Her people are fast asleep when she makes a cut through the barrack lodgings. Clarke takes an extra moment at the end of Charlotte's bed. The girl is looking quite bruised but she doesn't have a fever and the swelling in her body has all but faded. She's relieved that Charlotte really was recovering. She had feared the others were all engaging a white lie for the benefit of her emotional state.

She'll speak to the others when they wake, it's hardly been a handful of days, their injuries couldn't have gotten much better though she's feeling quite tempted to use her bandaged arm. They don't have their technology here and no one to rely on so an alliance with the Grounders was their safest bet.

Octavia is still smirking like a little idiot when Clarke exits the washrooms area and heads back outside. "Shut up."

"What, I haven't even said anything."

Clarke squints her eyes at the girl and switches topics. "So tell me about your 'tall dark and handsome'?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." Octavia has the good graces to blush which makes Clarke know she can wheedle at the point further.

"Oh yes you do, I saw you plastered against him like a metal panel at the fire pit like hours ago." Clarke can't exactly stare the other girl down since they were the same height but god damn at least she is at least eye level to O. "Wasn't Atom running after you last time I checked?"

"Weren't the literal Queens of the Grounders going after you?" Octavia returns, smiling a shit eating grin underneath her blush. "Don't you dare deny it; their scent is all over you."

"I'm sure." Clarke smirks right back but while she can dish it as well as she can take it she's certain it wouldn't be wise to joke about something as serious as what had been purposed the night before. "Update me on everything I've missed."

The change in tone doesn't faze Octavia; she takes Clarke's serious demeanor in stride, sharing how Lexa brought a small army to the cave grounds. The Grounders had been decked for battle and had intimidated everyone still awake. After the rescue party had rounded everyone back to TonDC, help was soon sent with the able-bodied 100 back to the dropship while those in critical condition had been kept in the village. Bellamy was allowed to pick several wolves to accompany his injured within town and Wells had vehemently followed where Clarke was being taken.

"Anya carried you the entire half day hike we took to TonDC while Lexa looked ready to kill whoever neared you two." Octavia sounds wowed. "She could've just placed you on a stretcher but-"

Octavia stops her reveal and dips her head down respectfully when they exit the barrack grounds. Clarke looks to what has Octavia of all people bending to find Anya standing beside the open gateway, a hand on the pommel of her blade.

"Good morning." Octavia still has her head down.

Anya places her palm against the back of Octavia's neck and the Arker practically glows. Octavia gives another nod and when Anya turns, gives a mock salute to Clarke before heading back into the barracks.

"I don't think I've ever seen O bend so easily."

Anya hums noncommittally and heads back to the center of the village. Clarke follows; keeping pace at Anya's left. The silence worries Clarke, perhaps her show of weakness wasn't taken as well as she had perceived the night before. Maybe her suitors realized how weak the Arkers were compared to those on the ground and they've lost interest in her. What does an Omega have to offer these people? She and the rest of the Arkers are all under suppressants and are sterilized for at least several months. Certainly not her wolf which she doubts she'll be able to shift into without a full moon. Maybe during today's chief meeting they'll find another Omega, someone that wasn't conditioned by the Ark, someone who was a warrior, who deserved their interest more than she.

Clarke tries to tell herself she wouldn't mind. That an alliance could still be agreed upon even if they were no longer interested in her as a mate. That each quiet step didn't hurt her more than whatever physical pain the Lerna had inflicted on her earlier.

"Clarke."

She raises her head sharply at Anya's call and finds the same softness she had seen last night. It's hidden beneath black paint but Anya's eyes are warm.

"Yes, sorry, I didn't quite catch what you were saying?"

"I waited." The words are just a whisper among the hustle and bustle of the awakening village. "So I could escort you to our dining halls for breakfast."

Anya tilts her head slightly, arms particularly stiff by her side as if she was straining to keep them from moving.

Oh.

Clarke already knew that neither Anya nor Lexa are particularly demonstrative in public and the pair have made it abundantly clear they will not push for her agreement. They certainly aren't going to take any liberties with her or be overly forward.

"Thank you for finding me," she feels like an idiot for having such a panicky reaction, she steels her voice and tries to mimic the tough exterior both her Alpha and Beta exude, "will the meeting with the other clan leaders begin soon?"

"Our clans have been gathered close." A smile tilts just barely at Anya's lips, she's pleased. "They should be arriving shortly."

