"Heda." Onya bows down before her former seken. Indra and Gustus are standing at Lexa's side assuming their places as her protectors. All three of them looking at Onya with shock. Shock that she's still alive. Shock that she is still here after everything that happened.
"Onya." Lexa keeps her tone neutral and face stoic but there is relief in her eyes. "We heard you were dead." She says in trigesaleng not needing to speaking in Gonasleng anymore. The thought of her first dying made Lexa's hate of the sky people grow that much more. They landed on her land. Killed her people. Shoot them stab them burnt them alive. Shot up a village but still talk of peace. They don't deserve peace. Blood must have blood.
Onya rises back to her feet her eyes staring into her sekons praying to the gods that she can get Lexa to listen. Even after what the boy Finn did Onya knows there has to be peace between the twelve clans and the Skaikru. That's the only way to put an end to the mountain. "I would have been Heda." She pauses looking between the three people she considers friends before admitting her shame. "Had it not been from Klark kom Skaikru." Onya wasn't ashamed that Klark had saved her. As much as she hates to admit it she has great respect for the girl. She might even care about what happens to her. No, she was ashamed that Klark had to put herself into these life threatening situations to save her. Onya is a fully trained warrior she should be able to take care of herself.
"Explain," Heda demands sitting back down on her throne twirling her knife around. And so, she does. Onya states everything that has happened to her since Skaikru first landed on her land right up until Klark asked her if she can get her an audience to speak with the commander. "You escaped the mountain," Lexa asks looking at her former first with sadness after hearing about what was happening to her people in the mountain.
That mountain has plagued a darkness over her people for too long. Now she has the sky people to deal with who seem just the same as them. A new dangerous enemy to destroy before any more harm can come to her people. "Yes. Heda." Onya replies but she seems hesitant.
Lexa easily picks up on this. "Speak true Onya." Whatever her first want to say about the mountain makes her wonder.
"With all due respect Heda I know you want to wipe the sky people out. I do too for everything that has happened. But I beg you to reconsider." Onya pleas standing tall as shock and anger overtakes the people gathered features.
"Reconsider. They are murders." Indra hot temper escapes her. "We should attack now and wipe them out before any more of our people can be killed."
"Enough." Lexa demands. Her eyes narrowing at Onya. After being trained by her she knows that Onya wants blood for what happened just as much as anyone else but whatever is making her come in here and ask for peace must be worthwhile. She wouldn't dare to ask otherwise. "You may state your case Onya."
Letting out a breath of relief Onya starts her explanation. "If we alley with Skaikru then we can take down the mountain once and for all. Heda this may be our only chance at taking them down. Skaikru understands their technology. Understand how their defensives work. Klark knows the base she has a map of the inside. If we offer then a truce, we can destroy the mountain. Our people are being bled dry in there. Our people are being turned into monsters. We can end it all. But only if we have Skaikru aid. Klark is willing to work out a peace agreement."
Lexa thinks over Onya advice. She understands that working with skaikru might be the only way to take down the mountain but her people will never agree to it. To them, Skaikru is the enemy and blood must have blood.
Gustus remains silent but his dislike of this idea is visible for all to see.
Indra is more vocal about her hatred. "You want to ally with these people. The people who killed your own people. Three hundred of our people were killed by this Klark." She spits out Klark's name and Onya tenses at this. She has plans for the sky girl. She sees something in her she has seen only three other times. Those three being natblidas.
"What would you have me do to settle the rightful anger and demand for justice of the village they massacred," Lexa asks knowing her first already has a suggestion. She stops playing with the blade stabbing it into the wood. If she doesn't answer the injustice she would be dead before morning.
"Get Skaikru to hand over the killer." Onya knows that they won't be the offer will give them a chance to peace. She knows Klark. She would do anything to save her people. She won't hand Finn over but she would move him out of their camp so others can't get to him. This will be the time to grab him. With his death, there will be peace. Something Finn once strived for before he snapped.
"I need more then that Onya." Lexa says and both of them know it's true.
Before Onya could plead her case more a guard alerts them that someone called Klark has come to talk to the commander. "Heda please just talk to her."
Lexa mulls it over before she agrees and sends Gustus to collect the girl. "You know this girl Onya. You like her." Lexa asks picking up her knife again.
Seeing that being honest would be the best idea here Onya decides to tell Lexa her plans for the Skaikru leader. "I do. I trust her." All three of them know that Onya trusting her is a big deal. Life has made it so trusting someone especially an enemy means a lot. But she doesn't stop there. "And if the two of you do by some miracle work out a peace deal I would like to take her on as my sekon.
Lexa's heda mask fails as her eyes grow wide at Onya's decision. For Onya to want to make her a sekon this Klark must be special. Onya only accepts the best. She did train the commander after all. Indra looks as if Onya had struck her. "You would take her on." Lexa needs to know more. She trusts her first judgment but this is a whole new deal.
"I only have ever seen potential likes this three other times Lexa. You being one of them." Onya knows that almost everyone would hate her doing this but she knows it is the right thing to do. Klark Kom skaikru will be a great leader and with some training a great warrior. Onya already knows she can fight after their scuffle at their old camp. Klark showed the signs of being trained to fight in hand to hand combat. But not in any style she has ever seen before. It wasn't just instinct either. She's fought before. She isn't sure where since none of the others showed the same skill. The guards as well. They just reply on their guns.
"I will talk to her first." Lexa nods showing her support for Onya. If peace can be made then she will allow Onya to take on a second in form of the sky crew leader. A part of Lexa is intrigued to meet this Klark. They can hear Gutus threaten this Klark before the two enter the tent. Gustus takes his place next to Lexa while Klark walks confidently and stops by Onya in front of Lexa.
"Mochof Onya," Klark says quickly to Onya her eye flickering away from Lexa for a second before turn back. Onya smirk at hearing the girl stating her name correctly while also showing her respect. Lexa is surprised that the girl would thank Onya for getting her this meeting in their language instead of her own.
