Hello all, my apologies for the delay in this update. I've recently moved back to college and it's been a bit of a hectic few weeks. Busy moving, busy settling, busy starting up classes agin. Anywho, I managed to scrape this chapter together and finally found the time to post. Ill do my best to continue to do so. So a quick thank you to all those who have read, commented, and enjoyed the story thus far. I do it for you.

Enjoy the chapter.

Chapter VI - Connection

Clarke sucked in a breath and stopped in her tracks. The words permanently etched on the inside of her left hind leg seemed to humm with an underlying current of power, she had found another of her soul mates. Seeing that the girl was now looking at her quizzically Clarke quickly lowered her head and let out a soft, nonthreatening, whine.

"Umm, ok sure. Maybe not then." The girl slowly stood back up and glanced in the direction the spear had come from. "Thanks for not eating me, um bye?" The girl then turned and, after looking up and down the river, began to wade back into the water. "I don't see it, I'm coming back guys!" She was met with a chorus of 'hurry ups' and warnings to be careful.

Suddenly the fur on the back of Clarke's neck stood on end and her whole body stiffened, she leaped out of her tree cover ignoring the shouts from across the river and, grabbing hold of the neckline of the girls shirt, Clarke yanked her backwards. Just as she did so the giant head of the river snake broke the surface, not a foot from where the girl had just been. Seeing this, the girl stopped her protests and fell down onto her butt on the bank staring in shock at the rippling water where she had been moments before. She turned around then looking at Clarke with wide eyes, "you, you just saved my life."

Clarke rolled her eyes and huffed at the girl, she should have been more careful. Hadn't she literally just been attacked by something in the river? Why would she just head right back in? Clarke hopped lightly out of the shallow water and shook herself off before turning and grunting at the girl to follow. She started to move before turning to see that the girl had only just gotten shakily to her feet and stumbled slightly before getting her feet back on solid ground. Clarke gave a sharp bark to get the girl's attention. She looked at Clarke in mild surprise before turning to her friends who were beginning to gather vines as if they were going to swing across as well.

That was the first time that Clarke took the time to properly look at the others. There were three of them, two were guys that Clarke sort of recognized from the Ark, though she couldn't remember their names. The last member of their party however made Clarke's breath catch in her throat. It was Finn. Three years and the first recognizable face she sees is Finn's. She mentally rolled her eyes, what cruel irony, but in that moment she realized that it didn't really matter. Just the fact that he was a familiar face was comforting and she realized then just how much she had missed her friends, Finn included. Clarke snapped back to the present when she saw Finn give a last strong tug on a cluster of vines. Remembering that they were preparing to cross Clarke quickly ran up beside her newfound mate and growled in the direction of the others. Clarke looked up into her mate's eyes and whimpered slightly before turning and barking at the others across the river.

If the whole group came swinging across the border there would be nothing Clarke could do to protect them. She was not naive enough to believe that Rau and the others had gone far, and there was no talking herself out of a second breach. Thankfully, the girl seemed to understand and she called back across telling the others that they shouldn't cross and that she was going to find a way to get back over downstream. They looked hesitant, and more than a little fearful of Clarke herself, but they finally called over that they would walk around to meet her. Satisfied, Clarke bumped her mate's side before moving off upstream in the direction of a narrow stretch of river. It wasn't long before she heard the girl sigh and limp-jog to catch up.

"So," the girl began, "why did you save me huh?" Clarke turned her head but didn't stop walking and the girl continued, "well whatever the reason, thank you. I'm Octavia by the way." Clarke tilted her head in thought, "Octavia'' why did that sound so familiar? Then it clicked and Clarke froze. It couldn't be... Was this Bellamy's sister? Clarke let out a noise that was as close to a laugh as she could get and her amusement only grew as Octavia let out an indignant huff. "You think my name's funny?" Clarke looked back and grinned at the now scowling younger girl. "Well what's your name wolf?" Octavia crossed her arms, "probably something stupid," she stuck her tongue out at Clarke. Clarke huffed and turned back to face forward rolling her eyes. Octavia sighed behind her, "look at me talking to a wolf, I must be going crazy."

Clarke froze suddenly, sniffing at the air, there were more Trikru in the branches ahead. Clarke growled low in her throat and then gave a guttural bark that said very clearly to keep back. The trees ahead shook and a barely audible thump could be heard as one of the warriors jumped to the ground. A growl of annoyance sounded from the general area of Octavia's would-be attackers and Clarke responded with one of her own telling them that this girl was hers.

Octavia's voice came out quiet and nervous, "what is it girl? What's out there?"

Clarke just huffed as she finally caught the scuffle of leaves as the warriors moved away. Turning, she rolled her eyes at Octavia and motioned with her head to continue forwards. Octavia seemed stunned for a moment before hurrying to catch up. "Did you just roll your eyes at me?" Octavia shook her head, "I must actually be going crazy." Clarke huffed indignantly which only made her new mate laugh. "Well sorry if I offended you. Thank you for saving me from whatever it was. Again."

