Dividing Lines
Disclaimer: I don't own any of this.
Finn put the loose sheet of metal back in its place as silently as he could, keeping an eye out for the Ark guards as he did so. He slid out from behind the back of a drop ship and strolled as casually as he could through the camp, looking for Abby Griffin.
He did not have to keep up the aura of calm, however, because the camp was in chaos. People were gathered in the main open area while Diana was standing on top of a platform, trying to get their attention. Finn didn't have to ask anyone why they were panicking; clearly, he was not the only one who noticed that Clarke was missing. He spotted Abby in the crowd, looking anxious with Kane beside her. He pushed through people to get to them and Abby's eyes grew when she saw him.
"Finn, have you seen Clarke? She went out with a hunting group this morning and they've haven't been able to find her!"
Finn sighed, looking between the two adults before trying to explain. "I saw her; she's in the 100 camp."
Bewilderment hit both their faces so Finn continued on. "I thought she'd been kidnapped but when I caught up with her a few hours ago, she said that she came willingly. I think they needed her to heal someone."
"But she's ok?" Abby asked and Finn shrugged. "She seems fine. I even gave her a way out but she didn't take it. She said that it would simpler if they escorted her back instead of seeing an Ark camper. Clarke should be back by tomorrow."
Abby let out a sigh of relief but Kane looked concerned.
"What does this mean for the camps?" he asked, "This is the first connection between them in two years."
Finn bit his tongue. They didn't need to know about his secret exits; he just wanted Clarke to get back soon to sort all of this out. Then they could go back to the way things were. If he had wanted anything to do with the 100 Camp, he would still be there. But that meant putting up with Bellamy Blake's rules and Raven's glares so he was here, at the Ark Camp. Where Clarke was supposed to be.
"Someone better tell Diana," Abby muttered, "I think she's about to declare war on every Grounder out there for a girl she doesn't even like."
"As if we could fight Grounders," Kane replied but made his way over to the Chancellor.
Finn watched as Kane whispered to Diana, the older woman's eyes getting wider and wider. Finn thought it was almost comical if he didn't see the opportunity in them as well. Diana straightened up and a guard shot into the air for silence. It was given and Diana's voice went out across the crowd. She explained where Clarke was, explained why she was there but there was a distinct hint of distain in her voice when she talked about the other camp. She was making it clear that there would be no mixing between them after this.
But as Finn looked around, he could already see people whispering, the children excited. New stories were already being told about Clarke leaving camp to save a wounded warrior. Maybe she had even met Bellamy Blake. Finn wanted to snort; Blake wasn't all that great. The stories gave him too much credit. But, he couldn't help admit, they did the same for him.
Finn sighed and went towards his section. He just needed Clarke back at camp as soon as possible. He didn't want to have to make another journey there. Someone bumped into him and Finn looked down to see one of the orphans. What was his name-Chris? He was defiantly the one that Clarke took a shine to.
"Finn?" Chris asked quietly and he crouched down to the child's height.
"Yah, what's wrong?"
Chris chewed his lip for a moment but then asked, "Clarke will be back tomorrow right?"
Finn nodded, giving him a smile. "Of course, Clarke is just helping someone, ok?"
Chris nodded and hurried off to the other children. Finn waiting until he saw him in his own section before turning around. He could do with a few hours sleep.
Bellamy had always been an early riser. From when Octavia was a baby and woke him up at first light to leading camp in the morning hunts, he had never been one to lie in. This morning was no different and Bellamy was up and dressed just as the fire was being re-lit for breakfast.
He stuck his head into his sister's room and saw her awake, talking to a bleary-eyed Jasper. She looked up when she saw the door open and gave her brother a wide smile.
"Hey Bell," she greeted, "How do I look?"
Her hair was scraped back into a bun and she still had torn clothes on but there was colour in her face instead of the pale tinge from before.
"Not bad for a girl who got shot," he replied and patted Jasper on the shoulder. "You look like hell though."
Jasper chuckled, his voice raspy. "Well Raven's coming to switch in a few minutes to let me nap. Monty says he kept some dinner from yesterday as well."
Bellamy nodded but then spoke to his sister. "I'll get the Princess to come in and check on you before we send her back."
"She's already been here this morning."
Bellamy looked confused and Octavia nodded. "Yah, she was up before you were and changed my bandages and everything. She is really nice and showed Jasper how to do it. Then she headed out to find Monty."