"You're the one who burned three hundred of my warriors alive." Lexa says menacingly playing with her blade watching the sky girl's reaction. She doesn't flinch at her tone or words. She keeps steady eye contact showing she isn't' afraid. Something Lexa can respect about the girl.
"You're the one who sent them there to kill us." Clarke shots sounding like she doesn't have a care in the world.
Lexa stabs her chair. "Do you have an answer for me. Klark of the sky people."
Clarke glances over to Anya who gives her a subtle nod in reassurance. Anya can see that Clarke has something up her sleeve. From the time she's spent around her "I've come to make you an offer."
"This is not a negation," Lexa asks wondering where the sky girl is going with this. For the leader of the people sentenced to death unless they leave her lands she being very bold. One only does that when they know they have something the other wants. Or if they are bluffing. Which one is Klark doing she wonders.
"Let me kill her and get this over with," Indra begs in trigedasleng her hand hovering over her blade Lexa raises her hand stopping Indra.
"I can help you beat the mountain men." Klark ignores the threat from Indra. She doesn't understand what she said but she can see the hate and anger issued towards her. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what she was saying. Klark tenses slightly but doesn't move her eyes away from the commander. Indra or whoever else can threaten her until she's grey and old. But only the commander can give the order. Everyone in the room apart from her and the commander is irreverent at the moment. Not that she would ever say that out loud.
"Go on." Lexa allows the sky girl to plead her case.
"Hundreds of your people are trapped inside mount weather kept in cages their blood is used as medicine. The only way we can save our people is if we can work together." Klark starts her speech which she had mentally prepared on her way back from the dropship.
"Those who are about to die will say anything." Indra interrupts and it takes all of Clarke's control no to turn and glare at the woman. Can't they just let her talk for longer than a few seconds.
"I'm still waiting for an offer Clarke." The commander states. Of course, you are. Clarke thinks. Because you won't let me get to that point. Not that she would ever say that out loud. She's quite attached to her head. And arms. And legs. Her throat as well. You know just all her body parts in general.
"The mountain men are turning your people into reapers..." Memories of being chased through the tunnels with Anya fly through her head. The way they ripped into human flesh. The way it stained their mouths and was caught in between their teeth. That crazed rage they ran after her with cheering all the way feeling the thrill of the hunt. Pushing those memories down Klark please her trump card. Praying to any god that will listen that it remains true. "I can turn then back"
"Imposible..." Indra draws out somehow seeming more angry then before. "Commander I beg you let me kill her." She's not the only one who appears to want Clarke's head. Gustus hand tightens around his sword her heated glare solely focused on Clarke. Lexa pauses her eyes searching Clarke for any hint of deception. Anya looks on in shock at this. She wasn't aware that Skaikru could do this. She thought like many that it was impossible. But from the confidence in Clarke's voice, it seems yet again the blonde girl is proving her wrong.
"I've done it. With Lincoln." Klark quickly adds on seeing that no one believes in her words.
"That traitor. is the reason that village was slaughtered." Indra rage is shown as she strides towards Clarke who tenses up for whatever attack might come next.
"Enough," Lexa shouts but the order is ignored
"By your people." Indra is right in Clarke's face but she doesn't back down. She can't show weakness now. Her people's lives are on the line.
"Pleni." Lexa once again shouts jumping up from her thrown. The sheer authority in her voice makes Indra pause. Indra knows she's overstepped and sends the sky leader her most venomous glare before stalking away to the other side of the room unable to be near Clarke at the minute. Lexa walks the short distance from her throne to Clarke "You say you can turn reapers back into men."
"Yes." She answers with a small nod trying to slow down her thundering heart rate.
"Then prove it show me Lincoln."
The walk to the dropship is in complete silence. Clarke leads the way with Anya by her side. The other three hanging back just in case this is a trap.
"You did well." Anya says breaking the tense silence.
Clarke lets out a shaky breath. "I was terrified." She admits turning her head towards Anya. The two of them have become quite close since their escape from the mountain. After Finn shot up that village and her Anya had taken it upon herself to carry Clarke back to Camp Jaha. She even stayed with her while her mother patched up her gunshot wound. When Clarke asked why she helped her instead of her people. Anya just smiled and said to her she is one of her people. That admission took Clarke back and the only thing stopping her from hugging the warrior was the fact she knows if she tried Anya would have her on the floor in seconds and she was already too injured as it was.
Even after Clarke was healed Anya stayed with her. She was confused but was thankful for Anya's constant presence. The two had started talking about both their cultures. Anya even started to teach her some of their language. If peace was to be achieved they had to show they could coexist.
Clarke could feel Anya's rage at Finn being found innocent of the massacre of the village. For Clarke herself, she wasn't sure how to feel about it. That's a lie she knew she hated what he had done. It was monstrous and she believed that he shouldn't have got off with it. But his actions were just so different from the boy she knew. If she hadn't seen it for herself she would never have believed he could do something like that.
Anya had even come on their mission to Mount Weather. At first, the guards and her mother were against their enemy coming but Clarke managed to convince her mother that if they wanted peace Anya had to come. The fact that Anya had saved her daughter twice already is the only reason Abbey allowed it but she kept a close eye on the grounder woman. She couldn't understand the relationship she had with her daughter but she knows she didn't like it.
"And yet you stayed strong throughout." Anya praised smiling to herself. She knows that Clarke will make an excellent seken. There's so much to Clarke and there can be more if she allows herself. "I wasn't aware you had captured Lincoln," Anya says changing the subject. The idea of Ripa being turned back filled her with Hope. To many people have suffered at the hands of the mountain. By saving the ripas some many families will be reunited while taking away some of the mountains power. No longer will sons sisters mothers and fathers have to kill each other. Klark can do the impossible.
"When you left to meet with the commander, I wasn't aware either." Clarke looks over her shoulder seeing two murderous glares on her and one pair of curious eyes. "I would have asked you to come if that was the case. I would never lie to you Onya."
