I always intended this story to be my take on the grounder's perspective of the events on the show. I wanted to add backstory, and connect with some of the characters that originally drew me to the show in a way that the tv series didn't necessarily do. Hence this story. That being said, while I loosely follow the tv plot, this story is still my own and I have grand plans for it all. Really I do.
Thank you as always for the continued support and messages. And sorry in advance for all the feels.
My face scrunched in pain as I felt another repetitive tap against my sternum, needles digging into flesh. As I felt his hands move away I took a deep breath and steadied myself for the next round. I had been sitting in this makeshift chair for hours, opening my eyes I glanced over at Penn who had stayed faithfully by my side the entire time. Still healing, he was banned from anything remotely strenuous and deciding that it was my fault he couldn't be out being a "badass" - a word I strongly regretted teaching him - he decided to spend the majority of his time annoying me.
"That one I get," Penn said, motioning over to my freshly cleaned arm. "But that, I can't believe Jaxon agreed to."
The two red bands surrounding a just as bright circle tattooed around my arm signified my place as a healer within the clan. Indra had suggested it one night during dinner, suggesting I mimic Nyko's own arm design since I was officially his second. It was a right of passage, all warriors had their own markings designating their skills, background, and number of kills. Nyko had seconded her suggestion and to my surprise Jaxon agreed as well. I had long ago earned my place, and getting my own tattoos would demonstrate my full immersion.
That conversation explained the throbbing pain in my arm. Unlike space, there were no tattoo guns on the ground instead I sat unmoving as Brand drove tiny needles covered in compressed ink and dyes into my skin. Slightly unsanitary, but highly effective.
Sparing a glance down at Brand's current project I smirked. While the healer markings had been fore-planned, this second one was a spur of the moment addition. Laying topless with only the two sides of a zip jacket keeping me modest, my eyes trailed down the lines between my breasts as Brand finished the last of the line work. It started slightly below my collar bone, a dark red upside down triangle - an homage to Jaxon's original clan - with a dark jagged ring in the center at the top of my sternum. There was a brilliant navy circular pattern that curved around the ring and dipped between my cleavage, ending an inch or so below my bra line in the clan's signature three crescent moon symbol. It was a tribute to everything I was and had become, combining the outline of the Ark with Jaxon's clan, dropping into my own clan - just as I had very literally.
"Yeah, well he may be a bit surprised," I admitted as Brand moved away to set the needles down and pick up a new clean cloth. We were finally done. But at my admission both men paused and looked at me with shock.
"I thought he was aware of what we were doing," Brand stated hesitantly. Penn on the other hand burst out laughing uncontrollably.
"He knew about most of it," I argued, taking the rag from his hands and cleaning the excess blood and ink away myself. I heard him curse under his breath which just made Penn laugh harder - if that was even possible.
"It's not a big deal," I told them, sitting up and zipping my jacket closed careful not to touch the tender skin.
"See, here's the thing," Penn explained in between fits of laughter. "I don't know if you've noticed, but Jaxon doesn't really do surprises. Especially not when it comes to you."
"I should have know better," Brand muttered to himself. "And I just let you lay there half naked …. He may actually kill me."
Standing up I just smiled and shook my head, convinced that the two men were being over dramatic. Unhappy maybe, but murderous? On second thought, when Jaxon's over protective nature came into play nothing was out of the question… But I would handle that when it came up I decided.
"Don't worry Brand," I reassured, grabbing the rest of my belongings before moving towards the exit. "I'll just tell him it was all Penn's idea - that should get you off the hook."
Penn stopped laughing and moved quickly to follow me out, complaining loudly as he did so.
"Hey come on now," he reasoned, falling into step by my side. "You just brought me back, you couldn't really want me to die again so soon right?"
"I start to question that decision more and more as the days go on," I teased, smiling up at him while I nudged his shoulder gently with mine. Despite being a massive pain, Penn was one of my closest friends and his near-death experience still haunted me at night.
"Sure Cole," he joked back. "You know you would miss me too much. Who else would keep you entertained? You wouldn't have anyone to talk to!"
