Clarke sat on her throne and watched as the last of her advisors entered her tent. Clearing her throat, she felt the weight of the attention focusing on her exclusively. "My second Ontari will be responsible for leading the extermination of the ripa." Focusing on the surprised looking Ontari, she continued. "Prepare a plan for our forces."

Ontari's face was tight with nerves, not that Clarke thought the others in the tent recognized them. Her friend stepped up to the map table. "Anya, what are the latest reports?"

Anya easily fell into place next to Ontari. "My scouts have been forced to remain exclusively in the trees. The woods are infested with ripas. With the number of ripas killed by the Skai children and the numbers they have out now in the woods, I think almost their entire force must be out there. They are unorganized and seem reluctant to move into our territory. They are too disorganized to get an accurate account of their numbers. There are at least two hundred of them though it could be more than that."

Nodding, Ontari stared at the map, clearly gathering her thoughts. "Tristan, how many deaths would you expect us to accrue if we strike with the standard tree bait formation?"

The arrogant man frowned, crossing his arms. "A few dozen, nothing that would threaten our dominance as a fighting force."

"We would be spread thin if we are to use the trees to drop down on the ripa." Anya cautioned. "It would leave the border unprotected."

"And if the ripa realize that they may well move to attack the villages." Ontari grimaced in displeasure at the possible outcome. "How many archers do we have between our forces?"

Tristan moved the pieces of paper representing his forces. "All of my men are skilled with the bow."

Anya pushed the pieces representing her units around on the board. "My warriors are all capable of using the bow but I have only perhaps forty I would call truly skilled."

Gripping the edge of the table, Ontari spoke. "If we were to shoot them from the trees, would we face the same losses?" She looked over to Tristan.

"No, but it is the coward's way. My men are warriors, picking off the animals from the safety of a tree will take hours and gives them no honor."

"You place honor above your men's lives?" Anya asked, her voice low and threatening.

Tristan squared himself across from her. "If you wish for your men to shoot fish in a barrel, then that is your right. Still, my men need the combat training and they won't often have the chance against so easy a foe. If we are to do this, let it be as warriors."

Ontari snapped before the two could devolve into an argument. "Enough." She didn't notice Clarke's mouth quirking at her imitation of her. "What we are seeking is the most effective method of killing the ripa not gaining combat experience for your warriors. Other than your pride, do you have any valid arguments against picking them off with archers?"

"The ripa are monsters and beasts." Tristan began. "Still, even they will eventually realize what is happening and retreat. With no ground force to lure them into staying, they will have no reason to remain and be picked off by our archers."

Anya nodded in agreement. "That is true. If we wish to kill as many as possible, we need to strike quickly and keep them focused on us."

The three fell into a contemplative silence before they began to bring up various changes to the establish methods for dealing with ripa. Clarke felt pride as she watched Ontari leading them as they picked apart each change and suggestion, trying to come up with the best plan. This was a test her second must pass before she could be given her marks as a warrior in full. After all, as a nightblood and as her second, Ontari would be given a band of warriors to command immediately upon receiving her marks. Fortunately, all the suggestions were workable and she had faith in Ontari's ability to forge the two ideas into a combination that best allowed for both the ripa to be killed and their warriors to survive. The ripas despite their strength were an easy foe because like animals they only followed their instincts. Turning her attention away from the discussion of the culling she noted her guard were listening intently.

Leaning her head onto her hand, she watched in amusement as Jod and Ryder seemed to be having a silent conversation with minute facial tics. By their line of sight and how their eyes traveled, she was sure the two guards behind her were involved in their own conversation. It peaked her curiosity and she began to follow what she could of their gestures. Ah, she followed a side glance from Ryder to Jod's second Lexa.

The second was staring at the map clearly thinking. Clarke could practically see battle plans being constructed in the girl's head. It hadn't taken long to realize that Lexa was a treasure trove of knowledge on strategic theory. She knew the histories of many wars and knew the strategies that many great warriors had used. However, she did not have the experience to know how to properly use these strategies and adapt them to the circumstances. Clarke was eager to see what kind of warrior she became after she had been tempered by experience. The girl might have an interesting perspective to add to their planning. Still, Ontari was in charge and she would not interfere.

