"It's good to see you up and moving Cole," a voice called from the doorway. Tugging the sweater over my head carefully I turned and smiled at Lucas.

"It's good to be able to," I admitted. Nyko had kept me on bed rest for almost a week and a half, and my muscles complained of the treatment now. I straightened out the sweater, it was dark green and hung loosely on my frame - it was new to me, a gift from one of the weavers and as I rubbed my hands against the soft material I made a mental note to find her and thank her later - and then possibly beg for more. We didn't have anything this comfortable back on the Arc.

"Did Jaxon let you in?" I asked, pausing from my thoughts. Jaxon had been as bad as Nyko for the past couple weeks, screening who could come in and see me and when, watching over me and making sure I wasn't moving around too much, and making sure my every need was met. It was sweet in a way - and always reassuring to have him near when I woke up in night sweats - but as my body started to mend their constant mothering was becoming irritating.

"Uhm, he may or may not have seen me come in … he was a little distracted talking to Nyko," Lucas admitted, looking away bashfully. Lucas had been one, among many others, who had received only limited visiting time while I was bed ridden. I laughed slightly at the mental picture of him tiptoeing around Jaxon, and for a moment was sort of impressed that he had managed it.

"Well I'm glad you're here anyways," I told him. A familiar face helped put me at ease. Even though my body was managing to heal quickly, I still had panic attacks if I was left alone for too long and I sometimes woke up screaming in the middle of the night. I pushed those thoughts from my mind though as I decided to focus on Lucas and the task at hand.

"Have you eaten yet?" I asked Lucas, who was still standing by the doorway awkwardly. He shook his head no and I shot him another smile.

"Good," I replied. "Eat this."

I tossed him an orange oblong fruit and grabbed another for myself. It was also a gift brought over while I was healing, and had quickly became one of my favorite foods.

"This is really good," Lucas mumbled, his mouth still full.

"I know right?" I laughed back, groaning slightly as my still bruised ribs throbbed.

"So, this is the most active I've seen you in weeks," Lucas said, taking another bite of the fruit. "Planning your great escape?"

I laughed slightly, careful to mind my ribs this time. I understood what he meant, looking down at my sweater, dark jeans and combat boots, today was the first day I had managed to put on real clothes - other than the ones I changed into to lounge in only to stay comfortable and clean.

"Nyko and Jaxon said they have a surprise for me," I told him, as I swallowed the last bite of food. "They just told me to get dressed and that they would be waiting outside."

"This would explain why it is taking you so long," Nyko drawled from the doorway, standing next to Jaxon. Both men towering only slightly behind Lucas who had turned to face them guiltily.

"What are you doing here?" Jaxon questioned Lucas, his voice coming out in a growl.

"He came to see me," I voiced quietly, slightly intimidated by the awkward stare down going on between my three friends.

"We were worried when you were taking so long," Nyko explained. "Next time, you should make yourself known boy and not sneak around."

"I wasn't sneaking," Lucas exclaimed. Both Nyko and Jaxon hardened their glares. I just rolled my eyes - I would never understand men.

"So … you said you had a surprise?" I asked cautiously. Nyko was the first to give way and turn his attention back towards me.

"Yes," he replied. "We should get going so we aren't late."

"Late for what?" I asked curiously, Nyko was never in a rush for anything. I wonder what they have planned?

"I'll see you later?" I asked hopefully, stopping next to him for a moment. Lucas smiled at me and nodded.

"Lets go," Jaxon growled as he turned to walk out of the healer's building. Nyko waited until I exited before following behind me. I stopped for a moment once I got outside, it had been weeks since I had been out in the fresh air. Taking a deep breath I sighed contently, making both men stop and look at me. I blushed slightly before falling back in line behind them.

"So where exactly are we going?" I asked. Both men made a noncommittal sound and kept moving. Well that was helpful.

We kept walking in silence for another ten minutes or so, stopping once we reached one of the outer homes. I didn't recognize the area.