Clarke moved a bit closer and rubbed her head and neck into the girl's shoulder affectionately, an act which earned her another happy laugh. "Ok I get it I get it, you're alright in my book too." Suddenly Octavia frowned, "hey, if you're sticking around then you need a name!" Clarke just snorted and looked up incredulously. "Don't look at me like that, I'm serious, if you are going to hang around I have to call you something other than Wolf." Octavia tapped her chin dramatically as they continued walking along the riverside. Suddenly she snapped her fingers, "got it! How about Terra? You know, like, for the earth!"

Clarke laughed aloud at that and Octavia swatted at her ear which Clarke ducked causing Octavia to stumble on her hurt ankle. The girl half fell over and Clarke lunged forward to steady her. Once Octavia was stable again she scowled down at Clarke still with her hand on Clarke's shoulder for support.

"Ok fine, if you don't like Terra maybe..." She paused. "Shadow! Cause your fur is all black and stuff." Clarke rolled her eyes and shook her head. Octavia raised her hands in defeat, "well alright then Sunshine, it's not like I hear you coming up with ideas!" Suddenly Octavia stopped short and as Clarke turned around with a look of concern she was met with the other girl's grin. "That's it," she announced. "Sunshine. It's perfect."

Clarke shut her eyes and took a deep breath, to think for a moment she had been worried. She kept moving, shrugging out from under her new mate's arm, and this time as Octavia hurried to catch up Clarke completely ignored her. "Aw c'mon Sunshine don't be like that. It's a great name! I love the sun. It warms you up and keeps you safe, plus you're black like the night so Sunshine compliments you perfectly!" Clarke sighed but didn't protest further and when Octavia brought her hand to the back of Clarke's ear she leaned into the touch. Clarke supposed it could have been worse, she just hoped the name didn't stick once Raven showed up, "Cleo" was bad enough.

A few minutes of walking later they approached the section of the river where crossing would be easy, and on the other side Clarke could hear the others from Octavia's party as they stomped through the underbrush. They were louder than anything else in these woods and Clarke suddenly wondered if she had been that oafish in the beginning, she probably had. Grinning as they reached the stream Clarke sped up a bit and then leaped across. Octavia meanwhile waded in slightly before sloshing her way knee-deep through the water. Reaching the other side she scowled at Clarke, "show off" she muttered and then shuddered a bit from the cold water on her legs. Soon the others were approaching and as Clarke took a few non-threatening steps backwards she took note of the small group. Her attention focused on Finn as he moved immediately to stand between Octavia and Clarke. Clarke of course took none too kindly to this action and growled low in her throat at her old friend. Octavia however quickly spoke up, "Finn no," Octavia stepped around the boy, "she helped me, saved my life actually." She paused, "more than once I think. Don't worry, she's friendly."

Finn, who had backed up slightly at Clarke's growl, looked back towards Octavia incredulously, "friendly? This thing has done nothing but growl at me, it's a wild animal."

Octavia shook her head, "no she isn't," she looked at Clarke and Clarke immediately stopped growling. Octavia shook her head, "at least I know she isn't a threat to me. She is complicated and she understands me, I named her Sunshine."

Finn snorted at that but he did back down a bit. "You named a giant mutant wolf Sunshine?"

Then the other two guys who had been hanging back stepped forward and the one with goggles on his head spoke up, "she is pretty cool." He reached a hand forward tentatively to which Clarke tilted her head, if he thought he was going to pet her he had another thing coming. Despite the other boy's warnings the goggled guy apparently named "Jasper" continued to inch closer. Clarke let him get within an inch of her head all while barely moving a muscle and then as he was about to make contact she suddenly bared her fangs and jerked forwards with a sharp growl. The guy yelled in alarm and tumbled back landing on his ass, Clarke's demeanor changed immediately as she sat back on her haunches and laughed. Pleased with herself, Clarke trotted over to Octavia's side, grinn firmly in place. Her newfound mate had laughed out loud as well, and now reached out to stroke Clarke's neck to which Clarke responded with a contented rumble.

The others had just regained their wits and Finn too began to laugh, after his initial fear that Clarke was actually attacking he and the other boy had stood there somewhat shocked while Jasper clamored back to his feet. "Your wolf attacked me!"

Octavia laughed and shook her head, "no she didn't, she was just messing with you and you did try to touch her so that's on you."

Jasper frowned, "you're over there right now stroking her neck and she is practically purring!"

Octavia shrugged, "yeah well she likes me." Her mate grinned before turning in the opposite direction from the river and beginning to walk, "c'mon we better get back to camp and tell the other's that we aren't alone down here. Whoever threw that spear at me definitely didn't like me crossing the river."

Clarke smiled at hearing her mate's assessment, perhaps making peace wouldn't be as hard as she had thought. She moved to follow and a few seconds later heard the others begin to do the same. Clarke walked on the left of Octavia and offered her shoulder as support which the girl gladly accepted. The others fell in on Octavia's right and, although they still seemed a little nervous, none protested further to Clarke's presence. It was Finn who eventually spoke up first, "wait Octavia, do you know the right way back? Cause in all the confusion we just kinda ran, maybe we should go back along the river bank? I'm sure I could find the way from that spot we were at where you jumped in." He stopped along with Jasper and, Monty was it? Clarke was pretty sure one of them had called him Monty.