"What would she want him for?" Bellamy wondered but the other two just shrugged. He kissed his sister's forehead before he left; telling her to rest and then Bellamy strode from the house.
Who knows where the Princess could have gotten to on her own? He'd have to get Miller and Monroe to search everywhere and he wanted to get her back by the evening.
While she may have thought he didn't care about retaliation, that didn't mean that he wanted to deal with a pissed off Ark Camp. It was going to get colder in a few weeks and he did not have the time nor the patience.
His jaw clenched when he was reminded of her outburst yesterday. He should have known that she had suffered on landing day; he was just too worried about Octavia to even pay attention.
Bellamy stepped out onto the porch and looked around the camp for Miller. Instead, he caught sight of the Clarke herself, the sun making her blonde hair stand out. She was standing by the Main Hall, in front of a number of people. She had a torch and was shining it in a child's eyes, making him follow the light. Monty stood beside her, holding a bag of the medicinal tools that had been in the drop ship.
Clarke clicked off the torch and let the boy step back.
"Ok," she said, "They do look a little irritated but it's nothing to worry about. Just make sure he washes them with clean water every hour."
She had been talking to the boy's mother who nodded and led her son away by the hand. The others, who had apparently been checked out too, left as well. Clarke turned to Monty and spoke in lower tones so Bellamy walked off his porch in their direction.
"...so if you ground it up into a tea, it should really help."
Monty was nodding, writing all of this down in a book while balancing the bag.
"Early morning Princess?" Bellamy called and Clarke whirled around. His step faulted slightly when he saw her jacket properly. It was 100 Camp made, even down to the patches on the shoulders and elbows.
She followed his eye line and then back up. "It was a gift," she said hesitantly, "for saving your sister...I can give it back."
He didn't know if she was nervous about wearing the jacket or taking something for helping Octavia. But he shook his head and replied, "No, you should have it. Your other one looked like a rag."
Clarke scowled but zipped up the jacket anyway.
"What are you doing up so early?" he asked, standing beside her with one foot up on the bottom step.
Clarke pointed at Monty, who still scribbling in the book. "I've been helping anyone with a medical problem and Monty's been learning. There's nothing wrong with wanting to help out before I leave, is there?"
Bellamy shook his head, amazed at her composure. She had walked into a strange camp and just wanted to help people.
"Anything I need to know about?" he asked, "Sickness-wise?"
Clarke mulled over her thoughts but shook her head. "Some of the children were complaining of sore eyes but that could just be a small virus. I do however need to reset some bones. Apparently, when you were building this camp a few people broke some and they were left to heal on their own. It'll be painful but better I do it now than they get complications later."
"Sounds good," Bellamy replied, "All the better if Monty writes it down too. But we're leaving in an hour Princess, so I'd get to it."
Clarke looked surprised for a moment so Bellamy added, "We're going on a hunt so we'll escort you back while we're at it."
"Oh, are you hunting animals?" she asked.
A smile twitched across his face and Bellamy said, "What, there are animals here?"
Clarke gave him and his sarcasm a scathing look and Bellamy chuckled. "Yes, specifically a boar that's been seen around the river. Have you ever even seen one of those?"
She shook her head and not for the first time, Bellamy was thrown by the Ark Camp's isolation. They had been locked up in space, why did they want to do the same down here on Earth? He had only been in Clarke's presence for less than a day and even he could see that she wanted out. She wanted to see Earth and he saw it as a crime to keep that behind metal walls. But she belonged with other camp and therefore, wasn't his problem. Still, he kind of thought it his own thank you gift to bring her on the hunting trip. That way, she could see more before being shut away again. Not that he was going to tell her that.
"Just be by the fire at noon Princess and you'll be back at Ark Camp in no time."
Bellamy could swear that he saw some regret flash through her eyes but Clarke turned on her heel and strode away, Monty trailing behind her.
When the gates closed, Clarke couldn't help but feel a stab to her gut. She had slept one night in the 100 Camp but felt at a loss when she had to leave. Some children, their parents and even Wick waved her goodbye and the woman who gave her the jacket handed her some extra berries for the trip. There was a kindness to the camp that tore and ripped its way through the hardships and the unhappiness of the 100's first days in order to survive. But it wasn't her camp so she almost reluctantly walked away from it.
