Chapter 16
Luna, Anya, and the rest meandered into TonDC on horseback. Anya was still pissed about not going after the natrona Sangedakru, but she knew that her friend and lover was right. They needed to tell Lexa what they'd found. She also wanted to get with Jersey and find out what they'd missed while they were up North. Honestly, she wanted to just take a long overdue bath and curl up with her nirons. Raven and Luna would soothe her ire faster than a good battle.
Luna just smiled at her as they were challenged at the gate. Anya rolled her eyes at the gatekeepers, but she kept her mouth shut. Luna announced their party and they were allowed in quickly. She could see that the city was full. There were Arkers, gona, and the residents of TonDC all milling about as they came up to Indra's house. Anya wasn't sure what it all meant until she saw Echo exiting her hut and coming towards them. She could tell by the look on Echo's face that it wasn't exactly good news. Luna shared a look with her, letting her know that Luna felt the same way. She knew that they would all talk soon.
Luna led them away from the horses and to Echo. She cocked her head at the Royal Guard. She looked around the village at the Arkers. She recognized a few of them, but most of them were unknown. She knew that this wasn't what had Echo on edge. There was something else and it worried Luna what it was.
"Good travels?" Echo asked as she reached out and shook Luna's arm in the traditional Grounder greeting.
"Not the best, no. But, we found out what we needed. Wanheda and Heda will not be pleased," Luna answered.
"I imagine not. Go take a bath and see to your group. We will talk when you are done and I will catch you up."
"Sha, Ekou," Luna answered.
"And, feed Anya. I don't want her grumpy," Echo told her. "I need you both as soon as possible."
"Sha, Ekou," Luna replied and wandered off, grabbing Anya and making her follow.
Echo saw the young ones from the 100 that had gone with them. She wanted to speak with them and get their thoughts, but she knew that it could wait. Instead, she watched as Luna and Anya went to them. There was some careful conversation, but it looked like they all agreed to bathe and eat before going to see Echo and divulging their news. Lincoln gave her a brief nod before he, too, walked away.
"Hunting party?" Callie questioned as she got closer to Echo.
"No, they weren't hunting."
"Oh," Callie replied. "They've been travelling for a while though."
"They have," Echo answered.
"You aren't going to tell me what they were doing?"
"No, I'm not," Echo stated.
"Why not?"
"Because it has nothing to do with you. If you need to know than Clarke or Abby will tell you, but they will hear the news soon. There is enough other things that you can be worried about right now, though," Echo told her.
"Like what?"
"Are you people settling in? Do they have enough to eat? Are the wounded cared for? Things like that, Callie. They are your responsibility, are they not?"
"They are," Callie replied.
"Then, worry about your people for now, Officer Kali kom Skai," Echo said, dismissing her and walking away.
Echo felt the burden on her, but she knew that she could only share it with the Twel. Callie, while important to both Abby and Clarke, wasn't one of them. She might be a high ranking officer to the Ark, but on the ground, she was nothing until Clarke made her something. She would leave that up to Clarke. Echo didn't envy her or what she had to do in order to save them all, but she was determined to help her.
Echo went back to her little hut. She pulled out some food and started to cook a light meal. It wasn't something fancy or great, but it was just enough to tide her, and possibly Anya and Luna, until they had a more formal dinner later. She found the act relaxing. She knew that whatever news that the two Generals and Lexa's seconds had; it wasn't good. She knew that this meant that it might upset Clarke. She also knew that there was only so much that she could do for the woman. Being in her hut, though only afforded her some time to herself. It wasn't something that Echo needed. She liked being of service. So, cooking this light meal hopeful would serve. It had to, until they had more word from Clarke.
Just as she was finished with the thin soup and toasted bread, a clean and damp Luna and Anya entered her hut. They hadn't knocked or asked for entry. They just came in. Echo smiled at the two. She knew that they understood that they were welcome. She tilted her head to the small table she had and they sat. She put three bowls on the tables and then grabbed a pitcher of water. After setting it down, she grabbed three wooden cups before joining them.
"Was the ride long?"
"Not as long as some others," Luna answered.
"And, what are the natrona doing?"