Returning her attention to the war table, she kept Lexa in her peripheral vision. Ontari was moving pieces representing warriors about the map. "What if we use our archers to encircle the ripa? They would be stuck with any attempt to run leading them to more archers."

"They would easily be capable of breaking a line drawn that thin." Anya pointed out reasonably. "If we do that, there is no guarantee that when the line breaks they won't head toward on of the villages."

Tristan pushed a piece to the side. "We could drop down in a standard formation and use archers to pick off any ripa who approach."

"That would take too long." Anya argued. "The chance of ripa escaping increases if we do that."

"Our forces dropping down would keep their attention and lure them in while allowing us to pick them off and hold a strong line." Tristan disagreed while narrowing his eyes.

"To the ripa that are in that region sure." Anya said pointing to land area. "But the territory we're dealing with is far larger than we could cover with that method in a single day. Not unless we lure them into a mass which would overwhelm us."

Ontari ran a hand through her hair in frustration. Looking up, her body seemed to lock as her eyes snapped to a single figure. "You, what do you think?"

Clarke had to resist a snort of amusement at how Lexa snapped her heels together in surprise, falling back into her warrior training from the Skai.

Tristan scoffed. "What does a Skai child second have to say that could possibly be of value?"

Turning on him, Ontari glared. "Wisdom is knowing that an outside perspective can open new possibilities." She returned her attention to Lexa, completely missing Clarke's slightly startled expression at hearing her own words quoted. Instead, Ontari was focusing on the stiff second. "What is your opinion? Or are you without value?"

"The problem with your plans is that you require two thirds of your forces to guard the villages during the culling leaving the forces culling the ripa outnumbered three to one at a minimum." Lexa said carefully. "Your attacks from the trees and using archers leave your men spread and easily overwhelmed if the ripa gather in too large of a group."

Tristan crossed his arms leaning back. "So, you can recite the problems we face, what a dazzling insight from this new perspective."

Lexa spoke up before anyone could reprimand or agree with Tristan. "Would a ground force draw the required attention by the ripa to prevent them fleeing?"

Anya laughed. "Yes, but fighting a ripa on the open ground is folly. They are stronger than regular men and can easily overwhelm such a force on foot." She turned away from the guard. "Though perhaps runners to draw the beast's attention?"

Boldly, Lexa stepped forward. "There are ways to fight a stronger and larger force on foot. For instance, the shield wall was one of the greatest military tactics for hundreds of years thanks to the Romans."

"Shield wall?" Anya asked frowning in confusion. "It would take many shields to build a wall of any sort."

Lexa shook her head. "Not the small round shields your warriors use. Large shields nearly the size of a grown man. Some armies inscribed into their shields that they should either return carrying their shield or be carried back upon it. When locked together, two rows of men can create a near impenetrable wall. In the small gaps, short swords or daggers are thrust into the enemies. If you have an enemy that will charge without thought, crushing vast numbers is possible with such a strategy."

Clarke felt her eyes widen slightly. It was brilliant, it would destroy utterly the opposition in a land battle. She could easily adapt that to take down several of the clans that favored open warfare if need be. However, in the close wooded area, without the required equipment she could tell it was impractical. Yet… it offered an interesting solution to how they could both draw the ripa's attention and protect their forces.

Ontari seemed equally interested in the possibilities. "We don't possess shields of that description and making them would take far too long. Is there an alternative?"

Lexa seemed to contemplate her answer before replying. "In later years, a similar practice was used to stop charging horses. Long spears with crossguards. A small group could create a circle or line or oval that killed any who approached."

"A boar hunt." Tristan said suddenly, a cruel grin took over his face.

