Yo, I figured if I can bust out a few super short chapters, that's more likely to keep my productivity up and prove that I'm serious about keeping this fic going, so I apologise for the length but I feel pretty good about finally getting things back up and rolling. Obviously last chapter was pretty short too, but I have every confidence that I'll start lengthening them again once I've gotten back into the swing of things, so hang on in there!


War was coming. Scouts had reported movement from Azgeda territory, sending their fastest birds to Polis with messages, hoping desperately that their word reached Lexa. Alas, Lexa was, and would continue to be, locked away. Instead, River sat atop her sister's throne.

In books, River had often read about jealous siblings shoving one another from the spot light, stealing power, stabbing one another in the back. She wondered if, in fact, that was how this looked. Not that she cared. She hadn't wanted to lead a pack, let alone the whole city of Polis. So, in lieu of that fact, she held her advisers close. No one knew Polis like Indra, so she stayed by River's side. Abraham, despite River's stern words about needing someone to tend to the pack, spent his days in his wolf's skin, swearing that he would guard River day and night. Finally, Marcus Kane and Abigail Griffin were also by the wolf's side. They and their peoples' technology were an asset that River couldn't afford to ignore.

"Have long do we have to prepare?" Kane asked, looking at River through those so very tired eyes of his.

Thinking the route through, River shook her head. She wasn't sure in all honesty. "Nia has many troops. I say we shall expect her within a week, though her faster riders may come ahead as a first wave of attack. Five days? Sha, five days." She didn't know at all if her math was right. All she knew was that it would take her two or three days to run there with all her might. Wait, or would it take four? She didn't know. She'd spent too many years curled up at Lexa's side, she knew this now.

It was a low whine from Abraham that distracted her, forcing her to turn with a raised brow. "More?" She asked, waiting and watching as he nodded. "Two weeks? Or simply more days?" In answer, the black wolf scratched his huge paw against the harsh floor nice times, then, after a moment, a tenth time. "Ten days until war." River sighed roughly. Polis may have been full of warriors, but it was also a city full of elderly and sick people, full of children an those who had never learned to fight.

It had only been a day and a half since Lexa had woken, but it had become apparent quickly that her condition was going to be a problem. But three hours in the cells and she had woken again, as had her lust for blood and flesh. Still, through it all, Clarke Griffin, not even twenty summers, sat in the cell next door and spoke calmly to the raging commander. At all times, Yanni lay at her feet, ready to strike should Lexa's wolf push through in an attempt to break the bars that kept her caged, Kel was standing just the other side of the room with a tranquilliser. It hadn't been too hard to piece together thanks to Raven Reyes and Monty Green both being on the other end of a radio, talking them through it, then it was up to Nyko to mix herbs potent enough to put a raging beast to sleep. River hoped it didn't come to that.

Some time later, when River sat with the others for some food, Indra shuffled a little closer and leaned in, clearly with something to say. "The people will not hear Heda's words from your mouth. What are we to say of her?" And wasn't that the question. River wished she knew.

Alas, the young alpha swallowed a particularly tough piece of deer, breathing calmly for a moment before answering. "We tell them the truth, no? We tell them that we had a traitor in our midst who harmed our commander. Titus will die a death of a thousand cuts, the people will hear when Lexa is recovered-"

"They will not follow a wolf." Anya reasoned. There was no malice to her words, simply facts.

Was this true? Surely not. For all the years, had they not followed her? "They will follow Lexa." She stated surely, taking a drink.

"People will be scared. They will hear nothing more than their commander is changed. Change will not benefit this war."

"They will follow Lexa or they will die. The people of Polis have never feared wolves."

"They have never feared Wulf. The white wolf. They will fear what they do not know."

"They know Lexa though, don't they?" Marcus reasoned, meeting River's gaze when it turned to him. She was thankful for his support. "Surely your people will be comforted by the news that she's on the mend?"

To their shocks, it was Abigail who choked out a laugh. "You think that they'll follow her? You think that they'll love her when they see what she's done to Clarke?" Ah yes, as if River could have forgotten for even a second. It was strange though, Abigail seemed more concerned about Clarke's injured neck than she did. In fact, Clarke was, at that very moment, sitting but three meters from Lexa with no thought of her pain. "They won't care that she's healing. They'll care that their leader almost died and nobody told them."