"Gathering forces, stealing and attacking borderlands. They've managed to gather some fayagon. They aren't skilled in their usage, but they are brandishing to get what they want. They are natrona and need to dealt with," Luna explained.
"They need to be put down," Anya added and slurped some soup. "Thanks for this."
"Your welcome, General," Echo replied and then asked. "Do you think that Clarke will want them all dead?"
"She won't forgive them for what they did to Madi's village," Anya stated. "If she forgives them, Leksa won't. She'll demand blood for blood. The people will expect it. They have become rebels and need to be dealt with. So far, Eden is the only village that was completely decimated."
"We know that, but there is also the matter that they attacked Emori. Klark isn't going to let that stand. She has claimed the woman as a sister, like all of us. She will destroy them just for that. No one attacks Klark's family and survives," Echo told them. "Do we tell her everything or do we tell Leksa?"
"You let me tell Klark and you both will talk with Leksa," Luna stated. "She might not be so offended if I speak with her. She knows that they have to be dealt with, but this is so different than Azgeda rising up against the Kongeda. We need to keep Klark focused on the bunkers and saving us all. Let Leksa deal with the rebels. I know that Klark will have some say in it, but she seems determined to keep Leksa as the leader. So, we let Leksa lead."
"Sha," Anya and Echo agreed.
There was a knock on her door. Echo looked at both of them and then the door. She dropped a cloth on the table and stood. She drew a knife from her side as she neared the door. Knife in hand, she opened the door to find Tris, Octavia and Callie standing there. She cocked an eyebrow at Octavia and then looked at the blondish teen.
"What are you doing here?"
"I need to speak with you. Leksa sent me with Oktevia. It is about Wanheda," Tris told her.
Echo's head moved up quickly. She looked over at O and got a nod. Turning to Callie, she eyed the other woman.
"Do you think that we should include her?" Echo asked Octavia.
"She is her Ani and Abi's leukot (friend). It wouldn't hurt to have her there. She might have some insight on behalf of the Arkers that we don't," O replied.
"Come, Kali kom Skai. You will hear this as well. You are the leader here of the Arkers, so this might concern you," Echo told her and moved out of the way to let them all into her hut.
Callie gave her a pointed look, but she nodded and followed them into the hut. As they all filed in, Echo realized that she didn't have enough chairs for them all to sit. It didn't seem to matter, though. Anya stood up and bid Tris to sit. Luna looked to Octavia, who shook her off, and stayed seated. Echo escorted Callie to the chair that she'd been in and bid her to sit. Once Callie sat down, Echo turned to Tris and Octavia. The look she gave them told them to start.
"Wanheda doesn't know that we've come. Fisaheda and Heda sent us. They are worried about the pressure that is on Wanheda," Tris stated.
"Abby and Lexa sent us both. I have to be back before the morning. Clarke doesn't know that we left. Lexa is with her and keeping her occupied beside handing the serum with those from the Mountain," Octavia explained.
"She sent both of you?" Echo questioned.
"Lexa sent me to check to see if you could come back with us," Tris replied.
Echo immediately turned to Octavia. There was a silent discussion between them. She could see the worry in Octavia's eyes, but just like Lexa and Anya, she betrayed nothing. Echo took in a deep breath and let it out.
"What news do you have for me, Tris?" Echo asked, not revealing her worry.
"Wanheda has pulled the first five for the serum and started their procedures. The one called 'Prison' has been moved away from those who he came with. Wanheda doesn't like him. She won't treat him," Tris explained.
"She means Cage," Octavia added as she moved around the hut and got a cup for something to drink.
Echo just watched as she moved around until she found her bottle of Azgendan wine. After pouring herself a cup, she started drinking it. Echo noticed that Luna was watching her, too. Callie seemed to be wondering what wasn't being said.
"Tris, you may go. See Indra and get some rest. We will figure out when we are going to leave. Brush down the horses and get some food," Echo told her. "Anya or I will find you before you go back."
"Sha, Azripa," Tris replied and stood.
"Find Gersei (Jersey) and tell her to be ready to go as well," Luna added.
Tris nodded. She saluted at Anya and then left. Echo waited for the door to be closed before she turned back to Octavia.
