Chapter 9
Council meeting, the Ark. A few weeks later.
The interim council had set up shop in one of the smaller rooms still intact, the mess hall was just busy for long discussions about how best to prepare up for winter and make sure that enough food was brought in while settling smaller disputes within the survivors.
Marcus had not been invited to join.
The small amount of food the hunting parties were bringing in was becoming a real problem, or it would be fairly soon. Winter was not far away, and they were low as it was. Same with medical supplies and ammunition. Abby was sure getting the supplies from Mount weather was the best solution - it was just there waiting for them - they would just have to go get it!
She looked at the three other people in the room - the acting council - an older sergeant with a gentle demeanour, everybody just called him sergeant, she didn´t even know his real name, and one of the teachers, a woman of about 40, plus Bellamy. He felt like the odd one out.
Abby starts the meeting "We need to set up an expedition to Mount Weather to get supplies before the week is out"
"What about the missing kids?" the teacher, Julie interrupted; she had known many of them when they were younger.
They had sent out several small search parties to find Monty, Jasper and the other missing 38 kids, but not even a trace or a clue had turned up. Bellamy had been part of all of them - honestly he felt a bit responsible – so he was relentless and even got Murphy to join a few times as he had mostly recovered. There was a silent understanding between to two former foes as they were searching through unknown parts of the forest, Murphy had been more quiet than usual after Anya´s death, and if he had anything to say it was usually some snarky comment reminiscent of the old Murphy. Bellamy didn´t mind, he had decided to not pursue their former animosity. His gut told him it was the right thing to do - they both had made mistakes. And Bellamy listened to his gut, it had proved to be right many times before. He had a feeling that the walking and change of scenery got Murphy´s mind off Anya, and that was a good thing. There had been no sight of grounders anywhere. Bellamy supposed they had decided to leave them alone. For now.
"We can´t stop looking for them, but you need enough people to carry enough stuff back, Bellamy can you make some suggestions about who to bring. You leave in two days!" Abby sounded almost desperate.
The people in this room were the only ones to know exactly how little food there was left.
The dead zone
They had been walking for weeks, only stopping a few days when they luckily passed a water source, no more than a small stream, but there were also some small rodents that could sustain them and prepare them for the rest of the trip.
That felt like a very long time ago.
Finn had almost given up and was ready to sit down for good when he heard Jaha shout "HEY, OVER HERE " while waving frantically. That´s when he saw them too – two people on horseback in the distance, and he started his own frantic wave. No shouting though, he had no voice left.
When he saw the horses continue towards them, and one of the figures even waived back to them Finn sank to his knees from a combination of exhaustion and share gratitude and gave out a huge sigh of relief. To his side he saw Jaha doing the same. Now he just prayed the two riders would be friendly to exhausted strangers…
The Ark
John Murphy was angry. He was mad at himself for not protecting Anya when it mattered and he blamed himself for her death. Even if he had somewhat proved his worth in the battle with the grounders, he was still seen as a criminal by many, he could hear them whisper behind his back. The fact that both Connor and Myles had family and friends on board the Ark did not help matters. So he didn´t really socialize much apart from the odd visit to Raven´s workshop – it was so peaceful there, made his brain stop churning about Anya for a minute – and the trips into the forest with Bellamy to search for the 38 as they now called them. If someone tried to engage him in some sort of conversation he mostly ignored them or answered with a frosty remark. A few confrontations even became physical and Clarke had to patch him up more than once.
Murphy was due to go on another search expedition for the 38 missing kids - they were to leave as soon as Bellamy was done with that silly council meeting. This new camaraderie with his former foe still felt a bit uneasy. And even if Murphy didn´t really show it - he welcomed this new development. Murphy had respect for Bellamy. That is why he had latched on to him in when the drop ship had first landed. He was a natural leader. And as for the whole hanging business, well tit for tat. Bellamy was right. They were even.
He wanted to check what was taking so long when he heard the muttered words "murderers should float" as he passed a small group of people. Maybe it just was the last drop - he had been in a shitty mood all day - so instead of a snarky comment he launched himself at the kid he thought had uttered the insult. Before anyone could react he had punched him to the ground and was beating him. The kid wasn´t really a kid at all, all muscle and tattoos, and he soon got Murphy off him and they circled each other fists ready.
"Come on killer, let´s see what you got in a fight since you normally like to kill people in their SLEEP" The last word was emphasized with a growl and a punch to the face and Murphy suddenly made the connection. He cursed inwardly. This was Connors elder brother. Shit.
"The trial should never have been cancelled " Connor´s brother continued and with that he took out a small knife and moved in.
The fight was short. Before anyone was seriously injured a couple of the ark soldiers had put an effective stop to it with their tasers.
Soon after Murphy was sitting in the tiny room functioning as a jail nursing a small stab wound in the arm. He could feel that his face probably was a sight but mostly he was pissed. He would never get away from the murders of Connor and Myles. Not to mention Charlotte and Anya. Even if he hadn´t technically killed them they would be alive if it wasn´t for him. Any physical pain was no match with what his conscience could come up with if the let it.
No man´s land, the woods
Octavia and Lincoln have set up camp under the trees next to a small clearing behind a hill where no one can sneak up behind them. There is even a small cave for when the weather gets extra bad. No man´s land lived up to it´s name, they hadn´t seen any people from any of the grounder tribes.
These past few weeks had been absolutely wonderful. They were a lot closer after finally having the chance to talk about everything and nothing without some pending disaster looming over them. Octavia had not forgotten her friends - or the ark survivors – not to mention Bellamy - but dammit, it felt so good not to worry and Lincoln took her mind of all that. For now.
Lincoln insisted to teach her everything he knew and she was a willing pupil. This was earth skills: the advanced edition. Octavia loved every minute of it. As she honed her skills the nagging thought that the ark survivors could really benefit from this knowledge kept creeping up on her. She knew that the food supply was an issue already when they had left. Should they go back? As the weeks went by it was more and more difficult to discard her worry for Bellamy and the others. Lincoln instinctively understood.
He had told Octavia almost all about the grounder tribes, the key word being almost. He dedided enough was enough! Even if he knows it will cause major problems for his people he decides it is time to come clean to Octavia about what he knows about the mountain men.
She is just shocked as he expected. And slightly mad at him.
After that there is no stopping Octavia going back. Her friends needed to know about this! Bellamy needed to know!
They leave their paradise for now and after taking a few belonging they head off in the direction back to the ark.