Chapter 1

Clarke was just waking up to a new day. Her back still gave her trouble in the early morning from the cut that she received from her duel with McCreary, but it wasn't enough for her to worry about it. The pain was gone. The scar remained, but it was also a reminder of what she was willing to do in order to maintian the peace of her valley. She rolled over and smiled at Octavia, who was still asleep. She was happy. They had their peace, but she knew that they couldn't ever stop working to maintain it.

It had taken some getting used to for the both of them. They were still cautious, even around each other. And, Octavia had to learn to share space again. The biggest issue was for them to share the space with Madi. Clarke didn't want her away for too long, and Octavia was still trying to navigate the fact that she and Clarke were actually lovers. Madi was just an added bonus for her. It was also the reason that she made sure that the house nearest them would house Abby, and Kane. She wasn't going to separate Clarke from her family, and Clarke kept Bellamy and Ash (Echo) nearby as well.

After a month in Eden, she was ready to start breaking things down and working on building a new council. She also wanted to check in with Monty and Harper. There was also Diyoza and those in the caves. She wanted to check in with everyone. She didn't think of herself as a supreme leader, even though she was. She thought of herself as a co-leader with several other people. What she failed to comprehend is that they all defaulted to her, whether it was because she took the Flame or everything that she managed to help them to survive. She was the one they all looked to in the end. She'd lived on the ground while they hid in the bunker and in space. She knew more than they did, and she was Wanheda. She'd also taken the Flame.

The grounders would follow her to the ends of the Earth and back again. Most of what was Spacekru would follow her because they either grew up with her, trusted her, or they just believed in her. Diyoza wasn't a fool. She'd seen what Clarke was capable of and what she was willing to do to save as many as she could. Diyoza listened, and she had more important things to deal with.

She got out of the bed and stared out the window into the forests behind her house. She smiled as she moved into the kitchen. She wasn't surprised to already see Ash there. But, she was surprised to see her and Raven. Ash was cooking something, while Raven and her mother were hunkered down over a tablet and speaking quietly.

Madi came in behind her, wiping her eyes. She smiled when she saw Clarke and immediately hugged her. Together they made their way over to the table and sat down.

"Octavia still sleeping?"

"Yeah," Clarke answered her mother as she lifted her chin in question.

"She's still going with me out to the caves to check on them, right?"

"Yes, Mom, she is. What's going on? Is there something that I need to be worried about?" Clarke asked.

Ash turned from the stove and looked at the table. Her eyes met Clarke's, and Clarke gave her a subtle head shake. Ash was ever vigilant. So much so, that she refused to leave Clarke and Octavia's house unless four other guards were posted outside. Because of her loyalty and her extreme protectiveness of Clarke, the Wocha herself tried to give Ash and Bellamy as much time together as she could each day. She'd even made them take the house next door. It didn't matter. Ash was always in the house with the rising of the sun, either making breakfast or cleaning her sword as she waited for Clarke to tell her what was on the schedule for that day.

"No, not yet, sweetie. I am working with Raven on a way to track the prisoners' progress better. Some of them aren't responding as well as they were."

"Should we be worried about them?" Clarke asked.

"No, Diyoza is keeping them calm enough. They appreciate that we are still trying to help them. I need to see if they need anything more to help their settlement out until my next trip," Abby stated.

"Good. And, tell them that I want them to come up with a name for their settlement," Clarke said, as she watched Ash start to feed everyone. "But, please make sure that they just don't call it the Caves. They can be creative, but not vulgar."

"Are we going to call the bunker, Bunker or Polis?" Raven asked as she looked to Clarke.

"I don't know. I'll ask Monty about that when I talk to him on the radio later," Clarke answered. "Speaking of radios? How is a network coming for us?"

"It would be better if I had more wire, but I don't have any to spare. We're doing the best with what we got. I should be able to have the caves tied in by next week. We've already got communication with the bunker. Is there more we need that I don't know about?"

"No, not yet, but I know that I want to send you back up soon and get more from the ship."

"We could just land it, you know?" Raven told her.

"Not yet. I want to make sure we don't need it for anything yet. Until then, keep cannibalizing what you can, when you can," Clarke ordered.

"Aye, aye, Princess," Raven replied with a mock salute.

Clarke gave her a stern look, but then smiled at her.

"Are all the guard posts wired?"

