Ryan woke up before the sun rose. The reality of being on Earth hadn't set in, it was all too good. She stood up and pulled her clothes on, wrapping her jacket tightly around her as the morning air was cool. Stepping outside her tent, she took in the sight of their camp. Many of the kids had made makeshift tents from the ships parachute. Fires were still smoldering; it was so quiet, quiet before the chaos of another day set in. She went towards one of the fires and started it up again, letting the heat warm her over. This was the first time in 4 years she woke up not locked away in a cell, as it was for many of the other kids. For the first time in a while, Ryan allowed herself to breathe.
It wasn't long before the others started to wake up, and not wanting to interact with anyone Ryan made her way outside of the camp, looking for anything that could help her starving stomach. She remembered what her father had taught her all those years ago, what to look for when looking for edible plant life , what was poisonous and what could make you sick. Quietly, she made her way towards a small bush filled with little blue berries, examining them, she popped on in her mouth. The bitter sweetness of the berry filled her mouth, causing her to smile. She pulled a piece of fabric from her jeans pocket and begin to pick as many as she could; she filled her makeshift bucket up and turned back towards the camp, eating her fill on the way. She had only walked about 20 feet away from the camp, but when she returned she earned a frown from Wells.
"You shouldn't go off from camp alone. We don't know what's out there or anything about this place." He scolded.
"I'm probably the only one of these fools who could survive out here. Besides, I found some berries. The other group isn't back yet and everyone needs to eat something." She dropped the berries in a tree stump in the center of their camp.
"Still, it's not safe out there alone." Wells countered, walking away from her to return to what he was doing.
"He's right. You shouldn't leave camp alone despite what you think you know from what daddy taught you." Bellamy walked up behind them, with Murphy and his gang right behind him.
"Oh and who are you? Leader of the camp?" Ryan mocked, not even turning around to look at him.
"Someone needs to be in charge." Bellamy said, she could hear the smirk dripping off his voice.
"But I thought we could do 'whatever the hell we want' or is that only when you say it's okay?" Ryan turned around to look him in the eyes, "Sorry but I don't need a babysitter or someone to tell me what to do. I had that for 4 years when I was in the skybox. I'm a big girl Blake, I can take care of myself." She started to walk off when Bellamy grabbed her elbow, yanking her back towards him. She jerked her arm back, trying to keep her anger intact, which was proving harder and harder to do the more she was around this group.
"Oh yeah? What big bad crime did such a little girl commit to make her think she so scary?" He mockingly asked.
Ryan looked at him one last time before she turned away, before walking off she answered his question, "She killed her father."
She didn't linger around to see the shocked and disapproving faces. She didn't need others to let her know what she did was wrong. She knew. She knew every day when she woke up. It still haunts her but she's learned to live with it. She remembered the looks she got when she went to her trial, the looks the council members gave her when she was brought before them. She was on Earth now, this was her fresh start.
-"Dad, come on it's time to wake up." A young Ryan said as she shook her dad.
He mumbled a reply before grabbing a bottle moonshine a took a chug. He pushed her out of the way, knocking her down. Edward James was a changed man after his wife died of cancer a year ago. He drunk all the time and had a mean temper to match now. Ryan tried to make herself as quiet as possible when around her dad, trying not to provoke him. But he had been sleeping all day and the council and his job were starting to question where he was all the time. Ryan had come back to her apartment from school when she woke him.
"Good for nothing brat. I was sleeping." He grumbled as he kicked her.
"I'm sorry dad, it's just your work called again. They are getting the council involved if you missed a day again." She told him, trying to not let her voice betray her, tears were threatening to fall.
The information had only angered him more than he already was and after a swig from his bottle he sent a powerful punch her way. Before she could dodge him, it connected to her cheek.