"I know Skaiprisa." There have been many opportunities for Clarke to lie to her. But she never has. Even back at the bridge where she should have lied about her people following the treaty the two of them were making. Many people would have just to save themselves. But Clarke didn't she stayed true to herself. Which is both honourable and stupid. "There is something I was hoping to talk to you about."
"What is it." Clarke asks hearing the sudden seriousness in the older woman's voice.
"I've told you about sekens."
Clarke thinks back to her conversation with Anya remembering that a seken is a young warrior who follows and learns from an older one. Kind of like how she was her mother apprentice back on the ark. It's preparing them for the next stage in life and everything they will have to understand to be able to deal with it. "Yes. The commander was your second. You trained her to be a leader. A warrior." Same with Tris. The loss of losing the young child still weighs heavily on both of their shoulders.
"It's rare for a seken to be taken on from another clan," Anya states watching Clarke's reactions. The girl nods in understanding about that. Even though there is peace war could break out at any moment and each clan doesn't want to be training their enemies to fight them. Clarke doesn't understand where Anya is going with this but can see how important it is to her. "It would be my honour to take you on as my seken."
Clarke physically stops at hearing this. Anya wants to take Clarke on as her seken. She's both surprised and humbled by this. She knew that she and Anya were close and looking back at their relationship she can see that the two of them did make a good team. Not to mention the two of them already have sort of a relationship like a teacher and a student with Anya teaching her their language. "really." Clarke just about manages to say.
"I would not joke about something like this skaigada." Comes her curt response.
"No, I know that. But... me. Aren't' we enemies." The threat of the war to come lingers over both of them. Anya doing this could be seen as her siding with the enemy. Around them, it seems as if the forest has gone quiet. Like it was trying to listen in to this conversation.
"For now, yes." Anya shrugs not caring about the repercussions asking this could have on her. She wouldn't let something like this pass her. She knows that Clarke is destined for greatness. She just needs someone to help push her to reach her full potential. "But if you pull this off and obtain peace between our people. I would like to train you."
Clarke can't control the genuine smile that takes over her face at this. She hold's out her arm in grounder fashion. "It would be my honour to become your second Anya. I could think of no better... Seda." Clarke says nervously. She thinks that's the word for teacher. Anya shoots her a wolfish grin gripping her arm. A part of her dreads the fact that Anya will be teaching how to fight knowing it will be painful. But she's spent a few years fighting in the pits on the ark and can handle the pain. At least she hopes she can. She's also excited at the prospect of learning under Anya. She's going to be like Mulan. Love that Disney movie.
Does this mean she can get a tattoo. Because that would be badass.
The sun was only just beginning to rise as the general made her way through the camp towards the tent of her last seken. Onya will admit to herself that Klark leaving was probably the best thing she could have done for herself after the events that took place at mount weather. Her former seken was vastly different to Leksa when it came to emotions. Leksa had been taught that emotions were weakness that love was weakness. She buried her emotions within herself to protect her from the pain. Klark was the opposite. She wore her heart on her sleeve. Her emotions were her amour not her weakness. This is why her's and Lexa's betrayal hurt her so much.
The decision she made changed her. Killing Finn hurt her Onya could see that. Her heart soul and mind forever tainted by the murder of the boy she loved. The day's following the act of mercy she would watch as Klark rubbed her hands together in a vain attempt to wipe the blood of them. Most of the time she wasn't even aware of it.
She was aware of Clarke's actions haunting her. Many times, she would see Klark staring off into nothingness. Asking it to leave her alone. She could see that Klark was struggling but refused to let her own weakness show. She fought her demons alone in the safety of her own tent until she came to terms with her actions.
When it came to actual training in combat the girl showed much promise. Klark at told her stories of the fight pits she took part in on the ark with wells and a few other of her friends as well as her training under a woman named Pietra Rey. Apparently Klark and her friends had begged the woman to teacher them some moves that can help then out in the pits. Whatever this Pietra Rey taught them made Klark's hand to hand combat skills suppress all the other sekens her age. And a few older warriors as. It was much better than what she had originally thought after their battle outside the dropship. She used different methods of fighting which were new to Onya and also helped her to grow as a warrior. Some of the moves Klark had taught her eventually ended up saving her life. Not that she would ever tell the younger warrior.
Her sword skill was abysmal to be nice. Her archery was decent for a beginner. Her skill with a gun helping her in the beginning. Her skill with throwing dagger was none existent as was her ability to ride a horse. Something Onya was very quick to rectify. Leksa had offered a beautiful white horse to Klark after Onya had informed her that Klark didn't know how to ride. That was a huge give away that Lexa felt something for the girl that had fallen from the sky.
"Anya." A somewhat unsure voice called out to her halting her movement. Turning towards the sound of the voice she is greeted to the sight of the woman that Klark first ran to yesterday. Her long black hair flowing in the early morning wind. "You are Anya right."
"Yes." She answers the Skaikru woman. Klark trusts this woman and seems to be close to her. Much closer than she was with her mother. Onya never understood why Abi kept trying to undermine her daughter's decisions. She was their leader. Not Abi. Klark was looked down on because of her age. If anything to Onya and her people Klark's youth just proves that she was meant to be a leader. "You are."
"Right sorry. I'm Callie Cartwig." What is it with Skaikru and having two names. "You were Clarke's mentor."
"I was her fos yes." She crosses her arms over her chest and leans back on her right leg. "Why." Anya braces herself to hear yet another rant about how Clarke shouldn't have been her seken. Her mother made a huge fuss when she discovered that Klark was her seken. The two women screamed at each other until finally Abbey backed down under Clarke's unreeling gaze. Abbi then left to head back to camp Jaha letting Clarke handle all political matters and war meetings. Something Anya and Indra looked down on at the time.
