Chapter 41

Clarke's hands were better. She was driving again. Ash didn't mind it, though. She was still a little unsure about the Rover. She was content to let Clarke drive as much as she wanted. They had stayed at Arkadia for another day before leaving.

The night before they left. Clarke dragged a bunch of the padding used for bedding out and placed it on the top of the Rover. Ash wasn't sure what it was for until Clarke dragged her up there to sleep that night. It made them both happy to be out and under the stars again. She could tell that Clarke was feeling better. Her mind wasn't as destracted. She was focused more than ever on getting to Madi and helping her. Ash could see the smile in her eyes and knew that they would be safe in Louwoda Kliron.

It wasn't a clan that she had a lot to deal with before as a spy, but she knew that the landscapes were beautiful. She knew that it was going to be warm as well. They were southwest for the most part to Trikru. They had no ocean views and bordered Blue Cliff. Nestled in the valleys between Blue Cliff to their west and to the east, Trikru and Glowing Forest. They were known to be great artisans and hunters. Their leather, especially died, was highly sought after. They didn't use horses much, but that just the because most of the landscape didn't allow for it. The leaders had a few in each village for messengers, fisas, and the like. Ash felt like it would have been a good place to "retire," if she could have left Nia's employ.

She knew that the trip would take a few days to find the precise valley. It wasn't like Clarke actually knew or could use her GPS thingy to find it. She'd told Ash of how she found it by circumstance and a vulture. Ash wanted to the kill the bird as well, but she knew that it was useful. It was also a harbinger of the valley. Eden was in that valley and that meant their life. She would only kill the bird, if it tried to eat them. Clarke had made her swear, but that didn't mean that Ash wasn't planning to injure it before it could hurt either of them.

She then realized that she wanted to pick a fight with a bird for just trying to survive in another life. She hadn't realized until that moment, with that thought, how utterly devoted she was to Clarke. She believed before Clarke did that she was the fabled Wanheda. And, while it was a hard thing to see, she knew that Clarke hadn't been lying when she finally came clean about her many lives. She just hoped that whatever she could be for Clarke in this life, it would be enough to help her in the next. It had to. She couldn't let Wanheda fail. She refused. She would gladly suffer the same fate, if it meant that she could protect and help Clarke find her way through until the Twel were assembled and she could fulfill her destiny.

Was this a test? She wondered. Was Keyron testing to see if she was worthy enough to help Clarke in this venture? Did she need to prove herself to Keyron?

"Hey, you okay? You've been quiet? Something on your mind?" Clarke asked as they went over another burm.

"Moba, sorry, sorry. I don't know what's wrong with me. I guess I'm just not used to all this heat," Ash replied.

It wasn't an untruth, but it wasn't the full truth. She looked back over at Clarke. She could tell that the blonde wasn't sure that she was telling the truth, but she was kind enough not to push. It was this thing that they had developed. They would talk about it when they were ready. Only thing was that Ash was never sure that she was going to be ready to talk about the possibility that she could be one of Clarke's Twelve. Even if Clarke managed to believe her, there was no way for her to prove anything until another life. And, Ash/Echo wasn't going to magically wake up and remember anyway. It was just folly and fable. She needed to let it go. So, she tried to do what she did best in these situations, she redirected the conversation.

"How much further to Eden?"

"I don't honestly know. It isn't like the GPS is going to tell me exactly when we'll get there. I don't know the exact coordinates to program into it to get there. I just have mainly a general idea. And, the maps won't really help because the rivers and lakes and all that shit is mostly gone. Hell, I don't even think that the lake and river in Eden was on a map to begin with. Well, any map that I've ever seen."

"Oh, so you're looking for your bird friend?"

Clarke laughed. "No, I'm not looking for the bird friend. I could go without seeing him, even though he tasted magnificent. We'll get there soon enough."

"And, then we'll have to send the dead to Keyron?"

"We should do that as quickly as we can, yes, but it should be done soon after we get there. I think we should find a place to settle into first. Then, we can scope out things and decide which building or buildings we can lose. We'll burn the bodies in those buildings. It will just be us, so we won't need the whole village. What all do you think that we'll need?"

"A smoke house, a place to live with either a stove or a campfire ring just outside, maybe a store house, but that should be in the ground."

"That's it?" Clarke asked her.

"It will only be the three of us, correct? We don't need a lot of room. I figured we could find a two or three bedroom place."

"Two or three?" Clarke inquired.

"I just figured that you would want to share a room with Madi. I can have my own room. I don't know if she'll want her own room," Ash answered.

"I honestly don't know either. In my past lives, she's just slept in a cot across from me. We shared a big place together. It was really more room than we needed, but in the beginning it was necessary to help her learn to trust me," Clarke replied, slipping back into English, once again unaware.

"Well, then I guess we'll ask her," Ash stated.

