The temperature was dropping rapidly over the course of the day. Clarke was at her people's camp for most of it and Abner was still keeping an eye on the blonde from a distance. He watched as she helped fix up tents and build a large fire. By this time of the day, the sky people had the opportunity to go hunt and began skinning the animals.

Clarke was hovering over the flames of the fire, feeding it more wood to consume. Bellamy began walking down the path. The guards must have released him from holding when he became conscious. She began to stand up when she heard Octavia scream his name from behind her. The young girl took off towards her brother and they met with a hug. She checked his face and looked for any other cuts, bumps, or bruises. They eventually made their way over to Clarke who also met her friend with a hug.

She mumbled, "Bell…it's good to have you back."

He placed both hands on her shoulders, "Likewise princess. Although, I should have shot the commander when I had the chance."

Clarke didn't like hearing that. She gently took a step back and let his hands fall back to his sides.

Octavia now crossing her arms, "Big brother, I'm glad to have you back…but killing the commander wouldn't have solved anything."

"What would you know?"

She looked at Clarke and then back to him, "I know that we were outnumbered."

Bellamy rolled his eyes, "It only takes one bullet to kill a commander," Clarke scrunched her face and tried to act like she didn't hear it. Octavia caught on to the uneasy posture of her blonde friend. "Look I should get Abby to look at my jaw. Let's catch up later princess." He left.

Clarke squatted by the fire and began coaxing it higher with wood.

Octavia sat down next to her. "Want to tell me what's going on?"

The blonde was poking at the embers with a stick, "What do you mean?"

"I'm talking about two seconds ago. Clarke, you seem a bit distraught….Come to think of it, you've kept your distance from most of us all day long."

Clarke forcing out the words, "I'm here aren't I?"

Octavia clasped her hands together, "Sure you're here Clarke, but you're not really…here, if you know what I mean."

The sky princess positioned herself on the log Octavia was sitting on and let her eyes fixate on the fire, never letting it leave her sight. Her eyes welled up with tears but she never let them fall. "I'm sorry you feel that way."

Octavia wasn't sure what was wrong with her friend or what was running through her head, but Octavia urged Clarke to open up. She felt frustrated with her many attempts of conversing with Clarke all day, "I don't know what we did wrong, but don't you think you should at least talk to your mother? She just got you back…we just got you back! We searched for weeks to find some sort of sign of you…and here you are playing 'House' with our traitors!"

Clarke shot a glare at the girl next to her, "You think that's what I was doing? Having a good time and running away from my responsibilities?"

Octavia stood up now, "Couldn't fool me."

Kane walked in when words began to be exchanged, "Octavia! We said we wouldn't do this!"

She snapped at him, "No Kane! She's ignored the better part of our 'rescue group' who just so happen to be her friends and family. We risked our lives walking into Ton-DC for her and now she's going to shut us out from five feet away?!"

"Enough Octavia!" He tried his best to shut her up but it was too late.

Clarke too had now risen to her feet and the tears that she tried desperately to hold back were released. "No Kane….let her talk. That's all she seems to know how to do."

Octavia scoffed, "I asked you what's wrong!"

"But you don't really listen!" Tears poured out and she tried to make sense of her words, "I didn't want to be found okay?!" Abby now at the side of Kane. "I couldn't handle looking at all of you and not seeing the hundreds of people I massacred in Mount Weather."

Bellamy appeared, "You didn't act alone Clarke. We pulled that lever together."

She shook her head and wiped tears from falling, "It was my call." Abby's eyes now were filling up with tears as she listened to her daughter speak, "You think I don't miss you? You think I want to keep my distance? You're wrong. I want nothing more than to sit here and act like everything is normal, but the things I had to do to insure your safety…the guilt kills me every day. Want to know why?" Everyone waited for her answer, "Because I would never for second make any other choice or take back what I did. I know there was no other option except letting you all die, and for that I have no regrets. I'm just left to deal with dead on my conscience."

Nobody spoke for a while. They just let her words sink in.

