Clarke's legs felt like lead, pounding a path across the forest to get to Raven. Bellamy easily keeping pace beside her. As soon as she saw the wall around the Dropship she broke into a sprint. She may have been tired, her legs never having worked so hard in her life, but Raven's life was on the line and she wasn't about to let a little thing like her legs stop her. In her peripherals she was aware that the camp she was blurring past was completely empty. Devoid of the three dozen or so inhabitants it had grown to accommodate, but that was the next hurdle. The first, making sure Raven survived.
She skidded to a halt when she arrived next to where Murphy and Octavia had helped Raven lay out. Raven gave her a weak smile, though the blood-drained complexion made Clarke all the more worried. "'Bout time you got here, Griffin," Raven half whispered.
"See if I sprint across another forest to come save your life again, if this is the welcome I get," Clarke joked weakly.
"You fix me up and I'll get one of those cars from the garage working, so next time you can just drive to save my ass."
"Sounds like a deal," she gave the girl a small smile. "But remember, I'm only in this for the car. I've always wanted to learn to drive."
Without further ado, Clarke dove into her Healing river and looked to the problem. She pulled out immediately. "I need the bullet out. I can't heal her with it still inside; it'll only cause more problems."
"Okay, get the bullet out. What's the problem?" Murphy demanded.
"I've never had to do it before. If there was ever a problem like this, medical would remove the bullet and what-not. And if…if I do it wrong it could hurt her, possibly paralyze her since it's already pressing against her spine."
Murphy's face looked stricken, as did Octavia's and Bellamy's. She turned to Raven. "Do what you got to do," Raven said, brave as ever. "I'd just really prefer not to die, especially since you're standing right here."
"Can't you just Heal the paralysis?" Murphy asked, annoyed.
"I've never tried something like that. Doesn't mean I'm not going to try and do everything I can," Clarke snapped at him. She didn't need someone else adding to the small voice of doubt in the back of her mind.
Bellamy settled a hand on her shoulder. "He's just worried; we all are. We know you'll do everything you can."
She gave him a tight smile, looking to him for strength and comfort; something she had been doing more and more frequently as of late. Reaching up to give his hand a squeeze, she turned back to Raven. "Alright. Here's the plan: make you a bit more stable, so I won't have to worry about fucking something up. Get the bullet out. Then Heal you completely."
"Aye, aye, Captain," Raven nodded and Clarke set to work.
The problem in front of her was the most important thing at the moment. Her own remorse for her actions earlier that day, the people at Exodus, those captured by the Mountain, those were all worries for tomorrow.
After she had completed her first round of Healing, she took a deep breath. She picked up the scalpel and asked Raven to turn onto her stomach. Murphy next to her, taking her hand in his. With the first incision, her Ability screamed at her, asking why she was causing more pain.
Raven screamed as well.
"I'm sorry," Clarke murmured apologies as she dug for the bullet. She tried to focus only on seeing and feeling, not on Raven's screams and pain.
Breathe, get through it, and she'll be alright in a minute. Clarke didn't know if Bellamy projected that to her or if she thought it herself; either was as likely as the other.
After a millennium, she pulled the bullet free. As soon as it was set to the side, she dove back into the Healing. She double-checked the stabilizing efforts she had made before and began the deep Healing, stitching broken vessels and muscles back together. She felt herself draining—between the attack, the fighting, and the run back to camp, not to mention all the adrenaline wearing off, she didn't have much energy left—but she kept pushing herself.
She heard someone say something, but didn't pay any mind. They repeated themselves more urgently. Clarke, stop. Bellamy projected. She vaguely felt hands tugging at her. Clarke, you're exhausting yourself. You already overexerted yourself physically before we got here. You don't have the energy to fully Heal her right now.
Almost done, she shrugged him off, not losing her train of Healing.
She felt herself being wrenched back, breaking her contact with Raven and thus stopping the flow of Healing. She turned to yell at Bellamy that she wasn't done, but the world tilted on its axis and the room began to spin. Her head pounded with the fiercest headache. She collapsed, her mind vaguely registering Bellamy's arms catching her before she could fall to the ground. "But I still have some work on her nerve connections," she murmured.
