Clarke wasn't exactly crying as she stared at the remnants of Mount Weather. Tears had welled within her eyes, they had threatened to spill and blur her vision but she had somehow forced them under control. She felt frustrations, she felt angers, annoyances, furies she couldn't shake though.

But after a while those emotions faded in time to leave behind an empty pit in her stomach as she contemplated what her future held.

She hadn't let herself consider anything other than being successful. She hadn't had time to and she most definitely hadn't let herself consider it for she wasn't one to give up before her journey had even begun.

But now it was different.

Now she stood before dead hope, alone on the ground with no one but the trees, the wind, the animals and a beauty that was to become her grave.

As Clarke continued to look at the open entrance she tried to find signs of life. She tried to see disturbed ground, things that only a human could have done but the more she looked the more she saw nothing but abandoned hope.

She couldn't tell how long Mount Weather had been deserted. Months? Years? Decades? It probably didn't matter anymore.

Clarke forced herself to breathe. She forced herself to think. She forced her mind to slow, to calm, to begin to analyse everything she knew. If she panicked, if she turned to hopelessness she was as good as dead. Being able to breathe the air, being able to walk without a space suit was proof enough that life could thrive. Animals existing on the Earth was proof enough that life was thriving.

Maybe her people didn't have the required skills but they could learn.

They would learn.

The sun dipping below the canopy of trees and sending its dappled light down upon the ground pulled Clarke's focus back to the present. She looked over her shoulder and frowned. The expression perhaps subconscious as she considered what her next move needed to be.

She wouldn't make it back to the drop pod before it was well and truly dark and she thought that reason enough to press forward. Clarke turned back to Mount Weather's broken entrance and she began to move forward slowly. She'd explore at least enough to find somewhere comfortable for the night. Perhaps in the morning she'd try and figure out what happened, maybe see if anything could be salvaged in the days to come. But perhaps for now Mount Weather would make a quiet, secluded, familiar home for the night compared to the trees, the forests, the animals that seemed a little more scary in the dark.

Clarke was thankful she had a small solar powered lamp in her backpack but she was more thankful for the torch attached to her rifle. It gave her just a bit of comfort as she aimed the rifle down the long tunnel entrance of Mount Weather.

It cast long shadows that were spookier than they had any right to be but Clarke knew there no ghosts, demons, anything evil waiting for her. But perhaps there'd be an animal, something that could give her cause for concern if she wasn't careful.

Clarke began to walk forward cautiously. Her steps were slowed by the netted supplies awkwardly slung over one shoulder but she pushed forward nonetheless. Moss underfoot helped to soothe her tired feet but it also made her steps just a little clumsy. She looked back over her shoulder only to groan at the fact she had hardly even entered Mount Weather. The entrance was still just a stone's throw away but she was deep enough inside that the gentle chill of the coming night wasn't so clear against her skin.

She came to a tired stop, she looked back down into the dark of Mount Weather. The little daylight that made it this far into its depths was just enough to give shape to the dark. The torch strapped to her rifle illuminated the rest.

Just a little further into Mount Weather the tunnel entrance opened up into what she assumed was an assembly area. What would have once been orderly, open, welcoming was now covered in the same dark green mosses. Some small plants managed to cling to life this deep. Perhaps a puddle or two of water sparkled in the light.

It was oddly charming, oddly calmly. Something about it seemed beautiful in its desolation and for a moment Clarke found herself wishing she had the time to draw, paint, commit to memory and canvas the things she saw.

But she had no time for any of those niceties.

Clarke sighed as she lowered herself to the ground. She set her rifle against the closest hard surface and directed the torch light up. It bounced off weathered concrete and cast its light a little more confidently around. It was enough that she could open her backpack and fish out the lamp she had. That, too, was turned on in time to send its warm glow out in a soothing circle. She took a second to gather her rifle and click off the torch before setting it down by her side lest she need it.

Clarke felt a little more at ease with the light surrounding her. The entrance was still easily within spitting distance, the light from the setting sun had already begun to fade. She winced as she reached down and started undoing her boot laces. Each motion was protested by her fingers but eventually she managed to strip her boots off her feet.

