Hey everyone!

Sorry for the longer wait, I've been very busy lately.

I'd like to thank my four reviewers, SydneyRaine, Guest, Jacob Denness, and 12.

Also, I'm sorry for incorrectly spelling anything in the Grounder's tongue, I'm trying my best.

Anyways, here's the next chapter. Enjoy!


Chapter 9:

The Grounder towered above the clear window, waiting patiently for the foriegner to open the door. After an hour without success, the Grounder suddenly disappeared, and Clarke breathed out a sigh of relief.

Forsaking all logic, she immediately jumped out of the shuttle and looking around, breathing in the crisp, snowy air. She reached in the ship and grabbed her pack, pulling out the knife she had brought. Smiling, Clarke took in her snowy surroundings before she remembered the situation. As if the thought summoned the Grounder, he reappeared, this time with a friend.

They started towards her, spears in hand, and she tightened her grip on the knife. Knowing she couldn't fight both of them, she waited until they were a couple yards away before throwing the knife and sprinting in the opposite direction.

Hearing one of them grunt in pain, Clarke glanced over her shoulder and was rewarded with the sight of a spear hurtling straight towards her. She attempted to dodge it, but failed, and it slid into her shoulder with a sick thud.

Clarke stumbled and fell, the weapon painfully twisting into her arm. She stayed on the ground, and the world began to spin as blood poured out of the wound. Between the blood loss, and the potential poisoning of the blade, the edges of her vision went dark and the last thing she saw was the face of a Grounder with white and red paint splattered on his face.

Stark white light greeted Clarke as she opened her eyes, and she squinted, adjusting to the brightness. Looking around, she realized she was in a clearing, and it was the warm sunlight shining down upon her. She immediately glanced towards her shoulder, the source of her most recent pain, and found nothing but a faded pink scar.

All around her, trees towered above her, leaves seeming to reach the bright blue sky. A cool breeze brushed through her hair, and she spotted a river nearby, light sparkling on the small waves.

Turning around, she spotted a pathway snaking through the forest, and she began to follow it, unsure of what was pulling her in that direction. All around her, there were brightly colored leaves, changing with the weather and falling out of the sky. A small rabbit ran across the trail, seemingly untouched by radiation.

After walking for what felt like hours, the path ended, and Clarke was greeted by a makeshift wall. She called out, hoping someone would hear her and open the door. She tried again without success, and decided to go back to the river. Before she got very far, she saw a few people coming straight towards the gate, various animals over their shoulders.

"Open the gate!" A familiar, deep voice called out, and the walls began to open.

Clarke tilted her head in confusion before deciding to follow. "Bellamy!" She called out, smiling when she saw his face. He didn't respond, instead almost bumping into her with the boar slung over his shoulder.

She frowned, jogging after him to keep up. She watched as he threw the boar in a small shack before heading towards his tent, waving people away when they came up to him. Once he reached his tent, Clarke fiercely embraced him, grinning.

He froze, eyes widening.

"I've missed you." She said softly, leaning into his shoulder. When he didn't respond, Clarke pulled away. "Bellamy?" She watched as he shook his head and walked away, climbing onto his makeshift bed and laying there, staring at the top of his tent.

With a pang, Clarke realized he couldn't hear her. She sighed and walked over to him, kissing his cheek lightly. "May we meet again." She murmured before walking out.

She looked around, simply watching the camp around her for a few moments before she felt a jolt run through her body. Refusing the acknowledge it, she tried to run towards Bellamy's tent, when she found she couldn't move. Gazing around one last time, she was pulled from the dream.

The same Grounder who had speared her in the shoulder was now reapplying a poultice to the wound. She blinked a few times, desperately trying to hold on to her dream. She hissed in pain as he tied a bandage around her shoulder.

Glancing at her, the Grounder stood up. "You're awake. I'll go get the queen." He muttered in Trigedasleng, walking away.

Clarke tried to stand, only to be held back by the rope bindings. She fell back with a sigh, thinking back to her dream and hoping it was true. Suddenly feeling an urge to draw, she was reminded of her back, and that's when another Grounder came in, flanked by two warriors. He dismissed them with a flick of his hand, and entered the tent alone.

"I'm Roan, prince of Azgeda." He introduced himself in his native language, unaware that she spoke English. "And you are?"

"Ai laik Klark kom Skaikru." She responded, hoping she was right in her pronunciation.

"Tell me about Skaikru." He commanded, sitting down on a chair.

She started to explain her situation, this time in English. "We lived in the sky, in space, on a ship we call the Ark. The Ark is dying, so the Council sent one hundred people to the ground. I wanted to come as well, but they refused to let me, so I prepared a separate ship and came down to the ground as well. I landed in your territory, and wish to just get back to my people."

Roan nodded, and opened his mouth to speak. Before he got the chance to say anything however, the Ice Queen herself came in, flanked by a few warriors.

"Roan, you may leave now." She said calmly, glancing at her new prisoner.

Roan responded, and they began to argue in words that Clarke couldn't understand. Finally, they fell silent, and the Ice Queen began to speak. Once she finished, Roan translated for her.

"First of all, I am the only one who speaks your language because at least one member of each tribe was required to learn. The Queen says that she wishes to keep you prisoner."

Clarke opened her mouth to argue, but closed it at his sharp, warning glare.

"She says that you are a valuable bargaining chip to use with your people. In eight days, there is meeting in Polis to discuss a treaty with Skaikru. I'm assuming there will be an ambassador from your camp. Trades can be made with that person to determine your ransom. If the ambassador refuses to make a deal a week after the meeting, then the Queen will dispose of you." Roan finished, shaking his head ever so slightly.

The Queen spoke again, and Roan translated the last sentence. "She says that we'll see how much you are really worth to your people."

With that, the Grounders all left, except for Roan. "May I have my pack back? And my wrists untied? I know your have two armed guards outside of this tent, so I wouldn't be able to escape."

He simply nodded, and disappeared. After a few hours, he reappeared, handing Clarke her bag. He quickly untied her bindings and left without another word, unable to hear her whispered thanks.

Clarke took the bag and quickly opened it, searching through the contents. All of the food was removed, as well as the spare weapons and clothes, but there were two things left. Clarke sighed with relief and pulled them out, smiling slightly at the pack of newly sharpened pencils and the small, leather bound journal.

She opened it and gazed at the dropship, then at each of her friends. She saw Octavia with Lincoln, she saw Murphy being held hostage, she saw Monty, Jasper, Raven, Wells, and Finn. She saw the Grounders, and even saw Lexa. But she was careful at first to skip over the last few pages that contained her art, unable to rest her eyes upon them.

But after a few days of sitting, her book opened up to a familiar face with tousled black hair, dark brown eyes, olive skin, and a rare smile. And this almost caused her to burst into tears.

But instead, in a typical Clarke fashion, she devised a plan. A plan to escape and get back to all of her friends, especially her closest, and to be happy with her people.


So, that's Chapter 9, hope you enjoyed. Please review!

Also, I'd like to point out that all grammatical and spelling errors are my own.

The only help I have on this story is from SydneyRaine, who I bounce my ideas off of and who helps me so much.

Anyways, Happy Holidays everyone!