"Yup, O had me do that first. Didn't want anyone trying to sneak up on the Valley. So, I ran that before setting up relay towers to boost the signals," Raven answered. "It would have been easier with more help, but you know I gotcha you, girl."

"Well, not everyone can be you, Rae," Clarke replied.

"And, we are all thankful for that, Commander of Boom," Ash quipped quickly.

Raven picked up a bit of cloth and threw it at Ash, as they all laughed. It was true though. Thankfully, Raven didn't mind being on the outskirts of the little village of Eden. It hadn't really been on purpose, but Clarke told her if she was going to experiment she couldn't do it in the heart of the village. So, she moved. Shaw followed and they seemed happy, so Clarke was happy for them both.

"Can that be my official title? Like is there a word for that in Trig or Az or whatever?"

"Being the supreme mechanic and my go-to savior isn't enough?" Clarke asked her.

"Just eat so we can do whatever it is that you have planned for us today, oh might Wocha kom Eden," Raven told her with a smile.

They all turned back to their meals. Ash had joined them at the table with her own plate. Madi was beside her now and they were talking lowly. Clarke just smiled at the sight. She knew that Ash had taken to teaching the girl Azgedaslenge. It wasn't a necessary thing for Madi to learn, but Clarke was still grateful for it. Especially when most of Madi's and all of her personal guards were now Wanhedakru and spoke it. It made things easier between her and the guards, even if it rankled Octavia a little bit. Ash led them all with a steady hand and they were fiercely loyal to Clarke and Madi. Octavia learned to let it go because she knew that Bellamy had joined their ranks, too.

And, at that thought, Clarke looked up and around the room. Bellamy wasn't there. She knew that he would be on guard duty if Ash was awake. Clarke was determined that they would be on the same shifts. And, even though he was part of the Eden Guard and Wonkru, Octavia let him run the Guard for both Wonkru en Wanhedakru in Eden, since Miller was back at the Bunker with Jackson. She made a note to check in with him about the guard towers and rotations. She wasn't worried about it, but she did like an "early warning" system.

They were about halfway through their meal when Octavia came out. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and walked to the stove. Ash had obviously left her a plate on the sideboard. She grabbed it and cup of something as she moved around them all and sat down without a word. Abby already knew that Octavia wasn't exactly a morning person when things were calm. Let there be conflict and she'd be the first one up. Right now, she was relaxed and it was interesting for them all. And, it was honestly because they hadn't been able to be calm and relaxed at all since they landed on Earth years ago. So, this was new to them all. They had a lot to learn, but mostly it was dealing with how to work together for common survival without too much conflict.

Octavia had done what she could in the bunker making them all Wonkru. And, honestly, she'd just piggy-backed on what Lexa had started. They were just continuing the legacy now that they were the last of all Man. Some old habits were hard to squash, but they were trying. There was a peace that they could live with and make better. And, for now, Octavia and Clarke were both happy with that.

Octavia had taken two bites of whatever egg concoction that Ash had assembled when she heard it. She dropped her fork and everyone looked at her in surprise. Her eyes flew up to Ash's. Brown and green had a very quick and silent conversation as Octavia jumped up from the table and ran back into the bedroom. Seconds later, she came out in armor with her sword. Ash was already at the door waiting for her.

"Please stay here. Penn and Timo are on the door. I'll protect her, but stay here," Ash said.

Clarke gave her a quick nod as she stood up. As soon as they were out of the door, she went to the bedroom and got suited up anyway. She'd be damned if she was going to stay behind without knowing what was going on. The crazy thing about all of it was that when she came back into the kitchen area, Raven and her mother were both armed with pistols. Madi sat there between them. She always had a knife on her, but Raven handed her the quiver and bow that had been hanging up just outside of the kitchen.

"What? Couldn't let her not be armed, right? Plus, she's got dead eye just like Ash does. Swear the spy taught her that just to spite me with a rifle," Raven said as they moved to be closer to Clarke.

"Just...stay close to her and keep out of trouble, yeah?" Clarke said, nodding and opening the door.

"Wocha, Ash said you were staying here until the threat was assessed," Timo stated.

"Do I look like I am waiting?"

"No, ma'am," he answered.

"Good, then stay on me. I want to see what it was that caused Octavia to run out of here when I didn't hear anything," Clarke stated as she turned to move through the village. "Unless that is something that either you want to clue me in on?"

