Octavia was gardening again. It relaxed her, and let her keep Star close, and kept her near their home so she could change Star's diaper or feed her as needed. Clarke knelt beside her. "Hey."
"Hey, Clarke, how are you?"
"I'm good. How're you, and how's the little one."
"She's asleep, I'm fine, and I don't believe that you're good."
"Please don't try to help me, Octavia. And stop helping Bell. We'll be fine."
"You guys are not fine," Octavia insisted.
"We are. We will be. Sometimes we forget that everything is working out better than we hoped. Sometimes, that doesn't matter, but not for long."
"Clarke, you scared me. Bell scared me. I just want you to be happy."
"I am happy. Usually. So is Bellamy. He let you find your own way. Let him find his."
"And you?"
"Some days are better than others. Overall, I'm happy, I promise. Like I said, your happy little family gives me hope. That's why I did what I had to, so we could have this. Look how far we've come from the drop ship. We have houses and gardens and a future that doesn't involve sleeping in caves hoping we don't wake up with a sword on our necks."
"But you didn't sound like those things matter."
"They matter the most."
"Clarke, c'mon, you know you can talk to me."
"I know I can, but I don't feel like talking about it. It just makes it more real."
"It is real."
"So is this. And it's way better than the shit in my head, so I'm asking you again, for me and for Bellamy, to let it go. If we need you, we will find you."
"Promise me, Clarke."
"I promise, Octavia. If I'm here and I need you, I will find you. If I'm in Polis and I need you, I'll radio."
"Thank you. Now move, you're in my way."
Clarke laughed and stood up. Octavia moved sideways and pushed against Clarke's legs, and she stepped back so Octavia could kneel where Clarke had been.
"See you later," Clarke said, and walked toward the gate.
"Bye, Auntie Clarke."
Clarke turned around to see Octavia waving Star's arm. She smiled and waved back before resuming her walk toward the training area.
When she got there, Lexa was demonstrating some moves. The trainees were focused on her movements. She repeated them several times in slow motion, showing them how each led to the next. Lexa and Indra showed them how it worked in real time before pairing them off to practice. Lexa and Indra walked behind them, stopping to adjust an arm or leg until they were satisfied that everyone learned the day's lesson.
Clarke wished she'd stopped to get her sketchpad. The fluid movement from one pose to the next would make an excellent series of sketches, or better, a small flipbook that looked like a movie as the pages went by. She filed that idea away for later.
100 – 100 – 100
When they entered the mess hall that evening, a table full of strangers was uneasily looking around. Clarke called Lexa's attention to them, and they stepped out of line. When they were seen, everyone at the table bowed their heads.
"Have you eaten?" Clarke asked.
"No," the oldest mumbled.
"Come with us," Lexa said, and all of them jumped up to do their heda's bidding.
They got in line, and did as Lexa and Clarke did. When they had their food, Clarke cleared a table so all of them could sit together. Over their meal, they learned who each of them were and where they were from. Mack was the boldest of them, and said to Lexa, "The messenger said you ordered this, but I did not think we would see you here."
"We are visiting, and you will see us with the others in the morning. I am curious about what you are learning."
"Skai Heda, too?"
"Sha," Clarke answered. "It's been a while since I was in class. The teachers are excellent," she added.
"Nyko trained me," Quin volunteered.
"He is here. You will see him," Clarke said.
"Where are your quarters?" Lexa asked.
"In the sky box."
Clarke twitched at those words, but only Lexa noticed. She leaned close and asked, "What is it?"
"Skybox was what they called jail."
"It is the Ark," Lexa corrected, and gently squeezed Clarke's thigh. Clarke covered Lexa's hand and squeezed back.
"I do not like it," Mack volunteered.
"I understand," Clarke said, "but right now, we have no room anywhere else."
"It is safe," Lexa assured them. "I would not permit it if you would be in danger."
"Sha, Heda."
Nyko came in and stood behind Clarke and Lexa. "I see you have met our healers," he said. "Skai Heda, do not forget to see me this evening."
"We'll be there," she answered.
He went to get in line without answering her. A minute later, Clarke saw Abby and Marcus come in together. She watched them, but they didn't notice. They were both smiling and Marcus put his hand on Abby's back to move her in front of him in line. They continued to talk while moving through the line.
"Raven was right."
"What?" Lexa asked.
"Look at Mom and Marcus."
Lexa glanced at them and asked, "What?" again.
"Raven told me they're, I don't know what they're doing, but they're doing it together."
"Sha, for a month or more."
"How do you know that?"
"The reports are very detailed."
"Your reports talk about people's relationships?"
"Only the people important to you."
"You could at least share them."
"This is something your mother should tell you."
"She's obviously not going to do that. I'll be back."
Lexa tried not to smirk. She wondered how Abby would handle this, and watched over her shoulder as Clarke squeezed in between them on a bench at the table behind them.
"Hi, Mom. Hi, Marcus. Something you want to share?"
"You obviously know."
"I don't know anything," Clarke lied.
Marcus laughed.
Clarke focused on him. "We're going to have a talk later," she told him.
"Don't threaten him," Abby said.
"I'm not threatening anyone, but I will remind you what a bitch you were to Lexa and point out that I'm being polite."
Lexa laughed and quickly smothered it. She felt Abby's glare and smiled at her.
