Jasper let go of the rope and flew through the air.

Libby held her breath.

Arms flailing, Jasper landed on the far side of the river, stumbled, then stood and jubilantly thrust both arms in the air.

Everyone cheered.

Libby didn't see the spear until it pinned Jasper to a tree. She screamed.

Clarke seized Libby's arm and yanked her to the ground. "Get down!"

Libby struggled in Clarke's grip. "We have to go help Jasper!"

"You'll get shot, too!" Finn said. "C'mon, let's get under cover."

Bent double, they all hurried for the relative safety of the trees. Octavia had her arm around Monty, who looked as shaken as Libby felt.

"Who are they?" Finn asked, as if one of them would know.

"We are so screwed," Octavia said.

A scream silenced them. Libby's head jerked around.

"Jasper!"

She ran back towards the river, heedless of the danger. Octavia and Clarke were right behind her, calling for her to stop.

Libby staggered to a halt on the spot they'd stood only minutes before and stared across the river. Jasper was gone.

"They took him," Clarke said.

"We have to follow them!" Libby looked frantically around for a way down into the riverbed. "We have to save him!"

"Libby, no!" Clarke grabbed her elbow. "We can't!"

"Why the hell not? Jasper's been impaled. If we don't get to him soon, he'll die!"

"Not yet," Clarke said. "I promise we'll go after him, but we need reinforcements—weapons—you've been hurt—we need to plan this."

"We don't have time for planning." Libby wrenched out of Clarke's grip.

"No, Libby, she's right," Octavia said. "If we go in there now, we'll all die."

"I don't care!" Libby said passionately, but despite her fear she saw their point. They were totally unprepared for a rescue mission. "Fine," she said shortly, storming past Clarke and Octavia. "Let's go, then."

The others had to trot to keep up with Libby—until she stopped dead and said, "I have no idea where we are. Clarke?"

"This way." Clarke took the lead, and Libby walked right next to her.

"I've been thinking," said Libby, "that we could probably rip scrap metal off the dropship to make knives."

"That's a good idea," Clarke said. "We could make shields that way, too."

They discussed plans all the way back to the dropship. As they approached the camp, they heard shouting.

A rhythmic chanting rose out of the cacophony: "Fight! Fight! Fight!"

Clarke broke into a run. Libby tried to follow, but such exertion proved beyond her leg. Monty stayed with Libby, but Finn and Octavia sprinted ahead.

"Wells, let him go!" Clarke shouted.

Libby limped into camp, leaning heavily on Monty, just in time to see Clarke break up a fight between Wells and a frog-eyed boy.

Octavia ran forward and hugged Bellamy.

"Are you okay?" Bellamy asked. His dark eyes swept appraisingly over the rest of the expedition, pausing briefly on Libby's bloody leg. "What the hell happened out there? Where's that kid with the goggles?"

"We never made it to Mount Weather. We were attacked," said Clarke.

"By what?" Wells asked.

"Not what—who," said Finn. "Turns out the people on the Ark weren't the last of humanity."

"They took Jasper," Libby said, and her voice cracked slightly.

"What, so Jasper's dead?" Bellamy nodded at Libby. "And you got injured in the attack?"

Libby's eyes welled. "No," she said. "I was attacked by an animal. Jasper was taken by the grounders."

"The good news is, the radiation won't kill us," said Clarke. She looked at Wells. "Where's your wristband?"

Wells jerked his head at Bellamy. "Ask him."

"How many?" asked Clarke in a dangerous voice.

"Twenty-four and counting," said the frog-eyed boy proudly.

"You idiots!" Clarke exploded. "Life support on the Ark is failing! That's why they brought us down here. They need to know we can survive on the ground, 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!"

"We're stronger than you think," said Bellamy. He spoke loudly, to the delinquents clustered around them. "Don't listen to her. She's one of the privileged; she'll have it good if they come down here. Can any of you say the same? The Council says they'll forgive your crimes. I say, you're not criminals! You're fighters! You're survivors! The Grounders should be worried about us!"

