Chapter 10
Clarke shook her head at Octavia. They had gotten there soon enough that Bellamy couldn't destroy the radio. It wasn't that she didn't trust Bellamy. It was that she didn't trust Bellamy. She knew that he would do what she asked of him as long as she kept Octavia safe, but the radio was something that he always thought he had to destroy as soon as he could. He understood that there were others on the Ark that still had families on it, but he and Octavia only had each other. And, no matter how angry she was with her mother for getting her father floated, she still loved her. She couldn't let her mother die without her knowing that Clarke had survived. She and Octavia started the schedule for the removals, but she hadn't anticipated the quicker response of Raven being there. She was early, but that meant that her message had definitely been received. Now, to let the "adults" know that Earth was survivable, but of course, that was after she dealt with Raven. After all, she was one Clarke's first choices.
First thing first was that Clarke wanted to help Raven get out of the pod and give her a once over to make sure that she was actually okay. She was early, so Clarke was more worried about her head. She knew that the pod was old and that Raven would have fixed it up the best she could. But, being early, Clarke wondered what corners she might have skipped in order to make it flight ready faster. She didn't doubt the mechanic's abilities, she doubted the pod. But, she also needed to check the radio. She could hear her mom but would her mom be able to hear her. She knew that Raven was special, and she would choose her first over the radio. It was because she knew that Raven could build her a radio out of what they had, but she couldn't replace "her" Mechanic, ever. She could talk to her mother later. Raven was going to be her priority.
After unbuckling her and removing the helmet, Clarke did a quick check of her vitals. Raven's heartbeat was fast but steady. Clarke chalked that up to the excitement of the ride down on top of the crash landing. Besides no obvious trauma, Clarke wasn't taking any chances. Pulling the other girl towards her, she turned to look down at Octavia. The younger brunette was holding her hands up and out, ready to catch their friend. Slowly, carefully, and as easily as they could, they got Raven out of the pod. After leaning her against the pod, Clarke had Octavia steady Raven as she took off the space suit.
"Maun-de tek," they heard one of the members of Trikru hiss.
"It isn't from the Mountain. It is from the stars. It is from the Ark. It is Skaikru tek," Clarke replied quickly, forgetting that she wasn't supposed to know Trig.
They both heard a sharp intake of breath behind them, but they didn't stop dealing with Raven. Clarke made some motions with her hands. Octavia nodded, but her mind was still trying process where they were and what was going on. She looked at Clarke and her mind finally caught up with her.
"Are you still mad at your mother?" Octavia asked Clarke as she helped her ease Raven down to the ground.
Clarke didn't answer her. She moved closer to Raven as she was sitting on the ground, leaning against the pod. Clarke straightened Raven's head. She really wanted to check her pupil dilation, so she could rule out many head injuries. But, the Latina still hadn't woken. There was blood on her forehead, so Clarke ignored Octavia as she started to check Raven over more thoroughly. She knew that Octavia would pester her about it later. For now, Octavia had the sense to be quiet about the issue and start to hand Clarke items as she asked for them from her pack. Clarke was happy that she had the forethought to pack some first-aid things.
Once she got Raven somewhat cleaned up and leaning up against the pod, she climbed back up into it to retrieve the radio. As she was coming down, she saw that Anya had Bellamy with her as they crossed the field. Upon closer inspection, she saw that she literally had him by the scruff of his neck. Monroe and Harper seemed a little out of sorts, but they weren't stopping Anya. Tris followed them behind Bellamy, bow ready to fire, should he even dare to move in a way that Anya or Tris deemed "wrong."
Clarke just shook her head. She handed Octavia the radio. Octavia glared at her brother, but she didn't say anything to anyone to get him released. She would let him deal with his own issues. Clarke didn't have time to deal with it as she went back to Raven. She heard the Latina moan. Her eyes went wide as she looked down at her again, kneeling softly beside her, holding Raven's face waiting for her open her eyes.
"Did I make it?" Raven asked softly.
"You did," Clarke answers just as softly.
Clarke watches as Raven takes a deep breath. She opens her eyes and looks at the blonde before her a little more closely. She then turns and looks over at Octavia. Clarke watches as she glances over each of them and notates those that Raven gives them a slight, but knowledgeable, smirk. When the Latina's eyes land on Tris and Anya, her eyes go wide.
"Well, hello, Cheekbones," Raven quips louder.
"Let me introduce you to Anya of the Tree People or Onya kom Trikru. One of the locals and hopefully an ally for us. Welcome to Earth."
Raven groaned, but turned back to the blonde, "And, who are you?"
"Clarke Griffin, official leader of the 100 and known to the locals as Skaiprisa."
"What does that mean?"
"Sky Princess," Octavia answered, just as Clarke turned Raven's hands up to look at her scarred palms.