"Imagine how much quieter it would be, maybe you should have let him go," Nyko's voice joined, some mirth in his tone despite his serious nature. He had obviously been waiting for us, day packs gathered on the ground around him in preparation. The most recent event had shown us how under supplied we really were, so we had devised a two part mission to both go out and gather more supplies, but then to also meet the joining caravan of the remainder of our tribe. It wouldn't be all of the ones we left back home, but just those who had useful skills - and with any luck - the rest of the drop ship supplies we had left behind in our haste.
"Cole wouldn't be too sad, she would have me and we both know I'm her favorite," Artigas teased from his seat on a low hanging branch. I just smiled and shook my head as Penn walked over to the younger boy to argue with him. Artigas was an actual teenager, Penn just acted like one.
"Change before the others get here," Nyko said, interrupting my thoughts. He handed me a pack that I recognized as my own, and I moved into his nearby tent. It was slightly smaller than Jaxon's but bigger than the one originally assigned to me. Not that I could really remember it truly, I had taken to spending my nights with Jaxon since the explosion. It had only really been a week, but it felt so natural as if I had spent my entire life with him. I couldn't imagine going back to my own solitary cold tent without his warmth by my side, or his grip holding me tight against him. Luckily, he showed no sign in ever wanting me to go back on my own.
I shrugged the skirt I was wearing off, tugging on tight black pants instead. The material was form fitting, but stretchy enough to allow me to move freely. Dropping my jacket as well I tugged on a tight bra wrap, opting away from my typical support due to my fresh ink. It would keep everything secure, but not irritate my skin. I tugged a dark grey t-shirt on as well, completely covering my chest but displaying my arms. I folded my discarded clothes and left them sitting near Nyko's door, making a mental note to pick them up when we returned. I tucked my dark blue jacket back into the pack and exited back outside.
Jaxon, and two other warriors had joined the group with supplies of their own. I attached a med pack to the bottom of my own backpack and finished attaching my other bag around my belt and thigh before standing ready to go as well. Wordlessly, minus a few huffs from Penn, we started our trek east. It wasn't until we were a few miles out that Jaxon dropped back to walk in step with me.
"A true fisa now," he said lowly, glancing over the red rings I now proudly displayed. "Brand did good, they fit you well."
"Yeah," I agreed. "He didn't say anything about payment though, do you know what I could trade with him? I was thinking maybe some herbs that would…"
"I already took care of it," Jaxon interrupted, with a smirk so slight I almost missed it. Of course he did, I thought to myself. The man misses nothing.
'Thank you," I told him sincerely. Keeping my voice low enough that the others wouldn't easily hear us. "You didn't have to."
"Are you going to question everything I do for you?" he asked, his eyes meeting mine questioningly for a moment.
"Probably," I admitted shyly. "I don't think I'll ever get over how well you take care of me."
My answer seemed to ease the tension. We had never talked in depth about either of our pasts, but he knew enough to understand that I had been on my own for the majority of my life. Despite my father, I had mostly taken care of myself. Something that he now found unacceptable. He just grunted in response and we kept moving forward.
Hours later we came to a clearing, stopping to hydrate and rest for a moment.
"We're too close, we should keep moving," one of the other warriors commented to Jaxon, who nodded once in acknowledgment. I just took in the scenery, I had never been in this direction before and the quiet echo of the forest was enchanting. We were near a clearing where the mountains met the forest, and I could almost hear the faint roar of a river nearby. Letting my eyes roam the terrain they paused on the mountain side, bright yellow and red flowers decorated the grass.
"Nyko," I called out, getting the healer's attention. "There, up the mountain. Aren't those the flowers we use for the tonic?"
It was phrased like a question, but I already knew the answer. The first few weeks I had spent on Earth with the healer were spent methodically going over every plant variation and their purposes. Their names were a different story, but I could sort them well enough. The flowers up the mountain side were ones that we used to making a general healing tonic with, they had strong anti-inflammatory properties and dulled pain.
"Yes," Nyko answered, but didn't move from his spot. "But we will find them elsewhere. The mountain is too dangerous."
"They aren't that far up," I argued.
"It's not the mountain itself, it's what lives inside," Artigas supplied. He was referring to the mountain men I realized. An enemy we hadn't had to deal with before we had moved down to help the clan. Dressed as monsters, the mountain men stole our people and turned them into reapers - at least that was what I had been told. I had yet to see either, though I counted that as a good thing.