Jaxon stopped at one of the homes and called out something to the person I presumed I was inside. A moment later a woman came out and greeted us.

"Cole, this is Keller," Nyko introduced. "Keller, this is Cole. Our friend we told you about."

I looked at him questioningly, what did he tell her?

"I've heard much about the sky people, and much about you," Keller said, her voice soft yet strong. Her accent more similar to Jaxon's than Nyko's. "It is nice to finally meet you."

I nodded and smiled at her, hoping that I came off as friendly. I found the women to be far more intimidating than the men here on Earth…

Looking at Keller it was clear she wasn't a warrior. She was about my height, her dark black hair was pulled away from her face but left down - a distinct difference from the warriors who wore their hair tied up - and she had soft hazel eyes. No, definitely not a warrior. But like many of the others I saw, she had a red tattoo on her arm - an asymmetrical design that mostly covered by her top. She must be from Jaxon's clan..

"Please, come inside," she offered, motioning into her home and breaking me from my thoughts.

"We will be leaving Cole with you, we think it will be better if we are not here," Nyko explained. Fear shot through me. What did they mean they weren't staying? They couldn't just leave me with this woman! I had just barely met her!

"What?" I asked, my voice revealing my inner panic. Jaxon turned towards me, lowering his eyes to mine.

"You will be safe here Cole, we will be back in a few hours," he explained. I just shook my head wordlessly.

"Would I put you in danger?" he asked, moving closer to me. He was waiting for my answer I realized after a moment. I shook my head slowly.

"Would Nyko?" he asked again. I shook my head.

"Then go. Trust us," he told me before moving from in front of me. Keller looked at me hesitantly and offered me her hand. I spared another glance at Nyko and Jaxon before hesitantly placing my hand in hers.

"Come, I have hot tea," she told me, pulling me gently behind her into her home. I already regretted this.

Her home was much larger than mine, I noticed right away trying to take in as much of my surroundings as possible to avoid conversation. She led me to a short table and motioning for me to sit down on the furs surrounding it. They were elk and boar I noted. Not nearly as soft as my cougar-skin or bear-skin I had back home - back where I should be right now.

"Don't be mad at them," Keller told me as she set a metal cup down in front of me. I watched the steam float from the cup, choosing not to respond.

"They are just worried about you … after what happened" she continued.

So she knew. That's why she was tiptoeing around me.

"I'm fine," I grunted at her. It was true enough. My cheek had healed, the cuts and scrapes were just remnants and scabs now.

"Jaxon says you wake up screaming in the middle of the night," she explained softly. I looked up to her and narrowed my eyes - he had no right to tell that to a stranger.

"I don't want to talk about it," I growled. What did she know.

"They said that too," she replied. "It would help if you talked about it, instead of keeping it bottled up."

I groaned audibly, "What are you? My shrink?"

She looked at me confused for a moment.

"What's a shrink?" she asked, taking a sip of her tea. I just huffed irritated in response.

"Why don't you want to talk about it?" she prodded.

"I just don't," I told her fully irritated now.

"You trust them though - Nyko and Jaxon that is?" she questioned. I nodded immediately. Of course I did.

"They wouldn't understand," I admitted, not sure why I was even bothering to tell her in the first place. "I can't tell them."

"Then tell me," she offered. I shook my head.

"You wouldn't understand either," I replied, playing with the cup of tea in my hand.

"I think I would," Keller said, her voice even softer than normal. "Probably better than you would think."

I looked up at her. What did she mean?

"Three years ago a clan from the south came to join us - it was a harvest moon so we prepared a feast and a bonfire to celebrate," Keller explained slowly, her eyes glancing down to stare at the table. "There was a lot of food and drink to go around, and after the moon passed its peak everyone started to return home. On my way back I ran into one of the visiting warriors … I tried to fight him … I couldn't."

I inhaled sharply, understanding how this story ended. My heart suddenly felt heavy.

