AN: This was a triple update so go back to chapter 7 if you haven't! 11/15/2020
There was still a little less than two hours before noon when Clarke finished preparing for the scouting mission. Raven disappeared an hour ago muttering under her breath about all the things she still needed to fix on the Argo II and Octavia was sound asleep, still recovering from yesterday's siege as well as the Senate meeting this morning.
With nothing else to do, Clarke checked her bag one more time. She had her cellphone, which was fully charged and turned off. She rarely ever used it. It was for emergencies only because using technology as a demigod was like sending a locating beacon to all the monsters nearby. She learned that the hard way.
She also had a dog whistle in her bag which she carried everywhere. (It helped that the dog whistle would magically reappear in her pocket everytime she misplaced it). Her father gave it to her as a present three summers ago. With it, she could call Cerberus or any hellhound to her aid anytime and anywhere.
She had another gift from Hades with her - a black shimmery cloak that mimicked the powers of Hades's very own Helm of Darkness. Though Clarke could already hide her presence to some extent by covering her essence with shadows around her, the cloak made it a lot more effortless to disappear into thin air. It proved to be very useful in many past quests as well as whenever she needed to prank the Ares cabin.
Besides these items, Clarke of course carried several essential healing supplies given her unofficial position as the team's healer. Clarke eyed her supply of nectar and ambrosia. She was running a bit low after she used most of it on Octavia and Raven last night. It wouldn't hurt to get a bit more for the trip just in case.
With a goal in mind, Clarke set off for the Roman camp's infirmary.
Opening the door, Clarke peeked in and was mildly surprised to see the place nearly half full of injured demigods. The injuries all looked quite severe too. Clarke spotted - felt - several broken bones, some major cuts, and a few concussions.
She took a step inside and was instantly awarded with several rather harsh glares. Clarke wondered what she'd ever do to them to receive such treatment when the healer on duty peeked up from where he was stitching someone together and spotted her.
"Ah, if it isn't the woman of the hour," he exclaimed, going back to his work, his hands moving quickly but nimbly. Clarke couldn't quite decipher the meaning behind his words, but he was obviously very skilled at his job.
"Thanks to you," the boy continued, "I have my hands full with patching these people up." He looked up suddenly, shooting Clarke a pointed glare. "Also, whatever you used for your stink bombs was horrid. It took me nearly an hour to find a countercurse for it and by then this place stunk worse than the pegasi stalls. And don't even get me started on the glue and feathers," he rolled his eyes, moving on to his next patient in a flurry of movement. "Broken arms, arrow wounds, lacerations - all that I can fix very easily. But ambrosia and nectar can only do so much in the face of magic induced stickiness and stink, you know."
It was only then Clarke realized that everyone around her was only there because of her.
She immediately felt bad, but a part of her also knew that it wasn't her fault entirely. Injuries were just another part of being a demigod and with activities like war games, they were inevitable. It did however, explain the unfriendly treatment she was receiving.
The healer must've noticed the look of guilt stricken across her face because he was quick to say, "Ah, don't worry your pretty little head over it. It's almost always like this after a war game. Us Romans are tough enough to endure whatever you throw at us." He paused to look at Clarke curiously. "What are you doing here, anyways? Are you hurt?" He scanned her for any obvious injuries.
Clarke shook her head. "No, I came to get some ambrosia and nectar. I'm leaving on a-"
"On a scouting mission," the boy finished for her. When Clarke stared at him, he only responded, "Word travels fast around here. Especially since you and your friends are the only thing that everyone's been talking about."
Clarke knew that of course, but to be told that to her face was something else. She briefly wondered if there were any positive rumors floating around about them. Probably not.
"You're a healer, right?" he continued without pausing. "I heard you were decent at it. At least that's what the rumor mill says." Clarke had to question how that bit of information got around. Was it Lincoln?
"I could use your help for a bit. I'll give you what you want as a reward?" He finished.
Clarke chuckled to herself much to her own surprise. She found herself quickly taking a liking to the healer. He was easy to talk to, and unlike the other Romans, didn't openly despise her. He even trusted her enough to let her tend to his patients.
"Sure," shrugged Clarke. She had time to kill anyways. Plus, she missed being in the infirmary. It was where she excelled. Ironic, she knew, that a daughter of Hades would be so good at preventing death, but it was true.
"Perfect," grinned the boy. "Pick whatever you like. There's plenty of injures here to keep you busy," he spoke as if a room full of injuries to a healer was akin to a playground for children.
"I'm pretty good at mending bones," revealed Clarke, flexing her fingers in anticipation. "And stitching people up."
"Really?" He regarded Clarke with interest. Mending bones was not something someone usually claimed to be able to do, let alone specialize in. "That's quite the unusual talent. Then by all means. Be my guest."
He pointed to a bed in the far left corner where a muscular boy with a shaved head lay motionless. "His injures are the worst. Two broken ribs, a shattered collarbone, and a cracked wrist. He's in a lot of pain. I gave him as much ambrosia and nectar as I dared to without him burning up into ashes but that's about all I could do. If you can help him, please do so.
Clarke walked over to the demigod carefully slightly apprehensive. The injuries the healer listed all sounded life threatening. As she approached him, she was surprised to see that he was awake. That was a good sign usually. He regarded her with shielded eyes but he didn't move.
He couldn't move, Clarke realized grimly. That's how badly he was hurt. She quickly scanned his body.
"Two completely broken ribs, one on each side at the top, and one slightly fractured on the left side right under. It appears to be caused by blunt trauma. Nothing was pierced though thankfully. Collarbone completely shattered. A fracture on the left wrist, and a fracture on the hip bone," Clarke diagnosed, a little horrified at the injuries she just listed. Not the worst she'd ever seen, but for a playful siege, they were pretty serious.
Clarke took a second to read the boy's life essence and was surprised to feel a strong pulsing force emanating from the boy. The essence wavered, obviously hurt and weakening, but it was still strong which astonished Clarke, who'd expected a much weaker life force. It could only mean that the boy was very strong willed. Clarke was reassured she'd be able to heal him back to full health. Death was not upon him yet.
"I'm surprised you're not passed out right now with that much pain," said Clarke, addressing the boy.
He only looked at her with contempt, his teeth gritted in pain.
"I'm not going to hurt you," Clarke said gently, raising both hands in the air to show that she was defenseless. She approached him carefully and slowly, making sure not to startle him. "I'm going to place my hands on your chest, very gently," she said in her most soothing voice possible. "I'm just going to need you to trust me. I promise I can make the pain go away." ' At least for a little while…'
The injured boy scowled at her. "I do not trust Graecus," he managed to choke out, though the effort brought forth tears in his eyes. "Especially not you."
