"Clarke," Octavia says, shaking the shoulder of the sleeping blonde. She gets a grunt as her answer. "Clarke," she calls again, shaking her harder. "Get up, or we're gonna be late."
Gradually, blue eyes open. "Octavia, what are you doing," Clarke murmurs groggily.
Rolling her eyes, the brunette answers excitedly. "Training, remember."
When Clarke came back to their tent last night and told Octavia about her training section with Lexa, the brunette jumped at the opportunity to join her.
"Fuck," Clarke groans while sitting up.
Octavia snorts at the blonde, who clearly was not a morning person. Them staying up late talking probably didn't help Clarke's mood either.
"Come on. We got to go." Pulling on Clarke's arm Octavia gets the Skaikru leader on her feet.
"Why did I agree to this?" Clarke asks grudgingly.
The brunette smirks, "Because you have a crush on the Commander and want to show her you're more than just a princess."
Octavia's words have the desired effect she was hoping for as Clarke's eyes bulge out.
"I DO NOT!" Clarke shouts, suddenly wide awake.
"Sure," Octavia purrs, not for a second believing Clarke's denial.
"Shut up," the blonde mutters, leaving the tent. Octavia follows behind, snickering.
Both girls shiver when the cold morning air hits them. "Shit," Octavia says, crossing her arms over her chest. Clarke mimics her.
"We're going to need warmer clothes," the blonde comments.
Octavia nods her head then gives Clarke a slight shoulder check, "Come on, the training area is this way."
After stopping to use the restroom, they continue their trek, only to stop mid-step when the sun begins to rise. Both girls stare in awe as the sky awakens to a ray of colors.
"Wow," Octavia whispers out. Clarke thinks wow is an understatement.
Clarke's not sure how long they stand there and watch the sunrise, but its too soon when Octavia elbows her in the side.
"Come on. We're late."
Reluctantly, Clarke begins walking again. Lucky their destination, it's in the same direction of the changing sky.
Lexa's standing next to Indra discussing training techniques when the General's face scowls. The Commander knows that look is aimed at Clarke. Turning, she spots Clarke walking towards her with Octavia beside her.
"Looks like you have a training partner after all," Lexa comments towards Indra. The Chief General scoffs but doesn't say anything.
The Commander studies the two women as they move closer. Both have their arms wrapped around themselves. Internally, Lexa kicks herself for not thinking about offering Clarke better clothes. Though she supposes, the blonde wouldn't accept them. Green eyes land on blue, and suddenly the air around her isn't so cold.
Octavia whispers something to Clarke, and the blonde instantaneously hit the younger girl in the shoulder. A spark of jealousy ignites in Lexa, but she quickly dowses it.
"I'm glad you could make it," she announces with a soft smile.
"Ha, if it wasn't for me, this chick would still be asleep," Octavia comments, pointing her thumb at Clarke.
Lexa's eyebrow arches at the unfamiliar term but doesn't comment on it.
Clarke rolls her eyes and states, "Can we just get this over with."
"Skaiheda is eager to be put on her ass," Indra remarks. Lexa has to bite her bottom lip to keep herself from smiling. She also has to ignore the image of Clarke lying on her back.
"We must warm-up first." Lexa declares, taking off her coat and draping it over the railing. Clarke, Octavia, and Indra do the same with their jackets and coat.
"Run with me," she requests, looking right at Clarke.
Clarke smiles confidently at Lexa. Running was something she is good at. Three times a week, the guards would let her out of the sky-box to workout in the gym for an hour. Clarke used that time to run on the treadmill, and it didn't take her long till she was running the entire hour at a fast, steady pace.
Lexa tilts her head at the self-assured smile she receives from the blonde. In that instant, Lexa decides not just to push the Skaiheda, but to annihilate her. She would show Clarke what it meant to go head to head with the Commander.
They start their run at a light pace with Lexa and Clarke in the lead. The blonde easily stays in stride with Lexa. After one lap around the village, Lexa picks up speed. Clarke feels the well-known burn in her muscles as she matches Lexa's tempo. After another two laps, Clarke is panting beside her, but she never loses stride. Smiling, Lexa takes off at a full out sprint. Seconds later, she feels Clarke's presence behind her, trying to keep up.
Meanwhile, Octavia and Indra stay side by side, keeping their own pace while watching the two leaders sprint full force ahead. Octavia rolls her eyes while Indra silently evaluates the young girl beside her. She's impressed by the physic of the sky girl. She did not think the girl would be able to keep up with her. Looking forward, Indra frowns at the back of the Skaiheda as she races off with the Commander. Her Heda will win hands down, but the blonde is putting up a great fight.
