I was leaning against a tall metal pole inside the fallen Ark station next to Murphy my eyes narrow as I watched the grounders come into the room. Needless to say I was waiting for the inevitable sign of conflict that was bound to happen. I was doing my best to honor the promise I made to Lincoln-to try and keep the peace between our people-but that was rather hard to do when they hated our guts. But so far Lexa's threat of death upon any who try and oppose the alliance has kept many in line.

"Quiet down." I turned my gaze to Kane briefly before rolling my eyes heavily at the man, he had shone great change as a leader and from the person he was on the Ark but I wasn't holding onto that with much but for now he was at least a better leader than Jaha. "Indra, please." I watched as Indra walked out into the middle of the floor silently her head held high as Kane joined her and spoke. "I know we don't have a lot in common. But we do have a common enemy and a common goal and for us to reach it, for us to get our people out of Mt. Weather we need to work together. Together. Sky people and Tree people-" I looked up as a tall figure started towards me and I stood tall looking at the grounder in suspension as his eyes would not leave Murphy. Murphy looked up at the grounder unimpressed as he spoke with a bored look on his face.

"You got a problem?"

"You stood there watching while my village was massacred." I stood up straight recognizing the mans words and felt guilt creep into my heart as I opened my mouth to tell Murphy to leave but he beat me to it with a smart ass comment with a smart ass grin on his face. Like usual.

"I'm sorry man, I don't speak grounder." Immediately the man hit the cup out of his hand and Murphy shoved the man back both of them ready to fight catching everyone's attention as I stood there ready to step in and stop anything.

"Mr. Murphy apologize to that man." Murphy looked at Kane in anger and spoke clearly pissed off his eyes not leaving the grounder in front of him.

"For what. He was the one who came at me."

"Two days work detail." Murphy snapped his head to Kane and spoke bouncing on his feet in anger the grounder looking at him still egging him on to fight him.

"Two days work detail? I just told you I didn't do it-" Kane raised a brow challengingly and spoke interupting Murphy.

"Care to make it three?" Murphy shook his head and rolled his eyes as he began walking away and the grounder spoke lowly as he watched Murphy's retreating form.

"Your going to burn just like your friend." I felt anger fill my body as I looked at the man and suddenly Murphy turned and swung at the man his fist colliding with the others jaw and immediately I was trying to separate the two as others soon joined in on fighting and trying to stop the conflict. I grabbed one man throwing him away from another before I too was shoved away and forced to leave the room while Kane tried to settle the room.

I practically stormed to a semi solitary place among the yard that was placed around the Ark my hand twitching painfully to go back in and beat that man senseless. I couldn't stop the anger that was coursing through my body as I forced myself to stand still my arms crossed over my chest. Even at the mention of...of Finn I was sent into a rage that I couldn't seem to quench and the moment it even seemed like it was going to die down the grounders exited the Ark and began training I spotted the grounder who tried starting a fight with Murphy, the one who mentioned...

"Nightbleeda!" My head snapped over to see a grounder pointing to me and then gestured forwards with his hands making me narrow my eyes as he spoke loudly his dark dreads falling back off of his shoulders. "You'll bleed like all the rest." I couldn't stop myself as I walked forwards and took my blade off of my back pushing it into Octavia's arms as I walked passed her, both her, Kane and my father's attention on me as I walked towards the tall and pale skinned grounder an irritated look on my face as I spoke.

"Were supposed to train together...and your about to get your ass kicked." The grounder looked at me in amusement as he stood over a head taller than me and was quite a deal broader than myself and before I could take another step forward Indra's loud voice stopped me from doing so.

"The Nightblood is under the Commander's protection." I squared my shoulders not really caring who's protection I was under at the moment, I was ready to throw down and do what I had to in order to get these people's respect. The man looked at me with narrowed brown eyes looking at me daring me to defy the words Indra spoke and thus defy the commander. "No one touches her." The grounder nodded his head and spoke to me challengingly as Indra turned away.

"The child is as scared as she is weak."

I watched as the grounders trained my eyes focused on the man from earlier, the one who tried to get me and fight him. He was training with another the rain soaking all who stood out from under cover. My own being was soaked, my hair falling in my face as my clothes stuck to my body as I stood silently before I stepped forwards blade in my hand towards the training and towards the tall grounder only to have Indra block my path.

"Step aside Sky girl." I shook my head and spoke stubbornly as I looked at the drenched women in front of me daring her to do as I suggested.