"What have I missed?" Echo demanded.
"The Mountain is wearing her down. It doesn't matter that we are trying to save them. Cage is pushing her to the edge. The Guard moved him into his own cell, but he is loud and demanding freedom. I think that she wants to kill him, not, but she is waiting until he can face his charges in Polis. I don't know how much longer she is going to let him, Dante or Tsing push until she just snaps," Octavia explained. "Clarke is breaking and I think that Lexa is worried because we aren't all there for her."
"We've been doing different missions," Anya stated.
"Yes, Niron, but our mission wasn't something that she has had to deal with before. Knowing Clarke, she is probably trying to figure out what has changed and what she might have to change if this life doesn't stop her rebirths. We all know that she is hurting, but she is always preparing for the next life while moving forward in this one. If Echo and Octavia's stories hold true, Clarke has done this more than her mind can handle," Luna replied.
"You aren't wrong," Octavia added as she took another drink from the cup.
"Has Lexa asked that I come back?" Echo questioned.
"She thinks that Clarke needs you. She also thinks that she needs to see Gaia, but she knows that she can't go missing that long. She knows that Gaia wants to work with her more, but the need to deal with those from the Mountain has gotten to her," Octavia answered.
"And, how are the guards with her?" Echo asked.
"They are doing well with her. They are following her around when they aren't training with Byrne and Lexa," Octavia told her. "Byrne was almost a problem, but Lexa dealt with it. I think that she was worried about her position."
"How did Lexa deal with it?" Echo inquired.
"She told Byrne that she wanted to learn the hierarchy of the Guard. She needed to know so that the gona of the Kongeda don't offend any of the Guard's officers. You know Lexa, always trying to make everyone politically happy," Octavia responded.
Anya and Luna laughed. Echo just smiled. Lexa, while more diplomatic in this life, wasn't know for being easy with people that tried to challenge her. She was known to be aggressive and deal with the fallout when things didn't fall into place as she wished. But, Lexa was trying harder with the Arkers, and they all knew why. It wasn't just because of Clarke. It was because she knew that they were needed to help keep the bunkers working until they could all come back to the Ground. They needed each other.
"How is Clarke really?" Echo asked as she moved around the room towards her trunk.
"She's tired. She's restless. She feels trapped in camp."
"And, you?"
"I'm okay for now," Octavia answered.
"Are you sure that you are the best one to send into the Mountain?" Luna question, hearing the worry in Echo's voice before.
"I am the only one that is immune from the Arkers to the virus. I'm what Abby calls a carrier. I can be among the infected, but I'll never get sick. I can use that to help out cause inside. Clarke wants to get the children out first. More than likely, they will all show symptoms first," Octavia answered.
"Are you not worried about Tsing, though?" Anya asked.
"I am," Octavia replied. "But, that is why Abby has been giving me red blood. In the next few days, I'll have to get some more blood. She tested me again before I came her. It was starting to darken up. She was hoping that it would take about six weeks like normal red blood does to replace it all. That doesn't seem to be the case, but Abby likes to tell me that I don't follow norms medically."
"Can I ask a question?" Callie inquired.
"Sure," Octavia stated as she drank some more of the wine.
"What is really going on right now and how can I help?"
"The Mountain is what is left of the form US. They've lived in the ground since the bombs. Like they went into the government bunker at Mount Weather, and our forebears went to space. Unfortunately, they didn't evolve to hand radiation. Because of them, they burn as soon as they get outside the bunker. These people believe that they own the Earth. They believe that all the Grounders, our friends here and from the other clans, are inferior and not worth life. Those in the bunkers, thanks to Cage and Dr. Tsing, have been harvesting the Grounders," Octavia explained.
"Harvesting?"
"They capture the locals and bleed them," Luna stated.
"I don't understand."
"Do you remember the videos that we watched in Earth Skills about butchering?" Octavia asked her.
"Yeah," Callie answered worried.
"Okay, well, think of that, but they drain them of their blood and use it for transfusions for the Mountain people. They basically use the transfusions as like a weekly medicine. Some of the people are in denial about what it is and where it is coming from, but thanks to Clarke breaking out of the Mountain in her first life, she realized what was happening and tries to end their tyranny. Unfortunately, she ends up killing everyone inside the Mountain to stop them," Octavia informed her. "We are trying to do something different this time to save the people that honestly deserve it."