Lexa is still running at full speed when she senses Clarke fading. Rotating her head slightly, she catches Clarke's blue eyes with hers. Wordlessly, she encourages Clarke to keep going. 'Just a little more,' she comments with her eyes. Lexa sees Clarke fight for that last bit of strength she still has. Turning her head back around, Lexa leads Clarke and the others back to the training ground.
Both leaders charge into the dirt-covered ring with Lexa ahead of Clarke. As soon as the blonde's legs stop moving, she collapses onto her back and pants heavily. Lexa tries not to think of Clarke in a similar state of panting for a whole different reason. The Commander's mind is saved when Indra and Octavia come into the ring. Indra stands next to Lexa while Octavia crashes down on top of Clarke.
"Show off," Octavia huffs out, hitting Clarke on the shoulder.
Clarke lets out a groan as the brunette lies across her. "Get off," Clarke grunts, shoving Octavia off her.
Both pant heavily on their backs.
"Pathetic," a warrior comments from outside the ring.
Clarke ignores the statement, but Octavia swiftly stands and glares at the warriors standing around. "Who said that," she growls. Though its a little less intimidating since she's still trying to control her breathing.
"I did," says a male warrior stepping up to the fence that partly surrounds the training area. He's not much taller than Octavia, but he is muscular and looks very threatening.
Still trying to catch her breath, Clarke gets up as quickly as she can and stands just behind Octavia. She debates about pulling the younger girl behind her, but something tells her it would be wrong to do so. Instead, she opts to stay back, but show she supports Octavia.
"The only thing pathetic around here is you," the young brunette barks.
Clarke closes her eyes, briefly wishing she could gag the girl. Why couldn't she have just stayed quiet? Opening her eyes, Clarke watches the warrior jump over the railing and unsheathe his sword. The blonde is two seconds away from grabbing Octavia and pushing her behind her when Lexa's thundering voice shouts out.
"Boarno kom Trikru, do you wish to challenge Okteivia kom Skaikru into a training battle."
Clarke's head whips around so fast, Lexa's amazed she didn't break her neck. The Commander wants to calm the blonde, but she has to address Boarno first.
"Sha, Heda," the male warrior says, bowing towards her. She nods her head at his reply then looks over at the blonde.
Clarke's to busy freaking out inside her head to notice the Commander looking at her. What the Hell is Lexa thinking? Octavia can't battle with that warrior. He will kill her instantly. She has to stop this. Before Clarke can open her mouth to object to the battle, she catches Lexa's eyes.
Lexa tries to express to Clarke that Octavia will be okay silently, but she must fight this battle if she does not. She will be marked as weak, along with the rest of Skaikru. Lexa knows they are not weak and only need time to adjust to this new world, but her warriors will not give them that time. They will judge them for who they are now. Octavia has a fire inside her that Lexa's warriors will recognize and respect. She will show that Skaikru can be strong and courageous. Lexa just needs Clarke to understand this, but she can still read the panic in the blonde's eyes.
Slowly, Lexa begins walking to the center of the ring. As she passes by Clarke, she whispers, so only the blonde can hear her, "She will live." Unfortunately, it is all the reassurance Lexa can give to Clarke as she walks on by. Lexa prays, Clarke will stay quiet.
Meanwhile, Clarke stays frozen in her spot as the words "She will live," repeats over and over again in her mind. Those words are the only thing that keeps the blonde from crying out. She turns when Lexa's commanding voice rings out.
"Boarno kom Trikru, you have challenged Okteivia kom Skaikru into a training battle. The winner will be whoever makes their enemy surrender first." Everyone around the training ground yells and hollers their approval of the fight. Lexa raises her hand to calm down the crowd. "NO DEATHS SHALL COME FROM THIS CHALLENGE, HOWEVER!" Lexa shouts out. She turns to Boarno and addresses him. "You have challenged an untrained warrior. If she strikes you and you die, she will not be punished."
Boarno gives her a slight nod, and Lexa returns it. Around the ring, warriors begin beating their weapons on the railing or ground. They create a rhythmic drum.
Striding back to Clarke, Lexa leads her out of the ring. "Okteivia will be safe. She will have injures, but will live," Lexa promises Clarke softly. The Commander stands next to Indra with Clarke at her side.
Clarke grips the railing anxiously as she watches Octavia pick up a sword from a weapons rack. "She will live," she repeats again in her head.
"Idiot," Indra grunts looking out into the ring. Lexa's not sure if it's Octavia she's referencing too or Boarno or possibly both.
The Commander watches as Boarno readies himself for the challenge. He is a loyal warrior and will fight to the death for her, but she does not trust him to be honorable with Octavia. He won't kill her, that she is sure of, but he will undoubtedly hurt her. How bad it will be, is up to Octavia?
Everyone around the ring watches as the two warriors draw closer, and the drumming stops.
Clarke holds her breath when Octavia screams and charges.