"You don't have to have your own room, if you don't want. I don't mind sharing with you," Clarke started. "To be honest, I'm sorta used to having you there with me now. But, I can understand if you want to have your own space when we get there."

Ash could see the statement for what it was. Clarke was used to close quarters. It had become more evident the more that Ash toured the Ark. It made sense why the Hundred of them stayed together so closely, too. Clarke had kept her room next door to Ash's in Becca's mansion until they had to go into the lab. Even when they were in the lab, she kept close to Ash. When they had been in Azgeda, she'd been in her own room at Nia's insistence until Nia and Ontari left for Polis. Then, Clarke basically moved into Ash's room and stayed. It hadn't been cramped. She didn't feel overwhelmed sharing with Clarke. It was one of the reasons that she knew they could share a bedroll and a room while they were on the run. They'd gotten closer as the weeks and months passed, and now, Clarke was offering her an out because they were basically going to have an entire village to live in by themselves. She was letting Clarke know that she didn't mind sharing a house. She wasn't sure if Clarke would still want to share a bed once they'd settled in. But, Clarke was offering to share a room. It was the only way that Clarke would ask her to stay close. She wouldn't pressure Ash to stay with her. That wasn't Clarke.

"We'll ask Madi what she wants, then," Ash replied.

Clarke reached across the console and grabbed Ash's hand. She held it as she continued to drive. It was a silent moment of affirmation. Ash clasped her hand back and they continued on their journey like that. She wasn't surprised by Clarke's need for contact. It had gotten more and more apparent the longer they had been at Arkadia. It had been especially noticeable the night before as they slept on top of the Rover. All Ash could do was smile at her and hope that it was enough to give her the boost or whatever it was that Clarke needed to keep going.

It was just a few hours later that the sun was going down. Ash was now driving again. She was going in the directions that Clarke pointed her in. She was scanning the horizon as the sun set. She was looking for a place for them to stop. They didn't have the tall charred trees or a burned out forest for them to stop. There was nothing but sand as far as the eye could see.

"We should stop for the night," Clarke stated.

"I'm looking for a good place."

"There is nothing out here. We can just stop. The next time that we see trees it will be Eden," Clarke told her.

"Your sure?"

"I'm sure. There is nothing here that is going to get us. But, if you are worried about it, we can sleep in the Rover or on top of it. Your choice," Clarke said.

Ash just cocked her eyebrow. She kept driving, though. They could stop now, but there was nothing to use for a fire there. They hadn't packed anything from their brief stops in the dead forests. They gathered things from Arkadia, but there was no wood. They were back on ration bars. She wasn't actually exited about the prospect, so she just kept going. Clarke didn't really stop her, either. She knew that Clarke was getting anxious to get to Eden. She wanted to make sure that the girl was still okay. Ash could understand that, as well.

Ash wasn't sure what she wanted to do for the night. She wanted to keep going, but she knew that Clarke wasn't going to want to go on for much more that day. She knew that they weren't going to find shelter except for the Rover itself. As the sun finally sunk beyond the horizon, Ash finally braked for the day. When the Rover finally came to a stop, Clarke got out and started to pull the solar panels off the side.

Ash moved around as Clarke prepared the Rover for the night. It was a daily evening task for them while they were traveling. She knew that Clarke just did it because she was worried about storms taking them out. Even on Clarke's map, she knew that the Rover was their best form of travel. It was quicker, but it was only as good as the panels on it. Sleeping through two storms, Ash realized that even though the map showed the panel farm. It would take days, really weeks, to get to the Solar Panel Farm to get more panels for the Rover if they broke, by foot. Clarke didn't want to go until after they were settled in Eden. For now, they were just going to bed down for the night.

Ash did her nightly checks. She cleaned up the the front of the Rover to make sure that the vehicle could actually keep running, per Clarke's instruction. She moved around to the back just as Clarke was storing the last of the panels in the back seats. Pulling out some of the padding that they had "rescued" from Arkadia for sleeping, Ash moved it to the side of the back as she grabbed at their packs for a few ration bars. She grabbed two and then waited for Clarke to join her. Clarke closed the side door and then climbed up into the back of the Rover.

It was full dark now. They'd eaten their bars. They weren't full, but they were satisfied for the time being. Clarke reached for the padding to pull it down into the floor. She was tired. She was ready to lay down for the night. Ash was just following her lead though. She didn't care where they slept. She'd been in worst quarters and positions to sleep. Being cramped with Clarke in the back or on the rack on top didn't matter. Ash was ready for sleep.

"So, inside or up top?" Clarke asked as she pulled more on the padding.

"Whichever," Ash replied.

"On top, it is then," Clarke stated as she grabbed the padding and stepped out of the back of the Rover.