The quiet walk is by far easier now that she had some reassurance from Anya. That this woman was still the one that had been very willing to rise to her touch and had spent the entire night by Clarke's side to ease her nerves. She had to respect their customs and adapt if she wants to make a good impression for their people. She doesn't know the state of those at the dropship and she can't know for certain if the aid given at the moment could still be taken away if the other clan leaders disagree with Lexa and Anya.

They are about to enter a cemented longhouse, some of its brick walls have been eroded down to a bare rusted metal frame. Anya's hand tightens around the hilt of her sword and she growls at an approaching Grounder.

"Now, now Anya, we are of the same rank." The male is broad, incredibly physically menacing and Clarke works to defiantly keep her gaze level at him instead of instinctively ducking away. "Why the hostilities?"

"Stop attempting to take my unit members and you'll find me reasonable."

"Give me my brother." He growls, bringing their faces inches from one another.

Anya snarls, she looks to one of the guards stationed at the doorway and then back at the man. "Choose your weapon."

The man takes the spear tied on his back and twirls it once in his hand. His face gnarled into something downright predatory. People are inching closer while merchants who were setup near the pair are quick to pack up their stands.

"Drop your arms!" The dining hall doors slam open and the woman issuing the command has both the man and Anya obediently straightening from their battle stance. "Quint, your own brother does not want to be part of your unit, reflect on what you've done to cause this."

"Chief Indra, I only have my brother's wellbeing in mind." Quint explains, his features still feral. "Anya is not suited to lead my blood!"

"Anya was willing to fight for a unit member that kept silent." Indra indicates the guard Anya had looked to before drawing her weapon. "Do not let your unwillingness to be dominated hinder the unity of this clan."

"My brother-!"

"Choses to stay with Unit Leader Anya." The guard from before removes his mask and drops it to the ground, he's a perfect mirror to Quint in stature and ink markings. "You did not recognize me and yet you pick a fight with my Lead to reclaim me?"

Quint looks stymied, let down by his own twin. "Your place is by my side, brother."

"I've already shamed our bloodline by not answering when you shouted for me; I almost made my Lead fight my battle." The guard is looking every bit as venomous as Quint. "If you push I will shed your blood to ease this dishonour."

Quint roars, holding his ground until Indra takes a step which makes him back several. He reties his spear onto his back and stalks from the dining hall doors, stating his stomach uneasy with keeping communion with natrona.

The guard doesn't speak a word but bends knee to Anya, face to the dirt and neck bared.

Anya sheaths her weapon and sets her hand on the man's neck, she digs her nails in and he tilts closer to the ground. "Aerius, speak to your brother."

Aerius appears hesitant but Indra barks for him to go. Aerius rises to his full height and with another bow to Anya heads off after his brother.

The Chief turns to Clarke. "What punishment do Quint and Aerius deserve?"

Clarke looks to Anya for help but the woman is stoic in front of the village chief.

"Quint's care on the matter is more than well meaning, he seems to find Unit Leader Anya's reign over his brother as a control on him as well." She gets that conviction is valued so she works to keep her voice from wavering. "I think letting Aerius stay in the unit he prefers sets a punishment Quint can't recover from and Aerius I would leave to Anya's mercies."

Indra shows neither approval nor disdain. She enters the heavy double doors and disappears into the building without another word. It was apparent that Grounders all minced their words and it wasn't like there were many words said in the first place.

Anya is smiling. With their backs to the village and the door as a divider from the hall, her fondness is much more open. "An acceptable answer."

…

The dining hall is bursting with those prepping for breakfast. The place is filled with lively banter as the people work around their clan in ease. The hall may be spacious but it's still a sight to see so many maneuvering between one another in the tight alleyways of firm oaken tables. Clarke is used to the quiet mess halls and an orderly line up. The Ark's mess halls seemed so uniformed compared to this. The furniture here, all tables and chairs collected from different eras and space. Pieces from varying times are mended together to hold up the bounty that was being readied for the coming Chieftains. The walls are donned with armor, weaponry and various art pieces that could very well be used as a weapon. Their ship's walls were stark; least people thought they could deface public space with tags or damage what must be kept pristine for the future.

Tables lining the walls are already filling with baskets of fruits, large pots of warm steaming oats and huge metal plates of what Clarke thinks has to be meat.

Clarke has lived her whole life on tiny tubes of nutritional paste and their hunt of that rabbit certainly gave up nothing. Her stomach growls and she just wants to fill up like no tomorrow.

Anya chuckles from her side and Clarke has the good grace to blush. "There's no real food in the Ark, not like this."

"You're welcome to your take." Anya gestures to the long table at the very back of the room where a throne of antlers and driftwood holds Lexa as the overseer of today's event. "It's still early; we could approach the Heda if you wish."

