As soon as Ryder opened the door to admit Rook with her arms laden with food and clothes, her eyes immediately sought out the two women left in her care. Her eyes filled with happiness and a smile spread across her face as she spied the two of them snuggled up with one another. Quietly thanking Ryder, Rook moved out of the way so he could shut the door.
Quickly putting the things in her arms down, she walked softly over to the sleeping women and sat gingerly on the cot. She watched with amusement as Clarke's nose twitched slightly, and a soft rumble escaped from the blonde. It was joined by a second rumble making Rook glance at Lexa, and she saw a small smile play on the brunette's lips.
Feeling her heart swell in happiness at the sounds, she reached out and gently moved a strand of Clarke's hair behind her ear before lightly tracing the curve of her face. This made the blonde's eyes slowly flutter open, and a pair of brilliant blue eyes peered out and at Rook.
"Hei," Rook spoke softly.
"You're back," Clarke mumbled, smiling up at her.
"Sha," Rook replied nodding. "I brought food and clothes. Are you hungry?"
"Starving," the blonde said and tried to sit up, but Lexa's arm tightened around her, keeping her in place. "I don't think someone wants me to move."
Rook grinned, which only widened when Lexa spoke up, "I am comfortable."
"But I'm hungry," Clarke whined playfully.
"Rook can feed you," Lexa replied matter-of-factly, her eyes still closed.
"I'm not an invalid," Clarke huffed, and Rook chuckled.
"And she can't eat with her face pressed into your chest, hodnes," Rook pointed out.
Lexa let out a groan and opened her jade eyes to glare at Rook, "Why must you always stop me from remaining comfortable, Rook?"
Rook chuckled and leaned over to give Lexa a chaste kiss before leaning back, "Because it is not just about you, Lexa."
"Of course, it is. Ai laik Heda," she replied but loosened her hold to allow Clarke to sit up.
"We know," Rook said, smiling as she helped Clarke lay against Lexa more comfortably.
As soon as Clarke was sitting outward against Lexa, Lexa leaned her head down and pressed her nose into Clarke's hair and inhaling her scent to memorize it. Rook just smiled before getting up and preparing two bowls of porridge for them. Clarke reached for her bowl eagerly, and Lexa realized that if she wanted to eat, their positions needed to change again. Huffing in irritation, Lexa relinquished her hold of Clarke, and soon both women were propped up against the wall and eating.
Rook made her own bowl and sat at the table, her eyes straying between the two women and the map of Mount Weather on the table. They ate in peaceful silence and each woman did nothing more than enjoy it.
"Where's Mom," Clarke asked, realizing that neither her mother nor the healer was in the hut.
Rook swallowed her bit of porridge before answering, "Your mother is still asleep in my cabin, Prisa. Do not worry; Sursha is watching over her. She is safe."
Clarke frowned into her bowl, "How?"
Rook tilted her head curiously, frowning slightly, which Lexa thought was adorable. Rook quickly straightened her head and childishly stuck her tongue out before saying, "I don't understand, Prisa."
Clarke sighed and looked up at her, "When I woke up after escaping Mount Weather, Mom had been asleep on my legs. After this attack, I can't imagine her leaving my side voluntarily any time soon."
Rook nodded in understanding, "Oh, okay, now I understand. I do not know how she was convinced to leave your side. I just know that she is there and resting. Nyko is in the forest gathering what plants he can. Between the three of us, his stock has dwindled."
"Shit, I forgot that you're still recovering from your own injuries," Clarke replied, looking at her wide-eyed.
Rook gave her an enduring smile, "I'm fine, Prisa. Fully recovered. The cuts weren't that deep, and as you are experiencing, we heal quickly."
"I still don't understand that," Clarke said, frowning and shifting uncomfortably. "How can we heal quickly? How is it that I can feel both of your emotions and thoughts?"
Lexa and Rook shared a glance, but it was Rook that answered, "As far as I have been able to figure out, the healing is one of the gifts given by the Spirit of the wolf. The strength, agility, accuracy, heightened senses, and animalistic tendencies come from the animal itself. If I had to describe it, I would say that we are like a wolf but in human form. I have a theory about why we can feel one another."
"What's your theory," Clarke asked, and Lexa leaned forward a little in interest.