"Not quite, but the concept is similar enough." Anya said rapping her finger against the hilt of the sword at her waist. "More clustered, the archers would need to be prepared to prevent our force from being flanked."

Ontari pointed to a dip in the map. "We could array our forces here. The sides of the ravine would funnel the ripa into the waiting spears naturally. Archers in the woods here and a small detachment of say ten warriors to watch the back in case any try to flee. Then we could use runners to draw in the beasts."

"We'll have cleaned up the entire region in a few hours." Anya nodded pleased. "This will work."

Clearing her throat, Ontari stepped back, clasping her hands behind her back. "Anya see to the outer defenses of the village and prepare the runners, your warriors will be more familiar with the woods in this region. Tristan go prepare your men for the implementation of this spear wall."

Both Tristan and Anya nodded, though Anya shot Ontari a look of approval before they both left the tent. Clarke stood and approached Ontari, who looked like some of the air had been let out of her. "Well done second."

Ontari puffed slightly. "Do you believe this will work?"

She raised a brow. "This is your command, it does not matter what I think. Or do you wish to turn down this assignment?"

"No," Ontari shook her head. "I just wish for your advice if you are willing to give it."

Clarke reached out and squeezed Ontari's arm. "I would not have told you that you had done well if I had not meant it."

Ontari seemed to breathe easier. "Will you be joining the warriors in the spear formation?"

"Of course," Clarke noted the surprise on Lexa's face out of the corner of her eye. Ignoring it for now, she kept her attention on her friend. "I have yet to not lead a force from the front when I was capable of it."

-TLGTLGLTLGTLGTLGTLGTLGTLGTLGTLG-

Lexa held the handle of her sword as she stood behind the line of spear bearing warriors as she stood high on the sides of the slope of the small ravine. She and most of Heda's guard stood behind the formation ready to protect the rear. There were several seconds up in the trees with bows ready to help thin the enemy and protect their flanks. She felt the nervous tension that came before a battle running up and down her spine. It struck her that she now knew what the anticipation before a storm felt like, truly and to her bone.

"You ready princess?" Bellamy asked from beside her where he was gripping an ax and bouncing on the balls of his feet.

She glanced at where Clarke stood with a spear shoulder to shoulder with the rangers. Jordis and Ryder within range to protect her if needed. "As ready as I can be. You?"

He made a tense huff. "I don't think you're ever ready for something like this." Rolling his shoulders, he seemed to settle. "Still, these Trikru mean business. I get the feeling this battle isn't going to be like the ones we've been in since getting to the ground."

Lexa noted the tense but calm air of the camp. No, she didn't think this would be anything like their desperate fighting at the drop-ship. "First runner." She said, suddenly seeing the movement as a warrior stripped of most armor and weapons came sprinting out of the bushes.

A second warrior dropped out of a tree in front of the spear line, a rope attached to his waist as he held his arms out to the runner. Breaking out behind the runner dozens of ripas came crashing through the underbrush. The runner practically leapt into the arms of the second warrior, who was hauled up by rope the moment he had a grip on the runner. The ripas paused as their prey was hauled out of sight before they caught sight of the small army in front of them. Lexa held her breath as a cry of animal rage erupted from several abused throats, before they came charging for the line of spears. She felt a moment of victory as none of them bothered to so much as attempt to get away. No, they came crashing into the spear wall. It was horrifying.

The ripas practically impaled themselves onto the spears. There was a great rush of noise, full of grunts and the wet thuds of bodies being skewered. In seconds, it was done, the last of the ripas dead. Lexa watched in frozen horror as the dead were shoved off the ends of spears before the warriors fell back into their line.

Before she could really appreciate the military order and effectiveness, another runner came running towards the lines. She felt her breath get caught in her throat. The ripas were closer to this runner's heels. He was clearly gasping for breath, red faced with visible streams of sweat running down his face. Ontari from the front lines roared out orders. "Archers!"

