Quick Author's note: Thank you all for the positive feedback on the first chapter! It was intended to be one-shot from the get go and purposely left open just in case other chapters came along, and now here we are. So please, enjoy this second chapter and thank you again!
"Are you telling me this is something you don't want from me? Something you haven't desired?" Anya's nose grazed up and down Clarke's pink flushed cheek with her hands firmly gripping against her hips. "From my perspective, Sky Girl, I see that you came to see me personally for your own goals." Anya was on top of Clarke, a shy and well excited Clarke, teasing her with her actions to trigger the blonde's reactions. Their skin glued together with sweat melded together perfectly. Anya was right, Clarke thought. It did get intensely hot during the night, in more ways than one.
"Anya." Clarke whispered her name softly as her fluttered shut for them to reopen again. There was no response she could give the grounder woman that would be a lie. Because the fact was, Clarke wanted this. Clarke wanted Anya and wanted Anya on top of her, teasing her in sacred ways only she knew how.
"I'm here, Skaiprisa. Right with you. Right where you want me to be." Anya's lips ghosted over Clarke's as she spoke, letting the gentle breeze of her breath hit the blonde's lips. Clarke had leaned her head up enough hoping for a taste of Anya's lips, only to realize those lips were now peppering kiss against her neck.
"Anya..." Clarke whispered again. This time, it was more a of beg, a sign of welcome, a green light to pursue whatever she planned. "I do want you. I want you." Anya smirked to Clarke's chatter, pressing her lips softer and softer to her skin and trailing those kisses lower on Clarke's body. From her neck, through the valley of Clarke's breasts she pitied were trapped in her bra still, down to her stomach. That was a sensitive spot on her body that Anya would remember forever. Each kiss made Clarke tense and tighten her body, allowing it to flex the abs on her body.
Clarke was getting a little impatient but made no advance to rush Anya. Well, almost. Between this charade and the temperature of the forest, the least bit of clothing added heat. In a swift motion, the blonde reached back subtly behind her back to unhook her bra and toss it aside to the ground. By then, Anya's interest had already swayed. The general's fingers looped into the last piece of clothing on her body, threading it down Clarke's legs and off of her feet.
"Hmm." Anya hummed to her in kind and lowered her kisses down to Clarke's waist, stopping just above the heat between Clarke's legs. "One more time, Skaiprisa. What is it that you truly want?"
Clarke groaned out impatiently again. This time was it, she thought. All she had to do was repeat those last three words again, and both of their wishes would come true. "I want you..."
"Anya." Clarke spoke the grounder's name in her sleep, tightening her arms around her in her bed. Half asleep or not, Clarke was very surprised yet really happy she could still feel a body in front of her.
"If you say my name one more damn time in your sleep, you'll surely regret coming here."
Clarke gasped lightly awaking from her dream holding onto the hope that it wasn't just a dream. Her eyes stared blankly at Anya's back, giving her an up close view of more tattoos and small slashes covering a great portion. Kill marks. They were on her shoulders scattering to her back. Anya didn't like having to mark her chest too often so no marks were made there. Clarke was no longer in her dream and that crushed her morning spirit. Hearing Anya's voice again, however, made up for it.
"I'm sorry if I woke you."
"I've been awake."
That thought sent a chill down Clarke's spine. How long has Anya been awake exactly and how many times did she say her name in her sleep? Did she hear each time? Embarrassing. Clarke wasn't aware that Anya was the one who let her sleep the entire time. Sleep was precious among the grounders and it was another luxury that Anya granted for Clarke to being their guest, not a prisoner. According to Clarke's watch she received from her father, she had gotten seven and a half hours of sleep, Anya with about seven.
Before Clarke could ask her anything more, Anya switched her position on the bed and faced her, causing Clarke to retract her arms back to her own body. Their eyes connected once again, and Clarke thought she was dreaming again. Anya in her early morning state she could describe as completely adorable. Anya would threaten her, possibly even follow through on that threat, if she would've called her that. The grounder's face resembled that of someone who had slept peacefully through the night without interruption. Never would she admit having someone sleeping next to her be the case, let alone that person being Clarke Griffin.
