It was late by the time Clarke was shown back to the small room she had first found herself in. The small meal she had with Lexa was enough to sate her hunger and for her to grow a little tired. There wasn't much more she could do before sunlight and she was in no way really prepared to venture out on her own, especially with what Lexa called Ripas lurking in the forest.

Clarke didn't even know what to make of them. She wondered how they came to be. She wondered if something had gone wrong decades ago but she didn't think she'd get answers. At least not yet.

But that thought led her to the survivors of Mount Weather. That was a mystery and Lexa had done nothing but make it all the more urgent that Clarke get her people down to the ground. At least then they could make proper contact and try to explain things.

There was a city, Polis, one that the survivors lived in. Clarke didn't know why or how Mount Weather had fallen and she also didn't think Lexa was going to answer her questions about that.

And then there was Lexa.

Clarke felt so silly feeling as hurt as she did at the fact that Lexa had lied to her. She hardly knew her at all but still, Clarke had felt like Lexa had been the first real person she could call anything close to a friend.

But it had been a lie.

Lexa was a leader. Clarke didn't know of how many people. That probably didn't matter. Clarke would somehow need to keep Lexa close though because she knew her people's survivor depended on Lexa.

Clarke sighed. She rolled over onto her back and she stared up at the roof of the small building. It was late. Or early. She didn't really know. The sounds of life outside the small room had quietened down almost completely. She assumed most people were asleep. She even wondered just how big this Ton DC village was. She was sure there was more to see. More buildings, structures built into the mighty trees. She had probably even walked past a number of them in the first days she had been on the ground without even noticing.

It really was marvellous, grand, so magnificent and she wished she had the time to learn and to explore more of the world. She'd make time, she told herself that much.

And so Clarke sighed. She took in a steadying breath and she tried to clear her mind and she hoped that sleep wouldn't evade her much longer.

Clarke woke to a gentle beam of sunlight sneaking its way into the room. The warmth of its light touched her face and it woke with more gently than she was used to. And then Clarke bolted up on the small bed.

It took Clarke a second to register where she was. It took her a second longer to remember what was supposed to be happening and she yawned, she looked around the room half expecting Lexa to be watching her again but Clarke found herself alone, isolate, perhaps given some privacy for the first time in a while.

Clarke rolled her shoulders and she realised then that the bed she slept upon was probably the first comfortable bed she had felt in a year. Or perhaps even ever.

Clarke rubbed the sleep from her eyes as she swung her legs over the side of the bed. Discarded fur blankets piled around her as she shivered a little at the sudden change in temperature. It would have been so easy, so simple to fall back into the warmth of her bed but she had a plan and a task she needed to complete.

She looked down at her feet to find them still bandaged from when Lexa had helped and there was that small pang of emotion she felt tug at her heart again. But Clarke simply shook her head and tried not to dwell on things that had never been—

A firm knock on the front door made Clarke's head snap up. She could see a shadow through the door frame ands he half expected whoever it was to enter without warning. But there was silence as Clarke stared, there was uncertainty as she waited and—

Another knock came. This time more loud and it took Clarke longer than she cared to admit to realise whoever it was behind her door was waiting for an invitation inside and for the briefest of seconds Clarke wondered just how long she could make them wait.

"Come in," Clarke said. Her voice was hoarse, unfamiliar to her ears.

She watched as the doorknob turned before the door was pushed open. Sunlight streamed in from outside, it blinded her for a second and then two figures stepped through.

Clarke blinked back the suddenness of the light, a hand held up to shield her eyes for a moment. In the time it took for Clarke's eyes to adjust to the light one figure stepped forward and dropped a bag onto the table, the other stood by the door and as it closed Clarke was sure she saw warriors standing outside.

Then Clarke's eyes focused.

Lexa stood by the door, her hands held behind her back. The second figure was a man, the right side of his face was covered in a large tattoo and a beard as mighty as Clarke had seen on other men cascaded down his chest. His hair was shaved at the sides and the rest fell down his back in a mighty mess of locks and braids.

Clarke's eyes snapped to the pack to find him pulling out vials and what she assumed to be clean bandages.

"Nyko will see to your feet, Clarke," Lexa's voice cut into her thoughts.

Clarke's gaze snapped back to Lexa to find her studying her as if she were an animal, something fascinating, something to be studied and watched and analysed and Clarke didn't know what to make of it.

"Your feet," the man— Nyko— said.