"And you could have killed yourself if you kept going. Maybe I'll let you try tomorrow."
"You don't get to let me do anything. I can do whatever the hell I want," she told him vehemently. But by the smile on his face and the chuckle that reverberated through his chest, she wasn't sure her tone quite had the edge she intended.
"Sure, Princess. Whatever the hell you want. But tomorrow."
"Tell Raven I blame you."
"Okay, Princess, just go to sleep."
She tried to narrow her eyes at him, but only succeeded in closing them and falling into a deep sleep.
...
"Welcome back to the land of the living," Raven greeted dryly as Clarke blinked her eyes open.
"How long have I been out?"
"A little over a day."
"A full day!" Clarke sat up abruptly. She regretted it as soon as she did, as the world began to spin.
"You needed it. And Bellamy basically threatened to tear anyone's head off who tried to wake you up."
"I'm going to fucking kill him. My sleep isn't as important as making sure you're okay or the people at Exodus or those in the Mountain. Oh my god, the Mountain."
Raven laughed. "Well, Bellamy and Octavia set out to talk to the grounders about holding up their end of the accord. Exodus has been in touch, but no one wanted to travel there without you as a buffer. Murphy is outside skinning some animal for dinner. And you've been playing Sleeping Beauty and I've been your invalid overseer." Her voice turned dry and sour at the end.
Clarke closed her eyes and took a breath to steady herself. So she had been right, partial paralysis. She knew it was a possibility. "I'll fix it, Raven. Don't worry. Just let me get something to eat and drink, hopefully get rid of this headache and I'll fix it."
"And risk having Bellamy murder me for real because you're asleep for another day? Nah, I'm alive. That's what counts. Exhausted and probably couldn't rewire a walkie talkie using my Ability right now, but alive. You can do it in a few days. What do I usually do anyways? Just sit around and work on life improvements on the Dropship. I'll be fine."
"It might not take that much out of me; it's just a few nerve connections," Clarke insisted.
"And it might take a lot. Remember last time you Healed something you hadn't before? The poison? I'd rather have you at top Abilities in case something worse happens."
"I know you're upset. You know you don't have to just shrug this off, right?"
Raven shot her a wry smile. "But I wouldn't be me if I didn't. Plus, I'd much rather take out my anger on Mount Weather and the soldiers who shot me than the person whom I would be dead without."
"Okay, I'll drop it for now. I'm going to go find food, you want anything?"
"Could you lend me a shoulder, so I can go sit by Murphy and tell him he's skinning the animal wrong?"
Clarke laughed, apparently even partial paralysis couldn't hold Raven back. "Of course."
Octavia had wandered off to find Lincoln as soon as they had entered the village, leaving Bellamy to talk to the Lexa alone. Her reasoning, "She'd probably only talk to you or Clarke about this anyway; I'm not a leader." Bellamy had tried to protest before he realized she was probably right.
And thus he waited not so patiently for the Commander to show her face. They needed the grounders to get their people out of Mount Weather. Help in the times of conflict was part of the accord, and if kidnapping half their people wasn't a time of conflict Bellamy was going to have more than a few choice words for the Commander.
"Where's Clarke?" was the greeting he got from Lexa as she entered the room with the air of authority that constantly surrounded her.
Bellamy tried not to grind his teeth. Of course that would be the first thing Lexa cared about. "We had an exhausting day yesterday; she's resting and taking care of our people," he said, fudging the truth a little.
"Pity," she replied airily. "What is it you want, Bellamy of the Sky People. I assume it has something to do with the attack by the Mountain."
It was no surprise she would already know about that; a peace accord wasn't going to stop her keeping an eye on the new people. He nodded once, "It does. We are calling upon the accordance for your help in the matter. You have more knowledge of the Mountain and more warriors to help get our people out."
"Many have tried and failed to go against the Mountain. What makes you think this is more than a fool's errand?"
"Are you going back on your word to help in times of conflict?" Bellamy accused, knowing it would get a rise out of the prideful commander.