She groaned as she pulled one boot off with a wince, she grunted out annoyance as she carefully peeled the other free. Clarke knew her feet had blistered. That had been obvious not one hour into her journey but she had pushed that pain aside as much as she could. But now that she was seated, now that she was settling in for the night the pain grew more sure and unkind.

Clarke winced as she removed her socks. There was a slight sting as the fibres of the material pulled at one blister in particular and Clarke bit her lip ignoring any pain from the split.

On her left foot was a large blister on the ball of her foot. Part of it had already sloughed off to leave behind a red, raw, half bloody patch of skin that stung as the air touched it. Two of her toenails were bruised from the walking. Her other foot wasn't in much better shape. No blister had sloughed off yet, but instead there was a nasty blood blister on her heel and the ball of that foot was sensitive and tender to the touch.

She just sighed, folded her socks gingerly and put them aside with her boots as she began fishing through her backpack. She was already thinking of what she needed to do tomorrow, it helped to keep her mind off her predicament. She'd need to walk back to the drop pod and strip it of everything she could. It might even take her two or three days back and forth but she knew she'd be able to set up some kind of camp at Mount Weather's entrance. With luck she'd be able to investigate the old facility more after some rest and she hoped she'd be able to make contact with home, with her mother, with everyone who was counting on her.

At least that was the plan.

And so Clarke Griffin wrapped a weathered, rough, warm blanket around her shoulders, she unwrapped a small bar of congealed nutrients and she didn't let her mind wander too far into despair as she settled in for the night.

Clarke woke with a start. Her eyes opened and it took her longer than she liked to remember where she was.

A single ray of early morning sunlight managed to snake its way deep enough into Mount Weather's entrance that it just barely touched her. She frowned as her eyes blinked back the sleep. The rough blanket was still wrapped around her shoulders and for that she was thankful. It was cold. A chill ran through her body and she shivered.

Clarke looked at her lamp to find that it had died during the night. She made a mental note to leave it out in the sun to charge before heading back to the drop pod. She sat up, she held the blanket around her shoulders and she winced as muscles protested the strain and movement.

She slowly pulled her feet out from under the blanket. Her blistered didn't look so raw and swollen but they still felt tender and far too sensitive. Clarke was careful as she reached for her netted supplies and began digging for the bandages she knew were tucked somewhere amongst the mess of stuffs.

It took her just a little while to find what she was looking for, it took her a minute or two longer to apply disinfectant and wrap her feet, the hours she had spent with her mother in the Ark's medbay perhaps not so wasted given her current situation.

Satisfied, or as satisfied as could be expected Clarke cautiously wriggled her toes and flexed her feet. There was still pain. But it was dulled, not as biting as it had been before. She'd just need to push through the worst of it and perhaps try not to upset her feet more than she had.

Clarke looked back down the tunnel that descended deeper into Mount Weather. She didn't expect to see anything different but she had hoped. In the day's early light she could see more of the interior, too. She could just make out faded signage on a far wall, even the outline of what she assumed to be doors of some sort that lay open in the distance that she would venture through in the days to come.

But for now Clarke needed to head back to the drop pod.

Clarke grit her teeth as she pulled her socks and then her boots back on. She grimaced as she laced them up and with an aching protest of her muscles she stood. Clarke pushed her netted supplies against the wall, she made sure they wouldn't fall free and then she slung her backpack over her shoulders.

Under one arm she carried her lamp as she walked back outside. The air was crisp, more calming than the previous day and as she grew closer and closer to the outside she found herself starting to really realise just what she was looking upon.

As Clarke broke free from the shadows and dark of Mount Weather she came upon that very same small clearing. As she came to a stop she found herself standing upon dirt, mud, moss, grasses and pebbles underfoot. Before her was that very same tree line she had broken through previously, above her was that same sun she had seen every day of her life.

But now, as she stood with her toes touching the sun's rays she realised she looked up into an early morning sky. She realised she looked up into the brilliance of a rising sun and she was quiet.

Clarke was quiet as she stared up at the clouds overhead. They were gentle, kind. Wisps of things she had once looked down upon whose turn it was to do the very same to her.

It was poetic in a way.

