Thanks for all the reviews, follows, and faves! Enjoy! :)
Chapter 10
Clarke packed what little clothing she and Bryce possessed into a sack before slinging it over her shoulder. She bundled the little boy up in one of the extra blankets before making her way outside.
Dark clouds hung low in the sky, and the wind was bitingly cold. She feared that they would see their first snow before the day was up.
"Come on, sweetheart", she said as she tugged Bryce into her arms.
He wrapped his little arms around her neck, burying his face against her shoulder to shield himself from the cold. Clarke began to walk towards the gate, spotting Bellamy standing just outside the camp walls.
He didn't speak to her, just started walking. She was surprised when no one followed, but then again it wasn't like she had a plethora of belongings to move. The clothes on her back and the little boy in her arms were all she had.
As the path stretched before her in an endless line, Clarke's steps began to falter. Bryce was becoming heavy, but it was too cold for him to walk. So, she readjusted her hold and carried on.
She watched as Bellamy looked back, and then he was there taking the little boy into his arms. He still said nothing, simply took off again. Finally she could take it no longer.
"It looks like we might see some snow", she said trying desperately to end the silence between them.
"Looks like it", Bellamy answered stiffly.
"I'm sorry, Bell, about what I said the other day. It was harsh and unfeeling and I should never have said it."
Clarke nearly ran into him when he came to a sudden stop, turning slowly to face her, Bryce asleep in his arms.
"Did you mean it", he asked quietly.
"I think we both know the answer to that question", Clarke said tiredly.
"Maybe, but I need to hear you say it."
"You will always be worth it, Bellamy. I'm the one who's not this time. I can't drag you down with me."
She watched as he tilted his head back, his dark eyes roving over the clouded sky above them. Then his gaze traveled back down to settle on her face.
"Clarke, I'm not going to force you to love me. All I'm asking is that you stop shoving me away. If not for your sake, then at least do it for Bryce. He doesn't understand what's happening between us, and he shouldn't be caught in the middle of our disagreement."
The blonde nodded, her eyes never leaving his face.
"Truce", she asked hesitantly.
"Truce", Bellamy confirmed.
They began to walk again, this time in comfortable silence. Clarke knew that lashing out at him, and trying to push him away was wrong. Bellamy was not a man to be forced into doing anything, and she should have known better than to try.
Bellamy, on the other hand, was thinking that he was a certifiable genius. His plan had worked! He'd decided last night that coming with Clarke alone was the only option. He could have brought a whole team to see them safely there, but he'd decided against it.
It had been torture to walk in silence listening to her trudge along behind him. He'd known she had to be getting tired when she began to lag behind. He'd made a snap decision taking Bryce from her arms and then continuing on his way.
His tactics hadn't been in vain because now he knew that she cared. Heck, she'd practically admitted she loved him. This was progress, and he would keep hammering those walls with his charm and understanding until they crumbled.
He stopped when they made it to the clearing, the two cabins standing in the distance. His was only partially finished because he'd been to preoccupied with getting Clarke's house done that he'd neglected his own.
Bellamy led the way to the little structure, opening the door for Clarke to enter first. He watched her as she took in the meager furnishings, furniture he and Wick had slaved over.
There was a table with benches for meals, a bed in each bedroom, and the rocking chair he'd made her sat idle near the stone fireplace. She spun round, her eyes alight with an emotion he hadn't seen in a while.
"It's magnificent, Bellamy", she said with a smile.
"I'm glad you like it."
He stepped around her, moving into the smaller of the two bedrooms and depositing Bryce on his bed. He made sure he was wrapped snug in the blanket, and then went back out to join Clarke.
Bellamy found her sitting in the rocking chair, her hands caressing the wooden arm rests as the chair swayed back and forth. A soft smile curved her lips, and he thought she looked at peace for the first time since she'd come back.
"You made this, didn't you", Clarke asked as she looked up at the dark haired man.
At his nod her smile widened. She couldn't believe all the work he'd put into this place. Sure, the floor was no more than packed dirt and the furnishings were minimal, but it was her home and he'd given it to her.
"Thank you, Bell. For all of the time and hard work you put into this", she said as she rose from her seat.
Clarke noticed the faint blush that darkened his cheeks, but she didn't point it out.
"I need to get the fire started", Bellamy said as he made his way to the door.
He made his way to the door, stepping out into the frigid cold. The temperature had dropped since they'd arrived, and the wind had picked up. He went to the wood pile that was stacked against the cabin, getting an armful and then making his way back inside.
"Storm's moving in", he said as he knelt before the hearth.
"Should we head back? We only brought enough supplies to last for a few days."
"We would never make it. I'm going to go see if I can't scare us up a deer. Then when I get back I haul water back from the stream. Stay inside until I come back", he said seriously.
Bellamy watched her nod, and then turned to leave. He pulled the collar of his coat up around his neck, shivering against the cold. As he began his hunt, he hoped that he made it back before the storm descended.
Clarke sighed as the door shut quietly behind Bellamy. She wished that she could go with him, but she had to stay here with Bryce. Why they'd decided to move on a day like this was beyond her.