"How many are inside the Mountain?" Callie probed.
"Over three hundred and fifty," Octavia replied.
"She killed them all?" Callie questioned.
"Several times over," Echo stated. "It is breaking her. I'm sure that you know that Clarke values life."
"I do. She gets that from her mother. Abby taught her to value life. For her to do that, I can't imagine what that did to her mind," Callie said.
"It is destroying her. It is why we have been working to stop it. Unfortunately, it doesn't always work in our favor. Lexa, Echo, Anya, and Luna have changed a lot on the ground to help in our coming. Raven, Abby, another others worked on getting everyone on the Ark ready for coming to the Ground. Thankfully these changes have already saved many lives," Octavia replied.
"Mine included," Callie added.
"Yes, yours, too," Octavia said. "But, that doesn't mean that we can stop. We have six months to deal with things before the end of the world again. So, we are trying to fix what we can until then. I think that Clarke is making notes already in case things don't go the way we hope they do in this life."
"So, what are you planning to do to this Mountain?"
"Their is a virus that cause hemorrhaging for orifices and flu-like symptoms. It isn't fatal, but it does bring the people down for about a week. Once you suffer from it, generally you have an immunity. I am completely immune though, so I'll take it back in with those that have been treated by Clarke and Abby. This way I can be like it is something we can treat and I'll try to get as many of the children and some others out. We will let it run its course on those in the Mountain and deal with their own people while we save the children. Clarke is working those that have been good and worked with us in past lives. She is trying to save them first, but she doesn't want to kill the children again," Octavia explained. "She won't survive it."
"And, we are going to make sure that it doesn't happen," Echo added.
"Can I go inside, too?" Callie asked.
"Why would you want to go inside?" Luna questioned, tipping her head to the side and looking at Callie.
"Because I am trained to handle things like this," Callie answered.
Octavia laughed. Echo just looked at her and wondered what was wrong with her friend. Octavia took another sip of her wine.
"Trust me when I say that you aren't prepared for the Mountain, Callie. They are worse than Jaha, Sydney and her cronies all together. Going in undercover is one thing, but for me, it is a chore. That is why they are asking if I'm okay with it. I will be under the 'floor' again, Callie. While you could technically be my step-mother after a fashion, trust me when I say that you can't handle this. I can't handle this, but I have to do it."
"Why?" Callie pushed.
"Because I love Clarke too much to her do it," Octavia replied and then finished her cup of wine. She sat it down on the table and then tossed a bag that she'd been carrying over at Echo, who caught it one handed. "Echo, change clothes. You need to blend in with us. I'll meet you at the stables. We need to go back, and soon. Callie, you can come back with us. Guard Miller, Bellamy, Miller and Monroe can stay with the rest. I need to take Monty and Harper back with us. Raven might have need of Monty, and Harper is his Niron."
"Then, they will go with you," Anya answered. "We'll watch over everyone else here. Jersey and Tris will keep going back and forth with news. Tell Lexa we will meet her when we can. Go finish preparing for the journey back, Oktevia kom Outo. Remind Wanheda of our love and care for her until we can all get there. I will see what I can do with Gaia to get her to the camp as well. She seems to help with her teachings."
"Sha, General," Octavia replied and left the hut.
"Stay here, both of you. I know that you don't have a place here anymore. Stay in my hut," Echo told them. "I'm changing and going to talk to Octavia more. Feed Callie. I'll be back to collect her, soon. I will send word back as soon as I can."
"Take Dax and use one of the other guards on Clarke as your runner," Luna suggested. "We'll know what it means when they come."
"Sha," Echo said as she moved to the bed and started changing without any qualms, ignoring Luna and Anya's laughs at Callie's discomfort. "Skai people and their embarrassment of the body. Why are all their adults like this? Why are they so afraid of their bodies?"
"Because they are too set in the ways from the stars. Their children take to our ways like waterfowl to the lakes," Luna stated with a smile. "Wait until we teach them all how to swim. Now that is going to be amusing."
