Chapter 23

Author's note: thanks once again for all the follows, favorites, and reviews! Sorry for not updating yesterday, I was with my boyfriend and I had a bit of writer's block as was evidenced by my last, shitty chapter that was complete filler. Today's should be better.

All humor drained from both her face and Bellamy's. He detached himself from her, leaning forward to speak with Clarke in low tones as to not worry the drunken teens stumbling about. "I'm leaving to go talk to them," she argued upon seeing the disbelieving scorn on both their faces. "Because you figure impaling people with spears is code for 'let's be friends?'" Clarke glanced at Ari as she spoke, opening her mouth to respond. "Have you lost your damn mind?" It was Bellamy who responded, causing both girls to look at him though his eyes were locked on Clarke.

"I figure it's worth a shot. I mean, we do have to live with these people," Clarke said, shaking her head in defiance. "They'll probably gut you, string you up as bait," Ari reminded her, shaking her own head. "That's why I'm here," Clarke told her. The blonde turned to face Bellamy. "I want you to follow us."

Bellamy raised his eyebrows in surprise, "Does Finn know about this?" "Finn doesn't have to know," she interjected, tilting her chin up a fraction. "And Bellamy? Bring guns," Clarke told him as she stood, leaving the two to glance at each other before mutually moving away to gather their gear.

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"At least they're good for something," Bellamy muttered to Ari as they squatted, staring down at the hallucinogenic nuts. "Hey, sorry about bringing up Clarke earlier. That was awkward," Jasper told Raven as he once more brought up the blond girl. "Shut up," Raven sighed in exasperation. "Both of you shut up and keep your eyes open," Ari told them as she got to her feet and hurried on, following the trail left by the Ark's princess.

It was daylight by the time they reached the bridge, hiding in the foliage silently. Octavia was the first to appear, pacing nervously in the middle of the bridge. That must be how they set it up. Clarke and Finn appeared shortly after her, exchanging words they couldn't hear. Finally came the grounder that had stabbed Ari.

"What's Octavia doing here?" She felt a stab of sympathy towards her friend who had been so infatuated with the youngest Blake. Tavi was currently running down the bridge towards Lincoln before launching herself into his arms. She glanced upwards to see the displeased clench of Bellamy's jaw. "Oh," Jasper sighed. "I guess we know how he got away," Raven chimed in sarcastically with a smirk.

The couple on the bridge pulled back, Lincoln glaring at Clarke over the shorter woman's head. Clarke edged back nervously and Ari shifted her rifle, ready to shoot if he advanced on her. Seeing her nervous retreat, Finn reached out to grab her hand. Raven's jaw was the one who clenched now as she watched the interaction with envy brewing in her eyes.

Bellamy cocked his gun in readiness, raising it as Ari herself had done. Raven placed a hand on Ari's shoulder, causing her to flinch away unexpectedly. The move wasn't noticed by any except Bellamy who shifted closer to her, glancing down to check that she was okay. "Wait," Raven chirped, "Look!" The sounds of whinnying and hoof beats became noticeable as they watched eagerly.

"Oh my god, horses," breathed Ari as she watched the magnificent creatures trot onto the bridge, grounders atop them. Two were black, the third being chestnut in color. Ari soon got over her wonder at the beautiful creatures, focusing more on the meeting between the people they carried.

The people on the bridge were talking as Clarke rushed forward to say something to Lincoln. The blonde nodded at Finn, both starting forward to meet the grounders but being stopped by Lincoln who shook his head. Clarke released Finn's hand as he shook his head, her nodding and smiling in reassurance before starting out towards the grounders, this time alone.

The woman dismounted her steed, patting its neck affectionately as she passed. The two met in the middle, serious looks on their face as Clarke's group milled about anxiously. Words were exchanged, Clarke extending her hand only to be rebuffed by the colder, exotic woman. The two appeared to be arguing, scorn on the grounder's face as she raised her brows in surprise. Clarke nodded every now and again, a regretful look on her face.

