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Chapter 8 - The best training is the example
Clarke finally signed to see the sky people getting away from her. Raven still with the body stuck to her. Smiling widely. Michi was already a little further away, near Lexa. She exchanged a few words with the commander, and that at some point worried the blonde. She wanted her sister and her... Girlfriend? Clarke didn't know, they hadn't talked about it. She wants them to get along. She saw that both were still tense to each other.
Clarke felt the air out of her lungs to see a family man. He was as he ever was, firm eyes, broad shoulders and with a lateral smile. He hadn't seen her yet, and she could for a moment allow herself to examine the man. He was calm and pride with a sword strapped to his side, his hair was messy in his traditionally haircut. She pulled away from Raven slowly, she knew the man wasn't aware of her back to life. She walked in slow steps towards him.
"Bell." Her voice came out in a broken tone. She saw every little feeling vibrate in the man's face, confusion, fear, surprise, and recognition. He said nothing, just pulled her into a gigantic hug, Clarke felt her tears wetting the front of his shirt.
"Clarke." He whispered into her hair. "Are you really here?" He asked in a squeezed voice.
"I'm alive, I'm here Bell." She felt being pulled out of the ground, with the strength of the man's embrace, she didn't care if breathing was difficult, and she knew they both needed that, that special moment. "I feel so, so much for having gone for so long..."
"What happened? We think you were dead? The Queen, she... She said she had killed you..." He spoke in a mixture of confusion and anger, Clarke accepted the anger, because she knew it was something they all needed to feel.
"I lost my memory." She explained what had happened to her. Raven heard the explanation, a little further away, but she was clearly focused on the subject.
"Were you attacked and lost your memory?" Clarke sighed and confirmed again to Raven. Bellamy had guided her gently by the shoulders to a more private room.
"And then Michi saved me." She saw the girl's eyes shine with the quote of the Wolferkru warrior, that in question was leaning against the far wall with her closed eyes in boredom by listening to that same story again. Lexa was near the door, keeping only a relaxed guard there, the commander strongly doubted that anyone would attack at that time, in the middle of Arkadia, there was a place that very few Trikru entered.
"So you are a knight in shining armor." Raven said a little louder, calling the warrior's attention. The brunette in question only opened her eyes and stared Raven deeply. Clarke was still observing the interaction, the mechanic looked slightly blush by Michi attention.
"I still don't know what this means..." She spoke in a slightly confused tone, which made Bellamy take a deep laugh.
"Basically it means that you are a hero." He said still laughing slightly by the disgusted expression of Michi with the phrase.
"I'm no hero." Michi frowned and turned away from the wall. "I'll be outside." She spoke in a cold tone, Clarke frowned at the obvious discomfort of Michi.
"Was something I said?" Bellamy spoke deeply confused and slightly embarrassed.
"She has some skeletons..." Clarke said quietly.
"Has it to do with that girl? That one you said you wasn't the same? Lexa asked trying to understand.
"Yes. Ariele." Lexa looked as she if expecting something more. "I will just say one more thing about it, Lexa." The commander looked surprised at the serious tone. "I know you two won't understand and honestly it's not my story to tell." She told her friends who nodded slightly in a confusing agreement. "Ariele was there where Costia was taken." Lexa's eyes widened in a mixture of horror and surprise.
"I understand... Michi was the only..." Lexa stopped talking in midsentence.
"Yes." Clarke finished it with hard eyes. "I don't want to talk about it anymore." Lexa nodded in agreement. Bellamy and Raven just exchanged confused looks, but they knew that tone meant finalization of the subject, continue with it will just make the blonde angry.
"And now, you are badass with weapons, aren't you?" Raven said in a playful tone, completely changing the uncomfortable environment to friendly again.
"No." Clarke felt herself blush. "I still have a lot to learn. The basic functions took time, so we only had a few hours of light to practice, we had to recently implement training overnight..." Lexa paid attention firmly to the speech. "But hunting, that I'm really good." She said proudly.