Rook sighed and shifted until she was facing the two women, "If you didn't notice, the dire wolves bear striking similarities with the three of us. Fur that matches our hair and eyes that match our own. Plus, I think it is safe to say that even before we bonded, the three of us were mutually attracted to one another in more than just the physical sense. Wouldn't you agree?"
This time it was Lexa and Clarke that exchanged a look, and Rook could see them both blush at the realization.
Smiling, Rook said, "I'll take that as a yes. Anyway, I do not believe that it just ends there. I believe that in some way, we were the wolves even before we encountered them."
Clarke broke off her stare with Lexa and frowned at Rook, "That doesn't make sense."
"Clarke, do you remember when we had those discussions on ancient civilizations and how even up to the end of the world, people relied on zodiac signs and numbers to dictate what they did," Rook asked.
"I think so," Clarke replied, eyes narrowed in thought. "How being born under a certain planet or constellation pointed out personality traits and even favorite colors."
Rook nodded eagerly, "Right. Well, in some ancient cultures, there was a belief in spirit animals. That if they went out on some quest and starved themselves, an animal would appear. This animal would act as a guide and protector. And it was said that they even shared personality traits."
"How does this relate to the wolves, Rook," Clarke asked, hoping for some clarity.
Rook sighed, "Well, from the dreams I have been having as the Bounstoka, I think that the two wolves that attacked you were the leaders of the pack. Just like you are the leaders of your respective people. The Bounstoka was more like a protector. One dedicated to protecting the leaders and the pack. Nyko pointed out that everything I've done and what I've felt guilty over failing is protection. I got into fights to protect those weaker in the Sky Box. I felt guilty over not being able to protect the village. And so on."
"The wolves are us, and we are the wolves," Lexa said softly.
Rook grinned and nodded, "Yes, but it is more than that."
"There's more," Clarke said weakly.
Lexa reached down and entwined her hand with Clarke's, squeezing it to comfort her. Clarke squeezed back but refrained from leaning against Lexa's injured shoulder.
"Clarke, I want you to think back to the day that I disappeared," Rook said, leaning forward and giving her an encouraging smile. "Did anything odd happen to you that day?"
Clarke closed her eyes to remember better, and when she did, she let out a soft gasp and snapped her eyes open, "I got this incredible pain along my left shoulder and side. It felt like something sharp had hit me several times, and then exactly like I was bitten. I felt the pain for hours, but when I had Octavia check, there was nothing there except for some redness."
"And Lexa did you feel anything strange during the attack," Rook asked.
Lexa leaned back as she thought and replied, "When I heard the gunshots from Klark's fayagon, it felt like she was shooting me."
Rook nodded and then stood up. She quickly discarded her shirt before grabbing a lit candle and moving closer to the two on the cot. The two young women looked at her with confusion but waited patiently.
"When I was on my way back, I became gripped with so much pain that I threw myself off Arthos and vomited. It felt like someone was stabbing me in my chest several times. Then I felt like I was being bitten again on my left shoulder," Rook said carefully. "When I examined the wolf that you fought, Lexa, I found wounds in the same vicinity that I felt the pain. Clarke, those areas that you described to feel pain were in the same places that I struck the Bounstoka with the ax. When I examined the wolf that Clarke fought, I found wounds in the places you described, Lexa."
She paused and got on the cot between the two women, kneeling and bringing the candle closer to her chest, "If you look closely, you'll see silver marks tinged with a light green vine. They are in the same place as that of the wolf. Looking over your chest, Lexa, I found circular silver markings tinged in blue in the same place as the wolf Clarke fought. I did not examine Clarke because of her wounds, but I am certain there would be silver marks tinged in gray where I struck the Bounstoka."
Both women leaned forward to examine Rook's chest, and she helpfully pointed them out. They did the same on Lexa. When they were done with their examinations, they both leaned back, and Rook returned to her seat.
There was a long silence as the two women on the cot thought about what Rook had told them. There was no mistaking the marks, and each woman knew that it was where they had struck the wolves. There was no denying the connection.
"It's apparent that this was meant to happen," Rook spoke softly, looking at them with a seriousness that could be felt by all three women. "But I cannot even begin to fathom as to why. Or why now."
Clarke's eyes darted quickly back and forth as she thought furiously, shoving back the doubt she felt at being presented with such impossible facts. Instead, she focused on the why. Why them. Why now. And she knew that Rook had partially answered her questions.
