Chapter 14

Hrathgar stood in front of the small stables with the dour caballos. He wasn't sure what Palla needed them for with eight people landing, but he didn't question her. She wanted caballos. She got her caballos, all four of her war caballos. The four caballos of war...red, black, pale and white. The four caballos that she had cultivated, groomed, and trained. The four caballos that took simple verbal and auto commands from a simple whistle to a hand clap. He didn't ask why she wanted her war caballos, but he knew that they were gentle creatures and would allow strangers to ride them, unlike most of the other caballos in the Village.

He watched as she inspected them. She was being thorough and he understood. She wanted to make sure that they were in top shape. She done the same thing with Lari and the rest of the Healer corps that had stocked the small clinic. Lari was one of the heads of the Guild, but she was also a Ranger. Having Palla question everything was normal for her, even if it was a little disconcerting and felt over-the-top and very micromanaged, but even Lari understood the importance of having good medicine, salves, and remedies available. So Lari didn't question it. She went with it and made sure that everything was stocked to Palla's wants and possible needs for a long, cold Winter.

"Are you ready for us to leave you here?" Ferre asked as she stood in the breezeway and rubbing her belly.

"Aren't you? That boy isn't going to wait much longer. You need to be in the Village for his birth," Palla replied.

"He is getting rather antsy to meet his father. He is very active when Hrathgar talks to him."

"It is his deep, booming voice," Palla stated.

"I am sure that it is, but he is going to have to wait until the snow clears or I'm not going to be a happy mother."

"I don't think that you have a say in the matter, but he will come when he is ready."

"I know this, remember? I have Sprite. She's a handful. I am not sure what I'm going to do with two running around."

"Well, you'll have a little while before he's running around causing as much mischief as Sprite does, but the good news is that by then, you'll have Sprite and sometimes Lex to deal with him for you. Older siblings are a nice thing to have," Palla teased her. "Don't worry. You know that your have Hrathgar and his brothers and sister to watch them for you. You'll have me as well. He'll have no shortage of people to care for him, Ferre and you know it."

"I do."

"Then stop worrying about it."

"Easier said than done," Ferre told her.

"Why?"

"Because I'll want you by my side and you'll be here with the Star People."

"Star People? Is that what the Village is calling them?" Palla asked her as she took Ferre's hands. "Don't worry too much about them or me. If you want me there for the birth, I will be there. There is no amount of snow that will stop me. Trust me on that. That is my nephew. I'll want to be there to protect him."

"I know that, but you'll have your hands full with the newcomers, Palla. I can't ask you to abandon them for me. You have to do your duty as Palla and the Fio."

"I will."

"How?" Ferre questioned.

"You are my people, Ferre. You come, first. You will always come first, Ferre, you, Hrathgar, Sprite, Lex and Tamman. You will always come first for me," Palla replied.

"And, then Village?"

"They come next."

"Sor-"

"Don't, Ferre. You are all I have left. Don't take that from me," Palla told her.

"Give me a radio or comm to talk to you. I want to know that you are safe. And, if you to talk, you find a way to talk to me."

"I will. Come with me. I'll get you one of the other comms."

"Video?"

"No, it is like the little one I usually carry. The only other person that has one besides the officer of the guard on the wall is Imber. So, remember to stay on the channel set or Imber might just show up and be angry with you for being on the Rangers and Guards channels."

Ferre laughed, "Don't worry. I wouldn't want to have to take care of old man in my condition. We both know that he wouldn't stand a chance."

"You're right," Palla replied as they climbed the stairs up to the rooms that were ready.

She dug through a bag on the desk that bore the video comm until she found the small comm device. She set it to channel 307.

"Just don't touch the dail," Palla said as she handed it to her.

"I won't. Well, I should gather up the rest of the crew and head back to the Village. Is there any orders for Balt or Imber?"

"No. Be safe. Keep up the wall and I'll be back soon. Winter will not keep me away. I'll find a way back through the snows. Keep safe and warm. And, be ready in the Spring for the newcomers."

Palla saw them all off an hour later with promises to check with Ferre in the morning. She knew that she didn't have a lot of time before they landed and she wanted to make sure that she had enough food ready for them. She looked up at the suns, then the sky, and then where she thought the ship was at that moment. She'd promised Clarke a hot meal with meat and a bath. She meant to deliver on both.

She was in the mess hall pulling out potatoes out of the oven when she heard the roar of the engines getting close to the landing site. She turned down another oven to warm. She turned down the stoves as well and allowed the vegetables to simmer. Looking in the last over, she pulled out the giant roast. Spooning some of the aus jus over it, she set it back in the oven with the it off to allow it to cool slowly. She knew that the meat would still cook a little more, but it would still be tinder and juicy by the time that started to eat.

She grabbed her jacket, the official Eligius marked jacket and moved to the processing site. She had no real weapons on her save her knives. She didn't want to look like a threat and she meant it. But, she had guns near enough to her to dispatch them all if need be. She was cautious, not stupid.

The door the landing ship opened. She couldn't help but smile as she saw Clarke, Octavia, and Madi huddle together at the entrance. There were more people, but she didn't know them yet. She was sure that Clarke would introduce them soon enough.

"Hello," she said as they stepped off slowly and towards her. "Welcome to Terre Nova."

She let them take it all in. The clean air, the two suns, the greenery of the land, and the feeling of non-artificial gravity again. She waited. Madi was the first to approach her, followed by a tall woman, who looked very deadly behind her. When Madi felt her presence, she turned to the woman and said something in their native language to make the woman stand down a little, with a minor mumbling of "Heda?

