Hey guys :)
First id like to apologise for my terrible lack of updates. Life has been crazy recently. But im sure its the same for everyone at the moment, more so considering our current circumstances.
You can thank my Fiancée who has hounded me none stop for the past few months for the update lol.
I finally had some time of work and got to work on this fic again, which I have almost completed.
So huge apologies for my time away, and a big thank you for those who have stayed and supported me.
Your all amazing.
Ps. Sorry for my grammar mistakes, I know I suck.
Chapter Inspiration- King Of Shadow- Kat Cunning
Hold On Tight
Thesda stood beside Heda's throne as she and all the other people deemed of importance waited for Lexa.
Considering it was day light the room was heavily lit , making the room stink of burnt candles. Not the pleasant smelling ones that Lexa enjoyed either, these were the candles that stank like the ones Titus used in his study. Thesda crinkled her nose once again, and this time she had confirmed it to herself. Definitely from the old mans stash. Where the spirits was he anyway?
Thesda Folded her arms neatly behind her back once again as she observed the Ambassadors bickering amongst each other. The majority of the guests questioned the Commanders lateness. They muttered about Lexa and her choices on creating the coalition. Most likely because they have become irritated with the fact that the majority of high status positions are now occupied by Trikru. A large group were in debate on how Heda handled the Azgeda, Most backing her choices in the matter. But a few members from Ouskejon( the blue cliff clan) disagreed. But the loudest words she could make out from the bickering in the crowd was Heda's lateness.
They were right, she was now half a candle mark late. Yet Lexa was never late. And today of all days, the pinnacle point of her leadership as Heda and she was late.
Was she still with Clarke? or was this part of one of her plans? Thesda stared at the main door willing her sister to finally come through and deal with these irritable so called leaders.
Leaders they called themselves, yet they behaved like children.
Her attention moved from the people to she shadows as her name was being called out lowely.
"Thesda." Aiden whispered as he left the shadows. She motioned for him to come forward. "Do you know why Heda is late?" making sure to stay quiet enough that only she could hear. She turned to look at the boy who failed at hiding his worry.
"I too am unsure. She is taking too long. I would go and find her myself but-"
"If you left, they would cause trouble." he said motioning towards the guests.
"Unfortunately."
Thesda felt a small vibration in her feet and looked at the ground. "Do you feel that?" she asked as she dropped to one knee adding more confusion to the boy's current dilemma. She placed her palm flat on the stone floor and closed her eyes, letting her other senses take control.
Her odd behaviour attracted attention from the few closest guests and all of her students. But she paid them no attention, her eyes shut and her brow furrowed as she concentrated. It definitely was something, It began faint, but it got stronger with every second. Was it a earth shiver?
Aiden finally understood and ran to the servants and returned with a cup of wine. He placed the cup on the floor and watched intently. And there it was, Just like she knew it would be. The liquid bounced like a steady heart beat, each movement in perfect sync with the next as the liquid rippled like waves within the metal cup.
"Seda. You must see this!" Ebony called from behind bringing her attention away from the cup.
Thesda marched to the balcony with Aiden at her heels, throwing aside the thick red curtains leaving the guests behind. Ebony and Firnen both moved aside from the balcony to let her pass. Both students looked highly uncomfortable, but made an obvious attempt to shield there feelings as they gripped the pommel's of there weapons for comfort.
Thesda's stomach sunk on the sight she was greeted with. Deep down she knew before she reached the balcony what was to come but it still made her uneasy.
"Azgeda.." Aden whispered as he too looked out towards the tree line. "They should not have reached so far, not without some sort of warning. Which means the blockade had failed but why?. All those lives." He gritted his teeth.
Ebony gasped as smoke began to rise. "They are burning down the forests. Why would they do that?"
Firenen placed a hand on her shoulder in comfort. "They are cutting off our food supplies. We use the Woodland area to hunt game. We must be careful with the water from the river, they have more likely contaminated that also." He deducted.
Thesda collected her thoughts and feelings, and removed her hands from the vice grip she didn't realise she held on the rail. She stretched out her fingers to regain there feeling. Now they had to act fast.
"Ebony, get the guards to sound the alarm. The watch towers cannot see the woodland from here."
"Sha Seda."
"Seda look!." Firnen said in utter shock. She followed his gaze and they watched in disbelief as Fire flew from some sort of machine and across the sky flying towards polis. No one knew what they were, only that it had to be bad. Nothing on fire was ever good.