Eh whatever, Clarke just shook her head and kept pushing forward with Octavia at her side. Octavia however slowly came to a stop, forcing Clarke to do the same. "I think she knows the way." Octavia shrugged at Finn and the others but received only blank stares.

"Right, so back to the river to retrace our steps." Finn turned around as if to head back the way they had come, but before he got far Octavia made a noise to get his attention and spoke up again.

She crossed her arms, "why would we go all the way back to that spot on the river when we can just go this way?"

Finn turned back, "and what? You know that is the right way because your wolf said so?" He frowned before continuing, "A, why would you trust that thing in the first place and B, what makes you think she even understands that we are trying to get back to the drop ship? And that's assuming she even knows where it is in the first place."

Octavia scowled at that and Clarke rolled her eyes, good to see that Finn hadn't changed much. "She's smart enough to understand, she just rolled her eyes at you didn't she?" Octavia smirked, "you guys do what you want, I'm going with Sunshine here."

Finn sighed before jogging to catch up, "alright alright, you win wolf girl." He smiled and spread his hands, "we'll follow you."

Jasper than spoke up running a bit to catch back up, "yeah we wouldn't leave you out here alone." Clarke growled low in her throat unhappy with the boy's slightly too familiar tone, but Octavia just leaned her head to the side until it met with Clarke's and Clarke sighed.

They reached the drop ship camp about a half hour later and, upon entering the Camp, there were several gasps as Clarke came into view; however, it was Clarke that was the most shocked. As they entered the clearing Clarke stopped dead in her tracks as none other than Bellamy Blake came running up to greet them. He came up short, taking in Clarke before seeming to dismiss it for the moment, "what happened?" He grasped Octavia's shoulders before turning to Finn and moving forward aggressively, "what the hell happened to my sister? You were supposed to watch her!"

Octavia butt in grabbing Bellamy's shoulder and he turned back to face her, "It wasn't their fault, we found a river, I decided to jump in and I got attacked by a river snake or something."

Bellamy scowled before seemingly giving up and letting out a large sigh. He ran a hand through his hair, "right, sure, okay," he then gestured in Clarke's direction, "and what the hell are you doing with a dog?"

Octavia's pained grimace turned into a grin and she smiled widely at her brother, "she's a wolf actually, and she saved me from the river snake and then helped me get back. I named her Sunshine."

Bellamy took a deep breath and brought a hand up to his brow shaking his head. "Leave it to you to go off for a couple hours and come back with a mutant pet wolf. Ok, get to the drop ship, Sterling and Trina have set up a make-do med station, I want them to look at you."

Octavia nodded but looked back to where Clarke was still standing, frozen in place, "what about her? She-" Octavia cut off in alarm as Clarke suddenly kicked back into gear. She unfroze and with a grin on her face she moved forward ignoring the shouts of alarm and Octavia's startled expression.

Before anyone could really move Clarke was next to Bellamy, rubbing her head against his shoulders and along his back. She made a contented noise deep in her throat and looked up at him grinning. He slowly lowered his hand that Clarke only now realized was holding a pistol. Stupid, he didn't recognize her, obviously, she could have been shot. Oh well, at least he hadn't shot yet. She tilted her head frowning at the gun and made an unhappy short bark at her best friend. Clarke realized that perhaps it hadn't been the best move to approach so quickly in her current form but Bellamy seemed to shake off his surprise quickly. He lowered his gun and let out a short laugh, "alright then, we'll find you somewhere to stay, Sunshine was it?" Clarke took a step back and frowned, shaking her head. Bellamy laughed and turned to Octavia, "I don't think she likes the name very much."

Octavia shrugged, "yeah well she didn't like any of the others either, so tough luck." She stuck her tongue out at Clarke before spinning around and half limping towards the entrance to the drop ship.

Clarke watched her go but stayed by Bellamy's side as Finn, Jasper and Monty explained what had happened and what they had put together about the spear thrower and the river border. While Clarke was far from happy that Octavia had been hurt she was glad that at least something good had come of it, at least now her people knew not to cross the river. It was a start, and it was certainly more progress than Clarke had expected to make on the first day. However, the conversation soon took a turn for the worse as they began to discuss what could be done about the new threat. Clarke was worried by the talk of weapons and patrols. Having lookouts wasn't a bad idea but if any of her people shot one of the grounders then Clarke's peace would be over. The grounders would retaliate and people on both sides would die. Clarke had her work cut out for her.

LINE BREAK

Two days later and everyone around the drop pod had grown more used to Clarke's presence. Clarke had gone hunting the night before and brought back a large deer, an act which had definitely improved the general opinion of her. Clarke spent almost all of her time around Octavia still reveling in the fact that she had found her second soul mate. Bellamy too quickly warmed to Clarke and she was disappointed that he hadn't yet been able to recognize her. Though as none of the delinquents had yet shifted Clarke supposed it was a bit of a leap to make. Her theory was that they had all been given blockers and suppressants before being sent to the ground, which would mean no shifting for at least another month or so.

