A/N: Sorry everyone, this chapter was written, torn apart and rewritten more than a dozen times. Finally said screw it and separated things into the next chapter.

Miller was so pleased with 10k's offer of help, as he quickly noticed that he really knew what he was doing. Miller was sure if had he been in charge of the trading, there was no way that they would have walked away with as much as they did.

To trade they offered two hundred pounds each of rice, flour and wheat; one hundred pounds each of dry beans, sugar and salt; five pounds of assorted seeds along with many quantities of toothpaste, bleach, bar soap, toilet paper, feminine supplies and various medical supplies that would have been available over the counter before the end of the world.

In return, they got the fresh meat Bellamy had wanted, just maybe not in the form he had figured on. They would be bringing home a rooster with four laying hens, two goats, four chickens, a dozen rabbits and four big barrels of fresh produce.

Everyone left the meeting happy, looking forward to the exchange that would happen the next day.

Walking back, 10k felt thankful that his knowledge and experience in trading helped someone. It made him feel good to be useful in things than killing. He had given the list of supplies a glance and knew what they would be getting was worth what they had given up. Having animals that could produce more animals as well as being a food source was important. They would take some work and time, but really, what did anyone have these days but time?

"Man that was awesome, you handled that like a pro!" Miller's praise made him a little embarrassed, but proud as he explained.

"Before the Z's came I lived in the mountains with my Pa, I would go with him when he went to different trading posts. He taught me the best trades ended with both parties leaving satisfied and feeling that they came out on top. That's what happened today."

Doc was shocked that the kid talked that much, and about something so personal. "Well hell kid, I don't think I've ever heard you talk that much. I think your Pa would have been proud of you today, you did one hell of a job."

Miller could see his growing embarrassment and didn't want him to get too flustered, so as they got closer to home he changed the topic. "I hope you can help us set up homes or whatever those animals will need. I can promise you that none of us have ever had to take care of a live animal before!"

10k had already been making plans in his head for the things they would need to make for them, the rabbits especially required plenty of room for breeding "Of course, when we get back I'll get started."

Just before they came to the narrow, passable part of the river separating them from the farmers, they heard a loud scream and shouting coming from just across the water. They paused, looking at each other, unsure of what to do. It was a terrified female's voice shouting a name they all knew that had them running. They had no idea what was going on, they all just knew that they had to go and help.

No one in Murphy's group liked what Clarke had to say, which was understandable, as she had just let them know that she didn't think she could do anything for him. They all started speaking over one another, getting louder and louder with every question and demand. Clarke froze, not knowing who to answer first. Help came from behind her as Bellamy came up and laid his hand on her shoulder.

"What's going on here?" Bellamy barked out, using his no-nonsense voice, as Jasper liked to call it.

Clarke told him that they had examined Murphy and just finished giving them the results. Results that Bellamy could clearly see that they didn't like.

"Alright, there's no need to jump all over Clarke, she did what she was asked of her. I think we all need to take a step back and think about things. Everyone can meet up again later with clearer heads." Bellamy didn't even give them time to talk him into changing his mind, he grabbed Clarke and his sister by their wrists, dragging them away.

"Clarke, why don't you take Jasper down to the river to check on the fish traps?"

Clarke nodded and walked off in search of Jasper, shaking her head in fond amusement as the Blake siblings started on the never-ending bickering over why Bellamy wouldn't let Octavia go out that often.

Jasper wasn't that hard to find, nor was it hard to get him to agree to go with her. He liked going out and exploring when possible, then going back home and making notes on the things he found and saw. One of the walls in his room was filled with a roughly drawn map of the surrounding area that he was working on when he could find the time.

They made a few stops to get the gear they needed and quickly left, both in a rush to leave for awhile.

Both walked in a comfortable silence for the first half of the walk while watching all around them, making sure no zombies were around. Just as they reached the river some rustling behind them made them both spin and point their guns in the direction the noise was coming from.

"Whoa, guys! It's me!"

Clarke groaned, pissed that she didn't see this coming. "Damn it, Octavia, why do you keep sneaking out? Bellamy is going to have another fit when we get back!"

Octavia shrugged her shoulders, uncaring at what her overprotective brother would say. It wouldn't be the first time he lectured her, she doubted it would be the last. "He can't keep me inside all the time, I've had enough of being locked away. Besides, you sad yourself that I was really good at target practice."