Clarke frowned at the boy in disbelief. Even though he was like this, he still didn't want her help. Clarke honestly thought she'd seen the limit of Roman stubbornness but here she was being proven wrong yet again.
"You don't really have much of a choice," said Clarke sternly, not in the mood to argue. It would only prolong this boy's pain and healing him was her number one priority right now, camp rivalries be damned. "I can mend your bones and the pain will go away."
"Don't. Need. Your. Help," he managed to spit out through clenched teeth.
Clarke huffed lightly. "Well, you're going to get it anyways." If he was going to be stubborn, then she was going to be stubborn too. She was a healer for god's sake, she couldn't just walk away now. It would go against the Healer's Code she pledged to Apollo.
The boy flinched as she approached, only to immediately freeze as even the slightest movement brought forth a wave of intense pain. Clarke eyed him with sympathy.
Instead of placing her hand on his chest, she hovered it over his body. It wouldn't be as effective, and it would be harder for her, but she could manage.
Clarke closed her eyes and focused. She imagined concentrating her energy into the palm of her hands and felt a pull from her gut in response. Then, she felt the familiar rush of energy fill her entire body and her hands were quickly enveloped by a warm golden glow. She fought to maintain the glow for a few seconds before taking her hands away and moving them to his collarbone. Then, the wrist, and finally the hip. When she was finally done, she dropped her hands to her side, slightly worn out, and looked at the boy.
He stared up at her with wonder.
"What-" He was speechless. "What did you do?"
Clarke quirked her eyebrow. "I told you I could fix you up."
The boy sat up slowly, like a newborn learning to move, and stared at his body in awe. He patted his collarbones, then his chest. He stared at his wrist as he twirled them around.
"I'm...healed," he said, still in disbelief. "I don't feel any pain anymore."
"Yeah no, that'll go away in a few seconds," Clarke told him matter of factly, grabbing the cup of nectar by his bedside and forcing it into his hands. "I may have fixed your bones up for you, but you still have a ton of internal bleeding. But it's nothing a few cubes of ambrosia and some nectar can't fix." She watched him with a stern eye as he gulped down the entirety of his cup.
"Still," said the boy once he was done, looking up at Clarke as if seeing her for the first time. "I-" he stammered. "I don't know how to-" he swallowed. "Thank you," he mumbled clumsily. His cheeks flushed as he looked down in shame. "I insulted you, yet you still helped me." He looked up, clearing his throat, suddenly looking very determined. "And for that, I apologize." He bowed slightly, leaving Clarke a little uncertain about what to do with all this respect all of a sudden. "I owe you a great debt," he declared.
Clarke waved him off. "I'm a healer," she said simply. "It's my duty. I couldn't just let you lie there in pain when I could do something about it."
The boy considered her words for a second before nodding his head, accepting Clarke's grace. "My name is Tristan. If you ever need anything, you can ask for me in the Third Cohort," he offered.
Clarke felt the corners of her lips lift in pleasant surprise at his words. It seemed that she just gained another ally in this camp. "I'll keep that in mind."
The healer boy from before walked up behind her and stared at Clarke with shocked questioning eyes.
"How did you do that?" he inquired, unable to hide his curiosity. "I've never heard of a demigod that could do that. Even Apollo's most talented children here do not possess that ability."
"That's because it's a quirk of being a Hades child," Clarke told him. "We're what you would call, experts in bone control - osteokinesis if you will," she said, summoning a bone from the ground to prove her point. The healer stepped back, startled by the nonchalant display.
"I can, to some extent, sense and control bones. It's a lot easier if the bones are already out of the body of course, but it applies either way," explained Clarke as she expertly molded the bone in her hand into a small Cerberus shaped figurine. She handed it over to the healer who stared at it in bewilderment.
"So can you just-" the healer gestured to his wrist.
"Break your bones at will?" finished Clarke. The boy nodded.
"I can," admitted Clarke, hiding a wince. She preferred helping people with her abilities rather than hurting others, but people tended to only zero in on how dangerous she was. "But it depends on how close you are, which bone I'm trying to break, and how desperate I am to break your bones."
The boy dropped his hand suddenly, hiding it from Clarke's view. It made Clarke smirk dryly.
"That's a neat skill to have," the boy swallowed, lost in thoughts. He suddenly startled and extended his arm. "I'm Nyko, by the way. I'm the Head Healer here and a legionnaire of the First Cohort. My dad's Apollo." He paused, and glanced at his outstretched hand. "Please don't break my wrist."
Clarke laughed a little at that. She could tell Nyko was just joking around. She clasped his forearm, squeezing just enough to scare the boy but didn't attempt to break his wrist. "Nice to meet you. I'm-"
"Clarke Griffin," Nyko finished for her with a grin. "People talk remember?"
"Right," Clarke nodded as she regarded Nyko and the easy grin he donned on his face as well as the openness in his eyes. Perhaps she'd made two allies today, not just one.
"Anyways, would you mind giving me a hand with a few others?" Nyko asked. "I'll go get your ambrosia and nectar."
"Sure thing," said Clarke as she maneuvered her way around the room, picking out the ones with broken or fractured bones.
After her little show with Tristan, the other Roman demigods were slightly more open to letting her treat them. A few regarded her with careful eyes, but none refused to be treated by her. Instead, they openly allowed her access to their injuries.
Within a span of twenty minutes, Clarke fixed eleven broken ribs, two broken arms, four twisted ankles, three hip fractures, one broken shin, and five broken wrists. She'd also stitched together four sword wounds and two arrow wounds as well as bandaged a few burns.
Clarke collapsed on the closest chair, exhausted. She hadn't exerted herself like this in a while. Perhaps she should've restrained herself a bit more, considering she was about to leave on a scouting mission in less than an hour.
"Here you go," Nyko said, plopping down a plastic bag filled with ambrosia and a canteen of nectar into Clarke's lap. "Should last you a couple of weeks," he winked at her. Clarke thanked him for his generosity which Nyko waved away.
"Just come back and help out here once in a while and I'll be happy," he said simply. "Your stitching is impressively neat. Even better than some of my half brothers and sisters here."
"I learned from my mom when I was four," Clarke told him. "She said I was going to need it someday. I didn't know why at the time, but she was right, obviously."
"Smart mom," Nyko quipped. "Anyways, I'll take care of the rest here. I know you still have other matters to attend to."
