her nose burn and her skin crawl. It wasn't just affecting her though, the pups inside her were not happy about the invasive stench either.
"Charles, I'm not sure what you're trying to accomplish here, but you need to stop. You and I working together is a fine thought, but I don't think that means the same thing to me as it does to you."
"Of course it means the same thing. We should've done this a long time ago you know."
Pike upped the amount of pheromones he was releasing. The effect, he could see, was nearly instantaneous. Trying to do it outside when they were in front of a crowd was foolish. There was too much open air to dissipate the scent, and Abby wasn't the average omega. But confined in this room, he knew it would work. Abby's grip on the chair dropped and sweat formed on her brow. She's still fighting it, and he expected nothing less. It'll make his conquest all the sweeter. He moved the chair and stood in front of her.
"Charles, please stop," Abby pleaded.
Pike smiled as the whispered words left her quivering lips. He reached a hand up to touch her cheek, but she moved back to avoid his touch. That made him angry. He expected her to resist, but standing this close to her now she should be on her knees.
"Don't do that again," he growled as he stepped forward.
Abby didn't listen. For each step he took forward, she moved a step back. When her back hit the counter, her heart dropped to the pit of her stomach. Pike moved closer, until his body was pressed against hers. She wanted to push him away, kick him, hit him, anything. But she was powerless to move. The pheromones surrounding her called for her to submit. When his callused hands brushed against her cheeks she began to cry.
"Ssshhh, you know this is for the best. This should have happened between us long ago Abby. It's high time we fixed that. Don't worry, you'll forget about this soon."
Abby cringed and squealed in pain when he traced Indra's mark on her neck. When his lips touched hers, two things happened at the same time. The door to her office blasted open and Abby's stomach reeled. She couldn't stop the vomit that crawled up her throat and sprayed out of her mouth.
Pike jumped back in disgust and looked towards the door. Too slowly he tried to reach for his gun. Indra was on him in less than a second. She jumped over the desk and planted her foot in Pike's chest knocking the man back. He growled in pain when his back hit a shelf. He tried to recover and swing at the General, but she easily blocked his punch and dealt him three hits in return.
Bellamy had tried to enter the room before Indra, but she had pushed him out of the way. He and Kane were stunned at the display of speed and skill that she showed. So stunned, that they let the beating go on for longer than they probably should have. By the time the guards had gotten there, Indra had Pike on his knees with her hands wrapped around the man's throat. She didn't seem to feel any of knocks to her arms that Pike gave her in an effort to free himself.
"Indra! Indra, he's had enough!" Bellamy yelled as he gripped one of Pike's arms in an effort to get the man to heel.
"Indra, we've got him," Kane said as he grabbed for Pike's other arm. "Abby needs you more."
That got through to the General, but she did not release him just yet. She stared in to his good eye, the other having already swollen shut, and growled.
"If you EVER touch her again, the whole of your Ark will not keep me from bathing in your blood."
Indra released him with a head-butt to his already injured nose. The guards secured Pike's arms behind him and pulled him out of the room. He yelled and cursed the whole way, but Indra didn't hear any of it. Once her eyes were set on Abby, the doctor was her only focus.
Abby was on the floor with her back to the wall in a full on panic attack. She was rocking back and forth with her arms wrapped around her legs staring straight ahead as she cried. One of the younger guards that still remained in the room, who didn't fully understand what was happening, tried to move and comfort Abby but he only made the situation worse. The doctor screamed when the boy got too close and if Bellamy had not been quick enough to pull him back, Indra would've knocked the guard in to next week.
Indra kept some distance between herself and Abby as she called the doctor's name. She released a heavy amount of protective pheromones to drown out the stench of Pike on her mate.
"Indra?" Abby's voice was uncharacteristically small, and she still wouldn't look at the General.
"I'm here hodnes (love)."
It took a few moments, but Abby slowly turned her head and looked at the General like she was trying to comprehend where she was and if Indra was actually in front of her. Indra held back, knowing that in this state an omega had to make the first move. It didn't take long. Abby raised her arms and Indra immediately pulled the distressed doctor in. As she lifted Abby, she addressed Kane.
"She needs to be out of this room," Indra stated.
"This way," Kane spoke without hesitation.
When they were finally alone in Abby's quarters, Indra sat on the couch with Abby in her lap. She grabbed a nearby cloth and cleaned Abby's face and mouth then held her mate close and filled the room with her pheromones.
The doctor had her face buried in Indra's neck; nose firmly attached to the woman's scent gland. It'd been too long, Abby lamented as her head cleared. Charles should never have been able to affect her like that. But it'd been too long since she was near Indra. Too long since Indra had held her, too long since she'd been surrounded by her warrior's scent, too long since Indra had kissed her belly and talked to their growing pups. She'd let too much time pass in her grief and now she felt like she was paying for it.
"I'm sorry," Abby whispered in to the General's neck.
"Don't do that ai tombom (my heart). This is no one's fault but that vile joka's (fucker's)."
"I know, but…"
"There is no but," Indra sighed. After a short silence she said, "It's I that owes you an apology, I failed you."
