A Fateful Summoning – Episode 3: The Guardian

Clarke knelt beside Octavia, her brow furrowed in concentration as she examined the wound left by the giant snake. Blood oozed steadily from the puncture marks, staining Octavia's leg a deep red. "This is bad," Clarke muttered, her voice tense. "You're lucky it didn't hit an artery." She quickly rummaged through her aid kit, pulling out gauze and bandages. "Hold still."

Octavia winced as Clarke applied pressure to stop the bleeding. The pain radiated up her leg, but she bit her lip, staying silent. Monty, Jasper, and Finn stood nearby, all of them still visibly shaken by what they had witnessed. Naruto's raw power had left a mark, and none of them knew what to make of it.

Monty was the first to break the silence. "What... what even is he?" he asked, staring wide-eyed at Naruto's unconscious form. "Is he human?"

Finn crossed his arms, his mind racing. "I don't think any human could take down a snake that big with their bare hands," he said, glancing between the others. "And then that... clone thing? That's not something you see every day."

Clarke, finishing the bandaging on Octavia's leg, looked back at Naruto. "I don't know," she admitted, her voice tinged with unease. "I've never seen anything like this before."

Octavia, her mind still trying to process everything, sighed heavily. "He saved me, though. Whatever he is, he saved me," she said quietly, looking at Naruto with a mixture of gratitude and confusion.

Clarke finished tying the bandages around Octavia's leg and stood up. "Can you walk?" she asked, extending her hand to help Octavia to her feet.

Octavia shifted her weight and tried to stand, but the pain shot up her leg, causing her to wince. "No," she said, frustration lacing her voice. "I can't."

Jasper, seeing an opportunity to play the hero, grinned and stepped forward. "I can carry you," he offered eagerly, puffing out his chest in a display of confidence. He was halfway to her before Naruto's arm began glowing once again.

The eerie glow illuminated the camp, and everyone's attention immediately snapped back to Naruto. His eyes suddenly flew open, glowing red, and he slowly stood, his movements deliberate and calm. Clarke, cautious, took a step toward him. "Are you alright?" she asked, her voice careful, not sure what to expect from him in his current state.

Naruto, however, remained silent, his eyes scanning the area as if he hadn't even heard her. He turned his attention toward Octavia, who looked up at him with wide eyes, unsure of what he was about to do. His gaze softened for a brief moment, and then, without a word, he bent down and lifted her into his arms once again.

Her cheeks flushed as she found herself in his arms, yet again. "You really need to stop doing that," she muttered, her embarrassment clear in her voice. Despite her words, there was no denying the sense of safety she felt when he carried her. His strength was undeniable.

Naruto, however, offered no response. He remained silent as he began walking back toward the camp, his focus solely on Octavia. Clarke, Monty, Finn, and Jasper followed closely behind, still in shock at what they had just witnessed.

"How is he even awake?" Finn asked, his voice filled with disbelief. "He was out cold, and now he's just... up, like nothing happened."

"I don't know," Clarke replied, shaking her head. "It's like he's not even human."

Octavia glanced over Naruto's shoulder at Clarke and the others, her mind racing. "I don't know how he does it either," she admitted, her voice soft. "But whatever he is... I think he's here to protect me."

As they continued their walk through the dense forest, Octavia's stomach let out an audible growl. Her face turned beet red, embarrassed by the noise. "I'm... hungry," she confessed quietly.

Naruto's expression remained unchanged, but without missing a beat, he performed a quick hand sign, and in a puff of smoke, a shadow clone appeared next to him. The others gasped audibly, their eyes widening in disbelief.

"He did it again!" Jasper exclaimed, pointing at the clone. "He just made a copy of himself!"

Monty, equally stunned, shook his head. "This... this isn't possible," he muttered, still trying to wrap his head around what was happening.

The clone nodded to Naruto and immediately darted off into the trees, leaping through the branches with a speed and agility that left the others speechless. It disappeared into the dense foliage, leaving the group in a stunned silence.

As they neared the camp, Bellamy was waiting for them, his expression immediately turning suspicious when he saw Naruto carrying his sister. He marched over, his posture tense and protective. "What happened?" he demanded, his voice sharp as he glared at Naruto. "Why is he carrying you?"

Naruto, as usual, ignored Bellamy's questions entirely. He walked past him without so much as a glance, searching the camp for a suitable place to lay Octavia down. Bellamy stood frozen in disbelief, his eyes narrowing as Naruto continued to disregard him.

"Hey! I'm talking to you!" Bellamy shouted, following after him.

Naruto found a small, sheltered spot near the fire and gently laid Octavia down, making sure she was comfortable. The clone returned shortly afterward, dropping down from the trees with an armful of fruit. It handed the fruit to Naruto before disappearing in a puff of smoke.

The group stood around, still processing what they were seeing. Naruto handed the fruit to Octavia, who smiled weakly at him. "Thanks," she said softly, taking a bite of the fruit. She chewed for a moment, then looked at him again. "You should rest," she said, noticing the weariness in his eyes. "You've done enough."

Naruto hesitated, his gaze scanning the camp once more, making sure there were no threats. But when Octavia gently touched his arm, he finally relented. He sat down beside her, pulling his jacket off and draping it over both of them. Then, without saying a word, he leaned his head on her shoulder, exhaustion finally catching up to him. Within moments, he was asleep.

Octavia smiled softly, watching him. For all his strength and power, there was something almost innocent about the way he slept, leaning against her as if he trusted her completely. Despite the strangeness of their connection, she couldn't help but feel comforted by his presence.

Bellamy, who had watched the entire scene unfold, stood frozen in disbelief. His sister had always been stubborn, but this... this was something else. "What... what the hell happened out there?" he asked, his voice low as he approached.

Octavia looked up at him, her expression calm but tired. "He saved me," she said simply. "That thing in the water, the snake. He killed it, carried me out, and brought me back here. I don't know why, but he's like... I don't know. He's like my bodyguard or something."

Bellamy shook his head, refusing to believe it. "This doesn't make any sense," he muttered. "Who the hell is this guy? And why is he protecting you?"

The others, still standing nearby, nodded in agreement. "It's true," Finn said. "We saw the whole thing. He took down that snake like it was nothing."

Monty, who had been silent for most of the walk, finally spoke up. "He's not normal. Whatever he is, he's dangerous."

Octavia sighed, leaning her head back against the wall of the shelter. "Maybe," she admitted, "but right now, I don't care. He saved me. That's all that matters."

Bellamy crossed his arms, his jaw clenched. "He may have saved you, but I still don't trust him."

Octavia looked up at her brother, her expression firm. "Maybe you don't have to," she said, "but I do."

Bellamy stared at her for a long moment before finally sighing in frustration. "Fine," he muttered. "But I'm watching him."

The others dispersed, leaving Octavia and Naruto alone by the fire. As the camp settled into the quiet of the night, Octavia couldn't help but glance down at Naruto, sleeping peacefully beside her. There was something about him—something mysterious and powerful—that she couldn't quite explain. But one thing was clear: her connection to him was only just beginning.

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End of Episode 3