Chapter 67
There was some noise outside the hut. Clarke couldn't identify it at first. There was no shouts of alarm, so she filed it away for a few seconds. Then came the sonic booms. She sat straight up and looked to the one window at the sky. It was the Ark falling. The boom was them hitting the atmosphere.
Lexa woke up beside her and sat up. She wrapped her arms around Clarke and held her. She knew what the boom meant, too.
"Your mother is on her way," Lexa stated, groggily.
"I know."
"We should go get ready to meet them."
"I know."
"Clarke?"
"I know. I know. It's just..." Clarke started.
"Nothing is going to change now that they are here, niron. Unless you need it to, I will still be by your side. You'll stay with me. We will work together to fell the Mountain and then we will continue to prepare. There is nothing to else to worry about for now except your mother and the rest of your people," Lexa told her.
"That's what you think," Clarke murmured as she grabbed the armored coat that Lexa had made for her and left the hut.
Clarke made it to the end of the camp. Raven was right behind her. Ryder showed up with a few horses in tow. He had already been instructed to be ready for the Skaiprisa. Gustus wasn't far behind him with horses for himself and Heda. Dax helped them all mount, before he mounted himself.
Lexa had taken her time in dressing. She was still trying to process what happened between them, but in the end, she decided that it was something that Clarke needed. She loved her, so she would give her whatever was needed in order to keep her happy and healthy. Besides, it wasn't like she didn't get something out of it, too. She did. She just wished that she had been a little more of an active participant in the encounter. But, the more she thought about it, the more her brain went back to the time she shared Clarke with Echo. Clarke had been pliant and receptive, she hadn't been dominating and demanding. She could only wonder if that was what Octavia had been referring to when she overheard her talking with Echo. Was there a side to Clarke that only Echo knew? Was that something that she was willing to share with Lexa now, too? Or, was it reserved for Echo because of what happened to them on the Ice Fields? Lexa shook her head. That wasn't something that she needed to be worried about at the moment. She needed to worried about the Arkers and Clarke's reunion with them, but more importantly, the reunion with her mother. She knew that is had still over a year since they'd seen each other. So, Lexa was surprised to see them all mounted and waiting for her orders to ride.
Lexa mounted her horse. Today, she was riding her bay mare. Clarke was on her white war horse, a stallion. It was a gift from the Plains Riders and Lexa knew that she would do well upon him. She hated to admit that it was Anya who suggested it, but she agreed. He was better suited for Clarke, especially after Lexa found out about her training with the Plains Riders. As she looked at Clarke, she realized that she did look like her queen upon him.
"Prisa?"
"Heda?" Clarke asked back in answer.
"Have you decided on a name for you horse, yet?"
"My horse?"
"Sha, the mare that you are riding," Lexa told her.
Clarke cocked her eyebrow but just smiled. She knew that Lexa was trying to woo her in her own fashion. It wasn't everyday that the Commander got a lover, but Clarke wasn't sure that she liked all the doting. She wasn't going to break. At least, she didn't think that she would any time soon. And, she hoped that the Mountain would be as stupid as it normally was with her new idea, but she knew that she couldn't trust Cage or Tsing. Emerson was out, too. She shook her head and tried to return her thoughts to happier things. Clarke looked at the horse and grinned.
"I might name her 'SNOU'," Clarke finally replied.
Lexa looked a little taken aback, but then she saw the smile on Clarke's face. She smiled back. It was a rare sight, and she knew that the others were eyeing her carefully. There was something about Clarke that brought out another side from their heda, and they liked it.
They were slowly working their way to where Clarke had marked on the maps. She knew that they were heading towards the Ark, towards Alpha station, towards her mom, but Clarke was still worried. She was scared about what was going to happen as soon as the Arkers started coming out of their tin can. She was also a little worried about sending Echo with Dax, Ryder, Bellamy and Wells towards Azgeda to welcome Farm Station.
"You are worried about the others?" Lexa asked her, switching back to Gonasleng.
"I am."
"You doubt Echo?"
"No, I don't doubt her. I don't doubt that Roan and Costia will welcome them as well as they take them to Troi until we call for them. We need them to stay separate, but I also know that Wells and Bellamy will give them some things to do. Mom put my Aunt Callie on that station and some others that we trust."
"You fear what Azgeda will do to them?"