Clarke sighed. Why did the day feel so long? Oh right, she woke up at five in the morning.
Clarke couldn't believe she'd already been awake for more than six hours and it wasn't even noon yet. She really should've taken a page out of Octavia's book and taken a nap. Clarke wasn't sure she was going to last until the scouting mission.
"Oh that reminds me," Nyko said as Clarke was about to leave. He handed her a small envelope. "Can you do me a favor and give that to the Praetor? It's the inventory for this month. She was asking for it. You know-" He gestured his hand vaguely in the air. "War preparations and all that."
Clarke nodded, a little struck by how thorough Lexa was, and stuck it into her back pocket. "Yup. I got it."
"Thanks," Nyko gave her one last grin before returning to his errands.
Clarke sighed to herself. Guess it was back to Praetor office for her.
'At least it gives me an excuse to talk to Lexa again.'
Clarke was walking up the steps leading to Lexa's office when she first heard the voices. Two people were talking behind closed doors in Lexa's office. About what though, Clarke was still too far to make out.
The first voice was definitely Lexa's. There was just a quality to Lexa's voice that made it stand out amongst others to Clarke. The second voice, Clarke discovered upon a closer listen, belonged to Luna.
"You can't just leave," Lexa's voice permeated through the doors. The low tone of anger made Clarke freeze in her spot.
Oh.
Oh no.
This was not a pleasant conversation she just stumbled upon.
"I have to, Lexa. I've been away from my sisters for too long," Luna's voice carried through this time, gentle, pleading, and contrite.
'Sisters?' Mild surprise rang through Clarke at the news of Luna leaving, but then she remembered Luna's words to her yesterday. The girl did say it was her time to go.
"I can't believe you," Lexa's voice sounded once more, and even through thick doors, Clarke could hear the anger clearly. "How can you just leave when we're so close to taking down the Mountain?" Lexa wasn't shouting, her tone carefully controlled but that was even scarier.
Though Lexa was clearly an expert at hiding her true emotions, Clarke was an expert at picking them out. She could just barely make out the pained undertones of Lexa's voice underneath all the anger.
"How can you leave your friends, your family, your Legion?" Lexa asked, fury underlining every word.
"I'm not leaving for good. You know I'll visit," said Luna sounding rather helpless.
"I don't understand," said Lexa frustrated. From the shadows dancing across the floor, Clarke could tell that Lexa was pacing the floor, restless in her anger. "Why'd you even come back if you were just going to leave again?"
"You know why I came back," said Luna, pleading, but also just as frustrated. Clarke had a feeling this wasn't the first time they fought about this.
"And the war with the Mountain," protested Lexa. She sounded so defeated now, Clarke wanted to just barge in and give her a hug. "How am I supposed to defeat the Mountain without you?"
"You don't need me," said Luna softly sounding apologetic but sure. "You know I'm not the one you need."
"You don't get to decide what I need," fumed Lexa, her anger rising again. "What about the Legion? Does the tattoo on your arm mean nothing to you now that you've made an oath and joined them ?" Lexa said 'them' with so much contempt, Clarke winced.
"You know the Legion means everything to me," said Luna, her tone offended.
"Yet you leave the moment we go to war with our biggest enemy," Lexa bit back darkly. Clarke had never imagined Lexa could sound so bitter.
"I don't have a choice," protested Luna, slowly growing angry with the conversation.
"Yes you do!" said Lexa. "You did!"
"You just chose them over us," said Lexa, venom dripping from every word. Clarke didn't even understand the whole situation, yet she found herself flinching at Lexa's tone. Lexa was really angry. The scent of ozone heavily coated the air. Clarke almost felt like she was choking on it.
"Are we really going to have this fight again?" Luna asked icily. "You knew I had to leave eventually."
"I'd assumed you'd at least stay until after the Mountain fell," retorted Lexa. "I'd never thought you'd be a coward and try to run away before the fighting even started. You're a traitor to the Legion," she accused harshly and Clarke had to bite back a gasp at her words.
"Do not call me that," Luna fought back, her voice tight with anger and frustration. "I've already extended my stay as long as I could because of you. I came back because of you. Why can't you be a little grateful?"
"You didn't come back because of me," muttered Lexa darkly. "You came back because you felt guilty."
There was a second of absolute silence that followed.
Clarke waited in agonizing suspense for what happened next. She really should've left and come back another time, but she was leaving soon and she still needed to give Lexa the inventory list. So she stayed rooted her spot on the stairs where she remained privy to what was clearly a very personal, very private, conversation.
"You came back," Lexa continued, her voice having dropped so low Clarke could barely hear it. "Because you felt that her death was your fault," Lexa's voice trembled and Clarke felt her heart break at the pain in her voice. "That had you been there, perhaps you could've done something and then maybe she'd still be here, alive ."
Clarke could only imagine the look on Lexa's face that would accompany such a cruel comment as her body shivered involuntarily. She may be the one that's able to physically drop temperatures when mad, but Lexa could do it all on her own using just her words.
"That's a low blow," rasped Luna, her voice equally low, equally as hurt. "You can't possibly blame me for her death."
"No," came Lexa's steady answer, hard and unrelenting. "But you blame yourself. That's why you came back."
More silence.
Clarke waited as the seconds ticked by. Her hands fidgeted with the waistband of her pants, the ADHD in her not allowing her to stay still.
Finally, Luna's voice sounded through the door. "You know what, Lexa? Fuck you."
"Fuck you!" Luna repeated. "I'm leaving tonight and I don't care what you do. You can try to stop me but I'm leaving."
"Then leave," said Lexa unfeelingly. "And don't come back. The Legion doesn't need legionnaires that run when the situation gets tough."
"Arrrgh," Luna screamed loudly, causing Clarke to jump in surprise. "You're unbelievable."
Clarke heard the thump thump of loud angry footsteps coming closer to the door and panicked. However, before she could completely duck out of the way, the door swung open violently and Clarke could only freeze as Luna caught her standing there, obviously having eavesdropped on their conversation.
The door slammed shut behind Luna, but not before Clarke saw a glimpse of a furious Lexa turning away to face the window. Clarke gulped and shifted her gaze to Luna who took in her presence with surprise.
Luna, to her credit, composed herself quicker than Clarke probably could've if she were in the same situation. She wiped away the tears in her eyes just as they were about to fall and sniffed once before shooting Clarke a sad defeated grin.
"I guess you heard that, huh?" she chuckled humorlessly.
