Episode 10: Echoes of the Heart
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A New Day Begins
As the sun began to rise, casting a warm golden glow over the camp, Octavia sat against the trunk of a large tree, her knees pulled tightly to her chest. Her eyes were puffy and red from crying the night before, the remnants of her tears still glistening on her cheeks. The laughter and chatter of her friends felt distant, as though they were happening in another world, far removed from the ache in her heart.
Clarke sat beside her, trying to offer comfort. "He'll come back, Octavia," she said gently, brushing a hand across Octavia's back. "You just have to give him time."
"I don't know, Clarke," Octavia replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "What if he doesn't? What if I messed everything up?"
"You didn't mess anything up," Clarke reassured her, wrapping an arm around Octavia's shoulders. "Naruto cares about you. He just needs to process everything, and that takes time."
Octavia leaned her head against the tree, staring at the ground, her mind racing with thoughts of Naruto—his red eyes, his pain, the way he had stormed off after seeing her kiss Lincoln. She felt a familiar pang of regret. She wanted nothing more than to run back to him, to explain everything, to make him understand. But part of her feared that the damage was done.
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Naruto's Struggle
Meanwhile, not far from the camp, Naruto had just woken up in the clearing where he had spent the night. He rubbed his eyes, feeling the remnants of sleep still clinging to him, but the first thing he noticed was the pain in his hand, which was still glowing a darker shade of red. It pulsed with each heartbeat, a constant reminder of the bond he shared with Octavia, and the deeper the color, the more intense the pain became.
"Damn it," he muttered, clenching his fist as he struggled to suppress the urge to return to her. He didn't understand why his body was betraying him like this. Ignoring the throbbing ache, he got to his feet and decided he would try to distract himself. "Maybe catching some fish will help," he thought, determined to focus on something else.
He made his way to the river, the cool water glistening in the morning light. As he knelt down to start fishing, he thought about how much simpler life had been before the Grounders, before the camp, before Octavia. But now, everything felt complicated, layered with emotions he couldn't quite grasp.
As he fished, he felt a flicker of hope that if he focused on something productive, perhaps the pain in his hand would fade. But no matter how hard he tried, his mind kept drifting back to Octavia. The image of her sad eyes haunted him, and he found himself missing her presence more than he had ever anticipated.
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Returning to Camp
After a while, Naruto managed to catch a couple of fish. He cooked them over a small fire he had set up, the smell wafting through the air, mingling with the fresh scents of the forest. As he cooked, he couldn't shake the thought of Octavia waiting for him, wondering if he would come back. But the harder he tried to push the feeling away, the more it gnawed at him.
When he finally finished cooking, he glanced back toward the direction of the camp, feeling the familiar tug in his chest. What if she's waiting for me? he thought, but he brushed it aside, focusing on the fish instead. He told himself he needed to be strong and that returning would only make things more complicated.
Naruto's Struggle
Meanwhile, not far from the camp, Naruto had just woken up from eating fish. He rubbed his eyes, feeling the remnants of sleep still clinging to him, but the first thing he noticed was the pain in his hand, which was still glowing a darker shade of red. It pulsed with each heartbeat, a constant reminder of the bond he shared with Octavia, and the deeper the color, the more intense the pain became.
Naruto sat up slowly, looking at the sky, the stars from the night before still echoing in his mind. But his thoughts were plagued with memories of Octavia and Lincoln kissing, their lips meeting in a moment he could hardly bear to recall. That guy is just a Grounder, he thought bitterly, not even knowing Lincoln's name.
As he stared at his glowing hand, the ache grew sharper, the light pulsing with an almost desperate urgency. Why does it want me to go back to her? he wondered, frustration building within him. He clenched his fist tightly, trying to ignore the pain, but it only intensified, the glow darkening as if reflecting his turmoil.
Naruto stood up, torn between the pull of the camp and the overwhelming urge to escape the emotions swirling inside him. Why can't I just forget? he thought, but the truth was he couldn't. He couldn't shake off the bond he felt with Octavia, and every moment he spent away from her made the ache in his heart—and his hand—worse.
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Back at the Camp
Back in the camp, Octavia remained by the tree, her heart aching with each passing moment. She watched her friends go about their daily routines, but the joy seemed muted without Naruto by her side. Bellamy noticed her despondency and walked over, concern etched on his face.
"Hey, Octavia," he said softly, crouching down beside her. "Are you okay?"
She shrugged, wiping another tear away. "I don't know, Bell. I feel like I messed everything up."
"Look, I know you and Naruto have something special," he replied, his voice steady. "But you both need time. Just... don't give up on him, alright?"
Octavia nodded slowly, her heart still heavy with worry. "I just wish he would come back."
As Octavia continued to stare at the flickering flames of the campfire, both Clarke and Bellamy exchanged glances. The worry was palpable in the air, a weight pressing down on them both.
"If he doesn't return in a few days," Bellamy said, his voice firm, "we'll go look for him."
Clarke nodded, determination filling her eyes. "We can't leave him out there alone."
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Ending Scene
As the sun began to set, casting long shadows over the camp, Octavia sat in silence, her eyes vacant and empty, still marked with the red remnants of her tears. She couldn't shake the feeling of loss, the absence of Naruto hanging over her like a dark cloud.
Meanwhile, Naruto remained in the woods, struggling against the pain radiating from his hand, the glow intensifying with each heartbeat. The night sky stretched out before him, but all he could think about was Octavia and the moment he had witnessed. Why can't I just forget? he thought, knowing deep down that he didn't want to.
The scene faded to black, leaving the uncertainty and tension hanging in the air, a prelude to what was to come.