Chapter 23

Palla rode as hard as she dared. She didn't know how long she would be out in the wilderness looking for Octavia, but she knew that she had to find her. She tried to track her, but she really would have needed Sven, Hrathgar's brother with her to do that. She had enough skill to follow the trails and the broken branches that showed possibly were the other brunette had gone, but she wasn't good enough to see other clues that would let her know how fresh the trail really was. Thankfully, Octavia wasn't worried that much, it seemed, in hiding her trail.

Knowing that Clarke had told her about the pond and the falls, she took off in that direction. She followed a clean trail and made it to the falls in record time. However, Octavia wasn't there. Palla cursed under her breath. She doubled back and rode for a clearing. She jumped down off the caballo and looked at the ground.

She finally spotted some hoof prints. They weren't heading towards the pond. They were heading towards the wall.

"Fuck!" Palla cursed aloud as she jumped back on the back of the caballo.

She pushed the caballo as hard as she could. There was no time to spare. She had to make sure that Octavia hadn't done something stupid like try to jump over the wall. She also wanted to make sure that she hadn't been spotted by the Praha. She hoped that Octavia hadn't been pushed so hard that she would seek her own death at someone else's hand. She knew what that was like and she wouldn't see the pain that Octavia's death would cause. She had to stop her.

She thought about that as she clumsily follow Octavia's trail towards the wall. Why was she so invested in Clarke and her people? She didn't know. She thought about the conversations that she'd been having with Ferre. The only thing that she got from that was that she was enamored with Clarke. There was something about Clarke that drew her in and held her there. It had been the same with Tamma, but she wasn't looking for love. Far from it. She didn't want the burden or the responsibility of someone else's heart. Caring for Lex was more than enough for her at the moment, or so she thought. She had to admit that she was attracted to the younger blonde, but she would never act on it. She couldn't. She had too much to deal with and so did Clarke. And, right now that meant that she had to find Octavia.

Pulling up short in a small copse of trees, she saw the brunette. She could hear the agony in her voice. She drew her sword and was off her caballo and at Octavia's side before she realized she'd even moved. Palla quickly looked her over. The torn shirt and the wounds all over Octavia's body gave her pause. She knew how close they were to the wall, but she didn't see any signs of a struggle, battle or fight. Octavia hadn't even pulled a knife to defend herself.

"Are you that daft?" Palla asked her as she leaned over her.

Then she smelled it. Sticky sap. Octavia was covered in it.

"Well, that explains the wounds. Where in Hades were your riding, girl?" Palla questioned, but knew that she wasn't going to get a good answer from the younger woman while she was in so much agony. "Come on. You got to help me get you up."

Octavia writhed on the ground and didn't move to help Palla at all. Realizing that she couldn't, Palla realized that she would have to improvise something. She ran back to her pack on her horse. She found a some rope and a rather large set of furs. It would have to do. She had to get Octavia to the Springs as fast as she could. If the sticky sap stayed in her system too long...she didn't want to think about it.

Grabbing two falling limbs, she quickly lashed a litter together and then tied it off to her caballo, Svathimmel. She found Fotia grazing near by and tied her off to Svathimmel. Then, with great effort, she managed to drag and lift Octavia up into the litter.

"Sorry about this," Palla told her as she drew out a knife and proceeded to cut off Octavia's clothes.

She knew that the cooler air would make Octavia feel better from the fire of the sticky sap. It also helped get whatever sap was still stuck to her off somewhat. She needed to be in the springs. The water would suck some of it out of her wounds, but it would also wash the rest off. Palla hated stick sap, so much so that she'd had entire forests of the trees destroyed. Obviously she'd missed some somewhere or burning it didn't truly kill it. She sighed as she pulled another blanket out of her saddle bags and draped it lightly over Octavia's naked form.

"Hold on, Octavia. I'll care for you. We have to go, now, though," Palla informed her as she moved to her horse and started the bumpy journey to the hot springs.

Considering what she was doing, Palla thought they made good time. She pulled Svathimmel as close to the springs as she dared. She released the ropes that bound the litter to him and pulled it closer to the waters' edge. She pulled the caballos over to some grass to graze.

Gathering some stones, she built a fire ring and then a small fire. She didn't know how long that she would be able to keep Octavia there before they would have to ride back to the barracks and to the medical unit. Once she was happy with the fire, she banked it a little and then moved back towards the caballos. Standing next to Svathimmel, she stripped down until she was in her bra and boxers. Placing her clothes near the fire, she moved back to Octavia. Slowly she submerged her own body in the hot water. Reaching out, she pulled Octavia in with her.

Holding Octavia close to her, she washed her body with just the hot water. She didn't dare rub one area too long, but she knew that she had to get the sap off her body. She also knew that the water would help Octavia's spasming muscles relax a little while she did it. She knew that the water would keep them both warm as well as she watched the suns disappear behind the line of trees.

"Stay with me, Octavia. This is not how you end. You are a warrior. Fight," Palla demanded as she continued to hold her up in the water.

After an hour or so, Palla knew that they needed to get out of the water. She glanced over Octavia's body. It was covered from head to toe in cuts from the Sulu trees. She pulled herself out of the Springs and sat on the edge of the pool as she lifted Octavia's limp body from the water. She quickly moved her back to the litter and covered her with blankets and furs. Drying off in front of the fire, she finally dressed herself.

