Chapter 5:
Lexa froze.
There she was.
Looking right at her.
"Clarke" she breathed out a shaky breath and an even shakier whisper. Relief washed over her all at once. She was okay. She was standing 30 ft away from her, breathing in and out, training her eye on the forest. Lexa's lips couldn't help but twitch as she watched Clarke. Clarke knew she wasn't alone and that made Lexa feel a tiny bit lighter, Clarke was physically okay and ready to defend herself. Lexa took in the sight, watched Clarke adjust her grip on her dagger and allowed herself to smile. She knew Indra said she was taking care of herself but now that she saw it she could really believe it.
Before Lexa could react she watched Clarke arch and Lexa ducked before she heard the dagger fly just to the right of her and land in a tree trunk a few feet back. She flung her eyes back on Clarke - Clarke was no longer there. Lexa took a deep breath, and peaked her ears and strained her eyes to find the blonde girl again. Clarke would be coming this way, searching for a sign of hitting her mark, she'd find Lexa.
Quickly, without wasting another moment Lexa removed herself from her position, moving silently she began her way to a different vantage point. Remaining on watch for Clarke. Lexa began to panic. What if Clarke found her here, found her watching her? Lexa hadn't planned on actually finding Clarke. When she sent Roan to Azgeda, Lexa used the moment to disappear from Polis herself leaving word with Indra and Titus that she would be joining Roan. They didn't need to know that Lexa was selfishly in the woods looking for the girl that stole her heart, the girl that Lexa broke her own heart to betray. They didn't need to know the guilt she felt, nor would they understand it. Love is weakness. But she had to know, she had to see her, even if it was from a distance. She had to ensure her safety personally.
Finally Lexa found a good spot to hide again. She could see the dagger in the tree and watched silently for Clarke to retrieve it. Where was she? Lexa looked around, Clarke was really taking to her new life as a nomad. Lexa beamed slightly as she again absorbed how resourceful Clarke was. Savouring another piece of the girl she loved.
There she was. She silently emerged from the brush and removed her dagger from the tree. Lexa watched as Clarke looked around. Clarke moved slowly to where Lexa had been moments before. Clarke knelt in the same spot, it looked like she was breathing in deep, Lexa cocked her head. What is she doing? Clarke continued to look around and Lexa watched as Clarke looked for clues as to who had been there. Not much gets by her. Lexa was impressed. For a girl that grew up in space and fell from the sky, she was handling the forest like a seasoned grounder.
A low growl in the distance broke her train of thought. Lexa's eyes widened in fear, she knew that sound. She watched wide eyed as Clarke connected the dots as well. She wasted no time in heading back to her camp and grabbing her things. In a matter of moments Clarke was on the move. Lexa shook her head. What is she doing? Stay there Clarke. Stay. No Stay. She silently willed the blonde to listen.
It was safer by the fire. She had to know this. Why was she leaving the safety of the light?
Another growl was heard, this time louder - closer. Lexa looked around searching for signs. When she finally rounded back to Clarkes camp and her fire Lexa's heart sank. Clarke had disappeared again. Lexa shook her head and swore under her breath. She tried to swallow the panic rising in her throat. Lexa made her move, she had to follow the girl. She slowly, silently made her way through the trees towards the fire. She had to track her, she had to find a sign of which direction she went. She had to find her.
Before Lexa could gather any reasonable tracks she heard a violent rustling behind her. She whirled around and crouched. She knew what was coming, quickly she grabbed a branch, tore her shirt and wound it around the end of the branch. She hurriedly left her place and began searching the ground. Finally she found what she was looking for and thanked Clarke for being so resourceful, she snatched at the fat from Clarke's kill and began putting it on the fabric from her shirt that was now wrapped on the branch.
The menacing growls were getting closer, she didn't have much time. It was too late now, the beast knew where she was, it caught her scent and it was coming. Moving closer to the fire, Lexa observed her surroundings. She drew her blade and shove the branch into the fire. The fat ignited the fabric and burned bright and Lexa took a deep steadying breath as she raised her sword and torch.