"The clan of wolves is known to be an excellent group of hunters." Lexa said to Bellamy who looked confused. "It was expected that this ability would be passed for you easily. And in battle?" The commander was honestly curious about what the woman before her had learned.
"I still have a lot to learn." Clarke evaded.
"And I want to see you kick some ass." Raven stood and waited for her friends to do the same. "Let's go. Come on!" She said leaving the room. The other three followed confused. When they leave the tent, Clarke felt her heart swell to see Michi surrounded by three small children, they shouldn't have more than four years old. She was squatting, talking to one of the children. They all laughed and pulled the fur of Michi clothing, curious and fascinated with the gray coat of the warrior coat.
"It looks like a wolf" One of the children said curiously.
"Yes. This represents a wolf." Michi replied accordingly. "They're very common around my home." She said slowly. The kids just let out a loud sound of surprise and joy. "Now go. I know you want to go play." The kids append not accept totally, but they followed the woman instruction.
"You're a slob." Michi stood up serious looking to Clarke.
"Quiet." The brunette countered pushing Clarke lightly by the shoulder, with a little smile in the face. "Where are we going?" She asked the blonde, tilting her head slightly to the side.
"I don't know..." The young turned to her friend. "Where are we going, Raven?"
"Huh?" Raven seemed lost in thought.
"Where are we going?" Clarke repeated frowning.
"OH yes, let's go!" She started walking, leaving the four back even more confused, but they followed.
Raven led them to a large space, Clarke thought it looked like an ancient training area. A large circle was below ground level, and around it, above ground several staircases protrude out. Clarke glanced at Michi, and saw the brunette look interested, the warrior hands opened and closed on a clear control to not approach.
"You brought me here to see me fight?" Clarke asked, but she already knew that this would be the truth. The mechanic just nodded and shrugged. Again the blonde's eyes returned to the warrior. "Uh, that's not a problem?" She asked her friend and mentor.
"No." The brunette started walk down the short entries that provided access to the site. She quickly followed up an old bank, it was leaning against a part of the circle. The brunette quickly removed the belt where her main weapons were fitted. Clarke followed the action of the woman and did the same. When the brunette took the heavy coat she wore, the blonde swore she heard Raven choke a little to see the very thin protective of leather and cotton that the warrior wore. But the blonde blocked it. She has big things to concentrate.
"How will this be?" She asked confused, searching for information.
"This is a demonstration for Heda." The brunette said serious.
"But it was Raven who had the idea..." Clarke countered confused.
"If Heda see, it's for Heda and not for others." She spoke with a hard look. "Don't hold back, even for a moment. If we are being tested, we'll be tested by all we can do." Clarke froze, she would have to fight with full force against Michi without she holds herself? She knew it wouldn't end up well for her. Michi, even without trying much, already hurt her enough during training.
"Michi ..."
"Do not hold back." The brunette said moving away into the middle of the circle, Clarke went to her after a few deep breaths. She felt herself sweat, wet hands in nervousness, an uncomfortable flutter in the stomach, she thought she might pass out at any time, but she knew it was the effect of adrenaline. She breathed deeply a few times, hardened look, reinforced the willpower and looked steadily at Michi.
"I will not hold back."
"Fighting isn't good, but if you have to fight, wins it." Michi said serious.
"The field of defeat is not populated with defeaters, but man who fell before winning." Clarke said in the same tone. And she could see a light satisfied glow in the woman eyes. Both looked at Lexa, waiting for permission to start the match, the commander only nodded slightly with her head. The commander didn't show because Heda should be ruthless, but the woman behind the stoic mask... She was nervous and worried about Clarke's safety.
Neither of the two women inside the big circle made an offensive movement in the first seconds. Clarke coolly analyzed the warrior posture. She was well positioned guard, protecting virtually all twist, the legs were apart in a comfortable base to stand. Clarke knew she was in the same position.