Heda is a title Clarke hasn't heard before but the use of it makes clear that this interaction was a public one. Lexa and Anya both seem to be quite high in rank and she's unsure how this clan was divided. Anya is clearly a leader of her own unit and Lexa had brought a group of her own to help the Arkers. Clarke would have presumed that Indra being 'Chief' would make her the prominent leader but the woman defers to Lexa.

Indra is at Lexa's side, discussing something with quick precision. She appears as an advisor which makes Clarke wonder exactly who her suitors were to their people. Octavia had been thorough with the details of the 100 and the help sent but she had said little on either Alpha or Beta. The girl had jokingly referred to Lexa and Anya as Queens but Clarke had assumed she exaggerated.

Indra lifts her head to glare down at Clarke who momentarily has the silly want to hold Anya's hand. She clasps her fingers behind her back to avoid just that as they close in on the main table.

"Morning Heda." Anya dips her head.

Clarke mimics the move, but when she rises she can't look away from Lexa. The lax way the Alpha is situated on the throne doesn't diminish the sharp weapon twirling in her free hand. The casual but intimidating display has Clarke thinking of a video capture from class of a panther lounging on warmed stones. She tightens her clasped fingers and feels her face burn. She's slightly aware she's releasing Omega scents but she very well doesn't know how to control them.

Anya unconsciously takes a step closer to Clarke as she snarls at a passing cook who has frozen between Clarke and the table he was working to set. He looks more famished than Clarke had felt earlier. Anya's Beta scents and warning has the man skittering stiffed legged and awkward back into a side door. Clarke will do well if she could just sink into the ground and disappear from this moment since Indra is particularly amused by her lack of self-control and Anya's protectiveness.

"Don't flaunt your want to be dominated, Sky girl." Indra notes as she rounds the table brushes past them. "The arriving Chieftains expect Skaikru's leader not a mate beside their Alpha."

Well fuck; it's not like Clarke knows how to control this whole ordeal. She had been strictly detained in her human state her whole life and it was just a handful of days ago that the strong moon had driven her pack onto all fours. The premature heat the moon had brought to her was left unanswered and she had been fighting for her pack's livelihood the next instant. She can only thank her lucky stars that the throbbing incessant fire she had felt before seems to have dissipated for now. Though being around the Alpha and Beta all this time has certainly made spikes in her composure. She's never been so thankful for the suppressants still flowing through her body.

"A place has been made for you at the Skaikru's table." Lexa draws all of Clarke's focus like a beacon. "You're welcomed to sit with Anya and me but it might set things in motions you've not decided upon."

Clarke certainly didn't want to be physically further than necessary, she's gotten to bask in both Anya's and Lexa's presence in the privacy of their own house. The pair have such a reassuring force for Clarke to rely upon but if she's going to be acting this way while the rest of the village came in or god forbid her own people to see her so swayed by Lexa it'll do no one any good. She needs to inform the others what will soon be occurring and she'll have to assert her place as Co-Chancellor with Bellamy if her people were to disagree.

Clarke thanks Lexa for the offer and after receiving permission she is lead away by one of the servers.

…

The hall is brimming with people soon enough. All come to first give their Heda a greeting before turning to the tables packed with food. The village functions at a scheduled pace as first the young are given their share before the adults come in. Clarke can only guess that the guards currently patrolling had already had their fill.

There's an excited commotion when groups of people in unfamiliar gear enter through the open hall doors. They're wearing clothing that range away from what this village has and bear markings dissimilar from the symbols Clarke has seen displayed around town. There are several distinct clusters and at their arrival the villagers cordially back to allow them first access to the feast at the tables.

Some are shrouded in coarse layers of material, shifting as sands over their tanned dry skin. There are others baring netting and almost trident like spears on their backs. The last group have utilized the skin and bones of wild animals for their attire with whips coiled at their hips. Clarke watches keenly at Lexa's greeting to each of the tribes approaching her throne but her welcome to them is equal and it gives Clarke little insight.

The clan leaders take their spots beside Lexa while the people they've brought congress to the open seating in the tables closes to Lexa's throne. The villagers of TonDC are between the Arkers and the leaders and Clarke takes these precious moments of anonymity to gage the people she'll have to face soon. The Arkers may be easily identified from the Grounders but they've yet to find their leader.

"Clarke." Bellamy moves to sit next to her.