"That's, not quite how I heard it," Abby said after figuring out what her mate was talking about. Before Indra could ask, Abby answered. "The Commander can be quite stealthy when she wants to be."
"The Commander was here?"
"She snuck in to talk to me. She actually seemed more of a wreck than I was. She asked me not to blame you for her decision. But I was still angry; I am still angry and hurt. War is a horrible, ugly thing, and I don't know where my ba…"
Abby's voice cracked and Indra holds her tighter until her sobs calmed down again.
"I'm sorry," Abby said when she had control of her voice again. She made a move to stand but Indra held her fast and looked at her with questioning eyes. "I know this isn't something you're used to; having to deal with such … weakness."
Indra kept her eyes on the doctor until the woman would look at her again.
"Dealing with loss, doesn't make you weak. You must grieve to be able to properly move on. You are my mate, Abby kom Skaikru; you chose me and I chose you. Believe me when I tell you I feel Clarke's loss just as sharply as you do; just as sharply as the Commander does," Indra lamented. "She and I have walked this path before."
Abby wasn't quite sure what that meant. She knows Indra had lost a child before, though she was very sparing on the details, but what did that have to do with the Commander?
"Some years ago, when the Spirit first chose Lexa to be the new Commander, many of the Clans were still at war with each other. Lexa was the Commander that started the Coalition. The Azgeda did not want to submit, even as the other Clans were joining the alliance. The Azplana, the Ice Queen, wanted to end Lexa. Most were tired of war and death, but she seemed to thrive on it. She couldn't get close to Lexa, but she found a way to get close to her mate."
"Your daughter," Abby put it together.
"Yes," Indra paused, and Abby didn't miss how her demeanor sagged for just a moment. "She stole Costia. After a month, we were hopeful and still looking. After two months," Indra couldn't stop the growl that sounded in her chest, "Nia sent her shaved head back to Lexa in a crate. Such an act would utterly destroy most people. Being leaders, it was not afforded to us to fall apart. But that doesn't mean we were unaffected. Lexa stayed clear of me for weeks after. And when she did come to me, she handed me her sword and offered me her life as payment for Costia's death. I had to remind her that her blood is not what Costia would want. And we left it at that. Lexa had her duties as the Commander to see to, and I had my duties as well. The dead are gone, and the living are hungry. Just because you don't see us grieve openly, the way you Skaikru do, doesn't mean we don't feel the emptiness when we lose someone."
Abby nodded her head. She wasn't in complete agreeance with her mate's coping mechanism, but she understood. It's not like things weren't just as harsh with people being floated on the Ark.
"The dead are gone, and the living are hungry," she whispered the words.
"We are still searching Abby. None of us think Wanheda is dead."
"I keep hearing that term in the med-camp. What does it mean?"
"It's what my people call Clarke; the Commander of Death. There's many a story about her power and how she fell the Mountain."
"That's not a title she would appreciate. Killing isn't something she ever wanted to do."
"Perhaps not. But she took a stand and led her people to battle when she needed to. She is well respected among the Clans. As are you, Skaigonaheda."
Abby raised her brow in question of the name.
"It's a title of respect. It's a reference to the creature that shares your name. Skaigona is what we call a bird of prey. For you, it loosely translates to the Commander Who Hunts From The Sky. It's fitting. No one saw you flying in to lead, yet here you are, guiding your people to a new day."
"I suppose that isn't so bad," Abby said as she made to get up again. She smiled when Indra wouldn't let her go. "I'm just going to the bathroom, I need to get the taste of vomit out of my mouth. I won't be long."
Indra watched her movements silently. When Abby disappeared from view Indra leant forward and squeezed her eyes shut as she clutched her head. She made herself take long deep breathes to keep some semblance of control. If she hadn't followed her instincts or even hesitated a moment longer … she won't allow herself to finish that thought. She vowed right then and there to never let another mate or child be taken from her again. She would not survive it.
Abby reentered the room and quietly observed her alpha. She released calming pheromones as she walked over to her mate. She stood between Indra's legs and held the other woman's head to her stomach and gently massaged her scalp. Indra circled her arms around Abby's legs and pulled her closer. The doctor doesn't ask questions, she knows her mate well. For as stern, and even cold, as the General can be perceived as, she lived for the quiet tender moments when no words were needed. Indra often spoke more in action, than with words.
"I felt you sometimes you know," Abby broke the silence, "usually at night when…"
Abby paused when she felt movement in her abdomen. She watched as Indra took in what was happening. Indra placed one of her hands on the side of Abby's stomach where her cheek just was and waited. When it happened again, Indra's reaction was unexpected. Abby watched as her warrior swallowed repeatedly, trying to get past the sudden lump in her throat, as silent tears streamed down the alpha's face.
"It was usually at night," Abby continued, "when they wouldn't settle."
She pulled Indra up from her seat and caressed her warrior's face and kissed her tears away.
"We missed you. I missed you. I'm sorry I kept you away. Forgive me?"
"There's nothing to forgive."
Abby was going to reply, but Indra's lips silenced her.
To be continued...
Please review.