Her face revealed nothing, but he still felt her flash of anger. "No. But I will not send my warriors into a situation that will result only in their deaths. The Mountain has taken people from us before. We have yet to successfully get any of them back." He caught a glimpse of remorse associated with a specific person who had been taken by the Mountain, but Lexa quickly moved onto other thoughts.
"The difference is that we have technology too. You've tried to go up against them with your swords and spears. We are familiar with their guns and shock batons and we have people who can understand the technology they have inside the Mountain."
"And how do you propose getting inside the Mountain in the first place?"
"Is that your way of saying you will help us?"
"We are people of our words. We agreed to help when we came to the accordance. I simply expect you to uphold your half and disperse some of your Gifted once your people are free of the Mountain."
"We are people of our words as well."
"That is good to hear," she smiled. "Speaking of your people. How is the Council, as you call them? My scouts have noticed some conflict between your group and the others that came down."
Bellamy made an effort to keep his face expressionless; it took considerable effort when his mind strayed to the shocklash incident. "We have not always seen eye to eye with the Council and the decisions they make. But we have been doing all we can to ensure they will uphold the peace and accordance. It is in the best interest of both our people and yours and we will make sure they understand that."
"See that you do," Lexa said magnanimously. "We will hold a war council several days hence to prepare our strategy. I expect to see you and Clarke, as well as your Council. However, if you cannot convince them of the agreement you, Clarke, and I have come to by then, be prepared to either separate yourselves from them and uphold the accordance or stand with them and see it break." Between the look she leveled him with and the accompanying emotions, Bellamy had no doubt in the truth of her threat. She smiled, when he nodded his understanding. "I will send a rider once I have gathered my war chiefs." She stood up to leave. "Oh, and tell Clarke I missed her today."
Bellamy's frown followed her out of the room.
...
As soon as he was back at the Dropship, Bellamy settled himself next to Clarke where she was roasting their dinner, she looked over at him with a small glare. "You had no right to tell them not to wake me up. There are things to be done. I can't just sleep the day away when our people are captured by Mount Weather. Not to mention the injured at Exodus that could have used my help today."
"You're in no state to Heal several dozen injured at Exodus," he reprimanded.
"Even if I didn't use my Ability, they still could have used the help. I would have gone by myself if I wasn't waiting to hear about how your surreptitious talk with the grounders went."
"It was not 'surreptitious,' you were dead asleep in the middle of the day." She gave him an accusing look. He shook his head. "We'll go tomorrow. Is that good enough?"
She scoffed, "I was already planning to go tomorrow with or without you."
He couldn't stop his smile. "Of course you were."
"So, how did the talk with Lexa go? I have to ask because you took it upon yourself to go without me," she added as if he didn't already know what her issue with it was.
Bellamy snorted, thinking about Lexa's comments. "She would have much preferred it if you had come today."
"What do you mean by that?" She gave him a puzzled look.
"Nothing important," he shrugged, not willing to give her an explanation. Especially since it would probably involve him having to address certain things he didn't particularly want to put into words yet. "She's a little iffy on the Council, though. She wants to meet with them and said she'd be in contact about a war council."
She sighed at the inevitable. "She doesn't have to meet them tomorrow, right? We can talk to the Council first? At least try to make sure they're on the same page as us in regards to the relations with the grounders?"
Bellamy smothered a laugh. "'Try' being the operative word. But yes, it wouldn't be for another few days."
"More things to look forward to," she smiled tightly. She rubbed at her temples. "Okay, the meeting. Give me a full run down."
The first thing Monty noticed was the smell. Where he had gotten used to waking up to the scent of woods and dirt, now his nose was assaulted by something sterile, almost like the medical wing of the Ark. He slowly opened his eyes and was greeted by a starkly white room. His breath quickened as he realized this wasn't a dream or a memory of the Ark. Memories flashed past his eyes: Miller worried about a group of people coming toward the Dropship, red smoke filling camp, people panicking.
He sat up and quickly looked around for any answers to one of the hundreds of questions that were running through his mind. What happened? Where was he? Where was everyone else? Okay, he told himself, get out of this room, find the others. Step one and step two. The rest he would worry about once he knew everyone else was okay.