Clarke followed Bellamy, Miller and a few others, armed with spears and guns. They would walk to the river, watching for the boar but no matter if they found it or not, when they reached the water it was time for Clarke to go. So she savoured every touch of bark, every sight of a bird, every crunch of a leaf beneath her foot. She was so busy that she didn't noticed Bellamy walking by her side. He must have been watching her for a while because when she caught sight of him, he had an amused grin on his face.
"Sorry," she blurted out, thinking that she was slowing them down.
"It's alright," Bellamy replied, "Sometime I forget how people can react. The day we landed, I saw some teenagers sticking their faces into the mud."
Clarke actually laughed, surprised at him. He wasn't at all what she had expected. Bellamy was harsh, that was for sure and he could command a room easily. But there was something else about him. He was actually human. He wasn't just a story made up to tell children before bed or to inspire adults to keep fighting. Bellamy was a person with habits and thoughts and feelings, even though he clearly did his best to hide them.
"But if you keep looking around like a dazed zombie, it'll be next year before you get back to your super special camp Princess."
All good feelings she for him were suddenly lifted, replaced by irritation. That was one thing she defiantly knew about him: he had a talent for annoying her.
"How often do you go hunting?" she asked, gazing around at the forest for any movement.
"Usually every morning but we always keep a strong supply in the smoke house. That way, when winter comes we'll have stores."
Clarke nodded but now her mind drifted back to her own camp. She had responsibilities there, including looking after Chris and the other orphans. Knowing Chris, he would give his jacket away, steal rations for hungry kids and get into trouble. Plus, she needed to go back to her Mom...and Finn. She was surprised at how much it bothered her to see him in camp last night. He was always doing reckless things, without much thought of how it would affect others in the long term.
Clarke sighed and was already thinking of the damage control she would have to do when she returned to the Ark Camp. She was so caught up in her own thoughts that she didn't notice the others freeze and stare ahead. When she went to take another step forward, Bellamy's hand shot out and grabbed her shoulder.
She was jolted back to reality, gasping slightly. The warmth from his hand seeped through her jacket, with his thumb resting against the skin of her collar bone. He didn't seem to notice because he was focused on the boar grazing a few meters ahead. Clarke stared at the huge creature, with black fur and large tusks.
Bellamy took his hand off her shoulder and motioned to the others with some signals that they were clearly used to seeing. They circled the boar getting closer and closer with their weapons.
Bellamy gently pushed Clarke behind a tree and gave her a look that said everything. She was out of her depth here, the boar could make a break for it; she could get hurt. Normally Clarke would argue but those tusks looked like they could do some serious damage. She watched as Bellamy joined the group, his gun at the ready. She and her Mom had treated someone a couple of months ago; he had run into a boar as well. Both his legs had been broken and the tusk had impaled itself into his side. She didn't want that for any of these boys, who were clearly from the original 100. They had probably been with Bellamy since the beginning.
In what felt like a split second, the group attacked the boar. It roared and tried to wound them but it was too late. A sigh of relief went through the group, before someone let out a whoop. Clarke jogged over to Bellamy's side and took a good look at the creature. It was huge and looked even deadlier close up.
Clarke whipped her head around to look at all the boys. "Is everyone alright?" she asked in doctor mode, "Any cuts or bruises?"
The boys seemed startled and exchanged glances before shaking their heads. Then one of the older boys said, "Actually, the boar did catch my knee but I think its ok..."
Clarke immediately went to treat him, the others boys switched between watching her and tying up the boar.
Bellamy saw why they were curious. Why Clarke may be amazed by their camp and the Earth, everyone else was amazed by her. She was a reminder of the Ark Camp, a story from the Ark itself. Yet, instead of being harsh and stuck up, she was caring and generous. Not to mention how strong willed she was. She wasn't what they had expected it at all.
Bellamy was about to order half the group back to camp with the boar and the other to go ahead to the river, when he heard a shouting. Everyone turned around to see Monroe sprinting towards them. "Oh thank God I caught you," she said as she reached them, "Something's wrong with the kids."
"What is it?" Bellamy asked, feeling Clarke appear at his side.
Monroe looked between them, panting. "You know those kids with the sore eyes? Well, they've gotten worse. Half of them say their vision is blurry while the rest can't see at all. Plus they're coughing and burning up."
Bellamy turned to Clarke but all he saw was worry on her face. "Do you know what that is?"