"Clarke, I'm free whenever you want to talk," Marcus said.
"Thank you." She leaned over and kissed Abby's cheek. "Love you, mom."
"I love you, too, Clarke. Can I eat my supper now?"
"Yup." Clarke got up and went back to her seat beside Lexa. "That was fun."
Everyone at the table was staring at them. Clarke noticed and said, "That's my mom, Fisa Abi."
"Nomon," Lexa clarified.
"Well, now you all have something to talk about," Clarke said, and got up. She ignored the discomfort in her hands while she gathered her empty plate and Lexa's, their utensils and mugs. Lexa wished them all a good evening and went to wait for Clarke at the door.
Bryan jogged toward them. "Hey, Clarke, Raven sent me to get you guys. One of the scout teams needs to talk to the Commander."
"Thanks, Bryan."
He walked with them to the radio room. Raven said, "Here she is," and handed the microphone to Lexa.
"Heda."
"Sha. Who is this?"
"It is Mason, Heda."
"What have you found?"
"There are many Skaikru in the villages. They are prisoners, but they refused to release them even after we told them it was your order."
"Where are you? Is everyone well?"
"Sha, Heda, we are well. Skaikru are not." He described where they were.
"Wait one moment, I will be back."
"Map's on the table," Raven said.
"Chof." Lexa turned and studied the map, and returned to the microphone. "Go to Goshen and wait for us."
"Sha, Heda."
"We need Bellamy and Indra," Lexa told Raven.
Raven picked up the radio and hailed them. When they answered, she told them to come to the radio room on the double.
When they arrived, Clarke and Lexa were looking at the map, plotting the quickest route.
"What is it, Heda?"
"One of the scout teams called. They found a craft, but no people. When they searched the villages, they found Skaikru that the villages refuse to release."
"I'll get the warriors. How far?"
"Past the edge of the radios. The scouts are waiting at Goshen."
Indra nodded.
"Who do you want to send, Clarke?"
"They'll need a healer, so Jackson, and as many as you can round up. Get everyone ready."
"We will leave shortly after dawn," Lexa told them. "Have everyone meet in the mess hall for a meal an hour before, and we will depart after eating."
"Are you coming with us?"
"Sha," Lexa answered. "They will need more than one healer."
"It's going to rain tomorrow," Raven reminded them. "Make sure everyone's ready for it."
"Thanks for the reminder, Raven," Clarke said.
"Show me on the map where you're going. I'm curious about the range of the radios."
Lexa pointed on the map.
"Damn, that's better than I thought. Can you take Monty and Wick? They can put a tower up while you take care of business."
"If they can keep up."
"I'll talk to them. If they're in the mess with you, you'll know if they're coming."
Lexa nodded. "I left maps in Polis. May I take this one?"
"Yeah, no problem, I'll print another one."
"Mochof, Raven." Lexa rolled the map. "We will keep a radio on in case you need to reach us."
"Ok, switch to another channel if you guys are just talking among yourselves."
Lexa nodded again, and looked at Indra. "Go, prepare them. As many horses as are available."
"Sha, Heda."
"You, too, Bellamy," Clarke added. "I'll go talk to Mom. We'll take Jackson. She and Nyko need to stay here with the healers."
She and Lexa hurried back to the mess hall. Abby, Jackson, and Nyko were sitting at the table with the healers, getting acquainted. Bowing heads interrupted their conversation and Abby looked to see who was there.
"Mom, one of the scout teams found another station. The people are being held prisoner. We're going to get them, and we're going to need a healer."
"I'll go," Jackson volunteered before Clarke could ask.
"Go pack what you'll need, and pack extra. The scouts said they aren't well. Meet us here an hour before dawn to eat and be briefed."
Jackson nodded.
"Are you going?" Abby asked.
"Sha," Lexa answered for them. "They defy my orders. I must go. Skaikru will recognize Clarke, will they not?"
"Probably. She saw almost everyone in the infirmary at some point."
"Skai Heda, your hands. Come now." Nyko got up. "I will return in a few minutes," he told the table.
Jackson, Nyko, Lexa, and Clarke left for the Medbay. When they arrived, Jackson immediately went to the storeroom and started gathering medicines, suture kits, and dressings. "Any idea how many people?" he yelled.
"No," Clarke answered while displaying her hands to Nyko.
"They look much better," he told her. "I will be right back."
He left them and returned a minute later with two pots of salve and two pairs of gloves. He applied the one he'd been using and gently rubbed it in. "Put more on in the morning and wear gloves to ride. Leave the gloves off at night and use this."
"Got it," Clarke said, and picked everything up.
"Be safe," he told them. "I must return."
"Sorry we're going to miss the class," Clarke said.
"Perhaps you will make it back before we finish."
"Maybe, but I'm not counting on it."
"It is not likely," Lexa added. "Go. They are waiting for you."
He left, and Clarke went to check with Jackson. He was putting things into a pack and looked up. "I'm good to go," he told her.
"Get some rain gear and a pistol from the armory."
"I won't carry a weapon."
"It's for your protection."
"Clarke, if I need to protect myself, that means you guys are incapacitated, and I'm dead anyway."
"He has a point," Lexa said.
"I'll feel better if you're armed," Clarke said.
"Not gonna happen." Jackson returned to filling the pack.