A pale girl with curly brown hair walks into his room and smiles sweetly. "Oh good, you're up. Your friends will be so happy."
"Where am I?" he demanded.
"Mount Weather Survival Facility. Our scouts saw you fighting with the Outsiders and thought you would be safer inside here with us."
"Outsiders? Oh, you mean the grounders. But we came to an agreement with them; we made peace."
The girl looked shocked. "Oh, well, um…do you want to come see your friends? I'm sure they'd love to see you. They're in the dining hall."
Monty nodded and followed her out of the room, curiously looking at his surroundings. He was inside Mount Weather and they weren't trying to kill him. He kept his guard up anyway.
"I'm Maya, by the way," the girl turned to smile at him.
"Monty," he replied. He figured playing nice would get him more answers than hostility. "So you grew up here?"
"Yup. We uh, we can't go outside. Our bodies never adapted for radiation like the Outsiders. Or you. We die if we go outside without a hazmat suit. And only a special team are trained for that."
"So, you've never felt the sun on your face? The feel of grass on your feet?"
"We have our greenhouse. It has artificial sunlight to help our plants grow for food."
Monty chuckled. "Sounds like Agro back on the Ark. But trust me, the real sun is a thousand times better."
"Except that it would kill me," she said matter-of-factly; a reality of her life that she accepted and wasn't bothered by. "Oh, look. There are your friends," she pointed toward a group of people he recognized from the Dropship's camp.
"Thanks, Maya. It was good meeting you," he told her.
"You too, Monty," she smiled at him as he hurried toward where he had spotted Nate and Jasper.
"Thank the gods you're okay," Nate sighed as he sat down next to them.
Monty smiled at him. "I'm glad you're okay too," he reached over and gave Nate's hand a quick squeeze of reassurance. "Both of you," he added looking at Jasper who was staring after Maya.
"She's pretty, isn't she?" Jasper turned back to the other men with a happy smile. "Nice, too."
Monty chuckled. "You would like the first girl we talk to in enemy territory."
"She's not the enemy. She's nice. She gave me her chocolate cake at lunch."
"Should have known the way to your heart was through your sweet tooth," Monty joked.
Nate chuckled. "Well, Jasper's definitely okay. Are you sure you are? You had me—us worried, taking so long to come from where they were holding us."
"Physically fine," Monty assured him. "Not a huge fan of being stuck inside the Mountain and not just because I'm pretty sure chocolate cake isn't the only thing they have planned for us. I'd kind of grown used to having plants within reach," he laughed. "Pun not intended."
Nate returned his joke with a tight, worried smile. "I can get you outside if it's bad."
Monty smiled, but shook his head. "Bad would be having the bracelet on again. Though, speaking of your Ability, why haven't you Phased yourself out of here yet?"
"No way in hell was I going to leave you in here," he said vehemently. "Any of you," he added. "Especially not knowing their motivations yet. I can only take one person with me at a time and getting the hundred or so of our people out of here would definitely draw a bit of attention."
"Do we even know that their motivations are sinister?" Jasper asked. "Did I mention the chocolate cake?"
"I just don't trust them. They were more than ready to kill us when we came in here to steal guns. Plus, I'm sure someone would recognize me or at least know that we're from the same people who made the heist, but no one has said anything about it."
"Maya didn't know that we made peace with the grounders; so the citizens are at least getting fed the story that they're our rescuers," Monty added.
"But how do you know that they know about the accord?" Jasper protested.
Monty shook his head. "If they knew we landed and were fighting the grounders, I'm pretty sure they're up to date on the other things we have been doing."
Nate nodded his agreement. "I talked to some of these kids and they were from Exodus. The Mountain simultaneously raided both of our camps. And from Exodus they only took people who had a bracelet. They knew the significance of it."
"So what do they want with our Abled?"
Jasper pouted. "You're both being Pessimistic Pollys. You're making me doubt the chocolate cake. I just want to believe someone doesn't want us dead. First the Ark and the Council, then the grounders, now you're saying these people, too."
Nate tried not to look to guilty piling onto Jasper's doubt. "If they thought their cause was so noble, why didn't they just ask us if we wanted to come live inside the Mountain? Why use knock out gas?"
