A/N: Sentences in italic are being spoken in Trigedasleng. Therefore, Raven does not understand what's being said.
Raven stayed close to Anya as the gang of grounders hustled out to the road. One by one bike engines roared to life as if announcing something big was on the horizon. Raven followed the blonde to a dark bike black in color with cerulean flames on its hinder.
Anya grabbed a helmet off the handle bars as she pulled back the rear seat and retrieved a second one, handing it to Raven.
"Safety first," she said with a smirk.
Helmets and no drinking. Who was this woman? Did one of Raven's fantasies spring to life overnight?
Anya hopped on the motorcycle and motioned for Raven to get behind. Staring into the helmet, Raven felt her heart flutter as she pulled the hefty piece over her head. It was heavy. She fumbled with the straps with unpracticed fingers.
After several antagonizing seconds, she began to feel a fool that she couldn't figure it out. She had never done anything like this. She'd never been allowed.
With a crook of her finger, Anya flipped her visor up and motioned the brunette over. In a second flat, Anya had Raven's helm fastened and secure.
Smiling, Raven climbed onto the back, placing her feet on a set of bars somewhere below. She felt awkward at first, uncertain where to put her hands.
Holding onto Anya seemed so intimate. Then again, if this were anyone else would she have hesitated? This provoked the question of, was she into Anya? The undeniable truth was, of course, yes. Yes, she was.
Before Raven knew what was happening, strong hands reached behind and clasped around Raven's wrists, pulling them to the blonde's front and wrapping them around her waist tightly, she gave Raven's hands a firm pat before revving the engine and accelerating into the night.
OoOoO
They were the last to arrive, probably because it took Raven so much time to figure out her helmet and how to hold on.
Anya didn't show any sign of being upset though or show any sense of urgency to rejoin the others when she removed her helmet and shut off the bike.
Raven handed the borrowed helmet to the blonde, the straps much easier to pull apart than to fasten.
"Enjoy the ride?"
"Yeah!" Raven said excitedly.
She wasn't lying. Flying across an open road with the wind blowing against you was exhilarating. It also wasn't bad that she had her arms wrapped around a very exciting beautiful woman in the process.
Anya smiled, those white teeth reflecting against the moonlight brilliantly.
Looking around, Raven noticed they were on the outskirts of Polaris Woods. The forest that surrounded the city of Polis for miles on end.
They were far from the city and any of its lights, allowing the sky to reveal ten times the number of stars they would have seen back in town.
Raven stared at the half moon a moment, the treetops of the woods reaching so high they looked they just might touch it.
Raven didn't look away until she felt warm fingers intertwine with her own. She looked at Anya wondering just what her intention was. The blonde knew Raven had a girlfriend.
Anya chuckled. "Relax. It's pitch black inside. I know my way around. I just don't want you to fall flat on your face, rich girl."
Raven let out a breath of relief, but it didn't calm her heart rate any.
Together, they entered the forested area. Anya hadn't been kidding, Raven couldn't see a thing in the blanket of darkness.
She squeezed Anya's palm tighter, huddled closer, and raised her other hand to rest gently just above Anya's elbow as she searched every forward step with her foot. Feeling out the space for any adrift rock or log.
She heard Anya laugh beside her. "Never been in the woods before?"
Raven was grateful for the darkness hiding her blush just then. "No."
Anya squeezed her fingers back. "Don't worry. I'll protect you."
It wasn't long before Raven could make out a glow in the distance. Voices echoed as they drew closer followed by music with a decent beat.
When they arrived, several gang members were sparsely scattered around a giant bonfire. Some of them played guitars and drums off to the side while others danced around the flames, their movements frantic as they jumped toward the sky with seemingly nothing to lose or a care in the world.
They dunked their heads and shook their bodies without restraint. Raven couldn't help but feel like she was witnessing a historical tribal dance. They moved fearlessly, uncaring who saw them.
"I can't guarantee anyone's sober now," Anya whispered in Raven's ear.
Raven laughed, and okay that made sense as she glanced around again, now noticing the booze flowing, bongs and roaches passing. Everyone seemed to be having a good time.
Anya led them closer to the fire, nodding at a younger brunette sitting on a blanket.
"Move, Tris."
The girl looked first at Anya then Raven before standing and hurrying away without a word.