"I had nightmares for months. Nyko says you remind him of me after what happened, he took care of me too" she continued, not waiting for me to comment. "So I know how you feel. And I know that ignoring it, pretending it never happened doesn't make it go away, and it doesn't make it better."

I shook my head softly. She was better than me, stronger than me. I hadn't been what she was put through. I instantly felt selfish for my behavior towards her.

"I wasn't … I mean he touched me, but not like that. He didn't get that far," I tried to explain, my voice shaky.

"Good," she replied honestly, sparing a small smile.

"What happened to him?" I asked hesitantly, not sure how to broach the topic. Her smile faltered for a second.

"His clan left the next morning, we never saw them again," she said. "I don't know what became of him."

I took a sip of the tea she had set down earlier, unsure of what to say. I felt angry at myself, and I felt angry for her, for never getting retribution.

"Cole, the punishment for what happened to me, and for what happened to you is death," she told me. "You have a chance to have what I was denied - closure."

I understood what she meant, but it wasn't that simple. It wasn't just my life on the line, it was my peoples, it was my friends.

"I don't remember who it was," I told her, repeating the same lie I had told everyone around me for the past week.

She sighed and shook her head, "I don't believe you. You don't forget a face like that, you don't forget the person who does something so horrible to you."

I shuddered, my skin getting goosebumps beneath my sweater.

"You can tell me," she encouraged gently. "Nothing will happen to you, he can't hurt you anymore."

If only she knew it wasn't myself I was worried about.

"I don't remember," I repeated unconvincingly.

"Cole…" she started before I interrupted.

"I can't tell you," I exclaimed, my voice rising in anger. "I can't tell anyone."

"Oh Cole," she sighed before moving over to sit next to me. She pulled me into her as I felt tears falling down my cheeks. I didn't scream or wail, I just allowed myself to cry and opened the floodgates to all the feelings I had been trying so hard to repress. Keller just sat next to me, letting me have my time, gently rubbing my back.

"You can't let him get to you Cole," she whispered after a while. "You can't let him win."

I pulled back from Keller, wiping my eyes in the process. I hated how weak I felt. I hated how scared I had become. I hated how I flinched when someone tried to touch me. I hated how I woke up dripping in sweat, crying, and reliving the fight and the threats over and over. I hated that he had such a control over me… I hated that he had scarred me.

Hesitantly I reached my hand up to my face, running my fingertips over the scar that ran from the top of my nose across my eye. Nyko said there was nothing he could do about the scarring. He tried to reassure me that it was light, and when it was fully healed that it would be barely noticeable. But I hated it. I hated what it reminded me of, and I hated Delano for causing it. I lowered my hand and turned away ashamed.

"Never be ashamed of your scars Cole," Keller told me firmly, taking my hands in hers. "They are a reminder that you survived. That you were stronger than what tried to hurt you. They are your badges of courage, and they are beautiful."

Beautiful was the last thing that I felt. But Keller's calm, reassuring words helped calm me down. I told her quietly about what had happened, in more detail than I had used when retelling the story to Jaxon or Nyko. I was careful to leave out Delano's name, but aside from that I told her all the rest.

"I do feel better," I admitted, taking a sip of tea. Keller just smiled at me knowingly. For the next hour we talked about my life so far on Earth, the difference from space and any other topic that came up. I was laughing hysterically with her over a story she had told me about one of the others form the Arc when Jaxon and Nyko returned.

I was slightly surprised when I turned around to greet them to see that they had someone else with them. Neither Nyko or Jaxon had a child that I was aware of … I must have looked confused because Nyko took one look at me examining Jaxon holding the child and burst out laughing - an unusual sound for the typically serious healer.

Jaxon just ignored him and put the young squirming boy down.

"Nomon," the little boy cried out, wobbling over to Keller. I turned my gaze to her, watching her lovingly interact with the little boy. That must be her son, I thought before reason started to kick in. He could only be around two, but that would mean…. that he was a result of her attack.