"How did you sleep?" Clarke broke the tension off from them for a couple minor seconds. Judging by the way Anya was gazing back at her, she could guess as good as she slept.
"Just fine." Though it wasn't the response Clarke had hoped for, it was a response. Clarke almost wanted to laugh. She thought this would be a story to tell that no one would believe. Anya went soft on her, let her sleep in her bed, and initiated their cuddle session. It was for tease purposes only, black mail was never registered as a thought. Her mouth opened to ask the same question to Clarke, her eyebrow raised to the blonde turned her otherwise. "I told you the heat would be intense."
Clarke's head fell to a slight tilt to what she meant. Her eyes gave it away, peering down at Clarke's expose chest. Her bra was on the ground next to the bed, exactly where she had tossed it in her dream. The blonde brought her arms up to cover, leaving Anya's imagination with a lot to remember. She must've taken it off in her dream at the same time, and now she was even more embarrassed that her bare chest was against Anya the entire night.
"Hmm." Anya lightly smirked and pushed herself out of her bed to stretch her body out. Clarke eyed her while covering herself up with the fur blanket she saw made from the fur of deer, or what were deer around here. Anya let out a small yawn, causing a smile to form on Clarke's face seeing that adorable factor come into play again. "The sooner you get dressed, the sooner we can leave to meet the Commander. It will take nearly a day for the journey."
"Am I allowed a detour?" Clarke bit her lip nervously because it was a question she was going to keep to herself until later. "I would feel better knowing that my people are aware that I'm okay and I'm safe. If I don't go back, I'm scared they'll try something with your people and my goal to end this war will be for nothing." She heard a huff from the grounder while she redressed herself, a sight that made Clarke sad to see. "Please."
"Get yourself dressed, lightly." Anya had left her jacket off of her shoulders and leaving just her silver strapless shirt on with her black jeans that have faded over the last few months of constant wearing. She had an idea in her mind, not one of her smartest to date, but one to keep Clarke's position among them in order.
Clarke waited for Anya to unpin the curtains of the tent and walk out to her people to do so. First, she lifted the fur up on herself to make sure she wasn't completely naked, praising herself for keeping something on. She bit her lip and groaned in frustration, lifting the rim of her underwear up to notice the heat forming between her legs. That's what she gets for cuddling up to the grounder she called beautiful.
Her fingers trailed against her waist daring herself to go further with her own fingers and scratch her own itch that's slowly been getting worse since her one time go with Finn. She regretted it shortly after for Raven's sake, putting her people's needs first before hers. A fucking break would've been nice. Groaning again, Clarke pushed herself out of bed and threw her shirt back on with her jeans, leaving her bra and jacket behind.
"Anya!" Clarke called out not even two steps out of the tent. The grounders didn't forget about Clarke being there in their camp. Any sight of outsiders brings their tension levels through the roof, specifically ones that came from the sky. Swords were drawn and bows were armed and ready to fire on call.
There wouldn't be a call for attack made by the general. Her name echoed into her ear and rushed her feet back to their encampment to see what the commotion was about. When she saw Clarke Griffin frozen in her tracks, hands up for surrender, and terror on her face, Anya growled lowly at her own people.
"Lower your fucking weapons and stand down immediately!" Anya shouted to her people followed by a form of Trigedasleng to go with it. "I said now!" Among the grounders, a few mumbled and chattered with each other about this decision before ultimately lowering their weapons down from Clarke. She really couldn't catch a fucking break lately with them. All but one.
"The Sky Girl is a guest with our people from now on until declared our enemy. Is that clear?" Anya barked out with a loud response from her people that shaded both a clear understanding with a hint of apology. "Come here."
Clarke dropped her hands and made no further eye contact with any grounder in sight. Besides Anya, the next grounder she knew the most, Nyko, had approached the two again and bowed his head to the general. "My apologies, Anya. Many were unsure what came of the Sky Girl last night. It will not happen again." His eyes adverted over to Clarke's. "Forgive us, Skaiprisa. You are our guest."