There was a call from the woods. They all turned around in time to see Finn and Wells burst through the trees. They were followed by Atom and Fox. Clarke cocked an eyebrow at them and two of the three at least had the decency to look contrite. Finn, however, did not. When his eyes met Raven's, they went wide.
Clarke looked down at the Latina and knew. She wanted to warn Raven, but she didn't have time to handle petty bullshit. She needed to get back to her talks with Anya, but that seemed highly unlikely now.
Raven stood up on unsteady legs and ran to Finn. Clarke and Octavia both looked at him, anger in their eyes because they both knew that he didn't deserve her. Octavia looked away first and back at the radio.
"Do you think you should talk to your mother now?" Octavia asked her.
"In a minute, first we need to finish with Anya," Clarke answered in English.
"You gonna tell her about him?"
"Later. Right now, we need to secure things with Anya. But, I also need to know what the climate is on the Ark. She's early. Something has happened, and we need to know what before we go back to Anya."
"Anya, why is she acting like that boy is her niron. He's had many of the gada from skaikru. I think the only ones that haven't touched him are those four," Tris stated loud enough for both Clarke and Octavia to hear.
Both of them turned their attention to the young warrior. Lincoln was still the only one that knew that they understood and spoke Trig. But, she was beginning to wonder if Anya was picking up on the fact that Clarke understood more than she was letting on. In order to keep up the ruse a little longer, Clarke turned more fully to Anya before she spoke. Anya hadn't been close earlier. It had been Nyko and Ryder, but she knew that they would both tell either Anya or Lexa that they knew their language soon enough. For now though, Clarke would just going in Gonasleng, mostly because she didn't want her people questioning her about it all yet.
"I'm sorry for this disruption. But, as you can see, she is one of ours. The radio that we have will allow up to talk to our home in the stars. If you would like, we can bring it back with us to the talks," Clarke told her as she held Anya's eyes with her own.
"Will you speak for those in the stars?" Anya asked her, point blank.
"I can't. I can only speak for ourselves, Anya. I hope that they will continue what I start with you, but I can't guarantee that they will honor everything that I speak with you or the Commander about," Clarke answered truthfully.
"Then, what good are the talks then?" Anya huffed.
"We were sent down to basically die, Anya. We would like to live. I've already told you this. Raven wasn't forced. She volunteered to come," Clarke stated and then reached out with the radio. "I know that we want peace with you, Anya. We don't want war. And, I can promise that Raven will help us defeat the Mountain. I need her to do this. I know that you don't trust us, and I understand that. We've landed on your lands. Scared animals in your hunting grounds and destroyed the land with our dropships. I can't speak for those still in the stars, but I speak for those already here. Some of them still have families up there and I want them to meet again. You can help broker that. Will you at least be willing to listen?" Clarke asked her.
"What about the tek?"
"We'll bring it with us. I won't call up to the stars until we talk. And, you can be there when I do. Will you help us so we can help you? Will you let us help you bring down the Mountain?" Clarke questioned.
"That we be for Heda to decide."
"Can we at least come to a peace agreement? We won't attack if you don't attack us? Something like that? We don't have much to trade, but we would be willing to work for goods and training," Clarke told her.
"Again, that will be up to Heda."
"Will you help us talk with them, then?" Clarke pushed, knowing fully well that Lexa was back at the tent waiting for them to return, probably pacing.
"We will see, Skaigada," Anya answered.
"And, the boy?" Clarke asked, pointing at Bellamy.
Anya's eyes turned to him. She didn't know why he was speeding through the forest, but she could tell that the blonde wasn't happy about him being there. She still seemed to care for him, anyway. Anya could guess that he defied her orders and left their camp.
"I will release him," Anya said as she let his neck go.
Bellamy fell to the ground. Neither Clarke nor Octavia rushed to his side. He looked up at them from his knees and cocked an eyebrow. Realizing that he wasn't going to get any help from them, he knew he'd screwed up.
"I'm sorry," he said gruffly as he stood up.
"I asked you to stay at camp, Bellamy. I told you that I would take care of you. I told you to listen to me and you didn't. How am I supposed to trust you if you can't do this for me?" Clarke said as she moved closer to him. "You may not know what you've done before, but I do. Your sister does as well. Please don't make me do something to you because of your brashness. Just listen to me and take them all back with you to the camp."
"I'm not leaving her alone with them," Bellamy stated.
Octavia drew her sword and put it at her own brother's throat. His dark eyes met her hardened green and held. Raven turned just enough in Finn's arms to see what was going on.
"Whoa there Pocahontas, what's going on?" Raven questioned as she broke free from Finn.
"Nothing to worry about Raven. Just some familial problems. Bellamy and Finn are going to head back to the dropship. Raven, you need to stay with us. Harper and Monroe will head back to where we set the snares, check them and go back to camp," Octavia stated.