Here stands a woman who believes herself to be the leader yet takes no leadership role. She doesn't get involved with anything leaving it all to Clarke and then has the gall to kick off at her with almost every decision demanding to know why she did what she did.
It was hard for Anya to watch but it also helped her to better understand Clarke. Her seken has a need to be in control. She good at it and can see things that no one else can. Its' what makes her a good leader. But is what she herself called a perfectionist. Apparently, it means that she needs everything to be exactly right. It can be a good thing. It helped her with her training as it pushed her to be better and learn much quicker.
However, it also hindered her in battle planning. She prefers things to be well planned out and organized down to the last detail. In war most plans don't survive first contact. She did well at the dropship and planned well. But the mountain was different. When she lost that control. Lost the plan she and Lexa had put into place. She was blinded and unable to think clearly.
Walking away from her on the mountain was one of the hardest thing's Anya had ever done. To watch as both Lexa's and Clarke's heart broke when Heda took the deal to sacrifice Skaikru in return for the safe return of their people. To see Clarke crumble in front of her and do nothing to help. To just turn her back and walk away from the annoying blonde who has far surpassed her expectations. Who wormed her way passed her walls and Lexa's by just being herself. To walk away knowing they are sentencing her and her people to death... It was one of the worst thing Anya has ever done.
She hated at first that she cared for the sky princess. She tried to push her own feeling downs. Their peace was fragile. Anything could trigger a war between them and they would have to face each other on the battlefield once again. But it didn't matter. Every time she tried to push Clarke away she would come back stronger.
Anya remembers that Clarke once confided in her that the ark never really felt like she was home. It was like her own prison. After the war with the mountain was over Clarke had asked her since she was her second if she could still follow her. She didn't want to be a part of skaikru. That skaikru needed to learn the ways of the ground. Of the twelve clans but they were too full of themselves to really make that change until they had nothing left and will be on the verge of falling apart. Clarke didn't want to be there for that. She wanted to explore the world. To make the most of her life. She said that if she was still on the ark her people would have executed her. So she intended to live everyday as it could be her last and feel blessed that she had the chance to make it down to earth to be here among Anya's people.
She loved her people that was clear. But she resented them as well. She would protect them from any threat. But she also wanted to put herself first for a change. To be free of expectations and just be herself without fear.
She had trusted Anya more than any other of her people. A part from Wells that is. She put her trust in Anya. And Anya just left her to die. Walked away without a second look back. She betrayed her. Clarke would never say that to her. But she did.
Trust was always something Clarke seemed to really lack. To many it would seem as if she was too trusting. She knows she thought that at the start but the more time she spent with Clarke the more she discovered that Clarke didn't trust anyone but Wells. She kept everyone else at distance. She would care for them and learn as much as she could for them. She would help them when ever asked. But she never gave them anything back. They didn't know anything about her. They thought they did but really they had this idea of her and never learnt the truth. Clarke made sure of that.
Her own seken trusted her with being allowed to see that side of her. The real her. The one who was shaken by this new world and still a little bit broken by the last one. It was one of Anya's greatest privileges which she took honour in. Yet she still abandoned her when she had needed her the most.
Sometimes she thinks about what might have happened had Anya dragged Clarke back with her on that mountain. As her seken she was a part of Lexa's deal as she was one of their people. But she didn't. If she did maybe they could have regrouped and figured out a different way of taking down the mountain. But that didn't happen. And now Clarke is completely and utterly destroyed by her own actions in the mountain.
Anya doesn't blame her for running. She can understand that what Clarke did would always haunt her. She knew that Clarke's people could never really understand how she felt and how she needed to escape. Yesterday at their reunion was evidence of that.
She worries now for Clarke knowing just how damaged she really is inside. She's worried about how she will react to losing Luna or Wells. Or anyone else that she has come to care about. She worries about how much more Clarke can bare before she gives into her own pain and make the pain go away.
Anya swore to herself last night as she watched Clarke fall apart and put herself together again like she has done a thousand times before that she would do whatever it takes to help her former seken. No matter what she will stand by her this time. Even if Lexa orders the opposite.
She left her once. She refuses to do it again. She will take whatever punishment is needed after but this is something she needs to do. No matter the risk.
Her curt tone must have made Callie feel a little nervous but she manages to push on filling her goal of seeking out Anya. "How is Clarke." Her question throws Anya of guard. She wasn't expecting that kind of question. She was expecting her to ask her to look out for Clarke or something like that. Somehow about her reaction must have made her confusion clear to Callie. "You knew Clarke during the war with your people. You knew Clarke second best during the war with the mountain. You've seen here now. How does she seem to you. Because I don't know how to read her anymore and I'm worried about her and you are the person she is closet to here so if anyone knows how she really is, it would be you."
Anya finds it weird for someone to be asking about how Clarke's doing. From her own experience skaikru never really cared and just let Clarke do what she needed to do and only really talked to her when they had a problem or wanted to blame her for something. The way Clarke reacted to this was like it was normal and so Anya thought it bit be a weird Skaikru leader thing. Kind of how like Heda can't show any form weakness.
"She thinks she's a monster." She bluntly tells Callie. She's always thought it's best just to say what she means and get on with it. Klark had once told her that she doesn't sugar coat her words. Whatever that means. "Since she was sent here to die, she has done many things to save her people. No matter the cost to herself. She views the mountain as a terrible tragic monstrous crime. She left to re-find her soul. And she did. Now people are trying to kill her and the ones she loves and is killing again. She's strong she will endure this but it is hurting her."
"Thank you." The Callie woman replies before taking her leave back to the ark.
Anya watches her leaves before shrugging to herself and going back to finding Klark. She doesn't have to search for long until she stumbles into the blonde haired boat girl she was looking for. It's still a bit strange for Onya to refer to Klark as the boat or ocean girl. To her she will always be that same stubborn pesky leader who fell from the skai and changed everything.
"Moba Onya." Klark quickly apologizes after walking into her former fos.
"Want to spar." Onya asks waving off Klark's apology
"Defli."
