The Waning and Waxing of the Moon

by munnarg

I recently discovered "The 100" and I'm hooked. I've watched Season 1 in full, but not Season 2. I love Octavia and Lincoln, but I'm intrigued by Luna - Lincoln's friend to the East. So this is "Linctavia" fan fiction, delving into Luna's story, with new characters and short chapters which are best read in sequence. Thanks for all the views and comments. Enjoy! xo

16. Chapter 16 - Labor Pains

Labour Pains

Luna was on her all fours; Octavia placed by one shoulder and Anka at her rear, murmuring words of encouragement in the Grounder language. Tobias kept a watchful eye on them from the door. His knife was in his right hand, Octavia noticed. But why? Three members of the tribe were keeping watch outside, should The Commander or his group try anything reckless. There was no need for weapons in here. Before Octavia could ponder Tobias' intentions further, another contraction hit Luna. She bit down on the piece of leather in her mouth, straining to push. The room was saturated with varying tastes and smells - sweat, steam, herbs, blood – and things were accelerating faster than Octavia could handle. Where were Abby and Finn? Where was Lincoln? What could be keeping them? Surely The Commander would listen to reason.

Luna spat out the strap and a shriek emanated from her lungs, echoing around the small space and out into the air. Tobias took a step forward, but stopped as Luna looked him in the eye. The contraction subsided and she wordlessly shook her head at him – no.

What the hell is going on? Octavia wondered. In the back of her mind, she heard Anka say something. Looking at the healer, a diminutive yet daunting woman, Octavia asked her to repeat her last words.

"Hulo," was the reply. Then she said it again in English, "head."

Already? Swallowing hard, Octavia helped Luna steady herself for the final push. Then Abby and Finn burst into the hut. Seeing the urgency of the situation, Abby immediately began washing her hands in a nearby bowl, speaking hurriedly with Anka in the Grounder tongue.

Finn dropped to Octavia's side and spoke sharply: "You need to go to Lincoln." Octavia sensed direness in his words. Finn's eyes were ablaze. "He has challenged The Commander. It means a fight to the death."

"Go to him," it was Luna's panting request. Delirious with pain, she rocked back and forth on her hands and knees. To Tobias: "Stay with me."

Octavia made her way to the door, heart pounding. Finn tried to follow. "No," Octavia put a firm hand on Finn's chest. "Watch him." Seeing the blade in Tobias' hand, Finn acquiesced.

Sprinting, Octavia raced towards the flames.