She looked down at the now shivering brunette. Shaking her head, she summoned all the strength she could and dragged the litter over to the fire, leaving Octavia there as close as she could without her getting burned. She grabbed her water and tried to force some down Octavia throat. She knew that it wouldn't be much, but she needed to drink.

"Come on, Octavia. Drink."

Octavia opened her mouth a little and let some of the water trickle down her throat. It wasn't a lot, but it was enough for Palla to be happy. She saw Octavia shivering again, so she took off her boots and joined her in the litter. Holding her as close as she dared, she used her own body heat under those blankets to keep her warm.

When she surveyed the scene, she realized that it was dark. She wasn't stupid enough to think that she could travel with Octavia on the litter back to the barracks. Settling down, she kept her close and covered.

"You're just gonna have to make it to morning."

"Sha," Octavia replied very weakly and very quietly.

"Sleep. It'll be easier to deal with the pain and fire. I'll stay with you and keep your warm. You're safe now, Octavia."

Palla didn't try to sleep. She knew that she had to stay awake to make sure that Octavia was safe. She could feel the younger woman shiver most of the night, but it wasn't violent and she would eventually relax into Palla's embrace. She held her and prayed for an early morning.

A few hours into her confinement with Octavia, she heard a noise coming from the caballos. She looked around and made sure that there was no one else in the area. She banked the fire a little and slowly extracted herself. Reaching down for her tomahawk and a knife, she surveyed the area surrounded the camp until she found the source of the noise.

It was definitely coming from the caballos. She circled them and the looked at her bags. She hadn't checked them thoroughly. She knew that Indra and Echo had packed them, so she hadn't been worried. Pulling them off of Svathimmel and returning to Octavia's side, to make sure she was warm enough, she dug through them then. She found some food, mostly dried meat and nuts. Eating a few, she continued her search. Hitting the bottom of one of the bags, she finally found it.

"Palla?" she heard from the device.

"I'm here."

"Did you find her?" Raven asked.

"I did."

"How is she?" Clarke asked.

"She's hurt."

"Hurt?"

"Have Abby ready to receive her early in the morning. As soon as there is light, we'll be moving. Tell Abby that it is Sticky Sap poisoning. She should have everything that she needs in the clinic. If not, call Hrathgar and tell him."

"He'll be on the way at first light as well," Raven told her.

"You called him?"

"You told me to before you left."

"Oh...sorry...good. I need to speak with him anyways. I'll let you know when I leave in the morning. Keep someone on the radio, Raven," Palla said.

She knew that they were worried. Octavia was their friend, but they were close like family. They all wanted to go look for her. Palla could see it their eyes, but she knew that it would pointless. They didn't know the area. Hades, they didn't know anything about the planet and she couldn't let them go off on their own. If she had taken anyone, it would have just slowed her down. No, she'd done the right thing in going alone and finding her.

Turning back to Octavia, she realized that she was shivering again. She banked up the fire again and the returned to the litter to hold her. It only took a few minutes this time for Octavia to settle into her. Holding her close, Palla let herself relax and close her eyes. Morning wasn't that far off.

As soon as she felt the light, more than saw it, coming through the trees, she was up. She quickly doused the fire. Pulling out whatever she had to cover Octavia, she draped it all on her, hoping it would keep her warm enough on the ride back. She pulled the litter back to Svathimmel and hooked it back up. Tying Fotia back to her saddle, Palla mounted and started for the barracks. She knew that it was going to be slow going, but she pushed as hard as she dared without hurting Octavia further as she was dragged behind the caballos on the litter.

When she broke through into the clearing, she looked at the path that lead towards the wall. It was torn up like something had come through in the night. She drew the sword again and gripped the reins tighter in her left hand. Her eyes darted around the area, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Maintaining her guard, she continued on her way to the barracks.

A quick war cry came from a tree. She was knocked from the caballo, but she didn't lose her sword. She came up swinging and quickly dispatched the Praha scout that had attacked. Her head ran wild with reasons why he was so far below the wall, but it didn't matter at the moment. Arrows were quickly filling the area. She cut the rope that bound Fotia to Svathimmel and bade her run for the barracks. The roan took off.

Spinning round, she looked for them in the trees. More arrows fell around her. Then she looked at Octavia. They weren't aiming for her, only Palla. That didn't make it any easier. She had to get them out of there. Dropping the litter from Svathimmel, she gathered Octavia up the best that she could. Thankfully the brunette was somewhat conscious enough to help her. Dropping her over the saddle as easily as she could, Palla mounted behind her. Pulling her into her own body, she carefully wrapped the blankets around the younger brunette, sheathed the sword and grabbed the reins. She kicked Svathimmel and bade him ride.

She couldn't help the smile that crossed her face as she saw the barracks coming into view. She kept up the gallop as she aimed for the fire that they'd lit. Raven was standing there. She could hear her call for the rest of them. Clarke, Echo, Abby, Indra and Madi came pouring out of the clinic.

She slowed as she neared them. Echo and Indra were the first to her. She carefully lowered Octavia to them.

"Take her inside. I kept her as warm as could, but she needs the salve now. Abby help her," Palla commanded.

They took her back into the clinic. Madi followed them, but not before Palla saw the complete worry on the Heda's face. Clarke held the reins as she dismounted. She took a few steps and then looked up at Clarke. She bunched her eyebrows together and swayed a little before everything went black.