The delinquents cheered in response to Bellamy's rousing speech.

"C'mon," Clarke said to Libby and Monty. "Let's get to the dropship. I want to look at your leg again, Libby. And we should plan."

Finn, Monty, and Libby followed Clarke to the dropship, which was already being gutted by the other delinquents. There were holes in the walls, wires hung from the ceiling, and many of the seats were missing.

"Sit." Clarke gestured to one of the intact seats. "Take your pants off so I can look at it," said Clarke.

"Yes, ma'am," Libby said playfully, raising a suggestive eyebrow.

"Ha, ha," Clarke said. "But your sense of humor is a good sign. I want to see if you'll need stitches."

"Makes sense." Libby unbuttoned her pants and slid them down to her ankles, so that the bite on her calf was clearly visible. Despite the comfrey dressing and makeshift bandage, it was still oozing blood.

Clarke knelt in front of Libby. "Monty, can you get me some water?"

"On it." Monty disappeared out the door.

"How does it look?" Finn peered over Clarke's shoulder.

"I won't know for sure until I wash the blood off," Clarke said, "but it doesn't look swollen or infected, so that's good." She looked up at Libby. "Probably thanks to those plants you collected."

"I'll start stocking up," Libby said. "Especially if people keep getting hurt."

"They will," said Clarke grimly.

Wells entered the dropship, carrying a pack similar to Clarke's. "I packed part of the parachute, so we can use it to carry Jasper out."

"Thanks," said Clarke without looking at him. "Give it to somebody else. You're not coming."

Monty hurried into the ship, bearing water in a makeshift bucket.

"Here," said Monty. "And I got a piece of parachute, too, to clean it with."

"Thanks." Clarke dipped the parachute into the water and gently wiped Libby's leg.

"Clarke, I can keep up. My ankle's fine," said Wells.

Now Clarke did look at him, but Libby would not have wanted to be on the receiving end of that glare. "It's not the ankle, Wells. It's you."

"Clarke, we need him," Monty said. "Nobody else has volunteered to go."

"Sorry, Monty, but you're not going either," said Clarke. She mad a new compress for Libby's leg and tied it in place.

"Like hell I'm not!" Monty said. "Jasper's my best friend!"

"Yes, but you're too valuable," Clarke said. "You grew up on Ag Station and got recruited by Engineering. What's up there is going to save us all." She tapped Monty's forehead to accentuate her point. "Figure out how to talk to the Ark, and I'll bring Jasper back."

"I guess I'm staying behind too, then," said Libby bitterly.

"Of course you are," said Clarke firmly. "You can barely walk. And you know more about plants than Monty does."

"Jasper's family," Libby said. "I want to help him."

"I'll tell you how you can help him," said Clarke. "Prep for a medical emergency. Gather supplies, make someplace comfortable for us to lay him. He took a spear through the chest."

"I know!" said Libby. "That's why I want to help!"

"I know," Clarke said, "but you're hurt, and I really think this is the best way you can help your cousin."

Libby fumed, but she saw Clarke's point. "Fine," she growled. "I'll stay."

"Thank you," said Clarke. She turned to Finn. "You ready?"

"I'm not going out there," said Finn, "and neither should any of you. It's too dangerous."

"So what, you'll let Jasper die?" Libby demanded.

"That's not going to happen," said Clarke. "Spacewalker? What a joke. You pretend to be adventurous, but really you're just a coward."

"This isn't an adventure, Clarke; it's a suicide mission," said Finn.

Octavia ran in. "You guys going after Jasper?"

"Yeah," said Clarke.

"I'm coming, too."

"Like hell you are." Bellamy Blake had followed his sister, along with two of his lackeys. "Two of our people got hurt out there. One of them is probably dead. I'm not letting that happen to you, too."

"Then come with us," said Clarke.

"What?" said several people at once.

"I hear you have a gun," Clarke said to Bellamy.

Bellamy lifted his shirt, showing that a handgun was tucked into his waistband.

"Good," said Clarke. "You're coming with me."

"And why would I do that?" said Bellamy.