The first attack came fast, Clarke barely had time to protect her chin from the faster punch than the brunette launched. She at the same time blocking she threw a punch from the bottom up targeting the woman's face. Clarke saw the brunette out of the line of attack, the warrior in one fluid motion took on of her legs in a high semicircle kick, Clarke swung quickly deflecting the kick, but the other leg that followed after the other, hit the blonde directly on the right shoulder, causing her to fall to her side.
Clarke quickly rolled on the ground away from strong punch that brunette dropped. She then made a quick sequence of punches, she felt her fist make contact against Michi face in the first blow, but the second and third she was able to dodge and fight back a strong blow to Clarke's abdomen. The blonde fully exhaled and tensed her abdomen to absorb the maximum amount of damage that the blow could give. Both quickly walked away.
Clarke struggled to catch air and Michi was with an eye a little closed, a small cut, but bloody was present in the cheekbone. Both looked at each other and quickly left for another large exchange of blows. Clarke already felt pain everywhere, she had received some good kicks to the thighs and ribs, the blows were strong and extremely accurate, Michi had blood dripping from her chin at that time and she knew there would be ugly bruises in the abdomen and side of the body.
Clarke shot a quick cross punch and she knew that there she would lose. When the brunette skillfully deflected the punch and with one hand grabbed her by the scruff pulling her to the ground and with the other held Clarke's hand still moving. The blonde didn't know very well how she end up stood beneath Michi, with one of the brunette's knees holding her face on the ground. The knee stronger pressuring between her shoulder blades. Michi restrained Clarke's arm in a tight immobilization. The arm abnormally bent back, forming a strange triangle between her shoulder, elbow and hand. Clarke felt pain in the wrist, the elbow was firmly attached, but the shoulder was what was hurting more under the pressure. And she knew if she tried to get up she would end up displacing the shoulder or elbow, or even both. Even if she could go out with success, Michi will keep hitting and hitting until Clarke will be incapable to keep her head up.
The woman had already done it, only once to put the arrogance that Clarke had in the right place, it was a painful and long recovery... When Clarke decided she would keep fighting until she was incapable, before she began to hold pressure against the brunette's body, Lexa's voice was heard.
"Ste Pleni" Lexa said in a loud voice. Michi immediately released the arm and the blonde body. Clarke let out a little sigh when she felt her body pounding in every little place that the impacts were made. Michi quickly grabbed her by the back of the shirt and pulled her back sitting. The brown eyes were worried looking at Clarke.
"How are you?" Clarke gave a low laugh.
"You're the one who's bleeding all over the floor." She said taking a hand until the fingers touch the bloody hurt. "You'll need stitches." Michi shrugged.
"It was a good punch." She spoke as if it was nothing. "Let's get up." She quickly passed the outstretched arm from Clarke over her shoulders and with some effort she lifted the blonde. Michi felt her muscles complain to the extra weight, but she continued guiding the blonde to the bank. When the woman was properly seated, the warrior collapsed beside her.
"Ste Pleni?" She asked quietly watching Lexa approach with Bellamy, Raven and Octavia, the girl should have seen the commotion and joined them.
"It's enough." Michi translated quickly.
Lexa approached quickly, she was worried and extremely surprise. Clarke had made a huge progress, she fought hard. Michi was clearly more experienced and with a greater range of techniques. But for apprentice in training, Clarke had fought harder than many experienced warriors. Lexa hasn't lost the startled look from Octavia, she read clearly some doubts about herself in the eyes of the brunette girl.
"WOW!" Raven broke the commander's thoughts. "Clarke you were amazing!" The blonde shrugged.
"I just gave my best."
"Clearly you are badass."
"Even kissing the ground." Bellamy joked and grinned to Clarke. "Good fight!" He praised and Clarke smiled at the man.
"It would be ridiculous if I won." Clarke rolled her eyes playfully. "If so, I would have to find a better teacher." She quickly pushed the brunette shoulder with her own.
"Mockery is not the product of a strong mind." Michi grunted and Clarke smiled. The phrase took a small smile from Lexa.
"That means we're both weak." Clarke joke again.
"You're being an idiot." Michi hit back and give her a big smile. "Clearly you are the weak." She gestured to herself. "I didn't kiss the ground." She quotes Bellamy, who laughed about it.