There was the soft thump as a dozen arrows came flying from the trees taking out the fastest ripas. Even as their bodies were falling like broken dolls the same warrior from the trees dropped back down grabbing the runner. The two of them flew back up into the foliage, their toes just missing the jumping of the ripas. Then, just as they had the first time, the creatures saw the line and charged.

Again and again, runners came flying over the ground before being hauled to the safety of the trees. It was on the eighth runner that things changed. Just as the eighth runner came into sight, the ninth runner a female second came crashing through beside him. The two of them looked ready to fall over from the distance they had clearly been sprinting. There was no way they were both going to be hauled up to the tree-tops in time. Lexa moved realizing that whichever runner didn't get grabbed by the dropping warrior would crash upon spears that couldn't be lowered without risking the ripas breaking the line.

She sheathed her sword and scrambled up the rest of the way to the banks of the small ravine. Running full tilt along the edge, she passed the spear line. As she moved she unsheathed her sword before digging it roughly into the ground and swinging herself over the edge hanging on only by her grip on the hilt of her blade. Raising her voice, she caught the attention of the male runner. "HERE!"

He veered for her and away from where the warrior was dropping down and grabbing the female runner. Lexa grit her teeth while digging her feet into the nearly sheer edge of the ravine, bracing for what was about to happen. The runner's eyes were wide with fear as he jumped for her at full speed. She caught his sweaty hand latching on as he did the same. Then, gravity violently snapped them down. A sharp cry of pain escaped her lips as Lexa felt her shoulder straining against their combined weight. Grinding her teeth down she held on desperately.

The runner used her body to climb up and to safety. It was a mess of bruising grips and knees to the gut before he managed to heave himself to safety. The moment his feet hit the top of the bank, he was grabbing at her shoulders and hauling her up as well. Dirt fell away as they toppled onto the ground and above the reach of the ripa.

Lexa panted the taste of dirt in her mouth a reminder that this was real. She leaned her forehead against the dirt and thanked gods and spirits she didn't believe in that it had worked. Picking herself up, she yanked her sword straight up and out of the ground. It was mostly already out of the ground having been pulled nearly out by the force of holding both her and the runner. She shivered at the realization they'd been seconds from her grip failing her.

The runner was spread eagle just gasping in great heaving breaths while staring at the forest canopy above him. He looked over towards her. "Chof." His heaving barely let him get it out eventually.

Lexa looked behind them and down to where the ripas were being slaughtered to make sure none had tried to follow them up the side. She felt oddly calm as she saw the snarling face of one scrabbling up the side of the ravine. Froth was coming from the side of its mouth. She stood calmly watching till it was nearly to the top. The second it's hand hit the edge though, she moved, stabbing downwards and just missing the jut of the creature's chin. With a swing, she brought her sword back up sharply, severing its throat in a spray of blood. It fell back dead before it hit the ground.

Whipping her sword to the side and letting the blood splatter hit the ground, she sheathed it and offered her hand to the nearly passed out runner. "Pro."

He accepted the hand up and together they made their way back past the spear line. She watched him slide down behind the spears. Clearly his legs were practically jelly from the running. As she dropped back to her assigned position, she saw Jod staring at her with a serious face. Lexa tilted her head up refusing to regret saving the man's life.

Jod nodded at her. "Well done."

She smiled wanly and returned her attention to where yet another runner was coming towards them.

By the time the sun was high in the sky, it was done. Lexa's nose was clogged with the smell of blood, her feet wet with the stuff. The last of the runners had come in at last. Only four ripas were on his heels. Lexa grimaced as she watched Jod approach her, blood splattered across his face. He stopped before her and crossed his arms. "You did well today."

Lexa nodded not sure how to feel pride in what little she'd done.

He patted her shoulder. "Sometimes in battle you don't fight but that does not make your post nor the execution of that post any less important." Jod looked around ravine of dead with warriors ripping their spears and arrows out of the corpses. "Today, you guarded their backs, and a man returns to his home because of you. Tomorrow, you may be the one to stand before the charge of humanity while they guard your back. For now, there is much still to be done."

