Chapter 27

Madi sat down in front of Ferre. She was still in the clinic and she was sitting in the little area that Palla had been put in. She looked over at Palla. She was still pale and unmoving. Abby had shifted her up onto her side, hoping it would be a little more comfortable for her. There had been no real change since they finished with her the day before. She looked over the woman in the bed and then back at Ferre.

"Hrathgar is caring for the caballos," Madi stated.

"I know. He's a breeder. He always lets Palla pick one from each breading season. She's raised and trained all of her caballos herself."

"They are her war horses," Madi replied.

"For lack of a better phrase, yes. She is gifted in that manner. Hrathgar has been with her since the beginning."

"He is like her brother?"

"Between him, Sven, and Jorgen, yeah, they are family, but she is closer with Hrathgar. Our farm is next to hers. Our daughters are friends and cousins, but they act like sisters," Ferre stated.

"Lex?"

"Yes, she and Sprite."

"Does she not miss time with Lex? She's so young still. Does she not miss Palla?"

"She does and she doesn't. She has us and a great big pog. And even though she is young, she knows that Palla is important to us."

"It must still be hard for her."

"She's never said anything about it. I think she just enjoys the nights she is with us because she has Sprite to play with. But, soon, she'll have Tamman to deal with as well," Ferre answered.

"Tamman? Your naming your child after your sister? That isn't a common thing among our people."

"You don't honor your dead?"

"Oh, we honor them. Sometimes names stay in a family, but there aren't many of us left. I am not sure that I would name any children that I might have after anyone I lost. There would be too many names to choose from, but then again, it isn't common for the Commander to have children."

"Because you die so young?" Ferre asked.

"Yes."

"But, things are different here. Maybe you can be the first Commander to have a family beyond Clarke and her mother. Who knows what you can do, Madi? You have the power to change everything for your people and you've already started just by coming here and giving them a new chance at life. There is so much in front of you," Ferre told her.

"There is," Madi said with a laugh. "There is so much that no Commander has never thought of having before, well none but Lexa. She dared to dream of a future without war, with a peace among the clans. She fought for that, and that is her legacy. Living here, adapting, will be mine," Madi stated.

"But, what about more?"

"What about it? I can't think about that, yet, Ferre. I still owe my life to my people. I am the only true born Natblida. Clarke is one because of magic and medicine. She explained it to me, but I didn't understand it all. If another is born, I will have to train them."

"So, you would train Lex?"

"She's a Natblida?" Madi asked her.

"She has the black blood you speak of. So does, Palla. There is at least one a generation for us. Balt is the Keeper. He teaches them things. They usually become our Fios, but Palla...she's turned from Eligius. She won't take the mantle. I think she is afraid," Ferre explained.

"She isn't afraid, Ferre. She promised Tamma she never would. She chose Tamma over the mantle of being the Keeper."

Ferre looked at her, studying her blue eyes. If she looked hard enough, she could see Palla looking back at her. There was something between them. She'd seen it in the last few hours. It wasn't just their connection of having black blood designed by Becca Prama and genetically altered over generations. No, there was more to it. It was almost as if when Ferre looked at Madi she saw a young Sorcha looking back at her. She reminded her so much of the girl that her sister had fallen for when they were teenagers, but Madi...Madi might have only been twelve, maybe thirteen, but she had the mindset of someone older, wiser. She supposed that that it was from Earthlings were calling the Flame, but it was more to it that.

"Do your people believe in reincarnation?" Ferre asked her.

"We do."

"And, you possess all the memories of all the Commanders that came before you?"

"I do."

They stared at each other some more. Ferre didn't know what to say to that. She'd learned some of their ways from what Palla had told her about them. Seeing them in person, it made it more real. Hearing it from Madi's mouth, didn't just make it real, it made it tangible. She could see the power and the regalness that Madi possessed. She saw what Palla saw, because it was the same thing that she saw in Palla. Clarke had the same power. She could see where Madi got some of her mannerisms.

"When are you and Hrathgar leaving?"

