Chapter 91

Clarke was laying on her bed. She wasn't tired in the physical way, but in the mental. She had been helping her mother finish up the last of the charts for all those that were in the Barracks and that would be populating Gryfondor.

Clarke shook her head at the name. Madi has officially started calling it that, so it was sticking. She might not have understood the literary conotation that it had, but that didn't matter when it came to her. It made Clarke wonder if Lexa had every read the books, or if they had even survived the bombs. She knew that they had a few copies of it digitally on the Ark, but they weren't on the Ark. They were on Terre Nova, near the Village and Helios.

She'd finally had some time to herself. Diyoza was just down the hall. She had come back to the Barracks because she was nearing her due date. It hadn't been because she wanted to, and Clarke knew it. She knew that Diyoza wanted to be at the wall with her men strengthening up even more.

The people were thriving. They were still digging in and prepping for the coming snows. Clarke knew that it could only be days before the snows started in earnest. She knew how cold and deep snow could get. The rest of those from the Ark didn't. They only knew from pictures, movies, and descriptions in stories. They had never lived it. She knew it could bad, but even in Eden in the heart of Shallow Valley, but it wasn't anything like the ice and snow of Azgeda. It was another reason that she was glad that Echo and Aeolus had been helping them arrange for the coming winter weather. They would continue to thrive there.

Madi was talking with Abby and Indra almost daily. Gaia and Niylah were also teaching her things. Her daughter was growing and learning from any and everyone that she could. This didn't bother Clarke at all. In fact, she thought that it was the best thing that Madi could have. Her daughter was their leader. She had to conceed that, but she knew that all the other "leaders" were helping her become great. They knew that she wasn't Lexa, but she was her legacy. She was biding them together and keeping them together. She'd even brought the Eligius Prisoners into her fold and Dizoya was helping her with not only military strategy and history. She was helping Madi not fall into the same trap that Octavia had. She wasn't going to allow Madi to like the power. Octavia approved, too. Madi was protected, loved, and taught. She would be the greatest among them all. She honestly wasn't going to have a chance not to be.

But, Madi wasn't what was worrying Clarke, now. She knew that Madi was safe. She knew that Madi was cared for.

Clarke wasn't even worried about Raven. She knew that her friend was healing and moving better than she had before she came to Earth. Raven had defied all the odds and was walking again. She knew that Echo and Octavia would have her running and and fighting soon enough. She didn't fully understand why Raven was demanding to be taught to fight. She knew that a good defense was always needed, but Clarke hoped that Raven would still be able to use her super smart brain to help Madi build them a fully functional city at Gryfondor. She knew that Raven's inventions and designs would be highly needed. This made her pause in her thinking for a moment. She needed to contact Raven and see how her treatment and physiotherapy was going. She needed to check in, again. She wasn't worried about it, but she wanted an update. She knew her mother would want one, too.

She was slightly worried about her mother, but she was proud of her, too. Abby admitted that she was an addict, and she was fighting her addiction every day. She powered through it. But, that wasn't Clarke's concern when it came to her mother. No, she was worried about how her mother was going to handle things if Kane couldn't be healed. She knew that Abby was working with Sam and her other doctor friends, but they weren't going to do anything until after the Thaw. They were helping Abby watch and deal with all of Kane's vitals and reports. Clarke knew that they had an idea, a plan, and treatment option. Time was the only thing going against them. But, Kane was technically still on "ice" in Chryo on the ship still in orbit with Jackson watching over him.

Clarke had to admit that she was worried about Jackson and the rest of those who'd stayed on the ship. But, Shaw, Jordan, Emori and Murphy kept telling her that they were fine. Thankfully though, she'd made Shaw come down and get some of their fresh food. She didn't want them living completly on Monty's old algae recipes. She wanted them to have good food again. Shaw or Emori would come down a few more times to stock up before the Snows came. She knew of at least two more planned landings. She hoped by the Thaw, everyone would be on Terre Nova for good and they could turn the ship into a "parts store."

None of that was weighing too much on Clarke's mind. No, she was more worried about something a little closer to herself. Her heart. She had to admit that the more that she spoke with Palla, the more she wanted to. The crux was that it wasn't as a leader. It was more as a friendship or something deeper. She wondered over and over again if Octavia, Echo, Raven, and even Madi were right. Was Palla a reincarnation of Lexa? Could she have Lexa's soul? And, is that why she was feeling this strange connection with her before they'd even landed on the planet? It just didn't make any sense to her. It wasn't scientific, and that is why it was bothering her so much. She didn't believe in religion. She didn't believe in magic. She believed in what she knew, nature and science.

But none of that helped her now. She was still staring at the ceiling and thinking about Palla. She could see things that she didn't want to see in Palla's dark eyes. Knowing what hid deep inside them, it was staring deeply into a fire and asking to get burned. And, that was the main issue now. Clarke wanted to get burned by her. She had come to accept it.