Clarke shifted her position as Nyko knelt in front of her. She winced a little as he unwrapped her bandages and began inspecting her blisters before reapplying a fresh coat of paste. Clarke took in everything he did. His hands were sure and purposeful. His fingers strong. She could tell he was a doctor or some kind from the ease in movements. Clarke looked up at Lexa then, and she wasn't sure why she did it but she found herself staring at the woman who was quiet as she stood watch.

Lexa's gaze was focused on her feet as if she was studying even them too. Clarke didn't know why she got self conscious but she did.

"Ensure you leave the toes free to move next time," Nyko's voice cut into her thoughts. "It will make it easier to walk through uneven ground."

Clarke glanced back down at her feet to find that Nyko had wrapped both her feet slightly differently and true to his words her toes were free to move. Clarke quickly glanced up at Lexa simply because she had been the one to bandage her feet previously.

Clarke didn't say anything and Lexa seemed most certainly not willing to offer up that it was her doing. She felt a small pull of a smile at the corners of her lips before she managed to refocus.

Nyko finished bandaging her feet and stood before packing up his supplies and bowing his head towards Lexa.

"Thank you, Nyko," Lexa said.

"Heda," he said quietly before ducking outside.

And so they were left alone the only sound to break the quiet being the distant sounds of people Clarke assumed to be walking about outside.

"How early is it?" Clarke asked, she'd check her watch or the tablet but she'd left them packed up in her backpack with the rest of her supplies.

"Early," Lexa said. "The sun has only just risen," Lexa hadn't moved from her spot by the door. "We are going to the Mountain," she continued.

"Now?" Clarke was ready. She didn't care about breakfast or even exploring Ton DC. She needed to make contact. "I'm ready."

Lexa took a moment to remain quiet as she seemed to be thinking over something before she stepped forward. Behind her back she pulled out a large parcel Clarke hadn't noticed before putting it on the tablet.

"A jacket," Lexa said.

Clarke looked at the parcel before back at Lexa.

"For me?" Clarke didn't want to be presumptuous.

Lexa didn't speak for a second.

"Is there another in this room with us now, Clarke?"

Clarke's eyes narrowed. She didn't know if Lexa was trying to make a joke or if she was being rude.

"Thank you," Clarke added instead of waiting for an answer. She'd assume the best of Lexa, if only for her own sanity.

Lexa didn't move from the spot she stood in for a moment longer.

"I will help you don the jacket, Clarke," Lexa said before stepping forward.

Clarke didn't entirely think she needed the help but she wasn't going to say that. Part of her wondered if this was Lexa's way of apologising. Perhaps if Lexa was a leader that her taking an active role in helping someone was considered more than polite. A smaller more cynical part of Clarke wondered if this was another of Lexa's games, another of her ploys to keep Clarke on the back foot.

But as she unwrapped the parcel to reveal the jacket she realised she probably would need help putting it on.

There were buckles. Layers of leather and metal woven together and it was heavy.

Clarke winced as she picked it up before glancing at Lexa to find that she wore something similar. Lexa's jacket was more vest though. Buckles held metal plating against her sides as if they were exposed ribs. Her collar was thick, it sat just under her jaw and the clothing, Clarke could tell, was just as protective as it was flexible.

"Stand, Clarke," Lexa pointed to the floor in front of her.

Clarke moved into position before Lexa turned her around and picked up the jacket. She let out a quiet oomph as Lexa worked the jacket over her shoulders. Clarke struggled to get her arms into the sleeves before Lexa took pity on her and half manhandled her into the jacket. Clarke found metal plating woven between layers of the leather.

It took only a second or two more before Lexa was buckling the rest of the jacket up and then she was done.

Just like Lexa's, Clarke's had a high collar that pressed up against her jaw. It was somewhere between soft and scratchy and Clarke wasn't entirely sure she liked—

"You must listen to me carefully, Clarke," Lexa said.

Clarke's eyes focused on Lexa who stood in front of her.

"The Mountain is dangerous," Lexa said. "The ripa are dangerous," she paused and Clarke nodded her head in understanding, even if she didn't quite— "do not let the ripa touch you," Lexa said.

Clarke frowned a little more as she took in what Lexa said.

"Why?" not that she wanted one to touch her but she could sense more.

"They are diseased," Lexa continued. "A bite is fatal," and Lexa gestured to her collar and then to Clarke's. "They go for the throat. This will help protect and shield from a bite, Clarke."

Clarke nodded her head slowly. She could tell Lexa was serious from the way her eyes never wavered from hers. There an intensity within the gaze that Clarke looked at, too. Something she hadn't seen before and part of her wanted to shrink away from it and part of her wanted to chase after it.