"I didn't kiss the ground!" Clarke said falsely irritated.
"Sorry, Princess." Octavia spoke in a voice badly amused. "You kissed." Clarke grimace and looked at Lexa.
"I need to find a partner who kisses better than the ground then." She lost the exchange of glances from her friends, she only saw Lexa blush heavily.
"Okaaaay..." Raven said uncomfortable. "How about we take you to sew this pretty face of you?" She offered in a provocative tone for Michi. The brunette looked at her with raised eyebrows, then tilted her head to the side and nodded.
"You also had to go." Lexa said firmly to Clarke. The blonde saw concern running in the commander eyes, she accepted the hand offered by Bellamy and with her legs a little trembling she got up.
Octavia and Bellamy said goodbye briefly, saying that they were going to the tower later to see her. She nodded, and followed Raven and Michi who as walking side by side forward them, Lexa was firmly at her side.
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Raven followed strangely nervous next to the warrior. She didn't know what was going on with herself. She wasn't someone who would be considered shy and much less retracted, but the warrior Wolferkru had a way to make her feel like a clumsy teenager again.
"You're not Trikru?" She asked in a weird way and Michi looked at her curiously.
"Wolferkru." Raven looked confused and the brunette sighed briefly. "We aren't so well known for being an extremely small clan..." She counted mentally. "We are about 70 adults and 15 children." Raven looked surprised.
"And you live by hunting only?"
"Hunting and trade with Polis." She explained briefly. "The area where my clan is installed is very rich in animals. Like fishes, birds and many large animals. It's also very rich on herbs too. The trade with Polis is mainly on the fur, meat and herbs. Skins for clothing and other supplements, meat for food and herbs are very valuable for the boats clan." Michi recited as second nature.
"You seem to know quite how the economy works..." Raven didn't want to continue, but she knew the warriors usually didn't know policy or economy of the tribes with Polis.
"This is because I'm not only a warrior." Michi smiled slightly to Raven. "I was the second from the clan's leader... My knowledge of politics, law and economics with Polis and the coalition is given for it. But she's also my mother." Raven looked shocked.
"Your mother leads your clan?" She asked rhetoric. "Wow! It's not for nothing that you are a knight in shining armor. "
"Do not call me that..." Michi said disgustedly.
"Why not?"
"I'm not a hero." She spoke softly. "I don't have a good record of saving..."
"You have an excellent in your account." The mechanic said looking at Clarke. And the brunette just smiled slightly, she wouldn't have how disagreed.
Clarke follows right behind the two brunettes. She watched with interest the two. Lexa had noticed the interest of blonde women, but she hadn't commented yet.
"I think Raven is interested in Michi." She spoke softly near Lexa.
"Why do you think that?" The commander wrinkled her brow curiously.
"Look at the way that Raven is treating her, with relative care and she is being very sweet."
"That's out of the ordinary?" The blonde nodded in agreement.
"Much. Raven is energetic and very direct about her interest." She smiled at the brunette. "She is much more demonstrative than both of us, it's curious that she is being shy, don't you agree?" Lexa blushed slightly, but nodded.
"I think we're perfect as we are." Lexa smiled gallantly to see Clarke's blushing slightly. She felt Clarke fingers scrape lightly against her hand. But it didn't pass of this, the situation was too delicate, yet, to put the latent relationship of both in line.
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Raven opened the medical bay door with unusual care. She came in being followed closely by the three women. Abby was taking care of a small child who was coughing uncomfortable.
"Hi there." The mechanic spoke softly.
"Hello girls." Abby smiled slightly for the four women. "Take a moment, I will see what I can do for you." She said in her most medical voice that she could concentrate, but to see Michi's bloody wound, she really thought the worst. "I just I medicating Alyson asthma." Abby put her hand slowly in girl's back, trying to calm the cough. "Breathe slowly darling..."
"Sungnot Flower" Michi let out of nowhere, catching the attention of everyone in the room.
