The Arc is dying. Clarke's blunt words rang through my head. Of course I knew it would happen eventually, that's why I had been hidden away my whole life. Treated like an animal. Worse than an animal actually.

Clarke had intended to let the people know of the ship's failure, and that's why she was here now. She had gone against the Council's wishes and was put in prison for it. Her father was killed for trying do the same. I felt sorry for her, she had people to lose, and she knew what it felt like when that happened. All I had was the empty feeling of never being loved, at least I had never felt the aching despair of losing someone, the feeling that I could clearly see on Clarke's face as she relived her memories.

I had walked ahead during their conversation, not wanting to hear any more. My fingers itched as something unbelievably fresh wafted up into my nostrils. Something crisp and clean, like nothing I had ever smelt before. I soon saw what had sparked the attention of my nose as a soft breeze rolled by and my ears registered the sound of running water. Before me lay a fixture of rocks leading to what could only be a small river.

I looked back to make sure the others were still close by and ventured further. It was a beautiful sparkling green. I had never seen so much water in my life. I leaned down and ran my hand through the chilly water. It felt so smooth and pure. A new beginning.

A shuffle from behind startled me from my own thoughts and I looked to see Octavia jumping up and down excitedly. Then she began to take her pants off. I averted my eyes back to the water, completely lost as to what to do.

"Octavia, what the hell are you doing?" Clarke squeaked as the others approached and was returned only with a smile from Octavia as she turned to jump into the water, splashing water onto my feet.

The others ran to stand beside me, surprised half with fear and half with excitement, "Octavia, we can't swim!" Monty exclaimed.

"No, but we can stand." Octavia smiled as she rose in the water, her shirt soaking wet.

"Wait, there's not supposed to be a river here." Clarke spoke up, always cautious.

"Well there is, so take off your damn clothes." Finn, Monty, and Jasper were already starting to strip. I rolled my eyes and sat on the rocks, enjoying the beauty of the river.

I looked into the distance, trying to see anything that might help us get across, a break in the river or something. And that's when I saw it. A huge ripple in the water, moving fast and heading toward us. I scrambled up and inched toward the edge of the rocks, "Octavia get out of the water!" I yelled.

"Get out the water now!" Before anyone could react the ripple reached Octavia and threw her into the air, causing her to scream before being drug back under water. For what felt like hours nothing happened, and then Octavia sprung from the water, screaming for her life. I rushed to the edge of the water and without a second thought, jumped in.

From a distance I could hear the muffled voices of Clarke and the others, Clarke stopped Finn from jumping in after me and suggested they distract it. I pushed forward, trying to remember all the times I had wished I could swim like the Little Mermaid in Hans Christian Andersen's story, in the open ocean with nobody tying me up or forcing me down. Of course, she had a fin, but I had a lot of time on my hands and I formulated my own hypothesis of what swimming would be like. It seemed pretty simple at the time, but as water surrounded me and filled my lungs, I was second guessing myself.

I swung my arms and kicked my legs in desperation and was surprised to find myself actually moving. Just as I reached Octavia, I heard a large crack, followed by a splash and a few small bangs as Clarke and the others pushed a large rock into the water, desperately trying to divert the water creature's attention.

I threw my hand out and gasped in surprise as it met Octavia's slick arm. I closed my hand around her arm with all my strength and felt as she grabbed my shoulder, dragging me along with her as the creature swung around. My heart dropped as I realized their distraction hadn't worked. In an instant my free hand reached out, coming into contact with head of the scaly monster right next to its jaws which held Octavia by the leg.

The all too familiar sensation pulsed out from my heart and through my arm, compacting with its skin and sending a strong vibration through the water. The creature let go of Octavia and quickly swam away. She screamed, still in shock and flailing her arms about, making it very hard to hold both her and myself up.

I ignored the excruciating throb in my head and wrapped my arm around Octavia, "Octavia! Octavia! I'm here, calm down. We need to get to the shore." I tried to calm her down, beginning to hyperventilate myself.

"Over here." Clarke called several feet away from the edge of the rocks. I pushed with all of my strength and we only moved a couple of inches.

"It's coming back!" Finn yelled in warning.