The two warriors along with the dark furred wolf make their way to an open area. The warming light from the rising sun brushes against their skin welcoming the new day. Others are already gathering around them to watch the legendary Wanheda fight the Trikru general. Even people from Skaikru are stopping what they are doing eyes poking through the metal fence to watch their former leader fight.
No words are exchanged as the two draw their blades. Each twirling their weapon in the exact same manner. A calming tick Klark had picked up and learned from Onya. Anya can't help but smirk at seeing this. Once a seda always a seda and Klark was one of her best students.
Now let's see what the girl has learned since they last sparred with one another.
Clarke patiently waits for Anya to strike first. The two woman circle one another waiting for the other to move first. From all her training with Luna Clarke learned the art of patience. Something Anya lacked when teaching her. Something she can use to her advantage here. Time slowly passes as she waits for Anya to grow annoyed or bored and unleash all her years of training upon her former second.
Her own patients pays off soon enough when Anya springs forward with the speed of a shadow cat slash at her chest. Straight away Clarke blocks her attack and pries the next. Their blades form a sort of dance. Echo of metal on metal clang for everyone to hear. Every attack Anya tries is blocked or countered. Both women giving as good as each other. Their bodies move in almost perfect harmony. An attack goes here the other bodies shift to deal with the incoming strike.
Clarke is forced back by Anya's more powerful attack. That was always their way. Anya was stronger and more experienced. Clarke had more speed and agility to dodge and counter attack. She can't help but smile seeing that even after five years their style of battling hasn't changed. That they can just spar like this together each knowing the other's strengths and weaknesses and use that to the best of their abilities.
While the two blades meet Clarke feels free. There is nothing else around her other than Anya. No horrible memories pressing down on her. No stress knowing what is happening back home. Just her and Anya giving it all they got.
Seeing her opening Clarke delivers a swift kick into Anya's right leg making her wobble. Not one to go down easily Anya pushes herself forward wanting to put more pressure on Clarke knowing that she is stronger and can overpower the girl easily. However, this is exactly what Clarke is looking for. As Anya pushes forwards. Clarke sidesteps to left. Anya force and power pushes her to far forward her momentum and pervious unbalance making her stumble.
Without mercy Clarke attacks the back of Anya's legs effectively tripping her up. The Trikru general lands heavily on the floor back first. A second later Clarke has her sword at the woman neck making sure to stay out of range of her legs not wanting to be caught off guard by a surprise kick. Luna did that enough to her during her training. Just because your opponent is on the ground doesn't mean the fight is over. Always be alert. Always be cautious. They could strike at any given moment.
"You've come a long way Skaiprisa," Anya smirks up at her proudly and affectionally. It hits Clarke hard as she beams in response pride filling her body at her Fos's words. She didn't realize just how much hearing those words would mean to her. And they do. They mean everything to her.
Clarke pulls her sword away and offers Anya a hand up. "I had three brilliant teachers." She says knowing that it's because off the hard working and teachings of Luna Anya and Pietra that she has grown so much as a warrior. A leader. And as a person. "You must of all. I can never thank you enough for everything you taught me Onya."
Without Onya's teaching she might never had made it to Luna in the first place. Her training is what helped to keep both her and Wells alive during their time in exile. Anya was the one who brokered the peace deal between Skaikru and Trikru. She was the one who kept Clarke focused and steady during the war with the mountain. Anya will always be her mentor. The person she looks up the most out of all of her trainers. Their time escaping the mountain strengthening their bond and seeing past the ideals that surround this strange new person who has done everything within their power to kill each other's people and to protect their own.
Clarke will be forever grateful that she stepped in front of that... those bullets to protect Anya. She can't even begin to imagine just how different her life would have been if Anya had died because of her people.
"It was my honour to teach you Klark kom floukru." Anya shoots her another wolfish grin. The following word hasn't changed in all this time. "Nodotaim." And just like that, they are back at it. Swords fists and legs swinging in efforts to knock down the other. They ignore the gathered crowd's watching in awe as the two warriors show off their skills for everyone to see. The only thing they care about is relishing in the feeling battling gives them. Even more so when they battle against each other.
The morbid tense atmosphere hangs heavily on all members of the party. Grounders and Sky people march together along the mud trodden road. The commander and her personal guards leading the way with Clarke and her people hanging further back. Both sides constantly exchanging uneasy glances each waiting for the other to betray the newfound alliance. Each ready to strike the other down to protect their people. Even the horses seem tense ready to gallop away at a moment's notice.
Clarke and Wells walk side by side leading the sky people. A comfortable silence filling the air between them. Both minds focused on thinking of every way this could end badly. Bellamy Octavia and Lincoln walking a little but behind them quietly talking to each other. More like Lincoln proudly telling the Blake sibling's about his home with Octavia hanging on every word and Bellamy paying minimal attention eyes darting around looking for any incoming threats. Abbey and Kane hanging further back whispering to each other about Clarke taking leadership. She can feel their concerned worried looks. They don't think she can do this. Raven rides along in the cart next to them her eyes also focused on Clarke but instead of viewing her with concern and worry Ravens eyes burn with a justifiable anger and hatred directed directly at Clarke. To her, Clarke had murdered her only family. She had killed Finn.
An action that haunts Clarke. Everywhere she looks she can see him staring at her eyes looking at her in disbelief and betrayal. Always asking why. Why is he dead. Why had she killed him. Because that's what happened. He died because of her. He murdered a village for her. He gave himself up for her. He died for her. All he wanted was to keep everyone safe. For there to peace. And for that, he had to pay with life.
Even now she can feel the warm sticky substance that coated her hands as she plunged her blade deep in to his chest pricing his heart. It's ironic that she said to him that he broke her heart and then she slipped a dagger into his. Leaving Finn dead. Raven was empty inside apart from anger and Clarke was lost desperately clinging to her mission as a clutch to stop herself from breaking down.