Lexa nodded, thinking back to the drop ship, how they had dealt with the bodies and scavenged from the remains. Then, thinking of what guards were required to do on the Ark after an action, doing such things as settling paperwork and transferring prisoners. "What do I need to do?"

"Go, carts for moving the dead will arrive. Help the other seconds and volunteers get the bodies moved to the village." He gave her shoulder another pat before turning and falling in with Ryder and Jordis at Heda's back.

Lexa made her way down to the bottom of the ravine and felt the blood making the ground churned mud. She came to a stop besides Wells and Costia. Giving them a slight acknowledgement, she remained standing in silence with them till the carts began to arrive. Once the cart's wheels, now stained red and brown from blood and dirt, came to a stop, she stepped to the nearest body. She dropped down, grabbing it under the armpits while Wells silently grabbed the feet. It was heavy and awkward work that she was unfortunately familiar with since coming to the ground. Heaving, they got the body up and onto the cart. Turning, Lexa stared at the piles of bodies and suddenly felt overwhelmed.

"Not a single casualty." Wells said in an awed sort of tone.

Turning, she looked at the awed face of her best friend. "What?"

"Not a single one." He looked at her wide eyes. "None of the dead are Trirku. There are easily over two hundred dead in this ravine and not a single one isn't a ripa."

Lexa felt her own eyes widen as she took in the dead and shuffled through her memories. He was right, none of the fallen were theirs. She hadn't seen a single Trikru fall. Nor did she see any bodies without the white paint marking them as ripas. Swallowing thickly, she began to walk forward to the next body. By the time they had twenty bodies loaded into their cart, Lexa was panting. She'd tied her guard jacket around her waist. Still, sweat was running down her back, leaving her shirt sticking to her. Her boots were being sucked into the mud with every step.

Hooking her arms under another bodies armpits, she strained lifting the formerly massive ripa. Looking across to the bodies feet, she saw Costia lifting them. As they moved the corpse, Lexa spoke through her heavy breathing. "Is a… victory like… this… unusual?"

Costia shook her head and replied much more easily clearly, she was more accustomed to heavy labor than any of the arkers. "No, Heda is a great leader. This is hardly a battle worth mentioning." Looking around, Costia continued. "The rangers are just her fastest moving force, they rarely are taken to deal with more than small border incidents with bandits."

"What types of victories has she won?" Wells asked from where he had been regaining his breath by the cart.

Costia and Lexa heaved the corpse onto the growing pile in the back of the cart. Costia stared at the cart before stepping back. "This cart is done. Come on, sit before the next one arrives."

The three of them made their way up to side of the ridge where the ground wasn't soaked in blood and sat down watching other teams moving bodies into other karts. Their full cart was taken away slowly over-burdened by heavy bodies. Costia spoke while watching the organized chaos. "Heda Clarke became Heda after Heda Erik died of an infected arrow wound. Her first major decision was to build an alliance with Azgeda, our greatest enemies."

Lexa and Wells remained silent while Costia spoke, clearly remembering the days after Clarke's ascension. "One of the Trikru generals marched on Polis to overthrow Heda for daring to suggest such a thing. Heda Clarke sent out her rangers to draw a line and openly charge the incoming army on horseback. She and her select guard flanked them. The warriors in the trees were trapped. The survivors of the army were executed to the last man. The general who'd led the force believed Heda Clarke to be a foolish child, that the spirit had chosen wrong. Thus, he attacked her without thought and was destroyed."

"Lincoln said she was fourteen when she became Heda?" Wells asked quietly, sounding horrified and fascinated.

Costia nodded. "Yes, few believed she would become Heda."

Lexa frowned as she realized she had no idea how the Trikru chose their leaders other than that a position could be challenged for by those beneath them. "How is the Commander chosen?"