Monty nodded. "I'm with Nate on this one. But I don't think we should try anything too drastic until we know what they're up to. And have a plan. It's not worth risking their ire if we can't successfully make it out of the Mountain."
"Let's get to know what resources we do have," Nate nodded toward the other Arkers who were milling about.
"I don't want to freak anyone out yet, though. So maybe don't say anything about our suspicions yet," Monty added.
"Yeah, we don't need any more Paranoid Penelopes," Jasper nodded.
"Remind me why we all had to come along, again," Murphy complained as the group came into sight of the Exodus.
"Because they can probably use all the help they can get. Even if it comes from you," she shot him a teasing smile.
"Just be happy she isn't making you go with her to meet the Council. I almost strangled Diana Sidney last time, I don't know if I'll be able to stop a second time," Bellamy complained.
"You know I could technically go and talk to them alone, if you really don't want to come," Clarke told him.
"No, no. It's fine, I'll come," he grumbled. Clarke couldn't help the small smile that rose on her cheeks. She really didn't understand this man sometimes.
"Weapons," Bryne said dryly in greeting.
"You have got to be kidding me," Clarke returned. "Do you not recall what happened here a few days ago?"
"Law is law. Either you hand over your weapons or you don't come into our camp."
"And if we refuse and still come into your camp?" Bellamy asked.
"Then I arrest you," Bryne shrugged. "So please, Blake, I've been dying to see you put back in your place since we landed."
"Leave it, Bryne," Kane stepped in. "I'll let this group pass on account of recent events. If anyone has a problem, send them to see me."
"As you command, Councilman," Bryne ground out through her teeth, clearly not happy with the overturn of the law.
The group stepped past Bryne, half of them shooting her a victorious smile as they walked into camp.
"Anywhere specific you want them, Kane?" Clarke asked.
"I'm pretty sure an extra pair of hands would be welcomed anywhere at this point; everyone's a bit on edge still. Though I know Sinclair will be looking for you, Raven," he nodded. "Glad to see you're still with us."
Raven beamed at him. "Takes a little more than a bullet to stop me. Well, as long as this one is nearby," she nodded her head at Clarke. "She even got me up and walking today."
"Hey, I believe there was talk of a car or a rover or something for my troubles," Clarke teased in return. She had spent half the night reading the medical texts from the file on Raven's tablet, trying to better understand nerve connections in an effort to make sure the last bit of Healing for Raven wouldn't be too difficult. She could definitely go for a several hour long nap, especially after that hike. But seeing Raven beaming and confidently walking toward where Sinclair was working was more than worth the slight bit of exhaustion.
"As soon as I find a decent one to work with, you've got it," Raven called over her shoulder on her way toward the ship.
"I'll be in med bay," Octavia announced. By the eye roll she got from Bellamy, Clarke assumed she added something to him.
"I'll…" Murphy looked around the camp, "go make myself useful," he settled on walking to the side of the ship.
And we get to go talk to a bunch of bigoted assholes, Bellamy projected to her.
Clarke snorted a laugh and the two of them followed Kane into the ship.
As they took their seats and the members of the Council drifted in, Clarke shot Bellamy a look out of the corner of her eye. Here's to hoping this goes better than last time.
I'm not holding my breath.
"Alright, let us begin," Jaha began.
"Where's Callie?" Clarke asked, startled to see one of the members missing.
Clarke's mom pursed her lips. "Callie was killed in the attack," she explained. "Seventeen killed in total. Thirty-four others sustained injuries and are in med bay."
"And how many missing?" Bellamy asked.
"Around fifty mutants, give or take," Diana answered.
"Fifty-four," Kane corrected. "Fifty-four, all Abled, were taken."
"Makes sense. I heard the Mountain Men saying to take those with bracelets and that the others were expendable," Bellamy informed them.
"What do they want with the Abled?" Abby asked.
"Same thing we've been trying to figure out for the past couple days. Lexa said this is far from the first time the Mountain has raided and taken people."
"That is far from comforting," Kane responded.