Finn had shot her. That one thought rings louder in her head. He didn't mean to but in his maniac state, he shot Clarke aiming for Anya. Her shoulder still burning with pain from last week's bullet. Her stomach feeling more itchy and uncomfortable after being reopened from the mad dash to that village. Her head throbbing from being knocked out by a grounder with a blunt weapon. The cut on her stomach from Indra's spear stinging with each step. Just about every part of Clarke's body hurts at this point. But she has to stay focused. She knows she can't show any sign of discomfort. Grounder are all about strength. She can't how weakness. The hundred need her strong. They need her to make this alliance work to save them. She has to save them. She left them there in that monstrous place. She needs to get them out. And to do that she needs the grounder's help.
"Klark." A strong female voice calls from next to her. Flicking her head to the side Clarke is surprised to see Anya riding on her horse next to her looking down on the blonde girl.
"Anya." Clarke greets back proud that her voice doesn't break or waver exposing her true feelings.
"We will be making camp soon." She says doing a quick glance around. Suddenly she pulls on her horse's reins halting the horse mid step. Clarke stops as well unsure as to why the grounder woman has stopped. Wells watches having taken a few steps forward before realizing that Clarke had stopped moving. Grounders on foot and horse continue on shooting Anya a strange look before going back to their guard duties. The members of Sky crew have paused behind her watching the scene in front of them proceed with distrust. "Hop on." Anya orders more then asks offering Clarke her hand.
She doesn't even think about but when she takes holds on Anya's hand allowing the older woman to pull her up on to her horse. She doesn't know why she just did that. Doesn't understand what she was possibly thinking to just hop on the horse of a woman who tried to kill her and her people not that long ago. Doesn't understand why she didn't question why she should. She just reacted. Trusting her instincts to follow this trikru woman. To trust Anya.
She doesn't under their relationship. Nothing about them makes sense. Yet for some strange reason, she does trust Anya. She ignores the bewildered looks of her people as Anya tugs the horse in a different direction as the tow of them trot away from the rest of the group disappearing into the vast wilderness.
The two of them ride in Silence which Clarke is thankful for as it gives her the opportunity to admire the horse she currently riding on. She softly rubs the animal's neck feeling it's soft hair running along with her fingers. The videos she's seen of the four legged creatures never did it justice. This majestic animal is better than she could have ever imagined. Never for one day did she ever think she would be here ridding an actual horse. Its strong muscles moving under her fingertips as it carries her and Anya off to who knows where.
Anya kicks her legs making a clicking nose and the horse takes off in to a gallop. The wind rushes through her air and she's unable to contain her squeak of glee at the sudden movement. She expected to feel fear but in that she feels the opposite. She feels happy. The happiest she's been in a long time. Clarke doesn't care about what Anya might think as she just starts laughing enjoying every second of this ride revealing in the feeling of ecstasy, she currently living in. She wants to savor this free feeling she experiencing. For the first time since she landed on the ground, she just feels free. Like the world isn't imploding all around her. Everything about this experience is better than any dream she might have imagined.
She can only thank Anya for allowing her to experience this. Well, Anya and...
"His name is name is Skaibuma," Anya says as if she was reading her mind. "It means thunder." Thunder. A fitting for such an amazing horse. His hooves thunder along the forest floor destroying any sign of silence just the constant beating of his running. It's a comforting sound. Kind of like listening to someone you love heartbeat. Clarke could almost swear her heart was beating in perfect rhythm with thunder's hooves.
They continued riding in silence Clarke taking this time to soak in everything the forest has to offer now she is no longer having to worry about a grounder appearing out of nowhere and slitting her throat up. Clarke always knew the earth was beautiful. Living on the ark made anything look beautiful in comparison.
When she first landed on earth and the hatch opened exposing them to the raw beauty of the living forest that survived the bombing Clarke's breath was taken away. She had spent hours on the ark drawing out what she imaged the earth looked like. Her cell was littered in her art work the only thing she could do to keep her mind sane after being locked up in solitary confinement.
Everything about the earth was beautiful. The tall dark tress flushed with a multitude of different colored leaves hanging over them. The sun shining brightly down on them offering them warmth. The warmth would glister off the leaves and break through the small gaps sending rays of light shining towards the ground making a halo like look on those who stood under them.
To her the air was beautiful. Which was a weird thing to think but given that she had grown on the ark breathing in filtered air to be on the earth and to breath in actual fresh air had floored her. She didn't really expect such a vast difference air is air but here on the earth it just felt so much fresher. More alive. She couldn't really describe it. All she did know was she doesn't think she could ever return to how life was like on the ark.
The first time she heard a bird call was like music to her ears. She actually stopped what she was doing just to take in the sound eyes searching the trees for the chance to see her first living animal. Sadly, she couldn't spot the bird lurking up in the tree tops calling out for its friends.
When they came across that two headed deer she was in complete and utter awe. No further than twenty feet away from here was a living breathing animal who paid them no attention as it continued to munch away. She thinks it was then the realization hit her. She was alive on earth. The earth was alive and they could survive down here. They had finally returned home.
Everything was so new so amazing. It was like a dream come true.
And then that dream turned into a nightmare when Jasper got speared through the chest. War and death followed from that first day. The need for her to protect the others took priority over the wonders of the earth. She had to focus on keeping everyone alive putting a back burner on just taking in her surroundings.
Now however she has that chance again.
Thunder slowed down in his gallop coming to a steady trot before stopping all together. Flinging herself rather inelegantly off his back Clarke turns around to face Anya who easily unmounted her horse with the grace of a skilled rider. "That was amazing." She all but shouts as Anya looks at her with amusement. "Thank you." She says making sure Anya can understand just how grateful she was for being given this opportunity. She had ridden a horse. An actual living horse.
"No need to thank me Klark. You looked like you needed a break. And I didn't want to linger around that atmosphere any longer." Anya replies stroking Thunders snout.