"I thought they were only spotted further south, from the other side of the mountain?" I questioned, my eyes not leaving the hillside. With the soft breeze everything looked so peaceful. But I knew better to assume that meant it was safe - nothing on Earth was safe.
"Typically, but we shouldn't chance it," one of the warriors answered.
"There's a whole patch though Nyko, enough to replenish our entire supply," I said, ignoring the other man. It might be dangerous, but we needed to restock and I hadn't seen any other patches on our trip yet. We couldn't make the healing tonics without them - they wouldn't be nearly as effective. The silence I was met with confirmed that Nyko was probably thinking the same thing as I was.
"What are the chances we'll find them elsewhere?" Jaxon asked evenly. Nyko shrugged.
"They are hard to come by in flat lands," he admitted.
"We have two days to gather supplies and meet the others Jaxon," one of the other warriors spoke. "We don't have time to take a detour up the mountain, especially if we want to get back to the clan before the attack."
"We won't have any supplies to treat the wounded if we don't make a detour," I countered. The man visibly tensed and glared over at me. He wasn't one of ours, and I wouldn't back down to one of Anya's men - especially not when my people's lives may count on the outcome.
"The choice isn't yours to make," he sneered.
"Nor is it yours," I shot back, not backing down when he took a step towards me. 'Don't back up, don't back down' my own voice echoed in my head - flashing back to the advice I once offered Clarke. I could be just as stubborn as anyone on Earth.
"Do you always argue so much girl?" he questioned. And was immediately answered with a chorus of 'yesses' from Nyko, Penn, and Artigas. I glared at each of them in turn before rolling my eyes and turning back to Jaxon and Nyko who seemed to be refereeing the debate.
"We do need the supplies, and it is unlikely we will find a big of patch anywhere else in the valley," Nyko supplied, speaking lowly to Jaxon. "But there is a risk we can't ignore."
"We could split up," Artigas volunteered. "One group goes up the mountain while the others go down to the river as planned - each gathers what they need and we meet back up on the original route."
In a group full of seasoned warriors - and well, me - leave it to the youngest of us to come up with an actual plan. I smiled over at Artigas, the boy was going to go far.
"We are in the middle of a war, more people are going to get hurt" he continued. "Running the risk of not being able to treat our wounded is a far greater problem isn't it? Especially if it is because of a decision dictated by fear?"
Well, that decided it. I was going up the mountain, and Artigas was forever going to be my hype-man. The others seemed to find the logic in his argument as well.
"We will need the supplies," Jaxon agreed.
"Then how do we decide who goes where?" the condescending warrior from earlier asked.
"I'm going up the mountain, I brought it up in the first place," I announced, steadfast in my decision. I had spotted the flowers and I wouldn't dare suggest a plan for the others that I wouldn't follow through with myself. However, the disapproving glares I received from Jaxon and Nyko told me that they didn't appreciate my moxy.
"I'm going with Cole," Artigas offered, followed by a commitment from Penn as well. Always in my corner I thought to myself with a smile.
"Nyko will lead the second group then. One of you," Jaxon said, stepping back into command of the group while motioning to Anya's men, "will join us, the other will go with Nyko and Penn."
"But…" Penn started to argue before a quick glare from Jaxon stopped him. He huffed and finally nodded in agreement, unhappy at being split. I quietly agreed with the decision though, Penn was still injured despite his strong front - the climb up the hillside would be strenuous enough to possibly re-injure his wounds.
With a few last minute strategy reviews, we split from each other. We were only about a quarter of the way up to the patch I had spotted when my legs were already burning from the steep incline. Next time, I thought to myself, I'm going to suggest gathering supplies that are downhill.
"You'll still have to climb back up once you get them," Jaxon spoke from his spot a few steps behind me. I shrugged, no longer caring that I lacked the ability to keep my thoughts to myself.
I felt my foot slip on one of the loose rocks and I cursed as I threw my hands out in front of myself to keep from totally falling. I was going to blame growing up in space for my total lack of grace and climbing abilities I decide.