My skin crawled as I could hear it slicing through the water heading for us. Blood rose in the water and I knew it was mine as well as Octavia's, hopefully no one would notice. What would my secret matter if we died anyway? We were so close that with one last push I shoved Octavia onto a rock and climbed up myself. Just as I looked down, I saw as the creature swam past us and back into the depths of the water.

I pulled us both a little farther from the edge of the rock and collapsed. Octavia seemed to be hyperventilating and as the others ran to join us, I noticed where the monster had grabbed her, leaving a large bite mark the size of my hand in her leg. Clarke immediately crouched down to survey the damage, pulling a strip of material from the bottom of Jasper's shirt. As she worked to tie off the wound, Octavia grabbed me into a tight hug, thanking me.

"You're gonna be ok." Clarke assured Octavia.

"Hey Alice, way to make us all look bad." Monty cracked, patting my head. I just breathed and smiled along with Jasper, Clarke, and Finn, happy that we were all alive.

In truth, I had my own personal reasons for doing it. I wasn't going to let Octavia die after she just got her freedom. She deserved more than that.

I laid back down on my back, trying to catch my breath. Now that it was over, I could reflect on what I had just done. Note to self, water creatures are not cute and cuddly. The Little Mermaid was right to want legs.

Soon Octavia was patched up as best as Clarke could manage with what little supplies we brought and had her pants back on, much to the boys dismay. It was quickly decided to head back into the woods and rest for the night. There was no way anyone was crossing that river anytime soon and Octavia refused to return to the camp until we found the supplies. Everyone took a spot and sat in silence, too stunned by the recent events to talk. Jasper and Monty sat close together nervously cracking jokes every once and a while, and Finn stayed near Clarke for the most part, trying to help with Octavia's wound as best he could. I took a spot a slight ways away from everyone, in need of a little privacy. After a life of nearly complete solitude, I wasn't used to all the companionship, however bad of an excuse they were for companions.

As the sun began to set, they all began to nod off, their energy from the adrenaline filled day ebbing away. I myself could not sleep, I had been doing it for nearly half of my life. Consequently, I was elected to take first watch. Sometimes I dreamt myself to be Sleeping Beauty on the Arc. After all, I had been pricked by a needle of sorts and put to sleep for a long time. I had only just recently woken up, and believe me, it was no prince who was waiting for me.

As the sun finally set, I couldn't help but gasp. The forest I had begun to think was truly evil incarnate became the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. It was as if it came alive, glowing in the dark with radiation. Of all the horrible things radiation had caused, somehow this beautiful forest had made something good of it. I silently got up, careful not to wake anyone, and walked further into the glowing forest.

I could hear the running water of the river in the distance, along with what I could only imagine to be insects and various other wildlife. It was amazing. So much better than the hum of machines and engines we were all used to. For the first time, I felt calm, like everything might just turn out okay for me. For all of us.

I ran my hand along a glowing mushroom growing from a tree and jumped as the tips of my fingers seemed to absorb the glowing substance from the mushroom. The blue light spread towards my upper arm, then receded back to my fingertips and disappeared. I looked back at the mushroom as it slowly regained its glow.

"Wow." I jumped a second time as Octavia approached me from behind, limping. I hid my hand behind my back and smiled nervously.

"It's beautiful isn't it?" She asked, seemingly oblivious to my little light show.

"Uh, yeah." I replied lamely.

"Do you think it's dangerous?"

"What would we do if it was?"

"Good point."

I looked down at my feet, not much for conversation. I only had one person to talk to on the Arc, and they had turned out to be the biggest disappointment in my life, and that was really saying something, considering.

"Back there, in the water… I just wanted to say thank you again." Octavia fortunately didn't seem to suffer the same antisocial struggles as myself.

"Anyone would have done the same thing. Besides, how awful would it be for you to finally get your freedom then die?" I regretted the words as soon as they came out and winced, waiting for her answer.

To my surprise, Octavia laughed, "Yeah, that would totally suck. Wouldn't want to die a virgin."

My eyes widened, I didn't know much about the whole sex thing, but what I did know was enough to convince me it wasn't as casual as Octavia was making it out to be.

"I take it you're in the same position." It wasn't a question.

"There wasn't much time for… you know… where I was." I answered.

"About that, you seem different than the others. Not really delinquent material if you know what I mean." She nudged my shoulder, smiling.