"Make me." Indra narrowed her eyes and spoke loudly to the grounder I was marching towards.

"Daren give the Nightblood what she wants!" Indra stepped aside and I was well aware of Octavia watching the scene unfold no doubt ready to spar as well. Daren had a smirk on his face as he pointed his blade at me his dark dreads sticking to his head mud smeared across part of his face.

"I thought you were untouchable." I squared my shoulders as I began walking forwards as I spoke loudly feigning strength and authority in my voice-something I had a lot of practice doing since being on the ground.

"I won't tell if you don't." The grounder smirked and before I knew what was happening a ring formed around us I glared as I rushed him swinging my blade the two colliding many times before a fist collided with my face and a powerful knee collided with my stomach making me groan in pain as I was thrown to the ground. Spitting I was quick to shove myself to my feet seeing the grounder walking away. "We're not done yet."

"She wants more." I ignored Indra's voice as Daren swung his blade at me causing me to duck and swing my own, only he caught my arm before slamming his elbow into my nose causing a painful stream of black blood to come oozing out. I swung my blade once again this time landing a blow before getting back handed with the blunt end of his knife causing me to fly back and hit the ground painfully. I was quick to roll off of my back and push myself to my knees using my blade to help myself stand.

"Finish it." I once again ignored Indra as I pushed myself to my feet as fast as I could swinging my fists landing harsh blows to Daren's face pushing him back as I brought my foot up kicking him in the chest causing him to stumble back shock written clearly across his face. This shock didn't last long as it soon went back to me receiving painful blows to the abdomen before I was flipped painfully over his shoulder. I cried out loudly as I hit the ground my body begging me to stay down as Daren turned his back. Pushing myself through this pain I forced myself to stand once again as I looked at the grounder with a strength I hadn't felt since I began training with Lincoln. Daren turned around disbelief clear in his eyes as I stumbled forwards and swung clumsily as he caught my arm easily pulling it back causing me to arch back before I quickly brought my head forwards and smashed it into his own causing him to release me. Quickly I brought my leg up delivering a kick to his head before I backed up and smirked seeing my own dark blood stain his head along with his own.

"The child is as scared as he is weak." I saw anger light up in his face as he charged me his own words enraging him as I dodged a few of his hits before he tightly grabbed me by the throat shoving my arm around my back. I cried out in pain as I threw my head back letting it collide with his before throwing my back down using his own weight against him as I threw him over my back. Though I wasn't expecting him to keep a grip on my arm causing me to flip then over him as he forced himself to his feet my arm twisted in his grasp as I tried standing to my feet blood pouring down the front of my face. He yanked me up by my arm and once again twisted it back painfully and I cried out and threw myself forwards to spit dark blood in his face defiantly. He wiped his face angrily before punching me hard in the abdomen causing me to gasp for air as he hit me again and let me hit the ground. I was on my hands and knees desperately trying to breath and get up as more kicks were delivered to my abdomen before I flew over onto my back as I gasped and made myself turn back over as I laid on my stomach coughing and gasping for air my vision getting hazy.

"Enough." I groaned in pain at Indra's words as she looked down at me and I looked up at Daren who wiped his face before walking back to the others. Coughing I shakily pushed myself up onto my hands and knees as I was pulled up into the familiar hold of my father as my vision turned black.

I was sitting in the medical wing rubbing my neck painfully trying to ignore the persistent stinging I felt in the many wounds I had on my face. Needless to say I over did it just a little bit.

"You fought like a child today." I looked up to see Indra and I nearly groaned I knew I was gonna get chewed out when I woke up. Octavia told me all about what Indra told her after she fought as well. "All aggression, no thought, no defense. Always leaving yourself exposed, revealing your next move before you made it, each strike-" I couldn't help the loud groan that left my lips as I spoke looking up at the women in front of me.

"Yeah I know I got my ass handed to me. I know that makes you happy."

"It does. Because you did not give up, strength of spirit like that is rare, I have only seen it a few times myself, and it must be guided." I couldn't help but look at Indra in confusion as she sat next to me, maybe it was the concussion but did she just compliment me? "The commander will not be happy that you disobeyed her orders, you were told directly not to interfere with training and yet you did so...and in doing so you have shown what she was looking for in the nightblood within you." I raised a brow at her cryptic words before she stood and left me to my thoughts, what in the hell just happened? I shook these thoughts from my head as I forced my legs to stand and I wrapped myself up in a jacket before walking outside of the Ark to see many sitting around a fire both grounders and sky people sitting and eating peacefully. I looked around in disbelief wondering if maybe I had died in that fight or if maybe I was in some sort of coma to see such a thing happen. I raised a brow as I walked over to my father and sat on a log next to him as Kane spoke with a gentle smile looking around.