"Scars can be beautiful Cole, remember that," she told me, obviously figuring out that I had done the math. Picking up the little boy she turned him to face me.

"This is Cole, nomon's new friend," she explained in a gentle tone. "Cole, this is Lyndon. My son."

I smiled and scrunched my face up at Lyndon causing him to burst out into a fit of giggles, causing me and Keller to laugh as well.

I turned back to the men behind us who were both slightly smiling, though I knew they would never admit it. Soon after, I found myself saying goodbye to Keller and Lyndon, who had attached himself to my side once he deemed me worthy enough. He was going to be a handful for Keller when he got older. I promised I would be back soon and exited her home with Jaxon and Nyko in tow.

"It's good to see you smiling again," Nyko commented as we walked along one of the village's paths. I didn't respond, but kept the smile on my face. I was finally starting to feel alright again. It wasn't long until I realized we were in front of the stables, shooting the men next to me a look I turned to face them.

"What are we doing here?" I asked, before cheekily adding, "Another surprise?"

"I need a few more supplies for our stock," Nyko explained, telling us that he was going to go meet with the farmers and would be back shortly.

"Is that Lucas?" I asked excitedly as I moved over towards one of the corrals. After Nyko left, me and Jaxon walked around aimlessly - well I walked and he followed - until we got to the open fields where people were riding. Sure enough Lucas was on one of the horses in the middle of the pen.

Standing on the lowest rung of the railing I leaned against it as I watched Lucas try to stay seated on the horse.

"Idiot," Jaxon muttered as he leaned against the railing next to me. I just rolled my eyes and nudged him playfully.

"Not all of us are born with the innate ability to be great at everything," I teased. A moment later Lucas went flying from the back of the horse, but unlike the other times he didn't get up right away. Rolling on the floor and moaning, he was gripping his arm while trying to avoid the falling hoofs of the bucking horse around him.

"Lucas!" I screamed as I watched in horror. Jaxon was quick to move next to me, jumping into the corral along with some others who had been nearby as well, trying to distract the raging horse. Once the horse was led away, I ducked underneath the railing and made my way towards Lucas.

"It's my arm, I think it's broken," he wailed as I knelt down next to him. I nodded solemnly after looking him over, the bone was sticking out of his skin - the fracture would have to be reset and immobilized. Good thing Nyko was picking up those extra herbs.

I helped tie Lucas' jacket into a makeshift sling and led him along the path back to the healer's building. After getting him settled I stepped outside to get some fresh air - it was good to be back to treating people, rather than being treated I mused. But I couldn't help but wonder if everyday was going to be always so excitement packed - after the past month of so I could do with some normality.

"Shame how accidents happen, isn't it little one?" a voice taunted from beside me. Turning, I froze seeing Delano leaning against a tree not ten feet from me. How had I not noticed him before?

I held my ground, remembering what Keller had said to me earlier. To not let him win.

"It was an accident and nothing more, I saw him fall," I told him, keeping my voice tight so he wouldn't hear the panic that was spreading through my body.

"Of course, of course," he laughed. "Strange coincidence I'm sure."

I growled under my breath. Nyko had made the comment that the horse Lucas had been riding was always very tame, that bucking was strange behavior for it. But how could Delano have controlled the horse?

"What did you do?" I asked, turning to face him fully, my voice low and tense.

"A nail in the hoof is an awfully irritating thing," he mused. "But nothing you could prove now."

That bastard. I could feel my blood boiling, but before I had a chance to say anything else he continued.

"I saw that you had a little chat with Keller earlier," he said, his voice turning serious. "Remember our deal little one, it would be a shame if something was to happen to that little boy."

"I didn't tell her anything," I replied, my voice far from neutral. How dare he threaten Keller or Lyndon, they were innocents in this!

"Keep it that way, or another accident might happen, you never know," he replied. "Oh, tell the stable boy I heard what happened and send my regards, we're all very worried about him."