Quietly she got up, holding her cheek in her hand only to feel wetness, not from the tears. She looked at her dads hand and noticed a ring he had made on his fingers. She pulled her hand back from her face and saw blood dripping down her hand; quietly she looked in a mirror and saw the gash. Not saying anything to her father, she placed a towel to her cheek and made her way to medical. It was only when she was safely away from her father that she let the tears fall.-
Ryan gave herself enough time to calm down before she rejoined the group. A commotion was going on near the edge of the camp, a huge group surrounded the fire. Ryan made her way over towards them, curiosity getting the better of her. When she made it to the front of the group she noticed one of Bellamy's followers holding a girl over the fire.
"Bellamy check it out! We want the Ark to think the ground is killing us, right? Figured it would look better if we suffer for a little bit." The boy, Murphy said.
"Let her go!" Wells yelled at him, the poor girl was screaming for Murphy to release her.
Ryan turned around looking at Bellamy, she pushed him, "You can stop this! Damnit Bellamy!"
"Ryan's right. You can stop this!" Wells agreed
"Stop this? We're just getting started." Murphy smiled. A boy in the group started chanting fight, pushing Wells towards Murphy. The former boy let the girl go and walked towards Wells, pulling a knife he made out.
"Wait." Bellamy said before he tossed a knife at Wells's feet. "Fair fight."
Murphy charged at Wells and cut him once but it wasn't long before Wells took control of the fight, putting a knife at Murphy's neck. Before he could make another decision, a voice yelled at him.
"Wells let him go!" Ryan turned around and saw Clarke make her way back towards the group. The small group that left out the day before had finally returned. Ryan noticed that they came back empty handed, also Finn and Monty were carrying Octavia. Ryan made her way over to them, ignoring Clarke trying to block her.
"Octavia are you okay?!" Ryan and Bellamy asked at the same time.
"Yeah." Octavia winced, Ryan lifted the bandage off her leg and looked at the wound. It looked like some kind of bite. "Lake monster." Monty said.
"Where's the food?" Bellamy questioned Clarke.
"Where's the kid with the goggles? Jasper?" Ryan asked. She could careless about the food. The group left with 5 people and only returned with 4.
"We didn't make it to Mount Weather." Clarke answered him, ignoring your question.
"What the hell happened out there?" Bellamy demanded.
"We were attacked." Finn stated.
"Attacked? Attached by what?" Bellamy question.
"Not by what. By who." Finn said, Ryan looked at him with a question on her face.
"We're not alone out here." Clarke said
"Which brings back to my previously ignored question. What happened to Jasper. He was with you guys when you left." Ryan asked again.
"He was hit. And they took him." Clarke said to Ryan before turning to Wells, "Where's your wristband?"
"Ask him." Wells said looking at Bellamy.
"How many?" Clarke asked. Ryan looked around the group was larger than it was this morning that had lost their wristbands.
"24 and counting." Murphy said smugly. Ryan really wished more than anything she could punch his smug little face in.
"You idiots!" Clarke yelled. "Life support on the Ark is failing. That's why they brought us down here. They need to know the ground is survivable again, and we need their help against whoever is out there. If you take off your wristbands, you're not just killing them. You're killing us!"
Bellamy smirked, Ryan could tell he had something brewing in him. He didn't seem like the type of guy that liked to be challenge and right now there was exactly 3 kids at camp that was challenging him. "We're stronger than you think. Don't listen to her. She's one of the privileged. If they come down, she'll have it good. How many of you can say the same? We can take care of ourselves. That wristband on your arm? It makes you a prisoner. We are not prisoners anymore! They say they'll forgive your crimes. I say you're not criminals! You're fighters, survivors! The Grounders should worry about us!"
"Are you seriously that stupid?" Ryan yelled, her frustration getting the better of her, "How can you say we aren't criminals? I know most of you committed crimes, last time I checked that made you a criminal! Are seriously okay with killing innocent lives up there? You're gonna punish hundreds for the hate you hold for a few? There are children up there. Lives that haven't even got to fully live their lives and YOU ALL want to say fuck them? There is something seriously wrong with the lot of you if that's your mentality." She wanted to storm off but something had rooted her in place. Sure she didn't like the council, they threw her in a skybox before hearing the full extent of why she did what she did. But that didn't mean she wanted to punish all the innocent lives that lived on the Ark as well.