"So, what are we going to do about it?" Clarke asked the group, bringing them back to the purpose of this meeting. "Bellamy already ensured the grounders help if and when this comes to an attack. They are prepared to meet with all of us to form a plan of attack in a few days' time."
"You talked to the grounders without us?" Diana snarled. "Again?"
"And what kind of relationship do you have with them?" Bellamy replied snidely. "Oh wait, you don't have one."
Clarke overrode whatever Diana was about to say in return. "I think they will follow our lead on this because it is our people in the Mountain. So, I think it best we come up with a plan before we meet with them."
"Do we even need to get those mutants back?" Diana asked, not even trying to hide her distain. "They were just extra weight on our hands anyway."
Clarke gaped at the woman, ready to throttle her.
Bellamy was just as tense next to her. Are you sure I'm not allowed to strangle her?
I'm actually fucking considering letting you, Clarke returned.
"We barely have a foothold in this community," Diana added. "Do we want to risk making an enemy of one of the main players in this area?"
"It is a valid question," Jaha nodded thoughtfully.
"No it isn't!" Clarke burst. "They're our people!"
"I have to agree with Clarke on this one," Abby stepped in. "If we don't make an effort to get back our people now, the rest will think that we believe them to be just as expendable. Especially with emotions running as high as they are now, we don't want people thinking the worst of us."
"That's your problem with what they said?" Clarke stared at her mother.
"No, honey, you're misunderstanding me. I agree that we should try to get them back."
"Yeah, no. Not the part I was questioning you on," Clarke leveled.
Bellamy looked around the table, ending on Diana Sidney. "Do you not want to have Abled in your community?" Diana answered with a vehement yes, the other's protested the accusation. "Because I will tell you exactly what will happen if we take all the Abled into our camp or create a new one with them. Yes, you will still likely be able to get by and survive without them even though it would be easier with them in your community. But half the accord with the grounders specifically refers to our Abled. So, if they are not part of your community, you will have to come to a second agreement with the Commander. And honestly, I think our number of Abled was more than half the reason she agreed to align herself with us in the first place.
"And if you don't manage to get an accordance with them, there is no guarantee that the clans will not see you as a threat or imposition on them or their land. Clarke will likely still try to help you, because have you met her? She doesn't know when to give up." Clarke felt herself blushing under his praise. "But how many other Abled do you think will still think you worthy of their time if you deem them not worthy of yours?" He turned to look each of the council members in the eye.
"If you had just let me speak, I would have argued on your side," Kane smiled at the younger man. "No need for the dramatic monologue."
"I am on your side as well," Abby reiterated.
Clarke turned her gaze on Jaha and Diana. "Let me put this in terms you might understand. Lexa is the Commander. She is not the leader of the Trikru clan on whose territory we landed, she is the leader of the twelve clans. She commands thousands of people. The Mountain is a single community locked into one mountain. They have already attacked us and obviously mean us harm. You say you don't want to make an enemy of them? Ask anyone walking around this camp and most will say that they already are. The grounders are a strong ally who will help us not only get our people back from the Mountain, but will help us survive. If you honestly still believe that we would be better off not rescuing the people in Mount Weather and solidifying our alliance with the grounders, I am prepared to meet with Lexa and inform her that we are separating from you."
"I will not bow to your empty threats, mutant," Diana snarled.
Clarke met her gaze with an icy stare. "They are far from empty. I will stand for my people and I will not let anyone, not even the Council, stop me from doing so."
Jaha chuckled, surprising everyone. He looked at her with a sad look in his eye. "I'm pretty sure my son said those exact words to me." He took a deep breath. "You have your wish, Clarke. We are behind you. Let us begin our discussion of how were going to get those kids out of the Mountain."
Clarke sighed and settled further into her chair. This was going to be long day.
Author's Notes:
Always and forever thanks to my friend, TheAmazonian, who betas, brainstorms, and BELLARKE!s with me.
Also, fun fact: when I wrote "Jaha chuckled, surprising everyone." I was included in that number because according to the notes I had written for this chapter a long time this meeting with the Council was supposed to have a lot more yelling and dramatics...maybe they're finally seeing reason?