He has to maneuver pass several seats before gaining the spot beside her. She's placed her back against the wall with clear view to the door on their right and if she's quite honest, she's getting a reasonable excuse to stare where Lexa and Anya are seated across the room.

"Bellamy." She's unsure where they stand; the last time they interacted it had been over Finn's death and his threat on Wells.

He seemed mild manner with his hair a messy mop on his head and his demeanor calmed by Octavia taking a chair next to him. "You saved my sister; we're cool, you know what I had to do."

"You were desperate." Clarke watches him, studies his passive posturing towards her, considering last time he was calling for leadership with their group of delinquents it's a little surreal to see him like this. "It doesn't excuse what you did, you could have killed Wells."

"I didn't though." His hand tightens into a fist but Octavia's touch on his wrist makes him relax. "You're right I…" he grits over his words, obviously having practiced them before, "I did not put everyone's wellbeing at forefront and a lot of them died because of my lack in planning."

Bellamy looks to Clarke then back to Octavia with absolute conviction; Clarke knows he doesn't regret his choice that no expense was too great for his need to protect his sibling. Though maybe he'll see the costs to his calls and what he can wrought on their group. Bellamy could be a strong asset to them or an issue she'll have to handle just to protect the Arkers they have left. Either destruction or redemption, Clarke can only hope his agreeability will remain.

"And a lot of people lived because of you, Clarke." Wells joins their table, looking at Clarke for her approval. She gives him a nod and he practically glows. It's like hating on a puppy that has only her wellbeing and opinions on his mind. The knot in Clarke's chest loosens all the more. "Many look to you for how we continue."

Clarke hmmms, Wells confirmation of her leadership placement has her thinking. She rather discuss the whole situation with Bellamy before the meeting with the other clan leaders occur but there's only one option for her people and that is the alliance Lexa offered but it's not as if they have much to offer in return. If they had their technology they could be of some use. Though at the moment all they have is Monty's expertise and maybe her medical knowledge.

She doesn't want to stress the others out at how uncertain their people's fate is at the time being and focuses her attention to Wells overflowing plate. "Have enough for seconds?"

"Hey, I'm still growing." Wells shrugs good naturedly then stares hungrily down at his plate. "I mean its freaking bacon like in the old cooking vids, Clarke, real boar pig mutated bacon, it's amazing."

"It's fucking delicious Clarke," Octavia joins in, hovering her face over her meal and taking a huge sniff, "I feel kinda bad that the rest of our group is missing out on this."

"Where is Atom and Murphy?" Clarke questions.

"I sent Murphy back." Bellamy says, his voice a bit hard when he faces Octavia. "This one got Atom going too."

Octavia shrugs but her smile is all too pleased. "Lincoln offered to travel with Nyko and a group of helpers and Atom is having this whole 'need to prove myself' thing going on so off he went, its' not on me that I'm so freaking irresistible."

"Don't toy with both an Arker's and Grounder's feelings, O." Clarke chastised, the relations between their groups are already at the Grounder's mercy, she doesn't need Octavia inciting some Shakespeare nonsense as well.

"Clarke, come on lay off." Octavia leans an over the table, hand cupped over her lips. "Look I'm sorry I had some tiny moment of wanting fun, I've already chosen so you can chill out."

Clarke covers her eyes with her hands. Doesn't Octavia get that no matter the choice at this point it's going to cause some kind of political conundrum? She wants to wring the girl out for her tactlessness but Octavia is looking so sincere that Clarke holds her tongue.

"I never answered Atom's chase, he's just super persistent." Octavia sits back, shoulders moving into a shrug. "I'm not into him like that."

"You don't need to be 'into' anyone," Bellamy says, intense and overprotective, "no one should be into you at all you're just a kid."

Octavia presses her lips together and gives her brother a 'are you fucking serious' sneer. "Lincoln can kick your ass Bell and yet every time you've come at him he's just stood his ground at your little shows; he's being more than reasonable."

Whatever the pair was going to go on about was cut short by the rhythmic banging of fists on the hall tables. With the entire place filled with people the noise generated is almost deafening. The Arkers routinely join in, probably having seen this occur over the days that Clarke was not present; she adds her sound into the cacophony filling the halls.

There's an abrupt cessation of movement as every single occupant turns their gaze to the throne; their intent obedience trained on the Alpha that commands them. Lexa stands with absolute confidence, certain in her place before her people. She holds one hand high up, a call for silence, her other is clenched around a bloodied mess of an organ Clarke can only surmise as the heart of the boar slain.

Her Alpha, the Heda takes first bite and pulls away with blood on her sharp incisors and feral smile. "Commence the feast."