Then the fire hit. A loud crack like thunder exploded near the gate. Then another and another. The north wall that had been there all her life, now she watched as it crumbled to nothing a moment. Then she saw them, Azgeda rode out from the north woods in thousands headed for polis
This was it, War had finally come.
Thesda didn't need to turn to sense Luna beside her yet she shifted her gaze from the horror in front of her eyes.
"My people are dead, they would not have let them pass by choice.." Luna held her palm to her chest.
Luna was right. The Trikru and Floukru at the north blockade had fallen. None survived to even give out a warning. It didn't seem right, they should have seen Azgeda coming. The should have been able to buy some time for the fastest to retreat with a message.
They looked to the signal tower as the flame whooshed into the air, coloured with powder to make the smoke red. Yes the fire signals had been lit, but there was no knowing if any reinforcements would arrive or how long that would take. It could vary from hours to days or even weeks. It was unknown.
"They have more fire throwers." Aden whispered as they all watched more of the machines line up among the tree line, more than likely preparing to fire. "
Thesda, what's that sound." Aiden turned towards her with questioning eyes.
Luna and Thesda became silent as they listened to what the boy spoke of. They couldn't hear it at first, but then the familiar popping noises echoed in the distance.
"They have Firegons!" Luna growled. "Mountain man weapons! TRAITORS!" Luna snarled. "COWARDS!"
It made no sense, nothing made sense. How was this happening. It was like a nightmare made real. Thesda swallowed hard, willing herself to wake up from this nightmare she was now a part of, but unfortunately it was real, there was nothing she or anyone else could do about it now.
"Seda?" Firnen pulled Thesda out from her daze. He motioned behind them to the questioning and panicked looks from the guests peeking behind the curtain. She was surprised she hand not been trampled by a stampede of frenzied people. But then again, She doubted any would try and pass any of the blue bonds or they would get cut down in an instant.
She took a steady breath and collected herself as she walked back into the tower. Her limbs felt heavy, it had to be fear. It was a long time since she had felt fear so strong. This time it was not for herself, it was for Rune and Raven. Her sister, mother, komfoni and all of her friends. All of polis, Everyone.
Thesda stopped beside the throne as the people fired questions at here. Kane looked uneasy as he stayed to the far right of the room, She motioned Firnen to go bring the man to them at the side, away from the others. As soon as the guests know about the maunon weapons, he would be suspected and be in danger. People in fear always need someone to blame.
"Where is Heda?"
"Did the earth rumble?"
"Where is Wanheda?"
"Where is Flamekepa?"
Thesda raised her hand, much like Lexa, Silencing the council and the guests. She looked over there confused faced before giving them the news they all feared.
"WAR IS HERE!." She said clearly her voice echoing throughout the throne room.
"Azgeda have infiltrated Polis. They have destroyed the north gate and are descending upon polis as we speak." The room erupted in cries.
" Now is the time to be warriors! Now is the time to fight for your homes, for your family, for your children. Yes you can run, but no clan will be safe from Azgeda's cruelty. It has began with polis, Let it end with polis!"
...
Bellamy clicked the radio once again. "Arkadia to Mount weather, do you copy." He pressed the button with frustration. " Pick up god damn it! PICK UP!" he slammed the radio back down onto the table to Monty's annoyance.
"Please don't break that, I don't want to spend all day fixing it." Monty snatched the radio from the table and examined it carefully as if it was made from glass.
Bellamy glared at him before pacing the room. "How long since Lincoln left?"
"Two days ago. They should be there by now." Bellamy replied.
There was a knock on the door before it was opened by Abby. "Have you reached Clarke? "
"No." he sighed," its just static."
"Mount weathers radio must have bust. Raven set up a new signal booster there to give us more range." Monty explained. " Basically without it we can't get through to Trikru and Polis. And id like to discuss a new way to farm to get more crops for both our groups."
"A larger harvest would be beneficial for us all. You should let Clarke know about your idea." Abby said to Monty before turning her attention back to Bellamy.
"Kyle went with Lincolns team. He said If anyone here can fix a radio its him, so i thought why not right? But I just have a bad feeling, and not being able to talk to O is making me feel uneasy."
Abby looked past him in deep thought. "Keep this quiet. If people ask, they went hunting. It could be nothing, but I don't want to risk panic." Abby looked at the radio with sad eyes.
