Chapter 9

They had returned to the Drop Ship Camp a few nights ago, and Clarke could feel the tension that filled the air. Most of the children were wary of the alliance, unaware of just what their Heda had sacrificed to insure that they had peace and the protection of her Clan. She could feel the glares of the older ones, the distrust that bled into their every action the moment they caught sight of her. Clarke was sure to keep Madi either at her side or with Lincoln and Murphy. She didn't trust these people as far as she could throw them and she would not risk her daughter's safety. Finally the tension boiled over when Bellamy found her just outside the wall with Madi and Lincoln, gathering herbs she had explained treated certain injuries.

"I'm planning on leading a hunting party tomorrow at first light. I was coming to see if Lincoln wanted to come as well. I already talked with Murphy and he agreed to come and give us a few tips," Bellamy's voice was low and Clarke watched him from where she was crouched before glancing towards her brother and child.

"I think it would do you well to get out of the village brother. Bellamy, would... would you mind if Madi went as well?" she hesitated for a second, fear clenching her heart before she remembered his request to help, to be a parent to Madi.

His eyes widened at her question, glancing from her to Madi before he slowly nodded his head, exhaling a breath.

"It's not to dangerous for her to come?" he questioned, watching the small smile curve on Clarke's lips before Lincoln chuckled, shaking his head.

"No, it is usually the father who teaches the yongons how to hunt. Clarke has been teaching Madi how to trap and snare, but since you are now her husband, you will be seen as Madi's father," Lincoln explained as he straightened to his full height and met Bellamy's gaze.

"Of course she can come," he replied after a moment. Lincoln nodded before sharing a silent conversation with Clarke before he exhaled a sigh.

"I'll come as well. Between the two of us, I'm the better hunter than my brother," he replied, taking Clarke's basket full of herbs and watching as she reached for Madi who was dozing in the late afternoon sun. Bellamy beat her there however, easily scooping the little girl into his arms and turning on his heel.

"I'll make the announcement tonight at dinner than. It'll give you an idea of who will be coming with us and who will be staying behind with O and Raven to help you around the camp," Bellamy informed her. Clarke only nodded, watching as he easily made his way back towards the camp.

Dinner was buzzing with excitement, and Clarke couldn't help watching as Bellamy made his way to stand on the top steps of the Drop ship, his form drawing everyone's attention to him and forcing all conversation to come to a halt, because when their king spoke, everyone listened.

"Tomorrow, at first light, I'll be leading a hunting party! Clarke, Raven, and Octavia will be in charge, the ones you report to until I get back! If you wish to join, come find either Miller or myself after dinner!" his voice wasn't a yell, but it carried throughout the camp and Clarke could tell who would be the ones joining and who were resentful that they would have to answer to three girls until Bellamy returned. Clarke could only shake her head as she returned her attention to the group of children that had surrounded her and Madi, the youngest of the delinquents had sought her out to eat with the two of them and Clarke had felt touched that they were comfortable enough to sit with her.

"Hey," Bellamy greeted a few minutes later, dropping a kiss to the crown of her head and settling behind her on the log as Clarke sat back against it. She glanced up, offering him a small smile before returning her attention to the youngest of the group, a twelve year old who was in the middle of telling her something about the Ark before Bellamy leaned forward once again, resting his chin on her shoulder and speaking lowly, only for her ears to hear and Clarke knew it was important to listen to what he was saying.

"Tomorrow, if any of them give you a problem, tell me when I get back. Tell Raven or O and they'll make sure to straighten any problems out. These kids, they don't know you that well yet so they aren't willing to trust you. But I don't think there will be any real issues," he informed her. Clarke didn't say anything, only nodded her head slightly to tell him she heard exactly what he was saying.

She knew something was going to happen the moment Bellamy left the camp, could feel it in her stomach. Yet she pushed the thoughts from her mind as she stepped into the crisp morning, inhaling the sweetly scented air. Slowly she made her way towards the cooking fire, deciding to eat something light before she made her rounds through the forest to insure the other tribes weren't setting any traps or trying to hunt her new people. Octavia greeted her with a wide smile, offering her some jerky before glancing over her shoulder and narrowing her hazel colored eyes.

"Something bothering you?" Clarke questioned quietly, taking the offered jerky before turning her attention to the tree line, her ice blue eyes narrowing slightly.

"No, no, nothing's bothering me. What are your plans for the day since you're two over protective brothers aren't around and your kid is bugging my over protective brother?" Octavia questioned, offering Clarke a bright smile, one she could tell was forced.

"I plan one checking the area, maybe rearrange the med bay," Clarke replied easily to which Octavia nodded before deciding to leave, ready to start her own day.

She should have stayed closer to camp, it wasn't the best choice to wander further, however she wasn't one of the Sky People, maybe that was what was wrong, she thought as a fist connected with her abdomen. Clarke exhaled a grunt, refusing to cry out. She had taken harsher beatings from stronger men than the three that had circled her and caught her unaware. One, she was assuming the ring leader, wrapped his thick fingers into the golden strands of her hair and jerked her head upwards.

"Grounder Bitch. You think just because you're fucking Bellamy we would follow you and those savages you call people. That's funny," he hissed in her ear before slamming her head down against the rough dirt floor. The taste of cooper flooded her mouth and Clarke knew she had either bitten her lip hard enough to bleed or her cheek. She spat out the blood, waiting, because she knew one of the arrogant men would crouch in front of her to gloat.