She started tossing the padding up on the top. Ash stepped out with more and helped her get it all on top. Gathering a few linens, they both clambered up and onto the padding. Ash couldn't help but smile. She knew that Clarke liked to sleep under the stars. She did as well, especially after the forty-two days being stuck in Becca's lab. But, Clarke seemed to be taking it to the extreme. It was like she was using the stars to personally triangulate their position every night. Ash just wanted sleep. She knew tomorrow they would more than likely be in Clarke's Eden.

Ash was the first to lay down. It was still warm enough that she only needed a thin blanket or sheet to sleep under. She pulled off her shirt and pants, balling them up and putting them under another small piece of linen to make a pillow of sorts. They had pillows, but they were very thin. This way it added up to enough for Ash to finally get some decent sleep. It was a luxury that she didn't always have, so she was determined to enjoy it while she could. She lay there looking up at the stars admiring the view.

It was one thing that Ash enjoyed. It was something that was the same. The stars hadn't moved. The stars were a constant. It was something that she could hold on to, but it was something that she only got part of the day. Exact that wasn't completely true. Ash had a star with her all the time. Clarke was her Skaifaya. She was the star that was showing them the way to Eden and survival. She was the only one that could be capable to lead them past Praimfaya. And, that wasn't just because she was Wanheda.

Clarke laid down beside her. She made up her little bed right next to Ash's. She made sure that she was close enough to Ash. It was close enough that she could touch Ash to make sure that she was there, but it was even closer than that. Clarke was almost on top of Ash. It didn't bother her, though. She was used to Clarke's need for the companionship. Clarke was on her side, curled up to Ash, as she found her position for sleep that night.

"We should find the outskirts of Eden tomorrow, I think," Clarke said.

"That should be good. I know that you can't wait to see Madi. I know that we need to clean up the village first, though. We need to make sure that she sees it. That way she will learn to trust us faster, sha?" Ash questioned.

Clarke just nodded as she burrowed further into Ash's side. Ash for her part rolled up just a little bit. It was just enough for her to get a arm under Clarke and allowing the younger woman to lay her head on Ash's shoulder. In this position, Clarke was cuddling and Ash was holding her. It wasn't a common occurrence between them, but it seemed to be becoming more common. Ash wasn't complaining. She had to admit that she felt closer to Clarke now. She knew that it was they had been forced together, but the other reason was because they were the last. She could only wonder if that thought had finally gotten to Clarke. For now, she didn't want to ask. She was content to lay there and sleep holding Clarke.

"Your right, we should. We'll have to remember to stay in Trig, though. I think she'll respond faster if she can understand what we are saying to each other."

"That makes sense," Ash replied.

"I guess we will wake with the sun?"

"If we don't wake before, sha," Ash answered.

"Os," Clarke stated. (Good.)

Clarke reached over Ash's abdomen and wrapped her arm there. She started to go to sleep. Ash let out a sigh and stared at the stars above her, again. She closed her eyes and willed herself to go to sleep. She knew that their next few days were going to be really busy. She felt herself start to go to sleep when she felt Clarke's hand start rubbing up and down her side.

She knew that this was common and consistent with Clarke while she was sleeping. She was a very cuddly person. But, tonight there was a difference in the pressure that Clarke was using. It wasn't just cuddling; it was almost reverent. Ash didn't move. She slowed her breathing to mimic sleep. She didn't want Clarke to wake and be ashamed of her touching. As she eased herself deeper into an meditative state, she felt Clarke adjust against her.

"Why are you so close to me, Echo?" Clarke asked barely above a whisper. "Why did you protect me? Why didn't you just kill me?"

Ash didn't answer. She'd heard the questions before, but there was a deeper meaning this time behind them. She wasn't sure that she understood what Clarke was asking. it was like there was some sort of hidden meaning to them. She wasn't a fool, but she didn't let her emotions rule her so much like Clarke did. She realized that this was another reason that Clarke was so revered as being Wanheda. She felt things when gona were taught not to feel anything beyond physical pain and bloodthirstiness on the battlefield.

"Why am I so drawn to you? Why have I been drawn to you? Are you meant to be with me? Is that it..." Clarke mused, still barely speaking aloud.

Ash wished that she could just go to sleep. She didn't want to hear anymore of Clarke's thoughts. These were meant for Keyron and not for her. And, then...then she felt it. Clarke moved her head just enough. She kissed the underside of Ash's jaw. It was light and airy but full of emotion.

"Goodnight, Echo," Clarke mumbled and her breathing evened out.

Ash's eyes flew open. The stars were brighter than normal. She had to fight her racing heart. Clarke had kissed her. Her eyes flicked down to the woman in her arms. She pulled her tighter into her body. She didn't say anything. She just held Clarke and prayed that neither of them would get hurt, because Keyron knew that she could fall for Clarke easily, if she hadn't already. After all, Clarke was her Skaifaya, star.