She saw the looks that they gave each other. She knew that they knew about it, but they weren't going to talk. They were loyal, but they were more worried about protecting her. And, it seemed that whatever the problem was, it wasn't that big of a threat or they would have been moving her out of the village, forcibly if necessary. This told Clarke enough. She handed Timo her sword and proceeded to stalk towards all the noise and disturbance.

"If she asks, I ordered you. Now, make sure that my mother and daughter are covered, Timo. And, Penn stay close to me."

"Sha, Wocha," they both answered and moved accordingly.

She heard shouting and yelling. It was most in Trig, but it was so fast and disjointed that she couldn't quite make it all out. Didn't matter though. It had drawn a crowd from those living in the Village. When they saw their wocha coming, they parted to let her see what the chaos was. As she neared the center of all the confusion, she finally heard one word and it set her off.

"FRIKDREINA!"

Clarke bowed up. Raven and Abby saw it. Madi drew an arrow but didn't nock it. She would wait for Clarke before she struck.

"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!" Clarke yelled as the rest of the masses parted.

Octavia and Ash stopped fighting and turned, horrified to see Clarke there.

"Oh, shit," Octavia murmured as she dropped one of the men she'd been wrestling with.

"I second that and raise you a Wanheda."

"We are so dead," Octavia replied.

"She loves you though."

"That so isn't going to help us now," Octavia said as she kicked the guy closer to where Clarke was standing.

"Don't make me repeat myself. What is going on? And, who used that outlawed term in my village!?" Clarke demanded.

"It was him," Octavia stated as she kicked the man again, in the ribs, to make him roll over for Clarke to see him.

She cocked her eyebrow at the man as she studied him. Her eyes glanced over him to Octavia and then Ash. They both swallowed.

"Name?" Clarke all but hissed.

"Zak kom Wonkru."

"What clan were you from?"

"Azgeda."

"Uh huh, and what give you the right to call anyone that, Ice boy?" Clarke questioned.

Octavia cocked her head at her niron. This wasn't normal Clarke. This wasn't quiet Wanheda. She was pissed, but she was...more.

"That is what she is," he said in defense.

"Who is?"

"The..."

"I would choose your next words carefully, because if you call whoever this woman is a freak again, I'll make you one," Clarke told him, coldly and without remorse. "So, tell me, Ice boy with no clan. Who is she?"

When she heard the ice in her daughter's voice, Abby reached up and pushed the arrow down in Madi's hands. She pulled her granddaughter back towards her and pulled her into her body. Raven moved closer, trying to shield them both from whatever Clarke was about to do. It wasn't that they didn't want Madi to see it. The ground was a harsh mistress and she doled out lessons to all ages. They wanted to keep Madi as innocent as they could. She'd already watched her "mother" kill a man. They were the ones that weren't prepared to watch her do it again.

"Ai laik Zak kom Wonkru," he hissed. (I am Zak of Wonkru.)

Octavia flinched when she saw Clarke cock her head at him. Her entire body relaxed as she watched the man, but Octavia could tell that Clarke was sizing him up quickly. A lot had changed since she took the Flame, but one thing that hadn't was her loyalty to her people. If anything, it got stronger. Octavia knew that part of that was because of her becoming a maternal figure to Madi, too. Clarke as Wanheda was scary enough some days, especially since Octavia knew the lengths that Clarke was willing to go to protect her people, but seeing her as Mama Bear was down right frightening. This man had no idea what he was about to unleash on himself, and Octavia would be damned and dead before she would side with him over Clarke. He was digging his own grave, and Octavia wasn't going burn him afterwards either. He was causing his own punishment. Let him suffer for his own stupidity. They didn't have time for it.

"I think that you will find yourself wrong in that matter, Ice Boy," she hissed back at him. "For you seem to forget who I am and where you are. So, let me remind you."

"Are you going to stop her?" Ash asked Octavia.

"Do I look like I have death wish?" Octavia replied. "You stop her."

"No," Ash replied. "I don't know this man. If he's former Azgeda, I never met him."

"Good to know for later," Octavia said as they continued to watch Clarke as she calmly stepped into the man's face.