"No, not really. I know that Nia is no longer in power. I know that Octavia and Echo will quell any rebellion on the Arkers parts, and Roan will keep Azgeda in line. It is the Mountain and Sangeda. I've got Jasper and Aurora coming at our signal to help with any injuries and some food. I hope that it will be enough to let them know that they are welcome here, that things are different here, that they are safe with us, with the Kongeda."
"They are," Lexa replied.
"I know that, Lexa, but they don't. Raven helped Sinclair change the way that Mecha would miss the cliff and actually land on top of it. That will give us more people to help us with the bunkers and the power plants. We are going to loose a lot of people. They are going to be sad and angry. They are going to rebel. They are going to test things. This will be the first time that they will feel any type of freedom," Clarke answered.
"You sent Echo and the rest because you knew that they would be able to work with those on your Farm Station. Are you afraid that they will not be able to speak to your people and help them? Or, are you afraid of that the leaders on the station will not heed the words of so called children?"
"It isn't that. My Aunt Callie will make sure that things are taken care of, Lexa. She was brought in on the truth. Kane and Mom trusted her enough to put her in charge of the Farm Station. I know that it hurt Mom to send her away, but she knew that they needed someone in a leadership position that they trusted. And, frankly, Callie is only other person after Sinclair and Guard Miller that I trust. The problem is that I needed both of them on Alpha and closer to us to help us in the Fall of the Mountain. Callie..." Clarke started.
"Callie what, Clarke?"
"She's never made it to the ground. So, as much as I trust her, this is also a test. It is a test to see if she survive the Earth or if she'll succumb to the madness that others have in my past lives."
"You speak of ones that you made sure wouldn't make it down this time?" Lexa asked more than stated.
"Sha, I do. I can't have that madness running rampant. I can't let it get a foothold among those that will become Skaikru. If I do..."
"I understand, Clarke. Sometimes we have to make decisions that cost lives for the greater good as leaders. It is not so different as looking a soldier in the eyes and telling him to go die for me, so that my people can have peace. You thinned the herd and cut out a blight before it could ruin it all. I know that you, Echo and Octavia might be the only ones that know the magnitude of such a venture, but I know that the rest of will learn to appreciate the sacrifices that were made so that we might continue to live," Lexa told her. "Leadership is not easy. If it was, everyone would do it. As it is, we are trying to save what is left of mankind as we both know it in the universe. We will have to sacrifice people along the way, so that Man continues to live."
"I know that. Trust me, I know that better than anyone on this planet. And, I'll be damned if I am going to let us fail. We will survive and we will rise."
Lexa smiled at her slightly. It wasn't a full smile, but it was enough to let Clarke know that Lexa was with her, both as Heda and as Lexa. Clarke reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. It was a small gesture, but it accepted as enough for the both of them. Clarke knew that she couldn't make Lexa look weak, and Lexa was still working on how to be more emotional in front of their people.
The arrived at the stables and mounted quickly. It would take a few hours to get to where the Ark was falling, and Clarke wanted to be there before night fall. She wanted to greet her people. She wanted to start their emersion into Grounder Society. She knew that only a few of them understood what was really going on and what would happen once they landed. For now, that didn't matter. She wanted to see her mother.
They rode hard. Octavia was by her side. Raven was with them. Gustus and a few others from Lexa's normal entourage were following them. Clarke and Lexa were leading them. Octavia and Gustus just behind them. Lexa was glad that Octavia was acting as Clarke's personal guard on this adventure. SHe knew that it wasn't really a challenge for Octavia to take the post. She wasn't going to leave Clarke without someone she trusted by her side, either. Raven and Caliban were behind them. Nyko and Fio were bringing up the rear. Clarke and Lexa didn't want a large delagation to go, but they needed people that weren't going to "lose" their heads when the Arkers tried to possibly try to assert their dominance or rebel against what Clarke and Lexa were offering them.
Clarke wanted to believe that she recognized the way that they were taking. She knew that the others might not fully believe her, but she had spent plenty of time in the woods of Trikru, and not just during her self-imposed exile. She wandered these woods learning them, hunting in them, training in them, just living. She felt at home here. Well, at least she did partially. She felt more at home in Louwada Kliron. She knew that Octavia wouldn't blame her for that. It was obviously the place that she'd spent most of her lives because of Madi. She slowed up before the rest of them as she could see a break in the woodline.
"Niron?" Lexa asked as she brought their company to a halt.
"We're close," Clarke stated as the rest of the group fanned out behind them.