"Sorry?" Abby said confused.
"Sungnot Flower." She repeated. "It is a purple flower, has five petals and yellow spots in the center. It is known to have excellent properties against respiratory diseases."
"And you know this how?" Lexa asked in a common tone.
"Sari had many breathlessness crises, in an age close to hers." She pointed to Alyson. "It should help." Abby nodded in agreement and called a guard, asked him to go to the market pick up some flowers.
"Six flowers must be appropriate, ask for those that have the most vibrant yellow. The more yellow the better the chance from a long effect." The guard nodded in agreement and left. "Grind the plant and then make a not very long infusion, the water shouldn't be boiling and then it should remain a quarter of a candle mark." Abby nodded in agreement.
The women waited in silence. Both Michi as Lexa insisted on be standing, but Clarke and Raven sat comfortably in two beds. A new strong cough crisis broke the silence of the room.
"Alyson, try to breathe slowly for me." Abby said worried, but the girl began to panic.
"Look at me." Lexa stepped forward and spoke firmly to the girl. She looked at her with frightened eyes. "Breathe with me, slowly. Breathe, one, two, and three. Hold... Now release slowly." Lexa stimulated a deep, slow breathing, which the girl accompanied sometimes. Within minutes the coughing crises had decreased. When Lexa turned back to where she was before it. She felt herself warm under the loving look of Clarke.
"Here's Doctor." The guard coming into hurried footsteps cut any comment that someone had. Lexa relaxed when the attention gets out her. Abby quickly ground to plant in a small bowl of mud, but Michi approached and took the small bowl of woman's hands.
"Slowly, firm strokes, but delicate." She ground the flowers to a purple and yellow powder was formed. She accepted a small pot from the medical and poured the powder there, filled with water and the older woman put to heat. Michi stood nearby, watching carefully. Abby seeing blood accumulating in the woman's face reached her out to a handful of gauze. The brunette stood beside her, pressing the handfuls of gauze on her face and keep watching the pot.
After a while the girl finally took the tea. She lay on her side trying to breathe slowly. After another period of waiting, Abby finally consisted that the little girl, only 4 years, was finally asleep. The still broken breath, but stable.
"Thank you." The doctors said to the warrior.
"I didn't do anything..." The woman retorted with a shrug. Abby just ignored.
"When should I give the next dose?" She changed the subject.
"Hm." Michi seriously thought for a few moments. "I would say it should be tomorrow... But I'm not sure." She said frowning. "I remember the flower because I was the one who went to the forest to seek it. But my Nomun was really who gave the infusion..." She looked at Lexa for a second. "Heda, would be much inconvenience if a messenger was sent to Wolferkru to question this to my Nomun?" Lexa nodded negatively.
"No way. I'll order it quickly." Lexa turned away at the door. "I'll return in a few moments." She said to Clarke, who nodded. And with that Abby retired to wash her hands and take the necessary material for suturing the brunette's face.
"Now I can look at you carefully." Abby reappeared. "So what happened?" She looked steadily at Clarke.
"It was Raven's idea." The steady gaze turned from blonde to brunette.
"Geez, Clarke. Thank you for throw me in the lion's mouth..." Raven snapped nervous and Michi laughed softly, making the mechanical blushing slightly. "I just wanted to see Clarke wield a sword, I didn't think it would become a free version of Fight Club..." She spoke to explaining to the older woman.
"And why this became a version of Fight Club?" Abby asked sighing. And Raven hesitated, not knowing the answer.
"It became a demonstration of ability for Heda." Michi said serious. "No fighting in front of Heda should be frivolous." She continued. "If a demonstration battle occurs, who is at the center of the arena should fight with all the strength until the Heda gives the order to stop." She amended. "She ordered, and I stopped." Michi it turned to Clarke. "Even if you have been a fool to force your shoulder and elbow to they almost displace." She fought gently with the blonde who smiled awkwardly.
"I wouldn't give up and quit." Michi nodded in agreement and Abby sighed heavily, bringing attention back to her again.