"Ai laik Wanheda en Wocha kom Eden, kom Wanhedakru, Prisa kom Wonkru, niron kom Oktevia kom Wonkru, oso Osleya, nomon kom Madi kom Wonkru, ain Prisa, goufa kom Abi kom Wonkru, oso fisaheda," she told him. "You are nothing and no one. You have no clan here. I doubt anyone will speak for you." (I am the Commander of Death and Chieftain of Eden, of Wanheda's Crew, Princess of Wonkru, lover to Octavia of Wonkru, our Champion, mother to Madi of Wonkru, my princess, daughter of Abby of Wonkru, our head healer.)

"AI LAIK ZAK KOM WONKRU."

"You aren't of Wonkru," Octavia said. "I don't know you. I will lay no claim to you."

"AI LAIK ZAK KOM AZGEDAKRU. I WAS A ROYAL GUARD. I SPEAK NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH."

"Ai laik Ash kom Wanhedakru. Ai laik Eko kom Azgedakru, gona kom Nia, gona kom Roan. Yu laik nou gona kom Azgeda," Ash replied and Clarke just smiled. (I am Ash of Wanheda's Crew. I am Echo of Azgeda, warrior for Nia, warrior for Roan. You are not an Azgedan warrior.)

"So, Ice Boy with no clan, who is the 'she' that you disrespect in MY village?" Clarke asked him again.

"I don't know her name."

"So you slur someone you don't know in a land that doesn't know you or claim you. One would think that someone would be grateful for a people that allowed you to live, gave you a place to stay and food in your belly. We've taken everyone in, protected them, made sure that everyone had a place to live, food to eat, and a job to do to help us as a hole. So, I don't think that I understand where you are coming from. We aren't perfect by any means, but I will not allow anyone to call anyone of my people by that name," Clarke told him, but everyone there knew that it was also being told to them as well.

"It's her," he said pointing through the crowd and to the mess hall.

Clarke's eyes followed his hand. Ash started to move through the crowd until she found the woman he was speaking about. When she turned around to meet Clarke's gaze, to confirm who it was, she saw her normal azure eyes turn slate gray. She nodded to Timo, who moved up to Clarke's side, essentially preventing her from drawing her dagger and just gutting the man.

Octavia started moving closer to Clarke as she realized who the man was talking about. When her eyes met Ash's, she detoured towards the mess hall. She knew immediately who the man was talking about. The crowd parted as Octavia neared the mess hall and found a floundering Emori being held by Murphy. She turned around and nodded at Clarke.

Clarke moved closer to the man and grabbed him by the collar of the shirt he was wearing. Ash was immediately at her side, supporting her, but not daring to touch the man as Clarke dragged him towards where Octavia was with their other friends. When Clarke got close enough, she threw the man down and looked over to Emori. She no longer cared about the man. She was worried about Emori, who was still wrapped up in Murphy. Octavia and Ash watched her soften as she watched Murphy fall down in the crowd but still trying to hold Emori up. Clarke knelt before her.

Emori's dark eyes were full of water, but Clarke could tell that she was refusing to cry. At least not in front of everyone, and Clarke couldn't blame her. Emori was a strong woman. She had to be, always had been, and Clarke would make sure that she always would be. She reached out and took Emori's hand in her own. She waited for Murphy to let her go enough for Clarke to support her, and when she did, she helped the other woman stand and face the man.

"You are not less than because of your hand, and we both know it. Stand up and be the proud woman I know that you are," Clarke told her as she held Emori close to her. "Do not let his words strike you. No one can do that to you unless you let them."

When Emori finally stood up on her own, even though she was still in Clarke's arms, Clarke turned back on the man. Her whole body changed again. She became rigid and hard, again. She reached down and pulled the man up to his knees at least. He stared up at her as looked down at him.

"You dared to call this woman by that name."

"It is not something to dare when she is one," he stupidly replied.

Clarke's eyebrow raised. She crooked her neck and then shook her head at the man. The crowd was waiting for it, and she knew it. They were waiting for her to kill him, but she wasn't going to do that. She had pushed and pushed for no more "blood must have blood." She wasn't going to let him make her break it. She would banish him.

"This woman is my sister," Clarke announced. "Her name is Emori kom Wanhedakru. Her husband is my brother, Murphy kom Wanhedakru."

"I didn't know," he stammered.

"But, you meant offense. Which means that you have offended me. And, I am sure that you would like to cause more trouble here in my valley. I won't let you cause issues amongst us, Ice Boy. You have no clan. You have no home here. And, I dare say that even Monty and Harper kom Wanhedakru won't take you in. You have nothing left but your life," Clarke told him. "Raven!"