Clarke paled. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to eavesdrop, I swear! I just-" she fumbled for the envelope in her back pocket, nearly dropping it in the process. "I told - Nyko asked me to deliver this Lexa, so I uh-." She gestured awkwardly to the general area she was standing in. "I didn't hear that much, if that helps," Clarke offered helplessly. It was a lie, and Luna seemed to sense it too as she regarded Clarke with slightly red tinged brown eyes.
"Lexa's not really in the mood for seeing people right now," Luna joked with a weak smile. "Just leave it on the ground here and she'll see it." Clarke did as she was told, awkwardly returning Luna's smile.
When Clarke straightened back up from putting the envelope on the ground, she was met with Luna's stare, scrutinizing, observing, and analyzing.
"Walk with me for a bit."
The sudden request startled Clarke. The way Luna said it also didn't sound like a request but a command. Clarke could only comply with a nod, the awkwardness of having been caught eavesdropping still lingering in her movements.
She followed Luna in silence for five minutes until Luna came to a stop just outside a temple before turning around to face Clarke. Clarke scanned the temple behind Luna. It was made completely of white marble and in the middle stood a fifteen foot statue of a goddess holding a bow and arrow, with a deer by her side.
Slowly, she pieced together the clues.
"You're leaving," offered Clarke. Luna nodded. "To rejoin your sisters," Clarke stated, repeating the same words Luna used during her argument with Lexa. It didn't make any sense then, but it made a lot of sense now.
"You're joining the Hunters of Artemis," deduced Clarke.
The Hunters of Artemis were a group of maidens who've sworn loyalty to Artemis to join her for the Hunt and reject love for as long as they lived. In return, Artemis granted them immortality until they broke oath or died. Artemis once tried to recruit Octavia several years ago, before trying to recruit Clarke as well. They'd both refused.
Luna smiled at her, not at all surprised that Clarke figured it out.
"Diana," Luna corrected gently. "Hunters of Diana, though I guess they are the same goddess, aren't they?" she mused. "And I'm already a Hunter. I asked Diana for a temporary reprieve earlier this year for some time to take care of...personal matters. Diana was kind enough to comply."
Clarke didn't push. "So you're immortal?" Clarke asked surprised. "Wow." She made a show of dramatically looking Luna up and down. "So how old are you exactly?" she asked with a small grin. "Two hundred?"
Luna laughed, a small but genuine laugh. Clarke considered it a victory. "I only joined last year. Technically I've lived for nineteen years, but I was eighteen when I joined, a little older than most of my sisters who joined when they were fourteen or fifteen."
"Huh," Clarke hummed. "So you're stuck looking like the granny in the group for eternity?" she joked. "That sucks."
Luna laughed again, a watery sound that was reminiscent of her tears earlier. "It's not all bad," she said. "I have to admit it is a little weird to talk with people who look five years younger but in reality have lived at least ten times longer than me, but I've mostly gotten used to it." She paused, letting the smile play on her lips for a few more seconds before it died out. She turned to look at Clarke.
"I have to go back," she said, an earnest look in her eyes. Clarke didn't understand why it seemed like Luna was now trying to convince her instead of Lexa. "I only came back, because, well-" Her eyes flickered to the building that held Lexa's office.
"To help Lexa," Clarke guessed.
Luna nodded, though uncertainty still flashed across her face. "Right, but Lexa no longer needs my help so I'm leaving." She trailed off at the end and Clarke let the silence hang between them.
"Why are you telling me all of this though?" Clarke asked. Why was Luna telling her everything? By all means, she was a stranger. Sure she was caught eavesdropping, but Luna didn't owe her an explanation.
Luna gazed at her with soft, almost knowing eyes. "You matter, Clarke. I don't know how, but I can tell you're important."
Clarke narrowed her eyes at the cryptic sounding answer, her guard automatically rising. "Thanks? I think?" She'd been called important before. None of those times turned out all too well for her.
"Do me a favor?" Luna asked, and even though she hadn't even asked Clarke for anything yet, Clarke already felt the burden of another promise settle heavily on her shoulders. This was going to be a favor that was going to weigh on her, Clarke just knew.
Yet, it seemed like Clarke was getting into the habit of helping Roman legionnaires with favors. What was one more favor for her first ever Roman demigod friend?
"Sure, name it," said Clarke, straightening up as if physically preparing herself for whatever words Luna was about to throw at her. "If I can help you, I'll definitely do it."
"Take care of Lexa for me, will you?"
Clarke blinked. Well, that certainly wasn't what Clarke was expecting. Especially after the two girls just had what Clarke considered a very serious argument. She'd been thinking more along the lines of 'Can you water my plant for me when I'm gone? ' type of favor.
But Luna's eyes were soft, gentle, and so kind. Her smile was sad and regretful and Clarke couldn't find it in herself to reject her.
"I don't think Lexa needs my help," Clarke said instead. And it was the truth too. "She's strong enough on her own." Besides, who was she, to look after the most powerful Roman demigod amongst hundreds?
"She is strong," Luna agreed with a small nod. "But she's not invincible. She may seem really tough on the outside, but on the inside, she's really just lonely."
Clarke was reminded of Lexa's childhood, of how she grew up without either of her parents, of how she was thrown into the dangerous world of gods at such a young vulnerable age and then shouldered every responsibility thrown at her because that's just who she was. She recalled watching Lexa circling above them, watching from a distance, as everyone else participated in the Siege.
The idea that perhaps, just perhaps, the always put together, strong, intimidating girl was sometimes a little bit lonely, planted itself into Clarke's mind. Now Clarke wouldn't be able to help looking for moments of weakness whenever she was around Lexa. Clarke bit back a sigh.
"I'm not asking you to coddle her," said Luna understandingly. This wasn't a small favor she'd asked of the blonde. "Gods know how she'll react to that. She'll probably smite you and you'll end up a permanent stain on the floors of Polis." Clarke allowed herself a small smile at the image. "But when the time comes, can you promise me you'll try to be there for her?"
When Clarke didn't respond right away, Luna added, "She has no one else."
Clarke gave Luna an incredulous look. "She has tons of people."
Luna shook her head, turning around to face the temple of Diana, leaving Clarke to stare at her back.
"Lexa is always surrounded by people, but she lacks people whom she can fully trust," Luna told her. "Being Praetor is a lonely position. It's why I turned it down and why Lexa has been Praetor for five years straight already. Most Praetors only serve for two years before the pressure breaks them or they die in an attempt against the Mountain."
Clarke swallowed. Well that was reassuring for their future prospects. Truly. But why was Luna telling her all of this? What was she to Lexa but a stranger?