Not long after making contact Clarke had been thrown another curve ball. She had been surprised and conflicted upon seeing that Wells was among the delinquents. She was happy to see her friend after so many years but she couldn't bring herself to forgive him for what he had done. He brought back memories of her father and, for the most part, Clarke tried to avoid him. Though she did feel a bit bad when she had heard him discussing with Bellamy how they should go about trying to find her. Clarke wished more than ever that she could just shift and reveal herself, but that would violate her agreement with Anya and peace would be off the table.

Clarke shook herself from her musings and focused back on the task at hand. She sniffed the air and, looking up at Bellamy, she nodded forwards. She was accompanying Bellamy, a guy named Atom, and two others on an evening hunt and they were nearing a wild boar. As they approached the creature Clarke dropped back and watched. Just as the guys were about to make their move there was a sound from off to the left and Bellamy's axe went hurling in the direction of the sound, clattering against a tree and startling the boar. The beast took off into the trees and the two teens that Clarke didn't know by name went running after it.

Her focus quickly snapped back in the direction of the surprise sound, Clarke watched as out from the bushes came a startled little girl, Clarke chided herself for not having caught the girl's movement sooner. She had been too focused on the boar, preparing for if the group messed up their attack. Now however Clarke trotted over to join Bellamy and Atom as they spoke to the girl who introduced herself as Charlotte before apologizing. They spoke for a minute longer and Clarke was only partially listening as she kept an eye on the surrounding woods. Suddenly Clarke's nose twitched, her eyes widened as she recognized the smell of the acid fog. Two days ago the horn had sounded and Clarke was pretty sure that two members of their group had been killed by the fog. Clarke had wished again that she could verbally warn her people of the dangers but as their camp was out of range of the fog she had instead settled for accompanying all parties that were going to stray too far.

Not a moment after she had picked up the scent the warning horns began to sound and Clarke jumped into action. She growled to get Bellamy's attention before turning and motioning with her head to follow. Screams could be heard from the direction the other two members of their party had gone and the rolling fog came into view. Bellamy shouted in alarm and, grabbing Charlotte's arm, he turned and sprinted after Clarke. Clarke moved steadily in the direction of one of her fog escapes, she kept her pace slow enough that Bellamy wouldn't lose her and they only barely made it ahead of the fog. The cave she led them into was almost entirely obscured by vines and bushes making it sufficiently fog proof and Clarke had used it for this very purpose on several occasions.

Clarke turned just as Bellamy and Charlotte pushed through into the cave and she then realized that Atom was not with them. Bellamy seemed to realize it too and with a quick word to Charlotte to stay put he made to turn back around. Clarke however ran forward before he could take even a step and planted herself in front of her friend. She growled low in her throat and shook her head.

Bellamy growled back, "I left him out there I have to go get him!" Clarke didn't move and Bellamy slowly sagged to the ground. Charlotte tried to console him and in the end he agreed that going back out was probably suicide. It was good enough for Clarke and she proceeded to lay down, they would be here a while. Clarke lay awake listening to Bellamy and Charlotte talk and she wished she could do something to help comfort the young girl. Soon enough however both Bellamy and Charlotte drifted off to sleep and Clarke joined them not long after.

Clarke awoke in the morning and nuzzled Bellamy's side to get her friend up. They had slept through the night and Clarke knew that the fog was long gone. Bellamy woke Charlotte and the three of them began the trek back towards camp. They were about halfway back when there came a scream from the distance. It was Octavia. Clarke and Bellamy turned to each-other, eyes wide, and then broke into a full sprint in the direction the sound had come from. Clarke quickly outstripped Bellamy and going full speed she soon came upon her mate and the source of her distress. Clarke came to a halt and sighed in relief as she noted that Octavia was neither hurt nor in any danger.

Octavia and Finn were stood over the body of Atom. He was red and had boils and burn marks over his entire body, he was also wheezing as he struggled to draw breath. Clarke moved to stand beside her mate and tried to comfort her as best she could. Bellamy arrived on the scene and took everything in with a grimace. They were soon joined by Charlotte who's scream caused Bellamy to quickly force the young girl to turn away.

Bellamy then crouched low and attempted to lift his dying friend, "c'mon HELP ME" He shouted it towards Finn who began to move but as soon as they touched him Atom's eyes went wide and he let out a strangled yell. They set him down and his shaky breathing returned before he began to move his lips, it was quiet but Clarke could hear him, "kill me."

He said it again a little louder and Bellamy closed his eyes in denial, "no there must be a way, we can save you." Atom looked up pleadingly and Bellamy breathed out deeply, "ok," Bellamy took a deep breath, stealing himself. "Ok" he slid a knife from his belt and moved forwards again, "I'm so sorry Atom." He crouched low and Atom gave the slightest of nods to which Bellamy replied by squeezing his eyes tight. He brought the knife to Atom's throat and grit his teeth. Then, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I can't, I can't just..." The knife slipped from his fingers and thudded to the ground and Bellamy sat back combing through his hair with his hands.

