Going Back

Clarke was sitting in the communal eating area, but the food in front of her as just being pushed around her plate. Checker was bouncing next to her, she barely registered his un-restfulness. The gang was chatting casually about something or another, but Clarke wasn't listening.

Timms leaned over to her and whispered 'what's wrong, my dear?'

'Is it the food? Do you not want it? Do you not like pie?' Checker practically jumped onto her, his face almost pressed onto hers 'Coz, like, if pie isn't your thing. I could – I could – I could take it off your handsss' before he had finished, Clarke gave him her plate with a muffled laugh.

'It's alright Check, I'm not that hungry.' Checker however was lost to the world, with his extra portion of pie locked in his grasp.

'Don't be an ass Chicky! Share it!' Leahla was on her knees, leaning over to the free portion. Her nails like claws, scraping at Checker's hands. The bouncing joker leaped onto his feet and ran backwards away from the group, stuffing the whole pie into his tiny mouth with a wicked grin.

'That stupid! Idiotic! Pathetic! GUH!' Leahla scrambled after him, pushing people out of her way as Checker danced around the crowd.

'Anyway' Timms started, shifting away from the excitement. 'What's troubling you?'

Clarke was watching the two adults, acting like children. 'I'm leaving.'

Timms nodded and held his hands. 'I wish you luck on your path.' Clarke wanted to give him a hug, but pride stopped her. She stood up and made her way to Khalen's tent. As much as she would miss the others, she knew it would be better to just leave then make a big deal about it. But Khalen, Khalen would be different. She couldn't just leave her salvation, without at least letting her know that she gave Clarke all the help she needed.

The tent's door was flapping in the wind. She grabbed hold of the entrance and tried to shut it behind her. Khalen was lounging on her fur bed, watching as her girlfriend sullenly fiddled with the ropes. She stood up, and took the reins from Clarke and tied the tent easily. She took hold of Clarke's hands and kissed her upturned palm.

'You're leaving.' It wasn't a question. It was a statement. All Clarke could do was stare. A ball of fear suffocated her throat. Tears were tugging in her eyes. 'Let me go with you?' Khalen wiped away a tear, and cupped Clarke's check in a hand.

Clarke turned away, wiped her own tears from her face and coughed back her sobs 'You can't do that. They won't let you back.'

A sad smile spread across Khalen's face. Those words were what she needed to hear. She was only temporary to her Clarke. 'They will. Chief loves me like I was his own. I was born here.' She was talking to Clarke's back, but she saw her shoulders untighten. Slowly she creeped behind her. She dared to hug Clarke, and lay a comforting kiss on her exposed shoulder. 'Let me make sure you are safe.'

Clarke turned around and dug her face into Khalen's neck. 'I didn't want to leave you K. But I have to go home!' She pressed her own kiss against Khalen's neck. Slowly she leaned back and let their noses touch. 'Only do this if you're sure.' She whispered watching Khalen's lips.

'I'm sure.' Khalen breathed, before pressing herself against Clarke. Their lips moved in sync with each other, both desperately trying to get more of the other. Somehow they made it over to Khalen's bed. Their hands grabbing. Their tongues tasting. Clarke felt her heart pulsing, and not just in her chest.

The next day they had both packed everything they needed and the Chief had some food for them on their travels.

They left before sun up, so not to make a fuss. But Timms was waiting to give them both a hug.

With a sweet kiss, they left the safety of the moving camp and made their way back to the Sky People.

Lexa was marching at an alarming pace. The mud was hard on their boots. The horses, the forest and the worriers created a smoggy heat. But nothing slowed them down. Indra was quiet beside her, silently watching her commander. This new mission was to make amends with the Skaikru. They had eradicated the Trikru's most fearsome enemy and now they had to wave a flag of truce. But the marching, and the energy firing off of Lexa made Indra think that maybe this was about something else. Or someone else.

Lexa's face was marked with the paint of a warrior. Indra suggested that they wear no make-up in the hope of showing peace, but Lexa dismissed her idea. Lexa needed her mask. To hide her anger, to hide her fear, to hide her shame.

She didn't know what she was going to do when she saw the Skaikru. But she knew what her mission was. It was to make an alliance with the Sky People. Nothing else mattered. No one else mattered. She wasn't there for any other reason. And she was determined to remember that.

With the cover of darkness in the woods, the small band of warriors marched their way back to the Sky People.