"No questions. We will give you answers when we get back. Monroe, you, Wells, Murphy are in charge until we get back. Harper, you and Miller start prepping for us all to stay in the dropship for a few days. There is a big storm coming and we've got like two, three days max. Send out water teams and gather as many nuts and berries that Monty says are safe from the surrounding area," Clarke ordered them.
Monroe reached over for Bellamy. Harper was on his other side. They would escort him back by force if they had to. They didn't need to be told twice. They understood the unspoken commands by Octavia and Clarke. Clarke then turned to the pod and motioned for Octavia to grab the packs, including Raven's.
"Umm, not to seem ungrateful, but are you going to answer the radio?"
Abby's voice could still be heard.
"Not yet. We have somethings to deal with first," Clarke replied and turned to Anya. "Shall we head back."
Anya watched as Monroe and Harper marched Bellamy away. Wells and Finn just obediently followed them. Clarke stood there waiting, radio in hand. She handed it back to Octavia. She reached down and took up her pack. Slinging it over her shoulder, she reached down and grabbed Raven's, too. Looking at Octavia and started back towards the forest, back to where the tent was in another clearing. Octavia put her sword up and followed Clarke. Raven looked at Anya, shrugged, and then followed the other two.
"Well, I can see that this is going to be interesting," Raven stated as she ran to catch up to Clarke.
She caught up to them and matched their pace.
"Wow, y'all move fast for only being down here for like twelve days," Raven said.
"You don't know the half of it," Clarke replied.
"So, tell me, Blondie, what am I missing?"
"When did Mom tell you to fix the pod?"
"A few days ago, why?" Raven asked. "Wait, your that Griffin? You're Abby's daughter?"
"Did you tell her that we were taking the bands off?"
"I guessed that you were. I can see that you aren't wearing yours, nor is Pocahontas there. Finn wasn't either."
"Thank you for letting her know that we were being normal teenagers that were unsupervised. It will save everyone else's lives. It was smart," Clarke told her. "But, for now, I don't want you to say anything to them about finding us."
"Why not?"
"I'll explain it all to you later, but for now, I just need you do this."
"Okay, Griffin, I'll tell your mom that I made it and nothing more."
"Good."
"Can I at least tell her that Earth is survivable?"
"Not today. Tomorrow."
"Umm, we don't have until tomorrow."
"I know," Clarke said darkly and sped up.
This was not the first conversation that she wanted to have with Raven. She knew that it was cruel, possibly callous, but she needed those sacrifices to happen. She needed Diana to try to her coup, but she needed to make sure that Unity Day was still "explosive."
"We'll tell them in the morning everything in the morning. For now, we need them to think that you are still looking for us. I just need time before I talk to my mother. Can you give me that?" Clarke asked her as they made their way through the forest.
"I mean, yeah, I guess. I just don't understand why. She was so distraught when your screen went blank. She was sobbing. Kane had to hold her up. And, then when I told them that y'all were removing them, you should have seen her face. She looked me up and had me fix the pod. She was supposed to come with me, but Jaha found out that she was helping me by getting parts that I shouldn't need," Raven told her.
"I know."
"And, you don't want to tell her that you are alive yourself, right now?"
"It's complicated," Clarke answered.
"So uncomplicate it for me," Raven demanded as she grabbed Clarke's arm and pulled her to a stop.
Clarke rounded on her. She was angry for many reasons, but she wasn't mad at Raven. She didn't mean to take her anger out of her, but it was about to happen. She was over the anger at her mother for her father's death, but she realized that being there again, like this, was making it raw, like a freshly picked scab. She closed her eyes, pulled her arm forcefully from Raven's grasp and then opened her eyes, huffing. She stared deeply into Raven's dark eyes as she took in the girl before her. Raven didn't know. Abby hadn't told her, and Clarke didn't fault her for that. She knew what her mother was doing. She was using Raven to get to her. She would have done the same thing, especially if it was for Madi.
"She is the reason that my father was floated, so forgive me for wanting to make her sweat for a few more days before she finds out that I am still alive," Clarke told her and then stomped off between the trees, leading them effectively back to the clearing.
"Wow," Raven stated. "Harsh. I get it, but harsh."
"Yeah, well, Clarke has her reasons for everything that she does."
"Well, okay then. I'll listen to Blondie and Pocahontas. You two seem to be doing whatever it is that needs to be done," Raven replied.
"We are."
"Then, why am I going back to the super secret meeting with the locals?"
"Because we have the radio," Clarke said as they broke free and back into the clearing, only to stop short when she saw that the girl had changed and Gustus was standing guard behind her left side.
"Lexa," Clarke breathed out and dropped to her knees.
Octavia reached up and pulled Raven down, too, kneeling before who they knew was the Commander without being told.