"You know you had a part in this." I shrugged not really seeing how getting my ass kicked played a part in that but I spoke indifferently.

"Blow it and I'll kick your ass." My dad looked at me gently no doubt concerned at what path I was leading myself down with getting involved with the grounders. I shook those thoughts out of my heart though and instead focused on Daren's tall form walking towards me causing me to straighten and tense. I quickly relaxed upon him offering me a plate of food and a smirk.

"War will make a warrior of you." I couldn't help but smile gently at his words as I took the plate thankfully and he gestured to a place where the other warriors sat gesturing me to follow. He walked away sending Kane a suspicious look and before I could follow Kane spoke lowly.

"I see you're making friends." I raised a brow and shrugged indiffrently not seeing the point Kane was trying to make as I spoke.

"And?"

"What do you think is going to happen when we get your friends back? And we no longer have a common goal, when the war is over, what then?" I looked around the camp at all of those at peace and I spoke sending Kane a sarcastic smile.

"We'll all hold hands and sing songs around the camp fire...when this war is over we can find peace, through trust and honesty. I will be looking out for my people as I have been sense coming to the ground Kane." I was quick to push myself to my tired legs as I walked over to Daren's side and he offered me a smirk as I took up a spot next to him.

I was standing in front of Lexa's tent dreading the conversation we were about to have, I was still in a fair amount of pain from my fight and I knew I'd be getting my ass chewed for doing what I did. Finally deciding to take a deep breath I pushed my way past the velvety red cloth and was a little taken back to see the normally fierce looking commander looking like a harmless cinnamon roll as she sat in her chair fiddling with something. Her head perked up at the sight of me and immediately I felt as if I was about to face a wrath from hell.

"What is this?" Lexa didn't even need to raise her voice in order for me to see the anger radiating off of her. I shrugged simply and spoke pretending not to have a clue what she was talking about?

"What ever do you mean?" Lexa raised a brow challengingly and spoke with an a touch of anger in her voice.

"Corey-"

"Just a little fun is all-"

"Indra informed me already, there is no need for deception." I sighed visibly allowing my shoulders to sag with the pain I was feeling from my fight as I shrugged simply as Lexa countinued. "Do you know what a warrior's second is?" I raised a brow and shook my head sounding unsure of my answer.

"An apprentice?"

"I can make you a great leader Corey of the Sky People. I want you to be my second." I raised a brow at the girl in front of me as Lexa looked at me expectantly and I spoke.

"Uh yeah I'll do it." She nodded and spoke with a smirk pushing herself to her feet.

"We'll start now." I had to hide my surprise but nodded as I followed her out of the town as we walked side by side and I couldn't help but notice the looks of respect she seemed to get from everyone who saw her. "I am sure Lincoln told you a fair amount of the story behind your blood." I shrugged gently as I let my arms swing back and forth gently along side me as I spoke.

"He gave me the basics but there is a lot I still have questions about." Lexa nodded gently as we walked through the town as she spoke wisely.

"That is understandable, you see the blood you have is something that is a rarity that shows with those who may be lucky enough for the soul of the commander to chose when it passes on."

"So your saying that when you die your soul may be crazy enough to pick me?" Lexa raised a brow in amusment before tilting her head to the side as she countinued.

"It is possible yes. I was chosen in my conclave and given the honor of being the commander as many before me have as well."

"So how do people find these night bloods? I mean they're rare right?"

"When a night blood is found they are sent to the capital to train with the others to prepare to one day become commander." I stopped dead in my tracks as I looked at Lexa with a raised brow and spoke with confusion clear in my voice.

"So that means I will have to go-"

"I have taken you on as a second. For the time being that will be enough to prepare you for the training that you will have when the times comes to leave for the capital. Some have advised me to ignore your potential as a night blood being you are Ski Kru, not one from the traditional clans, I have decided to proceed as I wish and will do as such." The two of us had come to a clearing and she turned to me and countinued. "Let's begin."