"Yes, that may be true. But it does you no good when you come out here empty handed. You know it's not safe!" Clarke scolded her, really disappointed that she didn't have anything on her. Just as she was going to grab the extra gun in her pack she spotted something coming towards them from the corner of her eye.

"Watch out!"

Her warning came too late, she could do nothing but watch as a long spear hit Jasper on the shoulder hard enough to make him spin and fall with a scream. Octavia rushed to his side, carefully turning him over to see how badly he was hurt. She looked up at Clarke who was standing watch over them with her gun out, trying to find where the attack came from.

"Clarke, the spear is embedded in his shoulder, he's bleeding bad."

"Put pressure on it, is he conscious? Shit, I can't see where it came from!"

"Yeah, he's looking at me but I think he may be in shock."

Clarke was alarmed, knowing it was no zombie that threw that spear and they were out in the open with no cover, open to more attacks from an unknown source as she still couldn't see anyone.

The unknown source seemed to appear out of thin air as a small group, five men, and a female surrounded them. Clarke was fast to evaluate them, they all looked travel weary, tired and all carried some sort of weapon. Their only way out was to fight through them or escape to the river behind them. Going into the water with a bleeding and hurt Jasper was not her first choice.

"What do you want?" Clarke asked in a firm voice, trying her best to sound more in control than she was. She had no idea how her gun wasn't shaking.

"The boy, give us the boy." One of the men gruffly told her, motioning with the long knife he was holding to Jasper.

Give them Jasper? What in the world? "What for?"

The same man answered her, giving her the impression that this was their leader. "Just walk away and you won't get hurt."

Clarke was sure she didn't mean that. That was what the bad guys always said, right? When she didn't move away one of the other men came closer, swinging an ax up and getting it ready to strike. "Take the girl and get gone!"

She asked again, "What do you want with him? He hasn't done anything to anyone!"

The ax holding man grinned at her, showing broken and yellow teeth. "We are hungry girl and unless you want to join your friend, do as I said, take the girl and leave."

There was no way they meant what she thought they meant right? Jasper as... food? Behind her Octavia gagged and started crying as one of the men casually mentioned cooking this one whole as to not waste any.

Well then. There was no question about it. They would be fighting them.

Clarke didn't even blink as she quickly fired three shots, getting the female in the head, one of the men in the neck and another in the chest. She swallowed back the nauseating feeling of having to kill a human, Citizen Z had warned them that there might be a day when they had no choice but to kill the living or be killed. In no way did she actually think she would ever have to do it and in no way was she prepared for it. But there was no other option for her, as there was no way she was going to let them take Jasper or Octavia.

The remaining three started cursing up a storm and circling them, quickly closing in. She took out another with a shot to the head right before two of them swung their weapons at her, making her jump back and duck. In a slightly crunched position, Clarke thought of her options while trying to keep herself between them and her two defenseless friends behind her. Jasper had a gun but she didn't know if it was out, or if he was even capable of using it correctly right now. And from how much Octavia was panicking, there was no way she would be of any help.

As if just now noticing that it was down to just two of them, the remaining men paused and gave a signal to each other. At a nod from one, they came at her again, one going low, slicing Clarke on the side as she dropped low from the other knife that was aimed at her throat.

She winced and sucked in a pain-filled breath, knowing without looking that it was a deep cut. The knife was long, sharp and his aim was true.

Neither man showed signs of slowing down as they came at her again and again, making her defend more than attack back. It gave her no time to shoot her gun and she didn't want to shoot wildly with the limited ammo they had on them. Clarke dropped the gun and kicked it behind her, choosing instead to use the two trench knives she had on her hips. With one in each hand, she steadied herself, getting her body balanced as she got ready to lounge.

She never got the chance.

Octavia yelled something from behind her that she couldn't make out over how loudly her heart was beating.

A shot rang out and Clarke heard someone stumble but didn't turn and take her eyes off of the two in front of her to look.

Octavia screamed out her name and a second later she felt something slam into her body, causing her to fall hard.

Then blackness.

She didn't see Octavia shooting Jasper's gun for the second time, this time aiming better and killing the man that Clarke had before hit in the chest.

She didn't see or hear Miller calling their names from across the river.

Or see 10k stop, bend to one knee, aim and rapidly fire off shots, making sure that the others fell and didn't come back up.

Clarke had no idea what a scary picture she made as she laid there in a pool of her own blood, coming from where she hit her head on a rock.