"We need to get back soon. The snows will start and I don't want to be stuck out here. We could always ride back, but it is harder in the snow. I am sure that Hrathgar will be back before Tamman comes. If he can't make it with a load of supplies, I am sure that he'll send Sven or Jorgen with a wagon. It would take a few days in the thickest of the snows, but we don't want you to freeze."

"The next wave down will have hunters. We plan on starting our on stockpiles. We shouldn't have to rely on yours, but it seems we must. We could have waited in space longer, a few more seasons, but I don't think that Clarke would have liked that. I mean, eating liquids, algae, and synthesized food will only curb your appetite. It doesn't fill you. She's lived on rations. She's starved. She's eaten like there is no tomorrow. She's eaten things that would make your stomach turn, but she did it all to survive."

"And, you?"

"Clarke had it harder than I did. I respect everything that she's been through and everything that she has done. I don't agree with all of it, but she sacrificed herself to save her friends. She suffers for them. She bears some of the hard decisions so they don't have to, and through it all, somehow she still manages to find the good in everything, she smiles, and she continues on fighting even when things seem to be at their bleakest. I hope that I can be half the leader she is. I've lead on battle on my own, but I have thousands of battles behind me. Out of them all, thought, there is only one Commander that I would follow to the ends of the Earth, to final battle of my life, and across the universe that isn't Clarke," Madi told her.

"Who is that?" Ferre asked her.

"Leksa kom Trikru," Madi answered.

Ferre just nodded. She'd heard the name before from Palla, but to hear Madi say it took her breath away. She could see the fire in the young teen's eyes. She could hear her conviction in her voice. Madi was the reborn Lexa and all the Commanders before them. She had a hard time in coming to power, but Madi was determined, with Clarke's aid, to make sure that the people of Earth prospered, wherever they may be.

Clarke came through the curtain. She looked at her daughter and then at Ferre. She nodded at Ferre as she moved over to the bed to check on Palla's wounds.

"Still no change?"

"No, she hasn't woken."

"She will soon. I am sure that it is just all the drugs that Mom pumped her with. She wanted to be sure that she wasn't in pain. The down side to all of that is that sleeps. Plus, I am not sure how quickly she'll metabolise it, too. Some people burn it off faster, others very slowly. She's seems to be doing alright though according to the monitors. Everything is in normal range," Clarke told them as she moved to check on Palla's calf first.

"She didn't tell me that you were a doctor, too," Ferre stated.

"I am not."

"But..."

"I was studying to be a doctor on the Ark before I was arrested and subsequently sent to Earth. I never got to take the exams to be an actually doctor. But, I have done my share of healing, both on Earth and on the Ark. I can say that it has become a valuable skill for me to have."

"You've saved many?"

"I did my best," Clarke replied.

"Clarke, you stitched your own leg up after I got you caught in the bear trap."

"I really didn't have a choice in that matter. It was either stitch it up or bleed. Bleeding out wasn't something that I wanted to do and I didn't want you to have to deal with it either. You'd already lost enough," Clarke told her as she pulled up the sheets to look at the wound in Palla's leg.

She gingerly touched around the wound. She was looking for fever. Thankfully, she felt none. This meant not only were the IV antibiotics working, but that wounds were clean enough before they catarized them. It would scar, but it wouldn't be too bad. It wouldn't effect her movement.

"Madi, can you go sit with Octavia? Talk to her. Let her know that you are there," Clarke asked she started to move to the other wound in Palla.

"Is she okay?"

"Octavia, yeah, she's just still asleep. I just don't want her to be alone. She's going to be very defensive when she finally does wake. I want it to be to a friendly face," Clarke told her.

Madi smiled at her and left the room.

"That was a very diplomatic way of getting her to leave," Ferre stated as she met Clarke's blue eyes with her own hazel.

"It was mostly true."

"You care for the both."

"I do."

"Why do you care so much about Palla?" Ferre pushed her.

"I don't know. I feel drawn to her somehow, but it doesn't make sense. Plus, I know that even though she won't admit it, Madi is scared for Octavia."

"She thinks very highly of her," Ferre stated.

"We all do. She's come the farthest out of all of us. She finally found her place. She never deserved anything that happened to her. And, she is one of the originals to have landed with us. Out of one hundred and two, there are honestly only six left. Four of which are here now. Two still on the ship, but we are all one big family. For a while, we were all we had to survive. It changes people."