She moved back to the fire, warming her hands as she watched the flames lick and devour the logs. She turned when she heard a small voice, turning to find Bryce standing in the doorway of his room.
"Momma, are we there yet", he asked sleepily.
"Yes, sweetheart", she answered as she took him in her arms.
Clarke once again sat down in the rocker, letting the gentle movement of the chair ease her troubled thoughts. Bryce settled against her, his little hand moving to her hair as he rubbed the silky strands between his fingers.
"Where's Bewamy?"
"He went hunting, but he'll be back soon", Clarke assured.
"Is he going to live with us", the little boy asked groggily.
"No, remember Bellamy's got his own house."
"But I want him to live with us", Bryce pouted.
"Bellamy needs his own space, Bryce", Clarke said firmly.
The little boy sat up, looking at her accusingly. His small features were etched in an adorable scowl and his brown eyes swirled with indignation.
"Bewamy needs to live with us. I don't want him to be lonely."
Clarke sighed, there was no reasoning with the little boy when he was like this. She knew from experience.
"We'll see, but I'm not making any promises. Now sit quietly so Momma can hear."
Clarke listened for any sound above the howling of the wind. She'd just turned her gaze back to the warm hearth when she heard it. A pain filled scream echoed in the stillness.
"Bellamy", Clarke whispered.
She turned to the little boy in her arms, not knowing what to do. Bellamy might not have the time it would take for her to drag Bryce along on her search for him. So, she made a tough call.
"Bryce, listen to me", Clarke said sternly, "I think Bellamy is in trouble. I need you to stay here in this house. If anyone comes in, you hide in your room and don't come out for any reason. Do you understand?"
She watched as the little boy nodded his understanding, and then she set him down.
"I'll be back, ok. There's nothing to worry about. Just stay inside until I come back."
Clarke grabbed an extra blanket and some of the medical supplies and stuffed them into her pack. She ran out into the cold, big white flakes already littering the ground.
She ran through the forest, not daring to call out for fear that Bellamy wasn't the only person out there. She stopped when she heard the scream again, trying to decipher where it'd come from.
Finally the sound grew louder, telling her that she was drawing closer. She stopped at the edge of a small clearing, spying Bellamy in the middle. A large black cat was mauling him.
"No", she whispered, and quickly turned into a scream.
The panther turned its head, the glowing yellow eyes landing on her. She rushed forward, pistol in hand. She fired three shots, watching as the animal's body recoiled as the bullets tore through its flesh.
The big cat fell on its side, the body twitching and then going still. Clarke ran to Bellamy, quickly cataloguing his injuries. Bite marks and scratches littered his torso and arms, some deep, but thankfully most were superficial.
"Bell", she said, taking his face in her hands, "Bell, can you hear me? Where all are you hurt?"
The man at her fingertips groaned in pain. "My leg", he rasped.
Clarke looked down to find the limb mangled and lying at on odd angle. Her mind raced with what she had to do, and she dreaded the task ahead.
"You're leg's broken. I'll need to set it if there's any hope of you walking again. First I need to get two large sticks to use as braces so after I'm finished the bone will heal properly."
"Do what you have to, Princess", Bellamy said, his eyes shut tight against the pain.
She began her frantic search for the sticks, finally finding two that were about the same length and thickness. She hurried back to him, laying down her braces and then stopping to think of how she would secure them.
Clarke looked down at her shirt, knowing that the cloth would be the best way to bind the braces to Bellamy's leg. She quickly shucked her jacket, turned away from him, and pulled the shirt over her head. She replaced her jacket, and zipped it up before once again kneeling beside him.
"I'm sorry", she whispered before moving to take his foot in her hands.
She gave a hard jerk, her ears ringing with Bellamy's tortured scream.
"I'm sorry, Bell, but you can't pass out. You've got to stay with me", she begged.
She straightened the bone, ensuring that everything was lined up properly before securing the braces to either side of his leg. She tossed what was left of her tattered shirt into her pack, and then reached down to help Bellamy to his feet.
"Lean heavily on me", Clarke told him, "Don't put any weight on that leg or we'll both go down."
The only thing she got from him was a grunt, and then they were off. It was slow going, snow blowing all around them. It was beginning to pile up, drifts forming against rocky ledges.
Clarke had never been so happy to see anything as she was to see the little cabin, smoke curling from the chimney to kiss the sky. She opened the door, Bryce's terrified face the first thing she saw.
"It's alright", she assured him as she helped Bellamy to her room.
It was the first time she was seeing the bedroom that would be hers. The bed was huge, nearly taking up one whole wall. She helped him to sit on the side, pulling his shirt over his head in one fell swoop.
"This is not how I saw this day going", Bellamy joked with a wince.
Clarke ignored his sad attempt at humor, and then began to work on his pants. She grabbed a pair of scissors from her medical kit, cutting away the fabric until both legs were removed and his pants now resembled shorts.
"Gee thanks, Princess", Bellamy grumbled.
"Please tell me these weren't your last pair", she said quickly.