Licking her lips nervously, she glanced between Lexa and Rook, "Why is because of who we are to our people. Lexa is the first Commander to bring peace to twelve clans that have only ever known war. I'm the leader of people that weren't supposed to touch the ground for another two hundred years. I successfully kept my people alive and brokered a peace almost single-handedly. And you, Rook, you've devoted your life to protecting others. We have done things that others have failed at or would have failed by sacrificing ourselves for the greater good of our people's survival. And we would sacrifice our lives if it meant that others would live. It's who we are at our core. We didn't ask for this, but we took responsibility for it. We willingly took the weight."
"As to why now," Lexa spoke up. "The obvious is this war. This is the first time that my people have been unified against a common enemy. This is also the first time that we have an advantage, thanks to Skaikru. This is the first time that we have help on the inside. It all points to giving us an even greater advantage against the Mountain Men."
Rook tilted her head, thoughtfully, "Because we can feel each other and communicate without the need of a messenger or radio."
Lexa nodded with a determined and fierce look on her face, "Our only hindrance is distance. Our bonds only reach so far, but knowing that we can account for it."
Rook bit her lower lip as she turned to examine the plans of Mount Weather, "Which means that we can amend our war plans to stage attacks from multiple angles, splitting our forces and giving us a greater chance of success."
"Wait a second," Clarke interrupted them, holding up a hand to stall their protests. "Before the two of you delve any deeper into making plans. Which I can hear, by the way, how quickly the two of you are making and discarding plans. I mean, seriously. Stop. You two are making me feel dizzy and making my head hurt."
Rook and Lexa both blushed, and Clarke could feel their embarrassment, making her smile.
Before she could get distracted by what she was getting from them, she continued, "We need to discuss the bond between us. What it means and if it's the same as the bond between the three wolves."
Rook sighed and slumped in her chair, giving the blonde an aggrieved look, "Do we really have to?"
"Yes," Clarke replied firmly and giving her a no-nonsense glare.
Lexa looked between the two, missing the point, "I do not understand."
Rook sighed again and looked at Lexa, "She wants us to talk about our feelings, Lexa. What we feel for one another."
Understanding, Lexa slumped back against the wall and looked so much like Rook that Clarke couldn't help the chuckle that escaped her lips. Both brunettes glared at the blonde, which only made her laugh louder.
Forcing herself to stop, she cleared her throat, "Yes. We need to talk about what we feel for one another besides the obvious physical attraction."
Rook glowered at Clarke and crossed her arms across her chest, "Fine."
Clarke nodded at her agreement and turned to look at Lexa, "Well?"
Lexa sighed heavily, hating that Clarke was forcing this talk on them now of all times, but nodded reluctantly, "Very well. We shall talk about our feelings."
Clarke rolled her eyes at their behavior, "It's not like it's the end of the world to talk about this, guys. We need to figure it out so that we're all on the same page."
Rook huffed in irritation and mumbled, "I would rather be tied to a tree again. Heda, overrule her, beja."
Lexa glared at Rook, "Let us hear her out, Ruk. We know where we stand with one another but not with her."
Rook sighed and slipped her shirt back on before standing up, "Fine, but if we're talking about feelings, I need something stronger to drink."
"Make sure there's enough for me," Lexa ordered.
"Guys, it's not that bad," Clarke said, looking at them.
"We are Trikru. We don't do feelings," Lexa stated even though there was a glint of amusement in her eyes.
"What she said," Rook said, smirking slightly and going to the door to speak to Ryder.
Catching on that they were teasing her, Clarke just rolled her eyes and said, "You two are impossible."
Lexa wrapped her injured arm lightly around Clarke's shoulder and pulled her in to lay a kiss on her temple, "Rook and I have already had this discussion, niron. We were just waiting for you."
"Oh," Clarke said, blushing brightly. "Then why the attitude?"
"When else can we be free to express ourselves, Prisa," Rook said, joining them on the cot with a cool wineskin in her hands. "Outside these walls, we must be as unyielding and strong as the rocks. Bend like the trees but never break. Our feelings for one another are both our greatest strength and weakness, Prisa. Ones we cannot let others see until we are so firmly planted that it would take an act of god to dislodge us. Inside these walls, we are free to be Lexa, Clarke, and Rook. Outside we are Heda, Skaiheda, en Pakripa. Do you understand?"
Clarke sighed and nodded reluctantly, "I understand."
"Os," Rook replied, offering the wineskin. "So, tell us, Prisa, what do you feel?"