Octavia softly, "Clarke, I—"

Clarke shook her head to stop her, "Its fine. Nobody knew what I was dealing with until now." Now taking a deep breath and wiping her face once more, "I think I need time alone, maybe a walk.."

Bellamy stepped forward, "Clarke it's going to be dark in an hour and the snow will be falling, that's just asking for trouble."

"I'll be fine. I spent three months on my own, I think I could manage. I won't be long." She turned and walked back down the path and headed for a road that leads higher into the mountains.

Bellamy turned to group, "We aren't just going to stand here and let her walk out into a snow storm?"

Abby muttered, "Let her go…" Kane looked surprised at the mother's request. "She's a big girl and I'm afraid we are going to have to be patient with her. We don't know what she's feeling." Abby began choking on her words and walked back into her tent.

XX

Abner ready to report back to the commander began running. He made haste because he knew what was happening. He might have been keeping an eye on the sky girl but he wasn't deaf. She was hurt and when people are hurt they make irrational decisions.

The snow would be coming soon and how much was unknown. Dark would also be upon them which brings out the most foul creatures. And lastly, Clarke was heading higher into the mountains. Unquestionably she made a poor decision.

The commander was sharpening her dagger when she heard Abner announcing his entry.

"Heda, the sky girl is headed for the mountains. She took the lower road passage and headed past the old stone wall."

Lexa stopped what she was doing, "What? Why would she go there at such a time?!"

"There was an argument and misunderstanding between her and the skaikru. She was crying and left not ten minutes ago. I ran here as quick as I could."

Lexa stood up and grabbed her sword, "That isn't the safest area at night fall."

"Would you like me to continue watching her?"

Lexa draped her war robe over her and began suiting up, "Thank you but I'll take it from here. If you could fetch a horse for me now.."

Abner confused, "A horse?"

Lexa nodded, "I would prefer to ride. I would make better timing. She can't be far."

Abner waited no longer and went to get a horse from the stable.

Truthfully, Lexa's leg was hurting. She knew she could make it most of the way up the mountain, but a horse would help some. Taking her night time medicine was out of the question because it would only make her lethargic.

XX

The commander's intentions were not to disturb Clarke, only to make sure she was safe. Because the blonde was not a few tents and huts over from the commander's tonight and most likely staying with her people, Lexa kept a watchful eye and worried. She worried about wild animals, outsiders, and even grounders that might have a vendetta out for the blonde.

The horse trotted swiftly down the lower passage road and began climbing passed the old stone wall, as Abner directed. The accent up the mountain began. The wind was now howling and Lexa had to use a scarf to cover areas of her face from windburn. The cold wasn't helping and neither was the dimming of light from above.

Clarke wasn't too far from the Commander. The rough terrain of the hillside made Clarke walk slower and question her footing. The blonde sat down for a few minutes to catch her breath. She felt that she was far enough from her friends and family, even though this distance was nothing compared to the last three months. She found a nearby tree to sit and lean her back against. Keeping her hands in her pockets for warmth and tucking half her head into her coat, she peered out at the scenery before her.

Clarke took note of the barren trees. The branches hung downward, acting as if they were depleted from the cold. All the leaves from fall covered the ground, waiting to be buried by the snow. The weeds that grew up on the edges of the paths were too drooping downwards. The ground was hard and lifeless.

The blonde in that moment knew what winter was. It was a time of turmoil and hardship. It made everybody work a little harder and grow a little stronger. It was a reassurance that the end was near, death. The death of all life surrounding. Everything stands decrepit until the warm sun of spring can return and replenish the land in beauty and harvest.

It made Clarke think of Mount Weather. All the leaves that lied before her reminded her of the bodies she saw after she pulled the lever. Winter was inevitable. Death was inevitable. The blonde wiped a tear that fell down her cheek. It gave her a chill and made her see how dark it was getting. She must have been sitting for at least a half hour.

She stood up, brushing off any dirt that lingered on her behind. When she stepped out into a more clear area, readying herself to a journey back down the hillside, she heard a voice.

"Sky girl."