"Before our first meeting together I had never seen a horse before. Never thought I would. And now I just rode one." She gushes out in uncontrollable excitement. "An actual living horse."
"As opposed to a fake dead horse." Anya quips causing Clarke to roll her eyes not letting her first bring down her mood...
Her first.
Is Anya her first. They had talked about it on the way to showing Heda the reaper cure but haven't had the chance to talk about since. Especially after she tried to smuggle Finn to safety and was ready to kill any grounder who came to the dropship looking for him.
And just like that, her ecstatic mood evaporates removing all traces of joy from her soul. She shouldn't be feeling so full of glee. Not after she had just murdered Finn.
"What are you thinking about sky girl." Anya asks without even looking in her direction
"Are... Am I... Are you still willing to take me on as your second." Clarke asks timidly. She wanted to be Anya's second but she doesn't think she' worthy of that position. She knows that Anya will get a lot of stick from her people for doing this. It might be best if they don't follow this path. The alliance isn't solid and as the leader of Sky crew can she really be a second. Will the other leaders look down on her for it. Will her own people think she is betraying them for joining with the savages.
The word feels dirty on her mind. She's spent time with Anya and with Lincoln. Their people might not use technology but they are the furthest things from savages. She's seen a glimpse of Trikru. Savage means uncontrolled fierce brutal and vicious. That isn't the people here. Yes, the warriors of the clan can be seen as that but that's their job. They have to be like that to protect the people they love.
The village Finn attacked wasn't like that. They were happy. They hunted. They fished that made clothes. They weren't violent blood thirsty savages. They were people. People just trying to live their lives in this new world.
Anya tears her eyes away from her horse taking in Clarke's distressed body language she's failing to try and mask. "Sha Klark. If you accept, I will take you on as my Seken."
Clarke lets out a huge sigh of relief. She doesn't even understand why she so desperately wants to be Anya's second. Maybe she wants to learn everything she can about earth. Maybe she wants to learn more about Anya herself and grow closer to her. Their bond is already much stronger than it is with members of her own people. Maybe she wishes to be a part of something bigger than herself. Maybe it's a mixture of reasons. She just knows that this is something she wants to do. Something no one can talk her out of.
Anya shoots Clarke a smirk as she being to instruct Clarke in everything, she needs to know about be her second. The jobs she will have to do. The training she will have to undergo. Of course, her role will be slightly different to must seconds as she is still the leader of sky crew and can't be seen as weak so most of the meaningless jobs won't be given to her and her training will mostly be in private so others can't see her training and see what her strengths and weakness are and use that against her.
Anya starts to lead them back towards the rest of the group her horse walking along behind them as Anya starts to fill Clarke in on everything that will happen during the next few days. From the meeting of the other clan leader to her own training. It's when she brings up what will happen during the funeral that Clarke stops in her tracks her heart clenching painfully in her chest.
Anya looks at her understanding dawning on her face and says "The past is written. The ink has already dried. We can't change what has happened and we can't let them drag us down. People are looking towards you to lead them. To do that you need to move on from the past. Don't let it stop you from protecting those you still need to save. Mourn after the war is done. We need you to have you be focused on this for all our people to survive. Burry the past. Burry your feelings. But learn from your mistakes. Otherwise, we will suffer the same fate again."
"You make it sound so easy." Clarke looks down.
Solemnly Anya replies, "Nothing about this will be easy Klark. But I have faith in you... You just need to have faith in yourself."
The feast was about as close to a disaster that Clarke could have handled. Gustus Lexa's personal body guard tried to prevent the alliance from happening by poisoning himself and placing the blame on Raven. Who when Clarke tried to question to figure out what was going on punched her in the face.
It was a solid punch which did impress Clarke but at this point, she was really starting to get tired of been attacked both physically and emotionally. In the past few days, she has been knocked out with a rock while getting Finn to the dropship. Stabbed with a spear by Indra. Taunted by the grounders. Cursed out by her own people. A Week before she had jumped off a waterfall. Then spent hours dragged through the forest battling Anya who also knocked her out with a rock to the head and got stabbed and shot twice.
At this point, the next person who hits her is going to be hit back. Pietra always said know when to and when not to fight but there will always come a point where you probably shouldn't fight but will need to stand up for yourself. At that moment only you can decide on how to do that.
Which translates to you get pushed far enough either destroy your attacker with words or beat the shit out of them.
Which brings us to this point in time as everyone is settling in Ton DC. Naturally, the grounders apart from Lincoln and Anya are keeping their distance from the Skaikru party. But that doesn't stop their glares and muttered insults.
Clarke sits slightly further away from her own people with Anya and Wells as the three of them discuss in more detail their different cultures. Every now and then Anya sends a glare towards a group of warriors who keep making snide comments in their own language at Clarke Wells and Anya. It's not long until Anya barks out an order to them to shut up that things really heated up.
"Natrona." Is spat at her. Clarke and Wells look to each having no clue what the word means but from the way Anya tenses up and face is overcome with furry it's pretty obvious that it was a really big insult. The leader of the small group stalks over to where they are sitting anger and disgust pouring off him while the others cheer him on.
In response, Anya is quick to her feet. Clarke and Wells are right behind her. Both of them feeling the incoming danger. "What is that you want Brantt," Anya demands as Brantt hateful gaze flickers between the three of them.
"Is it true that you have taken a member of Skaikru as your Seken." He spits at her. Clarke winces on the inside. Of course, the conflict has to do with her.
"Who I take on as a seken has nothing to do with you Brantt." Anya forcibly replies as all eyes on the camp watch the conflict. Even Lexa stands off to the side with Indra carefully eyeing the heated debate. Not wanting to be seen as weak both Clarke and Wells shift more into a combat stance. It doesn't take a genius to see where this is heading. Both of them wanting to be ready to best defend themselves and each other. Like they have been doing for years.