"I am sure."

Clarke was quiet then. She moved the sheet strategically to get to the wound as it was. Thankfully, Palla was situated on her side. Clarke didn't know how long her mother would let her stay like that before they rolled her either onto her back or her front to rest a little while longer. Honestly, she hoped that Palla would wake before then. She moved the sheet to rest on her hip and then pulled up the shirt to her ribs. This was she could see both the front and the back without too much maneuvering.

"How does it look?" Ferre asked her.

"They are both doing well. Never wound should give her any trouble. She'll be up and out commanding the Village before we both know it. We'll just have to make it take it easy. It is still just amazing that this arrow," Clarke said as she pointed to it. "It missed everything. She should be dying right now, or in a significantly more amount of pain and healing. As it is, she'll be up and walking around in probably a day's time."

"I told you before Eligius has a purpose for her. He hasn't let her die yet. He isn't done with her. He still protects her even though she's turned her back on him. But, Palla's always been lucky like that. She won my sister over enough to agree to marry her. That was a feat in itself," Ferre stated.

"It wasn't so much a feat as it was her way of testing me," Palla said as she shifted on the bed to look over at Ferre.

"You're awake," Clarke and Ferre both stated as they were both looking down into her dark brown eyes.

"Like you said, Ferre, it'll take more than arrow to keep me down," she replied.

"How do you feel?" Clarke asked.

"Like I've been shot," Palla answered.

"Your leg? Your side? Any gross amount of pain?"

"No more than I would expect. Forget about me. How is Octavia? Is she okay? Did she get the salve fast enough?" Palla asked as she tried to sit up.

"Wow there, Ranger. You need to stay down a little while longer. Don't make me restrain you to make that happen. But, Octavia is good. She seems to be doing well, but she is unconscious. We don't know if it from the sap or the medicine, but either way, she isn't showing that she's in pain."

"How long?"

"How long what?" Ferre asked.

"How long have I been out?"

"A day and a half," Clarke answered.

"Hrathgar?"

"Dealing with the caballos. We brought more supplies. He's been Indra, Raven and Echo as they prepare more rooms for those coming. He's helping Raven build a food storage shed, too, I believe," Ferre answered.

"When do you leave?"

"We were planning for the morning, but we can stay a little longer if you need. Hrathgar's already opened his rooms. Lex is with us."

"Where is she now?"

"Probably at the stable. You know how she is about the caballos. And, don't worry, we brought Sky, too."

"Great. Has Hrathgar spoken with Jorgen about some Pogs for the Earthlings? And, what about Sven?"

"Sven is taking care of the cattle. He's running the farm until after the baby is born. He wanted to make sure that Hrathgar was going to be home for it, since he was out in the fields for Sprite. Plus, Jorgen is culling a pack of pups now. They won't be ready until spring. Besides, you wouldn't want pog pups out here in the snows. Hrathgar and Sven got with the Drovers. They are mating some of the caballos, hoping for more promising foals but they won't be ready until next year. Sven is getting with Angus and Trimie to set up breeding sessions as soon as spring hits. Trimie is afraid of what they might lose this winter if they can't get all the caballos to stables in time," Ferre stated.

"Then, we should start now."

"The Drovers have. Trimie is leading them like always. She isn't going to lose a caballo without a fight. You know that. So, calm down and heal."

"I can't stay here when things need to be done, Ferre."

"I'll let Clarke sedate you and restrain you if you don't stop. Give us two days," Ferre said as she looked to Clarke for confirmation, "And, then, you can ride back with us. We can tie off whichever caballo you want to ride back out with. But for now, rest."

"Two days?"

"Two days," Clarke confirmed.

"Then, two days. Can I at least get up and go sit with Octavia? I want to check on her myself," Palla stated.

"Give me a minute to clear her room. And, then, I'll escort you down there. I am not sure that you'll be able to sit with her though," Clarke replied.

"I didn't say anything about sitting down. I said I wanted to check on her," Palla quipped back and then looked at scolding face on Ferre. "Two days...okay..."