"I understand," Clarke said.

She didn't. Not fully. But she understood enough to take heed of Lexa's warning.

"We will move quickly," Lexa said. "I do not wish to spent more time then necessary on the Mountain," she paused as if to think before pointing to Clarke's rifle on the ground. "You will not bring this or use it," she added. "The noise is too loud and we will be too close to the Mountain. You would risk alerting a ripa pack of our presence. Ready your tech."

"I—" Clarke paused. She swallowed the sudden lump in her throat and she nodded her head. "Ok."

It only took Clarke a few moments to fish out her radio from her supplies and make sure it was charged and working properly. Lexa remained standing by the door waiting for her but once Clarke signalled that she was ready to go Lexa opened the door and stepped through.

Clarke stepped out from her small room. Sunlight hit her in the face and she squinted. It took her a moment to realise more warriors stood outside than she had initially thought. Each one was armoured, armed with weapons and she started to truly realise just what must be at risk.

There were ten. Some of the people Clarke recognised from the previous day, others she didn't. Her gaze fell to Gustus who moved to stand beside Lexa, and once more Clarke shot him a glare when his gaze settled on her for a brief second.

"Ryder," Lexa's voice called out. A man Clarke recognised stepped forward. "Shadow Clarke. Protect her with your life."

Ryder simply bowed his head and took his place right behind her. Clarke didn't entirely know what to think about what had just happened. She looked up at the man to find his expression deathly serious.

"Anya," Lexa said and Clarke recognised the woman as the person she had seen talking with Lexa in her tent. "Once we begin ascending the Mountain take three warriors and ensure a ripa pack does not sneak up on us. At the first sign of larger numbers we will leave. I do not wish to require fighting our way out."

Anya's bowed her head before stepping aside.

And so they began move, Clarke's thoughts running a thousand miles a second as she tried to keep everything she was experiencing from overloading her already stunned mind.

Clarke didn't think she had ever felt a intense as she did in that moment. The forest was quiet. It seemed overbearing. Of course there were the occasional call of an animal somewhere nearby but there was something different. Each warrior with her had their hands on weapons. Each one's eyes were constantly moving back and forth as they peered out into the darkness of the forest.

At times someone would hold a hand up and the entire party would come to a stop as they seemed to listen for something. It didn't matter if it was Lexa, Gustus, Anya or someone else. It seemed as if any single person had the authority to call for a halt if they thought they heard anything.

Even if Clarke's steps weren't as quiet as those around her she found herself making much more of an effort not to step on something that could break or snap underfoot. She knew she wasn't as successful as the others but she hoped her effort was appreciated.

Ryder also shadowed her far more closely than she was comfortable with. His shadow seemed to always block out the sun and at times she was sure she could feel his breath on her neck. But Clarke pushed that awkwardness aside for the time being.

Eventually they must have started the journey up the side of the Mountain because Anya and a handful of other warriors broke off from the group and scaled the nearest trees. Clarke took a second to watch them climb higher and higher until they disappeared into the foliage and she marvelled at the ease in which—

Ryder's strong hands gripped her by the arm and pulled her forward. Clarke managed to choke out a quiet sorry before she fell back into step with the rest of the group as they continued moving.

They all seemed to be moving slower now, too. Even the slightest noise made each and every warrior pause. Clarke didn't even notice it at first but those with swords had drawn them, those with bows and arrows had them at the ready and Clarke truly started understanding just how serious the ripa threat must have been.

Lexa moved at the front of the party, her eyes never stopped scanning back and forth. As Clarke watched her she found herself thinking Lexa a poised animal, perhaps serpentine, perhaps feline in coiled tension as if she was ready to strike at any one of the many shadows that danced around them.

Clarke's heart was beginning to race in her chest, too. Adrenaline was beginning to flood her veins with each passing second. Ryder seemed to be staying closer to her if that was even possible. One hand seemed ever present between her shoulder blades, his fingers somehow finding purchase on one of the layers of leather that adorned the jacket as if he was ready to push or pull her in any direction he needed to.

Clarke was so focused on staying quiet, she was so focused on the barest hints of sound that she didn't even realise they had come to a stop until Ryder pulled her by his side.

"Quiet," he whispered into her ear.

Clarke fought her breathing into something more controlled as she started looking around for whatever had caused them to stop but she realised they had come to a tree line. Behind them were the many grand trees that made up the forest but before them seemed to be a small clearing.