A bird or two flew overhead. Clarke watched as they drifted on the wind, she watched as they circled, flew, drifted where they pleased. Everything she saw was new. Everything she experienced was new. The smells, the sensations, the wind on her face, the heat of the sun, the dirt underfoot and the aches and pains that etched themselves into the very fibres of her body were all things she didn't know how to process.

And maybe at a different time she'd embrace those feelings. Perhaps if things had gone just a little differently somewhere in her past she'd be able to appreciate everything that she was currently experiencing. But for now all those things were tarred by the sallow brush of things out of her control.

Clarke sighed.

She closed her eyes and she took in a steadying breath before she stepped forward. She moved to the centre of the clearing and she put the lamp down carefully, her placement of it sure and purposeful as she angled it to catch as much sunlight as possible on its small solar panel that sat at its top. Satisfied, Clarke stepped back and eyed it for a brief second before nodding to herself. Her tablet had enough charge to last another day or so and she knew she'd be able to get some charge over the course of her journey back to the drop pod. She knew it would be tight getting back before sunset but she'd make it.

That much, she was certain.

Clarke walked. She walked more than she had ever walked before. Perhaps the fact that she had survived the first day gave her some kind of confidence she hadn't had before. Perhaps knowing that there hadn't been something waiting for her to drop her guard was enough reassurance that she walked with a little more confidence.

But still she would pause, wait for whatever sound she heard to pass with her rifle in hand. Just to be careful. She was the only hope for her people and she didn't want to let anyone down. The bandages on her feet helped with the blisters. She found her feet a little more sure with each step. Gravity still pulled at her limbs but she thought her body slowly growing accustomed to it with each passing hour. Clarke even began to mark certain landmarks she thought useful on the map she pulled up on her tablet screen. She hoped everyone back on the Ark would appreciate the small little bits of detail.

Soon she'd need to find water, or at least refill what supplies she had. Of course she was given enough to last but she wasn't really willing to let her supplies dwindle down before help arrived. But that was a potential problem. Or one she needed to be more careful of.

The river was her most likely source of water but whatever animal or creature or beast had patrolled its depths had been something she wished not to come face to face with. She'd be careful, more cautious than ever but she found herself already planning, already trying to figure out just how to—

The distant roar of something echoed through the forest. It made Clarke stop dead in her tracks and crouch down on the forest floor. She held her rifle tightly in her hands and she began looking back and forth slowly.

Whatever the animal, it wasn't close. At least she thought so. But the sound was enough to make the hairs on the back of her neck stand up and make her heart begin to beat far more furiously in her chest than she liked.

It was expected. If other animals existed so too did larger more dangerous ones. But the absence of them over the last day had maybe drawn Clarke into something close to false confidence. The sound, she realised, had a way of pulling that confidence right back into its place buried deep in the pit of her stomach.

Clarke continued to look out around her. Eyes strained to see into the darkest shadows of the trees, she tried to find shapes in the shadows, in the tree trunks, something or anything that would give way to predator that stalked her.

But no matter how hard Clarke stared she found herself unable to see the danger her mind told her existed.

She took in a steadying breath, she wet her lips and she slowly rose back up. Her rifle was still held tightly in her hands as she began moving forward again. She knew the direction and she wished not to linger too long in whatever part of the forest she currently found herself.

It was just passed midday by the time Clarke arrived at the clearing the drop pod's arrival had created. The smell of burning wood still lingered in the air and she bid the forest a quiet apology at having disturbed its peace as she approached. It was a foolish or cruel wriggle in the back of her mind that had made her start to think there was a chance the drop pod had somehow been moved over night and though Clarke knew that thought silly she was happy to put it aside as she slung her rifle over her shoulder as she came to a stop.

The drop pod's main door was still hanging open. Other pieces of equipment were in just the same place she had left them and even her footsteps she had made in the ash caused by the pod's thrusters were still present. Clarke couldn't help but to feel that little bit of guilt again at how stark a difference her drop pod's arrival had caused upon the ground.

It was as if her presence had somehow sullied the lands, had broken the quiet greens of the moss and leaves but Clarke couldn't do anything to change the past—

She paused mid thought as she stared at a few more prints in the ground. They were subtle. Perhaps barely there but in her paranoia she found herself staring at prints. Maybe they were of an animal, a small critter, perhaps a deer like the one she had seen by the river's edge. Whatever they were the shape was muffled, more indistinguishable than recognisable and maybe Clarke really was losing her mind for the longer she stared at them the more they seemed to vanish into the ash.