The two were still arguing when Raven remarked, "Grounder princess looks pissed." Ari snorted softly, "Yeah, our princess has that effect." "Oh no. Oh no, this is bad," Jasper hissed as he shifted, peering through his rifle scope. "What is?" Ari glanced through her own in the same general direction, spotting the mud smeared grounders who were armed with bows hidden amongst the pine needles. "They have grounders in the trees," she muttered to him.

"What?" "Where?" "I don't see anything." Both Ari and Jasper ignored the cries of their friends as they watched the grounders in the trees, catching the signals they made as one particular archer pulled back and aimed right at Clarke. "They're gonna shoot!" "Run, Clarke!" Both cried out at the same time, rushing forward to shoot the assassins in the trees.

Chaos ensued. Grounders fell from the trees as Jasper and Ari shot them down, the woman reaching for a knife to stab Clarke only to be shot in the arm by Bellamy. Lincoln rushing to shield Octavia as he tried to usher her off the bridge. Finn and Clarke both trying to get the other down as arrows rained down on them. Raven firing for the other horsemen at the end of the bridge.

The others began to rush away, Lincoln taking an arrow in his attempts to protect Tavi. Ari was the only to notice the man aim an arrow straight for Raven who had stopped to stare up at Clarke and Finn with tears in her eyes. She pushed the other woman aside, jerking as she felt the white hot pain of being stabbed by something sharp for the second time in her life. "Go, go," she cried as she pushed Raven on, instinctively breaking off the end of the arrow. Her adrenaline was high, allowing her to push away the pain and keep running.

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They stopped outside the camp walls, all leaning over to brace themselves on their knees as they panted. They had been on the move all day, only reaching camp now that it was dark. Ari was the one who noticed Finn glaring at the whole group causing her to snap in her usual sarcastic way. "Take a picture, it'll last longer." Bellamy took notice next, "Got something to say?"

Arguments immediately up roared after his question. "Yeah, I told you no guns," he gestured angrily to Clarke. "And I told you we couldn't trust the grounders! I was right," she pointed out. "And why didn't you tell me what you were up to?" Raven had rounded on him, causing him to turn on her just as easily. "I tried to but you were too busy making bullets for your guns!" "Hey, you're lucky she brought that," Bellamy exclaimed, "They came there to kill you Finn!" "You don't know that! Ari and Jasper fired the first shot," he yelled back just as angrily. "You ruined everything," Tavi spat before hurrying towards camp.

"Enough," it was their five foot friend who shouted out the single word that caused them all to stop arguing and for Tavi to turn back. "You," she rounded on Finn, "are too trusting and almost got Clarke stabbed." She moved on to Raven, "You have some issues you need to work out with puppy dog and Blondie over here." She moved to Tavi, "You need to get your head out of Lincoln's ass with your little self immersed romance and realize that they would have killed us." "This is what would have happened to all of you had we not come," she gestured to the half arrow protruding from her shoulder.

They all stood in stunned silence, knowing she was right but not wanting to act on it. Bellamy's eyes were locked on her shoulder as he pursed his lips angrily. The others stormed from the clearing, rushing into camp as they muttered angrily. Ari, Clarke, and Bellamy were the only ones left as they stood there in silence. "As said: best Unity Day ever," Ari sighed, making both companions chuckle.

Ari turned and peered upwards upon hearing the low rumble, both friends following her example. "The Exodus ship? Your mom's a day early," Bellamy muttered to Clarke. Dread flowed through the small girl making her sway as she realized one terrifying fact: her father would soon encroach upon her peace. Clarke smiled excitedly as she realized her mother would be joining her but it soon dropped from her face in confusion.

"Wait. Too fast. No parachute, something's wrong," she said lowly, still watching the ever present ship grow larger and not slow down at all. "They're going to crash," Ari whispered right as they smashed into a hill in the distance, a cloud of fire and smoke rising up. Clarke's face dropped as she gaped at the sight, tears flowing down her cheeks. It was she who swayed then before crashing to her knees in despair.