From what Clarke could see they had made it high enough above the forest that she could look out over the treetops. She could see mountains in the far distance, some even seemed to be peaked with snow. Even the late morning sun danced on the tree canopies and for one single moment she thought the scene so charming, beautiful, awe-inspiring.

And then Clarke was pulled forward.

Each warrior moved as one as they stepped out into the clearing. Each one spread apart as they moved around the clearing's edge as if to make a perimeter and the only ones to move into the centre were Lexa, Gustus, Clarke and Ryder.

Clarke didn't need to be told twice that this location was what they had come for. She didn't even bother questioning why Lexa seemed to know this could work. All Clarke did was take her radio and start turning it on.

She knew exactly what she needed to do. That had been the one single thing the Ark had drilled into her before sending her crashing down onto the ground.

Clarke was chewing her lip so intensely that she started tasting blood but she ignored it as she turned the dial slowly before there was a gentle crackle that started chattering to her.

"This is Clarke Griffin," she said into the mouthpiece. "This is Clarke Griffin. Ark, do you read me, over?"

She paused. There was static, there was tension. Nothing came. Nothing spoke from the radio.

"This is Clarke Griffin," she said again. "Ark do you—"

"Clarke?" the voice was muffled, it was static filled, broken by distance and by atmosphere. But Clarke would recognise her mother's voice anywhere.

"It's me," Clarke found herself smiling more strongly than she had smiled in her entire life. Relief flooded her veins just as intensely as adrenaline had.

"Oh my god, Clarke," Abby's voice broke, and even though it was distorted by static, to Clarke it sounded so clear, so sure, so close that Clarke could almost reach out and touch her through. "I—"

"I'm alive," Clarke said and she suddenly felt emotions building in her chest. She suddenly felt more than she had let herself feel in days and she squeezed her eyes shut lest she start crying in front of everyone.

"When you didn't check in, when you missed the first window. When— when…"

"I know," Clarke said. "I know. I—" she shook her head and she blinked rapidly to clear her vision.

Clarke looked up to find Lexa staring at her pointedly.

"I need to tell you something," Clarke said. She winced as she interrupted her mother and she could hear the sounds of other voices already beginning to rush into earshot.

"Clarke?" Abby's voice sounded a bit further away from the radio. "There's others here now, too. Kane, Jaha."

"Clarke," she recognised Jaha's voice. It was calmer, surer, more commanding.

"Jaha," Clarke said, she shook her head and tried to clear the screaming thoughts in her mind. "Everyone," she paused and swallowed. She didn't know how best to break the news to them. She didn't know how best to tell them everything that had happened.

"It's safe," Jaha said. "It's safe, Clarke?" he asked. "Mount Weather, are you—"

"—It's gone," Clarke winced as she interrupted Jaha but she knew she needed to get her words out.

Silence met her words and she felt a pang of sadness for she knew what that meant to everyone on the Ark.

"It's not safe," Clarke continued. "Mount Weather's been gone for years. But," she swallowed again and she really didn't know how best to explain what she was about to.

"But, Clarke?" Abby's voice said and Clarke could hear hope or prayer in her tone.

"There's survivors," Clarke whispered. "People have been living on the ground for decades."

There was silence. There was absolutely quiet and Clarke could almost hear the Ark itself hold its breath as her words echoed through the command centre.

"I'm with them right now," Clarke added. "Their leader. The people. They saved me," Clarke wouldn't tell them about Lexa's subterfuge, she didn't think that would help but she did give Lexa a quick glare, perhaps just to be a little childish.

"What?"

Clarke didn't recognise the voice, or the static and the shock and incredulousness that coloured the person's tone masked it.

"Say again, Clarke?" someone else said.

Despite everything, despite the shock, the elation, the emotions she was feeling, things were relief. Clarke felt like she had actually done something real. Something tangible to help her people.

"There's survivors. There's a whole village. There's more than just one village," she said. "It's just—" she paused. "Mount Weather is gone but the ground is survivable. You need to avoid coming down too close to Mount Weather. I know that was the original plan, I know that was what engineering has already actioned but it won't work. You need to find a safer spot. Somewhere near. There's—"

A low, long birdcall pierced the forest and every single warrior froze.

Clarke felt the disturbance in the air and she didn't need to know what that call meant to know.

"We are leaving. Now," Lexa hissed.

"Clarke?" her mother's voice cut into the clearing. "Who was that. Clarke? Clarke?!"

She could hear panic, she could hear fear, anger, frustration.