So Clarke stepped forward, she approached Bellamy's side and whined in sympathy putting her head up against his own. She then proceeded to look at Atom, she looked into his eyes and he stared back pleading in his eyes. Clarke bent low and took his neck in between her teeth, then she bit down. She severed his jugular and Clarke pulled away, warm blood dripping from her maw. He was dead in seconds. Clarke heard a sob from behind her and turned sadly to Octavia who came stumbling forward. Falling to her knees her mate wrapped her arms around Clarke, burrowed her head into her chest and just sobbed.

The walk back to camp was a somber one and it wasn't until after Bellamy had sent a few people to retrieve Atom's body that he turned on Octavia and Finn. "What were the two of you even doing out there!?"

Octavia tried to respond but was still too fresh from crying to form coherent sentences. Finn however began to explain. "It's my fault, last night we went out because I found something that I wanted to show her." He paused for a moment but took advantage of Bellamy's shocked expression to hurriedly continue. "It was a place I found that had all sorts of cool stuff, art supplies, paintings, stuff from before the bombs I think. Anyway, we were almost there when that fog came at us, the place is some sort of old vehicle and it seals shut so we jumped in and shut the door. Because the fog didn't go away we ended up falling asleep. We woke up this morning, headed back towards camp, and then came across Atom." he finished the last part quietly and then looked up a bit worriedly but determined to stand his ground.

Bellamy Moved forward slowly and, as Finn took a step back and held up his hands, Bellamy brought his closed fist down hard. Finn fell to the ground but Bellamy wasn't done, he lifted Finn slightly off his back before proceeding to punch him hard across the face a second time. "If you touched her!"

By now Octavia had intervened and was pulling on her brother insisting that nothing had even happened. That they had just gotten drunk and weathered out the storm together, that was it. Clarke, however, was far beyond reason, it didn't matter to her whether Finn had gone all the way or not. Well it DID, but there was another reason she was so livid. She had heard the other day as Bellamy had comforted Finn, told him that he would see Raven again. Told him that despite not being soul mates Bellamy knew that Finn loved her. Finn had thanked Bellamy and said that he knew he would be able to hold her again.

Clarke's blood had boiled then, the thought of Finn becoming romantic with Raven in Clarke's absence was the worst pain Clarke had ever felt. Worse than leaving, worse than her first transformation. But it was nothing to how she felt now. Finn had claimed to love Raven, yet it had taken him less than a week to move on and try to sleep with Octavia. This idiot that she had once called friend, that she had been glad to see only days ago, had managed to involve both of her mates in one fell swoop. He would regret it.

Clarke's growl had been building in her chest and it now erupted from her throat. The stalked forward and ignored Bellamy as he tried to stay in his position over Finn. She pushed him aside with little effort and continued forward as Finn scooted backwards. He was met with the trunk of a tree and he slowly moved into a sitting position, back to trunk. Clarke leaned down bearing her bloody fangs and letting her growl rip through her throat. She could see and smell his fear as he whimpered and cowered away from her. Clarke felt her eyes ignite and with the amount of pheromones she was pumping out no one had made a move to try and stop her. Finn had stopped breathing in front of her and Clarke breathed in the scent of his fear. It would be so easy to kill him, he deserved it. But she couldn't, her eyes shut and she stopped pumping fear into the air. Finn gasped for breath and Clarke turned away.

There was much talk about Clarke that night and though Clarke had retreated into the nearby woods she had no doubts about what they were saying. They were talking about her purple eyes and beginning to question if the grounders were like them, if they could shift into wolves, if Clarke was one of them. Having them realize that Clarke was not just some mutant wolf was something that Clarke had been trying to achieve from day one, but not like this. If they were now afraid of her, if they thought that she was no different from the grounders they so feared, she would never be able to convince them to work towards peace.

The largest blow of the night however came when Clarke was laying just in the cover of the trees and listening to Wells and Finn talk by the fire. Clarke's ears perked as the topic of conversation changed to her, not the wolf her but Clarke herself. They both agreed that their friend was alive and talked about how, after they made peace with the grounders, they could and would devote every second to finding Clarke. She was glad that they cared but was torn by her disdain for Finn and her inability to forgive her former best friend. Maybe once she revealed herself they could work things out. Maybe Finn had an explanation that wouldn't make her hate him. Maybe Wells had let the information slip on accident, or Jaha had just guessed based on other information, maybe she would be able to find it in herself to forgive him.

Just as that thought crossed her mind Wells let out a huge sigh, "Do you think if we find her she will have forgiven me?"

Finn shrugged, "I don't know man, but you should tell her. She deserves to know and you deserve to not have her hate you."

Clarke's interest was peaked. What could they possibly be talking about? Tell her what? She listened closely as Wells continued. "I can't tell her, it's better for her to blame me. If she knew that her own mother was the one that turned her father in," He shook his head and Clarke felt her entire world fall off kilter, "it would destroy her, I can't."

Clarke suddenly felt dizzy. Her mother had gotten her father floated? All these years she had blamed Wells, hated him, had wanted nothing to do with her first best friend in the whole world. Now she finds out that her reason for hating him hadn't even been him? He had taken the blame so that she wouldn't hate her mother. The realization was jarring and it was followed by hot anger as she realized that she did. She did hate her mother, if her father hadn't been turned in that night Clarke would never have revealed her eyes and she never would have had to leave. Her father may have been able to convince the council or at the very least he would have been able to get the information out. He wouldn't have died for nothing. Her mother wasn't just the reason her father was floated, she was the reason that his death had no meaning.