"You can go head," I suggested to Jaxon as I steadied myself and resumed the upwards trek. I was by no means falling behind, but I knew he could navigate the terrain better than I could and there was no reason for me to slow him down…. Or for him to witness how clumsy I really am.
"Keep going" he urged, making no move to go ahead. Instead he stood just a few footfalls behind me, eyes ever scanning our surroundings like the ever diligent warrior leader he was.
"I'm pretty sure no one is going to want to run up this forsaken mountain to attack us," I reasoned. "I'm pretty safe strategically speaking."
"Yes, you are," he agreed in his normal detached, cool timbre.
"So, there isn't really any reason for you to hang back," I continued, stopping to curse at the crumbling mountain beneath my feet. I glanced up to see that Artigas was far ahead, bounding around as if this wasn't a death march, while the other warrior wasn't too far ahead of myself - struggling with finding solid footing as well.
"Strategically no," he answered, pausing to let me find a different path. Ever patient, and ever fueling my embarrassment.
"Then why, do you have to stay. And witness. This?" I growled in between breaths as I slipped yet again, this time sliding back down the small slope I was stubbornly battling with. Jaxon helped steady me and pointed to a rock I had overlooked to use as a foothold. Using the newfound perch, I pushed myself upward and grabbed a ingrown root for leverage. I found slightly flatter ground and glanced back down at him with a small victorious smile. To my surprise I found him smirking back at me.
He made quick work of the slope I had been struggling with, quickly moving up until he was level with me.
"Maybe I just liked the view?" he said lowly in me ear as he passed by.
I looked back down the way we had come, we were now high enough to tower over part of the valley and could catch a glimpse of the river that I knew the others were headed towards. The towering dark evergreens and softly blowing overgrown grass did paint a lovely picture.
"The view ahead of me, not the one behind," he teased, causing me to turn back to him. But I had been ahead of him? Nothing pretty about me continually falling onto my hands and knees…. Oh. He barked out a laugh when the recognition crossed my face, causing the others to look back at us with curiosity. I let out a laugh as well and continued to move forward, the ground not nearly as steep as it was before. Jaxon had just openly flirted with me, in front of other people, Earth must be freezing over.
"Nice of you to finally catch up," Artigas joked as we all joined back together. "The flowers are just ahead, you need the entire plant right?"
I nodded, glancing around the patch of flowers around us. There was more than enough to keep us supplied and ready.
"Let's hurry then, before we attract attention," the other warrior huffed, slightly out of breath himself. I was glad I wasn't the only one. Silently we each moved apart, gathering the flowers by their stems and slowly bundling them together for me to stow away. What a sight we must make, I thought as I took a moment to look at the others. A bunch of fully armed warriors, dressed in paint, leather and bone standing on the side of a mountain picking flowers. What a juxtaposition.
Once I had stuffed the last bundle into my pack, I called for the others to stop. We had enough, and still had to make our way back down the mountain side before dark. As it turned out, going back down was almost as difficult as climbing up had been. More than once I had debated just throwing myself down, tempted to roll my way to the bottom come what may. Even Artigas was struggling more this time. We had taken to working in tandem with each other down the steeper parts as the Jaxon and the other warrior lead the way down.
"Did you hear that?" I stopped, pausing to catch my breath and locate the faint noise that caught my attention.
"Hear what?" Artigas questioned, pausing as well. I was about to tell him that it was nothing, but there was no mistaking the sound when it rang again. All at once our party's attention snapped to the North where someone had sounded a warning signal. It sounded once more before we could see the threat. Coming from north of the river a thick yellow fog was sweeping the area. That's where the others were at I realized, that had been Nyko's horn I heard. Shit.
"Move!" Jaxon commanded with full authority, taking bigger strides down the mountain. We followed suit, no longer caring that were sliding perilously down the slope.
"There's a bunker nearby," Anya's warrior offered, and I was suddenly thankful that we had joined him with our group. He would know the land better than we would. "But it's towards the fog, we have to be quick."
Great, I thought, because running straight into pure radiated acid fog was exactly what was next on my to-do list. I lost my footing and tumbled past the others a short way, pain shooting up my arm as I landed with a thud.