Anya gestured for Raven to sit first. When she did, Anya lowered herself behind the mechanic and wrapped two strong protective arms around her.
Maybe she should have protested. But she didn't. Raven had never felt better than in that moment. So safe, secure, it was like she had just come home after a long miserable vacation.
In a matter of hours, Anya had shown Raven a plethora of emotions she hadn't even realized existed. So instead of barking at the woman to remove her arms, Raven slunk back against Anya's chest, pulling the blonde's limbs tighter around her as she surveyed the camp.
The Grounders wore the same matching jackets, each one had a double GG embroidered on the back surrounded by artwork that was too far away to see. Those who weren't wearing their jackets sported matching tattoos of the same logo. Some had them on their bare backs, some on their necks, shoulders, legs, or arms.
In addition, many of them had dark bandanas with a skull on them. Some had different colors. One woman had red. Another had a dark blue like Anya's, and everyone else had dark green.
Raven turned her head to ask, "Do the colors of bandana's mean something? Everyone seems to have a green one except for you three."
Anya leaned forward, a smile pulling at succulent lips as her expression conveyed one of being impressed. "Very good, Raven. You are observant."
Raven smiled. Pleased to have earned the privilege of being called by her name opposed to rich girl.
"Remember earlier I told you we have ranks? Red, is our commander. Blue, is for her left and right-hand advisers. That's me and…" she nodded toward a woman with very curly hair, "Luna." Our title is Heda. But the commander is high heda and what she says is law.
"Wait, so you're saying you're one of the big shots of this group?"
Anya smirked. "I am second in command to be exact."
Raven couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. Why was that? Anya wasn't hers. Why was she proud to be with the woman who was second in command?
Raven leaned back the rest of her weight on Anya again and pulled those thin ripped arms tighter around her as she shivered. Despite the giant bonfire, she was freezing and silently wished she had put on something more than the thin red fleece she was wearing.
"Cold?" came Anya's soft whisper.
"I'm fine."
"Here," there was bustling behind Raven's back before a heavy layer of soft worn leather draped over her shoulders, complete with Anya's arms reattaching themselves around the brunette's waist.
"Now you'll be cold."
"I'm warm blooded."
"It's better quality than I expected. Heavy. Great material."
"We like to have the best of everything around here," Anya laughed.
Raven pulled the coat tighter around her; when she looked down, she caught a glimpse of the rich colored artwork of a tattoo. Allowing the leather seams to fall apart, she reached for Anya's forearm to examine the symbol more closely.
She felt Anya's eyes on her as the blonde leaned forward and rested a smooth chin on the base of the brunette's neck, soft tufts of air sending pleasant shivers through Raven's spine.
The tattoo was the same one the other grounders wore. The double GG was written in a calligraphy styled hand, the letters overlapping beneath a black eye mask, the base of the mask with three dripping lines at each corner.
The blank stare of the mask was filled in with white. It looked like an artifact that would belong to a warrior. Finally, a sword lay holstered behind the mask and lettering, completing the piece in the shape of a badge. It was beautiful.
Raven ran the pads of her fingertips across it, Anya's skin was indeed warm to the touch. She hadn't been lying when she said she wasn't cold. She felt the blonde exhale slowly and begin to relax the longer Raven stroked her arm.
The flames of the bonfire danced off the purest milk white skin. Raven couldn't help but wonder what it might feel like to run her lips over that fine forearm, what it might taste like, what Anya might taste like—
Gather crew, there is much to discuss!
Raven broke from her thoughts at the sound of a woman's diplomatic tone. Although small in stature she made up with the command in her voice and stare. Painted across her face was the same artwork of Anya's tattoo. The dark eye mask, complete with dribbled lines at either edge.
She was dressed head to tow in leather that hugged her body perfectly, chocolate tresses pulled back into a ponytail, hands raised as she addressed the crowd.
Raven recognized her as the woman with the dark crimson bandana from earlier. This must have been the commander, it quickly became apparent she was speaking another language.
It is a night of celebration, my kin. The special moon dawns once every one-hundred years. Anyone wishing to turn a human they've imprinted on will have the right to do so in a few months time.
Raven turned to Anya. "You have your own language?"
Anya nodded and smiled, her teeth gleaming.
"What's going on? What's she saying?"
"Nothing interesting. But we should go. Gang stuff."