"No, I've got more in my pack."
"Good", Clarke breathed.
She threw his tattered clothing into the corner and then covered him with a blanket.
"I need to get water to wash all those cuts and scrapes. Don't move", she ordered.
"Clarke it's…"
"It's fine, Bell. I'm not going far."
She heard him mumble, but couldn't understand what he'd said. She smiled at Bryce on her way out, noticing that he hadn't left the rocking chair. Good boy, she thought to herself.
She trudged through the snow to the stream. She broke through the thin layer of ice, and drew two buckets of water before making her way back to the house.
Clarke rummaged around the house until she found a kettle of sorts and began to heat a small portion of the water. She checked on Bellamy, finding him exactly where she'd left him.
Soon the little kettle squealed, and she poured the steaming water into a basin. She took it back to the bedroom, sitting it on the bedside table before grabbing a bottle of the moonshine.
She gave Bellamy a swig first, and then poured some on a cloth and washed all of his cuts and gashes. He hissed as she ran the rag over his torso catching some of the deeper wounds.
After she was done she dipped her rag in the water and then proceeded to wash the dirt and mud from his skin. When she was satisfied that he was clean, she covered him with the blanket.
Clarke sat with him until he fell asleep and then she paced back into the living area, knowing she should go and get the panther. She couldn't let the meat go to waste.
"Bryce", she called softly, "Momma has to leave again. I want you to sit with Bellamy, ok. Be very quiet and don't wake him."
"Yes, Momma", the little boy replied.
"Good boy", Clarke said kissing his forehead.
She walked back out into the cold, the snow now above her ankles. It made walking difficult and slow, but her boys needed to eat. She finally found the panther; its blood staining the white fluff with crimson.
She dropped the buckets she'd brought with her and began to skin the animal. She removed all of the organs, and then began to cut the meat up into chunks and stuffing it into the buckets.
After she'd gotten all the meat she could salvage, she grabbed the black hide slinging it over her shoulder. It would make a good blanket or even a rug. She grabbed the buckets and began the long trek back to the cabin.
When Clarke made it back, she wrapped the meat in the hide and then covered it in snow. She rinsed her buckets at the stream, washing the blood from her hands as well.
She left the metal containers by the door, and then entered the warm cabin. Her clothes were wet, as was her hair, from the falling snow. She crept into her bedroom finding Bellamy awake and staring at her.
"How could you be so stupid", he asked hotly.
"Excuse me", she retorted.
"You could've gotten yourself killed", Bellamy replied, his eyes giving away his torment.
Clarke deflated at his hurt tone, and the fear that lurked in his brown eyes. She hung her head, an apology on her lips.
"I'm sorry, but we need to eat. We don't know when we'll have another chance at game, so I took the one we had."
"Just don't take anymore risks, Princess", Bellamy said as he closed his eyes.
Bryce was curled against his side, his brown eyes wide as he listened to their exchange. She bent forward, placing a tender kiss on his forehead.
"It's ok, buddy. He's just worried."
She watched as the little boy nodded, and then made her way from the room. She found a skillet and cooked some of the meat. They ate in silence, Bryce scrunching his nose at the gamey taste of the panther.
When they were finished, Clarke cleaned up the mess and then put Bryce to bed. It had been a long day and the little boy was worn out. She tucked the blanket around him, and then kissed his cheeks.
"Goodnight, sweetheart", she whispered.
"Night, Momma", the little boy answered sleepily.
She left him, quietly going to her room next door. She went about gathering blankets and a pillow before making herself a pallet on the floor. She was just getting ready to lay down when Bellamy's voice sounded behind her.
"There's room."
Clarke turned to stare at him.
"What", she asked in confusion.
"There's room up here for you too. I promise to be the perfect gentleman", Bellamy said, his voice quiet and slightly slurred.
Clarke thought about it for a moment, and then gave in. It would be nice to sleep on a real mattress for once.
"Fine, but if I thrash around too much wake me up. We can't risk further injury to the leg."
"Alright, you start hogging the bed I'll let you know. Now get in", he said holding the covers aloft for her to crawl under.
Clarke lay down beneath the orange blanket, the heat from Bellamy's body seeping into her cold limbs. She laid still, her eyes glued to the ceiling. She soon began to drift, the day's events catching up with her.
She fell asleep to the even sound of Bellamy's breathing, wishing this wasn't just a one-time occurrence.
Thanks for reading! Please review and tell me what you thought! :)
Wright: Thanks for the review! I totally agree with you 100%, Lexa's influence on Clarke was absolutely terrible! I also agree with you that Lexa should be blamed for the bombing of Tondc, and what happened at Mt. Weather! That isn't the last we'll see of Fox's dad. He'll rear his ugly head later too! Clarke is going to realize the mistake she's made in pushing Bellamy away, but we all know the Princess and if she's one thing it's stubborn! Wise owl Lincoln is going to be back with more great advice later! Poor Bryce, bless his heart! We'll get him that happy family though, never fear! Mel is a dreadful little leech, and we're not done with her either!