Octavia came to her left, because she was on Lexa's left. Gustus was on Lexa's right. Raven and Nyko stayed behind Clarke and Lexa respectively The rest of the guards were to the side. They were fully protected. She knew that Lexa wasn't as worried as she was. But, her worry was from the fact that she knew her people and how they were going to react to dropping to Earth. She could only hope that her mother and Kane were actually keeping everyone sane.
They slowly broke the tree line. She could see the remnants of Alpha Station. It was partially in the ground. There was some dust and smoke in the air. She knew it was mainly from re-entry and hitting the ground. She knew that this area would be effected by the crash for years to come, but she hoped that the Arkers could make it work for the next six months. She knew that she couldn't touch it. She would have to wait for them to exit. The metal would be too hot, but she wanted to be somewhere that she knew that she'd be seen.
She stopped them once again on the bluff over looking the small lake that they'd crashed near. It would give them water and fish. It was a good place to start their learning on how to survive on Earth. She looked out over the horizon. She was trying to gauge the time. She had a rough idea of when the Alpha fell in previous lives, but it was a little earlier this time. And, she wasn't in the mountain. She was still safe from the Maun.
"Look!" Octavia called as a hatch on top of a piece of wreckage opened up.
Clarke followed her finger to the hatch. She broke out in a grin. Octavia moved closer to her. She knew that the younger brunette had her entire family already on the ground. She also knew that Octavia knew what this was going to mean for Clarke. This would be the first time that her mother would fully be on board with everything that Clarke was trying to do. She knew that Abby was going to make sure that everyone else was on Clarke's side, too. But, to do that, they need Abby to let them know that everything was still on schedule and that the people were with them.
Clarke inched her horse forward. Octavia stayed with her. Raven followed, but Lexa and the rest hung back just a little.
They all knew it was because Lexa was allowing Clarke to lead this meeting. After Clarke was satisfied, Lexa would begin her talks with Abby, Kane and Sinclair to make sure that their transition to the ground was a quick and seamless as possible. She also knew that Nyko had people waiting for Lexa's call to help feed and tend to any wounded that they might have from the crash. Clarke was still amazed at how quickly the Trikru were being accommodating. She knew that it was because of Lexa, Luna, Indra, Gaia, and Anya, but she also wanted to keep them very accommodating until Praimfaya. They needed each other.
As Clarke kept inching forward, she was scanning the top. She wanted to know who was going to be the first out. Octavia moved to her right side, to protect it, and to give Clarke strength. She reached over and held Clarke's right hand with her left hand. Raven was still on her left, but she was giving her enough room to move and attack if Clarke needed it. They were all nervous. They could all feel it. There was no denying it. This was about to be the biggest test besides those years directly after Praimfaya that they were going to face.
They all turned and watched as a silhouette appeared on the top on the wreckage. Clarke gasped as she spotted her mother. Abby was just the first person out. Kane was right behind her. They stood up and looked out over the landscape. It took them a few moments to lock eyes with Clarke, Octavia, and Raven.
"Mom!" Clarke yelled and raised her hand to wave at them.
Raven had to believe that Abby had a huge grin on her face. They moved quickly. Clarke and crew didn't move, but more and more started out of the hatch. Those that could slid down the the side, until they hit the ground. Sinclair and someone else were already down on the ground behind Kane and Abby and cutting a whole or opening a whole bigger to let the rest out. Only a few were coming out the top.
Clarke watched as those from the Alpha Station came out onto the ground. They were all stunned by the sun and the colors. Clarke and the rest knew that it was overwhelming. They allowed them to have some time. While that was going on, Clarke stayed on her horse until she saw Abby and Kane coming towards her. When her eyes locked with Abby's, she slid off her horse, tossing the reins to Octavia, and took off towards her mother.
"Clarke!" Abby called to her as she ran towards her daughter.
Clarke pulled her mother further into her. She held her tightly. She took a deep breath. She could smell the Ark on her mother, but it also smelled like home. She held her for as long as she dared, as more and more people came out of the broken structures of Alpha. Abby was the one that backed out of the embrace, but it wasn't too far. Clarke watched as her mother stared deeply into her blue eyes.
"You look good, honey," Abby told her. "You're father would be proud of you."
Clarke just nodded. She had no words. She knew that they needed to move. There were things that needed to be done. But, she had her mom again.
"We're going to beat this, Clarke. You're going to show us the way. We can do this," Abby reassured her. "We can. Now, call Lexa down and let's get our people mingling before heads start to get bad ideas."
"Yeah," Clarke replied as she nodded again.