This was a sight to see in Clarke's eyes that was a little something new to her, and at the same time, refreshing. Yes, other grounders still looked at her like they were going to set her free and then hunt her for themselves. Kindhearted people weren't extinct. Everyone with a two hundred foot radius all had the same goal; survive. That was Clarke's mindset for her people and theirs.
With Clarke safely at her side, Anya looked to Nyko and nodded her head toward the other direction. "You are in charge of hunting parties today. Best archers on horseback, novices on foot." Nyko complied with another bow of his head to the two and wasted no time in gathering up those who were ready to set out. "You, with me."
"Where are we going?"
"We are staying behind. You dressed lightly? Good. We won't be far from here."
Clarke waited for more information to be told to her, whether or not it pertained to Anya's decision about going back to the dropship or being taken to the Commander immediately. Nothing was said, and Anya wasn't really secretive from the little time they've been in each other's lives. Two horses were brought over to them, forming a tiny smile on the blonde's lips. She's never ridden a horse in her life but read about them in space, and was eager to learn. It made Clarke forget about her own question.
"Hey there." Clarke brought her hand up to the darker horse and pet it gently, receiving a low but happy neigh from the animal. Anya studied both of them closely watching the bond form and mounting her horse promptly. Clarke caught her gaze and boosted herself onto her horse's back and grabbed the reigns so she wouldn't fall off. For her first time, she was doing great and hadn't fallen off. She couldn't imagine faceplanting in front of a village full of grounders and act like everything was okay.
"Her name is Midnight, one of our wiser riders. She'll take good care of you, than you of her." Anya took the lead for them and led the way out of the camp, keeping a slower pace so Clarke would get used to riding. "Hang on at all times. If you fall, it's your duty to get back up and keep with me. I won't slow down."
"Don't worry, I won't fall behind. Midnight will keep me with you." Clarke added a little smirk with that made Anya chant a loud 'ha!' for her horse to pick its feet up and start to gallop at the exit of the camp. Midnight followed them and sensed Clarke's nervousness, so the animal was extra careful with its footsteps.
Wherever their next destination was, it would only be the two of them.
"Is that what I think it is?" Clarke rode up next to Anya on her horse with plenty of excitement in her voice. Not once the blonde fell behind, Midnight wouldn't let them. She began to wonder if this was all of dream of itself. Waking up next to someone she couldn't help but be attracted to, riding a horse for the first time through the forest, the sound of running water faintly hitting her ears.
Days like this on the ground made it all worth coming here. The sun high in the sky reflecting off of the trees and the rocks that had been flooded with rain days before. It was almost paradise. Like nothing bad had ever went wrong and there was no hint or sight to what had really had happened here. Soon, they arrived.
Passing a small patch of trees and a barrage of tall grass, there it was. The river flowed elegantly to their right, and its stream followed up to what Clarke cared about the most; the moving curtain of water known as a waterfall. It came into her sight, and she had to be dreaming now. Sounds of splashing water became louder. Clarke's eyes were hooked, mesmerized by the water cascading down from rocks and smaller falls above.
"It's...it's gorgeous." Clarke marveled as their horses slowed their step up to a higher bank. Anya stepped down from her ride not bother to tying it to a tree or post. Seeing Clarke's reaction both confused and interested her, curling her lips into the tiniest of smiles.
"Have you never seen a waterfall in your life, Sky Girl?" Clarke shook her head to the question and dismounted from Midnight, seeing a pathway that lead down to the river itself. Both women led their horses down the path where Clarke was still in awe of what was in front of her. "This is why we dressed light to come here. Strip." There was that word again, in less than twenty hour hours. Their eyes locked again, and this time Clarke's eyebrow bent up.
"We're going to swim here?" She asked curiously, met with a single nod.
"We're going to bathe here. There is not a river nor waterfall like this for miles out of our direction. A guest of us is a guest of our Heda, and you shall be brought to them unharmed and treated like one of us." It was a new tradition, really. Under their recently chosen Commander, a few of their customs were tweaked.