"Here," Raven said as she ambled forward.

"Take his picture and forward it to Monty and Harper. Ice Boy here got himself banished for breaking the law. There are no more Frikdreina. By accusing, our sister Emori of being one, he has offended not only me, but my entire family."

"Done," Raven answered.

"In case anyone else wants to be stupid, I want to remind everyone who my family is. My nomon is Abby, the fisaheda kom Allkrus. My daughter is Madi, oso prisa. My niron is Octavia, oso Osleya and Skairipa. She commands this valley, too. Raven is my sister. Ash Griffin is my sister and wormana kom Wanhedakru. Monty is brother and Ponisheda (Commander of the Farms.) Harper is my sister and blokaheda kom Bunkerkru. Bellamy is my brother and blockaheda kom Edenkru. Indra is like a mother to me, and our General. Miller is my brother and lead of Royal Guard. Jackson is my brother, and niron kom Mila, and fisaheda kom Bunkerkru. Kane is niron kom Abi Fisaheda, en seda kom Edenkru. Gaia is my sister and Flame keeper, advisor to the leaders of Wonkru and Wanhedakru. Even Diyoza kom Eligiuskru is my sister. Now, does anyone else have a problem with the woman that has been keeping you fed?"

No one from the crowd said a word.

"Good," Clarke replied. "In this new world, we treat everyone with respect. Everyone has job for the betterment of the whole. We either survive together or die together. The wants of one cannot outweigh the needs of all. So, Ice Boy, I hope you like the desert. It is your new home."

"Not even the great Wanheda is that cruel," he replied.

"Did you forget that I burned 300 warriors? Did you forget that destroyed the mountain? Have you forgotten that I banished part of Eligius already to the Fates of the desert? You are nothing to me or these people anymore," Clarke told him. "Timo, give him two days rations and five days of water. Send him to the desert and let's see if the Earth will pardon him. If you do manage to survive and come back, we will see if you've become worthy to rejoin the last of Man. If not, then the Earth will reclaim you. May Keyron have mercy on your soul."

"What will his time limit be, Wanheda?" Timo asked her as a pack was magically put in his arms.

"Two months. If he survives, two months, he will be allowed to re-enter the valley. Any sooner, he dies."

"As you command, Wanheda," Timo shouted and pulled the man up, roughly, by his arm. "Move."

Clarke watched them march out of the village. When they were finally out of eyesight, she turned back to Emori. She gathered her in her arms and hugged her tightly. She took her hand, the odd one, and held it as they walked towards the mess hall.

"I don't want to go back in there."

"I won't make you," Clarke told her. "What do you want to do?"

"No offense, John. I love to spend time with you and cooking, but the looks won't stop just because Clarke banished him. Some of the older people still think that I might cause problems with the food. They'll blame me if they get sick," Emori stated.

"Well, they shouldn't. You hand has nothing to do with bad food," John stated. "There is nothing wrong with you."

"I won't hear you talk about yourself that way, Emori," Clarke added.

"I know you all mean well, but I've dealt with this all my life. It would be better if I didn't work with John. It would help the peace among the people more. This isn't just because of him," Emori stated.

"Then if you don't want to be a ranzi with Murphy, what do you want to do?" Clarke asked her.

"Can she work with me?" Raven inquired. "I've got plenty that she can help me with. Plus, we were a good team on the Ring. I taught her to fly. With her helping, I can get some of my other projects done faster."

"Is that something that you want to do?" Octavia asked.

"Yeah, that'll be good," Emori replied.

"Then, you got yourself another minion, Raven," Clarke stated. "Do me a favor and don't break her. I like this one. She's nice."

"I won't break her. I don't think I can, or I would have already. Besides, she is the one that can keep Murphy in line. We need her," Raven quipped.

"I'm standing right here," Murphy shot back."

"I know," Raven said as she laced her fingers with Emori's hand and walked off with her towards her house and workshop.

"I should be worried about them, right?" Clarke asked.

"As long as you don't like that part of the village too much, we should be okay," Ash replied.

"Okay, people show's over. Back to whatever it is that you need to be doing," Octavia commanded. "We have a village to run and things to do to keep it up."

"Put guards on them," Clarke added as the people finally began to disperse.

"Done," Octavia, Bellamy, and Ash all answered, together, as they watched Clarke staring after two of best friends walking away.