"I'll make contact again, I promise."

That was all Clarke managed to choke out before Ryder pulled her to her feet, Lexa grabbed the radio and they all started running.

They all started running and this time none of the warriors seemed to care about the noise they were making. Clarke couldn't hear or see anything but she could feel it. She could feel the seriousness, the apprehension, the danger in the air.

Clarke ran hard, she ran fast. Her legs carried her faster and faster over the ground. Ryder was right beside her and she didn't know how but he seemed to be half carrying her, half pushing her forward as they ran, as they leapt over fallen tree trunk of bush, thicket, any kind of forest obstacle that could make them lose their—

And then all hell broke loose.

Clarke gasped as an arrow snapped straight past her head from high above. She instinctively ducked and swore as she followed its path before it snapped into the darkest of depths.

And then she saw. She felt. She experienced.

A beast screamed out from the dark, its teeth gnashing, feral eyes, feral frothing mouth and fury screamed forward.

Ripa!

Someone yelled, Clarke gasped as Ryder somehow threw her to the side without a single care in the world for her comfort.

Clarke slammed into the dirt. She saw someone else swing a sword at the ripa and take its head off in one clean strike.

Lexa moved, Lexa dove, Lexa spun. Another ripa, this one further away, this one larger, angry, ferocious and gruesome charged at her and Clarke didn't know how, didn't know if Lexa saw, if she even sensed the beast, all she did was drop to her knees and spin and her sword slashed out a blur of shimmering metal as the edge bit into the ripa's throat and cut it open to the world.

A spray of putrid blood splashed out, Lexa dove, she put distance between her and— And Gustus moved, he moved faster than anyone could expect of a man that size and he kicked the ripa's body away, he threw a knife through the air faster than Clarke could even see and it hit something in the distance, it hit something with a sick wet thud and Clarke stared, she stared and she gasped.

Arrow after arrow shot out from the trees overhead, Clarke scrambled on her hands and knees as warriors started moving, started charging the ripas and Clarke didn't know what to do, didn't know what to think or where to go or where to even—

Strong hands. Evil hands, gruesome hands grabbed her by the ankle and pulled her back. Clarke gasped in shock and surprise and fear, real fear, real desperation as she turned as she locked eyes with a ripa that was crawling half wounded, half bleeding from a gash on its forehead.

Its hands were clawing at her feet, its eyes were crazed, bloodshot, feral, broken. Clarke screamed out, she kicked down as hard as she could as it started crawling over her as it started reaching for her torso, for her arm, for anything it could grab.

Clarke's boot hit it in the face once, twice, thrice, it didn't seem to stop it, didn't seem to phase it, hurt, it, give it any kind of—

And the ripa was on her, it was over her, trying to consume, bite, claw, scream into her face. Clarke was on her back, she was trying to push it away, push it off her, put space between her and it. Teeth screamed in her face, fingers scratched across her body, nails dug into her flesh, into her body and Clarke couldn't get it off, couldn't put space between her and it and it was going to bite down on her, bite down into her, sink its broken teeth into her skin, into her body, into her soul—

A blur of leathers and furs slammed into it, the impact broke her breath and Clarke was spun on the ground, she was thrown with the impact and she hit a nearby tree with so much impact that she saw stars.

Clarke hit the ground, she scrambled, tried to get her footing and she looked up in time to see Ryder scrambling with the ripa, fighting, pushing, punching, slamming a knife deep into its neck as it clawed and bit and screamed into his face.

And then there was silence.

Clarke's chest was rising, her lungs were screaming for air and her eyes were seeing stars.

Other warriors moved quickly, quietly in the silence but Clarke couldn't tear her eyes off Ryder who pushed the ripa off him and struggle to his feet.

A large gash was bitten into his cheek. Blood flowed out of the wound. Claw marks scratched themselves across his face and Clarke didn't know what to say, what to do, what to think. She knew the ripa had almost killed her, she knew it had tried everything it could to take her life without a care in the world for her being and— and— and?

"Heda," Ryder managed to say past ragged breath as he came to kneel down in front of Lexa who stood over him. Her gaze was hard, her eyes piercing as she stared down at the man who had saved Clarke's life.

"Ryder," Lexa said and her voice was softer than Clarke would have expected given her expression. "I will take care of your family," Lexa whispered more quietly as she lifted her sword into the air as Clarke's eyes widened.

"It was an honour to serve you, Heda," Ryder said as he bowed his head in front of Lexa.

And with that Lexa took his head off with one clean strike.