I spent the next few hours getting my ass handed to me. When I trained with Lincoln he never went easy on us but he never fully fought me not wanting to hurt me, but when I trained with Lexa she didn't even have to think about holding back because I couldn't even land a blow. We were fighting with small logs as make shift weapons I imagine and Every hit I tried to land she easily dodged before lecturing me about my way of attack as she made me recite sayings in her language telling me I needed to speak it perfectly.

I was panting as I was knelt over trying to catch my breath as Lexa looked at me unimpressed as she spoke simply.

"Again Corey." Taking in a deep breath I rushed towards Lexa throwing everything I had into this as I swung the log hitting hers as we did this before I threw my weight into the side pushing both of our weapons to the side and using that surprise I threw my foot up kicking her in the chest shoving Lexa back causing her to stumble before she quickly gained her footing and I stood there breathing heavily as she looked at me shock written clear on her face. She opened her mouth to say something when a loud rustling caught her attention making her quickly draw out her long sword as grounders rushed into the clearing.

"Heda! Heda!" I raised a brow at the grounders who were talking much to fast for me to understand as I raised a brow questioning as Lexa's face went blank as she nodded and snapped out an order before she looked at me.

"The mountain men have placed a hit on Clarke, and myself." I felt my eyes widen concern immediately filling me as I spoke in a panic.

"Is Clarke okay? Nothings happened-"

"She is fine, you may leave for your camp if you wish." I nodded as fast as I possible could feeling like a bobble head as Lexa continued with a small nod. "I will send a guard for you, come with me." I nodded as I sped behind the fast paced women as we quickly arrived back into TonDc and I followed close behind her into a hut. I nearly stopped in my tracks seeing that it was a large hut with an insanely large and decorated bed in the middle and seemed very decorated-this must be the place for people of importance to stay from the looks of it. I watched as Lexa went around pulling things into her hold before coming back to me as she gently handed me a bundle of cloth.

"Change, these are for you." I nodded with a raised brow as Lexa walked over to a table and was sorting through some things, quickly I removed my own clothes before pulling on the worn maroon short sleeved shirt, a dark pair of jeans, then I pulled on the jacket she had given me. It had pads of armor attached to it, it was fitted well to my body up until my navel where it flowed out slightly and was burned. (kind of like Octavia's jacket) I looked over my person and nodded to myself seeing everything was as it should be and Lexa turned to me and handed me a pair of long boots. I pulled my shoes off before I pulled the boots on and they came to the upper parts of my calves. Standing straight Lexa nodded looking me over before she ripped a piece of cloth from her colored sash that was under her armor. Stepping towards me she pulled it through my jackets front breast pocket and tied it securely a ghost of a smile tugging at the ends of her lips.

"As my second this shall help identify and show you from the rest." I nodded gently and she continued "Kneel and close your eyes." I raised a brow but did as she asked and knelt down closing my eyes, I felt her rubbing something over my face and after a moment she spoke once again. "You may stand. You are now officially my second Corey of the Sky People." I smiled slightly as she offered me a long blade in a leather holder, her head high emotion in her eyes as pride sounded in her voice. "This is now yours." I gently smiled as I took the weapon looking at it and before I could say a single word of thanks she offered me a soft nod as she spoke. "I will give you a moment." I nodded as she walked out of the hut leaving me to my thoughts for the brief moment that I desperately needed, so much had happened in the last few days and I just needed a second to breath, a second I didn't have with Clarke in danger. I spotted a mirror of sorts across the room and I stepped over and looked at my person in shock.

I looked completely different and I was shocked at the way I looked. My eyes and face had dark grounder makeup, it covered my eyes and went down drastically showing were Lexa had pulled her fingers down making the design-it was similar to her own in a way but yet completely different. The clothing fit my being well and the maroon of my shirt contrasted greatly with my hair color and eye color. The boots made my legs look longer and the jacket made my torso seem to stretch. It was almost impossible to see any sign of the once pacifist girl who came to the ground who fiddled with flowers, what I saw in the mirror wasn't that girl, what I saw was a warrior.

I walked out of the hut and as I did Lexa spoke in grounder and I raised a brow before my eyes widened at the sight of the dark haired dreaded grounder that I fought in a sparing match. Daren. The grounder had a smirk on his face as his dark eyes looked at me as he held the reins of another horse in his hands no doubt the one I was expected to ride. I pushed my thoughts down as I turned to Lexa and she spoke seriously as two guards stood near her.

"Return when you are done dealing with your people."