Brantt's eyes drift from Anya's landing on Clarke taking in her stance before laughing and shouting out to the rest of the grounders in his language in a degrading and mocking fashion. She can't understand what he's saying but the way Anya tenses up, even more, sets her heart racing. Taking a deep breath to centre herself a small smirk graces the corner of her lips a Brantt and his crew shove past Anya who moves to defend Clarke pulling one of the groups attackers into a fist fight with her as Brantt close down on Clarke. Two more go for Wells.
His arrogance and smugness rolls of him in waves as she goes to strike Clarke. Behind her, she can hear her people shuffling to help her. Lincoln and Octavia dashing towards them. Brantt goes to land a strike directly to her face underestimating her own combat skills.
In a blink of an eye, Clarke has dodged his oncoming strike shifting just out of range to the left. Her arm, redirecting his swing wide leaving him completely open, and with the speed of a striking cobra, she jabs him with as much force as she can muster right into the throat. He lets a choked gasp shock overriding his previous smugness. Not hesitating Clarke grabs his chin lifting it to the side at the same time as her right leg swings behind Brantts before forcing him roughly to the ground with Clarke smashing his head against the muddy floor knocking him out cold in less than six seconds since he moves to attack her.
Spinning around she smiles as Wells holds up two different warriors' attacks dodging and deflecting. Aiding her brother in his fight she quickly locates the nerve points his one of the assailant's legs grabbing his arm and swing him around so he's facing her before landing a devastating blow to his right leg sending as paralyzing shockwave through his body causing him to drop to his knees unable to move to defend himself followed swiftly by a powerful strike to his diaphragm knocking all the air out of his lungs forcing him to land back gasping and wheezing as Clarke just stands over him.
To her left Wells has twisted his opponent into a choke point and is pressing down on his neck until he passes out from lack of oxygen. As soon as this happens, he drops his grip on the warrior's body and it drops to the fall.
Everyone apart from Anya looks on stunned at the events that had just taken place. Anya is just wearing a wolfish grin as she indicates for Clarke and Wells to re-take their seats and continue their conversation daring anyone to try and take them on in a fight now knowing just how powerful and dangerous Clarke and Wells are. They ignore the guy on the floor still struggling for air.
Grounders respect strength above all else. And Clarke and Wells just proved how strong they are and how strong their clan is capable of being without the use of their guns. This gained them a little respect from the gathered grounders. But also made them more afraid of the potential danger Skaikru will pose in the future. Something Clarke will have to overcome and convince not only Trikru but the other elven clans that they can all co-exist with each other. Her relationship with Anya being the starting point.
The air around her was calm. Still even. Almost as if it was frozen in a single moment. A tranquil atmosphere hovering around here looking for a way to sneak inside her and dismantle her guard and tension from this inside.
All around her warriors from other clans have been marching for days now. Each soldier seems perfectly content and happy. Sneaking a glance towards Anya Clarke feels somewhat relieved that Anya seems to be the only other person in sight who hasn't fallen into this state of relaxation.
Nudging Dusk Closer to Skaibuma Clarke asks, "You feel it too right."
Anya's grip on her reins tightens as she turns her head towards her former seken. "Sha." Oh good at least she wasn't the only one. Clarke keeps her eyes on Anubis. If anything was going to happen Anubis would sense it first and alert Clarke. For the moment he seems alert and on guard but has no lingering sense of incoming danger. "It won't be long now until we reach Floukru." Anya's voice seems tense yet also soothing. "Are you ready."
Is she ready.
Ever since she left all she has wanted to do is go home. Back to Luna. Back to Wells. Back to Twilight and Storm. To see the beauty of the waves crashing alone the shore. That calming sound it makes which used to help lull her to sleep and chase away her nightmares. NOw she has Luna to battle her demons while she strives of Luna's. A perfect partnership.
So yes she is ready to come back to all that. To feel at home. To be back with her loved ones.
However, the part on which Anya was referring to feels her with as, much dread as it has every time she has thought of it herself. Is she ready to see her home in ruins. To see the people she swore to protect dead. To see everything she helped to build destroyed. To see the two people she loves most in the world ripped away from her while she was safe and sound somewhere else trying to get them the support they needed to make it another night.
Is she ready to see that she is too late to save anyone.
Clarke has no idea how she would react to losing either Luna or Wells never mind both of them. The devastation she would feel wouldn't even come close to describe how she would be feeling. she knows if she lost Luna then she will lose the need to fight. her life would feel meaningless. The only thing that would keep her functional would be her ending this war and bringing Nia to her knees. Other then that she doesn't think she would survive much longer. She can only pray to the gods that this is a path she will never have to walk down.
"Is anyone ready for that is to come," Clarke replies not answering one way or the other but her words still ringing true.
Anya's frown deepens hearing Clarke's vague answer. "I suppose that's true."
To her right Anubis's ears twitch. Once twice a third time. He tilts his to the side to better hear whatever it is that he is hearing. Seeing this Clarke sharply pulls on Dusks reigns halting her steps. Anya quickly follows suit. Around them, Warriors are watching confused as to what has caused their sudden stop halting the march. In front of them, people are looking back wondering why the people behind them have stopped marching.
Anubis turns to face the woods. Sniffing at the air searching for something. "There was an old saying." Clarke says speaking calmly her hand sliding down to her sword gripping it tightly. "It's always the calmest before the storm."
A second Later Anubis lets out an ear bleeding howl before darting off towards the woods. Clarke kicks Dusk to chase after him. They break through the trees another on their tail as all hell seems to break loose around them. War cries echo among the trees. As Azegda troops launch themselves out ambushing the unprepared marchers. Hordes of white and blood descend from the woods.
Clarke slashes the warriors she comes across but she keeps pace with Anubis. Whatever it is that he chasing after most be important. What are you running towards boy.
Translations
Skaigada- Sky girl
Skaiprisa- Sky princess
Seda- Teacher
Defil- definitely
Notodaim- Again.
Skaibuma- Thunder
Natrona- Traitor