"She has Anya, but Anya lacks a gentleness that Lexa will need when the time comes. Everyone else is either jealous of her or put her on a pedestal and lost in their delusions," said Luna softly. "They see the Lexa she wants them to see. But she can't just keep being strong for everyone else. She needs someone to rely on too. An equal. And for years, I tried to be that person but now our paths diverge." Luna breathed in softly.
"She has no one," Luna repeated quietly before turning around, brown eyes meeting blue.
"But why me?" Clarke asked, feeling her throat dry up all of a sudden. "I can't do anything. I just met Lexa, literally two days ago. I barely know her," said Clarke. Though it was the truth, the words tasted like a lie.
Despite the short amount of time they've known each other, Clarke couldn't deny that there was something there. Maybe she was just delusional or maybe it was just from her end, but whenever she was with Lexa she felt like she was with someone who could understand her, given time. But Clarke couldn't tell Luna that. She could barely admit it to herself.
"I'm also Greek," Clarke pointed out. "I won't be here forever."
Luna shrugged. "I have a feeling that won't matter anymore," Luna said, a mysterious smile playing on her lips and Clarke really had no idea what she was thinking. "You two are very alike, you know?"
Clarke furrowed her eyebrows at that. "Are we?"
Luna shrugged again. "In some ways, yes."
"You know, you're starting to sound like an immortal," Clarke let out a frustrated chuckle. "They never speak straightforwardly. It's always riddle after riddle for them."
Luna cracked a smile at Clarke's joke. "Just, promise me you'll try to look after her?" Luna asked once more. "Humor me so I can at least leave having done one thing right?"
Clarke sighed, letting out her breath through her nose. Luna really wasn't playing fair. Still, she relented. Clarke had the feeling that even if Luna hadn't asked her, she would've eventually ended up doing the same thing on her own will. There was something about Lexa that just drew Clarke to Lexa.
"I'll try, but I can't promise anything," huffed Clarke.
Luna grinned. "That's good enough for me. I feel like you're the type to keep your word, Clarke Griffin."
"Thanks?" Clarke shuffled her feet in the dirt, unsure of how to respond to that. The sort-of-a-promise-but-not-really-a-promise she just made weighed heavily in her chest. She looked at Luna to distract her from her thoughts. "When are you leaving?"
"Tonight," answered Luna, glancing up at the sky. "As soon as the moon is in the sky."
"But that's so soon!" Clarke protested, her eyebrows rising to her hairline.
Luna laughed, cooing at her. "Aww, are you going to miss me?"
"Of course, I'm going to miss you!" Clarke protested, crossing her arms across her chest in embarrassment as she felt her cheeks blush a little. "You were my first friend here," she muttered.
Luna laughed, delighted, before pulling Clarke into a tight hug. "I'll miss you too. I'm almost sad to leave," she said pulling away. "A part of me wants to stay just to see you and Lexa take down the Mountain together," Luna admitted. "To stand by your side as it falls once and for all."
Clarke raised an eyebrow at her confidence. "You sound so sure the Mountain will fall," she said. Clarke herself wasn't so sure. After all, the Legion had been at war with the Mountain for centuries to no avail. History dictated they would fail this time too. Clarke could only hope that she and everyone she cared about would come out unscathed though she knew it was unlikely.
"Consider it an immortal's gut feeling," grinned Luna, patting her stomach for emphasis.
"Well," Clarke grinned back though she was sad to see her friend go. "You can still be there when it happens. Just because you're going back to your sisters doesn't mean it's goodbye forever."
"True," Luna nodded. "Perhaps I can convince Diana to help out against the Mountain."
"I'm sure Lexa would appreciate it," Clarke quipped gently.
Luna's expression dropped at the reminder.
"I'm sure she didn't mean it," Clarke prodded gently. "But talk to her. Before you leave," she insisted. "You don't want to leave with that argument being the last thing you say to each other."
Luna regarded Clarke with a small knowing smile. "Just how much did you hear exactly, Clarke?"
Clarke shrugged, giving her a sheepish smile. "Enough?"
Luna rolled her eyes in good humor, giving Clarke a playful shove. "I'll talk to her," she stated with determination. "It's good to see you taking your promise seriously already."
"Hey," Clarke protested. "It's for your own good too."
"I know, I know," Luna drawled. She sighed, shooting Clarke a small grin. "Be safe out there Clarke. The Mountain is a formidable opponent."
Clarke rolled her eyes. "So everyone keeps telling me." Her comment earned her another playful shove from Luna that sent her stumbling to regain her footing.
The impending deadlines of both their departures weighed heavily on them as Clarke straightened up. She gave Luna a small smile. "You take care too," she said softly.
"May we meet again," said Luna, holding her arms out for one last hug.
"We better," retorted Clarke, laughing as she fell willingly into Luna's embrace. "Or else I'll wait an eternity in the Underworld for your immortal ass."
Luna laughed, relief spreading in her heart as she hugged Clarke close.
Clarke met up with the others at the pegasi stalls at twelve o'clock on the dot.
"There she is," Raven announced her arrival with an excited grin. "Where'd you go? We couldn't find you."
"Everywhere," Clarke grumbled, a little worn out from the day's events. She couldn't believe the day was only halfway over. Her eyes met Lincoln's, whom she hadn't seen yet today and waved hi. The son of Mercury returned her greeting.
Clarke was so worn out, physically and emotionally, that it took her a second to register Titus's presence. When she did however, her guard immediately rose. She straightened her posture, hiding away any traces of weakness and regarded the boy with a cautious gaze.
"Not going to lie," admitted Clarke, her tone chilly as she recalled her ire from this morning. "But I was so sure you were going to chicken out at the last minute."
Titus curled his lips contemptuously at her. "You would've liked that, wouldn't you, Graecus?"
'Yes,' Clarke thought to herself. 'I would've liked that a lot actually.' .
"Enough chit chat," Anya interrupted, clearly not in a mood to deal with their thinly veiled threatening banter. She shot both of them a suspicious look as if to say 'I'm watching you' before turning towards the stalls. "We'll be riding pegasi to our destination. Everyone pick a-" She never got to finish her sentence as Octavia immediately rushed past her.
"I call the white one!" Octavia yelled, running towards it before anyone else could claim it. She approached the steed confidently, "Why helloooo. Aren't you a pretty thang?" she cooed at the white pegasus, petting its mane. It snorted once in her face and stomped its feet twice in response
"Yup! This one is mine. It likes me," Octavia giggled, completely enamored.