She glared at the group, earning a look from Bellamy. Ryan didn't get passionate about things but innocent lives, kids, pulled at her heartstrings. But it seemed the only ones that heard her was Bellamy, Clarke, Wells, Finn, & Monty. The other gets we're all screaming 'yeah!' Ryan sighed, she couldn't blame them, every fiber in her wanted to forget her cares and join them in having a good time. But the logically side of her made her stay put, she may not like anyone here but she wasn't gonna let them starve. Running her hands through her hair, Ryan turned and looked at Clarke, "So what do we do now Griffin?"
"Now we go after Jasper." Clarke said, walking towards the dropship.
Ryan was about to follow when a hand pulled her back, "What was that outburst about?" Bellamy smirked.
"Let me go Bellamy." She tried to pull her arm out of his grip, but to avail. "Get your slimy hands off of me before I remove them with force."
"You are something else, you know that? You act like you don't care about anyone but I see right through you."
"Oh do you? The great Bellamy Blake, leader of the the 100. Everyone follows his command without a second thought. It kills you when someone doesn't follow your every word, doesn't it." Ryan didn't know why he made her blood boil like it did but something about him just made her taunt him. She couldn't help it.
Bellamy laughed, he saw exactly what she was doing him, trying to bait him into an argument. The girl was something else and if he could get a reaction out of her he was going to do it. "And it kills you that they actually listen to me." He had squared up to her now.
"So why are you so adamant about letting the Ark think that we are all dead? Someone break your heart and now you have to stick it to them?" Ryan mocked him.
"Your daddy issues are starting to show their James." Bellamy teased.
She opened her mouth and then closed it fast, she thought about punching the smugness off of his face but instead she just jerked her arm back from him and stomped away to go find Clarke and the others. She found them inside the dropship with Clarke and Wells arguing, which seemed to be a standard thing happening now.
"We need him. We don't have anyone else volunteering." Finn said to Clarke
Clarke sighed, it was obvious she didn't want Wells to go along. "Sorry Monty but you're not going either."
Monty protested, "Like hell I'm not. Jaspers my best friend."
"You were raised in farm station and recruited but engineer. We need you." Clarke reasoned with him.
"Count me in, I need to get out of this camp." Ryan said stepping forward.
"No we don't need you. It's okay." Clarke didn't even look at her.
"I don't know what your problem with me is Griffin, we only spoken to each other a hand full of times before this earth trip. Besides, you need someone that's good at tracking. I was raised by a crazed Earth survivalist enthusiast. You need me."
"She's right Clarke, you said it yourself, Ryan's dad was obsessed with Earth and he taught her everything he knew." Finn said to Clarke, the latter who was shaking her head.
"Fine but don't think that for one second I'm gonna trust you." Clarke grunted.
Ryan raised her eyebrows til it finally clicked, "You think I'm gonna snap. You believe everything the council, your mom, said about me don't you?" Ryan snorted, she couldn't believe it. She was sure the council over exaggerated what she did, making it seem like the tiniest things would cause the girl to snap.
"You done it one time who's to say you wouldn't do it again?" Clarke asked
"Because I won't be pushed to those circumstances again. I won't be put in that situation again." Ryan frowned, she hated that this was the opinion that most had of her. She really was a nice girl but obviously nobody wanted to see that side of her. They all expected a murdering lunatic.
Clarke's expression soften, looking at Ryan with a sadness in her eyes before she turned to Monty, "Food and communication. You figure out how to get in touch with the Ark and I'll bring Jasper back. All right. You guys ready."
Finn threw his hands up, "I'm not going anywhere and neither should you guys. That spear was thrown with pinpoint accuracy from 300 feet."
"So what do you suggest? We let Jasper die?" Ryan asked
"Space walker?" Clarke scoffed, " What a joke. You think you're an adventurer. You're a coward."
