I'm relatively new to this show so apologies if my characterization/dialogue is not 100% ;)
Even after the acid fog had been disabled and the alliance had successfully broken into Mount Weather, victory was far from assured. Were the grounders had swords and bows and arrows, the mountain men had gas grenades and automatic assault weapons. In the tight quarters of the bunker, bullets reigned supreme. However, the sheer number of the allied forces soon helped to turn the tide, and even the release of the Reapers into the fray was not enough to regain control. Eventually the shared enemy was more or less subdued and the battle was won. Or so they thought.
Somehow Cage had eluded his captors and made a break for it, past all of the dead and dying without a second glance, and into the night and freedom. Clarke wasn't having any of that, so when she noticed him fleeing, took off after him with only a few rounds left in her gun, against Commander Lexa's orders. Once Lexa dispatched of the last soldier she had been dealing with, she too chased after the pair, but she was considerably far behind them.
Cage was unarmed but Clarke fired at his back anyway. He fell to the darkened forest floor with a shout of surprise and pain. Injured, he nevertheless continued to crawl away from his determined assailant. Clarke savoured the moment she would finally put a bullet in the brain of such a hateful man. She approached slowly until she was much closer and could look him in the eye as she pulled the trigger. The pitiful look he gave her did nothing to sway her heart.
"You're a monster, Cage. All the pain and suffering you caused...you deserve this...and so much more." She smiled grimly, "It's my honour to put an end to the tainted Wallace bloodline."
Clarke aimed the gun at his head and prepared to fire the fatal shot. Just then there was a horrific howl in the distance. Vividly remembering her last harrowing experience with the pauna, she whirled around, expecting one to be bearing down on her with its razor sharp fangs. Instead, all she she saw was an eerie blackness. As she turned back to face her victim, she felt a strong bicep wrap around her neck, squeezing tightly. With the other hand, Cage kept the gun at bay. Clarke struggled fiercely at first, then more and more feebly. As soon as she was weak enough, he snatched the weapon out of her reluctant hold.
Right then Lexa found them, sword and knife at the ready, expression more terrifying than usual given the bloodlust that was still upon her and the rage that anyone would dare threaten her beloved's life. Clarke gave her an unapologetic look for getting herself into such a stupid situation...yet again. Before Lexa could react, Cage placed the gun to Clarke's temple and smiled.
"You're going to let me go," he said, "or I'll kill her."
Using the last of her iron will, Lexa forced down the almost overwhelming desire to rush her enemy and replaced it with a modicum of rational thought. "If you harm her I will make sure you suffer torture beyond compare."
She didn't think she would survive if Clarke was taken from her this night. Not after Costia, not after the possibility of filling this void in her, the one she had done her best to pretend didn't exist, but was ever present.
Cage smirked. "Doubt there's anything worse than having your skin disintegrate while you slowly take your last excruciating breaths."
"I would not be so certain of that," she replied as impassively as she could manage. "My ancestors could be very inventive. Their ways are not lost to me."
"I've come too far to die now," he said more seriously, soulless eyes never leaving hers. "Drop your weapons and you can have your precious Clarke Skywalker back."
As Lexa half considered this, Clarke croaked out, "Lexa, don't. He can't get away with all he's done. He must be held accountable. We owe our people that much." Clarke held her gaze. "Especially after Tondc."
There was a brief pause and then Cage laughed. "Oh, so that's how you two survived! You knew all along! I can't believe you just let everyone die!" He shook his head, amused. "And I thought I was ruthless." Cage whispered in her ear, tenderly like a lover would, but his words were far from comforting. "What was that you were saying about monsters?"
Lexa was getting tired of this conversation, particularly with the threat of the pauna so imminent. "We acted as we must. The sacrifice was great but these are the ways of war."
"And I did what I had to do for my people's survival," Cage countered. "Can you honestly say you would have done differently in my shoes?"
She shared another brief look with Clarke and then focused on Cage again. "Release her now and I will not bleed and mutilate you as you did to my people for generations. I will grant you a clean death instead."
Cage laughed again and she was beginning to get very annoyed at his lack of respect. "If those are my only options, I'll pass." Lexa took a step closer and he frowned. "Stay back or she gets it."
There was another howl from the pauna. She estimated it was no more than a mile off at this point. She needed to make a move soon, or all was lost.
"Do you know what that sound was, mountain man?"
"No, but I'm sure you're about to tell me."
"That sound was made by a pauna. A most fearsome creature. I have witnessed a single one of these beasts rip apart a group of ten warriors before it could be subdued. And this one will be here shortly." She left out the part about the pauna being attracted to the scent of free flowing blood. She didn't want to give the mountain man any ideas.
Lexa was pleased to note a hint of fear in his eyes and took another step closer. "So you see, Cage, unless you release her now, you will die a most agonizing death."
"And if I refuse," he replied slowly, "you'll just be killed too."
"When you know their weakness as intimately as I now do, the chances of survival are much more assured."
Clarke gave her a puzzled look and then smiled. "Yeah, Cage, I saw her take one out not too long ago. It was terrifying. I would run while you still have the chance...and bullets. You've only got two shots left and you'll need way more than that if it finds you."
"You two are just trying to mess with my head," said Cage a bit uneasily. "I bet that thing out there is hardly the beast you've made it out to be."
Lexa stared him down as another roar ripped through the night, unnervingly close. "Does that sound like a creature to be meddled with?" Do I?
Cage swallowed hard. "Okay, fine, I'll-" he shoved Clarke forward and almost into Lexa and then tore off further into the forest, in the opposite direction of the pauna's last call.
The commander attempted to take aim with her throwing knife but Clarke stilled her hand and said, "We need to go. Now!"
Lexa nodded once and then they raced back to the relative safety of the bunker. When they were almost there they heard two gunshots, a dreadful roar and many horrifying screams. Clarke and Lexa stopped at the top of the hill to take in the moment of their greatest foes end. They shared a vaguely satisfied look and then set to closing the heavy steel door in order to avoid sharing the same fate.
Afterwards Lexa wanted to both hit Clarke for her brash actions and hold her because she was now out of harms way. Instead they just stared at one another for awhile, as if they could communicate telepathically.
"Thanks Lexa, for coming after me. And for saving my life."
"A debt was owed after our last pauna encounter. I have now fulfilled it."
Clarke smiled and shook her head slightly. Then she looked back up, keeping intense eye contact. "I meant what I said before. I'm not ready yet," her features softened further and she took Lexa's battered hand in hers, "but soon."
Lexa couldn't help but smile back, albeit in her usual reserved way.
Yes, the living are indeed hungry.
If you guys want me to continue this, just let me know and I'll consider doing another part. ;D
