Ethan and Melanie walked in silence toward the crater. They were both lost in thought about what they had just heard. Ethan was surprised that Octavia had told Melanie without the family being present but, it was her decision.

Melanie on the other hand, was still in shock of finding out that she was the only Natblida and that she would be commander one day. As they walked she looked around. She felt like she was seeing her home differently. She listened to a conversation between two people about a trade problem and she tried to think about how she would solve the problem.

One of the traditions that Lexa had started was to meet with her subjects and ask them to share problems they were having. She would then help them solve the problem or make a decision for them that was fair. Madi had learned about this from Clark and the flame so she had continued this when they had formed their settlement on the ground. Melanie knew that she would keep this tradition to help her people.

They reached the pen where the cherion were kept. Cherion were a two legged creature with a broad back and long neck. They were ridden similarly to horses by the creatures of this planet. When Earthkru had formed their settlement they had learned to ride them as well.

Melanie clicked her tongue and her cherion Trikova, meaning shadow, came over to her. Trikova bent her long neck down and seemed to wrap it around Melanie as she hugged her.

After the light blanket saddle was attached Melanie and Ethan set out heading down into the crater. Here there were places to ride and practice different skills. Much of the planet was rocky ground and had cliff style walls. The cherions were capable of climbing the walls. When a rider was skilled enough at rising on the ground, they began to practice climbing the walls while riding. Melanie was one of the best riders and she enjoyed spending time with Trikova.

Today Melanie and Ethan were going to race up one of the harder walls of the crater. People who had been riding stopped to watch their race up the wall. Melanie looked over at Ethan with a smile, "You still have time to back out." Ethan smirked, "Yea right, nowe!" (never) he replied.

They both looked to the man who opened the gate to the wall in front of them. He help up his arm and they got ready. Dropping his arm to start the race they nugged their cherions forward at a run.

Melanie focused on subtly shifting her weight at Trikova bounced up the rocks at the bottom.

As they reached the wall she leaned forward keeping her balance as the clawed feet gripped the the edges of the rocks. Glancing to her left she could see Ethan slightly behind her scaling the wall. She whispered, "Ste yuj, Trikova, ste yuj!" (Stay strong, stay strong). She noticed a part of the wall that looked better just to her right a nudged Trikova that way. Melanie and Trikova rounded the top of the crater and looking back she could not see Ethan yet. "Sha!" (yes!) she shouted and turned Trikova around to watch Ethan exit the crater.

A moment later they surfaced over the edge and came up alongside Melanie.

Ethan shook his head. "Clearly I have been spending too much time in meetings and not enough time riding. You seemed to jump ahead about half way up."

Melanie shrugged. "There was an easy spot so I guided that way. I have been practicing looking for those lately instead of just going up."

Ethan nodded. "Well I can say that I think you could now beat Octavia and any of the Ingranrona if you were racing." Melanie smiled. Octavia was one of the best riders other and those who had ground up in the Ingranrona clan, the plains riders. They had been the first to learn and master riding the cherion. They were the best riders and beating them would be a great accomplishment.

They both turned their cherions and walked them along the top of the crater. Melanie saw Ethan looking at her with a serious face, "Nomon would never say it but she is worried about you becoming Heda."

Melanie was surprised. "Why?" she asked.

"You have learned about Praimfaya and why we had to go underground for 6 years." Melelaine nodded. "You know that Octavia became Osleya and led our people into the bunker. She saved Ryloah and so many others that day. She was a warrior not a leader, but over the next few years she had to do a lot to keep our people alive." He paused before saying, "She had a hard time when we were finally freed from the bunker. She didn't want to give up the power she had gained and so she hurt our people. She took away their choices so they would have to follow her. Many people still remember that and so she is afraid that they will not give you a fair chance as a commander."

Melanie understood. "It must be hard for her having a natblida as a child. She had the power of a leader but she was not a natblida and so they would never follow her truly right?" she asked.

Ethan nodded encouraged that Melanie had understood what he was trying to tell her. "It's hard on her yes. But mostly, she doesn't want her actions and choices to hurt you when you become commander. She cares for you and knows that the job will already be hard enough without a lack of support from your people."

Mel looked at him with confidence. "Well then, I guess it's up to me to let the people know me and my character between now and when I become commander so there will be no problems." She smiled and pushed Trikova into a run.

Ethan's POV

Ethan shook his head with a smile, one day she would be a force to be reckoned with. He urged his mount into a run to catch up.