Clarke chewed on her lip and said nothing for a moment. Then she replied quietly, "It might be a virus mutated from the war. I need to examine each patient and then try some cures."
"Is this something Monty can handle?"
Clarke gave him a wide-eyed look. "No offence to Monty but no; I need to go back to camp."
Bellamy sighed, looking in the direction of the river.
"Bellamy?"
He looked at Clarke again and she seemed ready to go.
"Alright, Princess," he said, "You can stay until you heal the kids."
He almost felt like he was repeating himself.
The boys got the boar and started off back to camp with Bellamy, Clarke and Monroe hurrying in front. Bellamy may not have wanted to irritate the Ark Camp, but sick kids came first.
Hunter surveyed the burnt area, his eyes threatening to water from the smoke. He was standing on the edge of a crater, where just a few hours before there had been a village filled with men, women and children. Now it was just a scorched area of ash and the occasional small fire. Other warriors in the tribe were walking around pieces of exploded homes and the remains of a well.
Hunter gripped the hilt of his dagger tighter and looked over to his right. Caitlin was standing higher up on a small hill, her brown hair poking out from under her hood. He walked over to her until he could stand slightly behind her. He was a head taller than his sister but with one look and a "little brother", she could make him feel about six years old. That wasn't a bad feeling sometimes in such a dangerous world. It was nice to have someone that would look out for you in such a determined way.
"We should find any bodies," Caitlin said lowly, "We can bury them as best we can in the next field."
Hunter nodded, knowing that such a loss of life hit his sister hard. "The scouts found pieces of a Sky People bomb; the kind that was used against Anya's tribe. I've already sent people to the two other destroyed villages. I knew they couldn't have just burned by themselves...," Hunter reported.
They had enjoyed relative peace for the last two years but now whole towns were being attacked. The first two had been areas closer to the mountains, where people usually avoided after the death of the Mountain Men a decade ago. But this village was near their own one, upriver from the 100 and the Ark.
Caitlin nodded but said nothing.
Hunter listened to her silence and then murmured, "You know one of us has to ask..."
Caitlin finally turned to him, a sad smile tugging at her lips. "You think that Blake found the time to plant bombs at a Grounder camp in between kidnapping doctors?"
Hunter chuckled but the smoke caught in his throat. He swallowed and said, "Alright, we both know it's not the 100. They wouldn't do something like this. But that does leave the Ark Camp and other tribes."
Caitlin paused and looked out again. "These bombs were planted in places that would cause the most damage. To find those places, you would need time. Any other tribes would have to stay in the area and we would have noticed even one stranger. Plus, this," she said in a disgusted tone, "is not Blake's style."
The Grounder siblings stepped back from the carnage and tugged their coats around them.
"So, it looks like the Ark Camp. When should we go confront them?" Hunter asked but Caitlin didn't respond right away.
"We don't," she finally replied, startling him. Continuing on, Caitlin said, "This attack and the two before it were well thought out plans and I bet that whoever is behind it has more in store. Now, we don't know for sure it's the Ark but we do know one thing that must have escaped both camps."
Hunter felt a chill wind pass through him and he grinned. "Winter is arriving early this year."
Caitlin nodded, looking up at the sky. "It should start getting colder in a few days and then the camps will close their gates and have to stay in one place. That will disrupt any plans they have."
"We should tell Blake; he'll want to make sure that the doctor gets back to her camp before the river is too fast to cross."
He caught the look on Caitlin's face and immediately smelt trouble. Nineteen years as her little brother and partner in crime was enough to know exactly what she was thinking.
"You're not going to tell them anything are you?"
Caitlin shrugged. "You saw the chaos that erupted after they saw the doctor had left; people panicked. It's in our best interests for the Ark Camp to be as disrupted as possible."
"And what? We leave the doctor to stay in the 100 Camp? Judging from the arguments our scouts overheard, she and Blake will kill each other before the first snow falls."
"Oh don't be dramatic," Caitlin exclaimed, "Like I said before, this could all turn out for the better. The 100 Camp need a doctor and that girl needs to see the outside world. While they're all distracted, we can figure exactly who is attacking out villages."
Hunter let out a frustrated sigh but could see where his sister was coming from. There was no point in making a counter attack when they didn't have all the facts and with winter so close. They just had to hope there would be no more attacks until then.