Costia stared at her in surprise before sounding nearly reverent as she replied. "When a child is found who bleeds black instead of red, they are taken to Polis. They are the natblida, or nightbloods. Only a nightblood may be chosen by the spirit of Heda. When a Commander dies, conclave is called. All nightbloods over the age of ten summers are brought to conclave. None but flamekeeper and the nightbloods may enter. Only one nightblood may leave. When Heda Erik died, he had only ruled for seven years leaving the eldest nightblood only seventeen summers old. Clarke was the youngest and the smallest of the nightbloods in her conclave. No one knows how she did it, but she was chosen by the spirit and survived the night."

"A battle to the death?" Lexa asked horrified. The memory of the drawing of the children in the forest she'd seen on Clarke's desk popped into her head. "Are the nightbloods raised as a family?"

Costia gave an affirmative hum. "Yes, they grow and learn together till they are apprenticed to renowned warriors. Only one of each class of nightbloods may live on as Heda. However, Clarke...she pardoned Luna who was a nightblood from her class who fled their conclave. Ontari too was pardoned. She should have been given to Polis as a child but was raised in Azgeda to usurp the throne but Clarke pardoned her as well."

Clearing his throat, Wells brought the subject back to battles. "What has been her greatest victory?"

Costia frowned thinking. "The siege of Hasse. Broadleaf did not wish to join the coalition so long as Azgeda had the ear of Heda. Heda Clarke knew that a long drawn out battle across the clan's land would be to her detriment. We had the greatest army, but the swamps of that clan are treacherous and many would have died. Thus, she decided to march on their capital and force their surrender with their leader as her prisoner. Her forces were spotted a league out from the border and by the time they reached Hasse the gates had been closed."

"How did they win?" Wells asked, clearly fascinated.

"Heda Clarke sent in twelve of Azegeda's best assassins. They managed to scale the wall while she drew their attention to her forces by feinting an attack. Once inside, they lit the thatch roofing on fire. The civilians and warriors alike were forced to flee. The army was waiting for them though. The battle that occurred with the last hold outs inside the city lasted six days and six nights before they were killed. Still, Broadleaf fell and with them the last resistance to the coalition."

Looking down at the death in the ravine, Lexa spoke. "In comparison to the armies she controls, how large of a force is this?"

"This would be the scouts of a formal army." Costia said pride discernibly running through her. "Clarke is the greatest Heda to ever live." She turned to them and smiled. "I am glad you are our allies. You proved today that you can be valuable members of our army." With that, she slid down and headed for where Ontari was coordinating the warriors.

Lexa felt her knuckles whiten as she gripped the hilt of her sword. "If the ark doesn't bow they'll be slaughtered." She whispered.

"Even with guns…" Wells spoke lowly.

She made a choked sound. "The ark's guards are glorified police. They haven't fought an opponent that has more than a lead pipe as a weapon in over a hundred years."

"The ark won't negotiate… not with a leader who is that young. Certainly not if they think them savages." Wells sounded shaky as he spoke.

Lexa bit her lip. "If they see a show of force first?"

"The ark leadership has not had to negotiate since the thirteenth station and look how that ended." Wells said bitterly.

"They're all going to die if they don't bow. The guard can't fight this. Not if they don't have time to learn the ground first." Lexa stated. "Even then."

"Do you believe they'll listen to us if we tell them not to begin a war they have no chance of winning?" Wells asked.

"No," Lexa closed her eyes, "but we have to try."

Wells' voice shook. "Lexa, if they fight, what will happen to us?"

"I don't know." She said weakly. She really didn't.

"Do you think the Commander will kill us if the ark fights?" He asked frankly.

Lexa considered what she knew of Clarke. "I think she'll do what is best for her people. If we haven't become her people by the time the ark lands, I don't know."

Wells sucked in a breath. "Then we make sure we're their people."

"How?" Lexa raised her hands, gesturing the field below. "Clarke was right to call us children. What do we offer them Wells?"

He grimaced. "We need to find something or we may be the ones in carts next."

"I know, but what?! I can't think of anything more we can offer. Not without more training, more time, more everything." She felt her shoulders shaking with how quickly she was breathing.