She sighed. Shook her head and simply chalked it up to the isolation.

Clarke turned her attention to the antenna and radio that were securely locked inside a large case that remained strapped to the inside of the drop pod.

She'd need those two pieces of equipment if she was to provide any kind of advice or warning or information to the Ark. Clarke eyed the rest of the equipment too. There were spares parts, tools, things she probably should figure out a use for but for the time being she thought her task complete.

Clarke cast one last look over her shoulder as she hefted the large case under her arm and began to walk back towards Mount Weather.

And it wasn't so bad.

Despite the isolation she didn't feel entirely alone for some reason.

Despite the river beast or whatever had roared out its displeasure at something, Clarke felt a little less apprehensive now that she had the radio and antenna in her possession.

But most of all, Clarke felt more sure that whatever was to come she could face.

She wasn't going to let the fear of unknowns dictate her life even if she wasn't entirely well prepared for what life threw at her.

Clarke was staring at the radio with something between disgust and unbridled hate. The sun was already beginning to touch the horizon as she sat outside Mount Weather's entrance. She had been trying to get a signal out to the Ark for what seemed like hours. One hand was smarting from when she had punched the forest floor in shortsighted anger. The other was pressed against her forehead in the hopes of staving off the headache she could feel building.

She knew the radio was charged. The batteries and the solar panel were all functioning. Even the antenna was telling her it was sending something out but still, she couldn't make contact. After trying almost anything else she was almost entirely sure she knew what to do.

Clarke looked up the side of the mountain that had become a cruel companion. She assumed what she'd need to do is get higher, clear enough away from the trees that the radio could get a clear signal up to the Ark.

But she didn't want to do it tonight. She didn't want to have to climb in the dark. And yet she knew she needed to make contact. Her mother would be worrying now. It had been more than twenty four hours and that was long enough for them to know something had gone wrong. Or at least not to plan.

And wasn't that just what this entire journey had been?

Plan after plan going awry. Nothing going the way it needed to. Nothing being as simple as she wished.

Clarke was gripping the side of the large radio tightly. The knuckles of her first were white and she didn't realise just how tight she was clenching until she felt a cramp beginning to build.

Clarke shouted out her frustrations and spat out a curse before she stood up from the ground and started pacing. The longer the walked back and forth the longer her mind started taunting her.

Clarke hadn't realised or noticed but the lack of shared company with anyone else had begun weighing on her and it had only been two days. It wasn't even that she wasn't used to being alone. She had spent almost a year alone. But she had been able to hear other people. She had been able to see other people walk by her small window. She had at occasion been able to speak to a guard or her mother and more importantly, people had been close.

But right now Clarke was alone.

More alone than anyone had ever been.

She was the only person alive on Earth and the only thing that could bring her a connection to anyone else was currently sitting functionless on the ground by her feet.

"Fuck you," Clarke said.

She wished the radio would speak to her.

"Sorry," she muttered.

She didn't mean to curse the radio. It wasn't its fault she couldn't get it to work no matter how much she wanted to blame it. She was actually pretty sure climbing the side of the mountain would probably solve all her problems.

But as Clarke looked back up the side of the mountain and then to the setting sun she decided she could wait. She would do no one any good if she tripped in the dark or somehow broke the radio in her fatigue.

Clarke sighed, she reached down and packed the radio and antenna back up into the large case before picking it up. She managed to hook a finger or two into a crevice of her charged lamp and then she made the short walk back into the mouth of Mount Weather.

But before Clarke could fade into the dark she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. Clarke turned and stared out into the forest. She wasn't sure what it was, she wasn't sure if she had heard or seen or felt something but she looked out into the shadows, she looked out into the trees and she tried to find something, anything, whatever it was that had made her pause.

But as she continued to look, as she continued to stare she felt that feeling simply fade and wash away as if it had never even existed.

And so Clarke frowned, she shook her head and decided she had made the right choice to sleep for the night for it would do her no good traipsing through the forests alone, and in the dark with frayed mind and weary soul.