Clarke slipped off further into the dark forest, only vaguely aware of the fading voices behind her, she curled into a ball and cried for the first time in a long time. Once her tears were dried she was left with two feelings. A newfound burning anger at her mother, and the regret and love for her best friend. With a new purpose and a lighter heart Clarke made for camp, she had to find Wells. He was no longer at the small fire and Finn was nowhere to be seen. But she tracked his scent and found him sitting on a log on watch duty. Hesitantly but purposefully she emerged from the trees and approached a cautious but unmoving Wells. Clarke got until she was less than a foot in front of him before lowering her head in an apologetic gesture. Looking up she met his golden-brown eyes with her own piercing blue and she slowly stood until they were touching foreheads. She closed her eyes again and rumbled deep in her belly.

She looked up and her best friend, a shocked expression adorned his face. "Clarke?"

Her face split into a grin and she rumbled happily nodding her head. Her best friend's face split into a wide grin and he suddenly leaned forward and pulled her into a hug. A bit startled at first Clarke let her eyes close again as she leaned into his warm embrace. She had really missed him.

"Oh my gods this is amazing! How come you haven't told us?! It's so good to see you, how have you been? I can't believe you've been in our camp for days! Oh my god that's why you almost killed Finn! Holy shit yeah he and Raven were sort of a thing up on the Ark after you left, I can't believe he would move on with octavia so quickly. Raven missed you so much, she wanted to get herself arrested when she heard they were sending us to the ground, but she's eighteen she would have just been floated. Holy shit it's good to see you." He took a deep breath and in that moment Clarke couldn't even find it in herself to be properly upset at the news of what Finn had done. She just laughed at her friend and lay down heavily, head resting in his lap. He looked down surprised and she looked up with a grin. He chuckled, "sorry for the rant, it's just so good to talk to you again, I really missed you."

Clarke laughed at him again before the questions started back up. She explained as best she could through head nods and shakes about why she couldn't shift and, although he was a bit confused, he seemed to get that it wasn't because she physically couldn't. He asked about telling the others and at first Clarke had been all for it but after a moment she had frowned and changed her mind. It wouldn't breach any rule with the grounders but she decided that for tonight she was content with just having Wells know. She got her point across and he agreed to wait till morning. Though she could really only express her emotion and answer yes or no Clarke was able to confess to having overheard what he had said about her mother and he had apologized over a dozen times.

They had been talking for hours, just catching up and enjoying each other's company and Clarke smiled as she curled up on the ground next to her best friend. He was now sat, back against the log and was stroking Clarke's back as she laid her head in his lap. It was in a moment of comfortable quiet that Clarke heard someone else tromping through the trees towards them. With the amount of noise they were making Clarke knew it wasn't a grounder but she still raised her head and motioned to Wells in the direction the person was approaching from. About thirty seconds later Charlotte came into view and Clarke relaxed her head back into Wells' lap. As the young girl got closer Wells called out in greeting and Clarke yawned out a welcome of her own. The girl stopped in her tracks upon noticing Clarke but after some coaxing from Wells she came and sat on the log. She and Wells started talking about life on the ground and Clarke mostly tuned them out, content to just sit and be with her best friend.

After some time Charlotte began to cry and when Clarke looked up the young girl pulled away. Clarke frowned, she scared the girl, she wished she could just shift and help comfort her. Charlotte was far too young to be dealing with all of this shit.

"Does, does she have to stay?" Clarke was a bit hurt but she understood and, as Wells began to come to her aid explaining how "the big wolf" was a friend, Clarke just got slowly to her feet and brought her head around to nudge his. She looked down at him and nodded that it was ok before attempting to smile at Charlotte, then she slipped off into the trees. Right now that little girl needed his comfort more than Clarke did. The sun was just beginning to light the sky and Clarke would see her friend back at camp soon and after that they would also tell Finn and Bellamy. She grinned at that, for very different reasons, she would enjoy the looks on both their faces.

Then she smelled it, blood, fresh blood from back the way she had come. Turning Clarke sprinted back to where she had left Wells and Charlotte and the sight that greeted her was a terrible one. Her best friend, the boy she had grown up with, the man she hardly even got to know... Wells was dead and Charlotte was nowhere to be found.

Clarke scoured the area for signs of a grounder attack but the conclusion she came to was far more disturbing. Wells' throat had been sliced, not anything that was a signature move of either Trikru or the Maunon. Clarke found the offending blade itself cast aside in the dirt, Wells' blood still wet on its edge, another clear sign that this was not any Trikru warrior. Sniffing the blade Clarke got the scent not only of Wells' but also another. It was the same as the scent trail that looped its way back towards the drop ship. Clarke let out a shuddering breath, Charlotte had killed Wells. Clarke had left Wells for ten minutes and he had been killed, just as she had found him again, mended their relationship, he had been taken away. Little girl or not, Charlotte would pay for this. Clarke carefully took the knife by the handle and then ran off back in the direction of the camp.