"It's not a adventure. It's a suicide mission." Finn argued.
Ryan stepped forward getting in between Clarke and Finn, "It's fine, we don't anyone too scared to go anyway." She pushed past Finn and walked straight into Bellamy. "Oof. Wear a bell Bellamy."
He smirked at the brunette, "Dont worry. I'll look after them." He said to Finn
"Oh like you're the safest option out there? I rather face the Grounders." Ryan laughed
The group made their way outside where Ryan quickly grabbed a knife and stuck in the back of her pants. The rest of the 100 were in the process of building a gate to keep the Grounders out. Octavia limped her way towards them telling the group that she was going as well, Bellamy quickly shot her down telling her that she needed to stay put with Clarke chiming in that she would only slow them down. Bellamy grabbed Murphy and the group started off.
Wells and Clarke lead the group with Ryan a few steps behind them and trailing in the backs as Bellamy and Murphy. Ryan was taking in all the scenery, she only ever read and saw pictures about Earth and now she was getting first hand experience. She thought a solemn thought of her dad and how he would be overjoyed with seeing everything she was seeing. She sighed and slowed her walk as the thrill of the outdoors left her slowly. She shook her head and tried to get all the thoughts out, she wasn't going to let herself get in another state of depression. It had been years since she felt the overwhelming, suffocating sadness wash over her and it took her a long time to find the light out of it, she wasn't doing it again. Ryan looked up and noticed that Clarke was walking a fast speed and she tried jogging to catch up with her, Bellamy must've noticed as well, "Hey hold up. What's the rush? You don't survive a spear through the heart." Ryan shrugged, he had a point.
"Jasper screamed when they took him away. If the spear struck his heart he would've died instantly. That doesn't mean we have time to waste." Clarke countered.
Bellamy pulled his gun out, "As soon as you and Ryan take off those wristbands then we will go."
Ryan looked at Bellamy and raised an eyebrow, "You want me wristband off. Kill me. Or cut off my hand because that's the only way you'll be getting your grimy hands on it."
"And the only way the Ark is going to think I'm dead is if I'm actually dead."
"Brave little princesses." Bellamy smirked
"Hey why don't you come up with your own nickname!" A voice said, coming from behind the group. Ryan looked around and saw Finn making his way towards Clarke. "You call this a rescue party? We need to split up. Clarke come with me."
Without another look, Clarke took off with Finn leaving Ryan with Wells, Bellamy, and Murphy. "Just great." She mumbled
"Looks like we have something in common," Bellamy teased Wells
"We have nothing in common."
"We both came down here to protect someone we love but she you its worse because with Finn around she'll never notice you."
"Bellamy give it a rest. Finns right we need to split up if we are ever gonna find Jasper." Ryan sighed, she went towards Wells when Bellamy took her arm and pulled her behind him. "Excuse you."
Bellamy didn't say anything instead he just kept hold of her arm until they walked a good while. Ryan just fell in step beside him, neither one saying a word. As agitated as she was with him she had to admit it was a comfortable silence. Neither her nor Bellamy made much noise going through the woods. Ryan kept looking at everything around them, taking it all in, occasionally she would trip over a root and a hand would come out and support her. It was a while before the two finally met up with the others, Finn was looking at a broken limb with an intense gaze.
"How do we know this is the right way?" Wells questioned looking at Finn and Clarke with a questionable gaze
"We don't." Bellamy finally spoke, "Spacewalker here thinks he's a tracker."
"It's called level 4 Earth skills." Ryan said walking towards Finn.
She had advanced in Earth skills fast, it was something she was proud of. A broken twig on a trail meant someone had walked past here. "Do you want to keep it down or so I need to paint targets on your backs." Finn growled.
"See, invisible." Bellamy whispered at Wells. Ryan knew what he was doing. He was trying to get Wells to join him and his group, having the Chancellors son with them would sway so many into taking off their wristbands.