The one she recognized as Finn did just as she expected. Her lips stretched into a feral grin, showing her bloody teeth. She could feel the pull of a cut on her lips as her ice colored eyes flashed dangerously.

"Yu laik just scared strik boys chon want kom play wor ba aren't ready gon chit bilaik really means," Clarke hissed in her native tongue, knowing just how much most of the Sky People hated when she spoke it. Finn's dark eyes narrowed before he struck her cheek, the hand tangled in her hair kept her head from moving. She could feel the skin on her cheek split and knew it now held a cut. She caught sight of a booted foot as it hit her side, forcing the air from her lungs and another harsh grunt to escape her lips.

"We know better than anyone else, you're just playing us. You're trying to lull us into a sense of calm before you slaughter all of us," the man behind her hissed, and Clarke only growled. Finn's hand curled into a fist before he struck her face once again, and Clarke knew her face was going to hold a lot of damage, her torso taking the worse of the attack however.

"Ste bilaik the best yu can do?" Clarke growled, glaring at Finn before he hissed and punched Clarke once more.

"Let's leave her, I doubt she'll make it back to the camp before nightfall," the other boy, the one who had been silent through most of her beating finally spoke up. Finn nodded, pushing to his feet before the one gripping her hair slammed her head against the dirt once more. Clarke saw black spots dancing on the edge of her vision before she allowed her eyes to close, falling into the black void of unconsciousness finally, numb to the pain she was feeling. She knew the moment she returned to camp Raven and Octavia would be at her side looking her over and demanding answers if she didn't get there before Bellamy. The girls she would be able to play off, her husband and brothers, they would smeell the lie in her voice the moment it left her lips.

Groaning, Clarke forced her eyes open. Her right eye slipped open only partially, telling Clarke it was nearly swollen shut. Pushing herself to her knees, she took in her surroundings, noting the sun was nearly gone, sinking in the sky. She knew she was unlikely to beat Bellamy back, and exhaled a breath, wincing at the pain that rolled through her body before she pushed herself to her feet. She wasn't going to lay back down and lick her wounds anymore. She gritted her teeth as she stumbled in the direction of the camp, leaning her weight against a rough tree trunk after a few minutes. She was almost positive none of her ribs were broken, and she wasn't suffering from internal bleeding. However she was going to be sore for the next few days, her breathing was going to be painful, and she was going to have to explain to her husband and brothers what had happened. That was the part she was dreading the most. She pushed away from the tree and stumbled through the woods again, making more noise than she ever had before. She winced slightly as she inhaled to deeply before she caught sight of the camp's walls.

A shout caught her attention, and she knew the guards had spotted her, unsure if it was actually her or a different grounder. Clarke took a moment, leaning her weight against a tree once more, inhaling a few steadying breaths before she stumbled towards the gate, knowing they would see her before they attempted to attack.

"What the hell!" Bellamy's voice was laced with anger as he rushed through the gate, easily catching her as she tipped forward.

"I'm...fine," she hissed out, allowing her eyes to shut for a moment as she attempted to gather herself.

"The hell you are! What the fuck happened Clarke?" Bellamy demanded, his anger coating his words as he held her lightly, afraid he would hurt her more.

"It's nothing," she whispered, leaning most of her weight against him.

"You're eye is swollen, you can barely hold yourself up, what the fuck happened Clarke?" he hissed, losing his patience as she refused to tell him.

"Later, please. I need... I need to sit before I pass out again," she mumbled, but Bellamy caught all her words, growling before sweeping his arm under her legs and striding through the camp towards his tent, Lincoln and Murphy hot on his heels as they glanced towards their sister who looked as if she just went through a public beating.

"Are you alright?" Bellamy finally questioned as he laid her on his cot, his amber eyes filled with worry when she groaned as she moved to settle more comfortably on her left side, the side that took the least amount of damage.

"I will be," she mumbled, her eyes fluttering shut before Lincoln lurched forward.

"Clarke, no, stay awake a bit longer," Lincoln instructed, glancing towards Bellamy before returning his attention to his sister once more.

"Nooo, Linkon, teik me sleep," Clarke whined, and Bellamy couldn't help but find it cute when she acted like this.

"No Klark, yu need kom ste awake, just gon a few mo minutes," Lincoln instructed as he came to crouch in front of his sister.

"I'm fine Lincoln. I only slept for a few hours. Bellamy will take care of me, he will wake me up in three hours," Clarke waved her brother away, curling into herself and falling into sleep quickly. Lincoln exhaled a breath before turning his golden gaze on his sister's husband.

"Next time you wish to hunt, one of us is staying behind to look after her. Wake her in three hours, since she is so confident you can do that much," he spat, storming out of the tent and leaving Bellamy riddled with guilt, knowing her attack was most likely his fault. He exhaled a breath, sliding to the floor beside the cot, pulling his knees to his chest and resting his forehead against them for a moment before her felt slender fingers sliding into his unruly curls.

"I'm okay Bell, I just need to sleep, than we can talk," Clarke murmured. Bellamy only nodded slightly, relaxing under her touch.

A/N: Chapter 9! I hope you enjoyed it! Feel free to let me know what you thought!

yu laik just scared strik boys chon want kom play wor ba aren't ready gon chit bilaik really means-

you are just scared little boys who want to play war but aren't ready for what that really means.

Ste bilaik the best yu can do- Is that the best you can do

Linkon, teik me sleep- Lincoln, let me sleep

No Klark, yu need kom ste awake, just gon a few mo minutes- No Clarke, you need to stay awake, just for a few more minutes