"Agreed, people are idiots when they are scared."
"Not just idiots. With fear, people become dangerous." The Doctor said before leaving. Abby's last words echoed in Bellamy's head. She was right.
...
Anya stormed down the corridor beside Indra, her guards following closely behind. she came to a stop where the hallway split, turning to the guards. "I want you two with us." She gestured to the two more youthful warriors. "And you two, go and find the Flamekepa." she pointed to the path to the left.
"Sha general." The warriors said as they split . The smaller group, leaving to find Titus while the others remained. "Indra, what are you doing?" Anya sighed with obvious irritation.
"The lift does not work." Indra pulled the lever again just to make sure. " If I were in there boots, Id take the lift down also. But his means there are traitors within our walls."
"For fuck sake." Anya growled in trigedesleng as she started up the stairs. "We need to find Heda. We have assassins in the building and a war outside!"
"We are getting to old for this." Indra groaned as they quickly made there way up the stairs with the two warriors trailing behind.
Anya snorted. "Speak for yourself friend. I am not old.." Indra huffed in response. "Where the hell are the guards? Why is no one at there posts? What the fuck is going on!" She roared.
"They seem to be absent." Indra said as she wiped her brow." We have passed no guards as of yet."
"I know the elite are in the main hall." Anya said as she moved faster up the stairs. " We need to get there before the people come pouring down to flee."
"Lets hope all is well where they are."
"General, Chief. Can you smell that?" The female warrior who was hot on Indra's heels questioned. "I do not recognise it, its strange."
The girl was right Anya thought. There was a odd smell that drifted down the stairs. Familiar yet not. She just couldn't place it.
"Its red smoke!." The other warrior hissed. "I have been in the mountain, I know that smell. It puts you to sleep if you breath it in." he said quickly covering his face with his robe.
Anya quickly cut her sash into strips with her dagger and handed a piece of the green fabric to Indra and the two guards. "Keep it tight, the effects of the smoke is unpleasant. And personally I would rather survive today." she drew her sword so he held a weapon now in each hand. "Let us move."
The small teams eyes watered as they made there way up the stairs. The flood of tears making there eyes water. But at least they did not fall like the bodies beneath them. They were either dead or passed out, but they had no time to stop and rescue now. Not with the sounds of swords clashing from above..
What worried the two women the most was the smoke. How did the enemy acquire it? What else could this mean for polis? but now was not the time for these questions. Questions were for later. Now was the time for focus, focus on the fight ahead, more so with limitations of visibility.
"The enemy is close." Indra whispered. "Be ready."
...
With everyone gone to the ceremony, Raven was stuck baby sitting the youngest of the Blue bonds. Not like she really minded, she kind of liked the kids company. It made a change to Thesda's worried looks and the guards that came to check on her every second. Those guys became increasingly annoying, even if they had orders and good intentions.
Rune's squeals woke Raven from her daze. She looked over to the boy who played with Nyx.
"Hey little meatball, getcha little butt over here." Raven shouted over to Rune who was playing on the floor with Nyx. The cat had decided to come and visit as she usually did, probably to escape the boring council of Polis. Nyx happened to be a great baby sitter, she humoured the boy and kept nudging the leather ball back to him because he kept rolling in her direction making him giggle.
"Sha Waven. I thinks she is sleepy anyways." The boy said as he made his way up onto the bed. Nyx seemed happy for the option to sleep and stretched on the fur rug.
"Do you wanna hear a cool story?"
"A stowy?!" They boy gasped as he huddled beside Raven. "Is it a scawy stowy? he asked cautiously looking at her with huge brown eyes.
"Don't worry little man, il make it PG." He looked at her confused.
"It means I won't make it super scary." Raven smiled as the boy nodded in acceptance.
"You ready kiddo?" Raven said with a raised eyebrow.
" Sha." He nodded eagerly.
"Once upon a time, many many years ago there was a kid called Frodo. He had a peaceful life, good friend's, pleanty of food and a lovely house under a tree. He-" Raven stopped as Rune tugged on her shirt.
"Was he fwom Twikru?"
"Erm yeah, I guess he can be if you want." Raven mused as he nodded.
"Okay so Frodo from Trikru met up with his uncles crazy wizard friend who ate too many mushrooms. He was really tall and wore a pointy hat with a long coat."
"Like Titus!" The boy squealed.