"I'll take this one," Raven pointed at the biggest looking pegasus. "You better not drop me," she told it as she approached it cautiously. She tried to pet it only to leave her hand hesitantly lingering in the air, a safe distance from strong teeth, before dropping it. "Gods I prefer machines. They're so much more reliable," she huffed to herself. "You won't drop me, right?"
The pegasus neighed, offended.
Meanwhile, a midnight black steed walked over to Clarke before she even got a chance to look at any others. It seemed to observe Clarke for a second, taking in her scent, before bowing its head to allow Clarke to pet it.
"I guess that takes care of that," Anya muttered seeing that every Greek was paired off with a pegasus. "Saddle up." She told them, easily climbing atop her own steed.
"Of course you'd get that one," Raven commented, once she was able to somewhat balance herself atop her pegasus if not a bit precariously "Black for the daughter of Hades. Must you be such a stereotype all the time?"
"Your dad is famous for having four black horses that pull his chariot," Octavia grinned.
"Hey," Clarke retorted back indignantly as she hopped onto her own pegasus. "It chose me. Not the other way around. Besides," she grinned, petting the pegasus's head fondly. "You try saying no to those adorable eyes. Look at 'em."
"Honestly, Clarke needs to wear more black or something. Everyone always thinks you're a daughter of Apollo," said Octavia, looking ready and eager to head out. "Remember when she first came to camp?" she asked Raven who laughed in response. "We all thought she was going to be an Apollo kid. Then we found out she couldn't shoot an arrow to save her life."
"Hey!" Clarke protested. "Can you even tease me? I shoot better than you now," she told Raven.
"It's the sun-kissed blonde hair and the sky blue eyes," Raven sighed woefully. "As if you fell from the skies."
"Not my fault my mother's genes overpower even those of a god," Clarke quipped.
"Ah yes, Abby Griffin is quite an extraordinary woman, isn't she?" Raven teased back, wiggling her eyebrows up and down.
"Ewwwww," Clarke covered her ears. "I still can't believe you have a crush on my mother! She's too old for you!" Clarke complained.
"Love is love," Octavia said dryly, the model Aphrodite daughter.
"If you guys are done being idiots," Anya stated sternly, maneuvering her pegasus to stand between them. "Then I'd like to leave today."
Clarke hoisted herself up and adjusted her position until she was comfortable. She'd only ridden a pegasus two other times in her life so she was still a little uncomfortable with it. Normally, she'd prefer her own chariot, which was another gift courtesy of her father. However, even her and Raven's lack of experience were nothing when compared to the last member of their party.
Anya eyed Titus who was clearly having trouble controlling his pegasus. The boy kept trying his best to climb atop the pegasus but the pegasus was not having it. It bucked and thrashed wildly, refusing to let Titus near it.
"How hard can it be?" Anya mockingly repeated his words from this morning as she'd foreseen this. "You're one-fourth god."
"Stupid thing," Titus muttered as it fought for control over the reigns with the pegasus. "It won't cooperate."
"I can't believe he almost tried to fight me," said Octavia, clearly enjoying the scene in front of her. "He's about to get his ass handed to him by a pegasus."
"Quit wasting time," Anya growled impatiently. "Either get on a pegasus or we're leaving you behind. And you can explain to Lexa why you're still here after twelve."
Titus huffed, throwing away the reigns in anger before he turned to Lincoln, determined.
"Oh no," Lincoln muttered under his breath in trepidation as Titus walked up to him.
"Let me ride with you," demanded Titus. Lincoln looked as if he'd eaten spoiled fish. He was about as pleased about the prospect of sharing a pegasus with Titus as Hera was with her husband's affairs.
Lincoln glanced to Anya for support but she almost looked viciously delighted at the thought of them two sharing a ride. Her eyes glinted with repressed amusement. Better him than her.
"Fine," Lincoln relented seeing no other way. He scooted back and waited for Titus to climb on. When Titus still couldn't get on after his third try, Lincoln just gave up and hoisted him onto his pegasus by grabbing him on the back of his collar.
"No need to be so rough," muttered Titus as he straightened out his clothes before adjusting his position. Lincoln's face was hardened with reluctant restraint. He shot Octavia a hopeless look who bit back a grin.
"That's what she said," Raven laughed to herself.
"Careful," Clarke joked, whispering to Octavia. "Titus might just steal Mr. Tall Handsome and Muscular from you."
Octavia snorted, shooting one more look at Lincoln's constipated expression. "I think I'm fine in that department, babe, but thanks."
"Now that we're finally ready," Anya stated, exasperation in her tone. "Let's go. I'll take the vanguard. Lincoln-" Her eyes flashed to Titus who looked like a child tucked into the front of Lincoln's muscular build and bit back a laugh though she was unsuccessful. "You bring up the rear."
Lincoln nodded reluctantly and put his arms around Titus to hold onto the reins. He tried not to grimace as Titus wiggled against his chest, still trying to find the most comfortable position.
"Everyone else stay between us." Anya's eyes flashed dangerously as she addressed them. "If you even think of going in front of me or lag behind, I won't hesitate to shoot you and you can fall to your death for all I care."
"Cheery," Raven grinned sarcastically.
Anya ignored her. Without another word, she took off into the sky, leaving Clarke and the others scrambling to follow after her.
The journey there would only take about an hour or so. Clarke was estimated they'd be back in four. It was by all means a simple mission.
She had no idea how wrong she was.
The ride to the Mountain passed uneventfully, besides the few times Titus almost threatened to throw up on Lincoln, and the one time Clarke almost slipped off her own pegasus after falling asleep.
"This is the Mountain?" Octavia asked as soon as they landed, looking around at the dense forest that surrounded them.
"The Mountain is up ahead to the North. We should be about fifty feet away from the danger zone," answered Lincoln who slipped off his pegasus smoothly. Titus on the other hand practically flopped to the ground, face planting into the dirt.
Clarke looked up at the sky and could just make out the peak of the mountain in the distance over the treetops.
'That is kind of far. How are we going to fight something that we can't even get close to?' Clarke wondered grimly.
"Now that we're here," said Anya, her voice serious. "Be on alert. Remember this is only a scouting mission. We're not supposed to-"
"What is that?" Clarke suddenly asked, whirling around to look behind her. All she saw were trees.
"What is it, Clarke?" Octavia asked, as she and Raven sided up next to the blonde defensively. They've done this enough times to know when to trust Clarke's instincts.
They waited, but nothing happened.
"If you're messing around just to scare me-" Titus started to say.
Clarke shushed him. "Does anyone else hear that?" she asked, straining her ears. "There's sort of a hissing sound."
The others took a second to listen.