Snarling, River shifted her eyes and set a glare upon the woman from the sky. "Learn your place." She bit out, hearing Abraham snap his teeth together in warning.

"Or I'll end up like Clarke?" Abigail laughed, crossing her arms in disbelief.

River looked at the faces around her. They were all so uncertain. Could she blame this scared mother? No, but she also couldn't keep a hysterical woman around as an adviser. "Anya, please escort Abigail to her room. See to it that she doesn't get into any trouble." And as the words left her mouth, Anya stood, but Abigail put up a fight. Well, she flailed and yelped, but Anya stood her up. Kane made to protest, but River waved him off. "You will both ride for Arkadia tonight. Anya and Ryder will ensure your safety. I have troops to ready for war, Marcus Kane, and so do you."

Why couldn't anything be easy? Couldn't things fall into place just this once? River presumed not.

.

.

.

.

.

Pacing. She wasn't sure why she was pacing, but each time she tried to sit, she couldn't help but shoot right back up again and get right back to pacing. She felt hot and cold all at once. Too big for her skin. Yet... too small? It made no damn sense. Why did nothing make any sense? She wondered why everything was so damn bright and why people were so damn loud.

Her eyes shot in every direction, never settling on any one thing for too long. She couldn't focus for too long, she had to keep moving, keep pacing, keep looking. Why, she didn't know.

A sound slipped from her sore throat and she could feel the heat in the air as it left her lips. She hadn't ever felt the heat of her own words before, so why now? Why did her throat feel as if someone had forced a hot poker down it? Gods, she was desperate for a drink.

Yes. Water. There was something else, something more. Something inside her knew that behind her, there lay a bucket of water. She spun, stopping her pacing for long enough to launch herself to the corner of the cell she was in, not caring for the yelp on the other side of the bars. She didn't know or care who or what made the noise, instead she grabbed the bucket and submerged her head, gulping greedily only to rip herself away an cough violently. Ah yes, breathing between gulps. Upon releasing the bucket however, she noticed the dents. Dents where her hands had been. Had she done that?

Of course, she already knew she had. That thing inside her knew, so she knew. She would have questioned what it was, but she didn't care, she just needed to move. She needed to move, to pace, to drink, to scream, to run, but there was only so much that she could do.

Like a panicked animal, she threw herself into the bars of her cell, releasing a deep, guttural cry upon the impact. It didn't hurt, but it also didn't free her. She was infuriated. That new voice inside her told her that she was strong enough to get out, but how? How could she get out? She needed to run, dammit.

"How is she?" She spun at a voice, but she'd heard the new individual enter the room. She'd simply chosen to ignore their presence until now. Changing her course, she threw herself toward the new voice, desperately trying to reach out and grab whatever was the other side of the bars. "That well, huh?" Came a dry chuckle from the same voice.

She finally allowed her eyes to begin to focus, but it was hard. It was almost as if she could see too much, she had to actively decide to look at one minute detail and allow her vision to fill in the rest. Equally, she felt like she could see for miles. What in hell was going on? The other side of the bars, she saw green eyes. They sat behind tanned and scarred skin, beneath a dark head of hair. Who was this familiar stranger? She knew those eyes, she and the new thing inside her were sure of it.

The individual one cell over spoke, but she ignored it. Whoever it was had been speaking for hours, never shutting up, but she didn't care. She was hungry. She needed to run. When was she going to get to run? "Lexa?" She new voice cut through to her, focusing her eyes once more on the familiar stranger. "You know who I am? You recognise me?"

"She hasn't spoken yet." Someone else piped up, making her step back and open her mouth, snarling.

The stranger smiled darkly. It wasn't a smile of joy, but instead a smile of rue. "Clarke, come and rest." Again, the annoyance in the cell next door said something, but the girl didn't care, neither did the stranger by the sound of things. "You need to eat and rest. She's not going anywhere. My wolves can't be down her all the time to babysit you. Upstairs, now. Eat. Bathe. Sleep." She was aware of some movement, but she couldn't look away from those green eyes.

Who was this stranger?

Who was anyone in the room?

Hell, who was she?


Okay, so I hope that was okay! Again, I know it was short, but I'm feeling good about the pace of things. Obviously if you have any thoughts or questions or requests etc then just leave me a review or drop me a message, I absolutely love hearing what people think of my work because it's something that I'm so fond of and passionate about, so I really would love to hear anything back about it all. Again guys, stay safe, stay indoors!