"You're living less than a day, and you're already arranging problems." She laughed unhappy. "I'm going to die soon this way." She sighed and pulled the blonde to a corner fenced with curtains. Pulling the curtains off she ordered Clarke to undress.
Seeing the damage to her daughter's body, the woman only grumble quietly about inconsequential warriors. She applied an ointment with healing extract, courtesy of Nyko, and concluded that even with several bruises wasn't much she could do. The blonde dressed and left the enclosure, approaching Raven. Michi was then called and Abby did the same, applied ointment on the bruises and then followed for suturing the warrior's face.
"And how did this happen?" She asked only to cover the silence.
"A well-placed punch of your daughter." Michi shrugged. "She has an extremely strong left."
"But she lost the fight?"
"Yes."
"Hm. You seem to be a strong warrior. "
"Winning isn't about strength, is about preparation." Michi said quietly. "I own many battles in my back, a lot of experience into something that Clarke is still learning. I'm considered an experienced warrior, but there's always something to learn about yourself and about the battles. Fight is just about knowledge. Fight for fighting doesn't lead anywhere. This causes death without honor and unnecessary pain." Abby nodded surprise. They talked for some time, but the lack of mutual understanding between both made a relatively comfortable silence settle.
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"I know what you're doing." Clarke dropped into a low and amused tone for Raven.
"What?" Raven let out confused, still looking at where the wolf girl was.
"You're worried about her." In this the brunette looked at Clarke.
"No, I'm not." Countered gulped.
"You are interested on her." Clarke ignored and continued.
"No, I'm not." Raven snapped embarrassed.
"I'm not judging you." Clarke nodded. "Ignore all you want, but you are interested on her. But I ask you, to be careful with whatever you do. "
"Clarke..."
"She's my sister and I would hate have to hurt you because you have done something moved only by physical desire. If Michi accept your advances, I hope they are more than just physical." Clarke finished the conversation, she don't give much room for Raven say something. But the brunette listened attentively and absorbed every bit of information that the blonde has to offer.
Lexa calmly awaiting the end of the conversation between the two friends, to re-enter the room. When she noticed that the conversation had indeed finished she followed in quick steps to Clarke.
"A messenger should be returning to Wolferkru until the early evening." Clarke nodded in agreement and smiled widely for Lexa.
"Thank you." Lexa smiled and said that Clarke's people are now her people and she would do anything to protect them. Lexa frowned when she saw the brunette coming out of the corner fenced with curtains, with a bandage on her cheekbone. "Had your mother seen you already?" She said asking serious to Clarke, who just smiled and nodded in agreement.
"Okay, girls." Abby smiled. "Nothing broken, the most serious injury that we have is that over there." She pointed to the wolf warrior face.
"Any special care?" Raven asked pointing to the girl's face. Abby quickly explained that the brunette shouldn't drench the stitch and she should come back in six days to remove them. "She'll behave." Michi looked frowning.
"Will you make sure of this?" The brunette warrior asked smiling slightly in amusement. The mechanic only nodded heavily and then she smiled a little wider in the clear concern of the woman. "So I hope you will take care of me fondly." She flirted pleased to see the brunette blushes.
Lexa saw satisfied the exchange, but she remained stoic. Having Michi romantic attention directed at someone calmed some insecurity from the commander. She felt Clarke looking at her and when she turned to the blonde woman, she saw her waved to Michi and Raven. The mechanic was close to Michi, pointing to the stiches and speaking orders lightly, the warrior just nodded her head in a relaxed posture. Clarke looked as if speaking 'I told you so' Lexa just smiled.
"What you say we go for lunch?" Abby asked cutting the interactions of two doubles. The four nodded in agreement and Lexa led them to the tower again. At the exit of Arkadia, Bellamy, Octavia and Lincoln were asked by Clarke. A guard was already behind the three, they would find the women in the tower.
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Guys, if someone is willing to beta-read my story and help me fix it, please let me know!
My native language is not English... So be gentle... Heavy criticism about something I don't know how to fixi isn't cool.