"Because you want to lead these people," said Clarke. "And right now, they're thinking only one of us is scared."

"Fine," said Bellamy.

"I don't need a babysitter!" Octavia said.

"I'm not babysitting you, I'm protecting you," said Bellamy.

"We leave in five minutes," said Clarke, and stalked out.

"She's forceful," Bellamy commented.

"She's smart," said Libby, "and she's brave enough to try and rescue Jasper."

"What happened to you? You said an animal attacked you?" Bellamy asked Libby.

"Something in the river."

"It looked like a giant snake," Finn said.

"Any chance we could catch it and eat it?"

"Maybe," said Libby. "We could rig a net with a parachute, or some seatbelts. Or we could lure it into shallow water. Something that big needs to stay where it's deep."

"Good thinking," said Bellamy. "I'll get on it when I get back." He turned to his two minions. "Murphy, you'll come with me. Atom, you're in charge. Make sure nobody leaves."

"We should start building walls, to protect ourselves," Libby said. "Are there any fallen trees laying around out there?"

"A few," said Atom. "And I made an axe from some dropship parts."

Bellamy nodded. "Great. I'll leave you guys to do that, then. You stay off that leg," he said to Libby. "If that means you have to boss people around, so be it."

"Why do you care about my wellbeing? You don't even know me," Libby said.

"You're Jasper's cousin, right?"

Libby stuck out her hand. "Elizabeth Jordan."

Bellamy took the proffered hand and shook it, smiling slightly. "Bellamy Blake. A pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"Likewise," said Libby. His hand engulfed hers, but it was warm, strong, and callused. "Answer the question."

Bellamy shrugged. "You're one of my people now. I don't want you to die if at all possible." He dropped her hand.

Bellamy and Murphy left. Finn was gone, too, but Libby didn't know where or when.

"So I'll organize people to build the wall," said Atom.

Libby nodded. "Monty—what do you need to get in touch with the Ark?"

"Well, we don't have a radio," said Monty. "Our communication satellites got fucked up in the landing. I think—and this is only a theory—that our best bet is these wrist bands."

"There's a whole stack of 'em by the fire," said Atom.

Monty darted outside.

"Atom, make sure we still have space inside the camp," Libby said. "It might not hurt to build some shelters, too. Winter isn't that far away."

"Yes, ma'am," Atom said.

"Sorry, I didn't mean—"

"No, it's fine. They're good ideas. Just don't talk to Bellamy like that." Atom grinned. "Do you want me to help you get outside?"

"Yes please," said Libby.

"Do you want to…put your pants back on first?"

"Oh." Libby had forgotten that she was half-naked. "Probably a good call." She pulled up her pants. "Help me up?"

Atom put an arm around Libby's waist and pulled her upright. Together they made their way outside, and Atom settled Libby on a stump not far from the fire.

"Thanks," said Libby. "Now, when Jasper comes back he's going to need medical attention. Can I have some people to boss around in preparation for that?"

"Sure thing." Atom looked around. "Fox, Sterling, come here."

A thin, dark-haired girl and a boy with brown hair approached.

"This is Libby," Atom said. "She's in charge of medical supplies for when Bellamy gets back. You do whatever she tells you to. Got it?"

Atom strode away, barking out orders to the knots of teenagers hanging around the camp. "All right, we're going to build a wall! Start collecting fallen trees. You and you, find something to dig holes with."

"Which of you is Fox?" Libby asked.

"That's me," said the girl.

"Can you help me up? We need to gather plants to treat Jasper, and whoever else gets hurt, and I can't do that sitting here."

"Sure." Fox put her arm around Libby's waist and helped her up.

"Sterling—can you go into the dropship and put together some kind of bed or platform to put the wounded on? I'd rather not leave them laying on the floor," Libby said.

"I think I can do that," said Sterling.

"Well, you'd better," Libby said, adopting a stern tone like Clarke or Bellamy used. "If you need help, get it. Also, Monty is in there trying to rig up a communications system. See if he needs anything."

She expected an argument, or a sassy retort, but Sterling nodded and hurried away.