The group walked on til they heard a moan in the distance. Clarke and Ryan looked at each other with the same realization, "Jasper." Both girls took off running in the direction that they heard the moan. Again, another moan flowed through the woods. The boys took off after the girls, finally the came towards a clearing with a dead tree in the center, and on that tree was Jasper. "Oh God." Whispered Ryan as she once again took off. But this time she made a mistake, she didn't check her surroundings and when she made another step the Earth fell out from under her. She screamed as she fell but quickly a hand grabbed onto hers; she looked up and saw Bellamy staring at her with a pained expression, she looked down and saw spears sticking up, ready to kill her the second she fell. She looked back at Bellamy with tears in her eyes, "Please," she begged. He nodded and called for the others to help him. With a quick jerk, she was pulled up and landed on Bellamy, she let out a small cry as she recovered from the shock that she almost died and then she quickly rolled off of him and he stood up offering her his hand. Ryan took it and told him thanks and he just smiled.
Finn and Murphy had started to cut Jasper down, Clarke pointed out the medicine on his stomach where the spear had struck. "Why would the spear him just to put medicine on it and try to save him? What type of people are we dealing with?" Ryan tried to piece everything together.
"The kind that uses live bait to capture their prey." Bellamy stated.
A rustling noise caused Ryan to turn around, she grabbed the first person she could to get their attention. Bellamy turned to say something smart when Ryan held a finger to her lips an gestured for him to listen. He stopped and heard the rustling ad well, the same time the rest of the group did. Ryan turned and saw a large panther stalking towards them. "Bellamy! Your gun get your gun!" Ryan whispered harshly.
He reached for his gun and couldn't find it, he sent Ryan a stressful look trying to remember if or where he dropped it. Ryan cursed under her breath, she couldn't believe their luck. First they are dropped on Earth no where near the supplies they need I live then one of their own is speared, they find him tied to a tree and now they are being stalked by a panther and their main weapon is missing.
Suddenly, the sound of gun fire ranged three the air. Looking around she saw Wells holding Bellamy's gun frantically firing the gun at the panther. He finally landed a shot on it but it didn't slow it down. Bellamy and Ryan stood with their backs together, both on the lookout for the creature. To their right, the panther moved through the grass, it turned and looked Ryan and began to pounce. Again, gun fire ranged in the air and the panther fell to the ground.
The group started their journey back to camp, half carrying Jasper and the other carrying back the panther. No one talking, no one in the mood for mocking or jokes. When they got back to the camp Clarke and Finn immediately took Jasper to the dropship, Clarke yelling for supplies. Ryan stayed back as Bellamy declared food for everyone. Everyone without bracelets. So one by one everyone lined up to have their bracelets took off and got their food.
Ryan stood her ground, watching with amazement as everyone did as they were told. Bellamy approached her, food in hand, her stomach growled at the smell of meat cooking. All she had was berries and she was starving but she wasn't going to give in. She had too much pride for that. "Come on doll, take off the bracelet and you can eat." Bellamy teased.
"I'm good. Thanks."
"Come on, it's just a bracelet. I know you have to be starving by now." Bellamy teased. Ryan looked at the food and her stomach growled again. He dangled the food in front of her face.
An idea sparked in her head, she wasn't gonna give this bracelet up without a fight but a little fun never hurt nobody. So she walked closer to Bellamy and placed a hand on his chest, she looked up at his face and sent a smile, a blush forming upon her face. She placed her other hand on his cheek, "You know, I believe you're right, maybe Ill do what you say."
Bellamy laughed a little and wrapped his hand in her side, "See I knew you would come around."
Ryan stood on her tiptoes and got closer to him; his breathing got a little faster. She placed her lips next to his ear while she grabbed the food from his hand and said, "Whatever the hell we want."
She didn't turn around to see the pissed off look her had and she didn't see him punch a kid in frustration.
Ryan: 1 / Bellamy: 0
Being on Earth might just work out after all. Thank