Clarke didn't slow down and without caution she made her way to Bellamy's tent and burst through the tent flap. He was asleep and had a girl on each arm but Clarke was too upset to even roll her eyes or chide him. She just stood over her friend and growled until he opened his eyes and then jumped awake. The two girls at his side screamed but Clarke ignored them, dropping the knife at Bellamy's feet. He relaxed, realizing that Clarke was not a threat, as the girls ran past Clarke with blankets dragging behind them Bellamy sat up and lifted the bloody knife.

"What happened?" Clarke growled and motioned for him to follow.

Twenty minutes later Clarke, Bellamy, Finn, Murphy and two others that Clarke didn't know were gathered around Wells' body. Somberly they picked up the body and the small procession continued until they reached the ever growing grave site. Bellamy ordered Murphy and the others back to the camp and told them to wake everyone. They left and Bellamy, Finn, and Clarke began to dig. Ten minutes later they lowered Wells' body down into the earth and each said their piece, though for Clarke her goodbye was silent. Despite what had happened the day before, Wells had been their friend, each of them. Finn and Bellamy embraced and Clarke came to stand next to Bellamy who put a hand on her shoulder.

They returned to camp a half hour later to unhappy and confused faces, Bellamy held the blade that had killed Wells tightly in his grasp. Raising it high he called out to everyone that had gathered, "does anyone know who this blade belongs to!"

Clarke, who was trying to locate Charlotte in order to bring to light what had really happened, looked up in surprise when Murphy stepped forward. "Yeah, I recognize it. It's mine, where did you find it? I've been looking-" He was cut off as Bellamy came forward to meet him at the center of the formed circle and punched him across the face.

"Don't play dumb Murphy, I know what you've done. Why did you do it huh? You never like Wells but I never imagined you would go so far as to kill him!" There was silence at first and then the crowd began to call for justice. They got more and more riled and pretty soon they were calling for blood, several people surged forward and Bellamy did nothing to stop it. They came down on Murphy hard and as they kicked him down Clarke leaped forward and, growling, forced the startled teens back from the now prone form of John Murphy. As he got shakily to his feet glaring out at the crowd Clarke turned her back and growled out at Murphy's attackers. He hadn't done this. Then Clarke saw her, tucked into the back and half hidden behind a tree. Charlotte cowered and began to flee as Clarke bolted towards her, but the girl never had a chance. Clarke reached her and clamped down on her upper arm, she didn't draw blood but the girl screamed regardless.

Uncaring, Clarke dragged Wells' killer into the center of the circle and released her hold as the girl fell to the ground before a now stunned audience. Clarke stepped back and growled at the girl before her, it wasn't fair that such a young child had been forced to endure so much. The council would pay for what they had turned this girl into, but Charlotte was not blameless and Clarke was having a difficult time not simply moving forward and killing the girl on the spot.

"Charlotte?" Bellamy's voice broke through Clarke's thoughts. He sounded small, broken, and when there was no denial from Charlotte he shook his head in confusion. "No, Charlotte, why? How could you kill Wells? How could you kill anyone? Was it an accident? Did you-"

He was cut off as Charlotte burst into to tears, "I- I- I jus- just di-did what you told me." Charlotte was sobbing now and she could barely get a word in. "Sl-slay your demons. That's what you said. The Chancellor killed my parents. I couldn't-" She broke off as another sob racked her frame and Clarke felt her anger dwindle. The crowd in general actually seemed to have stilled almost to a stand still. The same mob that had just been ready to tear John Murphy apart.

Speaking of whom, Clarke's head snapped up as Murphy stood and stepped back towards the middle of the circle, "you bastards were ready to string me up for this little brat's crimes! I say we do the same to her!"

His statement was met with a few agreements but mostly everyone just looked down, uncomfortable now that they were faced with a true test of what judgement should be here on the ground. It was Bellamy who spoke up, "Charlotte is just a girl, back on the Ark she would have been imprisoned and then killed." He paused looking around the group of delinquents, at the people that were becoming his people. "That isn't how we do things here on the ground, we are better than that."

Murphy rolled his eyes, "really Bellamy, so you're telling me that if everyone had carried on kicking at me a few moments longer you would have stepped in and stopped it?"

Bellamy faltered and Murphy slowly nodded his head, "yeah, I thought so." He stepped back and away from the still weeping Charlotte and raised his hands feigning indifference, "whatever the hell we want right?"

That night Murphy went after Charlotte, whether to scare her or to kill her Clarke didn't honestly know but Charlotte had run all the same. Murphy and his guys had given chase and Finn, Bellamy, and Clarke had followed behind. Clarke had arrived on the scene in time to see Murphy and three other guys corner Charlotte at the edge of a steep cliff, it dropped into the sea far below and Charlotte was only getting closer to the edge. Clarke had stepped between Charlotte and her assaulters but with her back turned hadn't realized what Charlotte was doing in time. Bellamy and Finn arrived and Clarke heard Bellamy's shout. Clarke turned in time to see Charlotte's sad smile. "I'm sorry," a tear rolled down her cheek merging with the rain that was coming down harder and harder and then Charlotte stepped backwards. She fell and Clarke watched her go with a blank expression.

