Healing hearts Chapter 10

Marcus wasn't happy about it. He knew it was dangerous to go after Bellamy. He couldn't afford to send an army. They didn't want to start a war, they would never win. He thought going would get them killed, but he also knew that, if they were determined to go, they would go; even if it meant sneaking out. He knew the kids from the dropship were loyal towards each other. They had been through a lot together and they wouldn't turn their backs on each other.

Reluctantly he relented and agreed to let the small group go. They packed supplies. The Ice Nation would have horses, but they didn't have that luxury. The team was in for a long trek.

Lincoln led the group into the forest to the spot of the grounder attack. He was determined to keep his mind focused on tracking the group that took Bellamy; the group that he was going to kill.

Monty, Monroe, Miller and Jasper all were quiet. They all were thinking of Octavia and Bellamy. They had the faith that Octavia was going to pull through, but they also knew they had to get Bellamy, they all owed him that.

Lincoln led his team, the grounders were easy to follow, they weren't trying to hide their tracks; they had no fear. When they reached the campsite the ice nation had stored their horses, they saw the two dead grounders.

'They have their hands cut off," said Monroe.

"That's Ice Nation, they don't bury the dead unless they are at home, they remove one of the hands for the families, its proof of death, "said Lincoln.

"That's gross," said Jasper.

"There aren't any signs that they were attacked," said Lincoln.

"That means Bellamy put up a fight," said Miller. "He must have killed these two."

Monty looking around closely finds a small syringe. "Hey, guys, I found something," he said holding it up. "They must have drugged him."

Lincoln took the syringe from Monty and stared at it. "We need to find him," said Lincoln with added urgency, as he had flashbacks of having been turned into a reaper."

Finding the syringe gave Lincoln concern. Monroe remembered when Lincoln struggled with his addiction. The others were in the mountain and didn't see what he went through, she could see the intense concern that finding it gave Lincoln and she understood.

The Ice Nation warriors were on horses now so Lincoln's team could move even faster as the horse's tracks were easily visible.

Finally Lincoln's team was forced to make camp. They were exhausted and it had become too dark to keep going.

Monty was quiet. He sat by the fire, staring into the flames. "I was afraid Octavia was going to die in my arms, and I couldn't do anything to stop it," he said. He looked over to Jasper, who was looking at him. "I'm so sorry Jasper. I know how hard it was for you watching Maya…"he stopped talking and just looked back into the fire. Monty squeezed his eyes tight, trying to keep his emotions in check.

"I'll never forget the last moments I held her, I'll never forget," said Jasper quietly. "I don't want to ever forget. But I've finally realized I was blaming you, Clarke and Bellamy, when I should have blamed Cage and his people. I just wish it could have been different. She never even got to see the outside, the trees, grass..."

"We tried so hard to make him stop, but he wouldn't," said Monty.

There was quiet as everyone was in their own thoughts.

"I failed Bellamy," said Lincoln, breaking the silence.

Everyone looked at him.

"What are you talking about?" asked Miller.

"We had a plan, to get him into the mountain," said Lincoln. "I was addicted to the red, and when I saw it, I turned my back on him for the drug. I let them take him into the harvest chamber. They caged him with all the others. Somehow he got out of the cages and was able to get away, but what they did to him before that, you don't want to know… "I failed him. I won't do it again."

"Maya saved him," said Monty. "She got him out of the harvest chamber. Bellamy told me about it after you beat him up," he said looking at Jasper. "We talked a lot, he felt so guilty. He was hung upside down being drained of his blood and she woke him up and let him down, she helped him get free. Bellamy said he tried so hard to save her. Her death and the kids, they are always going to haunt us, we're always going to carry the guilt of it."

Jasper put his arm on Monty's shoulder. "I'm sorry."

"I didn't trust her," said Miller. "I'll always feel bad about that. Maya put her life on the line for us, and I…" he stopped talking.

"We need to get Bellamy back," said Monroe. "Octavia is going to kick our asses if we don't come back without him. Plus we can't let some Ice people come and take one of our people,' she said with determination. "We need Bellamy, he would go after us. We need to get him back."

Everyone got quiet. One by one, they slowly lay down to get rest, until only Lincoln was left staring into the flames. He wondered if they had any chance at finding Bellamy. He knew their chances weren't good, but he had to do something to keep his mind from going to the possibility of losing Octavia. For all he knew, she could already be dead, but if she was he didn't know, he didn't want to know. He wasn't ready for that, he had to stay busy, and do something for the Blake's. They were his family now. He would fight for them, it's what families did.