It was different and the same. Clarke couldn't explain it, but she was falling for Palla. Each interaction, whether in person or on a comm, she could feel it.

She couldn't help the feeling. Her breath quickened at the sound of a call to her personal comm, given to her by Palla herself, so they could stay in contact and for more than just Raven's progress. She knew what the speeding of her heart meant. She felt it completely. She'd felt it with Lexa, so she knew the signs. And, there was the fact that Octavia, Niylah, Raven, Echo and Madi were all for it. Clarke didn't have to hide her feelings for Palla, like she had for Lexa. She could love her in the open and knew that she would be welcomed.

Ferre, Sam and Meeka all approved of her for Palla. She knew that she'd be welcomed in the Village. She wasn't going to have to worry about their people both hating the match. It seemed that they were pushing for it, even if it was for small circles and the edges.

She had time though to come to grips with this. The snows were coming. Diyoza was about to have Hope. Ferre was about to have Tamman. There were more important things for Clarke to focus on than her possibly budding relationship with Palla.

The comm rang. Clarke shot up. She raced across her room to the small dresser and grabbed it. She looked down at it. It wasn't Palla. It was Echo.

"What happened?" Clarke immediately asked as she answered the video call.

"Nothing bad," Echo quickly stated.

"Then, what's wrong?"

"It's Raven."

Clarke turned her head. She cocked it a bit and could only wonder what Echo meant by her statement. Raven was doing well with her therapy.

"What happened?" Clarke asked again.

"She's having a bad day."

"A bad day?"

"Sha, a bad day. She's feeling sorry for herself. She's retreated back into her head. Octavia is working with her in the pool."

"Resistance training, good idea. Is she trying to tire her out? Is Palla or Sam there?"

"No, they are getting ready to head to Ferre's place. It seems that Tarran has decided to make an appearance. So, we're handling Raven today."

"We knew that this was going to happen. Anyone who has gone through something as traumatic and horrific as Raven has is going to break. It was just a matter of time. This is just part of the healing process. It was one of the reasons that I demanded that you go back to be with her. She is going to need you, Echo. You aren't just her fos, you are her friend. I know that you became close with her while you were on the Go-Sci Ring, Echo. She needs that Echo now. She needs you to be understanding and comforting. She needs you to push her through her exercises and training, but she also needs you to call it when she is so far beyond her limits that she doesn't even want to quit. She needs you to help her break and then build her back up," Clarke explained.

"I know. Soldiers go through this as well. She needs to break in order to be made whole again. I will build her back up. That isn't even a question."

"I know that, Echo. You are loyal to a fault. And, you've decided to train her. I would expect nothing less from you when it comes to Raven."

"I think she might need you," Echo stated.

"Did she say that?"

"No, she hasn't asked for you, but she might need another friendly face," Echo suggested.

Clarke nodded. She knew what Echo was saying. Raven needed a change of pace, maybe even a change of venue.

"Can you reach Palla?" Clarke questioned.

"What do you mean?"

"Have you reached out to Palla?"

"Not yet, no, I haven't. I wanted to talk to you first. Healing isn't exactly my strong suit. It's yours."

"I know that, Echo and I appreciate it. Raven is our friend and we will take care of her. I'll need to speak with Palla before we do anything. If Sam and Meeka aren't there, but they are at Ferre's for the delivery, then it might have to wait. I don't know the way to the Village and I don't want to put anyone else out to come get me and bring me back. Ferre's farm is not far from the Village," Clarke stated.

"I know that. Palla was talking about us heading towards her place, which is close enough to Ferre's place. She's had Hrathgar packing up supplies and putting them in the house. I know that Ferre wanted her to stay with them through the Snows, but with the coming of Tamman and us being here, it wasn't going to work. I'm not sure when we were going go, but I know that she'd been talking about it."

"I'll talk to Palla and then Mom. Depending what we come up with, I'll join you either in the Village or at Palla's farm. Keep Raven moving. Don't let her stop."

"We won't."

"And, if I come, then maybe Octavia can come back to the barracks and have some time with Niylah. I know that Madi would like to have her back and train with her again. Indra, Aeolus and Solan have been working with her on her fighting. I'm sure she wouldn't mind having a break from them," Clarke added.

"Make the call, then, Clarke. We'll await your call. If we don't answer, we will call you back shortly," Echo told her.

"Take care of Raven. I'll deal with the rest. See you soon," Clarke replied.

She dropped the comm onto the bed. She fell back with it. Could this be her chance? Could she find the courage to take a step with Palla? At this point, Clarke wasn't sure, but she knew that Raven needed her. Her idea for her to trade places with Octavia was sound. Now, she just needed to find out if Palla would agree with her assessment. There was only way for her to find out. She had to make the call to Palla.