Chapter 7

"Bellamy!" a voice called out, interrupting Clarke's thoughts.

Both she and Bellamy watched as Octavia emerged from the crowd. When Octavia saw Clarke, she gave her a wide smile, one that Clarke tried to match.

Apparently she did not succeed though, as Octavia frowned, then glanced curiously from Clarke to Bellamy and back again. If she sensed the tension between them, she said nothing of it.

Just then the crowd grew suddenly silent, almost as if a cloak had been laid across camp. All eyes turned to the front where Abby Griffin stood up on a raised platform. Kane was positioned slightly behind at her left side, and Jaha and the other Council members stood a few steps behind them.

The new Chancellor tilted her chin up slightly to project her voice, although it wasn't necessary. Everyone was holding their breath as they waited for Abby Griffin to announce their fate. "The Wood Clan has come to confirm the truce!"

With just that one sentence the entire crowd noticeably relaxed. People started speaking again, although quietly, as the sound of hushed whispers grew to a low buzz.

Abby continued. "This is a direct result of the sacrifice of Finn Collins. Let us give a moment of silence."

Everyone bowed their heads, although Clarke kept hers up. She saw her mother's eyes flick away when she spotted her daughter in the crowd. When they moved back to Clarke she could see how hard her mother was trying to keep them impassive.

Still, Clarke felt the weight of her mother's unwavering stare as she bowed her head to match the rest.

While everyone else silently thought of Finn, for the first time since his death Clarke did not.

With her eyes squinted tightly shut Clarke kept her mother's face in mind. She couldn't pin down what felt so wrong in that stare. It wasn't the impassive expression that bothered her; she was used to that from years of politics while up on the Ark. It was what she had seen in her mother's eyes before they flicked away. Clarke knew the emotion wasn't anger like she saw with Bellamy, or sadness like she saw with Raven.

No, what she saw when she peered into her mother's eyes was one void of recognition. Ever since the Ark had landed and Clarke had been reunited with Abby Griffin, her mother had been looking at Clarke as if she didn't even recognize her own daughter anymore.

And the feeling was mutual.

The thought made Clarke feel empty. Having lost her father, her mother had been the only family she had left.

They had both changed so much though. Clarke still couldn't reconcile the fact that her mother was responsible for her father's death. Abby Griffin was not who Clarke had thought she was. And after being sent to Earth to die, and being forced to do terrible things to survive, Clarke was no longer the little girl that her mother remembered.

Originally it seemed like it would just take time for them to become a family again, but as Clarke raised her head back up after the moment of silence, Clarke no longer saw her mother standing up there.

A mother was someone that comforted you and loved you unconditionally. They guided you to stand up for what you believe in, and were there for you through thick and thin. Abby Griffin had not done any of those things for a very long time.

All Clarke saw when she looked to the front of the crowd was the Chancellor. No more and no less.

They are so very close to having the meeting with the Grounders. The next chapter will probably start that portion of the story. I'm just reworking the way I want the events to unfold.

Random question: Who is everyone's favorite character? And what is your favorite "ship?" (either romantic or just friends). It won't be influencing who I pair up in my story, but I'm just curious!

Thank you to Miss Savvy xoxo for your awesome comments. They keep me thinking for sure. And to Dark-Supernatural-Angel for giving your honest opinion. I completely agree with you on Abby! Whether Clarke wants to admit it or not, her mother has a huge influence on her and I wanted to dig deeper into that this chapter.

Favorite, follow and don't forget to review to let me know what you think!