Wells leaned into her. "We ask the others, we make sure everyone is doing their part. We've made it this far."

Lexa laughed bitterly. "Let's hope our luck doesn't run out then." She spotted an empty cart being returned to the ravine and stood up again. "For now, we have bodies to move."

-TLGTLGTLGTLGTLGTLGTLGTLGTLGTLG-

As she was leaning back and letting her back crack back into place after moving several more bodies, she heard a scuffle. Turning, she saw Miller glaring at a massive Trikru warrior. The man had to be a foot taller than Miller, with broad shoulders and a large face. He was sneering down at Miller. Lexa frowned and started forward to prevent a fight breaking out if she could. It was the last thing they needed. Approaching, she could hear their voices.

Miller was tense, before the voices became clear though the warrior suddenly moved, striking Miller across the face with a heavy fist. Lexa started sprinting. Miller raised his arms to defend himself but he took three more brutal hits before Lexa reached them. Instincts born of guard training kicked in and she acted quickly. She may be lagging in archery, brute strength, and most weapons, but she didn't need those things to take down a man twice her size.

Lexa twisted, taking his front leg out from under him. Grabbing the man's jacket, she rocked with his weight and then hauled. Using his own weight against him, she threw him to the ground face first. Before he could recover at all, she had twisted his arm back behind him brutally while pinning him to the ground with her knee. Her other hand had drawn a knife and had it to his throat before he could attempt to fight further. Looking up, she checked that Miller was alright. He was still standing, though his face was already swelling from the first hit. It was then she realized that the low pitch of warriors moving and talking around them had died down suddenly.

"What is going on?" The deadly calm voice of Clarke echoed from behind her.

Lexa turned to take in the calm but threatening form of Clarke approaching at a walk. "This warrior attacked a second." She knew calling Miller by name wouldn't help her case.

"Release him." Clarke ordered.

Gritting her teeth, Lexa did as she'd been ordered. She gave him a slight shove as she stood, forcing his face into the mud. Once on her feet, she fell into attention while letting her eyes flicker over Miller again to make sure she hadn't missed an injury.

Clarke spoke while staring down at the warrior who was picking himself up from the mud. "Tell me Borkul, why have you attacked a comrade?"

The now filthy man looked like he wanted the earth to swallow him from this situation. "Didn't want the new recruit getting cocky Heda."

"So, you struck him outside of a sparring pit?" She asked, her voice still just as even, just as calm. "Tell me the truth this time or I'll have your tongue."

The warrior Borkul shuddered at the reprimand. "He was disrespectful of the fallen." He grit his teeth. "Asked if we were going to bury the bodies of the dead."

Clarke's brow rose and Lexa realized there was something going on here she was missing. Still, she held her tongue as Clarke spoke again. "There is no excuse for a warrior striking a second outside of training. I'll decide your punishment later, till then you are stripped of all duties that would take you outside of the village. Is that understood?"

"Sha, Heda." He bowed his head before practically tripping over himself to get away from the situation.

Lexa stepped to Miller's side and touched his bruising gently trying to assess the damage. She was interrupted by Clarke's voice, it was raised and meant to be heard by the onlookers. "The ripa may be beasts and savages now, but they were made that way. Once they were my warriors and they deserve to have their spirits freed, not trapped in the ground. However, that does not mean that we treat with disrespect those who do not understand our ways. You do not punish children for being ignorant you teach them."

Turning, Lexa nodded and addressed the crowd. "Our ancestors buried our dead. He did not mean to disrespect their souls." She gripped Miller tightly, praying he wouldn't say anything to disagree with her.

Clarke looked at her and Miller before speaking again. "We burn the dead to free their spirits so that they may move on to the next life. To bury the dead is to trap their spirits so that they may never be born again." With that she moved away apparently finished with her impromptu lesson.

Breathing out, Lexa turned back to Miller. "Come on, let's get you to Wells so he can take a look at you. It seems we have some work cut out for us. We need to become grounders fast or we're all in danger."