Everyone rushed to the edge before Bellamy turned on Murphy. Murphy staggered backwards and fell to the ground, "I, I didn't mean... We were only going to scare her, she almost got me killed for her stupid..." He trailed off again, "I never meant..."

Bellamy stood over him fists clenched, "I'll kill you for this Murphy." He moved forward and no one made any move to stop him. Clarke unfroze and moved to Murphy's side, she growled softly at Bellamy and shook her head. Bellamy closed his eyes and sighed letting his hands fall lose to his sides, "she was just a little girl, you are the reason she is dead Murphy, I can't forgive that." He looked down at Murphy in disgust, the guy that had once been his right hand man. "You are banished, if you come back to the camp I'll kill you myself." He turned then, giving a cursory glance over the three guys that had followed Murphy, "stay with him or come with us, it's your choice."

One by one everyone left and as Finn made his way out Clarke saw him drop the knife on the ground at Murphy's side. Once everyone was gone Clarke approached Murphy and as he lifted his head she met his eyes with her own. She stared at him intently before making a decision and igniting her eyes, they shone, brilliant purple piercing through the darkness and Clarke heard Murphy's breath hitch. Then she turned away and without a look back disappeared into the forest. He probably wouldn't make it.

The next week was tense, Clarke was careful to be as non-threatening and helpful as possible. She did her best to deal with her grief and she was at least grateful that she had spent that last night with Wells. She confirmed to Bellamy that she could indeed shift but without Wells she was back to being unable to tell or show anyone her true identity and it was aggravating when they asked if she was a grounder. She had responded both yes and no and although that didn't seem very reassuring no one pressed it.

Octavia at least had not changed her opinion of Clarke and for that she was grateful. Bellamy was a bit more cautious but he too had come around after he was done questioning her. Most of the others around camp slowly began to accept her again but they all seemed a bit more weary. Finn stayed as far from her as he could get and that was probably for the best as Clarke had not completely ruled out tearing out his throat.

A few days after Wells' death and Charlotte's suicide Finn, Clarke, Bellamy, and a few other's had been out hunting when they had crossed paths with Linkon. The others had immediately raised their weapons but Linkon had just nodded in their direction and Clarke had nodded back. It had been a small gesture but it had been exactly what Clarke had needed. It spurred a conversation that led to the first real talk of trying to negotiate peace. Clarke had been all for it and soon, with a lot of back and forth from Clarke, they had a plan for Skaikru and Trikru to meet in a week's time on the old bridge at the edge of the border. It was the first time since Wells had died that Clarke had been able to smile.

It was early in the morning and Clarke was awoken by what sounded like a sonic boom. Her head snapped up and she leaped to her feet, ears perked. Octavia stirred next to her and, yawning adorably, she sat up listening intently as well. "What do you think it was Sunshine?"

Clarke rolled her eyes but barked and then exited the small tent looking up at the sky. There were a couple others outside as well and looking up Clarke saw that indeed the source of the sound was a drop ship. However her excitement quickly turned to confusion as the object drew closer. It was nothing like the giant pods that would be bringing down the population of the Ark, hell it wasn't even the size of the pod that brought down the ninety-nine prisoners. No, to Clarke it looked more like her own pod, the one man tin can that had brought her to earth three years ago. But why on earth would the council send down a single person? Unless...

Clarke suddenly had an idea, a crazy, wonderful, almost impossible idea. She took off in the direction the pod had disappeared and she heard shouts from behind her. Bellamy calling for a few to follow him and if there was a radio to bring it to him. The last thing she heard was him ordering Octavia to stay put and then Clarke was out of earshot and no longer cared. There was a chance that Raven was in that pod, crazy, stupid, stubborn Raven. What if she had built her own pod to get to earth? Clarke picked up the pace.

Ten minutes later Clarke reached the smoking crash site. There was the smell of burnt earth and the pod was partially dug into the soft ground. The door hissed and Clarke froze in her tracks as whoever was inside pushed the door up and away before stepping out of the pod. The figure bent and unhooked their helmet before standing and pulling it off, long brown hair flowing down with a huge smile lighting up her face. Clarke's breath caught and she almost tripped, it was Raven, after all these years it was Raven.

Clarke found her feet again and in the clumsiest performance she had given in years, she stumbled forward towards her mate. Raven looked up, suddenly on guard, as Clarke came tromping loudly towards her. Their eyes met. Clarke's blue bore into Raven's perfect earthy brown. Each moved forward as if in a trance and when they met Raven fell to her knees. Her mate leaned forward and Clarke did the same, their foreheads met and Clarke's eyes closed. "I missed you Clarke."

Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed. Thoughts on the Claven reunion? I felt it made sense for Raven to have no trouble recognizing Clarke. HA. Should be amusing to see how everyone else takes the news. Follow if you wish, comment if you care to. Have a great day/night/existence. Stay tuned.

Reminder that I am also posting this story on AO3, I prefer the format over there. But for now I'll still be posting it to both sites.