"Get up Cole," Jaxon said as he pulled me roughly to my feet, giving me no option but to keep moving. We were at the base now anyways, moving into the trees. My body burned with exhaustion but I pushed harder, I had seen the horrors of the fog before.
"Up ahead," the warrior called, a good thirty feet ahead of us. I hoped he meant shelter, because all I saw was fog rolling towards us in the not so far distance. He paused suddenly, pulling ivy and branches off a spot on the ground. Please let that be the door. Jaxon moved past me quickly, going to help. It was nearly clear as I reached the men, and as they yanked the door open I suddenly realized what I was staring at. The door looked just like one of our flight simulator games back on the Ark - we had found a grounded airplane from before the explosion!
A sudden scream broke me out of my memories. Turning back I saw that Artigas had tripped and was now grasping at his ankle in pain. I started to move towards him when a harsh grip pulled me back.
"Get in!" Jaxon yelled, pushing me towards the buried plane door. The other warrior was already inside, offering me a hand down. I looked back at Artigas who was struggling to get up, and then back at the fog that was now closing in on us. He needed to get up. He needed to hurry.
"Cole, go!" Jaxon shouted again, shoving me this time towards the entrance. I could feel the electricity in the air, making my nerves stand on end.
"No," I pleaded, moving against him to go towards my friend. He just pushed back harder. Why? He had to let me go, I had to help Artigas.
"No Jaxon, we can't leave him," I yelled, struggling against him. "We're not leaving anyone behind."
"There's no time," he said his own voice strained as he finally pushed me hard enough that I fell back into the entrance, darkness enveloping me.
I screamed for him even as the breath was forced from my lungs from the impact. I had landed against something hard and metal, I registered the pain but pushed it aside. My mind was soley on my friend who was getting further and further away from me.
"Artigas!" I yelled, my voice raspy from the lack of air. Jaxon spared one last look over his shoulder, and with a pained expression jumped down beside me, pulling the hatch closed behind him sealing us in.
"No, no, no, no," I wailed, shrugging my backpack off and lunging back towards the door. "Please, no."
"Cole," Jaxon answered quietly, grabbing my forearms to keep me locked in place. I struggled harder. Artigas. We couldn't leave him. There was still time, I needed to get to him.
"Cole stop," Jaxon commanded, as if I would suddenly snap out of my hysteria. Despite his grip on my arms I still shoved against him hitting him as hard as I could wherever I could. How could he?!
I could hear it now, the cracking radiation just outside the door. It had overcome us, trapped us in the crumbling, buried plane debris. Sealed off from the danger, sealed off from my friend. It was too late. I was too late. Artigas. I'm so sorry.
I stopped struggling, the reality setting in. My body was trembling as tears flowed down my cheeks, but I couldn't make another sound.
"Taim yu drag raun, taim yu ge ban au" the warrior voiced lowly. As I caught his words everything stopped. If you fall behind, you get left behind.
No longer breathing I took a step back from Jaxon who hesitantly released me, before turning in full anger to the other man. Every ounce of pain and anger was radiating off of me, and though I could only make out his outline in the darkness I lunged for him screaming.
"How dare you!" I yelled, Jaxon grabbing me quickly from behind before I could reach the other warrior. How could he say such a thing. Artigas is my friend, dearer to me than this stranger was, and he talks about his death as if it was deserved. As if it was justified because it met some messed up logic. It should be him dying, not Artigas. Never Artigas.
Jaxon lifted me off my feet and I used the momentum to grab the knife in my boot and throw it half-hazardly at the other man. I wished he was dead instead of my friend. I had no idea if I actually hit him or not as I thrashed in Jaxon's arms. Screw him, screw the fog, and screw Earth.
All at once my adrenaline wore off. I slumped against Jaxon's chest tired and defeated. My heart was utterly broken.
"Artigas…"
"Shut up," I hissed savagely at Jaxon. "You have no right to say his name."
I pushed away from him, moving in the opposite direction stumbling over debris in the pitch black. I had to move though, I couldn't stand to be close. Jaxon moved to follow me but I growled ferally.
"Stay away from me," I warned. "Both of you."
Without another word I collapsed into a broken aisle seat far from the others, and in the complete darkness I broke down and fell into despair.
Trust the process.