Raven stared into space for a moment before she could reply. Gandalf was being compared to Titus.
Great.
"Sure kid ..sure. Like Titus." She said, knowing her inner nerd was dying inside.
"Titus is weally tall, I wants to be tall one day becawse.." Rune kept talking but he cut off as the cat had leapt onto the bed, her tail whipping the air as she faced the door. The room then shuddered violently sending everything of the shelves onto the floor. Rune yelped as he hid into Raven's side. Nyx lowered her body so she was almost flat on the bed and hissed.
Ravens stomach dropped as shouting was clearly heard down the corridor. The voices cried "Azgeda."
"Waven." Rune cried as his arms gripped around her middle. She couldn't freak out, now while she had a kid. She had to play it cool, especially when she needed to get him to safety.
"Shh its okay." She said gently as she reached for her Leg brace and gun that was on the bedside table. "I need you to be really brave for me okay? I need you to let go for a few seconds while I put this on my leg so I can walk. Can you do that?"
"You won't go way?"
"No I won't go away. Not without you and Thesda."
"Sha." He said and grabbed his bear from the bottom of the bed, crawling over the cat once again who still had not moved.
Raven snatched her brace off the side table and strapped up her leg at record speed, making sure it was on perfect as there wouldn't be time to correct it. She shuffled off the bed, wincing slightly at the sudden movement but she noted it was no way near as bad as it used to be. She moved around Rune and Nyx so she could reach the trunk.
The mechanic lifted the lid and smiled. "Yep all there." she said to the boy who watched her was good he was watching her and not the window. She knew the chaos that was going on out there and didn't need him to see that too. The bangs got closer and The noise of metal hitting metal started to become stronger making Raven nervous as it sounded too close. Things were moving stupidly fast. There was no way she could stay here. Without help, they were sitting ducks.
Raven was relieved she geared up for anything and everything. Everyone laughed at her when she unloaded the beast, but they wouldn't be laughing now.
She pulled out her rifle, throwing it over her shoulder along with her ready packed bag and attached her belt around her waist snapping the clasp shut. Lastly she pulled our her gas mask she acquired from the mountain from the depths of the chest and held it in a debate. Was she being over prepared? Probably. But after the amount of times she had coffin dodged , was she really over doing it?
She had been hunted by pretty much every species of crazy ass mutated animals and grounders. She got betrayed, shot at ,actually got shot, captured multiple times, tortured , oh and almost getting turned into ash on her decent to earth.
"Yes. No. Yes. No, Fuck it." She said as she slid it over her neck. "Some people say less is more, I disagree kiddo."
"Don't forwget the knives." Rune pointed to the storage box.
"Exactly, you cant ever over prepare I say."
Rune then nodded in approval as she strapped them to her side near her handgun.
Rune was off the bed and got his backpack and handed it to Raven. She took it off him and stuffed rations and other necessities just encase he needed them. She added a tracker to his bag , If the worst happened to her at least the others had a way of finding the kid. His chances would improve from none to slim.
Raven stood up and put the bag on the boys back, making sure it was on securely placed her palms on the boys shoulders. Right now she was so happy that the kid was small for his age. If she had to lift him she could.
"Right Rune, here's the deal." She dropped to look at the boy in the eyes. "You and me, we have to stick together. I know its scary but the only time you run away is if I tell you to or...or if I .. you know, die. okay?"
"I don't wants you to die!." He said as his eyes welled with tears and his lower lip wobbled.
"I know kid but this is just incase okay. I need to make sure your safe. If it happens, you get on Nyx okay? She will keep you safe."
"Like a horse?" Rune asked and she nodded.
The boy frowned."I am suppose to keep you safes waven."
"You keep me safe by doing as I say and being brave." She reasoned making sure he knew it was her that he could rely on. There was no chance in hell she would let Azgeda get hold of Rune not after what they did to Thesda.
They made there way to the door where Nyx stood waiting for them, as if she understood Her, the cat dropped to the floor for Rune.
"Get on kiddo." Raven helped him climb on the big cats back. He looked so small compared to Nyx. "Make sure you hold here." Raven pointed to the thick fur on the cats neck. "Remember if anything happens you hold on, you don't let go. Even when your fingers hurt bad, don't let go. Not until its safe. And don't worry, that cat will always find Clarke."
"Weally?" He asked looking at her with huge brown eyes.
"Really." Raven said with a smile. "Just remember to hold on tight."