His tone was insincere, but I realized why he had switched as Jaxon came to stand next to me.

"Delano," Jaxon greeted, his eyes narrowed and suspicious.

"Jaxon," Delano answered, before nodding at me and turning to leave.

"I thought I told you to stay away from him," Jaxon growled after Delano was out of earshot.

"I'm trying to, he has a funny habit of showing up uninvited," I explained, trying to not let my voice reveal my true feelings. Jaxon just grunted in response. He turned to go back inside, presumably expecting me to follow him, but I reached out and grabbed his hand to stop him.

"Thank you, for today. For introducing me to Keller," I told him softly, dropping his hand as he turned back to me. He nodded in reply.

"It helped talking to her," I told him. "I forgot that feeling of being able to have that one person you tell anything to. And she gives good advice, I think we are going to get along well."

"Good," Jaxon replied, pausing for a moment. "You know that you could tell …. never mind."

I laughed gently, smiling at suddenly bashful warrior in front of me.

"I trust you and Nyko with my life," I told him. "I don't know what I would do without you, but there are some things that are better shared and understood between women."

"Understandable," he conceded, regaining his composure. Before we turned back into the building, I caught my reflection in one of the windows. Pausing again I moved closer.

My hair was gathered to one side, the braids Nyko had done for me a month ago still in tact. My face looked sharper than I remembered it from the Arc, my cheekbones more pronounced and my skin was darker. I sighed running my hands over the scar across my face again.

"Scars are a reminder that you are a survivor, do not be ashamed," Jaxon told me quietly, standing closely behind me looking over my shoulder into my reflection as well.

"Keller told me the same thing sort of," I admitted, dropping my hand and holding my head a little higher. "She told me that our scars are what makes us beautiful."

Locking eyes with my reflection, Jaxon nodded.

"She was right."

I felt my cheeks redden as I turned away from the window. Tilting my head towards Jaxon, it was only then I realized he was just a matter of inches away from me. His eyes locked with mine, sparing only a glance down at my lips. It was as if we were moving in slow motion before Nyko's voice from the doorway pulled us back to reality.

"Did you find Cole?" the healer's voice bellowed from the doorway. "I need her to help reset this boy's arm."

I just laughed awkwardly, stepping away from Jaxon who looked mildly annoyed now.

"Come," I told him, walking towards the doorway. "Duty calls."

Again, thank you for all your reviews! They are always wonderful and incredibly helpful as I continue to develop this story. I incorporated some of your suggestions into this story, and will continue to do so as the story progresses - so continue to review and message me!

In this chapter nonma means mother. Again, I try to keep the grounder language as accurate as possible and therefore is definitely not mine to claim.

I did have a few readers ask what famous people I would relate to my characters for a visual and I had to stop and do some searching to come up with a good answer. I have a pretty set idea of what all my characters look like, but they aren't based off just one person so it was difficult for me to find one thing that full encompassed what I thought my characters should be. But this is the closest I got, so I hope this is able to help some of you who like photo visuals and/pr googling things. =]

Cole - The closest picture I'm happy with for now is Scarlett Johansson playing Natasha Romanoff in the Avengers (longer hair and less spandex). If you go a step further and look at Sarah Manning from Orphan Black, that's how I picture Cole's hair style to look like, keeping the dark brown-reddish copper tones of Scar-Jo.

Jaxon - This was way harder, but I'm thinking along the lines of Vin Diesel (I know, bear with me here) in The Last Witch Hunter, minus the beard and slightly more tribal looking. If that makes any sense at all.

Lucas - I picture more like Dylan O'Brien, maybe a tad older with darker hair.

As far as all the other characters: Nyko, Artigas, Penn and Delano all are existing characters of the 100 franchise and I'm using ... er... borrowing their character adaptations. Minus Delano's injury (spoilers?!). If you find any other pictures that you think would fit the characters let me know! I would be interested to see what ya'll come up with!