"Thank you for having us," Madi told her.

"Are you hungry or do you want to do the screenings first?" Palla asked them.

Madi turned to Clarke and then to Abby. Palla watched at the blond leader and the older woman talked. She just waited, patiently. She was trying to make this as painless as possible for them.

Clarke turned, "We'll process first."

"This way. Abby, I am sure that it is smaller than you are used to, but it was the best that I could do on short notice," Palla told them as she led them to the barracks buildings nearby. Leading them into one of the barracks buildings and room lettered "H," she motioned for someone to sit. Abby did first, looking at the equipment in wonder. "It won't hurt. It is just a scan. If something comes up, we'll collect blood and tissue and go from there. But, I doubt that any of you will have any issues."

"Madi and I will," Clarke offered.

"Because of your blood?"

"Yes."

"No, actually you won't. We've had black blood here, too. It isn't common, but it is part of the reason that everyone here can handle the radiation from both suns. The Primas were black bloods and our originals, turned that way by Doctor Becca Prama. You'll be fine. Besides, no one but Abby will see the results," she told them.

"Really?" Abby asked'm

"Yes, you're their doctor. You have full access to the databases and archives that we have here. This will be your clinic until a bigger one can be built or you join our medical team."

Abby looked at her astonished. She never though that she'd get her own clinic besides the one on the Ark. Having their resources would allow her to study their medicine, illnesses and cures. She'd be ready to treat her own people.

"Thank you," Abby said quietly as she moved over to be scanned.

It took around an hour for them all to be scanned. Palla showed Abby how to access the files and run them. While they were running, Palla talked to them all learning more about them each. She was fascinated by Echo and Indra. She wasn't that impressed with Bellamy, but found it strange that he was Octavia's older brother. Madi's description of everyone was pretty spot on and it made it easier for her to be with them.

"If everyone is ready, we can just move across the way," Pella stated as she moved towards the door.

Clarke and Abby stayed back a ways and shared a look. Abby took Clarke's hand as they watched the rest of them cross the breezeway into another set of rooms. She looked at her daughter and smiled.

"She set up a clinic for us."

"I know."

"I have full accac to their medical information, Clarke. Diseases, medicines...it's so extensive. Why? Why is she giving us all of this?" Abby asked her.

"Because she wants us to make this our home and she wants it to be a smooth transition. We'll have to camp here for the winter, but conspiring we can go to the Village. We can started building a permanent home here," Clarke stated.

Raven came back across to get them. She had a huge grin on her face. Instead of saying anything, she reach out and grabbed Clarke's free hand, essentially pulling them both into the other rooms that were marked with a "M."

"What is that smell?" Clarke questioned as she rounded a wall to see everyone else sitting at a large table.

"Food," Raven replied pulling them closer to the table.

Madi was at one end. Echo was to her left. The seat on her right was empty, but in the seat next to it sat Octavia. Raven pushed her towards the seat and then pulled Abby over to the only other seats empty near Pella at the other of the table. Clarke surveyed the virtual feast before them.

As she looked over the table, she saw the roast and vegetables. There were baked potatoes and things to dress them. There even seemed to be some sort of bean dish and even a salad. She looked over the spread and then at Palla.

"Is it to your liking?" she asked Clarke when their eyes met.

Clarke simply smiled and nodded. She remembered Palla asking her what she wanted. She'd asked for real food and a bath. She'd asked for other things and she was sure that Madi had as well. So far with what they'd been shown, Clarke was impressed and dare say, she was happy.

"I know that you said you wanted meat, but I didn't think a meal of just meat would be sufficient, Clarke," Palla said.

"You asked for this?" Madi asked her leaning in close.

"Not really," Clarke answered. "She asked me what I wanted when I came down that we couldn't have on the ship. I said meat and a bath."

"When we're done, I will show you all where you can sleep. Please eat. Drink. Have your fill."

"Clarke," Octavia started as she reached for Clarke's cup instead of her own.

Her eyes met Echo's, who did the same with Madi's cup. They both drank and set the cups down. Everyone remembered the last time someone tasted a cup for the Heda, most of them were there for the event. Raven still bore the scars. When Octavia turned to Clarke and nodded, Echo did the same to Heda.

"The ale?" Octavia asked as she reached for her own cup.

"It is something that we all drink. It is made in the Village with grains and the cloud fruit. That is why is has a blue color, but it isn't very alcoholic even though we call it an ale. We have a stronger version for adults, but I wasn't sure if you were used to such things. I didn't bring any barrels of it here," Palla answered. "Is that okay? Do you want me to get something stronger? I have some Terren Vodka if you'd like."

"No, this is fine," Clarke said quickly and received a glare from Raven. "We can try some of that later. This is fine for dinner."

Raven shook her head but agreed. She'd try the vodka later. They all moved to dig in to the feast. Madi was the only one that seemed a little out of sorts.

"I know that it isn't fish or small game, Madi, but it is good. Try some. This is something that Lexa might have had before Primfaya."

"I know."

"Then, what's wrong?"

"This is almost the same feast that Lexa gave you before Gustus ruined it all," Madi told her quietly.

Clarke did her best not to drop her fork. She looked around the table and then back at Madi. Palla was watching them. She could see the distress on their face.

"Is something wrong?" Palla asked as she sat down her fork and reached for her glass of ale.

"No, just bad memories," Madi replied as she reached for her glass. She raised it towards Palla, never letting her eyes leave the other leader's. "To our survival."

"No, to you living," Palla offered up in toast.

"To living!" the rest of the toasted as Clarke and Madi shared a look.