"I don't hear anything," reported Lincoln, shooting Anya a confused look. The Roman Centurion shook her head subtly. She didn't hear anything either.
Clarke waited another second but the sound was gone. Clarke frowned, trying to peer into the distance, eyes searching for something, anything. She knew she'd definitely felt something just now and she was usually right. It was what had kept her alive all these years. However, all she saw were still trees. After a few more seconds, Clarke shook her head. "Maybe it was just a false alarm."
The feeling that something was there however still lingered in her gut. Clarke had a hard time ignoring it but Anya was starting to look impatient. Raven and Octavia both shot her a look as if they could tell Clarke hadn't really dropped it either but Clarke only shook her head. Hopefully it really wasn't anything.
Anya regarded her apprehensively before walking on ahead, leaving the others to follow her. "Our main goal is to observe," Anya continued. "If we see Reapers, acid fog, or even Mountain Men, we are to watch silently and not engage," she said sternly. "Lest we get captured and die."
"There's really no need to add that last bit, is there?" Octavia frowned, mumbling.
"What happens if the acid fog does come out?" Raven asked, jogging a bit to walk side by side with Anya. "Are there safety protocols? How would we even know if there's acid in the air?"
"There's a signal, a sort of siren the Mountain will emit before it happens. Then, our best bet is to duck into a bunker for safety and wait it out," Anya answered.
"What about Reapers?" Clarke asked from the other side of Anya. "Are there any signals that give away when-"
She never finished her sentence. Clarke was suddenly stepping and twisting her body, her feet pivoting below her. All Anya saw was a quick flash of black shiny metal before she heard the unmistakable clang of metal making contact.
Everyone else jumped back in surprise as Clarke's sword clashed with the outstretched fangs of a monster.
"What the fu-" The rest of the word died in Titus's throat from fear as he instinctively clutched onto Lincoln for support. He caught the sight of venomous snakes from the corner of his eye and immediately shut them close as tightly as possible.
"Don't look!" he screamed. "They're gorgons! One look in their eyes and you'll turn to stone." The unmistakable sound of snakes hissing was enough to believe him.
"Seriously, it's only been like two minutes," Raven complained under her breath, as she shut her eyes and reached for her dagger. She felt a body move next to her and froze, unsure whether it was friend or foe.
"It's fine," Clarke reassured them, her voice calm and steady. "Only Medusa has that power and this isn't her."
Anya, who'd closed her eyes at Titus's warning, peeked through her eyelashes and saw Clarke glaring straight at the gorgon, body still very much fleshy. Realizing that danger wasn't imminent, she opened her eyes, her sword drawn. Everyone else promptly readied their weapons and aimed them at the unwelcome guest.
"Well, well," the gorgon hissed at Clarke, the snakes in her hair dangerously close to Clarke's face. Clarke however didn't even flinch.
"The child is rather quick on her feet, I ssssee," the gorgon hissed delightedly. "And sssssmart too. Makes for a much more exssssss-iting hunt. I will enjoy killing you, demigod."
Clarke smirked back, shoving the monster away with her sword. "I'd like to see you try."
Meanwhile, Anya could only focus on Clarke. The Greek blonde had managed not only to detect the gorgon's presence but also react quick enough to summon her sword and block its attack. Anya didn't even have a clue they were even being followed. And judging from Lincoln and Titus's reactions, neither did they. The Greeks had showed them up again.
Anya growled underneath her breath. She'd underestimated the blonde bimbo for the last time.
"You might as well tell you sister to come out too," Clarke told the gorgon, surprising the Romans once more. "I know she's hiding over there," Clarke nodded to her left.
The gorgon hissed, narrowing her eyes on Clarke. "You are a shhharp one," she stated as her sister came out of her hiding place to join her.
"Euryale," the second gorgon beamed at Clarke, eyeing Clarke like she were a three course meal. "Look at her ssssword!"
The first gorgon eyed the Stygian Iron sword in Clarke's hand before suddenly shrinking away as if she'd been burned. "Unlucky!" she screamed in fear.
"Unlucky!" her sister repeated gleefully.
"Shut up, Sssstheno," Euryale yelled at her sister before returning her attention to Clarke. "I ssssee how you were able to detect usssss earlier now," she stated, her yellow eyes raking in the length of Clarke's sword distrustfully. "Death clingssss to you, heavy and dark, demigod."
"Where's your other sister?" Clarke asked, not in the mood to decipher any riddles from the gorgons. "Is she not here?" Medusa was the most dangerous of the three, given that she was the only gorgon sister who could turn people into stone.
"Our sssssisssster is gone," Euryale hissed, and wow Clarke thought it was a shame how the word sister had so many S's.
"Gone!" Stheno wailed.
"She was defeated by some ssssstupid demigod four yearssss ago," Euryale told them venomously. Octavia, Raven and Clarke exchanged uneasy glances. It was probably best for them to quiet about the fact that they were the ones who'd cut off Medusa's head.
"But enough talk," Euryale stated, eyeing Clarke's friends with crazy red eyes. "I am hungry!" she declared before launching herself past Clarke, away from the Stygian Iron sword, and towards Anya who easily intercepted the attack with her sword.
"Hungry!" Stheno repeated delightfully, baring her fangs before being pierced by an arrow courtesy of Lincoln. She glared at the boy in distaste. "You will pay for that, boy," she stated, charging straight at him, all the snakes on her head hissing venomously.
Titus bolted into the woods without a single glance back. "Fuck this."
"Hey!" Lincoln shouted after him, shooting another arrow at Stheno only to miss. He cursed and ran after Titus while trying to nock another arrow. "Where are you going? We have to stay to-"
"Watch out behind you!" Octavia yelled in warning as Stheno advanced upon Lincoln.
He turned around, too slowly, as several snake mouths latched onto his body and he dropped his bow.
"Arrrrrgh!" Lincoln screamed out in pain, almost dropping to his knees. It was as if his entire chest was set on fire and he suddenly felt extremely weak. He reached down to pry Stheno off of him but it was no use. She was too strong. Lincoln could feel his blood slowly being sucked out of him. The sound of hissing filled his ears until it was the only thing he could hear.
"Yummm!" Stheno grinned, blood dripping from her fangs and snakes.
"Lincoln!" Octavia lunged at Stheno to get her off of him however Stheno removed herself just in time and Octavia's sword caught nothing but air. Octavia ignored Stheno as she flew away. Her focus was on Lincoln only.