My heart felt as if it were about to rip out of my chest, had I really been that different? Already questions were being asked. However, Octavia seemed to be much more perceptive than she let on. Faces of disgust flashed through my mind, directed towards me. Until I could find a way out, no one could know who I was.

"Don't sweat it. I won't tell your secret." Octavia smiled. I knew she was joking, yet I couldn't dispel the small nag at the back of my mind.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Time to get your shit together Alice. I faked a laugh and nudged her back.

"Let's go back to the others before they wake up and think we've gone missing." I grabbed her arm and dragged her away from the glowing trees. Thankfully, no one had woken, still lying peacefully under the trees. I helped Octavia down onto the ground and hid my reluctance as she held my arm in hers, forcing me to settle down next to her. I won't admit that deep down my heart ached a little. No one had treated me like this in a long time.

"Night, Alice." Octavia muttered, already nodding off onto my shoulder.

"Goodnight, Octavia." I said, even though she was already asleep. I leaned my head against the tree we had sat in front of and looked into the star-filled sky above...

After everyone had woken at the peak of dawn, Clarke fussed over Octavia once more before we all headed off to look for a way across the river. Although Monty had once again suggested we go back to camp and come another time, Clarke had insisted that we continue on. Octavia now leaned on Jasper as we walked down the edge of the river.

After several minutes of silent walking, Finn exclaimed, "Look!" Pointing to a large vine hanging from a tree, Finn eagerly climbed up a pile of rocks and yanked on the growth.

"Anyone up for a swing?" He asked happily.

"Are you kidding me?" Clarke asked in disbelief, "There is no way that's going to work!"

"Speak for yourself." Jasper transferred Octavia to me and climbed the rocks up after Finn. Boys.

I vaguely remembered a wild man named Tarzan in the books I read who swung from vines to travel through the jungle. I smirked as I imagined Finn and Jasper in loincloths swinging from a vine.

For a moment, the two boys giddily discussed who would go first and how they would do it. Finn eventually won the argument and prepared to go first. He pulled on the vine and stared at the lake, then at the trees, then the sky.

"You wanted to go first. Now quit stalling" Clarke teased Finn smiling, "Mount Weather awaits."

"Just hang on until the apogee and you'll be fine." Jasper assured Finn.

"The apogee. Like the Indians right?" Finn joked nervously.

"Apogee, not Apache." Jasper retorted.

"He knows. Today Finn." Clarke warned, joking. I think.

"Aye, aye Captain." Finn saluted and pulled on the rope, testing it, then turned to Jasper, "See you on the other side."

Just as he was about to do it, Jasper called, "Wait!"

"What?"

"Let me." I rolled my eyes. He was obviously trying to show off for the females of the group. Maybe there really was no hope for humanity.

A tingle ran down my spine and the smile was instantly wiped off my face. I looked across the river, straining to see. I could only faintly hear the others as they encouraged Jasper. Something wasn't right. I turned to stop Jasper just as he jumped, flying across the river.

He yelled in excitement as he sailed across, then landed rather ungracefully on the other side. My heart pounded as a ringing sounded in my ears. Everyone cheered and Finn handed the vine he had snagged to Clarke and encouraged her. I watched Jasper cautiously as he crouched down, looking at something that had caught his eye on the ground.

Jasper raised a strange piece of metal into the air and yelled, "We did it! Mount Weather!" I couldn't make out what was on the sign, but somehow it assured the others that we had made it. Everyone sighed in relief, but my heart stopped as the wind stilled, sending a chill down my body all the way to the end of my toes.

The spear went straight through his chest at an almost unimaginable speed. I couldn't breath as the others gasped in disbelief. Jasper was thrown back several feet, his eyes wide open in shock, staring at the huge spear gaping from his body.

Everyone panicked, calling his name, but I stood still, desperately searching the trees for the source of the spear. Finn grabbed Clarke as she screamed for Jasper and pulled her away and towards cover, "Come on. Move it."

Finn led the way and we followed, I grabbed Octavia and ran with her, helping her as much as I could. It was all I could do to put one foot in front of the other.

"Get down, get down." I pulled us all behind a large rock and stopped dead in my tracks as I heard rustling in the woods. Someone was out there.

"We're not alone." I gasped.