"I'm starting to think you're enjoying me without clothes on. Is this a grounder tradition as well?" Clarke teased already planning on taking her shirt off, forgetting that she had left her bra back in the tent, and halted.
"Actually, yes." Anya rolled her eyes and stepped further to the water, throwing Clarke way off to what she was implying towards. "With cold days come hot ones like these. Being without clothing isn't looked at differently, it's a part of our life. Embrace it." Anya lead by example, lifting off the strapless shirt of hers that met the ground. Clarke stared, yet again. Who wouldn't? A half naked Anya stretching her arms up to the sky to remove her clothing, showing off the V cut that formed at her waist. Clarke thought it was one of the hottest things in the world, beating out when Octavia had stripped down to swim. And before Anya could speak up about her drooling again, Clarke mirrored her.
Both pairs of shirts and jeans were piled separately in the grass next to each other, both taking in a quick sight of each other. Clarke needed a distraction, the waterfall swim with Anya was one she thought could be a myth. Clarke stepped into the water first and submerged herself underneath to escape the heat, while the grounder general paced herself slowly into the water to wash her body.
Emerging from the water in grace, Clarke kicked her feet into the water to keep herself afloat, meeting her eyes with the waterfall in front of her. "It's so beautiful." Within three minutes, she never wanted to leave. But there were other missions that needed to be fulfilled, other than idly swimming next to Anya on a perfect morning.
"Wash up. We'll make our leave when our skin begins to wrinkle."
"We're going to the dropship first, and then I'll see the Commander."
Clarke turned herself around unexpectedly meeting Anya face to face, unaware of how close she was. Eyes meeting eyes, then eyes meeting lips. Subtlety left a long time ago for these two. The blonde questioned what would happen if she did make a move, if her face would get struck or simply get turned down. It was almost worth the chance anyway.
"You wouldn't let a prisoner make that decision. You said so yourself that I'm a guest, and I want my people to know that I'm okay. Let me do this, I won't ask for anything else from you as long as I'm with you." Even with the splashes and the horses walking around the edge of the river to receive a drink, she could hear the sound of a defeated sigh.
"Swear. My orders only, you follow them." There was no other choice to be given.
"I swear." With a nod of her head, Clarke reached down into the water to find Anya's hand to grasp, making their deal official to one another. Her hold was weaker than expected to be, Clarke notched it another feature unlike her. "Besides, I would really hate to see us pitted against each other again. You saved my life this morning, and last night. Don't I owe you something in return?" Feet were brushed up against one another, and Clarke could see the defense wall lower a small gate of acceptance. A soft hand went to her shoulder, grazing up towards the back of her neck. Clarke made most of the chance she was given being all alone again with Anya, and leaned in looking for more than a handshake. Their bodies were pressed up together and Clarke couldn't believe she was holding herself together this long.
"Wash up, Sky Princess. Enjoy the waterfall while we're here." Anya wouldn't allow herself to falter so quick, so easily, not to someone who was her enemy a few days ago. Her feelings came second to what was expected of her by her clan, and more importantly her Commander. Mentally she cursed herself for letting things slip by this far, mere inches away from a kiss she well deserved. And...wanted. With the smallest tilt of her head, Clarke stopped herself, hovering her lips over Anya's to where their breath fumed against their faces. They wanted each other, after such a short time whether out of lust or something more, it was real.
One small push could've changed things forever. It wouldn't stop the war boiling up between their people, but it could have certainly been the start with each other, much like what had been kindling between Octavia and her interest with the fellow grounder, Lincoln.
"I'll hold you to this." Clarke backed off with a smile on her face and swam back in the direction towards the waterfall so she could have it pour onto her. When Anya was ready, she was going to be there. Occasional looks were further exchanged through their swim and bath, ones that ended too early or lasted too long.
Clarke exited the water first and got dressed rather quickly so she could look upon the waterfall and Anya together as one, enjoying both views equally, as Midnight trotted up to join with her. It was still unbelievable in her mind that she was brought here in the first place to enjoy such a beautiful sight, and next time she was willing to have her sketchbook on hand to capture the moment forever.
Their next destination was the dropship.