"Are you alright?" Octavia inquired, immediately going to his side and holding him up. Her eyes roamed all over his chest trying to assess the seriousness of his injuries. She was no healer like Clarke, but even she knew when things looked bad. She tried to ignore the fact that he was now pressed up against her, gorgeous muscles and all. He was hot, and not in a good way. His skin burned as if he'd just spent hours in the forge.
Her eyes flew to Stheno in case the gorgon tried to attack them while they were both defenseless and was relieved to see the gorgon engaged in combat with Raven while Clarke and Anya held off her sister.
"I'm fine," Lincoln grumbled, stumbling as he forced himself to remain standing. His mind spun but he forced himself to focus. He looked down at his chest. It was a bloody mess. He couldn't even make out the holes where the snake fangs pierced into him. Lincoln looked back up without tending to his wounds. He'll just deal with it later.
He eyed the woods where Titus disappeared off to. "That idiot," he muttered weakly. "Running away at the first sign of danger. We need to go after him before he gets lost or worse, runs into the danger zone." He didn't like Titus, but he wasn't just going to abandon a member of the legion so easily.
"You're in no shape to go after him," protested Octavia, her grip on him tightening.
Lincoln didn't give her a response. Instead, he mustered up all his energy and pushed her away from him.
Octavia watched helplessly as he ran off to chase after Titus. "Why?" she growled in frustration. Splitting up was never smart. Not to mention that Titus couldn't do shit and Lincoln was already injured. Before she could go too deep into turmoil about chasing after them or staying with the others, Stheno rushed past her, intent on finishing her meal. Raven was nowhere in sight.
Stheno cackled gleefully as she chased after Lincoln. "Come here, come here, delicioussss demigod," she sang.
"Dammit," Octavia cursed, having no choice but to chase after them, and pushed off her legs as fast as they would go. Lincoln was in no shape to fight, run, and protect Titus. Octavia briefly felt a flash of concern for Raven and hoped that the girl was okay when Raven suddenly appeared out of nowhere and sided up next to her.
"You okay?" Octavia asked hurriedly, eyes quickly glancing to her friend and scanning her body and up down.
"Just peachy," Raven grumbled. "She got me on the arm," said Raven, showing Octavia the gash on her left bicep as they ran along. "But it's nothing serious."
Reassured, Octavia sprinted forward - the gorgon was surprisingly fast - and with a mighty leap, jumped onto Stheno's back, stabbing her sword through the gorgon's torso.
Stheno wailed in pain. She thrashed about and Octavia was forcefully thrown off. However, Raven was quickly atop of her and managed to impale her dagger into the gorgon's throat before she too was thrown off. She tried to roll to a stand but tripped on an exposed root and fell to the ground clutching her ankle.
"Fuck," she cursed. When she looked up, Octavia was already back on her feet and swinging her sword ferociously at the now weakened gorgon.
Octavia stepped forward, putting all her weight into her leg and twisted her body. She swung her sword, and in a quick practiced stroke, Stheno's head flew off her body and landed next to Octavia's foot. Then, the entire body exploded into golden dust.
Octavia panted lightly, watching as the gold dust shimmered and disappeared, no doubt going back to Tartarus where Stheno will have to wait to be reformed again. Then, she turned her attention to Raven who'd already made herself a makeshift ankle cast from the nearby tree branches, leaves, and some spare string she kept with her in her toolbelt.
"You okay?" she asked, walking up to her friend. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a bag of squashed emergency ambrosia squares, throwing Raven one.
"I'll manage," said Raven, popping the ambrosia square into her mouth and chewing. "Not like it's my first time," she grumbled. And unfortunately, she didn't think it'd be her last either.
She grabbed onto Octavia's outreached hand for support and hoisted herself up, careful to not strain her tender joint. She gently tested her weight against her injured ankle and when she felt no pain, cheered mentally. She'd still have to get Clarke to look at it later.
Octavia hummed, relieved Raven wasn't hurt too badly. The worry however, didn't fade from her face. After all, there wasn't a trace of either Lincoln and Titus. Nor were there any signs of Anya and Clarke.
Raven suddenly bent down and picked up something.
"What is it?" Octavia asked, peering over curiously.
Raven held her hand out to her. In her palm were two vials of red liquid. "War spoils for defeating the gorgon," Raven answered, eyeing the vials in her hand suspiciously. "If I remember correctly, one is a dangerous poison and the other is a powerful healing agent."
"How do you tell which is which?" Octavia asked, scrutinizing the vials. "They look the exact same."
Raven shrugged, pocketing them into her toolkit for later where they'd be safe. "No idea, but Clarke can probably tell them apart." She looked up at Octavia, frowning slightly as she realized they were alone. Everything was quiet. There were no sounds of struggle or fighting.
"What do we do now?" she asked, walking over to retrieve her dagger. She kept it unsheathed in her hand in case they ran into more trouble, which Raven had a feeling they would. This forest gave off a bad feeling, just like Mount Orthys did. Something in her gut told her to run.
"Did you happen to see what happened to Clarke and Anya?" Octavia asked matching Raven's frown. She didn't like the fact that they were all split up. It didn't help that she only had Raven with her and they didn't know a single thing about their surroundings.
"Last I saw, Euryale pushed them that way," answered Raven, nodding vaguely to the direction on their left.
Octavia peered down that stretch of the forest. There was only silence and stillness. She then turned to right, her eyes searching for clues. Upon catching a small hint of red amongst green and brown, Octavia knelt down to get a closer look.
Blood.
She looked up. "You reckon it's Lincoln's?" she asked Raven.
"Only one way to find out," Raven shrugged, causing Octavia to sigh.
"I don't like this," she told Raven, standing up. "I have a really bad feeling for some reason."
"Same," Raven agreed, a little too blase about their situation."But what else can we do?"
"Right," sighed Octavia. "Let's just go find them, make sure Lincoln is okay, knock Titus unconscious and tie him up so he can't pull this shit again. It's his fault Lincoln's hurt and we're all separated," said Octavia darkly. "And then we'll somehow find Anya and Clarke without running into Reapers or Mountain Men."
"Sounds like a plan," Raven quipped cheerily. "I see no flaws. We are no more screwed than we usually are," Raven grinned dryly.
Octavia didn't return the humor.
"They'll be fine," Raven assured Octavia once she saw that her attempt at lightening the situation didn't draw any reaction out of the girl. "Anya kicked your ass so she obviously can take care of herself and Clarke is Clarke. If they're together, nothing short of a god can take them down," said Raven, fully believing in her words. Clarke was extremely tough to kill and many gods had tried in the past.
Octavia thinned her lips, her worries only a little appeased. "If they're together."