Abby pulled her closer again and held her tight for a few minutes.
"Go get her, Clarke," Abby told her again.
Clarke turned and looked at Octavia. The young brunette met her eyes. Clarke dipped her head and Octavia reached for the signal horn on her hip. She raised it to her lips and let out a few quick blasts. As she was returning the horn to her hip, Lexa, Gustus, and the rest started a slow descent out of the wood line to where Clarke, Octavia and Raven waiting.
"Wait, Mom, I have one question," Clarke said before she moved to get Lexa.
"What is it, Clarke?"
"Who is in charge on Farm Station?"
"I took your advice and Callie's. I sent her with Guard Miller and Wick. Sinclair insisted that Wick go with them to pull whatever he thought was needed immediately to help us get Alpha and the parts of Mecha up and running. Have you heard from Mecha, yet?"
"No, but I'm sure that Raven will know something soon. She's got a field radio to set up. With a little help, she'll get a good broadcast."
"What about the Mountain?" Abby questioned.
"She's got something for them."
"Do I want to know?" Abby inquired.
"With the Commander of Boom? No, it is best that you don't ask. But, she did retrofit some radios for Bellamy and Wells to take with them to Azgeda. Echo is supposed to check in with us as soon as they get with Callie and Guard Miller," Clarke told her. "I guess we should Nyko set up to help any possible injuries."
"Get them set up, honey. I'll help with the unpacking. We've got to learn to pull our weight from now until after Praimfaya or we won't be able to work together. We know that. The people are ready for a new life, Clarke. We just have to show them the way into it," Abby stated.
Clarke smiled. She was glad that things were looking better already. Those that would cause trouble were already culled. It was a hard call, but it was the right call when it came to their survival. The needs of the many outweighed the needs of the few. It was a motto that she had to keep reminding herself of, just like the one that Lexa and Anya liked to tell her of: "The dead are gone, but the living are hungry." She knew that they couldn't look back. They had to continue to look forward and push their people into merging for the betterment of all man.
Clarke moved back to Octavia's side as Lexa and Gustus, Nyko, and Fio had joined them. Lexa just smiled at her. As soon as Clarke moved to Lexa's side, murmurs could be heard moving through the newly landed members of Arkkru. Lexa wasn't calling them Skaikru and wouldn't let them join the coalition until they'd proven themselves to her and Clarke. For now, Skaikru was only the 100 and those that were with them. A few of the Arkers would automatically be included in their numbers should things go wrong, but both Clarke and Lexa hoped that it wouldn't happen. Clarke had her mother and Kane's word that it wouldn't, but history was unfortunately not on their side. Clarke looked to Nyko.
"Sha, Prisa, what do you need of me?" Nyko questioned her as he saw the look in her eyes.
"I need you to set up a tent for the wounded. My mom will help with those that are wounded. I know that you brought things to help her. It might be a few days before she can get to her stores. I know that helping the people feel better will go a long way to getting them to trust us completely," Clarke told him.
"As you command, Prisa," he stated and moved to start setting up the tents that they brought with them.
Lexa told Fio to go help him. Gustus stood by Lexa, refusing to leave her side. Clarke couldn't blame him. She didn't want her unguarded either.
"I'm going to find Sinclair and get this radio set up, Clarkey. Can I get a tent," Raven started to ask, "Set up over there?"
Clarke and Lexa followed her finger to where she was pointing. Lexa nodded and reached out to stop Clarke before she could give another command. Clarke tipped her head to the side.
"Help your people, Niron. Gostos en Ai will deal with the tek tent. Help your Mom sort the wounded. Keep Octavia with you, though," Lexa stated.
"And, you stay with Gustus."
"Sha, Prisa, I will. I will call for the hunters to come soon. We will have a stew for your people. But, we'll need a number soon."
"I know, Heda, and I will get you that," Clarke replied before she stepped forward and kissed her sweetly on the cheek.
Lexa gave her a look, but Clarke didn't back away. Instead she stared deeply into Lexa's deep green eyes. Lexa broke her gaze to look around at the people of the Ark that were starting to mill around behind them. They were looking to Kane, Abby, and Clarke for direction.
"They need to get used to seeing me with you, Lexa. I will not hide our relationship from them. Together we will lead them into the future."
"Ogeda, ai Prisa." (Together, my Princess.)
"Just don't forget that, Heda," Clarke stated quickly in Trig before moving to her mother's side to start assess the survivors of the Ark Fall and Alpha Station.